"987, 988, 989..."
Home, usually just within reach, now seemed as distant as the ends of the earth...
Naruto's muscles ached unbearably, and his mind was on the verge of collapse.
"I can't do this anymore. I have to take a break..."
[Warning: Baptism of Lightning Release countdown, 5... 4... 3...]
"...990, 991, 992..."
Thump—
Thump, thump!
Passersby on the street couldn't help glancing at Naruto as he frog-jumped along with weights strapped to him.
"Hm? Is that the demon—"
"Shh! Watch what you say!"
"Why isn't that guy pulling pranks? Why's he suddenly working so hard?"
"Hmph, I bet he's planning some new trick. Maybe this is all part of one of his pranks!"
"Yeah. That little brat has no manners. All he does is cause trouble every day. He's really not likable!"
"Come on, let's get away from him!"
Naruto could hear all the whispers, but today he didn't even have the energy to dwell on them.
Not even...
He couldn't spare a thought for how lonely it felt to see all the other children being picked up by their smiling parents while he was still all alone.
There was only one thing on his mind now...
Get home by frog-jumping as fast as he could!
Make a huge bowl of instant noodles, grab two cartons of milk, and eat and drink to his heart's content!
At the thought, Naruto started drooling. It seemed to give him a little more strength, and he let out a shout before continuing to hop forward.
"1109, 1110, 1111..."
"1112!"
"I'm here!"
When Naruto saw his home, it felt more welcoming than ever. The house didn't look particularly cozy, but at that moment, it seemed like a dreamlike paradise...
He hurried to his feet, squeezed his numb thighs, then strode up the stairs and ran toward his room.
"Huh?"
"It hurts a lot, but why does it also feel kind of good?"
"Am I a masochist?"
Naruto sensed the changes in his body. He really had reached his limit, but the pain and exhaustion weren't as intense as he'd expected. Instead, his stamina was recovering rapidly.
[The host has successfully completed a weighted frog-jumping trip home. Stamina increased by 3. Current stamina: 76!]
Naruto's heart stirred, and he was overjoyed.
"My physics and chemistry might be awful, but I'm pretty strong!"
"Ahaha..."
Of course, that wasn't thanks to the system. It was Naruto's Uzumaki Clan bloodline at work.
His immense chakra, formidable vitality, and the abilities unique to a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki made Naruto's stamina and recovery astonishing!
"Ah, I can finally eat!"
Naruto immediately went to boil water for instant noodles.
Just then...
[The host is preparing to eat. A healthy diet is essential for building a strong physique and is also a prerequisite for becoming Hokage!] [The host must immediately prepare a nutritious, balanced dinner containing fresh meat, eggs, milk, vegetables, and fruit!]
Naruto: "...Huh?!"
"Will instant noodles do?"
[No.]
"...Why not?! I love instant noodles! Actually, to be precise, I love Uncle Ichiraku's ramen..."
[Ramen is fine. Instant noodles are not.]
Naruto: "..."
"But where am I supposed to get meat, eggs, milk, vegetables, and fruit?!"
He trudged glumly over to the refrigerator and opened it. There was nothing inside but milk...
"Whatever. At least I've got milk..."
Exhausted, Naruto was just about to open a carton and drink his fill.
But then...
[The milk in the host's hand has expired. For a host who is still growing, it does more harm than good. Please replace it with fresh milk immediately!]
Naruto: "...Huh?!"
Though indignant, he took another look at the production and expiration dates. After doing the math in his head for a while, he finally confirmed...
It had indeed expired.
And it had expired a long time ago...
"So I've been drinking expired milk this whole time?"
"No wonder I get diarrhea so often..."
Naruto scratched his head and reached for another carton, but then...
[The milk in the host's hand has expired. For a host who is still growing, it does more harm than good. Please replace it with fresh milk immediately!]
"This one's expired too?!"
"Right, I bought them all at the same time..."
"What about the ones on top?!"
Naruto checked every carton and found that almost all of the milk had expired.
Only two or three cartons he'd bought recently were still within their expiration dates.
He carefully picked one up. At last, he heard no warning in his head. He hurriedly opened it and gulped it down...
"Ah—"
After finishing the carton, Naruto felt his ravenous hunger ease a little.
Soon, he grabbed another carton and polished it off in an instant.
When he picked up the last one...
[Warning: Do not drink too much milk!] [The host must immediately prepare a nutritious, balanced dinner!] [Also... throw away the milk that expired a long time ago!]
Naruto: "...But I don't know how to cook!"
[Warning...]
"Ah! Fine, fine! You win!"
"I'll go buy groceries right now! And I'll throw out all this expired milk while I'm at it..."
That was what he said, but as he looked at the refrigerator full of milk and thought about throwing it all away, Naruto couldn't help feeling reluctant.
Still...
He shook his head with a sigh and obediently tossed all the expired milk into a garbage bag. Then he picked up his Frog Wallet, closed the door, and went out.
"Goodbye, milk..."
Naruto reluctantly dumped the cartons of milk into the trash.
Then he headed for a grocery store.
Naruto's monthly allowance was neither too much nor too little. It was more than enough to cover the everyday expenses of someone his age.
The problem was that Naruto clearly wasn't much of a planner.
Aside from occasionally going to eat at Ichiraku Ramen, he mostly lived on instant noodles and milk. Instant noodles were fast food to begin with, and the milk Naruto drank was expired on top of that.
He was also at a crucial stage of growth, so of course his body was bound to be affected.
But...
Now that he had the system forcing him to throw away expired milk and stop eating instant noodles so often, he was starting to focus on balanced meals and a healthy diet. It would be exciting to see how strong Naruto would become as he grew up.
Naruto bought a large amount of the freshest meat, milk, eggs, vegetables, and fruit. He stuffed it all into two big bags and struggled to carry them home before packing everything into the refrigerator.
Now the refrigerator finally looked like it belonged in a normal family's home.
Next, he had no choice but to cook his own dinner...
Night fell, and lights shone in homes all across the village.
The warmth and liveliness glowing in the other windows didn't belong to Naruto.
But...
The system's constant reminders and warnings kept him on edge and frightened, yet they also subtly eased his loneliness and pain.
It was almost like having a strict father around.
Naruto was emotionally oblivious and didn't realize it, but for once, he managed to forget his loneliness.
Naruto's first dinner cooked by his own hands was hardly a feast, let alone delicious.
Still, it had meat and vegetables, eggs and milk. At the very least, it was fairly balanced.
Naruto was already mentally and physically exhausted, right on the edge of his limit. Looking at the dinner he'd made himself, he didn't have the energy to feel proud. He quickly wolfed it all down.
In less than ten minutes.
Naruto had devoured every last bit of dinner. He let out a satisfied burp, then slumped in his chair and wriggled downward like a worm.
One word...
Amazing!
Was this the satisfaction that came from working hard?
Naruto couldn't help chuckling.
His joy didn't last long.
[The host has finished eating, but has not yet completed the eight hours of daily Chakra Refinement Technique practice. Please begin training immediately!]
Naruto: "...Aaaaaah! At least let me rest for a while!"
[Warning: Baptism of Lightning Release countdown, 5... 4... 3...]
Naruto: "I don't care! I really can't do it anymore!"
"Zap me if you want!"
Actually, now that his energy and strength had recovered, Naruto wasn't completely incapable of continuing his training.
It was just human nature.
No matter how grueling and exhausting something was, he could endure it if he just pushed through in one go.
Before you continue