I opened my eyes.
The ceiling was the same. The silence of the room—still unchanged.
But this morning... something was different.
Just as I was rubbing the sleep from my eyes, that synthetic voice of the system echoed inside my head:
[New Mission: Physical Endurance Training – Level 1]
Duration: 7 Days
Daily Tasks:
– 100 Push-ups
– 100 Sit-ups
– 100 Squats
– 5 Laps Around Konoha
Reward:
Your chakra capacity will be raised to Naruto Uzumaki level.
For a second, I didn't understand what I had just read.
Then I read it again.
Naruto level?!
I buried my face in the pillow.
Then suddenly sat up and yelled:
"WHAT?! WHAT IS THIS?! DID YOU FORGET WHO I AM?! I'M THREE YEARS OLD!"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN RUNNING?! FIVE LAPS?! EVEN NARUTO HIMSELF WASN'T DOING THIS AT MY AGE!"
No reply from the system.
"SAY SOMETHING, YOU METALLIC-VOICED SCAMMER! YOU'RE CLEARLY TRYING TO KILL ME!"
…Still nothing.
"Ugh…"
I hurled the pillow at my head.
Then took a deep breath.
"Alright... fine.
I want power.
If this is the price, then I'll endure it.
Not sure if this 'Naruto level' includes the Nine Tails too, but...
he was an Uzumaki after all.
This might be way too OP."
I stepped outside.
The air was cold, but my body burned like fire.
"Let's do this, Zekiram. 100 push-ups… 1, 2, 3… 6… 7… ugh…"
At 20, my arms were shaking.
At 30, my nose touched the dirt.
At 50, my abs began to cramp.
By 100… I collapsed to the ground.
Then came sit-ups…
Then squats…
And finally… the dreaded laps around Konoha.
By the end of the fifth lap, I nearly blacked out.
But I finished.
I dragged myself home, opened the door, and threw myself straight onto the bed.
Didn't think of anything else.
After a good breakfast, I dove straight into training.
Same pace…
Same pain…
But this time, my body resisted a little less.
My muscles screamed, but deep inside, a voice whispered:
"Come on… almost there… it'll all be worth it.
No one's born strong. If I want to survive… I have to earn it."
And again… it was done.
The next day I was a little more relaxed, I was starting to get used to not having as much difficulty as before.
During the fourth lap around Konoha, my legs were crying.
My vision blurred.
Then suddenly…
A booming voice echoed:
"WHOA!!! YOUNG MAN! I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU FOR THREE DAYS!"
I stopped.
Turned around.
There he was—green jumpsuit, thick eyebrows, and that blinding smile: Might Guy.
"THAT DETERMINATION… THAT FIRE… THAT YOUTHFUL ENERGY!"
Before I could react, he punched my back. I almost toppled over.
"You've been training alone for three days?! WITHOUT GIVING UP?! MY EYES ARE TEARING UP!"
And they really were.
"You remind me of my younger self! From now on, I'll train with you every morning!"
"…Is this guy for real?" I thought.
Mouth agape, I watched as Guy struck a dramatic pose:
"STARTING TOMORROW! TOGETHER WE TRAIN! TOGETHER WE SWEAT! TOGETHER WE CONQUER YOUTH!"
Then he gave me a thumbs-up:
"What's your name, young warrior?!"
"…Zekiram."
"WHOA!!! EVEN YOUR NAME BURNS WITH YOUTH!"
I buried my face in my hands.
"What have I done…"
And just like that…
I wasn't alone anymore.
And training… got serious.
That morning, I felt like my body no longer belonged to me.
But something had changed.
I wasn't waking up from pain anymore—it was habit now.
Though sore, I moved more freely.
My feet felt steady.
Most importantly:
I wasn't out of breath anymore.
As I started the final lap of the final day, the sun had already risen.
Beside me ran the man in green — Might Guy — still smiling.
"ZEKIRAM! BREATHE IN THROUGH THE NOSE! OUT THROUGH THE MOUTH! KEEP YOUR CHEST UP!"
"YOU'RE NOT RUNNING WITH YOUR LEGS—YOU'RE RUNNING WITH YOUR MIND!"
Back then, I wanted to yell "SHUT UP!"
But now…
"I get it," I whispered.
"He's not crazy… he's just truly strong."
I returned home.
Checked off my mental list:
✅ 100 push-ups
✅ 100 sit-ups
✅ 100 squats
✅ 5 laps
❗ For 7 straight days
The system activated immediately:
[Congratulations. Mission Complete.]
Chakra capacity upgraded to Naruto Uzumaki level.
A warmth spread through me.
Energy surged into every cell.
Nothing looked different…
But I felt everything more intensely.
"At first, I cursed this mission…
But now I understand.
Might Guy didn't just teach me how to train.
He taught me how to breathe.
To keep going when tired.
To push my limits.
And maybe most importantly…
That I wasn't alone."
The mission was over.
I opened my eyes once more.
And told myself:
"Today, again—100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats… and 5 laps."
Because even if the system didn't demand it anymore…
I wanted it.
Might Guy saw me and burst into laughter:
"THIS IS YOUTH! THE STRUGGLE TURNED INTO HABIT!"
He patted my shoulder hard.
"Zekiram! One day, we'll do 10,000 push-ups together!"
I nodded.
"Someday…" I said.
"…I'll surpass all of you."
My body ached—but I felt at peace.
My strength had grown.
My chakra had increased.
But something still lingered deep within me…
The echo of that dark day.
My father's blood…
The feeling as it went down my throat.
The fullness.
And the silence that followed.
I lay down.
Stared at the ceiling.
Then whispered:
"System…"
"Why don't I feel hunger?"
"Ever since that day… I haven't been hungry. I don't want food… or even blood."
The cold voice responded instantly:
"User consumed the entire blood volume of a full-grown adult. This amount is typically enough to sustain a vampire for approximately one month."
"One month…
So I drank that much… My body is still processing it.
Does that mean I'm strong…
Or just... dangerous?"
I swallowed hard.
Closed my eyes.
"What else… don't I know?"
"System… do I have weaknesses as a vampire?"
"From what I know, vampires burn in sunlight… but I've been fine outside."
"Correct. Vampires born partially human may develop immunity to sunlight. However, this immunity is linked to blood levels."
"If the user does not consume enough blood, immunity fades."
"Symptoms include sensitivity to light, physical weakness, and mental instability."
"If blood deprivation continues, user may lose control and attack those nearby."
"So… this stability is temporary.
Today I feel fine because I'm full.
But someday… that will end.
And I'll become that monster again."
I looked at my hands.
They trembled.
But not from fear…
From responsibility.
"This power… doesn't belong to me alone anymore.
If I lose control…
I could kill again."
I lay back down.
Eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"One month…
I only have one month…
After that, I'll either drink blood again…
Or surrender to the thing inside me."
"I need more information…
More power…
And maybe… someone I can trust."
I sat up in bed.
My eyes had adjusted to the dark, but the questions within me still hadn't seen the light.
I took a deep breath.
"System."
"Are there… any other vampires besides me?"
"No. Currently, you are the only one in this world."
"So… I'm alone.
Truly the only one.
Silence followed.
"Can I turn others into vampires?"
"Yes. But this ability will unlock only when your physical and mental development reaches a certain level."
"So it's not time yet…
But when it is, I won't be alone anymore.
One day… I'll form my own clan.
Maybe even…"
I didn't think further.
Because a new goal had formed in my mind:
Get stronger.
One Month Later
Time passed.
Exactly one month.
And yes—something had started to stir inside me.
Hunger.
But this time… I was ready.
This time… I had a plan.
That night, I slipped out of the house quietly.
Like a thief who knew his target.
Konoha Hospital.
My clothes were simple.
My steps, silent.
I slipped in through the back.
I'd seen this in movies.
Blood bags were stored in cold rooms.
I entered.
My heart raced.
I was lucky.
No one was there.
I grabbed a few bags.
They were cold… but they warmed me inside.
I left calmly.
Leaving only silence behind.
The next morning, I was at the training ground with Guy-sensei as always.
But this time… it was different.
I didn't run.
Didn't do push-ups.
I simply walked up and said:
"Guy-sensei… I want to learn chakra control."
He struck a dramatic pose:
"CHAKRA?! Alas, that's not my area of expertise, young warrior!"
"But… that too is an opportunity!"
His eyes lit up.
He smiled and touched my shoulder.
"I'll guide you to the library! Time to awaken with the power of knowledge!"
"And I won't just guide you… I have a little gift, too!"
We went to the library together.
Guy picked out a few books—worn covers, but rich inside.
– Chakra Fundamentals
– Feeling and Directing Chakra
– Leaf Training: Focus and Balance
He handed them to me, eyes glowing.
"Young warrior Zekiram! These books are yours now!
With them, you will not only grow in strength… but in mind as well!"
I smiled.
For the first time… genuinely.
I returned home.
Placed the books on the table.
The blood bag still sat in my fridge.
But now, a different hunger stirred inside me:
The hunger for knowledge.
I sat on the floor.
Opened the cover of the first book.
And said to myself:
"There are two paths to power:
One, to feed on blood.
The other, to feed on knowledge.
I… will choose both."