3 The First Simulation

Takama Yuichi woke up on the morning of a holiday, a sense of excitement coursing through him. It was the perfect day to try his system's first simulation, especially since there were no classes at the academy. He got out of bed, took a quick shower, and ate a simple breakfast of bread and fruit. Then he sat on his bed, took a deep breath, and activated the system with a single word: "System."

The transparent blue screen appeared before him, and he quickly navigated to the "Start Simulation" option. He hesitated for a moment, recalling the warning about exhaustion that could lead to death, but he shook his head and muttered, "I have to start somewhere." He pressed the option, and suddenly, he felt a strange sensation, as if his body was being pulled into another place.

In an instant, he found himself in an infinite white room, empty except for a large floating screen. The screen displayed a single word: Start. Yuichi approached cautiously and pressed the virtual button. The screen began flashing images of random characters at an incredible speed. He recognized some faces: Madara Uchiha with his terrifying Sharingan, Hashirama Senju with his calm smile, Kaguya Otsutsuki with her mythical power, and even Hiashi Hyuga with his distinctive Byakugan. Finally, the screen stopped at an unexpected character: Karin, the red-haired girl from Team Taka, but in her childhood, as if she were a Genin his age.

Karin stood in a fighting stance, but she looked like a soulless puppet, her eyes devoid of emotion. She didn't move or speak, just waited. Yuichi read the information displayed on the screen:

Opponent: Karin (Genin Level)

Tier: First Tier (Reduced to Match Host)

Abilities: Average Chakra, Chakra Sensing, Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat

Yuichi took a minute to study his opponent. He knew from watching the anime that Karin had chakra-sensing abilities, meaning she could anticipate his attacks if he wasn't careful. He decided to rely on his speed and basic combat skills, using simple ninjutsu techniques he'd learned at the academy.

"Alright, let's do this!" Yuichi said, assuming a fighting stance.

The simulation began, and Karin rushed at him with surprising speed. Yuichi tried throwing a shuriken, but she dodged it effortlessly, as if she sensed his move. He attempted a kick, but she grabbed his leg and tried to throw him to the ground. Yuichi freed himself at the last second, but he realized she was stronger than he expected.

In the first round, Yuichi lost quickly. Karin landed a powerful blow to his chest, knocking him down. But the simulation reset, and he found himself standing again, with a new chance. This time, he changed his strategy. He noticed that Karin relied heavily on chakra sensing, but her movements were somewhat predictable. Instead of using chakra-based techniques, he decided to focus on pure hand-to-hand combat, distracting her with feints.

In the second round, Yuichi used the Henge no Jutsu to transform into a copy of Karin, confusing her for a moment. He seized the opportunity to close the distance and land a strong punch to her side. Karin staggered but retaliated with a quick strike to his shoulder. They exchanged blows for several minutes, with Yuichi analyzing her weaknesses during the fight. He noticed she was slightly slow to recover after each attack, giving him an idea.

In the third round, Yuichi baited her. He pretended to prepare a powerful chakra technique, prompting Karin to charge at him. At the last moment, he dodged her attack, used a ninja rope to bind her arms, and brought her down with a precise punch to her stomach. Karin collapsed, and her image began to fade as a message appeared on the screen:

Congratulations! You have defeated Karin.

Choose one of the following three talents:

Chakra Sensing (Ability to sense chakra in your surroundings).

Increased Physical Stamina (Improved endurance during combat).

Ninjutsu Technique: Wind Strike (A simple offensive wind-based technique).

Yuichi was panting from exhaustion, but he felt exhilarated. Before he could choose, he felt a sudden wave of dizziness and collapsed, losing consciousness.

When he opened his eyes, he was in a hospital bed, surrounded by the smell of antiseptics. His body ached, and he felt a mild headache. He looked around and saw a nurse checking his condition, then noticed Hinata Hyuga standing near the door, looking worried.

"Hinata?" Yuichi muttered weakly.

"Oh, Yuichi-kun, you're awake!" Hinata said, approaching cautiously. "I-I was… worried about you."

"What happened?" he asked, trying to recall the events.

"You… were found unconscious in your apartment," Hinata replied, looking at the floor shyly. "I sensed a disturbance in your chakra, so I contacted Konoha's police, and they brought you here."

Yuichi was confused. Why was Hinata monitoring his apartment? He didn't have time to ask, as the nurse entered and told him he needed rest due to severe chakra exhaustion. Yuichi thanked Hinata, who left quickly, her face flushed with embarrassment.

As he lay in the hospital bed, he thought about the simulation. It was exhausting, but it proved the system could grant him real power. He decided to be more cautious in the future and to choose a talent once he recovered