Michio's knuckles cracked as he wrapped up his morning circuit: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10km run—his new "warm-up."
The sweat dripped from his brow, but his body didn't collapse like it used to. Not anymore.
> Ultra Gainz System Update:
Daily Workout Complete!
+2 Strength
+1 Endurance
+1 Chakra Control
Passive Buff: "Runner's High" – Chakra Recovery slightly increases during motion
Michio smirked. "Every time I think I've hit a wall, I punch through it. This system's kinda evil—but it works."
When he got to class, the mood was different.
Students were buzzing, excited and nervous. Iruka stood at the front with a clipboard, adjusting his headband.
"All right, listen up! You've all graduated the Academy—barely, in some cases." His eyes flicked to Naruto, who was currently trying to balance an eraser on his head. "Today, you'll be assigned to your genin squads."
Michio blinked.
"Oh crap. It's that day already?"
Naruto was bouncing in his seat. "Man, I hope I get a cool sensei! Like someone with lightning powers! Or a sword!"
"Or maybe someone who'll train you to not flunk the basic transformation jutsu," Michio muttered under his breath.
Naruto elbowed him. "Hey! I passed! Eventually!"
Iruka began calling out teams.
"Ino, Shikamaru, Choji—Team 10."
"Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura—Team 7."
Michio froze.
"Wait… those three? Still together?"
Then—
"And… Michio Kuni. Also Team 7."
The room went dead quiet. Even Naruto stopped talking. Sakura's jaw dropped. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"…Huh?" Michio muttered.
Iruka gave a tight smile. "Special assignment from the Hokage himself. Something about 'tracking unusual chakra growth and performance.' Guess someone's been working very hard lately."
> System Notification:
Plot Anchor Engaged – Main Character Detected
New Quest: Survive Team 7's Dysfunction
Bonus Objective: "Don't punch Naruto. Or Sasuke. Or Sakura. (Optional.)"
---
Later that day, they waited in the classroom for their jonin instructor.
Naruto laid across a desk like he was melting.
Sakura was trying to flirt with Sasuke, who was pretending she didn't exist.
Michio was standing in the corner, doing calf raises.
"You ever stop working out?" Sakura finally snapped.
Michio didn't even look at her. "Muscles don't grow on love triangles."
Naruto cackled. Sasuke almost smiled. Almost.
Then, after two hours, the door slid open with a lazy creak.
A tall silver-haired man in a flak vest stood there, face half-covered, visible eye smiling lazily.
"Yo," Kakashi said. "Sorry I'm late. Got lost on the path of life."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Whoa! He's got the vibe of someone way too cool to be on time!"
Michio blinked. "He's even taller in person…"
Kakashi looked them over for a moment, then nodded. "Meet me on the roof in five minutes. We'll talk there."
---
On the roof, after the usual "introduce yourself" bit, Kakashi turned to Michio.
"And what about you?"
Michio thought for a moment. "I like training. Dislike skipping leg day. And my dream… is to get strong enough to stand beside anyone, not behind them."
Naruto fist-pumped. "YEAH! I like that!"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. You've got some muscle on you, for a genin. What's your secret?"
Michio grinned.
"Modern problems require modern workouts."
Kakashi looked amused—and suspicious.
"Well then. Tomorrow morning: training field. You'll be taking a special test. Bring everything you've got."
> New Quest Unlocked:
"Bell Test – Survive Kakashi's Laziness-Fueled Doom Training"
Bonus Objective: Touch one bell without dying
Reward: Advancement to Full Genin
Penalty: Sent back to the Academy. And probably mocked.
Michio stood as the sun set behind them, fire in his chest.
Tomorrow was the test. And this time?
He was ready.