Chapter 2: Hospital!! Eww!!

[CONGRATULATIONS ON SURVIVING A MINOR DISASTER DURING THE CANON EVENT: NINE-TAILS ATTACK] [YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPIN THE WHEEL TO OBTAIN A MINOR TALENT.] Ren groaned as consciousness slowly returned, his entire body aching as if he had been thrown into a battlefield—which, technically, he had. His blurry vision adjusted to the dimly lit room, and the first thing he saw was a floating screen, glowing faintly in front of him. "Still feels weird to see a floating screen in front of my face," he muttered, rubbing his temples. No matter how many times he saw it, the System still felt surreal. Finally, his mind caught up with his surroundings. He was lying on a hospital bed, wrapped in bandages. Observing the room and hearing the muffled voices behind the curtain he confirmed that he was in a hospital. As Ren confirmed he was indeed in a hospital room, his mind drifted back to the last thing he remembered before losing consciousness. The roar. The sheer, earth-shaking sound that had paralyzed the entire village. Then came the chaos. The terrifying sight of Kurama, its massive crimson eyes filled with malice, its nine tails thrashing, bringing destruction with every swing. Then— BOOM! The debris, flying toward him too fast to react. The sudden impact. The feeling of his body being flung across the street. And then... nothing. His fingers clenched the hospital sheets as a chill ran down his spine. "I could have died." The reality of the situation finally hit him. This wasn't just some game. He wasn't some invincible protagonist who would survive every disaster just because he had a system. He had been completely powerless against Kurama's rampage. "I am weak. Too weak." Ren exhaled, calming himself. Panicking wouldn't help. Instead, he had to focus on what was important. He had survived and he still had time to grow stronger. Wanting to distract himself from the lingering fear of almost dying, Ren turned his focus back to the floating screen in front of him. "Spin the wheel for a minor talent, huh?" Since he had nothing to lose, he focused on the prompt, and the screen shifted into a large, colorful wheel. [SPINNING WHEEL – MINOR TALENT REWARD] The wheel contained various minor talents, including: Enhanced Reflexes (Faster reaction time) Photographic Memory (Easier to memorize techniques) Improved Chakra Control (Saves chakra when using jutsu) Keen Senses (Sharper hearing, sight, and smell) Faster Healing (Recovers from injuries quicker) Affinity Boost (Slightly improves one chakra nature) Ren took a deep breath. "Alright, let's see what I get." He mentally activated the spin, and the wheel began to turn rapidly, the sections blurring together. Tick. Tick. Tick. Slowly, the wheel began to slow down, the pointer inching closer to its final destination. Tick. Tick... CLICK! ✅ The wheel stopped. [CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE OBTAINED: IMPROVED CHAKRA CONTROL ] [SYSTEM MESSAGE:] [Improved Chakra Control acquired!] Your ability to mold and control chakra is now slightly above average for your age. Jutsu will require less chakra to perform. Learning Chakra Control exercises will be easier and more effective. Ren blinked, then grinned. "Not bad at all." Chakra Control was one of the most important skills in the Naruto world—it determined how efficiently he could use jutsu, walk on water, and even perform high-level techniques later on. This was a great start. "I need to test this as soon as possible." But before he could think further— The curtain beside his bed shifted. Someone was stepping inside. A woman wearing a white coat over standard shinobi attire approached, her forehead protector tied securely around her arm. "Ah, you're awake. Good," she said with a relieved yet professional tone. "How are you feeling?" Ren blinked, pushing aside his thoughts about the Nine-Tails Attack and focusing on the present. His body still ached, but nothing felt broken. "Sore, but I think I'm fine," he answered honestly. The medic-nin nodded, stepping closer to his bed. "That's normal after what happened. You were lucky—just some bruises, minor internal shock, and chakra exhaustion. A little more force, and your injuries could've been much worse." Ren suppressed a shudder. "I see..." She reached into her pouch and pulled out a small green-glowing card, placing it gently on his exposed wrist. The chakra paper shimmered slightly as she observed the reaction. "Hmm. No lingering damage. Your chakra network is stable too." She smiled. "You should recover fully in a few days." Ren let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. That was good news. After a moment, curiosity got the better of him. "Um... what happened after I passed out?" The medic-nin's face turned grim. "The village suffered heavy losses... but the Fourth Hokage defeated the Nine-Tails in the end. However..." She hesitated before sighing. "Minato-sama didn't survive." Ren's stomach clenched. Even though he already knew the outcome, hearing it directly from someone who had lived through it made it feel... heavier. Minato was gone. The Nine-Tails was sealed. Naruto had been born. The world was officially in the canon timeline now. Ren tightened his fists under the blanket. He had survived this disaster, but there were far greater dangers ahead. "I need to get stronger. Fast." The medic-nin finished jotting something on her clipboard before giving him a reassuring nod. "You're young, so your body will bounce back quickly. Just rest for now, alright?" Ren nodded, but in his mind, plans were already forming. Ren hesitated for a moment before speaking. "What about my father, Juichi Takahashi? Did he survive the attack?" The medic-nin's expression slightly stiffened, and Ren immediately felt a bad premonition. She sighed. "The death tally hasn't been fully confirmed yet. The village is still counting the casualties, and many shinobi are missing. Someone will come soon to record your details, along with information about your parents and home, to complete the verification process." Ren's heart tightened. That meant... they didn't know yet. His father could still be alive... or he could be buried under the rubble somewhere, either dead or too injured to return yet. "I understand," he said, keeping his voice neutral despite the uneasy feeling in his chest. The medic-nin offered a small, sympathetic nod. "For now, focus on recovering. You're lucky to have survived, child." With that, she made a final note on her clipboard and adjusted the blanket over him. "Someone will come by later to confirm your family's status." With those words, she stepped back, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Ren exhaled slowly. "Damn it... I can't just sit here and wait." His father, Juichi Takahashi, was a Jōnin. That meant he had a much higher survival rate than the average shinobi. But even the strongest ninja weren't invincible—especially against a rampaging Tailed Beast. "I need to be prepared for the worst... but I have to hold onto hope." His fists clenched beneath the blanket. Ren took a deep breath, forcing himself to be patient. As much as he wanted to get up and search for his father, he knew that running around the village in his current condition wouldn't help. He was still sore, and the village was probably in chaos, with shinobi handling the aftermath of the Nine-Tails Attack. "I'll wait for the officials to arrive." He needed information—not just about his father, but about the casualty list and the current state of the village. If he rushed in blindly, he might end up making things worse for himself. So, Ren settled back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as his mind raced with possibilities. One Hour Later Footsteps echoed down the hospital hallway. The sound of hushed conversations drew closer. Finally, the curtain beside his bed shifted as a man wearing a dark blue uniform stepped inside. "Name?" "Ren Takahashi" The official nodded. "I'm here to record your details and confirm the status of your household. Since you are a minor, we are prioritizing cases like yours to ensure any surviving relatives can be contacted." Ren swallowed. "Did you find any information on my father, Juichi Takahashi?" The official flipped through his papers, scanning the names on the list. After a few seconds, his eyes narrowed slightly before he let out a slow breath. "...Juichi Takahashi has not been confirmed among the deceased. However, he is also not listed among the returned shinobi." Ren's heart skipped a beat. "So he's... missing?" The official gave a slow nod. "Yes. There are still many missing ninja who have yet to be accounted for. Some are likely injured and recovering elsewhere. Others..." He hesitated. "Others may still be buried under debris." Ren clenched his fists under the blanket. His father was neither confirmed dead nor confirmed alive. After a moment of silence, Ren took a deep breath and nodded. "I understand." The official studied him for a second before continuing. "In cases like this, the village will wait a set period before making an official ruling. If a missing shinobi does not return within a reasonable timeframe, they will be presumed dead." Ren's jaw tightened. "How long is the waiting period?" The official sighed. "One month." One month. That was all the time he had before the village assumed his father was dead. Ren inhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay calm. If his father was alive, then he had one month to return. If he wasn't... then Ren would officially be declared an orphan. After noting down a few more things, the official looked back at him. "Do you have any other living relatives we should notify?" Ren shook his head. "No. It was just my father and me." The official nodded before marking something on his clipboard. "Alright. We will notify you immediately if we receive any news regarding your father." With that, he turned to leave. "Wait." The official stopped, looking back. Ren hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can you tell me who... who else was confirmed among the casualties?" The official's expression darkened slightly, but he still flipped through his papers again. "The full list is still being compiled, but... over a thousand civilians and shinobi were lost in the attack." Ren felt a heavy weight settle in his chest. A thousand people. This was the true cost of the Nine-Tails' rampage. The official continued, "Some of the notable confirmed casualties include—" The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze Multiple elite Jōnin and Chūnin, including members of the Sarutobi and Nara clans Entire sections of the village's outer district were destroyed The full weight of the disaster settled in Ren's mind. This was only the beginning—the events of Naruto's story had officially started. The official finished making his notes before giving Ren a small nod. "Rest for now. If your father returns, we'll inform you immediately." With that, he turned and left the hospital room. Ren sat in silence, his fingers digging into the blanket. One month. That was how long he had before the village declared his father dead. Ren wasn't a cold-hearted man. He had inherited his previous host's memories he had lived through them and deep down, he understood that while his father hadn't spent much time with him, he had always been there in his own way. "I really hope he is alive" Ren took a deep breath, pushing down the whirlwind of emotions raging inside him. Now wasn't the time to panic. He needed to think clearly and plan his next steps.