Tokyo, Seidō High School Baseball Club.
The First String players had gone to participate in a practice match, while the Second String players were doing batting practice on Field A.
The remaining third-string players gathered on Field B, where they held an intra-squad practice match.
More than fifty players were divided into two teams.
Ōta Kazuyoshi, the Baseball Club President, and Takashima Rei, the Vice President, each led a team.
"My chance has come!" exclaimed Kuramochi Yōichi, a first-year player with eyes full of ambition.
Previously, the club's leadership had focused almost exclusively on the First String, with only occasional attention to the Second String.
The purpose of organizing such a grand intra-squad match for the third string today was clear.
"Kazuya-senpai was promoted to the First String. We can't fall behind, can we, Takumi-kun?" he urged eagerly.
The young man beside him, Yamamoto Takumi, remained stoic, offering no response.
Since discovering he had transmigrated into the Ace of Diamond world, Takumi had wanted to join Seidō.
The system tied to his transmigration would activate only after entering Seidō High School. Though his baseball skills were average and his academics mediocre, his wealthy family paid a hefty sponsorship, securing his spot.
He had expected the system to help him dominate once he joined. Unexpectedly, it remained dormant, draining his fighting spirit.
It wasn't that he lacked willpower; his body simply couldn't compete with the monsters at Seidō.
Fifteen-year-old he stood at 176 cm tall and weighed 55 kg.
Among first-year students, he was average at best.
But what kind of background did Seidō's players have?
As a nationally renowned baseball powerhouse, Seidō recruited a legion of middle school all-stars and Aces.
They were all formidable athletes.
He was undoubtedly at the bottom among them.
In the previous welcoming match, he hadn't even gotten a chance to play, let alone showcase his skills.
Miyuki Kazuya, who shone brightly upon joining the team and was immediately promoted to the First String as the team's third catcher, Takumi felt he had little chance—despite the attention of the club's two big shots.
In contrast, Yōichi, standing beside him, excelled in every aspect and was expected to be promoted to the Second String soon.
"In today's game, you've already gotten two hits and one successful stolen base; you'll definitely be promoted," he remarked confidently.
"Thank you, Takumi-kun!" Yōichi replied warmly.
For some reason, Yōichi got along particularly well with him. Though he'd always been at the bottom of the third string, he didn't mind.
"The score is 4–5. The red team is up to bat, and the opportunity is right in front of us."
One out, runner on second base.
Just one hit would tie the game.
Takashima Rei, leading the red team, pushed her glasses up her nose with her ring finger and murmured softly, "Who else on our team hasn't played yet?"
For a moment, no one answered.
Just as she turned to call on Maezono Kenta, who had performed well earlier, Kuramochi suddenly raised Takumi's hand.
"Takumi-kun hasn't played yet!"
Hearing this, she looked at him instantly.
Takumi was a very clean-cut, handsome young man—one of the top three in looks at Seidō. His striking presence had drawn much attention when he joined the team.
Unfortunately, he had never studied baseball before and was still learning the basics. According to the coaching staff's analysis, it would probably take until his third year before he could play competitively—unless something unexpected happened.
With his current aptitude, he would at best be at the very bottom of the Second String, meaning that by his third year, he might only be a benchwarmer.
She felt a pang of regret.
His overall talent and qualities weren't bad. Had he been properly trained since middle school, though he couldn't have stood out immediately like Miyuki Kazuya and others, he might still have secured a place in the First String eventually.
Seeing the regret in her eyes, Takumi felt a bitter pang himself.
He didn't want to be like this, but there was nothing he could do. Who had told him that upon transmigrating, his physical condition would be like this?
Even with extra practice every day, he could barely keep up with the training intensity of Seidō's third string.
He wasn't one of those exceptionally talented prodigies, so rapid progress in a short time was nearly impossible. And the system he had pinned his hopes on still hadn't awakened.
"Do you want to play?" Rei asked gently. her voice tinged with encouragement.
Having already seen his potential future, she didn't mind giving him a chance. With his looks, he didn't have to become a baseball player—he could pursue other paths entirely.
Faced with the opportunity, he hesitated.
He had tried before—he had gone to great lengths to persuade his parents to let him enter Seidō and had never stopped practicing since.
But Rome wasn't built in a day. Baseball skills couldn't be mastered overnight either.
The system remained silent, and despite his hard work, he couldn't catch up with his teammates.
He was deeply confused.
As a fellow transmigrator, why couldn't he possess the monstrous physique and superb skills of those who came before him?
Now, she was asking him to play. She was testing him—both his courage to step up and whether he had made any progress.
Courage he certainly had.
But progress? Unfortunately, he didn't feel he had made much.
Not to mention the seniors in the First and Second Strings, even among the first-years in the third string, many were more skilled than he was.
On the white team's side, Kawakami Norifumi was pitching.
Like the others, he was a first-year rookie, but his performance had already caught the attention of Ōta Kazuyoshi. He was undoubtedly the standout among their batch of rookies.
"I…"
Just as he hesitated to speak, the system in his mind activated.
[The host has transmigrated to the Shinobi World, possessing no talent and unable to establish himself there. Next, you will face your first battle in the Shinobi World with zero chance of winning. The system is now activated, granting a Novice Gift Pack. Would you like to open it?]
The system had awakened?
He was momentarily stunned, then felt a surge of strength fill his body.
But something felt off.
He clearly transmigrated to the Ace of Diamond world.
The reward the system offered seemed mismatched.
Yet Naruto: Shippuden skills placed in the Ace of Diamond world—wouldn't that be overwhelmingly powerful?
Though he didn't fully understand what was happening with the system, he stepped forward, meeting Takashima Rei's gaze without hesitation.
"I'll play!"