I woke up before the sun.
Not because I had to—but because my body was already adapting. Breathing felt steadier. Deeper. When I sat up on my futon, there was no grogginess, no sluggish resistance in my limbs. It was subtle, but unmistakable.
Health regeneration was doing its job.
I padded quietly to the bathroom, careful not to wake anyone, and washed my face. The mirror reflected a small boy with dark eyes that lingered a little too long on his own reflection. I blinked once, then twice, grounding myself.
Stay in character.
Before I could finish drying my hands, my mother's voice carried down the hall.
"Breakfast. Don't dawdle."
"Yes," I answered, slipping naturally into the role.
The kitchen smelled familiar—rice, grilled fish, soup kept warm over low heat. My father was already seated, posture straight even at the table. He gave me a brief nod when I sat down.
"You woke early," he said.
"I wasn't sleepy."
My mother snorted softly as she set a bowl in front of me. "That's what you said yesterday too."
My father didn't comment, but I felt his attention sharpen.
We ate without rushing. This wasn't a civilian household where mornings were loud and chaotic. Everything moved with quiet efficiency—like a mission briefing disguised as a meal.
When I finished, my father stood and reached for his flak jacket.
"Yard," he said. "Same drills."
The morning passed in rhythm.
Leaf on the forehead. Breathing steady. Chakra flowing—not forced, not wasted. The difference today was control. Yesterday, I had felt chakra. Today, I shaped it.
My father noticed.
"Good," he said, adjusting the leaf when it slipped. "Don't chase it. Let it settle."
I did.
Again and again.
The hand seal drills followed—slow at first, then slightly faster. My fingers no longer fumbled as badly. Muscle memory was beginning to form, reinforced not just by repetition, but by something deeper.
The system responded.
Not with fanfare—but with quiet confirmation.
[Skill Level Up!]
Leaf Concentration → Level 1
A moment later—
[Skill Level Up!]
Hand Seal Drill → Level 1
I kept my face neutral.
Inside, I was calculating.
Skill Status (After Morning Training)
Leaf Concentration — Level 1 (Active)
Experience Until Next Level: 59.69% / 100%
Description: Allows the user to increase chakra control.
Chakra Usage: 1 Chakra per second
Passive Effect: +2% Chakra Control
Hand Seal Drill — Level 1 (Passive)
Experience Until Next Level: 57.67% / 100%
Description: Increases speed and efficiency of hand sealing.
Passive Effect: +2% Hand Seal Speed
"That's enough," my father said eventually. He crouched to my level, studying my hands. "You're progressing faster than expected."
My mother, watching from the doorway, raised an eyebrow. "Don't inflate his head."
"He's still a child," my father replied calmly. "But he learns."
I smiled at my bowl when we sat down for lunch.
After eating, I waited the appropriate amount of time before making my move.
"I'm going to play near the river," I said.
My mother glanced at my father.
"Don't wander," she warned.
"I won't."
That wasn't a lie.
The ants were waiting.
Two nests this time—small, but active. I worked without rush, crushing them methodically. The system tallied everything without judgment.
+5 EXP
+5 EXP
+5 EXP
Hours passed.
By the time the second nest was cleared, the familiar pulse ran through my body again—stronger this time.
[Level Up!]
Level 2 Achieved
The changes settled in almost immediately. My heartbeat slowed. Chakra flowed smoother, with less resistance.
I checked my status.
Level-Up Results
Health Regeneration:
1.10 → 1.20 HP/s
Chakra Capacity:
450 → 500
Current Status
Level: 2
Experience Points: 5 / 1,486
Health Regeneration: 1.20 HP/s
Chakra Capacity: 500 / 500
I stopped there.
No greed. No overreach.
I washed up before heading home, scuffing my sandals just enough to look like a child who'd spent the afternoon playing. My mother didn't question it.
Dinner passed quietly again. My father spoke briefly about patrol schedules. My mother corrected him on something trivial. I listened, memorizing patterns, habits, tells.
When night came, I lay back on my futon and opened the system one last time.
Final Status — End of Day 2
Level: 2
Health Regeneration: 1.20 HP/s
Chakra Capacity: 500 / 500
Skills:
Leaf Concentration — Level 1 (59.69%)
Hand Seal Drill — Level 1 (57.67%)
I closed my eyes.