Training Grounds #3 – Morning
The morning breeze carried the smell of grass and steel from the nearby weapon racks.
After last night, I wanted one thing: power. Enough to never be caught off guard again.
> Daily Quest:
2 km Run → +1 Speed
100 Strikes → +1 Strength
Chakra Leaf Concentration → +1 Chakra Control
Bonus Reward: +50 EXP
I dropped into push-ups, ignoring the faint pain in my ribs. Kushina sat nearby, pretending not to watch while eating a rice ball.
"You're overdoing it, ya know," she muttered.
"Better sore than dead."
---
New Face – Nawaki Senju
A boy with short brown hair and bright eyes walked up, wearing an oversized flak vest.
"You're the kid who beat a Hyūga, right? I'm Nawaki Senju."
Nawaki Senju. Tsunade's younger brother. The one destined to die in the coming years, causing her to abandon the village for decades.
I clasped his offered hand. "Kuro. Civilian."
"Civilian, huh?" He grinned. "Then we'll train together. I'll be Hokage one day, so you better keep up!"
Hokage… yeah, that dream almost kills you.
---
System Prompt
> New Quest – Change Nawaki's Fate
Prevent Nawaki's death in upcoming missions.
Reward: Uzumaki Sealing Art (Lv.1).
I clenched my fists. Another fate I have to rewrite.
---
ROOT's Eyes
As we trained, my sensory perk tingled. Someone was watching.
Not openly like Sakumo… this felt cold.
On the distant roof, a figure in an ANBU-style mask crouched. But the mask had no leaf symbol.
ROOT. Danzo's people.
---
Mikoto Uchiha's Observation
Later, during shuriken practice, Mikoto quietly approached. "You're different, Kuro."
I raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"You don't move like an academy civilian. And…" she hesitated, glancing at Kushina, "…you fight for people. Most kids here just fight to win."
Her Sharingan hadn't awakened yet, but those eyes already seemed to read people.
---
System Log
> Affection Meter – Mikoto Uchiha: 10% → 15%
New Trait Unlock Path: Uchiha Bond (Locked until Affection >30%).
---
Shadows Move
That evening, on my way back, I cut through an alley… and froze.
Three masked shinobi blocked my path, their uniforms too standard to be common criminals.
"Civilian academy student… Kuro," one said flatly. "You're coming with us."
> [System Alert]: High Threat Detected – ROOT Operatives (C-B Rank).
Mission Triggered: Survive ROOT Capture Attempt.
Reward: Taijutsu Style – White Fang Variant (Lv.1).
I shifted into stance, shadows flickering at my feet.