Konoha Village - Training Grounds
In the village of Konoha, hidden among the green leaves, the sun was setting, casting long shadows over the training fields. In one of these empty fields, a boy who looked about thirteen years old sat panting and sweating after a rigorous physical training session. He wore standard ninja clothes, but they were dirty and slightly torn from frequent use. His short black hair was messy, and his brown eyes were fixed on something invisible in front of him.
This boy was Takama Yuichi, not from this world. In his previous life, he was a young man in his late twenties, living a quiet and peaceful life. But fate didn't spare him long, as he died from food poisoning. When he awoke, he found himself in the world of Naruto—a world of ninjas, chakra, and dangerous missions. Yuichi wasn't alone in this new world; he discovered he had a system, but it was still loading and not yet available to him.
He had lived for seven years in this world without the system, trying to adapt to his new life as a war orphan. He didn't possess any remarkable talent like the Sharingan or Byakugan, but he managed as a student at the Ninja Academy. He knew well that he was in the same class as Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno, but he wasn't among the top students. It wasn't because he couldn't be, but because he didn't want to draw attention to himself. He preferred to stay in the shadows, observing events from afar, waiting for the right moment to act.
Yuichi sighed as he looked at the virtual screen in front of him, which showed the loading percentage: 99%.
"Finally, after seven years," he muttered to himself. "In two weeks, I'll graduate as a Genin, and Naruto's story will officially begin. I hope this system helps me survive in this world."
He stood up slowly, supporting his tired body, and walked toward one of the residential complexes where he lived. He resided in a small apartment designated for orphans, not far from the village center. As he walked, he thought about the future, the challenges he would face, and how to use the system to his advantage.
Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice calling out:
"Yuichi! Wait!"
Yuichi turned to see his old friend, Kenta, running toward him. Kenta was a classmate at the academy—a cheerful and friendly boy, though not one of the prominent characters in the original story.
"Hey, Kenta," Yuichi said with a faint smile. "What's up?"
"I heard you were training hard today," Kenta said, panting. "Are you ready for the graduation exam?"
"I think so," Yuichi replied. "But I still need to improve some of my techniques."
"Don't worry, you're good enough," Kenta said encouragingly. "At least you're not like Naruto, who fails at everything!"
Yuichi chuckled lightly. "Yeah, Naruto has his own problems."
"By the way," Kenta added, "I heard Sasuke Uchiha has mastered a new technique. Looks like he'll be the best in the class again."
"Sasuke always stands out," Yuichi said thoughtfully. "But there are plenty of talented ninjas in our village."
"True," Kenta agreed. "But I hope I get put in a good team after graduation. You know, with a good instructor and strong teammates."
"Yeah, that'll be important," Yuichi said. "But first, we have to pass the exam."
"Definitely," Kenta said. "Well, I'll head off now. See you tomorrow at the academy!"
"See you," Yuichi said, waving his hand.
He continued walking toward his home, reflecting on the conversation. He knew the graduation exam would mark the beginning of a series of events that would change his life and the lives of everyone in the village. He wondered which team he'd join and which instructor would guide him. But he also knew he had to focus on the present—on the system finally finishing its loading process.
When he reached his apartment, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The apartment was small and modest, but it was his sanctuary. He sat on the bed and glanced at the virtual screen again. The percentage had climbed to 100%. He sighed in relief but decided to wait until morning to explore the system. He was exhausted from training and needed rest.
He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, trying to sleep. But his mind buzzed with thoughts and expectations. What would the system be like? What abilities would it grant him? How would he use it to survive in this dangerous world?
After a while, he drifted into a deep sleep, leaving all these questions for tomorrow.