Sarutobi Shinya!

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside. Asuma hurriedly closed the system panel, and then the door was pushed open.

"Asuma, it's wonderful that you're awake!"

The visitor was a gentle woman in a kimono—his predecessor's mother, Sarutobi Biwako.

"Mom... Mother!"

Asuma's voice was somewhat strained.

Calling a "stranger" Mom was truly difficult, but he had no choice.

"Does your head still hurt?"

Sarutobi Biwako came to the bedside and knelt down.

"I'm fine. I've fully recovered!"

Asuma quickly replied.

His predecessor had died from a fever.

Dying from a fever in the ninja world was seriously unlucky.

Sarutobi Biwako let out a sigh of relief, but still handed the medicine in her hand to Asuma.

Asuma drank it all in one gulp and smiled. "Don't worry, Mom. I'm completely fine now!"

Seeing her son so lively and full of energy, Sarutobi Biwako was finally reassured and called him to lunch.

There were only the mother and son at lunch. As the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen was extremely busy, so he would eat directly at the Hokage Building.

After lunch, Asuma strolled around the courtyard to digest his meal while further refining his plans.

Half an hour later.

Asuma left the house. Following his predecessor's memories, he came to a small grove where he usually played with his friends and began training.

First came physical training.

Long-distance running, push-ups, handstand running...

His predecessor had actually done these exercises before, so Asuma did not need to worry about injuring himself with improper form.

After an hour, sweat poured down like rain. Asuma lay on the grass and opened the system.

"An extra 10 Experience Points. That's not too slow."

Asuma was delighted.

In other words, he could theoretically level up once in roughly ten hours.

"However, the further I go, the fewer Experience Points I'll probably get from such simple training."

Asuma pondered this silently, then opened the attribute list and found that the Constitution column had changed to 10.1.

In other words, it had increased by 0.1!

In an instant.

Asuma was filled with motivation.

Once his strength recovered, he immediately got up and continued training.

This time, he lasted a full hour and ten minutes before collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.

Panting heavily, he opened the system to check his gains.

This time, his Experience Points had increased by 11, while his Constitution had risen by 0.11.

"This feels amazing!"

Asuma could not help but laugh aloud.

Forty minutes later, he got up to train again.

He still trained for an hour and ten minutes. Not only was he completely exhausted, but he was also starving.

However, Asuma's expression changed when he opened the system.

This time, he had only gained 6 Experience Points, and his Constitution had increased even less—only 0.04.

"Looks like this basic training has a certain threshold. I can't keep gaining the same amount of Experience Points forever. The effects will get worse and worse later on."

Asuma fell into thought.

After resting for a while, he got up to buy something to eat.

Once he was full, there was still some time before nightfall, so he simply returned to the training ground at home to continue training.

This time, he lasted for an hour and fifteen minutes.

When he checked his Character Panel again.

The Experience Points he gained had dropped to 4.

His Constitution had increased by 0.01.

"At this rate, after roughly four hours of basic training, the Experience Points gained will become negligible, and the Constitution increase may even fall to three decimal places."

Asuma calculated.

Sure enough.

Once he had rested enough, the fourth round of training only gave him 1 Experience Point, while his Constitution increased by 0.002.

"At this rate, once my Constitution improves in the future, I'll have to extend my basic training time to keep gaining Experience Points, or increase the intensity—weighted running, running while carrying huge rocks, frog jumps, and so on."

"But for now, I still need to take things step by step."

Asuma summarized his findings and ended today's Constitution training.

There was still some time before nightfall.

Asuma took out his shuriken and began Tool Throwing Training.

By the time his older brother, Sarutobi Shinya, returned, his Experience Points had reached 43.

He had gained 31 points from physical training and 12 points from Tool Throwing Training.

Asuma smiled so broadly that his mouth nearly split open.

"Asuma, looks like you gained a lot!"

In the corridor, Sarutobi Shinya leaned against a pillar and smiled.

Asuma stood up and looked at this person who had received only a few mentions in the original work and had never even appeared.

His brother, five years his senior; Konohamaru's father, Sarutobi Shinya!

"Big Brother!"

Asuma greeted him with a smile. "Gains always bring joy!"

"Very true!"

Sarutobi Shinya smiled and nodded, then gave Asuma a careful look.

He could sense that his younger brother was different today, but it was a good change!

"Go wash up. Dinner will be ready soon!"

Sarutobi Shinya said gently.

"Okay!"

Asuma nodded with a smile, then headed to the bathroom.

After washing up, he came to the living room and finally met the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen—his father.

At forty-six, Sarutobi Hiruzen was in the prime of his life, and his face looked somewhat stern.

Asuma felt a little nervous, afraid that something might give him away.

Fortunately, Sarutobi Hiruzen merely exchanged a few pleasantries and asked after him before the family of four began eating. Asuma secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thus, the family of four enjoyed a harmonious meal.

After dinner, Asuma and his brother Sarutobi Shinya helped their mother clean up the kitchen. As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, he headed back to the Hokage Building.

The moon shone bright amid sparse stars.

Inside the spacious training room.

Asuma asked his brother Sarutobi Shinya for guidance on the Three Basic Ninjutsu, as well as the many key points of Hand Seals.

Through his predecessor's memories, he knew that this older brother was an absolute genius. He had graduated from the Ninja Academy last year.

Most of the glory of being the Hokage's son rested on Sarutobi Shinya.

And in truth, Sarutobi Shinya was indeed exceptionally outstanding.

Whether it was the Three Basic Ninjutsu or his understanding of seals, Asuma could not compare to him.

An hour passed without him realizing it.

As the sound of a "ding" rang in his ears, Asuma knew that he had leveled up.

"Well, this should be enough for you to digest for a while."

"Also, Asuma, you can take a look at my training notes. You might gain even more from them."

"Other than these key points, Hand Seals require constant practice above all else."

Sarutobi Shinya smiled and rubbed Asuma's little head.

Asuma could not resist and could only let him do it. After thanking him, he dashed off in a flash.

"Asuma has grown up!"

Watching Asuma leave, Sarutobi Shinya could not help but smile with emotion before beginning his own training.

Back in his bedroom, Asuma immediately opened the system.

Character: Asuma

Level: 1

Age: 5

Faction: Konohagakure, Land of Fire

Experience Points: 0/200

Achievements: None

Dopaminergic Attribute Points: 1

Dopaminergic Skill Points: 1

Attributes: Expandable

Skills: Expandable

"Hard work really does pay off!"

Asuma grinned, then opened his attribute list.

Constitution: 10.252

Agility: 8

Intelligence: 22.5

Charm: 8