The system never woke Aren with alarms or sudden prompts.
It preferred subtlety.
He became aware of it the same way he noticed changes in his own breathing—quietly, gradually, without panic.
[Cognitive Clarity Active.]
Mental Fatigue Reduction: Minor
Aren opened his eyes.
Morning light filtered through the thin curtains of his apartment, painting the ceiling in soft gold. His mind felt… lighter. Sharper. Thoughts lined up instead of colliding.
So that's the passive, he noted.
Not dramatic. Not flashy.
Useful.
He sat up slowly and focused inward, testing the effect.
Guiding chakra felt smoother, like his mental grip had improved just enough to prevent slippage. The gain was small—but stable.
Small gains compounded.
That was the system's philosophy.
System Observation
Unlike other systems he'd read about in his previous life, this one didn't flood him with notifications. It didn't reward every action. It didn't push him toward reckless growth.
Instead, it enforced rules.
And today, one of those rules surfaced clearly for the first time.
[System Notice.]
Warning: Excessive dependency reduces adaptive growth.
Restriction Applied: No direct combat skill acquisition before baseline conditioning is met.
Aren frowned slightly.
So no instant techniques. No free jutsu.
He considered it carefully—and then relaxed.
Good.
Shortcuts created weak foundations. Weak foundations collapsed under pressure.
If he wanted to survive past childhood, he needed control, not spectacle.
Academy – Sparring Day
The training yard buzzed with anticipation.
"Today," Iruka announced, "we'll be doing light sparring. One-on-one. Focus on form, not power."
Excited chatter erupted immediately.
Naruto pumped his fist. "Finally! I'm gonna wipe the floor with everyone!"
Sasuke didn't react.
Aren stayed quiet.
Sparring was dangerous. Not because of injury—but because it revealed too much.
Iruka began calling names.
"Uzumaki Naruto versus—Aren."
Aren paused.
Unlucky.
Naruto beamed. "Hey! It's you! Don't worry, I'll go easy!"
Aren stepped onto the mat, posture relaxed.
Naruto's chakra flared instantly—wild, loud, undisciplined.
Iruka raised his hand. "Begin!"
Naruto charged without hesitation.
Aren didn't meet force with force.
He sidestepped.
Naruto stumbled past him, momentum carrying him forward.
Aren placed a foot behind Naruto's heel and applied minimal pressure.
Naruto hit the ground with a thud.
Silence.
Naruto stared up at the sky. "…Huh?"
Iruka blinked. "Point to Aren."
Whispers rippled through the students.
"That was it?"
"He didn't even hit him!"
Aren stepped back calmly.
Control beats power.
Sasuke watched closely.
Ino did too.
After Class
Ino caught up to Aren near the hallway.
"That was amazing!" she said, eyes bright. "You barely moved!"
Aren shrugged. "He overcommitted."
She smirked. "You say that like it's obvious."
Before he could respond, Sakura stormed past them, glaring.
"Show-off," she muttered.
Ino snorted. "Jealous."
Aren noted the shift quietly.
Social dynamics mattered.
System Feedback
That night, the system responded—not with praise, but data.
[Performance Evaluation Complete.]
Combat Exposure: Minimal
Mental Strain: Low
Risk Assessment: Acceptable
Result: No penalties. No rewards.
Aren nodded slowly.
So it doesn't reward showing off.
That confirmed it.
The system wasn't interested in dominance.
It was interested in survival through efficiency.
He lay back, staring at the ceiling.
Tomorrow, teams would be announced.
That would decide everything.
[Next Event Predicted.]
Academy Team Assignment: Imminent
Aren closed his eyes.
This is where the real game begins.
End of Chapter 3