A Teacher's Quarters – Small but Full of Character
After parting ways with his three students, Satoru trudged back to his humble lodgings.
His room was barely ten square meters wide, the wooden walls slightly cracked, and the door creaked loudly every time he opened it. Inside, there was only a small bed, a rickety desk with a few scrolls scattered on top, and a dust-covered bookshelf. In the corner stood an old wardrobe with a few plain outfits hanging loosely.
Satoru threw himself onto the bed, resting his hands behind his head as he stared at the ceiling.
The night was eerily quiet.
Outside, the leaves rustled softly with the wind, blending with the distant chirping of crickets. In the far distance, the occasional call of a night bird echoed through the air, forming a peaceful symphony.
Satoru closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
"The air in this world… is really fresh."
The scent of damp earth, the rustic aroma of wood—no industrial pollution, no blaring car horns. If he didn't know better, he might have thought this was paradise.
But—
"This is the world of Naruto."
A world where war could break out at any moment.
A world where even children were forced to wield weapons.
A world where life and death were separated by a single blade.
Satoru was no fool.
He knew that somewhere out there, Black and White Zetsu were still lurking, watching over the world.
Madara's grand plan was still moving forward in the shadows.
And far beyond that, Kaguya Ootsutsuki—the Rabbit Goddess—awaited her resurrection.
Satoru narrowed his eyes, muttering to himself.
"I'm just an intern teacher… what can I even do?"
The question echoed in his mind, but there was no answer.
He was a nobody. He had no exceptional ninjutsu, no inherited bloodline abilities, no powerful clan backing him.
He was just an ordinary person who had been transported into this world.
A hardcore anime fan who once dreamed of a peaceful life, marrying a beautiful wife, having a few kids, and living quietly until old age.
But…
"This world is too dangerous. Is that kind of life even possible?"
For the First Time, a True Determination Awakens
Satoru closed his eyes, and the images of his three students surfaced in his mind.
Gai, a boy who would one day give everything for his comrades, never surrendering even in the face of death. Obito, a kind-hearted child who would lose his way due to unbearable loss. Kakashi, a lone genius who would experience more pain than any child should.
"Obito, Kakashi, Gai…"
They weren't just characters in a story anymore.
They were real, living before his very eyes.
They laughed, they spoke, they breathed.
No longer words on a page. No longer just animations flickering on a screen.
"How can I just watch them walk into tragedy and do nothing?"
Satoru clenched his fists, his gaze sharpening with an unshakable resolve.
"If someone must bear the burden of pain… then I will be that person."
A small smirk formed on his lips as he whispered a vow to himself.
"I will protect their smiles. No matter what it takes."
System Notification – The First Reward!
Just as Satoru finished his thought—
Ting!
[Congratulations, Host! You have completed your first lesson!] [Teaching Performance: A+] [You have received 500 system points.] [You have obtained a special reward: Purification Elixir.]
Satoru blinked.
"What? An elixir?"
He quickly opened his system inventory, scanning through the details.
[Purification Elixir: A medicinal pill that cleanses impurities, enhances physical fitness, and improves mental clarity.]
Satoru felt intrigued, though slightly skeptical.
"System, are there any side effects?"
[None. Only positive benefits.]
Satoru: "…"
"Sounds legit. Alright, let's do this!"
Without hesitation, he retrieved the elixir and swallowed it.
Instantly—
A scorching heat surged through his body!
Itchiness.
Unbearable itchiness!
Satoru gritted his teeth, rolling around on the bed as if he were on fire.
Then—
A thick, black liquid began oozing from his pores, carrying an absolutely foul stench.
Satoru grimaced.
"What the hell!? Is this 'human residue' or something!?"
Unable to stand the smell, he bolted straight to the bathroom.
A Complete Transformation!
After nearly thirty minutes of scrubbing himself clean, Satoru finally emerged from the bathroom, feeling lighter than ever.
Instinctively, he ran a hand over his face.
"Wait… why does my skin feel so smooth?"
He rushed over to the mirror.
What he saw made his eyes widen.
It was him, but at the same time… it wasn't.
His skin was clearer, taut, and had a healthy glow. The sluggishness in his features was gone, replaced with sharpness and vitality.
His eyes were brighter, deeper, and his overall aura had changed entirely.
His body felt weightless yet packed with power, his muscles lean and defined.
Satoru flexed his arm, feeling the newfound strength coursing through his veins.
"This… feels like I've been living my whole life in exhaustion, and only now am I at my peak!"
A chuckle escaped his lips as he spun his wrist, marveling at the fluidity of his movements.
"Alright, System! I'll give you credit for this one!"
(To be continued in Chapter 20 – Breakfast with the Brats!)