"Turn on."
After hearing the voice, Chiba muttered softly in his heart.
A free novice gift pack? Without even needing a 6-yen recharge? Compared to those pig-farm or goose-farm games from his past life, this was simply the model of a conscience game!
[Opening successful.]
[Congratulations! You have received 10 Free Attribute Points.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained the ninjutsu — Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique.]
[Congratulations! You have acquired the Talent — Photographic Memory.]
A mechanical, synthetic voice echoed in his mind.
Then, Chiba saw his property panel change before his eyes.
After each of the three basic stats, a + sign appeared.
Free attribute points could now be distributed among the three dimensions: Physical Strength, Mental Strength, and Chakra Amount.
Physical Strength corresponded to taijutsu, Mental Strength to genjutsu, and Chakra Amount to ninjutsu.
It was clean and clear — a perfect summary of a ninja's foundation.
Chiba didn't know the base stats of others, but given that his bloodline was ordinary (not Uzumaki or Senju), these 10 points probably represented the level of an average three-year-old child — perhaps with slight deviations.
The Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, a C-rank ninjutsu originally developed by the Uchiha clan, later spread throughout the village after the founding of Konoha. Its essence was what many called "merciful fireball" — a practice ninjutsu rather than a killing one.
For Chiba, however, it was perfect.
Because it came from the system, he could use it instantly. The only thing to watch out for was upgrading its proficiency through practice.
Chiba's eyes skimmed past the fireball description and landed on his new talent: Photographic Memory.
He immediately understood its power.
As the talent activated, something in his mind seemed to unlock.
The vague, fuzzy memories of the Naruto world from his previous life suddenly became crystal clear.
Information poured into his head like a torrent—
The official databooks, the ninja scrolls, the "Book of Soldiers," the "Book of Formation," manga scenes, game storylines, even obscure filler details…
Everything was vivid.
Chiba's eyes widened as he processed the flood of memories.
Only four words could describe the sensation:
Terrifyingly clear.
"So this… is what it feels like to have a cheat," he murmured, grinning unconsciously.
It felt amazing.
After three years of waiting, his system had finally awakened.
Although the start wasn't overpowered, Chiba didn't care.
Gradual growth was far more satisfying than instant invincibility.
After all, once you reach the top, the only thing left is loneliness.
And besides — the multiverse was vast. There were countless beings who could destroy worlds or even universes. The Naruto world's power system was strong, but it wasn't the end.
Most importantly —
Chiba firmly believed that a cheat is only support. True strength came from self-improvement.
That's why he didn't immediately allocate the 10 free points.
If life had truly become a game, then, according to his guess, he was the only player—everyone else were NPCs.
But that didn't mean the world itself wasn't real.
If he could train and grow stronger through effort, then that was the ultimate proof.
Chiba opened his eyes.
His gaze sharpened.
"Let's do this."
He was a man of action. Since there was no manual, he would find the answers himself.
Chiba went to his small bookshelf and pulled out a worn manual:
"A Summary of Chakra Refinement," left behind by his late parents.
Inside were basic notes on the Three Basic Techniques, Chakra Refinement, and Physical Training.
His father had been a Special Jōnin, his mother a Chūnin. They weren't geniuses, and their family didn't possess any secret clan techniques or inherited bloodlines.
But that didn't matter.
Chiba smiled softly.
He believed that anyone could achieve greatness through will and effort.
Just like Uchiha Madara, who single-handedly faced the entire ninja alliance.
In the face of absolute strength, all conspiracies were just paper tigers.
He opened the chakra manual again and began to read.
Thanks to Photographic Memory, he absorbed everything perfectly, every word etched into his mind.
Then, he sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Time to refine chakra."
Because of his parents' notes, he already had some foundation. By age 3, he had managed to extract chakra and become a real apprentice ninja.
Now, with a deeper understanding, he began improving his chakra control and fixing the mistakes in his earlier methods.
Time passed quietly.
After about 1 hour, Chiba finally opened his eyes.
"Hah…" He exhaled deeply.
His stomach growled in protest. Chakra refinement consumed both mental and physical energy—excessive training could lead to collapse or even death.
But what he had done was within normal limits. It simply made him hungry.
Chiba rubbed his stomach and smiled bitterly.
"Guess I should eat."
He took out a cup of instant noodles, poured in hot water, and set it on the table.
While waiting, he opened his Status Panel again.
His eyes lit up.
"Just as I thought!"
The Chakra Amount column had changed—from 10 → 11.
A growth of 1 point in an hour!
Not huge, but more than enough to prove his theory.
Through training, he could permanently increase his stats.
That was something ordinary ninjas couldn't do. Their chakra capacity only grew naturally with age — and even then, it declined in old age.
But for Chiba, the panel could grow forever.
That meant limitless potential.
He glanced at his skill section.
Chakra Refinement: Level 0 (12/100).
The proficiency had increased by 11.
"Could it be…?" he muttered.
1 point from the hour of practice, and 10 points from reading and improving his technique?
He wasn't sure. But that was fine.
Mystery made things interesting. The joy of exploration came from uncovering the unknown.
He smiled faintly, finished his noodles, washed up, and lay down in bed.
Outside, the snow was still falling. The wind howled through the night.
Inside, the room was warm.
For the first time in years, Chiba slept peacefully—with a smile on his face.