With expectations in his heart, coupled with a hint of wine, David fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Dong Dong—!
Dong Dong Dong—!!
The next morning, loud knocking echoed through the apartment door, pulling David from his sleep.
"Who is it?" he mumbled groggily, rubbing his eyes and stumbling toward the door.
As soon as he opened it, Lucy stood there, looking radiant in a white jacket that complemented her white-pink hair. She eyed David from head to toe, her gaze lingering with a hint of concern.
"Hey, David. What did you do yesterday? I called, and you didn't answer. No replies to my messages either."
David scratched the back of his head, still half-asleep. "Ah… My phone died last night. I got home late from Afterlife and didn't think to charge it."
"Oh…" Lucy's lips parted slightly before a faint smile tugged at the corners. "I see… I thought you might've been up to something."
"What else would I be doing? Just workin' my shifts at Afterlife." David yawned, his eyes heavy with sleep. "Anyway, was that all you wanted this morning?"
"Ah—uh, no! Not exactly," Lucy stammered, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. Her eyes flicked aside before she quickly added, "I just wanted to remind you—lunch later, remember? The darknet bounty came through, so it's my treat today."
"Yeah, I saw the note you left on my door last night. Guess you forgot, huh?"
Lucy stuck her tongue out sheepishly, looking like a guilty kitten caught in the act. "Oops… Yeah, I guess I did. Alright, I'll let you catch some more sleep. Don't forget, okay? See you at noon!"
Before David could respond, she spun around and hurried toward the stairwell, her footsteps echoing as she rushed downstairs.
"…Weird girl." David shook his head with a chuckle, watching the stairwell for a moment before shutting the door.
Meanwhile, Lucy slowed her pace once she was out of sight, pressing a hand to her flushed cheeks.
"Lucy, what the hell are you doing? This isn't like you…" she muttered under her breath. "Staying up all night worrying about that guy… Crazy."
She exhaled sharply, quickening her steps toward her apartment on the 21st floor.
Back in his room, David flopped onto the bed, ready to drift back to sleep.
But before he could close his eyes—
Ding—!
[The frog cub has returned from its trip and brought back souvenirs. Please check your inventory.]
"Huh?!"
David bolted upright, his fatigue instantly forgotten. He'd been wondering why the frog cub hadn't come back yesterday. Turns out, the little guy had returned early this morning!
Without hesitation, David summoned the system interface within his mind.
Inside the virtual hut, the frog cub lounged comfortably on the bed, casually flipping through a book. Its tiny legs crossed as if it didn't have a care in the world.
David's gaze landed on the book cover—its title emblazoned in simplified Chinese characters: Make-Out Paradise.
"You've gotta be kidding me…" David's eye twitched. "The little guy snagged Jiraiya's novel?! Kakashi couldn't even read that without blushing!"
He couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity. If possible, he wouldn't mind sneaking a peek at what was written inside.
"…Maybe the system'll upgrade someday so I can chat with this frog cub," David mused before shaking off the thought. Right now, the priority was the souvenir.
Opening the item toolbar, he spotted a new icon:
A dark red symbol resembling a pair of eyes connected by three black tomoe, arranged in a six-pointed star.
David's breath hitched.
"No way…"
His consciousness immediately pulled up the item's information:
[Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan]
The ultimate celestial eye capable of seeing through the three realms. Originates from the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit. When activated, it grants unparalleled visual perception and unlocks various ocular abilities depending on the user's mental energy.
Energy Conversion:
Due to the absence of chakra in this world, the power of the Sharingan is fueled by the user's mental strength. The stronger the mind, the greater the power of its abilities.
"Frog cub… you really outdid yourself this time!" David's excitement surged as he clenched his fists.
He never expected the little guy to travel to the world of Naruto and bring back the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan! And with the system's energy conversion mechanism, as long as his mental power increased, he could unleash the eye's full potential—Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, Susanoo… all within reach.
Most importantly, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan came without the usual side effects of blindness.
One word: Overpowered.
"Extract souvenir!" David commanded mentally, his heart racing.
Ding—!
[Fusion process initiated. Please wait.]
[Fusion complete. Detecting host's current mental power level: 1.]
[Unlocked ability: Amaterasu. Skill cooldown: 1 hour.]
David's eyes snapped open.
His once dark brown irises now blazed crimson, with the six-pointed Mangekyō pattern gleaming ominously within each eye—strange, yet mesmerizing.
"…Level 1, huh?" David muttered, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice. But considering his past life as a regular otaku back on Earth, it made sense that his mental endurance would start at the lowest level.
Well, nothing a bit of training won't fix.
Even so, unlocking Amaterasu alone was already a game-changer. The black flames that could burn anything—indestructible, unquenchable, and capable of reducing nearly anything to ashes.
David's mind raced with possibilities. What would Amaterasu look like when unleashed in the cybernetic world of Night City?
He smirked.
Soon, I'll find out.
Meanwhile, across town at the Tiger Claws' main hall on Sakura Street—
The air hung heavy with tension. Yoko Taro, the leader of the Tiger Claws, sat on a sleek leather sofa, dressed in a pristine white suit that contrasted starkly with the dark atmosphere.
Standing before him, bowing slightly with sweat on his brow, was Takeyama Masami—the head of the Kabuki district branch.
"So, Takeyama… The boy who killed Jotaro possesses some kind of… special cyberware?" Yoko Taro's voice was low, his words deliberate.
"Yes, boss!" Takeyama nodded stiffly, keeping his gaze downcast. "That Dragon-born punk… He's not normal. My men swear they saw him controlling firearms without even touching them."
Yoko Taro leaned forward slightly, his cold eyes narrowing.
"So, not only did this boy humiliate the Tiger Claws in front of Afterlife… but he did so using abilities no one can explain?"
Takeyama's throat tightened. Sweat dripped from his temple as he lowered his head even further. "Boss, I… I take full responsibility for my failure. Please… grant me another chance!"
Silence.
Yoko Taro's gaze bored into Takeyama as if peeling away his very soul. Finally, the gang leader spoke with a chilling calmness.
"Opportunities are earned… but they can also be lost, Takeyama."
Takeyama's breath hitched. "Y-Yes, boss… I understand! If I fail again, I—I will commit seppuku to atone for my dishonor!"
Yoko Taro's expression remained unreadable. After a long pause, he gave a slow nod.
"Good. If you understand that… I expect results. Soon."
Takeyama straightened his back and bowed deeply. "Understood! The Tiger Claws are unmatched!"
The slogan of the Tiger Claws—words branded into their very existence.
"Go," Yoko Taro ordered with a wave of his hand.
Takeyama didn't hesitate. He spun on his heel and marched out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
Alone in the dimly lit hall, Yoko Taro poured himself a glass of sake, swirling the liquid as he gazed into the distance.
"A boy who can control weapons with his mind…" he murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with something between intrigue and menace.
"…I wonder how much you'd fetch on the black market."
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