Chapter 2 Adapting to Konoha

Souta sat on the edge of his futon, his mind racing. The reality of his situation was starting to set in. He had somehow transmigrated into the Naruto world, with nothing but a system that made him more handsome. No chakra, no bloodline, no secret techniques—just an enhanced appearance.

"Alright," he muttered. "First things first. I need to figure out when exactly I am."

Standing up, he dusted himself off and took a deep breath. If this was Konoha, there were bound to be people who could give him clues about the timeline. He cautiously stepped out of his room, finding himself in a run-down boarding house. The hallways were dimly lit, and the scent of damp wood lingered in the air.

His stomach growled. Right. He was broke.

"Guess I'll have to figure out money, too."

The village was more vibrant than he expected. Despite its traditional aesthetics, Konoha bustled with life. Vendors lined the streets, shinobi moved about in uniform, and civilians carried on their daily routines.

Souta wandered aimlessly, absorbing his surroundings. He saw kids running around with toy kunai, a few shinobi practicing in the distance, and—most importantly—a large banner outside the Hokage Tower.

"Congratulations to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!"

Souta's breath hitched. So Minato was already Hokage, meaning this was at most a year or two before Naruto's birth. That meant Kushina was still alive and in the village.

"Damn," he exhaled. "This just got interesting."

As he processed the information, he noticed something strange. Women kept glancing at him. Some subtle, some more obvious. A shopkeeper did a double-take as he walked by, and a pair of kunoichi exchanged whispers after looking in his direction.

The system's effects were real.

[Enhanced Handsomeness: Active]

He rubbed his jaw. "So I really do look better now."

This was an opportunity. If he had no strength, he had to rely on whatever advantage he did have. Maybe he could use this to charm his way into a better situation—jobs, connections, maybe even a way to meet Kushina and Mikoto.

But first, food.

Souta eventually found himself at a small food stall. The owner, an older woman, kept smiling at him as he struggled to count his remaining coins.

"Sweetheart, first time in Konoha?" she asked, her tone unusually warm.

Souta decided to roll with it. "Yeah, you could say that. Things have been rough."

She chuckled. "Well, someone as handsome as you shouldn't be starving. Here." She slid a small plate of dango toward him. "On the house."

His stomach almost wept with gratitude. "You're an angel."

"Just don't forget to come back when you have money," she winked.

As he ate, Souta's mind worked through his next steps. He needed to find a stable source of income, a place to stay, and a way to get closer to important figures in the village. If Minato was busy as Hokage, that meant Kushina was probably spending more time alone.

But why was he thinking about Kushina and Mikoto? It wasn't just about their looks—though, let's be honest, they were stunning. It was about influence. He had no chakra, no clan, no bloodline to back him up. But if he could gain the favor of powerful figures, he wouldn't need brute strength. Connections were power in their own way.

Souta wasn't naive. He knew this world was dangerous. If he remained weak, he would be at the mercy of stronger people. His only path forward was to make himself indispensable—someone valuable enough that others would want to protect him. And if he had to use his looks to do it, so be it.

After finishing his food, Souta wandered further into the village, keeping an ear out for any useful information. Near a blacksmith's shop, he overheard two shinobi discussing an upcoming festival.

"It's almost time for the Hokage's anniversary celebration," one of them said. "Lady Kushina is probably planning something big."

Souta's interest piqued. A public event meant easy access to key figures. If he could find a way in, he could start forming connections.

He approached the blacksmith's shop, pretending to browse while keeping an eye on the conversation.

"You think Lord Hokage will actually have time to attend?" the second shinobi asked. "With everything going on at the border?"

The first shrugged. "Who knows? But if he's too busy, Lady Kushina will be there for sure."

Souta smirked. That was exactly the opportunity he needed.

Now, all he needed was a way to get into that celebration.

His mind raced with possibilities. Should he try to sneak in? Maybe find a job as one of the festival workers? Or… could he charm his way in? If Kushina was running the event, maybe he could approach her directly, play the lost traveler card, or better yet—make himself useful to her in some way.

But there was another possibility too. Mikoto Uchiha. If Kushina was Minato's wife, then Mikoto was the wife of the head of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku. And if he remembered right, Fugaku was strict and distant. Mikoto was known for being kind and gentle. Perhaps she'd be more… approachable.

Souta took a deep breath. He had no power, but he wasn't powerless. He had something to work with, and he wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by.

"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to make some moves."