After my weekly check-up, I was finally allowed to go home.
I stood in the doorway of Naruto Uzumaki's apartment. It was small. It was dusty. And it smelled like a combination of expired milk and dried ramen broth.
"P-U, what a dump," I muttered, kicking a cup of instant noodles aside.
It was like one of those apartments you get when you first move out of your parent's place. It definitely isn't great and you want to leave immediately when something better opens up, but it's yours, so you feel an attachment to it..
I wasn't thrilled about the living conditions, but it was mine.
"System, Inventory."
I pulled out a cleaning rag and a bucket. In twenty minutes, the place was spotless. I opened the window to let the fresh air in.
I laid on the now-clean bed. "Now, the real work begins."
TWO WEEKS LATER…
The last fourteen days were a blur of sweat and violence.
My routine was simple: Wake up, Daily Quest, train with Anko or Ebisu, and then hit the Gates until the sunlight went down.
But simple didn't always mean uneventful. The dynamic with my instructors shifted rapidly as my stats climbed.
During Day 3 With Ebisu:
We were standing by a river. Ebisu was lecturing me on the efficiency of the Transformation Jutsu—a standard E-Rank technique.
"Usually, a student wastes 30% of their chakra on the initial mold," Ebisu droned, adjusting his glasses. "The key is to visualize the skeletal structure first, then the—"
"Like this?" I interrupted.
I didn't use hand signs. I just willed my chakra to move. My high [INT] stat handled the calculations instantly.
Poof.
I transformed into a perfect physical replica of the Third Hokage, down to the liver spots on his hands and the scent of tobacco smoke radiating from the robes.
Ebisu choked on his own spit. He walked around me, inspecting the transformation. He poked my arm. It was solid.
"No wasted chakra," Ebisu whispered, looking rattled. "Perfect physical replication. And you did it without hand signs?"
I dispelled the jutsu with a shrug. "Once you understand the math behind it, the signs are just training wheels."
Ebisu stared at me for a long moment, the sunlight glinting off his dark glasses. "I was told you were a dunce. But you... you can't be categorized as that.
He adjusted his glasses.
"You might have been simply bored. This level of comprehension is… frightening. Perhaps we should move on to something a bit more advanced."
[RELATIONSHIP SHIFT: Ebisu (Teacher → Believer)]
Believer? Of what? I raised a brow.
During Day 7 with Anko:
Rain had engulfed the Forest of Death outskirts. Mud slicked the ground as we engaged in a mock battle.
Anko had to actually try, even just a little bit, when training me. She launched a barrage of senbon needles at me from the tree line, aiming for my joints.
I didn't panic. My [WIS] stat painted a 3D map of their trajectory in my mind. Then with my enhanced [DEX] stat, I was able to move my body before I even consciously told it to.
WEAVE. DUCK. CATCH.
I snatched the last needle out of the air, inches from my neck.
Anko dropped from the trees, landing in a crouch. She wasn't laughing maniacally like she usually did. She was grinning, but it was the grin of a predator that had found interesting prey.
"You didn't flinch," Anko noted, standing up. "Most newbies flinch. They close their eyes. They hesitate."
"I'm not like most," I responded.
She walked over, towering over me.
"You got that right," she said, tapping my forehead. "Your instincts aren't human, kid. They're... wild. Like a beast that's been fighting for survival since birth."
"Oh, is that a compliment?" I asked, twirling the needle between my fingers.
"From me? It's the highest praise there is," she winked. "You're a natural-born killer, kid. Let's see what else you can do."
[RELATIONSHIP UP: Anko (Tormentor → Mentor)]
Mentor huh? That's gonna involve lots of running and dodging, I sighed internally.
With the instructors handled, I turned my attention back to my grind.
The Gates were ever changing; bringing on various different environments as I cycled through keys.
At level 20 I gained access to the System Store. I thought it was very odd that I'd been granted access to it so late, until I saw the prices on the items. The cheapest item was a health potion that restored 5-10% health, and it cost 3,000 ryo. More than half the amount of what I got for completing an E-Rank Dungeon.
Now I understood why I got so much money thrown at me so quickly, the System was telling me that I needed it. And it's not like I can just ignore something like that health item. Even when considered a low quality item by the System's standards, that item is as pure and as effective as the higher rated ointments in the elemental nations.
That was a cool discovery, but that's not the only thing I discovered.
When I reached Level 25, leveling up didn't happen as quickly anymore. The System added an experience threshold to its interface and it read:
Levels 25-30: Required 3 monster kills for a level up.
Levels 31-50: Required 4 monster kills for a level up.
Levels 51+: Required 5 monster kills for a level up.
These excluded Boss monsters, which still granted a direct level up.These new set of rules the System had implemented were a real grind, but I was honestly fine with them. The E-Ranked Gates had started to feel a bit less challenging, and the D-Ranked Gates I unlocked around level 36 were honestly no different, they just had more enemies in them.
However, the rewards I obtained in them have proven very beneficial.
FLASHBACK.
[LOCATION: THE MISTY WOODS - D-RANK DUNGEON]
I crouched on a tree branch, looking down at the fog-covered clearing.
Below me prowled a pack of Steel-Fanged Wolves. They were massive, red beasts with literal fangs of steel. They moved in perfect synchronization.
Just like in Solo Leveling.
"Five of them," I counted. "If I take out the straggler, the others will swarm."
I didn't hesitate. I activated [DASH].
WHOOSH.
I dropped from the tree like a stone. I landed on the straggler's back, driving my kunai into its neck before it could howl.
[XP GAINED]
The other four turned instantly, snarling.
I didn't retreat. I weaved through their attacks, my body moving faster than they could track.
SLASH. DODGE. STAB.
[XP GAINED]
[XP GAINED]
[LEVEL UP!]
[NEW LEVEL: 37]
When the last wolf fell, the fog swirled violently.
[BOSS DETECTED: FERAL ALPHA WOLF]
A massive shadow stepped out of the mist. The Alpha was the size of a minivan. Its fur was red, silver, and white. It had scars running down its muzzle. It also had parts of it body adorned with steel. It didn't growl; it just stared at me with intelligent, hungry eyes.
It launched itself at me, creating a shockwave where it landed. I rolled to the side, feeling the wind of its claws tear at my jacket.
"You're fast," I grinned, pulling out the [Rat King's Fang]. "But I'm faster."
We danced for ten minutes. It buffed the remaining smaller wolves, but I thinned the herd until it was just me and the Alpha.
I baited a bite, slid underneath its belly, and unleashed a flurry of strikes into its soft underbelly.
The Alpha collapsed, howling one last time before dissolving into smoke.
[BOSS DEFEATED]
[LEVEL UP!]
[LEVEL UP!]
[LEVEL UP!]
[+20,000 DUNGEON COMPLETION RYO]
[(90% HP x 50 RYO) x 2.5 RANK BONUS: +11,250 BONUS RYO]
[LOOT OBTAINED: Alpha's Twin Fangs]
Rank: C
Type: Dual Daggers
Effect: +15 DEX. Attacks have a chance to inflict 'Bleed'.
[TITLE EARNED: BEAST SLAYER]:
All physical attacks deal 40% more damage to animal-type monsters.
Passive Effect: Increases 'Sense' (danger perception) when within 100 meters of a beast-class boss.
That's what I'm talking about, I thought, smirking.
As I wiped sweat from my brow, a new notification popped up. A dark, ominous purple screen.
[NOTICE: LEVEL 40 REACHED]
[HIDDEN CLASS QUEST UNLOCKED: SHADOW MONARCH]
Requirement 1: Defeat 490 Beast-Type Enemies. (Progress: 165/490)
Requirement 2: Defeat 10 Human Enemies. (Progress: 0/10)
I stared at the screen with unblinking eyes. Shadow Monarch.
"Finally," I said, a smile adorning my face. "But... ten humans?! That might be a problem."
How am I gonna off 10 humans in this village, while being under a contract that will off me for doing so? I pondered for a moment. Then I shrugged. For that power? I'll figure things out.
PRESENT TIME.
"You are cleared," Doctor Honaka said, though she looked at Hiruzen nervously, adjusting her glasses.
I sat on the stool, shirtless. My muscles were dense and defined for my age, coiled like steel cables. Now at Level 52, I didn't look like a malnourished orphan anymore. I looked like a developing young athlete.
"Show her the weapons," Hiruzen commanded gently.
I pulled the [Alpha's Twin Fangs] from my inventory. The twin silver daggers glinted in the office light, emanating a faint, predatory aura.
"From a forest rift," I explained briefly. "A wolf boss. They give a speed boost."
Hiruzen nodded, eyeing the blades with appreciation. He didn't try to touch them this time. He knew the rules of my new "Bloodline Limit."
"Doctor," Hiruzen said, his voice dropping low. "Update the file. A class S Secret. If word of Naruto's physical development leaves this room, I will consider it an act of treason."
The doctor swallowed hard, sweat beading on her forehead. "Yes, Lord Hokage. My lips are sealed."
Hiruzen turned to me. "You go back to the Academy tomorrow. It is the final week before graduation. Do not draw unnecessary attention to yourself, but do not hide your competence either. The village needs to see that you are... stabilized."
"Stabilized, gotcha," I said, pulling my shirt back on. "I'll be on my best behavior."
The next morning, I walked into the classroom.
The noise level was high. Kids were shouting, throwing paper airplanes, and bragging about their clan techniques.
I stepped through the door.
In the main timeline, Naruto would have jumped on a desk or shouted a greeting. I just walked to a middle-row seat and sat down. I rested my chin on my fist and observed.
The low hum of classroom chatter dipped for a second. I could feel the eyes on me. The last time they saw me, I was being carted off to the hospital. They were looking for bandages and burn marks.
They found neither.
Sasuke Uchiha was sitting by the window, brooding. When he looked at me, his eyes narrowed slightly, dropping to my arms and chest before snapping back to my face. He was trying to figure out how I was in one piece.
Shikamaru Nara was sleeping. When he opened one eye and looked at me, he paused. "Not even a scratch... how troublesome," he muttered, and went back to sleep.
Hinata Hyuga wasn't just blushing. She was gripping the edges of her desk so hard her knuckles were white. She looked at me, her eyes shimmering with what looked like unshed tears, before she quickly ducked her head, hiding behind her dark hair. She was practically vibrating with nervous relief.
If she activated her Byakugan, she'd probably see how dense my chakra coils were. But right now, I think she's just glad I have a pulse.
I scanned the rest of the future "Rookie 9."
Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka were in the middle of a screeching match over Sasuke. They stopped for a split second when I sat down. Ino blinked, looking me up and down with a confused expression. She was clearly expecting the scrawny, singed shrimp from a month ago, not the kid that just walked in. Sakura just scoffed and turned back to Sasuke.
Kiba Inuzuka was leaning back in his chair, bragging about something. He stopped mid-sentence when he saw me. "Wait, didn't he blow himself to pieces?" Kiba whispered loudly.
Akamaru suddenly popped out of Kiba's jacket and let out a low, uneasy whine, staring right at me.
Kiba frowned, patting the dog. "What's up, boy? It's just Naruto. Probably got lucky."
Got lucky?! Oooo, I hope we do sparring today. On the Sage of Six Paths, I'm whooping his ass.
Shino Aburame didn't speak, but he adjusted his sunglasses. My [Chakra Sensitivity] picked up a spike in his bugs—they were agitated.
Choji Akimichi was eating chips, as expected. He paused mid-crunch, looking at me, then offered a silent nod before going back to his snack.
But what surprised me was the sheer number of people. In the anime, it always looked like there were only 15 to 20 other kids. Here, there were at least 30 plus students. Civilians, minor clans, and washouts.
It's packed in this bitch, I thought. It's a shame a majority of these kids are either cannon fodder or civilians with dreams of grandeur.
"Quiet down!"
Iruka Umino walked in, slamming a clipboard onto his desk. The class settled instantly. Iruka had a scar across his nose and a don't mess with me aura today.
He scanned the room. His eyes stopped on me, and his strict posture instantly faltered. He let out a long, heavy exhale, the tension visibly bleeding out of his shoulders. There was no annoyance in his gaze today—just pure, unfiltered relief.
He stared at me for a few seconds, taking in my lack of bandages and my deadpan expression.
"Welcome back, Naruto," he finally said, his voice much softer than his usual yelling volume. "I'm glad to see you in one piece."
I just gave him a slow, silent nod. He blinked, clearly expecting me to shout something, then he cleared his throat and shifted back into teacher mode.
That went well, I thought. Good thing too, cause I don't really know him like that. Plus, I don't know how close he and Naruto really were at this point.
"Today is a final review of theoretical applications before the practical exam," Iruka announced, turning to the chalkboard. He began drawing diagrams of chakra flow and evasion patterns.
Half the class started zoning out. I didn't. I watched him write, cross-referencing his lecture with the skill books I'd read. I was staring intently at the board, my mind calculating the efficiency of Iruka's explanation versus what the System guidebooks said.
Twenty minutes into the lecture, Iruka spun around, chalk in hand. The low murmur of Kiba whispering to some random kid filled the room.
"Since some of us are distracted," Iruka said sternly. He looked at Kiba, then his gaze drifted to me. He saw my blank, intense stare and likely assumed I was spacing out—or worse, suffering from lingering effects of the blast.
"Naruto," Iruka said sharply. "Focus. Explain the core principle of the Substitution Jutsu. Not just what it does, but how it works."
The class giggled. Sakura covered her mouth, expecting me to stutter or make a joke. Kiba smirked, waiting for the crash and burn.
I leaned back in my chair, looking relaxed.
"It's a high-speed optical illusion," I said, my voice calm and carrying easily across the room. "You swap places with a nearby object—a log, debris, whatever—the exact moment an attack lands. But the trick isn't just speed; it requires a sudden burst of chakra to the soles of your feet to execute the switch instantly. If you mistime the chakra surge, you simply get hit."
The giggling died instantly.
Sakura's jaw dropped slightly. Sasuke turned his head completely away from the window to look at me. Even Shikamaru lifted his head off the desk.
Iruka blinked, the piece of chalk snapping in his grip from the sudden silence. He looked down at his lesson plan, then back at me, as if trying to figure out who had snuck into my body.
"That..." Iruka swallowed hard. "That is entirely correct. A highly practical explanation. Very good, Naruto."
He cleared his throat, trying to regain his rhythm. "R-Right. Moving on to the Clone Jutsu..."
I rested my chin on my hand and yawned. I didn't care about his approval or the stunned looks from the other students. I was here to get my headband.
The week flew by in a haze of lectures and review sessions. And then, it was time.
We gathered in the main training hall. The floor was polished wood, and the air thick with the smell of nervous sweat and anticipation. Iruka stood at the front with a clipboard, while Mizuki leaned against the wall, flashing a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Taijutsu sparring," Mizuki announced, his voice echoing off the high ceiling. "Naruto Uzumaki versus... Daiki."
A civilian kid stepped forward. He looked confident, cracking his knuckles theatrically. He was bigger than the average student, likely banking on his size to bully his way through.
"Easy win," Daiki sneered, stepping onto the floor. "Prepare to eat dirt, loser."
Oh brother. I rolled my eyes.
I walked to the center of the ring. I didn't get into a stance. I didn't raise my fists. I just stood there, hands in my jacket pockets, posture loose.
"Begin!"
Daiki charged immediately, throwing a sloppy right hook aimed at my jaw.
I saw him moving in slow motion. I leaned my head to the left. The fist sailed past my ear, disturbing the air but nothing else.
Daiki stumbled, his momentum carrying him forward. He spun around, face red. He swung again—a wild haymaker.
I took a casual step back. The fist missed by an inch.
The rest of the class went silent. Sasuke was leaning forward, his dark eyes locked on my feet.
"Stand still!" Daiki yelled, frustrated and embarrassed. He lowered his shoulder and rushed me, trying to tackle me to the ground.
"Ight big dawg, you got it," I said.
I waited until he was a foot away. I sidestepped his charge, hooked my foot behind his ankle, and gave him a light shove on the shoulder.
Daiki face-planted onto the floor with a loud thud. He tried to scramble up, wheezing, but I placed one foot gently on the center of his back. I applied just enough pressure to keep him pinned to the floor, like a bug under a thumb.
I glanced at the sidelines. Before I even looked at my classmates, my eyes locked onto the instructors.
Iruka was staring at me with his mouth slightly open, his pen hovering completely frozen over his grading clipboard. But it was Mizuki who caught my attention. The friendly, supportive smile he always wore had fractured. His eyes were narrowed, his lips pressed into a thin, tight line. He looked at me not like a student, but like a ruined investment.
He needs me to be desperate. Seeing me succeed ruins his plans for me.
I broke eye contact and looked at the rest of the class. The stunned silence suddenly shattered into a wave of hurried, nervous whispers from the civilian kids in the back.
"Did you even see him move?"
"I thought he was the dead-last..."
"He didn't even throw a punch!"
I tuned out the cannon fodder. The reactions that actually mattered were priceless.
Kiba's mouth was hanging open, Akamaru whining in his jacket. Next to him, Shino adjusted his sunglasses, his kikaichū bugs buzzing audibly beneath his collar, agitated by the sudden, sharp display of dominance.
Shikamaru had actually straightened up. He wasn't sleeping anymore. "He didn't even use a stance," I heard him mutter, his eyes narrowing. "Zero wasted energy. How troublesome."
Beside him, Choji had stopped chewing. A half-eaten chip was frozen halfway to his mouth, his eyes wide as he stared at Daiki struggling against my foot.
I caught Hinata staring from the back row. Her face was burning a bright, tomato red, and she was nervously pressing her index fingers together. But unlike the others who just looked confused or scared, her pale eyes were wide with pure awe. Coming from a clan of close-combat specialists, she knew exactly how much precision it took to drop someone that flawlessly without throwing a single punch.
Even the other girls were stunned. Sakura was blinking rapidly, looking back and forth between me and Sasuke. Beside her, Sasuke was entirely still, but his hands were clenched into white-knuckled fists. I could practically see his Sharingan-less eyes trying to compute how the 'Dead-Last' just moved like an elite.
Ino leaned over the railing, a spark of genuine interest replacing her usual annoyance.
"Hey, forehead," she whispered. "Since when was Naruto... that fast?"
"He just got lucky," Sakura muttered, though she didn't sound convinced.
I looked back down at Daiki.
"Aye, give up already," I told him calmly.
"I... I give!" Daiki gasped.
"Winner, Naruto!" Iruka called out, sounding stunned.
I stepped off and walked back to the line. I didn't celebrate or gloat. I just waited for the next phase.
Moments Later…
I stepped into the testing room a few minutes later. A table was set up with several headbands laid out in a row. Iruka sat behind it, looking hopeful. Mizuki sat next to him, watching me closely with a strange, calculating glint in his eyes.
"Create three clones," Iruka instructed.
I made the hand sign.
I channeled the chakra. My high [INT] stat guided the flow perfectly, measuring the exact amount needed to create illusions without wasting a drop.
Poof. Poof. Poof.
Three perfect replicas of myself appeared in a puff of white smoke. They were crisp, colored, and surprisingly lifelike for simple illusions.
Mizuki's supportive smile completely vanished for a fraction of a second. His eye twitched. He had been banking entirely on my failure to isolate me. Now, he was scrambling for a Plan B.
"Pass," Iruka breathed out, a massive, genuine smile breaking across his face. He picked up a forehead protector with the Leaf insignia, looking proud. "Congratulations, Naruto. You're a Genin."
I took the headband. The metal felt cool and heavy in my hands.
"Cool, thanks," I responded.
I tied it around my forehead, feeling the fabric tighten.
[QUEST COMPLETE: GRADUATION]
[REWARDS]:
5,000 XP
5,000 RYO
[NEW LEVEL: 53]
[NOTICE: DAILY QUEST UPGRADED]
And I get paid too? Nice. And an upgrade to the Daily Quest? What's that looking like? I thought as I walked out of the room, leaving a beaming Iruka and a displeased Mizuki behind.
I pushed the double doors open and stepped out onto the Academy grounds.
The sun was setting, casting long orange shadows across the courtyard. It was packed. Parents were hugging their kids, snapping photos, and admiring the shiny new headbands.
The noise died down the moment I stepped into the light.
It started as a ripple. A mother pointed, her hand trembling. A father stopped laughing and pulled his kid behind his leg. Then, silence spread like a contagion until the entire courtyard was staring at me.
They saw the headband tied securely around my forehead.
"He... passed?" someone whispered. It sounded like a fearful accusation. "They actually made the fox kid a ninja?"
Damn, these bastards ain't discreet at all.
I didn't shrink away or yell for attention. I just walked through as the crowd parted for me like the Red Sea, fear and confusion pushing them back. I walked with my back straight, eyes forward, treating them like NPCs in a background cutscene.
Whelp, so much for not not drawing unnecessary attention to myself, I thought. Who am I kidding? I was always gonna do that. I don't give a fuck.
"Naruto!" a voice called for me.
I stopped and turned.
Mizuki was leaning against the stone archway of a fence, blocking my path. He had a friendly smile plastered on his face, but my [Chakra Sensitivity] picked up the malice radiating off him like heat waves.
Slimy bastard.
"Mizuki-sensei," I greeted, keeping my voice neutral.
"Congratulations on passing," he said, loud enough for the nearby parents to hear. He walked over, placing a hand on my shoulder. "That was impressive. But... I noticed you held back today. Especially in the sparring match."
He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper only I could hear.
"You're capable of much more, aren't you? Passing the exam is just the first step. If you want to become a real ninja... a hero of the village... there is a special, secret test."
"A secret test?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"Yes," Mizuki whispered, his eyes gleaming. "There is a scroll in the Hokage's residence. The Scroll of Seals. If you can retrieve it and bring it to me at the shack in the woods... you will prove you have the skills of an elite."
He smiled. It was the smile of a predator looking at a rabbit.
"What do you say, Naruto? Do you want to be just a Genin? Or do you want to be a legend?"
Time seemed to freeze. The sounds of the village faded away, replaced by the mechanical hum of the System.
[SYSTEM ALERT!]
[ULTIMATE DECISION TRIGGERED!]
Ultimate Decision?
Two massive, glowing cards appeared in my vision, hovering in front of Mizuki's face, pulsating with power.
Oh shit, this is from Ultimate Ninja Storm 3.
[OPTION A: THE PATH OF CHAOS]: Steal the Scroll of Seals.
Reward: B-Rank Ninjutsu.
Consequence: Labeled A Traitor (Temporary), Village Panic.
[OPTION B: THE PATH OF ORDER]:Refuse and Report Mizuki immediately.
Reward: Unique Skill.
Consequence: Loss of Forbidden Scroll Access.
Well, well, well. Now ain't this interesting.
I looked at the floating options once more before making a decision.
I let a slow, sharp grin spread across my face as the ambient hum of the System waited for my input.
I choose…