"987… 988… 989…"
Naruto's legs trembled with every hop. What was usually a short stroll home now felt like a march to the edge of the world. His thighs burned, his shoulders ached beneath the weighted backpack, and his spirit wavered on the brink of collapse.
"I… can't… stand… it… need… a break…" he panted.
> Warning: Lightning Release baptism countdown… 5… 4… 3…
"990! 991! 992!" he shouted, panic snapping him forward.
The imagined crackle of lightning behind the system's voice spurred him to keep hopping.
Pat—pat—pat.
People along the street turned to gape as the blond boy frog-jumped past, a heavy pack bouncing on his back.
"Is that… the demon kid?" one man whispered.
"Shh! Don't say that so loud," another hissed.
"What's he doing? Why's he working so hard all of a sudden?"
"Hmph, probably some new prank. You know how he is."
"Right. That brat never behaves—always causing trouble. Let's stay away."
Naruto heard every word, but today he didn't even have the strength to sigh, let alone yell back. The sharp sting of their cold stares barely registered. His mind held only one goal: frog-hop home, no matter what.
And once he got there? Two cartons of milk. A giant bowl of hot instant ramen. He could already smell the steam and taste the salty broth. Just thinking about it made his stomach rumble and his mouth water. A spark of motivation reignited.
"1109… 1110… 1111… 1112!"
The final hop landed him in front of his apartment building. For the first time ever, the cramped little place looked like paradise.
Naruto scrambled upright, shaking out his numb legs. "Even though it hurts… why does it feel kinda… good? Am I some kind of masochist?"
Despite the burning in every muscle, he could feel his energy bouncing back far faster than it should. His Uzumaki bloodline and the power of the Nine-Tails inside him were doing their quiet work—mending muscle fibers, flooding his body with vitality.
> Mission complete: Weighted frog-jump homecoming.
Stamina +3. Current Stamina: 76 points.
"Ha!" He grinned despite the sweat. "Physics and chemistry may hate me, but my stamina's amazing!"
With that triumphant thought, he dashed upstairs, tossed his bag aside, and reached for his cooking pot. "Finally, I can eat!"
But the system had other plans.
> Host detected preparing to eat.
A healthy diet is essential for a strong physique and for becoming Hokage.
Please prepare a balanced dinner with fresh meat, eggs, milk, vegetables, and fruit.
"…Huh?" Naruto blinked. "Instant ramen counts as healthy if I say it does, right?"
> NO.
"What? But I like instant ramen! No—more accurately, I love Ichiraku's ramen!"
> Ramen acceptable. Instant ramen not acceptable.
"Are you kidding me?! Where am I supposed to get meat and veggies right now?"
Grumbling, he yanked open the fridge. A single familiar carton sat on the shelf. "Well, at least there's milk—"
> Warning: The milk in host's hand is expired and harmful to growth. Replace immediately.
"What? No way!" He checked the date, counting on his fingers. His eyes widened. "Seriously expired? Have I been drinking spoiled milk this whole time?"
No wonder his stomach sometimes betrayed him.
He grabbed another carton.
> Expired. Discard immediately.
"This one too?!" He rummaged frantically. Almost every box was bad. Only two or three cartons, recently purchased, were barely within date.
Naruto chose one carefully. Silence from the system—finally! He twisted off the cap and drank deeply, draining it in a single gulp.
"Aaaahhh…" Relief spread through him. He grabbed another carton and chugged it, then reached for the last.
> Caution: Overconsumption of milk detected.
Prepare a balanced dinner immediately.
And throw away all expired milk.
He slumped. "But… I don't know how to cook!"
> Warning…
"Okay, okay! You win!" He raised his hands in surrender. "I'll throw out the old milk and go shopping."
Still, as he stared at the fridge filled with doomed cartons, he felt a twinge of reluctance. That was a lot of milk. But he sighed, tied up the trash bag, and stuffed the spoiled cartons inside.
"Goodbye, milk," he said mournfully, lugging the bag out the door. He slung his little frog-shaped coin purse around his neck and stepped into the evening.
The village streets glowed with warm lantern light. Naruto headed for the nearest grocery stand. His monthly allowance wasn't huge, but it covered daily needs—if he didn't blow it all on Ichiraku ramen.
Normally he never planned his meals. Most days he lived on instant noodles and milk. Now, with the system lecturing like a stern parent, he was buying ingredients he'd barely touched before: fresh meat, eggs, leafy greens, apples, carrots. He piled everything into two bulging bags and trudged back, arms aching.
By the time he returned, the sky was indigo and windows across the village glimmered with cozy family light. Naruto paused outside his door for a moment, watching those bright squares of warmth. None of that belonged to him.
Yet, oddly, the system's constant chatter left him less lonely. Its firm instructions filled the quiet of his apartment like the voice of a strict—if bossy—guardian. He didn't notice it, but for the first time all day, he wasn't thinking about the parents he'd never known.
Inside, he unpacked the groceries until the fridge actually looked like it belonged to a normal household. Then he rolled up his sleeves.
---
Naruto's first self-cooked dinner was anything but fancy: a simple stir-fry of meat and vegetables, a boiled egg on the side, and a glass of fresh milk. He eyed the pan skeptically. "Well… it's food."
He sat, picked up his chopsticks, and dug in.
The flavors were uneven—some vegetables too crisp, the egg slightly rubbery—but it was warm, filling, and his.
He devoured everything in under ten minutes.
Leaning back, he let out a satisfied burp and stretched like a cat. "That… was awesome."
For a brief moment, he basked in the simple pride of a full stomach earned through hard work.
But the system was relentless.
> Host has eaten, but today's required eight hours of Chakra Refining are incomplete.
Begin training immediately.
Naruto groaned and flopped sideways on the chair. "Can't I rest for just a little?"
> Warning: Lightning Release baptism countdown… 5… 4… 3…
He threw his hands over his head. "Fine! Shock me if you dare! I'm done for today!"
Despite his words, he knew he wasn't at his absolute limit. His body was recovering even as he complained. The truth was simple: humans can push through almost anything in a single determined burst, but once that burst is over, willpower wavers.
Naruto yawned, staring at the ceiling.
"Tomorrow," he promised himself.
"I'll train even harder."
---
To be continued…