I woke up at six again.
The house was quiet.
After washing up, I went to the dining table and sat across from my mother. Only two bowls were laid out. It was the second morning in a row my father wasn't there.
I stared at the empty seat for a moment longer than I should have.
My mother noticed.
She smiled gently and placed my bowl in front of me. "He'll be fine," she said. "Your father's good at what he does."
I nodded, even though a small sigh escaped me before I could stop it.
"He'll come back safe," she repeated, more firmly this time.
"I know," I said.
And I ate.
After breakfast, I rested briefly, then went out to train.
No distractions. No interruptions.
The leaf stuck easily now. Chakra control had crossed into familiarity—it wasn't something I actively strained for anymore. I simply let it move, and it obeyed.
Hand seals followed.
My fingers were steadier. Faster. The difference between intention and execution was shrinking with each repetition.
By the time the system chimed, I was already expecting it.
[Skill Level Up!]
Leaf Concentration → Level 5
[Skill Level Up!]
Hand Seal Drill → Level 5
I checked the details out of routine.
Skill Status (After Morning Training)
[Leaf Concentration — Level 5 (Active)]
Experience Until Next Level: 49.39% / 100%
Description: Allows the user to increase chakra control.
Chakra Usage: 1 Chakra per second
Passive Effect: +6% Chakra Control
[Hand Seal Drill — Level 5 (Passive)]
Experience Until Next Level: 56.66% / 100%
Description: Increases speed and efficiency of hand sealing.
Passive Effect: +6% Hand Seal Speed
No thrill.
Just progress.
Lunch was quiet. Afterward, I told my mother I was going to play by the river again.
She smiled faintly. "You've made a habit of that."
"I like it there."
"Just be careful," she said.
"I will."
On the way, I saw Obito.
He was walking with his grandmother, holding her hand, talking loudly about something I didn't catch. She noticed me first.
"Oh—hello," she said warmly. "You're the Uchiha boy from next door, aren't you?"
"Yes," I replied. "My name's Keisuke."
She smiled and nudged Obito forward. "This is Obito."
He grinned immediately. "Nice to meet you! Wanna be friends?"
I blinked once, then nodded. "Sure."
That seemed to make him happy.
"Where are you going?" his grandmother asked.
"To play by the river."
She looked down at Obito. "Want to go with him?"
"Yes!" he answered instantly.
"Then be safe," she warned us both. "And don't wander too far."
At the river, Obito stuck close.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"I marked a beehive," I said.
His eyes widened. "Bees?"
"Yes."
"Cool! What are you gonna do with them?"
I didn't answer.
Instead, I gathered dry wood and leaves, struck the flint, and lit them. Obito watched silently, eyes glued to my hands.
"Stay back," I told him.
He nodded immediately.
I approached the hive and threw the burning bundle upward. Bees swarmed out in chaos. I swung the burning wood, knocking them down as they came.
The system didn't hesitate.
[+10 EXP]
[+10 EXP]
Again.
And again.
I didn't look back.
Hours passed before I climbed up and severed the hive, laying it carefully on the cloth I'd brought.
"Done," I said.
Obito stared at the ruined hive, eyes wide. "That was awesome! Bring me next time—I wanna do it too!"
I smiled.
"Maybe," I said.
Inside, I shook my head.
Never.
The system updated as the last notifications rolled in.
[Status Update]
Level: 5
Experience Points: 1,494 / 3,732
Health Regeneration: 1.50 HP/s
Chakra Regeneration: 1.50 CP/s
Chakra Capacity: 650 / 650
The EXP dropped partway through—ten per bee, then nine after leveling.
Diminishing returns again.
I sighed.
I walked Obito home and waved goodbye, then headed back myself.
"How was your afternoon?" my mother asked when I came in.
"I played with a neighbor kid," I said. "His name's Obito."
She smiled. "That's good. Friends are important."
I nodded.
They are, I thought. And they're also liabilities.
But Obito was… different.
Maybe I could save him.
Maybe I could steer him away from his fate.
But first—
I needed power.
That night, I checked the system one last time.
[Status]
Name: Uchiha Keisuke
Level: 5
Experience Points: 1,494 / 3,732
Health Regeneration: 1.50 HP/s
Chakra Regeneration: 1.50 CP/s
Chakra Capacity: 650 / 650
[Skills:]
Leaf Concentration — Level 5 (49.39%)
Hand Seal Drill — Level 5 (56.66%)
Tomorrow, I'd go alone again.
Friends could wait.
Power couldn't.