Passing through the central street, Drake turned into a narrow alley.
He pushed open a slightly rusted gate, revealing a modest courtyard.
This was his home.
More accurately, the home his parents had left behind.
They had died on the battlefield, leaving him this small residence and a sum of compensation money.
Sitting down on a wooden chair in the yard, Drake slipped into his usual state of blankly staring into space.
"Tomorrow… tomorrow the system finally activates."
As he murmured to himself, a nearly transparent screen appeared before his eyes.
[Daily Doubling System Activation Countdown: 0 hours 44 minutes 0 seconds]
Beneath it was his personal status panel.
Name: Drake
Age: 13
Strength: 1
Endurance: 1
Agility: 1
Spirit: 1
Chakra Capacity: 4
Skills: None
Ninjutsu: None
Overall Combat Rating: Apprentice Genin
His gaze lingered on the word "Apprentice".
A faint smile formed on his lips.
The reason he had never seriously trained throwing kunai or mastering the Three Basic Jutsu at the academy… was because of this system — one that hadn't even activated yet.
Because he didn't know what exactly this so-called "doubling" would affect.
"If it randomly doubles a stat or skill every day, then the more techniques I learn, the lower the chance it'll enhance my core attributes."
"Instead of that… I might as well learn nothing and wait for the system."
His strategy was simple.
First, double his core stats until they reached Kage level — or even beyond.
Only then would he start learning real techniques and ninjutsu.
That way, even without jutsu, his raw physical power alone would be enough to survive.
But if he rushed to learn basic techniques and low-tier ninjutsu now, his strength would become scattered and unfocused.
Of course… if the system doubled everything, then none of this would matter.
He closed the interface and silently began counting the remaining time.
One number after another…
And slowly, he drifted off to sleep.
A surprisingly effective way to knock himself out.
————
Inside a two-story house.
Minato knocked lightly before walking in.
"Hm? Minato, aren't you supposed to be leading your new squad today?" Kushina asked, surprised, pausing her folding.
The two were lovers — not yet married.
Whenever Minato had something weighing on his mind, he always came to her.
"Sigh… that team is a complete mess."
Minato sighed and began explaining the bizarre composition of Team Nine.
"Bottom three of the class, plus Kakashi — who no one wants to team up with. The Third really handed me a nightmare."
"So what are you planning to do?" Kushina smiled.
"I'll start building their teamwork from tomorrow."
"And how?"
"Bell test."
"How old-fashioned."
"I'll try it first and see."
To be honest, even Minato didn't have any brilliant ideas.
But the bell test was something every team went through, designed specifically to improve team cooperation.
"You'll probably be disappointed. At the very least, Kakashi won't cooperate — he'll go solo." Kushina pointed out the real issue.
She knew Kakashi's situation quite well.
Strong. Isolated. Anti-social.
Ever since Hatake Sakumo's suicide, Kakashi had become someone who valued completing the mission above everything — even his teammates' lives. That was precisely why no one wanted to work with him anymore.
Trying to force teamwork through a bell test… wouldn't be easy.
"Funny enough, I'm not too worried about Kakashi. What really concerns me is that last-place kid… Drake."
"If he enters a real battlefield, survival will be extremely difficult."
Minato rubbed his forehead in frustration.
As he spoke, he placed the three students' graduation records in front of Kushina.
After reading them, her eyes widened.
People like this actually graduated?
What was the Third thinking?
Especially that boy — Drake.
Scores this low, doesn't even know the Three Basic Jutsu… and he's considered a genin?
"Is war coming…?" Kushina murmured.
She suddenly understood.
Only when war approached would the village loosen the graduation standards so drastically.
If even someone who wasn't qualified to be cannon fodder could graduate, it said everything.
Sending people like this onto the battlefield was basically sentencing them to death.
————
"Achoo!"
Drake sneezed and jolted awake from his chair.
Staring at the darkening sky, his mood brightened instantly.
Another afternoon successfully wasted.
And the system activation drew even closer.
Heading inside, he ate some leftover rice and went straight to bed.
"Chances are I won't sleep tonight anyway… might as well stock up now."
Time passed slowly.
When midnight arrived, Drake woke up right on cue.
He stared at the countdown, his heartbeat completely out of control.
"Come on… my golden finger!"
"The strongest in the ninja world… starts with me!"
"I am the sun!"
3…
2…
1…
"Ding! Daily Doubling System Activated!"
"Random Daily Enhancement Starting!"
"Agility Doubled!"
After the three system notifications, silence returned.
He lowered his gaze to the updated panel.
Name: Drake
Age: 13
Strength: 1
Endurance: 1
Agility: 2 (* Genin-tier)
Spirit: 1
Chakra Capacity: 4
Skills: None
Ninjutsu: None
Overall Combat Rating: Apprentice Genin
"…That's it?"
Seeing that his evaluation still read "Apprentice Genin", a slight sense of disappointment crept in.
So this was what they meant by higher expectations, deeper disappointment.
But he quickly corrected his mindset.
"In just one day, my speed already reached genin level. I should be grateful."
And honestly — how could this not be amazing?
At this rate, he only needed four days to raise all his attributes to genin level.
Ten days to half a month to reach chūnin.
One or two months — jōnin.
"Half a year to Kage level?"
"One year beyond Kage?"
"Three years to punch the moon apart?"
"Tell me — who else can do that?!"
His blood boiled with excitement as he leapt up from the bed.
And then…
THUMP!
His head slammed straight into the ceiling, instantly forming a swollen bump.
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