The sun had dipped lower over Konohagakure, painting the rooftops in deep orange and gold.
Most people were heading home.
Naruto, however, stood in the middle of a quiet side street staring at a glowing blue panel floating in front of his face.
The Shinobi Codex pulsed softly.
Naruto cracked his knuckles.
"Alright… tomorrow is the bell test."
Naruto squinted suspiciously.
The Codex chimed.
Ping
Active Quest: Preparation for Survival Test
Objectives Remaining:
• Scout the training ground• Train Shadow Clone Jutsu• Reach out to teammates
Naruto scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah yeah, I know."
He scrolled down.
Team Members:
• Sasuke Uchiha• Sakura Haruno
Naruto groaned.
"Right… teamwork."
The word felt weird in his mouth.
He crossed his arms.
"Alright system."
Naruto grinned.
"We do this the smart way."
He formed a hand sign.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
POOF!
Three identical Narutos appeared in clouds of smoke.
The clones blinked at each other.
Clone #1 crossed his arms.
"So what's the plan, boss?"
Naruto pointed dramatically.
"You guys go recruit teammates!"
Clone #2 groaned.
"Why do we get the hard jobs?"
Naruto ignored him.
"You!"
He pointed at Clone #1.
"Go talk to Sasuke!"
Clone #1 made a face.
"Ew."
Naruto pointed again.
"You! Go talk to Sakura!"
Clone #2 immediately saluted.
"Mission impossible accepted."
Clone #3 raised his hand.
"What about me?"
Naruto grinned.
"We're going scouting."
Clone #3 nodded approvingly.
"I was gonna say the same thing."
The clones sprinted off in different directions.
Operation: Convince Sasuke
Clone #1 found Sasuke Uchiha sitting on a training post near the academy grounds.
Brooding.
Naturally.
Clone Naruto walked up confidently.
"Hey Sasuke!"
Sasuke didn't even look at him.
"What."
Clone Naruto grinned.
"So tomorrow's the bell test, right?"
Silence.
"Yeah."
Clone Naruto leaned closer.
"So we should totally work together!"
Sasuke finally turned his head.
His expression looked like someone had just suggested they eat dirt.
"Why."
Clone Naruto puffed his chest.
"Because teamwork!"
Sasuke stared at him.
Then something strange happened.
A small notification popped up in the corner of the clone's vision.
*Ping*
Status Effect Triggered:
Cringe Aura – Passive
Nearby targets suffer discomfort during social interaction.
Success rate of persuasion reduced.
Clone Naruto blinked.
"...Wait what?"
Sasuke stood up.
"No."
Then he walked away.
Clone Naruto watched him leave.
"...Rude."
Operation: Convince Sakura
Meanwhile, Clone #2 spotted Sakura Haruno walking near a row of shops.
He waved enthusiastically.
"Sakura-chan!"
She turned.
Her face immediately changed.
"Oh… Naruto."
Clone Naruto put his hands on his hips proudly.
"So tomorrow's the bell test!"
"Yes."
"We should work together!"
Sakura blinked.
Then narrowed her eyes.
"You just want help beating Sasuke."
Clone Naruto gasped dramatically.
"What?!"
"...That's ridiculous."
Pause.
"...Okay maybe a little."
*Ping*
Cringe Aura Activated
Sakura rubbed her temples.
"Why do conversations with you feel exhausting?"
Clone Naruto wilted.
"So that's a no?"
Sakura sighed.
"I'll think about it."
Which, in Sakura language, meant probably not.
Clone Naruto trudged away.
Operation: Scouting training fields
Meanwhile, the real Naruto and Clone #3 arrived at the training ground.
A wide clearing surrounded by trees.
The future battlefield of tomorrow's test.
*Ping*
Sidequest Initiated:
Discover all official training grounds within Konohagakure (1/101)
Rewards:
+9 to all stats (Besides luck)
1 Rare Item
3 Skill Evolution Stones
Next level Chakra control training
Naruto looked around slowly.
"Huh."
He crouched.
Then grinned.
"Oh yeah."
Skill Activated:
Trap Making – LVL 3 (7/30)
Naruto pointed around the clearing.
"Okay listen up."
Clone #3 leaned closer.
"We dig here."
Naruto marked a patch of dirt.
"Tripwire there."
He pointed between two trees.
"And—"
His grin widened.
"Exploding tag… fake."
Clone #3 nodded respectfully.
"Psychological warfare."
Naruto spent the next hour setting traps.
Hidden wires.
Camouflaged pits.
Loose logs balanced on branches.
Every so often the Codex chimed.
*Ping*
Trap Making Progress
7/30 → 9/30
Later—
Ping
Trap Making Progress
8/30 → 11/30
Naruto wiped sweat off his forehead proudly.
"This place is a death zone."
Clone #3 nodded.
"You're terrifying."
Naruto grinned.
"Thanks."
The other two clones arrived at the training field and reported their lack of success to the original
"Come on team! What's the deal, are we really that bad at talking to people!"
*Ping*
Cringe Aura Activated
All of his clones grimaced, is that really how they came off? So uncool.
POOF
All three clones exploded out of existence
Memories rushed back into Naruto's mind.
Sasuke walking away.
Sakura rubbing her temples.
Naruto blinked.
"...Ow."
Naruto's eyes widened. This had never happened previously. Exact memories of the encounters with his teammates became clear. Ideas flooded his brain, most having to do with causing trouble for others, some highlighting clear training uses and time management.
*Ping*
+1 to intelligence for strategizing how to best use techniques
Shadow Clone Jutsu LVL 2 (5/20)
Trap Making LVL 3 (14/30)
"So basically no from both my teammates." Regardless, Naruto beamed. Constant reinforcement was provided, his skills clearly progressing at an accelerated rate.
The Codex chimed softly.
System Suggestion:
Teamwork probability remains low.
Naruto stared at the traps scattered across the training ground.
"Good."
Naruto cracked his knuckles.
"Because if they won't work with me…"
He looked up toward the trees.
"...I'll just make the battlefield work for me."
The Shinobi Codex pulsed.
Ping
Quest Completed: Preparation for Survival Test
• Scout Training Ground ✔• Coordinate with Teammates (Partial)✔• Improve Combat Readiness ✔
Rewards will be distributed:
+1 to Strength, Agility and Intelligence
+10 System points
Satisfied with the gains Naruto stretched his arms behind his head.
Tomorrow's test was going to be interesting.
Very interesting.
And somewhere in the village, completely unaware of the chaos waiting for him…
Kakashi Hatake sneezed.
Current Naruto Stats:
Strength: 7
Agility: 7
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 4
Charisma 5 (-1)
Luck: 5
System Points: 15