Early the next morning, Naruto forced himself to get up.
After resting for three days straight, he almost forgot that he was supposed to be a ninja. In this world with no cell phones and where computers were too expensive to buy, there really wasn't much entertainment.
Naruto couldn't figure it out. The world of the Hokage clearly had electricity. And it wasn't electricity created through Lightning Release techniques either, but real civilian power.
That proved this world's technology had already stepped into the electrical age. Utility poles could be seen all over Konoha, and there were televisions, refrigerators, even air conditioners, washing machines, and dryers.
But Naruto's situation was that of an orphan relying on government assistance. He had no family background, no money, and as a genin, not much ability.
His old refrigerator had already broken down. Naruto scratched his head for a long time, unable to repair it, which led to his first day in this world being greeted with several bottles of spoiled milk.
Fortunately, the assistance he received was generous enough. As long as he didn't need to buy large items, it was enough for everyday living.
Normally, that support would stop once Naruto officially became a ninja. From then on, he would have to rely on taking missions to support himself.
Having been in this world for half a month, Naruto had formed a rough understanding of its level of technology. Compared to his old world, this one seemed weaker, almost as if the "tech tree" had been skewed.
The existence of ninjas had pushed technology forward, but chakra's overwhelming energy also limited its progress.
Take for example the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had all five chakra natures. He didn't need a lighter to light a pipe, and to monitor others he just used a crystal ball.
The sheer power and convenience of ninjutsu meant people focused more on fighting over territory than advancing science. Since the God of Shinobi, the First Hokage, founded Konoha, countless ninja wars had already been fought.
Under constant war, science could never advance rapidly. And since ninjas were the main actors of this world, technology naturally developed around their needs.
That was why the villages had communication devices for internal use, yet anything like cross-country communication remained primitive due to information sensitivity.
Whenever necessary, ninjutsu took precedence over technology.
What also caught Naruto's attention wasn't only this skewed technological tree, but also the level of weaponry.
Most ninjas still used traditional cold weapons. At most, the more advanced ones were chakra-forged short blades like the one wielded by Kakashi's father, the White Fang of Konoha.
Or weapons that were summoned beasts transformed into tools, like the Third Hokage's partner Enma. Then there were the cursed swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
But divine artifacts like the Kusanagi Sword or the Totsuka Blade, or the Sage of Six Paths' treasures like the Bashōsen, the Golden Rope, the Seven Star Sword, and the Red Gourd, all seemed unimpressive.
By the time they appeared, they were already outclassed by bloodline monsters roaming everywhere.
And what about firearms?
Outside of Sasori from Sunagakure, who relied on powerful firepower, or the Asura Path created by Pain with its missiles and laser cannons, hot weapons were rare.
Their development seemed tied almost exclusively to puppet masters. In the far-off Land of Snow, chakra armor, steamships, and airships had appeared, but their location limited large-scale use. Even there, cold weapons like giant kunai launchers remained dominant.
The Sky Ninja Village even had flying fortresses and carrier battle groups. While not nuclear-powered, they still held real deterrent value.
Overall, because of endless wars, major ninja villages were stuck in a cycle of conflict. Peace was hard to achieve.
Under such circumstances, ninjas were the backbone of the military, holding higher status than technology. Tech couldn't separate itself from ninjas and develop independently, leaving it restricted.
The rise of ninjas had reshaped the world, but the constant cold war had locked science in place.
After washing up, Naruto yawned at the bleary-eyed figure in the mirror. Tossing his toothbrush into the cup, he ended his daydreaming in the bathroom.
Once dressed, he headed to the academy. The classroom was already filled with students when he arrived. His late entrance drew some attention, but no one greeted him.
Everyone was busy speculating about their future teammates and which jōnin would lead their squads. Ninja squads were always composed of three members.
Since the Second Great Ninja War, Tsunade's role as a medical ninja had been recognized by the upper ranks.
Having a female medical ninja in the team significantly increased survival and mission success rates. From then on, the tradition of two males and one female in a squad was kept.
That was the official explanation. But Naruto understood there was more to it.
The truth was that Konoha had lost too many people in its long wars.
A ninja village was essentially a military camp. Wars meant indiscriminate battles, and a neat pattern of three-person squads with one female medic wasn't realistic.
When Tsunade first proposed it after her brother Nawaki's death, the higher-ups weren't swayed. Some even saw it as nothing more than her grief-driven idealism.
But the endless wars eventually forced them to accept. Casualties were so high that even teenagers had to be sent to the battlefield.
If they didn't include medical ninjas in squads, it wouldn't be long before even old women and children would be forced to carry kunai into battle.
"Hey Naruto, aren't you curious about what kind of teammates you'll get?" Choji nudged Naruto, who was staring blankly with dead-fish eyes.
"Not curious. Not at all," Naruto said, resting his head in his hands. "Even if others are nervous, why are you three making such a fuss?"
He cast his gaze toward Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino.
"The Ino–Shika–Cho combo of the village. If I were the Hokage, I'd never break you guys apart."
Ino clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Teaming up with these two? What a pain!"
"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered.
"Heh heh," Choji, on the other hand, looked quite happy. At least this way, he wouldn't be separated from his childhood friends.
Maybe because they had grown up together, Shikamaru and Choji had never seen Ino as a girl.
And Ino herself seemed to always have her eyes on Sasuke anyway, her loud and carefree personality more like a tomboy.
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