I woke up at six again.
For a moment, I lay still and listened—half-expecting to hear my father's footsteps, the soft rustle of his gear, or the muted sound of him checking his weapons before leaving.
There was nothing.
I washed up in silence and went to the dining table. My mother was already there, setting breakfast down. Only two bowls this time.
"Your father already left," she said without looking at me. "Early start."
I nodded and sat down.
"I hope he comes back safely," I said after a moment.
She paused, just briefly, then resumed what she was doing. "He will. He always does."
I wanted to believe that.
It had been years since my rebirth—years of living under their roof, listening to their voices, eating meals like this. I'd grown attached far more than I ever planned to. The thought of him not returning made something in my chest feel tight.
If he dies…
The thought slipped in uninvited.
Would that awaken my Sharingan?
The question followed immediately after—and with it, another layer of calculation.
And if it does… how would the Gamer System treat it? A skill? A bloodline evolution? Something else entirely?
I sighed quietly and pushed the thoughts aside. Speculation without data was pointless.
After breakfast, I went alone to the garden.
No corrections. No praise. Just repetition.
Leaf on the forehead.
Chakra flowed more easily now—too easily. I barely had to think about it. My control was refined enough that mistakes felt… embarrassing.
Hand seals followed. My fingers moved automatically, transitions smooth and precise.
Hours passed like this.
When the system finally responded, I barely reacted.
[Skill Level Up!]
Leaf Concentration → Level 4
[Skill Level Up!]
Hand Seal Drill → Level 4
I checked the details out of habit.
Skill Status (After Morning Training)
Leaf Concentration — Level 4 (Active)
Experience Until Next Level: 69.29% / 100%
Description: Allows the user to increase chakra control.
Chakra Usage: 1 Chakra per second
Passive Effect: +5% Chakra Control
Hand Seal Drill — Level 4 (Passive)
Experience Until Next Level: 97.67% / 100%
Description: Increases speed and efficiency of hand sealing.
Passive Effect: +5% Hand Seal Speed
I didn't feel excited.
If anything, I felt… dull.
Level four already, I thought. If I reach level fifty doing this, I'd be an idiot.
I shook my head and stood up. Training was necessary—but this wasn't where the real growth was anymore.
Lunch was quiet.
My mother ate across from me, occasionally glancing up.
"You're going out again?" she asked as I finished.
"Yes. To play."
She sighed softly. "That river's becoming your second home."
I smiled faintly. "I just like it."
She waved me off. "Be back before dark."
The flint was already in my pocket.
I went straight to the marked spots this time—no wandering, no hesitation. Six small ant nests. All manageable.
I gathered dried leaves, sparked the flint, and repeated the process over and over.
Efficient. Clean.
The system tracked everything.
+1 EXP
+1 EXP
Again.
And again.
Eventually—
[Level Up!]
Level 4 Achieved
The familiar warmth spread through my body, slightly stronger than before. My breathing steadied almost instantly. Chakra circulation improved, smoother and faster.
Then the returns dropped again.
By the time I finished destroying all six nests, I checked the totals.
[Status Update]
Level: 4
Experience Points: 313 / 3,152
Health Regeneration: 1.40 HP/s
Chakra Regeneration: 1.40 CP/s
Chakra Capacity: 600 / 600
I frowned.
"One point?" I muttered. "Seriously?"
I'd expected at least two.
Diminishing returns. The system was forcing escalation—stronger prey, higher risk.
After resting for a while, I roamed the area again.
No more ant nests.
But then I saw it.
A bee nest—hanging from a tree, buzzing quietly.
I didn't approach it.
I marked the tree instead.
Tomorrow, I thought.
I returned home before nightfall, washed up, and ate dinner with my mother. She asked nothing. I offered nothing.
That night, lying on my futon, I opened the system one final time.
[Status]
Name: Uchiha Keisuke
Level: 4
Experience Points: 313 / 3,152
Health Regeneration: 1.40 HP/s
Chakra Regeneration: 1.40 CP/s
Chakra Capacity: 600 / 600
[Skills:]
Leaf Concentration — Level 4 (69.29%)
Hand Seal Drill — Level 4 (97.67%)
I closed my eyes.
Ants were almost worthless now.
Bees were next.