Uchiha Tatsumi rubbed his legs, a look of astonishment on his youthful face.
In that instant when his leg power surged, the force was overwhelming — far beyond anything he had experienced before. Caught off guard, he stumbled, struggling to maintain control.
"This power… this speed… it's far beyond what I was capable of…"
He realized he could now surpass ten of his previous self. Until now, he had thought of himself as a rookie, barely able to handle basic training.
Surely, this was one of the legendary Three Delusions of the Ninja World.
Tatsumi assessed his past Taijutsu. Before, it had been average at best among his peers. But now, fueled by a sudden surge of chakra, his movements were not only faster but also more precise than ever.
The technique he had just executed came from the scroll left by Uchiha Kagami, his father. He had struggled to master it before — each attempt exhausted him in less than three meters of movement. But now, not only had the distance more than doubled, the speed was incomparable.
Even as his body ached, Tatsumi felt no usual sense of fatigue. It was as if his potential had been unlocked — a qualitative leap in his Taijutsu.
The pain gradually subsided. Tatsumi rose slowly, dusting himself off. His black pupils gleamed with joy.
"Try again!"
This time, he stepped outside. The house was too fragile for further experimentation — one wrong move, and he could destroy everything.
He focused chakra in his calves once more, this time deliberately controlling it. His movements were still taxing, and after just three meters, he felt his stamina drain.
"My physical strength… it's still not enough…"
He knew he had to retrain to fully control his strength. A ninja who couldn't manage their own body in battle would surely die.
Another attempt followed, slightly better than the last. This time, his chakra nearly exhausted, the system's mechanical voice buzzed in his ear:
> "Host exercises seriously. Ninja points +1. Balance of ninja points: 890."
A smile broke across Tatsumi's face. Points were progress.
After a short rest, he returned to the house. Tomorrow, he would report to the Academy — he couldn't spend all night training. He needed to accumulate physical strength.
…
"Phew… I'm hungry."
His stomach growled. The exertion had been enormous. Fortunately, instant noodles awaited in the refrigerator. He chuckled to himself — it seemed he was destined to become like Naruto eventually.
While eating, the system issued a congratulatory message:
> "Congratulations, host, for completing a single attribute upgrade on the first day. The goal of becoming the strongest ninja in the world is one step closer. New mission unlocked: The host must upgrade at least one attribute to Level 8 before Academy graduation. Rewards are generous; failure will result in all attribute ranks being reset to zero, remaining ninja points cleared, and temporary transformation into a feminine state with mandatory women's clothing for six months. Good luck."
Tatsumi almost choked on his noodles.
"Level 8… Chunin before graduation?! And the punishment… what kind of cruel system is this?!"
He exhaled sharply. Leveling up was no small feat. Level 0 required 100 points to reach Level 1. Level 1 to 2 required 500 points. Level 2 to 3, 1000 points. The requirements increased exponentially with each rank. Level 8 — Chunin — required 33,000 ninja points in his current highest attribute: Taijutsu.
A typical ninja would reach such a level around age ten. For Tatsumi, with only one year to save points, this meant five years of relentless training to reach Chunin-level Taijutsu.
And he couldn't rely solely on Taijutsu — even Guy had other skills. One-dimensional training would not suffice in the real world.
Despite the daunting odds, Tatsumi trained all night. Ten ninja points became 33,000 — a near-impossible task. If completed, he would earn the notorious title: Eternal Genin.
"System… this mission is insane! Can't we have something simpler?"
> "Mission cannot be changed. Host, continue upgrading your highest-ranked attribute first. Take steps forward gradually."
For now, Taijutsu at Level 3 was enough. Tatsumi scanned the system panel once more:
Host: Uchiha Tatsumi
Land of Fire
Age: 5
Comprehensive Strength Index: Exceptional among Academy students
Chakra: 2 (1000)
Taijutsu: 3 (2000)
Shuriken: 2 (1000)
Hand Seal: 2 (1000)
Ninjutsu: 0 (100)
Genjutsu: 0 (100)
Wind: 0 (100)
Fire: 0 (100)
Lightning: 0 (100)
Water: 0 (100)
Earth: 0 (100)
Yin: 0 (100)
Yang: 0 (100)
Balance Ninja Points: 890
The remaining points would be reserved for emergencies — crucial for sudden battles requiring a boost.
Finally, Tatsumi cleaned the house and lay on his bed. In his dreams, he saw himself defeating the Five Kages, confronting Madara and Kaguya, and becoming the strongest in the Ninja World — only to find himself wearing women's clothing as punishment.
"…System, you really are something else," he muttered with a half-smile.