Konoha — the Hidden Leaf Village.
Inside the Ninja Academy, Arata sat by the window, watching the leaves flutter outside.
"Twelve years… it's already been twelve years since I came to this world,"
he thought, his gaze distant.
Time had passed faster than he ever imagined.
Arata was a transmigrant — reborn into the world of shinobi.
The day he was born, the Nine-Tails rampaged through the village.
His parents died during the chaos of that night.
Six years later, he was admitted into the Ninja Academy.
There was nothing remarkable about him — ordinary grades, ordinary talent, and an ordinary presence.
The only thing people occasionally praised was his looks.
In class, he was invisible.
Not like Uchiha Sasuke, who aced every test and had every girl's attention.
Not like Uzumaki Naruto, whose mischief made him the center of chaos.
Arata was the quiet shadow in the corner — never noticed, never remembered.
He had no special encounters, no miracles, no powerful mentors.
Twelve years of mediocrity.
No one from the higher-ups — not even the Third Hokage or Danzō — had ever taken notice of him.
And, thankfully, Root never invited him in for "tea."
Then, out of nowhere, a voice echoed in his mind.
[AFK System Activated. Binding Host: Arata.]
Arata froze.
"...System?"
[AFK System - at your service.]
He frowned, thinking for a moment he might've fallen under a genjutsu.
To test it, he bit his hand hard — sharp pain shot up his arm.
No illusion. This was real.
"System, you're twelve years late," he said flatly.
He had long given up on fantasy.
He'd lived quietly for more than a decade, accepting his ordinary fate.
And now this?
The system didn't respond.
"…A cold one, huh?" Arata muttered.
He didn't know it yet, but the AFK System had no emotions.
It simply existed.
Seeing it wouldn't talk, he sighed.
"So, what can you actually do?"
[This is the AFK System. Simply remain idle, and you will receive rewards after a set period.]
"...That simple, huh?" he smirked faintly.
"Then how do I start using it?"
[You already are. The AFK System is currently active.]
"Already?" he raised a brow.
"Well then… let's see what kind of reward you've got for me."
After twelve years in this world, Arata no longer cared too much.
Whether he had a system or not, life went on.
If it worked — great.
If it didn't — he'd still live quietly, just as before.
He refocused his mind and looked toward the front of the classroom, where Iruka-sensei was speaking.
"Graduation already, huh? I wonder which team I'll end up in."
The final exams were today — a simple test of the Clone Technique.
Though Arata's grades were nothing special, he had mastered the three basic ninjutsu years ago.
At this stage, only Naruto — burdened by the Nine-Tails — still struggled with them.
"Alright," Iruka called out, holding the exam list.
"The first one — Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke stood up, hands in his pockets, expression cold as ever.
He walked toward the next room without a word.
The girls in class immediately broke into whispers.
"Sasuke's so cool!"
"Go, Sasuke!"
"Sasuke, I love you!"
They watched him like fangirls at a concert.
At the back, Naruto gritted his teeth.
"Damn it! What's so great about him anyway?"
Shikamaru, half-asleep beside him, yawned lazily.
"Sasuke's been top of the class since day one. Troublesome guy, but… he's good."
Naruto clenched his fists.
"I'll surpass him one day! Believe it! I'm gonna be Hokage!"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes and flopped back onto the desk.
"Yeah, yeah… good luck with that."
In class, only Shikamaru and Kiba ever played with Naruto.
Most others avoided him — some because of their parents' influence, others out of fear.
Arata, however, stayed away for a simpler reason.
He didn't like trouble.
A few minutes later, Sasuke returned, test completed flawlessly — as expected.
Iruka almost wanted to pass him automatically.
Sasuke had mastered the basic jutsu since his first year.
He truly was the Academy's prodigy.
As Arata predicted, everyone except Naruto passed smoothly.
Later, the Third Hokage appeared to give the traditional graduation speech, filling the room with excitement.
A new generation of shinobi dreamed of glory.
Outside, Naruto sat alone on the swing, watching his classmates celebrate.
After a while, he disappeared.
Arata thought quietly to himself.
"So that's when Mizuki tricks him into stealing the Scroll of Seals…"
He had no intention of getting involved.
After class, Arata took the path home.
Passing by Ichiraku Ramen, his stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten.
He decided to grab dinner there instead of cooking.
But the moment he stepped in, he froze.
Iruka and Naruto were already there.
He had walked right into the famous "Ramen Scene."
For twelve years, Arata had lived in this world and forgotten most of the anime's finer details.
He hadn't remembered this would happen today.
Thinking to quietly leave, he turned toward the door—
"Arata! What'll it be today?"
Teuchi, the ramen shop owner, greeted him warmly.
Arata sighed inwardly.
He came here often — even more than Naruto — so the owner knew him well.
Now both Iruka and Naruto were looking at him.
There was no escape.
He forced a small smile.
"Good evening, Iruka-sensei. Naruto — eating here too, huh?"
He sat down. His parents had left behind enough savings for him to live comfortably, so paying for meals wasn't a problem.
Usually, he timed his visits to avoid Naruto's. But today, fate had other plans.
Iruka smiled kindly.
"Arata, you did well today."
Naruto blinked, confused.
He had no idea who this guy was.
Arata's presence in class had been so faint that even his classmates barely noticed him — about the same level as Shino Aburame.
Arata nodded politely.
"All thanks to your teaching, Sensei."
Naruto frowned, trying to remember.
He finally leaned toward Iruka and whispered,
"Uh… Iruka-sensei, who is he? Is he in our class?"
Iruka froze mid-sip, looking at him speechlessly.
"...Naruto, this is Arata. He's been in your class for six years."
Naruto scratched his head, embarrassed.
"Haha, sorry, Sensei… I just don't remember him at all."
Iruka could only sigh.
Typical Naruto.