Before following clues and finding out more about Itachi and my new mission, I had to return home. Not only to "meet" my parents, but also because it was where I could truly have time to test my skills and explore the system further. So I left the dango shop and headed there.
As I made my way home, I began to notice the streets of Konoha, which were already growing emptier as the sun set. Every corner, every rooftop, and even the distant sound of children playing were pieces of a world that, as incredible as it was, I had to accept as my new reality.
As I turned onto a less busy street, silence began to settle in, and I felt almost instant relief. After a very intense day, my mind finally began to process everything.
"Itachi Uchiha," I muttered, replaying our conversation at the dango shop. His posture, his words... everything about him seemed to carry an invisible weight.
'He's really something else. Man, can you imagine going through everything he's going through? No wonder he has those huge dark circles under his eyes.'
"Well, all I can do is explore and try to find a way to solve this big problem, but it's not worth thinking too much about it right now," I said aloud as I stretched.
After a few minutes of walking, I finally arrived near Senju Park. Some dry leaves were being blown by the wind that seemed to swirl in from every direction, and more of them fell from the trees of the large forest reserve. This image seemed to be recurring in my memory — me arriving home at sunset and Senju Park always silent, with few people here and there walking around.
It was funny to think that a place so closely linked to the name of Hashirama, the man who founded Konoha, was treated like this... as something so easily overlooked by most people.
That's when my house came into view. It was a simple building, surrounded by a small, well-kept garden. A swing attached to an old tree swayed gently in the wind. The sight brought me a sense of belonging that, for a moment, dispelled my doubts.
As I opened the door, the smell of fresh tea and steaming rice filled the air. My mother was in the kitchen, stirring pots with a concentrated expression, while my father sat at the table with several scrolls open in front of him. He looked like he was studying something important.
"Welcome back, Riku!" said my mother with a warm smile. "How was your day at the academy?"
Memories flooded my mind again. I felt as if they were my real parents — the moments we had lived together felt so real that I couldn't question their truth.
'So this really is my new life... I need to get used to it soon,' I thought, before answering her.
"Hi, Mom, it was really cool, actually. We're reviewing the jutsus now that it's the last week of class," I said as I took off my sandals to enter the house and sit down at the table.
"That's great, son!" she replied, with that same smile on her face.
"But I also had an unexpected encounter," I ended up saying without even thinking—it came out so naturally that I couldn't hold it back.
"Unexpected encounter?" My father looked up from his scrolls, curious.
"Yes, I met Itachi Uchiha," I replied. "He even stopped to talk to me."
My father's eyes narrowed slightly, as if analyzing every word. "That Uchiha prodigy everyone talks about? Did he say anything that caught your attention?"
"He talked about continuing to train and asked me what I want to do after I graduate," I said, shrugging. "But I feel like he was... analyzing me, you know?"
My mother laughed softly as she placed a bowl of rice on the table.
"You've always been observant, Riku. Maybe he saw something in you."
"Maybe," I replied, unsure.
After dinner, I retired to the backyard. The night was calm, with a light breeze and the moon illuminating the garden. It was the perfect moment to test my Mokuton skills. I sat on the dirt and closed my eyes.
I remembered the few times I had managed to manifest something with Mokuton. Small branches, nothing more than that. It was time to attempt something more solid.
The silence of the backyard was broken only by the distant sound of the wind in the leaves. Seated on the ground, I took a deep breath, trying to connect with the chakra of the earth and nearby trees.
I closed my eyes again and channeled my chakra, as I had done many times before.
Then, something unexpected happened. A faint light appeared before me. I opened my eyes instinctively, and there was the system screen floating in the air, translucent with golden letters glowing softly against the darkness of the night.
*
[Shinobi System Activated]
[Loading Available Skills...]
Mokuton: Basic Wood Control
(Allows the creation of small branches and limited manipulation of existing wood.)
Amplified Chakra: Earth and Water Fusion (Passive)
(Allows you to manipulate both elements as a basis for Mokuton. Efficiency varies depending on chakra control.)
[Secondary Skills]
Enhanced Chakra Control
(Improves jutsu accuracy and reduces chakra consumption.)
Physical Resistance
(Increases the body's overall resistance to physical attacks and mild fatigue.)
[Current Missions]
Find out more about Itachi Uchiha
(Progress: 5%)
*
"Mission, skills... I really like this," I whispered, almost to myself.
I turned my attention back to the skill Mokuton: Basic Wood Control. I tapped the description with my finger, and the screen changed, showing additional details:
*
[Training]
Training skills allows you to evolve them to become stronger. The strength of Mokuton lies in the user's connection with nature.
Evolve your mokuton level to discover more.
*
"All right. Let's begin with the basics."
I closed my eyes again and focused on the skill. Chakra flowed into my hands, and soon I felt the ground vibrate slightly beneath my fingers.
A small branch, no thicker than a finger, sprouted from the ground in front of me.
I opened my eyes slowly, and there it was. It wasn't much, but I could feel a strong connection.
"Not much... but it's a start."
I spent a few minutes repeating the process, creating more small branches around me. Each time I did, my control seemed to improve a little. Then I heard a soft "ding" and the system screen returned.
*
[Current Progress: Basic Wood Control - 25%]
[Your control with Mokuton has increased! +12 EXP]
*
"Interesting... progress is tracked, and I even gain EXP just from training!" I thought, excitement building.
After a few more attempts, I decided to explore the system a little more. I tapped the [Technique Evolution] icon, and new information appeared.
*
[Technique Evolution]
Technique Points are used to unlock or improve jutsu in the [Technique Tree] menu. Each jutsu has minimum requirements, such as Level, Intelligence, or Chakra Control. The player can open the menu and spend a point by clicking on the desired technique. Some techniques require prior narrative training to become available. Techniques can evolve after continuous use or creative application in combat.
[Available Technique Points: 1]
*
"Hmm, so this is how I'll unlock more techniques, huh? I guess I earn more points by leveling up. Let's take a look at this [Technique Tree]."