The Golden Finger Appears

"The Sharingan... it really is strong, but will I actually get one? Even if I do, can I evolve it to the Mangekyo? The conditions for evolving the Sharingan to the Mangekyo are harsh, after all."

"If I don't even have the Mangekyo, how can I stand in the ninja world? The bosses that show up later in the Naruto plot are each more monstrous than the last."

Orochimaru, Danzo, the Akatsuki, and Nagato with the Rinnegan—not to mention Obito Uchiha and that old monster Madara Uchiha.

Thinking of the despairing power Madara Uchiha showed in the original story, Chen could only force a bitter smile. In his heart, he desperately craved strength.

"Ah, thinking about this now is too early, isn't it? At least I should wait until I've awakened my eyes. For now, I can only train in taijutsu and shuriken." Chen laughed at himself.

"Ding! Due to the host's extreme desire for power, the Strongman System has been activated. Binding in progress."

Chen was startled by the sudden voice. Ignoring the soreness all over his body, he immediately sat up.

"What the hell? Who's talking?"

"Ding, binding successful. Host: Uchiha Chen."

"Scanning current world. Ding, scan complete. Current world: Naruto."

"This situation... could it be..." Chen's spirits lifted. A possibility occurred to him.

As a twenty-first-century shut-in, Chen had of course read online time-travel novels. In most of those stories, the protagonist got a golden finger after traveling—a perk for travelers.

"Could it be that my perk as a traveler has finally arrived?" At the thought, Chen was thrilled.

"Ding, due to the host's current weakness, the system will grant the host one free draw. Do you accept?"

"A draw? Accept, accept, I accept!"

"Starting the draw!"

"Ding! Congratulations, host has drawn the Six Powers of the Navy: Finger Gun."

A warm current flowed into Chen's body, and information about Finger Gun appeared in his mind.

Finger Gun: One of the Six Powers of the Navy, a technique said to have the power of a gunshot. It concentrates all the body's strength into the index finger and unleashes a strike with lightning speed using a hardened fingertip. The fingertip has attack power comparable to a bullet, easily piercing human flesh or even steel.

At this moment, this skill was fully integrated into Chen's mind, as if he had been born knowing it.

"System, tell me everything about yourself."

"Answering host: The Strongman System is a system designed to help the host become a strong person. It has various functions, including the ability to exchange for any combat skill or item, provided the host has enough points. Points can be obtained by completing system-issued tasks, recycling skills and treasures, or killing enemies. Additionally, the system will provide the host with a newcomer benefit: the host will receive three points for each day they survive. Surviving one year grants one free draw. This benefit lasts for three years only."

"Oh, there's a newcomer benefit? Not bad. How many points do I have now?"

"Host's current total points: 3. Open the exchange interface?"

"Only three points? Can't you give me a little more?" Chen complained, disappointed.

"No."

"Tch! So stingy. Open the exchange interface." Chen wanted to see what he could exchange for.

At that moment, an image appeared before Chen's eyes, listing various abilities and items. The Rinnegan, the Sage Body, the Eternal Mangekyo—so many powerful things that Chen's eyes lit up and he started drooling. But when he saw the points required behind them, he gasped and deflated.

Rinnegan: Item rank SSS, exchange cost: 1,000,000 points.

Sage Body: Item rank SSS, exchange cost: 1,000,000 points.

Eternal Mangekyo: Item rank SS, exchange cost: 500,000 points.

Looking at the points needed for these items, then at his own points, Chen felt his future was bleak. Three points a day—was he supposed to save up until the end of time?

"Ding! System issuing task: Host must enroll in the Ninja Academy within ten days. Task reward: 300 points. Task time limit: 10 days. Failure penalty: None. Accept?"

"Huh? A task? Enroll in the Ninja Academy? I'm old enough to enroll now, I guess. Accept!"

"I'll go home and talk to my parents first. After all those push-ups, I'm a bit hungry too."

With that, he dragged his tired body toward home.

"I'm back." Returning home, Chen spoke to the people in the room.

There were three people in the room. One was Chen's father, Fugaku Uchiha, who was resting with his eyes closed. One was Chen's older brother, Uchiha Itachi. The last was Chen's identical twin brother, Sasuke Uchiha. Itachi was currently playing with Sasuke.

Hearing Chen's voice, they all looked at him.

"Father, brother." Chen greeted Fugaku Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi.

"Chen, where did you go play today?" Itachi asked Chen.

"Just wandered around the clan grounds."

"Tch!" Sasuke, on the side, was annoyed that Chen had interrupted his game with Itachi.

"Brother, ignore him. Let's keep going. After you go out every day, no one plays with me. I'm always alone. Chen never plays with me. It's so boring."

Sasuke complained. Itachi had graduated from the Ninja Academy four years ago and become a ninja, so he often went out on missions and rarely stayed home. And Chen, his peer, never talked to him.

Chen ignored Sasuke's grumbling. He walked straight to the dining table, sat down, and stayed silent.

"Chen's back! Dinner will be ready soon." Mikoto's gentle voice came from the kitchen, followed by her bringing the prepared dishes to the table one by one.

The family was now sitting around the table eating. "Brother, I want that." Sasuke sat beside Itachi and whined to him.

Meanwhile, Chen, who looked identical to Sasuke, sat quietly to the side. No one could know what he was thinking. A five-year-old child being so silent, usually not liking to talk much—it worried Mikoto and Fugaku, as parents, that Chen might be too withdrawn.

Sasuke always loved clinging to Itachi, while Chen...

It seemed overly cold. Though the two were twins, their personalities were completely different.

"Here, have this drumstick." Mikoto picked up a drumstick and placed it in Chen's bowl.

"Thank you, Mother." Chen said simply, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes—as if deeply moved, yet unwilling to show it.

"Brother, I want one too!" Sasuke whined at Itachi, upset that the family always fussed over Chen. They looked exactly alike, so why did everyone care more about Chen?

"Brother, after dinner you have to play hide-and-seek with me. Chen never plays with me, it's so boring." Sasuke clung to Itachi, hoping he would play with him.

"Chen, do you want to join in too?" Itachi said to Chen. If they were going to play, they might as well all play together.

"No, I'm full. I'm going back to my room." Chen refused Itachi's invitation and headed to his room alone.

"Hmph, that boring guy. Forget him, let's go play, brother." Sasuke jumped onto Itachi's back, and Itachi carried him.

"Fugaku, don't you think Chen is too withdrawn?" After Itachi and Sasuke left, Mikoto, as a mother, spoke with some concern.

Uchiha Fugaku sighed. "I can't see through that child either. He's only five or six and already like this. He doesn't tell us what's on his mind, nor does he act like other kids who like to act spoiled with their parents. It's as if nothing interests him."

Chen returned to his room, staring at the ceiling alone, lost in thought. Then, like someone who had weathered many storms, he let out a long sigh.

"Ah, I keep telling myself I can't grow attached to this family, because..." Chen muttered to himself.

Chen, who knew the plot well, understood that within the next three years, the Uchiha would attempt a coup, only to be wiped out by Uchiha Itachi, who didn't want to see war.

So Chen didn't want to experience the heart-wrenching pain of losing loved ones again. He had always shown an extremely cold attitude toward this family, afraid of forming too many emotional bonds.

"I forgot to tell them about the Ninja Academy. Damn it." Chen suddenly remembered the task the system had issued and slapped his forehead.

"Forget it, I'll do it tomorrow. It's not urgent anyway."

"Take a shower, go to sleep. I'm exhausted today." With that, he headed toward the bathroom in his room.