Tokyo, Seidō High School Baseball Club.
The First String players were away at a practice match, while the Second String practiced batting on Field A.
Meanwhile, the third-string players gathered on Field B for an intra-squad game.
More than fifty players split into two teams.
Ōta Kazuyoshi, the club president, and Takashima Rei, the vice president, each led a team.
"My chance has come!" exclaimed Kuramochi Yōichi, a first-year player with eyes full of ambition.
Until now, the club's focus had mostly been on the First String, with only occasional attention to the Second.
Today's big intra-squad match for the third string made that clear.
"Kazuya-senpai was promoted to the First String. We can't fall behind, can we, Takumi-kun?" he urged eagerly.
The young man next to him, Yamamoto Takumi, stayed quiet, expression unreadable.
Since realizing he'd transmigrated into the Ace of Diamond world, Takumi had wanted to join Seidō.
His system would activate only after entering Seidō High School. Though his baseball skills were average and academics so-so, his wealthy family's sponsorship secured his spot.
He'd expected the system to help him shine once he joined. But so far, it stayed dormant, sapping his motivation.
It wasn't a lack of willpower—his body just couldn't keep up with Seidō's top players.
At fifteen, he was 176 cm tall and weighed 55 kg.
Among first-years, he was pretty average.
But Seidō's players? They were middle school all-stars and top Aces from across the country.
He was clearly at the bottom.
In the welcome match, he hadn't even gotten a chance to play, let alone show his skills.
Miyuki Kazuya, who shone brightly upon joining the team and was immediately promoted to the First String as the team's third catcher, made him feel even more outmatched—despite the attention from the club's leaders.
In contrast, Yōichi, standing beside him, excelled in every way and was expected to move up to Second String soon.
"In today's game, you've already got two hits and a stolen base. You're definitely getting promoted," he remarked confidently.
"Thank you, Takumi-kun!" Yōichi replied warmly.
For some reason, Yōichi got along especially well with him. Even though he'd always been at the bottom of the third string, it didn't bother him.
"The score is 4–5. The red team is up to bat, and the opportunity is right in front of us."
One out, runner on second base.
Just one hit would tie the game.
Takashima Rei, leading the red team, pushed her glasses up her nose with her ring finger and murmured, "Who else on our team hasn't played yet?"
For a moment, no one answered.
Just as she was about to call on Maezono Kenta, who'd done well earlier, Kuramochi suddenly raised Takumi's hand.
"Takumi-kun hasn't played yet!"
Hearing this, she looked at him instantly.
Takumi was a clean-cut, handsome young man—one of the top three in looks at Seidō. His presence had drawn a lot of attention when he joined.
Unfortunately, he'd never studied baseball before and was still learning the basics. According to the coaches, it would probably take until his third year before he could play competitively—unless something unexpected happened.
With his current skills, he'd be at best at the bottom of the Second String, meaning he might only be a benchwarmer by his third year.
Rei felt a pang of regret.
His overall talent wasn't bad. If he'd been trained properly since middle school, even if he couldn't have stood out immediately like Miyuki Kazuya and others, he might have eventually earned a spot in the First String.
Seeing the regret in her eyes, Takumi felt a bitter sting himself.
He didn't want to be stuck like this, but there was little he could do. Who had told him that after transmigrating, his physical condition would be like this?
Even with extra practice every day, he barely kept up with the third string's training intensity.
He wasn't a prodigy, so rapid progress wasn't realistic. And the system he'd hoped for still hadn't activated.
"Do you want to play?" Rei asked gently, her voice encouraging.
Having seen his potential future, she was willing to give him a chance. With his looks, he didn't have to be a baseball player—he had other options.
Faced with the opportunity, he hesitated.
He'd tried hard—he'd convinced his parents to let him enter Seidō and hadn't stopped practicing since.
But Rome wasn't built in a day. Baseball skills couldn't be mastered overnight.
The system stayed silent, and despite his efforts, he couldn't catch up with his teammates.
He felt deeply confused.
As a fellow transmigrator, why didn't he have the monstrous physique or the top-tier skills that others before him seemed to possess?
Now, Rei was asking him to play. She was testing him—both his courage to step up and whether he'd made any progress.
Courage? He definitely had that.
Progress? Not so much, unfortunately.
And with seniors in the First and Second Strings, plus many skilled first-years even in the third string, he knew he was still behind.
On the blue team's side, Kawakami Norifumi was pitching.
Like the others, he was a first-year rookie, but his performance had already caught Ōta Kazuyoshi's attention. He was clearly the standout among their rookies.
"I…"
Just as Takumi hesitated, the system in his mind activated.
[The host has transmigrated to the Shinobi World, possessing no talent and unable to establish himself there. Next, you will face your first battle in the Shinobi World with zero chance of winning. The system is now activated, granting a Novice Gift Pack. Would you like to open it?]
The system had finally awakened.
He was stunned for a moment, then felt a surge of strength flood his body.
But something felt off.
He had clearly transmigrated to the Ace of Diamond world.
The reward the system offered didn't quite fit.
Still, Naruto: Shippuden skills in the Ace of Diamond world—that could be overwhelmingly powerful.
Though he didn't fully understand what was happening, he stepped forward and met Takashima Rei's gaze without hesitation.
"I'll play!"