"Sharingan, huh? It really is powerful. But will I actually get it? And even if I do, can I evolve it into the Mangekyo? The conditions for evolving the Sharingan into the Mangekyo are incredibly strict."
"If I don't even have the Mangekyo, how am I supposed to make a name for myself in the Ninja World? The bosses who show up later in Naruto are all more monstrous than the last."
Orochimaru, Danzo, Akatsuki, and Nagato with his Rinnegan. And later, there were Obito Uchiha and that old monster, Madara Uchiha.
Thinking of the despair-inducing power Madara Uchiha had displayed in the Original Story, Chen could only smile wryly. Deep down, he yearned desperately for strength.
"Come on, it's too early to worry about that. I should at least wait until I awaken my eyes before thinking about it. For now, all I can do is train my Taijutsu and Shuriken skills." Chen laughed at himself.
"Ding! Due to the host's intense desire for strength, the Strongman System has been activated. Binding in progress."
The sudden voice startled Chen. Ignoring the soreness all over his body, he immediately sat up.
"What the heck? Who's talking?"
"Ding! Binding successful. Host: Uchiha Chen."
"Scanning the current world. Ding! Scan complete. Current world: Naruto."
Could this be... Chen's spirits lifted as he thought of a possibility.
As a shut-in from the twenty-first century, Chen had of course read web novels about people traveling to other worlds. Most of the protagonists in those stories received a golden finger after their transmigration. It was a perk for anyone who crossed into another world.
Could my transmigrator's perk have finally arrived? At the thought, Chen grew excited.
"Ding! Given the host's current weakness, the system will grant the host one free draw. Do you accept?"
"A draw? I accept! I accept! I want it!"
"Starting the draw!"
"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have drawn Finger Gun, one of the Six Powers of the Navy."
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, said to have the force of a gunshot. The user concentrates their entire body's strength in their index finger and delivers a strike in the blink of an eye with a hardened finger. The fingertip attacks with the force of a bullet and can easily pierce human bodies and even steel.
The skill had now been completely imprinted in Chen's mind, as if he had always known how to use it.
"System, tell me everything about yourself."
"Answering the host: The Strongman System is a system that helps the host become stronger. It has various functions and can exchange for any combat skill or item, provided the host has enough Points. Points can be earned by completing system missions, turning in skills and treasures, or killing enemies. In addition, the system will provide the host with a newcomer benefit: for every day the host survives, they will receive three Points. Survive for a year to receive one free draw. This benefit is available for three years only."
"Oh, there's a newcomer benefit too? Not bad. How many Points do I have now?"
"Host's current Points: 3. Open the Exchange Interface?"
"Only three? Couldn't you give me a little more?" Chen complained, deeply disappointed.
"No!"
"Tch! So stingy. Open the Exchange Interface." Chen wanted to see what he could exchange for.
A display appeared before Chen's eyes, showing all kinds of abilities and items. The Rinnegan, Sage Body, Eternal Mangekyo—there were so many powerful abilities that Chen's eyes shone and he started drooling. But when he saw the Points required to exchange for them, he sucked in a breath and wilted.
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 required for the items, then at his own balance, Chen felt his future was bleak. Three Points a day? Was he supposed to save for all eternity?
"Ding! System mission issued: The host must enroll in the Ninja Academy within ten days. Mission reward: 300 Points. Mission duration: 10 days. Failure penalty: None. Do you accept?"
"Hm? A mission already? Enroll in the Ninja Academy? I'm old enough to start, aren't I? I accept!"
"First, I should go home and tell my parents. After all those push-ups, I'm a little hungry too."
As he spoke, he dragged his tired body toward home.
"I'm back." When Chen got home, he called out to everyone inside.
There were three people in the house. One was Chen's father, Fugaku Uchiha, who was resting with his eyes closed. Another was Chen's older brother, Uchiha Itachi. The third was Chen's identical twin brother, Sasuke Uchiha, whom Itachi was playing with.
They all turned toward Chen when they heard his voice.
"Father, Itachi." Chen greeted Fugaku Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi.
"Chen, where did you go today?" Itachi asked.
"I just wandered around the Clan Compound."
"Tch!" Sasuke, standing nearby, was unhappy that Chen had interrupted his game with Itachi.
"Forget about him, Itachi. Let's keep playing. When you go out every day, there's no one to play with me. I'm always by myself. Chen won't play with me either. It's so boring."
Sasuke complained. Itachi had graduated from the Ninja Academy and become a ninja four years ago, so he often had to go out on missions and was rarely home. Chen, who was his age, didn't talk to him either.
Chen ignored Sasuke's complaints. He went straight to the dining table, sat down, and fell silent.
"Chen's home. Dinner will be ready soon," Mikoto called gently from the kitchen. Then she brought the dishes she had prepared to the table one by one.
The family sat around the table to eat. "Itachi, I want that," Sasuke said, coaxing his older brother.
Chen, who looked exactly like Sasuke, sat quietly to one side. No one knew what he was thinking. It was unsettling to see a five-year-old so quiet and withdrawn, and Mikoto and Fugaku worried that he might become too isolated.
Sasuke was always clinging to Itachi, while Chen seemed too distant. Though the two were twins, their personalities were completely different.
"Here, have this chicken leg." Mikoto placed one in Chen's bowl.
"Thank you, Mother." Chen replied simply. A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes. He seemed deeply touched, but refused to show it.
"Itachi, I want one too!" Sasuke pleaded with his older brother. He was unhappy that the family was always paying attention to Chen. They looked exactly alike, so why did everyone care about Chen more?
"Itachi, after dinner, you have to play hide-and-seek with me. Chen never plays with me. I'm so bored." Sasuke clung to Itachi, hoping he would play with him.
"Chen, do you want to join us?" Itachi asked him. They could all play together.
"No, I'm full. I'm going back to my room." Chen declined Itachi's invitation and went back to his room alone.
"Hmph, that boring guy. Forget him. Let's go play, Itachi." Sasuke leaped onto Itachi's back, and Itachi carried him away.
"Fugaku, do you think Chen is too withdrawn?" After Itachi and Sasuke had left, Mikoto asked with some concern.
Fugaku Uchiha sighed. "I can't figure that boy out either. He's only five or six, and he's already like this. He doesn't tell us what's on his mind, and unlike other children, he doesn't cling to his parents. It's as if he isn't interested in anything."
Back in his room, Chen stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought. Then, like someone who had lived through countless hardships, he let out a long sigh.
"Ugh, I keep telling myself not to get attached to this family, because..." Chen muttered to himself.
Chen knew the story. Within three years, the Uchiha would attempt a coup, only to be wiped out by Uchiha Itachi, who couldn't bear to see a war break out.
Chen didn't want to go through the soul-rending pain of losing his family again. That was why he had always acted so coldly toward them: he was afraid of becoming too attached.
"I forgot to tell them about the Ninja Academy. Honestly..." Chen suddenly remembered the system mission and slapped his forehead.
"Whatever. I'll tell them tomorrow. There's no rush."
"I'll take a bath and go to sleep. Today wore me out." With that, he headed for the bathroom in his room.
Before you continue