LightReader

Chapter 4 - Roar, Youth!

Uchiha Dōka trudged off, shoulders slumped, clutching the most overpriced pancakes in the village.

Behind him, Uncle Teuchi—face beaming as always—watched with satisfaction.

"Wasn't that a bit too much?" asked his plump wife, concern in her eyes. "Dōka's still a shinobi, after all."

Teuchi understood her worry. Most civilians knew better than to push around a ninja.

"No worries," he said with a smile. "I've watched all these little brats grow up. Their parents still call me 'senpai,' remember?"

His wife chuckled. "So this was you getting back at him for what he did to Jun?"

Teuchi looked toward the village gates, sighing. "Poor Jun. Lost both parents the year he started at the Academy. We offered to take him in, but he never accepted…"

"Such a sweet boy, too polite for his own good. Probably didn't want to trouble us."

Teuchi shook his head. "His father wasn't particularly gifted, just a chūnin. And Jun… hasn't shown much talent as a shinobi at all. It's no wonder he gets bullied so often."

"Still, all that effort… I hope it leads to something." His wife's voice turned soft. "Don't forget to bring the pancakes to him later."

"I won't," Teuchi nodded. "That kid deserves it."

Jun had lost both his parents the year he started at the Academy.

His father had just made chūnin; his mother was a mere genin. Neither left anything behind.

To survive and graduate smoothly, Jun had crafted the persona of a "hardworking underdog." That's how he got branded as one of the "Three Idiots" or "Academy Dead Last."

Faking effort was easy.

He'd pretended he couldn't mold chakra, aimed shuriken at instructors instead of targets…

The only thing he put any effort into was training taijutsu with Might Guy.

And with Guy around? Slacking off had never been easier.

"Jun! What's gotten into you today? Did something happen?!"

Might Guy caught up again.

They'd already circled the village three times—on their hands.

Usually, Jun would collapse after one lap. Tonight, he showed no signs of stopping.

"…"

Jun had been cursing the system for a while now, but he couldn't even speak.

"Come on, system-bro, this is too much," he pleaded inwardly. "I know my limits. Opening the First Gate won't kill me, but if I keep this up, I'm gonna pass out."

Silence.

From Guy's perspective, his best friend was gritting his teeth, pushing through like a true warrior.

So he did the only thing he could—run beside him.

"YES! BURN, YOUTH!!"

Guy roared and surged forward.

Jun's body responded instantly, speeding up to match.

"System, you trying to kill me here?! Even if I don't die, how the hell am I getting out of bed tomorrow?!"

Nothing.

Just more auto-pilot sparring with Guy.

"Haha, look—it's the Academy Dumb Duo again!"

"Move aside! Stupidity's contagious!"

"Seriously, keep your distance!"

The two of them handstand-jogged past the market, earning jeers and side-eyes from every direction.

Lap five…

"Let's go! Roar, Youth!"

Lap six…

Lap seven…

"Oi, Guy! We've got a mission tomorrow. Save some energy!" said Genma as they passed.

Guy finally slowed to a stop, gasping.

"Jun, I have to go. Next time—next time I'll stay all night with you! We'll do one hundred laps!"

Jun, still silent, continued on.

Guy clenched his fists.

"Father… you were right. Jun's a true man of youth, just like us!"

Tears streamed down Might Guy's face as he roared to the heavens and trudged home, heart swelling with admiration.

…Meanwhile, Jun had no energy left to complain.

Whatever. Let it all burn. Just kill me already.

Ding. Host's physical condition deteriorating.

Oh, NOW you notice?!

Ding. To ensure host's mental and physical health, temporary delegation has been terminated.

HEY—WHAT?!

Control returned to Jun just in time for him to feel every muscle in his body scream.

His vision blacked out—

Thunk.

The upside-down figure collapsed on the road and passed out cold.

Much later…

A little girl sucking on a dango stick passed by with her mother.

"Mom, I know him," she said, popping the stick from her mouth. "That's Uchiha Jun. He got his forehead protector the same day I did. They call him the Academy Dumbass."

Her mother gently tapped her on the head. "Don't say that, Anko."

She looked around. It was late. No one else was nearby.

"We can't just leave a kid passed out in the street. Let's get him back to his clan compound."

Most villagers preferred to steer clear of the Uchiha, but letting a child sleep in the street didn't sit right with her.

"He's not my classmate," Anko pouted. "He's, like, four years older than me!"

Still, her mother picked Jun up and carried him away, her figure fading into the night.

The next morning

Knock, knock.

Jun groaned.

"Ugh…"

His whole body ached as he crawled out of bed.

His brain fogged, memory blurry.

How the hell did I get back here?

Familiar surroundings. Missing memories. Not great.

Shuffling in his sandals, Jun opened the door.

"Jun, you idiot! I told you not to push yourself so hard!"

Uncle Teuchi stepped inside with a bag in hand.

"If I hadn't run into someone returning you to the compound, you'd still be lying in the street!"

…Someone brought him back? Probably Guy.

Jun scratched his head. "You carried me back, right, Uncle? Thanks for the trouble."

Teuchi raised the bag. "Nah. I was gonna bring you pancakes last night anyway. But when I saw you sleeping so peacefully, I didn't wake you. Eat up while it's hot."

Jun took the bag gratefully.

Teuchi waved him off. "Don't thank me. Thank the person who carried you back."

"Probably Guy again. I'll thank him later."

"What Guy?" Teuchi looked confused. "No, it wasn't that boy from the Might family. It was Mrs. Mitarashi. She said you were in the same class as her daughter."

"…Huh?"

Jun scratched the back of his neck, thinking back to the kids who'd received forehead protectors beside him yesterday.

Mitarashi Anko… yeah, she'd been there.

Still, she was four years younger. They barely had any interaction.

"Well… I'll go thank her in person later."

He chatted with Teuchi for a bit, devoured the still-warm pancakes, and felt almost human again.

Back in his room, wiping his mouth, Jun whispered:

"System… system…"

More Chapters