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With his new privileged status secured, Rokuro figured he could get away with causing a little trouble. Okamoto likely wouldn't punish him for a minor infraction.
After two days of deliberation, he decided it was time to clear that annoying Random Quest: Prank Asayama Masashi.
If he didn't do it, the System would just keep reissuing the same quest every day, blocking him from receiving new ones with potentially better rewards.
There was just one problem.
He couldn't find Asayama Masashi anywhere.
Rokuro had asked Okamoto where Squads 1 through 4 trained. The answer was simple: they were undergoing Live Combat Drills. They left early in the morning and didn't return until after 9:00 PM. They even ate their meals at the combat training grounds.
Sneaking out in the middle of the night to find Asayama was out of the question. That was too deliberate; it would make him look suspicious.
If he couldn't see Asayama, he couldn't complete the quest.
His only option was to wait until the end of the month.
On the first day of every month, the orphanage held a mandatory assembly to review everyone's progress. Those who failed to meet the standards were either demoted or expelled.
After the assembly, the afternoon was the only free time the children were given all month.
They couldn't leave the orphanage grounds, but they were free to do whatever they wanted within the compound.
Rokuro decided to strike on the 1st of next month.
That gave him seventeen days. It was perfect timing. He could use those days to grind his Taijutsu to Level 2. That would significantly boost his combat power, ensuring that even if Asayama tried to retaliate after the prank, Rokuro could defend himself.
Plan set.
Rokuro returned to his daily grind.
His EXP was increasing at a steady rate of 520 points per day.
Day 18.
Finally, his accumulated EXP hit the 10,000 mark.
The moment training ended, Rokuro rushed back to his room. Trembling with anticipation, he opened the interface.
[Host: Kanda Rokuro]
Taijutsu Level 2: 354 / 20,000 EXP
Ninjutsu Level 1: 0 / 10,000 EXP
Genjutsu Level 1: 0 / 10,000 EXP
Upgrade Confirm.
As the level increased, he felt an immediate change. A surge of heat erupted within his core, rushing through his chakra pathways and muscles like liquid fire. His strength wasn't just increasing; it was multiplying.
Three seconds later, the heat faded.
But the feeling of raw power remained.
He threw a test punch at the air. It felt twice as heavy, twice as fast.
This feels incredible.
He couldn't wait. He ran to the corner of the training room where the strength-testing machine stood.
When he first arrived twenty days ago, his punching force was roughly 15 to 25 kilograms.
He stepped up to the machine, planted his feet, and threw a vicious hook.
BAM!
The needle snapped upward instantly, settling at 56 kilograms (approx. 112 lbs).
Rokuro grinned maniacally.
56 kilograms. That was the striking force of an average adult male.
And he was only four years old.
If he could push his Taijutsu to Level 3, his physical strength would likely rival a standard Genin.
He retracted his fist, his mood soaring. He finally had some ability to protect himself.
But I can't get cocky, he reminded himself. Okamoto could still snap my neck like a twig.
Taking a deep breath to calm his excitement, he went back to his basic training. He refused to skip even a single rep; the passive EXP from the daily grind was too valuable to waste.
After training for a while, Rokuro noticed something else.
With his stats increased, the passive EXP he gained from basic exercises had also bumped up slightly. Based on his current pace, he was now earning about 30 EXP from the daily routine alone.
Not bad.
The System wasn't static. It scaled with him.
Konoha Year 53, July 1st.
With his strength enhanced and Okamoto's favor secured, Rokuro had managed to subtly gather more intelligence about the world outside.
He finally confirmed the date.
Konoha Year 53.
This was a good year.
The Third Great Ninja War had ended recently. The world was in a period of reconstruction and peace.
The "Konoha 12" (Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, etc.) were roughly his age.
There were still minor skirmishes with Iwagakure (Hidden Stone) on the borders, but those would end soon. Since Rokuro was not yet five years old, there was zero chance of him being deployed to the battlefield.
He had plenty of time to build his foundation before the plot chaos began.
The only regret was that Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, was already dead. He would never get to see the Yellow Flash in action.
Knowing the timeline gave him confidence. Now, he just needed to focus on getting stronger.
And today... he had to deal with Asayama Masashi.
6:00 AM. The Training Grounds.
Every child in the orphanage was gathered. The tension in the air was suffocating.
Surrounding the perimeter were several Konoha Anbu wearing black cloaks and porcelain animal masks. They stood like statues, watching.
Okamoto stood before the children, holding a clipboard. His expression was indifferent—cold as ice.
"This month, ten trainees failed to meet the required standards," Okamoto announced, his voice carrying over the silent field. "Seven will be demoted. Three will be... removed. When I call your name, step forward."
"Squad 8. Yuma Shu. Cleared."
The moment the words left Okamoto's mouth, a wail of despair broke the silence.
It was Yuma Shu from Squad 8. His time at the orphanage was over. He was being sent back to the hell of starvation and poverty he had come from.
Rokuro watched the crying boy and shook his head.
In this place, as long as you trained hard, you wouldn't be expelled. The Root needed bodies. They needed a massive number of Genin for intelligence gathering and suicide missions. The organization could afford to feed a few mediocre ninja.
Yuma Shu was being kicked out because he was lazy. He had slacked off.
His tragic fate was entirely self-inflicted.
Okamoto didn't even blink at the crying child. He waved his hand dismissively.
Immediately, a masked Anbu stepped forward, grabbed Yuma by the collar, and dragged him away.
These Anbu were always watching from the shadows. That was their job—monitoring the training. With over two hundred kids, Okamoto couldn't watch everyone. The Anbu were the true eyes of the facility.
After Yuma was dragged off, Okamoto continued down the list without a pause.
"Squad 7, Murano Takashi. Cleared."
"Squad 8, Omitso. Cleared."
Two more names. Two more bursts of hysterical crying.
But the ninja world had no room for sympathy. They were taken away by the Anbu, never to be seen again.
With the three expulsions complete, the remaining seven names were called for demotion.
The result was slightly better for them. They looked devastated, but at least they didn't cry. They were still allowed to stay.
As for Squad 9?
They were safe for now. They wouldn't face the chopping block until August 1st. Their one-month grace period wasn't up yet.
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(Note: This story takes place in Konoha Year 53, exactly five years after the Nine-Tails' attack on the village. This means the village is still rebuilding, and characters like Naruto and Sasuke are roughly four years old, about to turn five.)