Naruto sighed, wringing out a soaked towel as he surveyed the aftermath of his latest chakra accident.
Frost clung to the walls in glittering patches. One sandal was still frozen to the ceiling. Half his books were soggy beyond saving, their ink bleeding like they'd tried to escape.
And today—of all days—he had to take his Genin ID photo.
"Perfect," he muttered. "I look like a snowman that lost a fight with a laundry basket."
A soft chime echoed in his mind. Golden light flared across his vision—the system interface had activated.
> [Unclaimed Starter Rewards – 2 Remaining]
Would you like to redeem them now?
Naruto blinked. "Wait… I forgot I had those."
He hit Accept. Instantly.
The room pulsed with chakra.
---
Reward 1: Basic Ninja Outfit – Set of 5
Light shimmered around him. Folded outfits appeared in midair, one after another—five identical sets of sleek black-and-white gear with silver-blue trim. They looked clean, sharp, and absolutely nothing like his usual orange disaster.
He grabbed one and held it up. Light armor plates. Chakra-conductive mesh. Breathable but sturdy. A snowflake-shaped charm glowed faintly at the collar.
A system card hovered nearby:
> Basic Ninja Outfit (x5)
• Chakra-Conductive Weave – Enhances chakra flow
• Frost-Forged Fiber – Light elemental resistance
• Auto-Fit Design – Moves with the wearer
• Color-Adaptive – Adjusts subtly for concealment
Identical, non-evolving gear. Ideal for early-rank missions.
Tip: You're gonna sweat, bleed, and freeze. We gave you five. Don't ruin them all at once.
Naruto smirked. "One for missions, one for training, one to get wrecked, one to lose under the bed, and one for laundry day."
He slipped into the new set.
It fit perfectly, hugging his body like a second skin.
Light. Comfortable. His chakra flowed smoother—cleaner.
And for once, he didn't look like a traffic cone.
---
Reward 2: Spider-Totem
The second reward materialized in his palm—small, cold, and carved from black stone. A spider, its legs curled inward. Thin silver lines glinted across its back like strands of a web.
The air shifted—denser, heavier. Like it was watching.
> [Key Item: Spider-Totem]
A mystical force binding chosen individuals to the Web of Life and Destiny.
The Spider-Totem grants powerful abilities… but they come at a cost.
---
Core Abilities :
• Enhanced Stamina
Push beyond natural limits. Never tire, never stop.
• Fast Recovery
Heal from wounds and fatigue with unnatural speed.
• Spider-Sense
A sixth sense that warns of immediate danger.
• Burden of Destiny (Cursed Power)
Spider-Totems are chosen, hunted, and tested.
Fated to face loss, carry impossible weight, and rise through suffering.
Their power is a gift—but never free.
> "With great power comes great responsibility."
---
Naruto stared at the idol.
The chakra around it didn't surge.
It waited.
He thought of the sealed beast in his belly.
Of a clan name he barely understood.
Of pain, loneliness, and roles he never chose.
He didn't need another purpose.
He needed freedom.
"I'm not gonna take a power that writes my story for me."
His voice was steady.
Resolved.
He opened the system menu.
> [Spider-Totem – Sent to Inventory]
The idol vanished.
The air lightened.
Naruto exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
"I've got my own road," he murmured. "Don't need a cursed web dragging me down it."
---
Genin Photo – Take One
The Hokage Tower felt taller than usual.
Naruto stood in the hallway outside the photo room, adjusting his new outfit. The snowflake charm glinted at his collar. The fabric still held the faint chill of the Frozen World.
The camera ninja glanced up. "No weird poses."
Naruto grinned. "Define weird."
Flash.
"…We're using the next one," the ninja muttered.
---
Closing: The Other Half
As Naruto stepped into the sunlight, wind tugged at his sleeves.
The rooftops of Konoha still shimmered with leftover frost.
No mission. Not yet. Just paperwork, a photo, and the long wait for team assignments.
But something tugged at him—not from the village, but from far beyond it.
A feeling he couldn't name, soft and strange. Like a thread brushing against his heart.
He looked up at the clouds.
---
Far from the Hidden Leaf, in a quiet garden wrapped in sunlight and petals, a girl stood beneath a cherry tree, scroll in hand.
She wore silk robes, but her eyes were sharp—red, unmistakably Uzumaki.
Her chakra shimmered with quiet strength, though she masked it well.
The seal was broken. She'd read it twice already.
Behind her, two figures waited—
An older woman tending to the flowers.
And a red-haired girl who watched her in silence.
"He passed," the girl said softly, eyes still skyward.
Karin stepped closer, folding her arms.
"You're not going to wait much longer, are you?"
The girl didn't answer right away.
She just smiled—a small, secret smile.
"We'll meet soon…"
Then, quiet as falling petals:
"…Onii-chan."
---