**Evening - Hokage's Office**
"Hokage-sama, Genma has returned from his mission and is here to deliver the report."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, looked up from the pile of paperwork that seemed determined to bury him alive. He listened quietly as his secretary, Aiko, announced the visitor.
'Just when I thought I'd finally escaped this cursed paperwork…' he mused bitterly. 'Minato had to go and get himself killed. Couldn't the boy have waited a few seconds longer? I would've cast the Reaper Death Seal myself...'
"Let him in, Aiko," Hiruzen said aloud, his voice calm, paired with a gentle smile. I could use a break from this mountain of monotony.
Moments after Aiko departed, Genma stepped into the office. He dropped to one knee with practiced ease—a respectful bow to the man who bore the weight of the village.
Even after a year, Hiruzen still hadn't entirely adjusted to Genma's transformation. The iconic reverse bandana was gone, replaced by a more professional appearance. His once long brown hair was now cleanly cropped at the sides and back, the top styled in sharp, spiky waves. The baby fat had vanished, replaced by a defined jawline that added maturity to his features. Clad in the uniform of a Konoha Special Jōnin, he looked every bit the elite shinobi. His eyes were relaxed, almost lazy—but the steely glint in them hadn't dulled.
"Welcome back, Genma-kun," Hiruzen greeted. "I trust the mission went smoothly?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama. The bandits near Tanzaku Town have been dealt with. Their leaders—rogue shinobi from Iwagakure, two chūnin and three genin—were eliminated as well. I've brought their bodies back for inspection. Based on what I gathered, they deserted Iwa a few months ago."
"Anything unusual? Suspicious behavior?"
"None, Hokage-sama. It was a straightforward mission."
"Well done, Genma-kun. Submit your written report by tomorrow." Hiruzen leaned back slightly. "Tell me, when do you plan on applying for your jōnin promotion?"
"I'm still refining my control over Water Nature chakra," Genma replied, a little sheepishly. The seriousness in his demeanor eased, the heavy ninja presence lifting slightly. "Once I've mastered it, I'll apply."
"You do realize mastery of a second elemental nature isn't mandatory?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "With your expertise in fuinjutsu, that's more than enough to qualify. Apply for the next jōnin exams—we're in need of capable shinobi."
"You're being too generous, Hokage-sama. I wouldn't even come close to matching Minato-sama or Kushina-sama's level of mastery... but I'll apply for the next trials."
"None of us could ever truly match them..." Hiruzen murmured, his voice tinged with sorrow as his gaze drifted toward the portrait of Minato on the wall.
"You're dismissed, Genma. Next time, I'd like an update on your progress with the Flying Raijin."
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Genma gave a crisp nod and exited the office without another word.
—
**Underneath Konoha, Root Hideout**
The room was dimly lit, its cold metal walls exuding a bleak, oppressive atmosphere. Aside from a desk and a single chair, it was bare—functional and unforgiving, like the organization it belonged to.
Two figures stood in quiet conversation.
"Aka, any promising new recruits you've come across lately?" Danzo asked, seated with his usual rigid posture. His voice was flat, devoid of emotion, his presence commanding yet unreadable.
"Hai, Danzo-sama. Genma Shiranui—Special Jōnin, age seventeen. Proficient in taijutsu, ninjutsu, and fuinjutsu. He's expected to apply for jōnin promotion in the upcoming trials. His chakra natures are Fire, Lightning, and Water. He's learned the Flying Raijin under Lord Fourth's tutelage, though he hasn't mastered it".
"Hmm. So the boy's come far in the past year," Danzo murmured, eyes narrowing slightly. "Any darkness we could exploit?"
"He still carries resentment over the Fourth's death. Recently picked up drinking and smoking. He's thrown himself into training, distancing himself from his friends."
"Not enough," Danzo said flatly. "Monitor him. He may prove useful in time."
'Too much light still clings to him. Not enough darkness for our purposes..'
"Hai, Danzo-sama."
—
It had been a year since I transmigrated into Genma's body.
At first, the experience was jarring—being flooded with all of Genma's memories, his instincts, his past. It changed me. Molded me into someone new. I wasn't just borrowing his face or name; I was Genma now, but with a different soul behind the eyes. A different perspective.
Missions, no matter how brutal or morally gray, no longer fazed me. That numbness—my growing detachment—is what eventually led me to drinking.
Strangely enough, it was the timing of my arrival that saved me. The transmigration happened the day after the Kyūbi attack. Everyone simply assumed my drinking and smoking were symptoms of grief—coping mechanisms after Minato's death.
Even Genma's friends didn't suspect a thing. I hadn't made any dramatic changes. I didn't suddenly start quoting poetry or preaching philosophy. I stayed within the bounds of his personality—just enough. Picked up a few new habits. Tweaked my style. I still had all of Genma's skills, his combat rhythm, his chakra control. There were no inconsistencies.
Well, except maybe one.
Gai gave me that look the first time I cut my hair and ditched the bandana. You know the one—the same suspicious glare he once gave Kakashi in that ridiculous filler episode, convinced he was an imposter. It was brief, and awkward, but he moved on. Everyone else did too.
Since then, interactions with Kurenai, Aoba, Iwashi, Ebisu, and Gai have become part of my routine. Familiar. Comfortable, even. The only ones I rarely crossed paths with were Anko and Kakashi—but that made sense. Both were loners, and their missions kept them away more often than not.
This past year? It's been a blur of training and alcohol.
I spar with Gai regularly, wearing weights until my legs scream. I push myself in ninjutsu and fuinjutsu, digging through scrolls, calling in favors, and learning from whoever is willing to teach. I've stayed sharp—driven. But the edge is always softened at the end of the week, three nights at the bar, letting sake burn away the ghosts I can't talk about.
Now, about the System I was granted.
Honestly? It's nothing extraordinary—no flashy quests, no dramatic missions, no mysterious voice guiding my fate. It's bare-bones, more of a progress tracker than anything else. Just numbers on a screen. The only real function it serves is awarding me points based on the missions I complete for the village, whether I take them on solo or as part of a team.
And in the past year, that pattern hasn't changed once. Not even a flicker of evolution. Sometimes I wonder if it ever will.
Here's how the rewards break down:
S-Rank mission: +1000 Chakra capacity, +20 attribute points
A-Rank mission: +500 Chakra capacity, +10 attribute points
B-Rank mission: +250 Chakra capacity, +5 attribute points
C-Rank mission: +125 Chakra capacity, +3 attribute points
D-Rank mission: +50 Chakra capacity
The attribute points are flexible—I can assign them however I want across my stats. In the beginning, I was relentless, taking on mission after mission in a desperate push to grow stronger. Konoha was stretched thin at the time, so much so that I, a Tokubetsu Jōnin, was given an S-Rank mission. Normally unheard of. But I didn't question it.
For three straight months, I pushed myself. Nonstop. Until I hit a wall.
That wall came during a routine patrol near the border of the Land of Earth. We stumbled upon something we were never meant to see—Rōshi, the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki. Just... lounging on a tree branch, casually eating a banana. But the moment his eyes met ours, the air turned heavy—so crushing it felt like drowning in killing intent.
It brought me right back to the Kyuubi attack—Genma's memories flashing like lightning through my mind.
Without hesitation, I gave the order to retreat. Our team—two chūnin, a genin, and me—stood no chance. None. Thankfully, one of the chūnin was a Yamanaka. She linked up telepathically with the nearest border outpost and relayed everything. Orders came swiftly: full retreat.
Later, I heard that Jiraya—who happened to be searching for Orochimaru nearby in the Land of Grass—was dispatched to handle it.
That encounter changed everything.
It was my wake-up call. A lesson written not in blood, but in fear and clarity: strength wasn't something to chase blindly by throwing yourself at the deadliest missions. It needed to be built slowly, deliberately—brick by brick.
From that day on, I shifted my approach. I began training in earnest within the safety of Konoha's walls. I started pacing myself. Focusing. I still did missions, of course, but I balanced them with real growth. With discipline.
There's still over a decade before the Fourth Ninja World War.
After the Roshi incident, I softened. I opened up more to Genma's friends. Started living this second life, not just surviving it. For the first time in what felt like forever, I found purpose. Not the cold, desperate kind I clung to in my last life—but something real.
Something worth staying alive for.
I was finally heading home, letting myself unwind and take in the familiar sights of Konoha—the lantern-lit streets, the soft chatter of villagers, the peaceful calm of a village I had risked my life to protect.
And then, like clockwork—
"GENMA!!!"
That booming voice. Impossible to miss. Equal parts irritating and… oddly comforting.
I sighed. "Gai… hello to you too."
"GENMA! Come! Let us ignite the Flames of Youth with an evening run around the village!!" he bellowed, practically vibrating with energy.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, already feeling the headache. "Gai… how many times do I have to tell you—stop yelling in my face!" I snapped, though a trace of a smile tugged at my lips despite myself.
Before he could launch into another passionate plea for physical torment disguised as bonding, I cut him off. "And no, before you ask. I just got back from a mission. I'm exhausted. I'm going to rest. Training. Tomorrow. Morning. That's it."
Without giving him a chance to argue, I flickered away, leaving Gai frozen mid-stance in the middle of the street.
—
I had barely begun to relax, pulling off my flak jacket and preparing to collapse onto my futon, when a familiar notification echoed in my mind:
You've been awarded +500 Chakra Capacity and +10 Attribute Points.
The mission reward has been transferred to your account.
Only once the report clears and the mission is logged does the system consider it complete. Efficient, if a little clinical.
'Sleep can wait for a moment… Let's see where to invest these'.
I sat down cross-legged, focusing.
After a few seconds of deliberation, I allocated the points—+2 to Agility, +3 to Durability, and +5 to Ninjutsu.
Some might say I'm neglecting raw strength, but this isn't a world ruled by brute force alone. With chakra enhancement, physical strength can be scaled instantly. That's why I've focused my growth on areas that matter most—control, technique, and precision. Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Chakra Control. The real difference-makers in a ninja's life.
With that done, I let out a long breath, already feeling sleep tugging at me.
'Time to get some rest… Gai will probably be knocking at my door by 3 a.m., screaming about push-ups and youthful spirit.'
Ping.
Name: Genma Shiranui
Age: 17
Chakra Capacity: 49700/49700 (Jonin)
Strength: 110/500
Endurance: 160/500
Durability: 113/500
Agility: 112/500
Chakra Control: 199/500
Taijutsu: 175/500
Ninjutsu: 200/500
Genjutsu: 100/500
Bukijutsu: 150/500
Fuinjutsu: 160/500
Chakra Affinities:
Fire (Advanced)—Master of Fire Chakra nature.
Lightning (Adept)—Know five Lightning-style ninjutsu.
Water (Adept)—Know five Water-style ninjutsu.
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