NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: Golden Card
Crunch!
The wooden door creaked open. As Chen Tian stepped inside, an unusual sensation prickled at the edge of his awareness.
His hand instinctively moved to the ninja pouch at his waist, gripping his one and only weapon—a simple shuriken.
His heart sank. He was just a five-year-old orphan in a war-torn village. Who would visit him at a time like this?
Especially now, in the aftermath of the Third Ninja War, when even trusted faces could mask danger.
"Don't be nervous, I'm a friend of your father's," a gentle voice called out from the courtyard.
Chen Tian's eyes darted to the source. Standing before him was none other than Minato Namikaze, the famed Yellow Flash of Konoha, his signature golden hair gleaming in the sunlight. Beside him stood a woman with striking red hair flowing over her shoulders—Kushina Uzumaki.
Relief washed over Chen Tian. He didn't know why they were here, but their reputations alone suggested no immediate danger.
"I greet you, Minato Jōnin and Kushina Jōnin," Chen Tian said, bowing respectfully. "May I ask why you've come to see me?"
In this unforgiving ninja world, survival often hinged on knowing when to bow low and when to stay silent. As a weak orphan, Chen Tian had no illusions about his place in the grand hierarchy.
Kushina immediately knelt down, her bright eyes scanning him. "You know us?" she asked with a playful smirk before reaching out and squishing his cheeks with her pale, delicate hands.
Chen Tian winced, his face scrunching under her grip. "I-it's not like that," he stammered, his words muffled. "M-my parents told me about you..."
The words were barely intelligible, yet Kushina continued to squish his cheeks with an almost maternal zeal.
"Kushina..." Minato chuckled, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head. "Maybe let him breathe a little?"
"Oh!" Kushina blinked and quickly let go, patting Chen Tian's head with a sheepish grin.
Chen Tian sighed inwardly, rubbing his sore cheeks. He knew Kushina's impulsive nature from the stories he'd read, and he had no intention of letting it irritate him. His gaze returned to Minato, waiting for an explanation.
Minato's face softened. "Chen Tian," he began, "Kushina and I spoke with the Third Hokage, and we'd like to take you in. You'll come live with us."
Chen Tian's eyes widened in surprise, his mind racing. Before he could respond, Minato gently pushed him toward the house. "Go on and gather your things. We'll wait here."
As Minato's hand guided him forward, a flash of radiant light caught Chen Tian's eye.
A golden card!
The system's highest-tier card had just dropped from Minato Namikaze himself.
Chen Tian barely managed to suppress his excitement. Without hesitation, he pretended to stumble and swiftly scooped up the card before standing up with an apologetic grin. "Sorry, I slipped!"
Kushina immediately rushed to his side, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?"
Chen Tian waved her off. "I'm fine! I'll go pack now."
Inside the house, he closed the door behind him and exhaled deeply. His heart raced as he opened the system interface.
[Ding! Golden card detected: Beginner Space Talent. Absorb?]
"Absorb!"
Warmth surged through his body, far stronger than any sensation he'd felt before. It was as though his entire being was infused with a new energy, a strange yet comforting power.
When the process was complete, Chen Tian clenched his fists. No noticeable physical change, but he knew something profound had shifted.
"Show system panel," he muttered eagerly.
[Host: Chen Tian]
[Strength: 5]
[Speed: 4]
[Physique: 4]
[Spirit: 22]
[Talent: Space Talent LV3]
[Skill: Shuriken Basics LV1]
Chen Tian's excitement bubbled over. A space talent of any level was a priceless gift, especially in a world where techniques like the Flying Thunder God Jutsu could dominate the battlefield.
Still, he couldn't help but pout slightly. "Level 3? That's it? Namikaze Minato, you're supposed to be Konoha's greatest! Couldn't you have dropped something better?"
Grinning to himself, he quickly packed his belongings. Not that there was much—a few changes of clothes and a storage scroll containing the wealth his parents had left behind.
Chen Tian knew his decision to follow Minato and Kushina was the right one. If he stayed, the Third Hokage would confiscate his home and finances and likely send him to an orphanage.
But with Minato and Kushina? He had a real chance to grow stronger.
As he stepped outside, he could hear Kushina scolding Minato for something trivial, her voice booming like thunder, while Minato awkwardly tried to calm her down.
A small smile crept onto Chen Tian's lips. His life was already changing, and for the better.