Midnight draped the village of Konoha in a hush so deep that even the cicadas seemed to hold their breath.
Inside his small apartment, Uzumaki Naruto still sat cross-legged on the tatami floor, hands pressed together in a steady seal. His whiskered face glistened with sweat as he forced himself to keep drawing in chakra, refining it again and again.
The cold, mechanical voice of the system finally broke the silence.
> "Daily Chakra-Refining session complete. Total practice time: eight hours."
"Today's chakra increase: nine points. Current total chakra: twenty-three points."
A soft buzz filled the room and Naruto's body went limp. He toppled sideways onto the futon like a puppet with cut strings.
"Ughhh…" he groaned, staring at the ceiling. "All that, and only twenty-three points?"
The system answered in the same toneless cadence.
> "For a ten-year-old student of the Ninja Academy, twenty-three chakra points are excellent.
Average Academy students possess around ten points.
A Genin typically reaches one hundred points. Chunin range from several hundred to several thousand, while Jonin can exceed a thousand."
Naruto blinked, the numbers slowly sinking in.
So he really was ahead of the pack. His heart gave a little leap.
"Heh… so I'm actually talented, huh? Surpassing most of my classmates already!"
For once, pride sparkled in his blue eyes.
The system, indifferent to his excitement, continued:
> "Summary of current qualifications—
Host: Uzumaki Naruto, Age: Ten, Identity: Konoha Ninja Academy Student.
Chakra: 23.
Ninjutsu: Clone Technique 16/100; Transformation Technique 59/100; Substitution Technique 31/100; Chakra-Refining Technique 61/100.
Taijutsu: Basic Taijutsu 43/100; Shuriken Technique 41/100.
Academic Subjects: Physics 28/100; Silence 19/100; Mathematics 20/100; Japanese 42/100; History 36/100; English 49/100; Biology 44/100; Moral Education 26/100.
Ninja Experience: —"
Naruto whistled softly and rubbed the back of his head.
"Wow… even a dog would shake its head at these grades," he muttered. "Except for chakra, I'm barely average. And the Chakra-Refining skill only improved because you forced me today."
He puffed out his cheeks in mock indignation. "Guess I really am bottom of the class."
Before he could complain further, the system interrupted.
> "A good night's sleep is the foundation of progress. Host must enter sleep mode immediately, or Lightning Release Baptism will commence."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Wait—what? How am I supposed to sleep if I'm terrified of being electrocuted?! At least give me a minute to relax!"
> "Host is advised to stop overthinking and empty the mind. Enter preparatory sleep mode now."
Naruto threw up his hands. "Fine, fine, you win."
He flopped onto the futon, squeezed his eyes shut, and forced his thoughts to drift. Exhaustion soon claimed him, and he sank into a heavy, dreamless slumber—except for the occasional twitch when memories of the system's Lightning Release prickled through his dreams.
---
The Wake-Up Call
Buzz—
A blaring tone shattered the quiet of early morning.
> "Six hours of rest completed. Host must awaken and prepare for today's training."
Naruto groaned and pulled the blanket over his head. "Ughhh… it's only six o'clock. Please, just a little longer…"
> "Warning. Lightning Release Baptism countdown begins in five… four…"
"I'm up! I'm up!"
Naruto bolted upright, rubbing his bleary eyes and stifling a massive yawn.
> "Proceed to wash your hands and face, prepare a nutritious breakfast, and consume it within thirty minutes."
Naruto shot the invisible system a dark glare but didn't argue. He had learned his lesson the hard way.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," he grumbled.
Fortunately, he had prepped most of his meal the night before. A few quick motions later, rice and miso soup steamed on the low table. He shoveled the food down, determined not to trigger any more lightning. By the time the sun's first rays warmed the village rooftops, Naruto had cleaned up and was already tightening his forehead protector.
"New day, new beginning," he said to himself, stretching his arms. "Gotta keep at it if I ever want to be Hokage."
The system's flat voice answered:
> "After reviewing initial progress, the host's first month-end goal is set: place in the top ten of your class in the upcoming evaluation."
"Failure will result in a minor punishment."
Naruto nearly choked on the last sip of tea.
"Top ten?! Are you kidding me? Just fry me with lightning now—that'd be easier!"
His protests earned only silence, followed by another directive:
> "It is time to depart for the Academy. Host will walk there on his hands."
Naruto froze. "Walk… on my hands? Are you serious?"
> "Affirmative. Begin immediately."
He groaned. "This is just cruel. First you torture my legs with squats, now you want to wreck my arms too."
But he knew resistance was pointless. With a resigned sigh, he flipped forward into a handstand.
"Fine! Hands it is!"
He wobbled down the hallway, muttering under his breath.
"Hokage, huh? At this rate I'll be the Handstand Kage."
---
An Unusual Commute
The cool morning air nipped at Naruto's upside-down face as he made his way through Konoha's streets. The village had begun to stir; shopkeepers rolled up shutters, and early risers headed to market.
Every passerby slowed to stare.
"Is that… Naruto?"
"What's that kid doing now?"
"Trying to get attention again, no doubt."
Whispers followed him like a trail of leaves. Some villagers stepped back three paces, shaking their heads.
Naruto kept his eyes on the road—or rather, the upside-down road—and ignored them.
Sweat trickled from his brow onto the stone path. His arms trembled from the strain, but he clenched his teeth and pressed on.
> "Host's handstand posture is incorrect. Switch to a single-hand stance."
Naruto nearly collapsed. "A what?!"
> "Warning. Lightning Release Baptism countdown—"
"Okay, okay!" he yelped.
Gritting his teeth, he carefully shifted his weight to the right side and lifted his left hand. His entire body wobbled like a sapling in the wind.
Villagers gasped.
"Did you see that? He's balancing on one hand!"
"That boy is out of his mind…"
Naruto ignored them all. His focus narrowed to the steady rhythm of his breathing and the rough feel of the street under his palm. Every step forward sent a new jolt of pain up his arm, but he refused to fall.
Drip. Drip. Sweat dotted the dusty ground behind him like a breadcrumb trail.
---
Victory at the Gate
At last the familiar gates of the Ninja Academy came into view.
With a final heave, Naruto swung his legs down and straightened, panting heavily. His right arm hung numb and tingling at his side.
He wiped his brow and grinned despite the curious stares of his classmates.
> "Single-hand handstand walk to the Academy completed. Stamina +1."
Naruto gave a weak thumbs-up. "You'd better believe it."
Though his arm felt like it belonged to someone else, a fierce sense of accomplishment welled in his chest. The system's demands were harsh, maybe even crazy—but every time he met them, he felt stronger.
One day, he thought, I'll show everyone who laughed at me. I'll become Hokage, no matter how many handstands it takes.