The river was shallow but steady. Naruto stood barefoot at the edge, fishing rod in hand, bucket beside him.
An hour passed.
Nothing.
He frowned, then exhaled slowly. Traps, he decided.
Using stones gathered from the riverbank, Naruto built a rough barrier, leaving gaps wide enough for water—but not fish. At the end, he created a narrow opening leading into shallow water.
It worked.
By afternoon, fish thrashed helplessly in the trap.
He cooked, ate, and rested briefly—astonished at how quickly his body recovered. In his previous life, exhaustion lingered for days.
This body really is different.
Not far from the river, Naruto found a shallow pit. Slowly, carefully, he expanded it, lining the bottom with stone. By evening, he had created a small, bed-sized pond.
He filled it with water.
Then fish.
Monthly task complete, he thought with quiet satisfaction.
That night, he returned home, walking long routes to finish his steps. ANBU shadows watched, but saw nothing unusual—just a tired child wandering aimlessly.
He slept deeply.
For the first time, Naruto believed he had beaten the system.