Reincarnated in Naruto World with a System

Tatsumi, his stomach rumbling, resumed his shuriken practice. Mastering the art of shurikenjutsu was a matter of relentless repetition, honing accuracy until it became second nature. He could already hit a target fifty meters away with reasonable consistency.

He retrieved ten more shuriken, five in each hand. Focusing on the target, he held his stance for a moment, then unleashed the projectiles in rapid succession.

Shoo!

The air crackled as five shuriken sliced through the air. But Tatsumi wasn't finished. He raised his other hand, the remaining five shuriken leaving his grasp with even greater velocity, overtaking the first volley. The ten shuriken collided mid-air with a metallic clink, creating a brief shower of sparks. They then accelerated, striking the target in near-perfect sequence."Huh," Tatsumi breathed, impressed. That was smooth. The pose, the speed, the power… it all felt right. He conveniently ignored the two shuriken that had missed the target. Ten out of ten was the goal, but eight was still a decent showing.

His Level 3 Shurikenjutsu skill allowed him to quickly analyze the miss. Right hand strength was off, he concluded. Probably just… He paused, cutting off the system's inevitable suggestion. "Don't even think about it, system," he muttered. "I'm five years old."

"…Understood."

Tatsumi continued his training for several more hours. His Level 3 skill had granted him a solid foundation, allowing him to execute complex techniques with growing ease. He had a good grasp of trajectory and power modulation.

He then switched to kunai. Recalling the scrolls left by Kagami, he considered the unique properties of the kunai. While primarily a melee weapon, the Uchiha clan had developed a specialized throwing technique that exploited the kunai's unique shape. Unlike shuriken, kunai weren't designed for aerial spins. This very limitation, however, became a strength in the Uchiha technique. The unexpected changes in trajectory after mid-air collisions made them even more difficult to predict, especially for experienced ninjas who relied on conventional shurikenjutsu principles.

The image of a perfectly executed kunai throw combined with the Flying Thunder God technique flashed through Tatsumi's mind, igniting his imagination. That's the ultimate combination, he thought.

Unstoppable.

He practiced kunai throwing diligently throughout the afternoon, adding another 30 ninja points to his tally.

Current ninja points: 1240.

Satisfied with his progress, he started his walk home. He kept an eye out for Ryo and his gang, but they were nowhere to be seen. "Guess they went home," he muttered, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Shame. I wanted to test out my new kunai technique."

He continued his solitary walk. The Academy started the following day, a prospect that intrigued him. The path to becoming a true ninja began at the Academy, after all.

The moon hung in the sky, casting a soft glow over the village. The air was cool and pleasant, and the streets were bustling with people enjoying the evening. Peace is a precious thing, Tatsumi thought. Despite being only five years old in this world, he felt a constant, nagging sense of unease. This anxiety fueled his drive to become stronger.

As he passed through the commercial district, he noticed a long queue outside a brightly lit storefront. Red lanterns adorned the entrance. Ichiraku Ramen, he realized.

The aroma wafting from the stall made his stomach rumble. Dinner time, he thought. "Tonight, I'm finally having a decent meal." He shuddered at the thought of the bland bentos, instant noodles, and… shudder… salt water that usually constituted his dinners.

He patted the coupon in his pocket, his resolve weakening. Just one bowl, he told himself. He joined the line.

Ichiraku was packed. Ninjas, civilians, and even tourists from other villages filled the small ramen shop. By the time Tatsumi reached the front of the line, he was almost falling asleep on his feet.

"Uncle, two bowls of pork ramen," he announced.

"Yosh! Coming right up!" the owner replied enthusiastically.

The Ichiraku owner wasn't the legendary Teuchi yet. This was a younger Teuchi, perhaps ten years old, a small, energetic boy, not the jovial, squinting man Tatsumi knew he would become.

"Hurry up and serve the customers!" a loud voice boomed from the kitchen.

Tatsumi's eyebrows rose. The Lion's Roar?

"Okay, Dad!" Teuchi replied, losing some of his bravado.

"Huh? It's you again, little brother," Teuchi said, recognizing Tatsumi. "Eating by yourself again?"

Tatsumi sighed inwardly. Little brother… He knew Teuchi was older and stronger, but the constant use of "little" grated on his nerves.

"Yeah," he replied. "I'll manage."

"I'll keep an eye on you," Teuchi said with a wink.

Great, Tatsumi thought.

The ramen was heavenly. The broth was rich and flavourful, the noodles perfectly cooked. No wonder it's so popular, he thought.

"Hey, kid," Tatsumi asked Teuchi, who was now helping in the kitchen, "did you make this ramen?"

"Yeah, but it's not as good as Dad's," Teuchi admitted.

"You're pretty skilled for your age," Tatsumi complimented.

"Nah, it's nothing…" Teuchi said modestly, but a faint blush crept onto his cheeks.

"There's something special about this ramen, isn't there?" Tatsumi asked, probing. He'd noticed his chakra responding strongly after eating here.

Teuchi's eyes darted away. "…Nope," he mumbled, suddenly nervous.

"Come on, I know there's a secret ingredient," Tatsumi pressed.

"…There's really nothing," Teuchi insisted, but his face was now flushed and he avoided eye contact.

"Then why do I feel so energized after eating here?"

"You just eat a lot," Teuchi replied quickly.

"You're hiding something!" Tatsumi declared.

"…Okay, fine,"

Teuchi whispered to his father in the kitchen. "Dad, that kid… he knows about the secret ingredient."

"…,"

Teuchi's father remained silent, his expression unreadable.