Chapter 19 : Danger: Do Not Train Indoors!
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The light in his room was warmer than it should've been.
Naruto cracked one eye open, squinting at the sunbeam slicing across the ceiling. For a moment, he didn't move. He braced himself for the cold — the bite of frost, the weight of silence.
But instead… birdsong.
Konoha.
He was home.
He sat up slowly, heart steady but off-beat. Everything looked the same — messy floor, scattered ninja tools, a few open books he definitely hadn't read. But the air felt different. Lighter. Like something had been reset.
His hand slipped into his jacket and brushed something cool.
The snowflake charm.
Still cold.
"…So it was real," he murmured.
Elsa's quiet grace flickered through his memory. Anna's bright laugh. Olaf's arms wrapping him in impossible warmth. The gleam of ice beneath his sandals. And that final look, just before the rift had closed.
He hadn't even said goodbye properly.
A soft chime rang out.
Golden light shimmered in the air, unfolding into a glowing system interface.
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[System Notification: Settlement Initiated]
Main Mission: Melt the Heart of Winter – COMPLETE
Rating: A
Naruto blinked. "Whoa… okay. Let's see what I got."
He tapped the first icon.
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Rewards:
→ +3 Skill Points
→ +500 System Currency
→ New Passive Trait: Iceborn Resilience
[Inspect Trait]
Iceborn Resilience – Rare
Your body adapts to extreme cold.
Ice-style jutsu cost 10% less chakra
Reduced damage from cold or ice-based attacks
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Naruto squinted. "That's… actually kind of cool." He paused. "…No pun intended."
Another icon blinked to life.
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[Key Item Acquired: Frozen Dungeon Key (1/3)]
A shard of dimensional access. Collect 3 to unlock the Rift Gateway and return to the Frozen World.
The crystal hovered midair, glowing faintly. It hummed with the quiet resonance of snow.
"…So I can go back."
Not today.
But someday.
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[Sub-Task: Find a Person Who Makes Ice – Rank S] – COMPLETE
→ +2 Skill Points | +300 Currency
→ Blessing of the Ice Spirit – Acquired
[Inspect Blessing]
Blessing of the Ice Spirit
Chakra harmonizes with water and ice.
New Affinities Unlocked: Water + Ice
Enhanced elemental chakra flow and balance
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Naruto stared. "Wait… I have ice chakra now?"
He felt it — quiet, not wild like usual. Still. Like a pond under snow.
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[Sub-Task: Protect Elsa – Rank C] – COMPLETE
→ +1 Skill Point | +150 Currency
→ Gift Received: The Frozen Codex (Vol. I & II)
Stored in System Library.
Vol. I: Principles of Ice and Infrastructure
Vol. II: Governance Under Pressure
"…She gave me homework," he muttered. Then cracked a smile. "Guess even ice queens want you to read more."
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[Dungeon Treasure Chest – Claimed]
Relic Acquired: Masked Fox Visage
→ +5 Skill Points | +750 Currency
[Inspect Relic]
Masked Fox Visage
Legendary Artifact – Stealth / Control / Defense
Chakra Veil: Hides the user's chakra signature and can project a false one.
Spirit Stabilizer: Suppresses inner beasts or cursed chakra.
Mind Shield: Protects against genjutsu, possession, and mental attacks.
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The mask appeared in his hands — sleek and white, etched with red fox marks and silver-rimmed eyes.
It didn't hum with power.
It felt… calm.
He smiled. "Guess I'm not the same dumb kid who couldn't pull off a Clone Jutsu last week."
Naruto stood and stretched, chakra still tingling. He pressed his palms together, recalling Elsa's elegant motion. Then—
Whoosh.
Ice bloomed beneath his feet, shooting across the room.
"No no no—!"
Frost zipped up the walls, curled around books, and froze one of his sandals to the ceiling. He slapped the floor, panicked.
"Come back come back come back—!"
The ice recoiled, reluctantly, melting just enough to leave everything soggy.
Naruto collapsed to his knees, soaked and panting.
"…Okay. That's definitely a work in progress."
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Twenty minutes later…
He dragged a towel across the room, muttering to himself.
"I'm a Genin now. Big ninja. Cleaning up my own ice disaster like a pro. This is fine."
Just as he shoved a drenched kunai pouch under the bed, a knock came at the door.
Naruto yelped, slipping in a puddle. "Ow—coming!"
He opened the door to find Iruka, scroll in hand, brow arched.
"…Good morning?"
"Iruka-Sensei!" Naruto blinked, nervous. "Uh. Just tidying up!"
Iruka peered inside. Water stains. Frosted window. One sandal frozen to the ceiling.
"…Training indoors now?"
Naruto laughed awkwardly. "I was working on chakra control. Didn't think it'd, uh… work so well."
Iruka sighed. "Well, you always did train alone. I guess something had to give."
He stepped inside and frowned slightly.
"…Is that ice chakra I'm sensing?"
Naruto froze. "Uhhh. Maybe?"
"Ice's a rare affinity," Iruka said slowly. "Usually only shows up with both water and wind."
The silence stretched.
"I know you like to figure things out on your own. But if you're experimenting with something this new — this powerful — try the training grounds next time."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. You're right."
Iruka handed him the scroll.
"This is your official Genin application. I didn't get to give it to you yesterday, with… everything."
Naruto sobered. Mizuki's name didn't need to be spoken.
"I'll take it to the Hokage today," he said quietly.
Iruka smiled. "Good. That's the first step."
He turned to leave — then paused.
"And Naruto?"
"Yeah?"
"If you're going to freeze your house… maybe invite your sensei next time. Just so I know what I'm signing off on."
Naruto grinned. "Deal."
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The door clicked shut.
Naruto looked down at the scroll in his hand — the first of many.
The Frozen Dungeon Key shimmered softly in the corner of his vision.
Not today.
But one day soon.
He'd return.
And next time… the ice would answer to him.
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