Chapter 37: Naruto and Sasuke's Duel

The Drowned Ghost set has an effect of +5 to all attributes, with an additional +20 Physical Defense.

It is a very pure defensive set.

After putting it on, even the executives of the Arlong Pirates would be unable to cause harm to Nami for a short time.

However, having just become a Game Player, it is still a bit of a stretch to want to fight Arlong.

But it has at least allowed Nami to see hope.

Feeling the sensation of becoming stronger brought by the game, Nami took a deep breath.

"Everyone, I can save you; we just need to keep playing the game!"

She had asked the mysterious Giant,

these are still the lowest-level pieces of equipment, and there are various skills and items in the Game Mall; as long as there are enough Reward Points, defeating Arlong is not a problem at all.

In just half a day, going from a Thief slightly stronger than an ordinary human to being strong enough to fight against the executives of the Arlong Pirates is the most powerful evidence.

On the other side,

Sasuke Uchiha stood proudly in the center of the Shilianchang,

he did not begrudge the cost of death and resurrection, hunting ghosts crazily, and successfully reached the top of the Shilianchang leaderboard.

【Congratulations, you have obtained Novice Gift Pack *1】

After opening it, inside are two primary Experience Value pills; after consuming them, they last for five hours, and the Experience Value obtained is doubled.

There is also a set exclusive to novices, with an effect of +3 to all attributes.

Xinsui Guanghuan, which allows for five free resurrections per day, with one resurrection on the spot.

Xinsui Lunhui Taoguan (five days); killing monsters can charge the pot, and once fully charged, the pot can be opened once for free; it disappears after five days.

Novice players are still a bit dazed and have not figured out the value of the gift pack.

If it were veteran players like Asuma, they would already be green with envy; if they had had a Novice Gift Pack back then, their leveling speed and consumption could have been saved by at least half.

Especially Sasuke Uchiha, who is at the top of the leaderboard and possesses an additional title, 【Xinsui Shilian Wang】, which grants +5 Attack Power when equipped.

"Itachi Uchiha, soon I will have the power to kill you with my own hands, wait for me!"

Until evening, Sasuke logged out of the game.

He quickly ran to the edge of the village, to the Senlin Xunlianchang, and called for Uzumaki Naruto, who is also in Team 7.

"Sasuke, it's almost dark, do we really have to duel now?"

Actually, Uzumaki Naruto was thinking to himself, preparing to hunt two more ghost guards during this time before sleep.

"Right now, are you afraid?"

"To tell you the truth, Sasuke, you are not my match right now."

Uzumaki Naruto scratched his head, his desire to fight not being very strong.

After becoming a Reincarnation Game Player, his strength has become stronger and stronger; according to Captain Asuma, he is already no less than an Elite Chunin.

And this is without even having all his equipment certified.

If all his equipment were certified, he could Reinforce his physical fitness in reality, and he could even fight against a Jonin.

Bang!

Sasuke was expressionless, suddenly erupted, and smashed a fist fiercely toward Naruto.

The fist was powerful and heavy, bringing with it bursts of air-piercing sounds.

Naruto quickly raised his arms, wanting to block the fist, but felt his arms aching from the impact of the fist.

His whole body was knocked back two steps by Sasuke's fist.

Naruto said with a face full of surprise: "Sasuke, you..."

"Less talk, just let me see your true strength, dead last!"

"Cocky Sasuke, still so arrogant!"

Naruto, who originally didn't want to fight, was stimulated by being called a dead last and immediately became serious.

He took out a certified Novice Iron Sword from his backpack slot and activated the class skill Whirlwind Slash.

This was the first skill he came into contact with after becoming a Warrior class.

It is powerful and can easily split thick city walls.

Now that he has upgraded it to Lv. 4, if he releases it with full power, he could even cut through the very Sturdy defensive barrier at the edge of the village.

Naruto slightly restrained his strength, fearing that Sasuke wouldn't be able to take it.

Boom.

But unexpectedly, a short sword also suddenly appeared in Sasuke's hand, and he swung it with all his might.

Blade and sword collided.

Sasuke actually held off the impact of the Whirlwind Slash steadily, forcing the spinning iron sword to a stop.

Naruto could not believe it and exclaimed: "How is that possible?"

"Nothing is impossible!"

Seeing Naruto suppressed by him, the corners of Sasuke's mouth curled up, and he was very satisfied inside.

He already understood that Naruto is also a Reincarnation Game Player.

And he is one of the first batch of players chosen by the mysterious game merchant, which is why his strength was able to skyrocket in a short time.

Now that he is also a player, this gap has already disappeared.

Although Naruto's level is higher than his own.

But he has the treasures left behind by the Uchiha Clan, all of which have been exchanged for high-quality equipment and certified in reality, allowing him to win against the strong while being weak.

"You are also a Reincarnation Game Player?"

After Naruto saw the familiar Novice Iron Sword clearly, he, being thick-headed, realized it only after the fact and shouted.

Sasuke extended his thumb, pointed at his forehead protector, and laughed: "What truly sluggish observation skills, Naruto. I will be able to surpass your level very soon; by then, you won't even have the qualifications to touch my forehead!"

"Damn it, you arrogant Sasuke, you're too cocky!"

Naruto was provoked by his attitude.

Taking a deep breath,

a surge of majestic momentum radiated from within his body; falling leaves were deflected by this astonishing rising airflow.

A Warrior is a very powerful melee combatant.

Nuji Armor.

Waves of crimson energy materialized into armor, wrapping around Naruto's body and greatly enhancing his attack and defense.

"Don't lose focus, Naruto!"

Sasuke lowered his body, kicked the ground violently with his left foot, and lunged at Naruto using the recoil.

Raging Blade Armor Breaker.

Naruto swung the Novice Iron Sword, the crimson energy flowed into it, and it erupted with a scarlet blade light.

Bang.

Sasuke was sent flying, hit the tree trunk solidly, and blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

"Are you alright?"

Naruto ran over worriedly, wanting to help up his companion who had collapsed to the ground.

Raging Blade Armor Breaker is a Warrior skill with very strong piercing power, capable of easily tearing open the Armor of a Ghost Guard; in reality, even a Chunin would be heavily injured by a single strike.

Sasuke stood up shakily, looked at Naruto, whose eyes were full of concern, and curled the corner of his mouth in an angle the other could not see.

Then, he slapped away the palm the other had reached out to help him up.

"I don't need your help, Naruto, don't be sentimental."

"Damn it, who wants to help you, you poker-faced, arrogant guy!"

Naruto shouted angrily at Sasuke.

Sasuke turned his head away impatiently, not wanting to pay attention to the crazed Naruto.

Only after Naruto left did Sasuke's gaze fall upon his retreating figure, lost in thought for a long time.

To some extent,

the dead-last was one of the few friends he acknowledged, and there was a close connection between them that even he himself could not fathom.

Likewise, that idiot had lived surrounded by malice since childhood, and he himself was also one of the few friends the other could count on one hand.

But the two were different;

the idiot had never possessed a family, so he stubbornly believed that as long as one worked hard, one could have a beautiful life.

But he himself had truly tasted the pain of loss and experienced the feeling of being powerless after struggling desperately, so he held despair toward everything.

It was this complex emotion that made Sasuke envy Naruto greatly, while at the same time, he could not help but want to crush the other's childish and naive views.

"Naruto..."

Sasuke muttered to himself.

He recalled that Itachi Uchiha had once mentioned that the method to activate the Mangekyo Sharingan required killing one's closest friend.

"I will absolutely not follow your ideas to awaken those cursed eyes; I have my own way!"

Sasuke took a sharp breath and drove the chaotic thoughts out of his mind.

Looking at the traces of the battle around him, his heart was filled with anticipation.

As long as he continued to hunt monsters in the Samsara Game, he would definitely be able to become stronger—stronger than Naruto, stronger than Kakashi.

And finally... kill that man!

Brushing the dust off his body, Sasuke left the training ground.

Just as he left, a ninja wearing Anbu attire and a mask quietly dashed toward the direction of the Genbu Jidi.

(End of chapter)