Shimizu Kanzuki, seventeen years old, was a transmigrator.
He had come from a purely technological universe in his previous life—a red-bannered nation where science reigned supreme and the supernatural was fiction.
Six months ago, he awakened the memories of his past life.
And as someone who understood exactly which world he had landed in, Shimizu Kanzuki knew just how absurd it was.
After all—
This was a world where the extraordinary was commonplace.
The early and middle stages of its history were survivable.
But the later stages?
Planets exploded.
For ordinary people, it was a brutally hostile and merciless world. The passionate narrative of the original story glossed over much of that cruelty, but once you examined the details, the cracks showed.
As a proud chūnin of Konohagakure, Shimizu Kanzuki walked on thin ice every single day.
Would he even make it across to the other side of the river alive?
When he regained his past-life memories half a year ago, Kanzuki discovered—with a suffocating sense of despair—that he was nothing more than an elite genin.
No background.
No bloodline limit.
No exceptional talent.
No connections.
No parents.
Help.
Wasn't he the textbook definition of cannon fodder?
So he acted immediately.
He submitted an application.
"Report! Lord Hokage, though Kanzuki's strength is meager, I wish to contribute to Konoha. I respectfully request permission from the Third Hokage to join the ANBU!"
At first, Hiruzen Sarutobi refused.
The Third Hokage admired Kanzuki's will—but disdained his strength.
"You're a genin. Is ANBU appropriate for you? Even the lowest-ranking ANBU operative must at least be a chūnin."
But Kanzuki persisted.
He declared that he did not fear hardship.
He did not fear sacrifice.
He only feared dying without ever having contributed to Konoha.
The hall fell silent.
Then the Third Hokage slammed the table and laughed in approval.
"What a spirited young man! Burning himself to illuminate Konoha!"
His decision changed. Kanzuki would enter ANBU on probation.
At the very least, he would be observed.
Six months passed.
The Third Hokage was exceedingly satisfied.
Kanzuki carried out missions like a man possessed.
He truly risked his life.
As a reward, the Hokage personally granted him a ninjutsu scroll—
C-Rank Ninjutsu: Great Fireball Technique.
Yes.
The very same technique famously used by Uchiha Sasuke in the original story.
And don't underestimate a mere C-Rank ninjutsu.
With this technique alone, Shimizu Kanzuki advanced to chūnin.
In truth, Konoha—and every major shinobi village—enforced strict ninjutsu monopolies.
From C-Rank to S-Rank, without high-level authorization, one could not even think about acquiring such techniques.
Even thinking about it could be considered a crime.
Only D-Rank and E-Rank techniques were available through mission contributions and modest payments.
In this world, where bloodline supremacy was the unspoken rule, ordinary people had virtually no chance to rise.
What about the Fourth Hokage?
Sorry.
He was the father of the Child of Prophecy.
Not comparable.
And even Minato Namikaze, with his exceptional talent, had to apprentice under Jiraiya.
Let him try apprenticing under someone else.
Without being part of the Third Hokage's direct political lineage, becoming the Fourth Hokage?
Dream on.
Fortunately—
Shimizu Kanzuki now belonged to the Third Hokage's ANBU faction.
Not biological kin.
Adopted, perhaps.
But politically speaking, he was inside the circle.
He carried the Third Hokage's label by default.
Hatake Kakashi had once walked this same path. Though Kakashi's circumstances were unique, the precedent was there—a carrot dangling ahead.
And besides…
Inside his bedroom, Kanzuki closed his eyes.
An attribute panel surfaced instantly in his mind.
[Proficiency System]
[Shimizu Kanzuki: Chūnin (Overall)]Chakra: ChūninAttributes: Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, LightningTaijutsu: ChūninGenjutsu: GeninNinjutsu: Chūnin
Ninjutsu—Transformation Technique (E): LV3 (5%)Clone Technique (E): LV3 (3%)Substitution Technique (E): LV3 (42%)Basic Body Flicker (D): LV4 (61%)Great Fireball Technique (C): LV1 (98%)Chakra Refinement: LV4 (87%)
Genjutsu—Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique (D): LV2 (39%)
Taijutsu—Basic Konoha Taijutsu: LV4 (31%)
Yes.
Shimizu Kanzuki had a cheat.
And it was permanently enabled.
The Proficiency System.
Unlocked once. Unlocked forever.
No upper limit.
As long as he continued practicing ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and related disciplines, they could level up indefinitely.
This was his true foundation.
His real confidence.
The reason he dared to volunteer for dangerous missions.
Otherwise, would a mere genin six months ago have genuinely thrown himself toward death?
Of course not.
What he wanted was the Third Hokage's ANBU lineage.
Not martyrdom.
Even so, staring at his current panel, Kanzuki still felt shabby.
The three basic techniques were academy material.
One D-Rank ninjutsu and one D-Rank genjutsu—purchased with contribution points.
His only "high-level" technique—the Great Fireball Technique—had been awarded after half a year of near-suicidal dedication.
But he had long since made long-term plans.
In the early stage, he was weak—so he moved cautiously.
In the mid stage, once he gained strength, he would develop Konoha alongside everyone else. Let the prosperous lead the struggling.
And in the late stage?
You will kindly continue developing my Konoha.
Of course—
That road would be long.
For Shimizu Kanzuki, time was on his side. With the Proficiency System, the longer things dragged out, the better.
If his strength rose sufficiently, he would delay the outbreak of inter-village wars as long as possible.
He would sabotage the schemes of that terrifying organization lurking in the shadows—the Akatsuki.
And ideally?
He would keep that ancient monster, Uchiha Madara, from stirring trouble.
His gaze lingered on the panel.
He had a strong intuition.
Once ninjutsu or genjutsu reached LV5, there would be a qualitative transformation.
At the same time, Chakra Refinement was his highest priority.
Currently, every chakra refinement method in the shinobi world extracted energy from one's own physical and spiritual vitality.
But if Chakra Refinement reached LV5…
Could he refine natural energy from the external world?
The thought thrilled him.
Because refining natural energy would represent a monumental step forward on the shinobi path.
Chakra refinement was the blood-soaked symbol of this world's bloodline hierarchy.
If your ancestors lacked prestigious lineage—
If you lacked special constitution—
If you possessed no kekkei genkai—
Then no matter how desperately you refined, you would squeeze out only a few miserable drops of chakra.
And worse, you would accumulate hidden injuries in the process.
That was one reason why exceptional bloodlines were worshipped so fervently.
Without them, you lost at the starting line.
Kanzuki stepped into the backyard and spat two Great Fireballs in succession.
His chakra reserves plummeted instantly, drained dry.
Recovery would take time.
But—
[Great Fireball Technique (C): LV1 (98%) → Great Fireball Technique (C): LV2 (0%)]
A surge of refined understanding flooded his mind. The technique felt smoother, more instinctive.
Kanzuki nodded in satisfaction.
Time to eat.
…