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**[One Week Later: Apartment]**
In the week that followed his reincarnation into Naruto's body, Alex kept to himself, diligently training within the walls of his rundown apartment. The world outside—the villagers, their scorn, their hatred—meant little to him. In this world, power and survival were all that mattered, and Alex had both the knowledge and the ruthlessness to claim them.
He focused solely on three skills: **Chakra Control**, **Chakra Enhancement**, and **Chakra Strings**. These were the tools that would cement his position in this dangerous world, allowing him to bend the rules of shinobi combat in his favor. Alex's past life had been filled with nothing but cold calculations, deceit, and hiding, and he wasn't about to change now. Emotions were a liability; control was everything.
His massive reserves of chakra, bolstered by the presence of the Nine-Tails, were a blessing and a curse. While the previous Naruto had struggled to manage his chakra, often failing at even basic ninjutsu, Alex was determined to avoid such pitfalls. Control would be his key to mastering any technique, no matter how complex. He wouldn't repeat Naruto's mistakes.
During his intense training, notifications frequently flashed in front of him, detailing his progress:
**[Chakra Control] Lvl: 32 (0/100)**
**[Chakra Enhancement] Lvl: 15 (0/100)**
**[Chakra Strings] Lvl: 15 (0/100)**
His relentless practice of Chakra Enhancement and Strings had pushed his Chakra Control to new heights. With this level of precision, Alex had already mastered techniques like tree walking and water walking, which Naruto had once struggled with. They were trivial now, mere stepping stones to greater abilities.
Alex's grip tightened as he activated **Chakra Strings**, thin threads of energy extending from his fingertips. He manipulated the threads with deadly precision, focusing on increasing their reach and strength. The strings were an extension of his will, a tool to control his environment, his enemies, and ultimately his fate.
As the week drew to a close, Alex stood in front of the bathroom mirror, his expression cold and emotionless as water dripped from his face. He had just finished his daily routine—a cold shower to cleanse both his body and mind. The water had a way of clearing his thoughts, sharpening his focus for the day ahead. He dressed quickly, selecting clothes that blended with the village surroundings, nothing too flashy. Drawing attention was the last thing he wanted, especially given his plans.
Just as he prepared to leave the apartment for a scouting trip, there was a sudden knock on the door.
**Knock. Knock.**
Alex's sharp instincts kicked in. He froze for a moment, mind racing. From his memories, he knew that Naruto didn't have many visitors. Only the Hokage or the Anbu ever sought him out, and they weren't ones to casually knock.
His thoughts shifted immediately to danger. Could it be Danzo's spies? Had someone sensed the change in him?
Alex considered ignoring the knock but quickly discarded the idea. Whoever it was would find another way in if he didn't respond. Suppressing the urge to activate his chakra strings as a defense, he composed himself, his face adopting a mask of innocent confusion—Naruto's mask.
Slowly, he opened the door.
Standing before him was a masked figure, an Anbu operative. His presence exuded calm authority. Alex's eyes immediately darted to the sword strapped to the man's back and the envelope in his hand.
'Anbu,' Alex thought, the cold calculating side of his mind analyzing every potential threat. He kept his expression that of a naive child, feigning ignorance.
"Mister, who are you?" Alex asked, tilting his head and widening his eyes in a perfect imitation of Naruto's innocent persona.
The Anbu, unmoved by the act, extended the envelope with a blank expression. "From the Hokage," he said in a curt tone, his voice as emotionless as the mask he wore.
Alex took the envelope, watching the Anbu closely as he vanished from sight. His mind processed the encounter in an instant: the Anbu's posture, tone, and lack of interaction. It was a simple message delivery, nothing more.
Opening the envelope, Alex found a note and a stack of cash. The note, written in the old Hokage's familiar handwriting, was brief:
*'For Monthly Expenses, Naruto. Don't use it all, okay?'*
Alex's eyes narrowed as he read the words. 'Hokage... still playing the part of a concerned father figure, all probably an act to gain his trust or to instill the brainwashing of the will of fire.' He felt no warmth toward the old man, no sense of gratitude for the money. In his mind, it was simply another resource to exploit. The money would serve him well in acquiring the tools he needed. He didn't need luxuries—just soldier pills, weapons, and anything that could give him an edge.
He pocketed most of the money, depositing the rest into his inventory. With a brief glance at his apartment, Alex left without a second thought, disappearing into the village streets.
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**[Village Streets]**
Walking through the crowded streets of Konoha, Alex kept his gaze forward, ignoring the hostile stares and whispered insults from the villagers. To them, he was still Naruto, the demon fox child they hated. But Alex wasn't the Naruto they knew. His emotions were carefully controlled, buried deep beneath layers of cold logic. He had long since discarded the need for approval from weak, ignorant people.
As he wandered the streets, Alex activated **Chakra Detection**, expanding his senses outward. The skill was still in its early stages, but it would grow with time, just like the others. Every bit of information he gathered would be stored and used when necessary. Knowledge was power, after all, and Alex wasn't one to let any opportunity slip by.
**[Chakra Detection] Lvl 1 (0/100)**
**Detection Range: 100 meters.**
The village was full of weak signatures, civilians mostly. But Alex noted every shinobi within range, analyzing their chakra signatures. He needed to learn who posed a threat and who didn't. Within hours, the skill leveled up, and with it, his range expanded.
**[Chakra Detection] Lvl 15 (0/100)**
**Detection Range: 1500 meters.**
Even though his range now covered large sections of the village, Alex wasn't impressed. He knew from the history of the shinobi world that figures like Tobirama Senju could detect enemies across entire nations. His progress, while fast, was still just a small step toward the power he sought.
But Alex was patient. He could wait.
As he walked through the marketplace, his **Chakra Strings** subtly snaked out from his fingertips, invisible to the naked eye. The strings, now at a length of 15 meters, allowed him to reach into the pockets of nearby villagers without raising suspicion. The targets were easy to pick—the ones who glared the hardest, whispered the loudest. These people, filled with hatred toward Naruto, were beneath his notice in every way except as a source of income.
One by one, coins and bills slipped from their pockets into Alex's inventory. His face remained a mask of calm, his eyes scanning for more marks.
From a wealthy merchant, he lifted a sizable sum—1,000,000 ryo. It was almost too easy.
**[Ryo Gained: 1,000,000]**
And from the villagers, collectively, he gained another 100,000 ryo. His system confirmed it with a cold efficiency he appreciated.
**[Ryo Gained: 100,000]**
As he moved silently through the crowd, the system rewarded him with a new title—one that suited his actions perfectly.
**[Thief] (Passive/Active)**
**The ability to blend into shadows or dimly lit areas, making the user nearly invisible to others. Attacking the target without the target knowing will deal a massive amount of damage. Allows the user to disarm a person with precision. Grants a heightened sense for finding hidden valuables, understanding the layout of buildings, and figuring out where treasure or important items are stored. Grants the user the ability to deceive or manipulate others into believing false information or trusting the user. Allows the user to react faster in combat or when caught, giving them a split-second advantage to escape or counterattack. The user can move without making any sound, allowing them to sneak past opponents or reach targets undetected.**
Alex allowed himself a brief smirk. These abilities were all just tools in his arsenal, but tools he would wield with deadly efficiency. He had no need for praise or recognition. All that mattered was his survival and eventual rise to power.
This world—this village—was nothing more than a game to him now. And Alex was ready to play it coldly, calculatingly, without hesitation or mercy.
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