The Konoha Ninja Academy was more than just a school; it was the crucible where the "Will of Fire" was tempered into steel. It was not a place one could enter simply by showing up at the gates. To walk through those doors, one either had to pass a rigorous entrance examination that weeded out the physically weak, or possess a recommendation signed by the highest authorities in the village.
For Evan Kamiyo, the matter had been settled nearly a year ago. The Third Hokage had personally ensured Evan's enrollment, recognizing that a talent like his—a medical prodigy with the chakra reserves of a monster—needed a structured environment to hide in as much as to grow.
Next year, he would officially become a student.
However, as the enrollment date loomed, Hinata Hyuga remained trapped in a cycle of quiet anxiety. To her, the Academy represented a transition into a world of competition she felt ill-prepared for. Her greatest fear wasn't the exams or the sparring; it was the possibility that she and Evan would be separated into different classes. In her mind, Evan was the anchor that kept her from drifting into the ocean of her own insecurities.
Evan didn't particularly share her concern. With Hiruzen Sarutobi's personal backing, his placement was a foregone conclusion. At the very least, he would be assigned to the elite "Advanced Class," alongside the heirs of the major clans and the top-tier prodigies.
After obtaining this calm reassurance during one of their walks, Hinata's heart finally eased. Her grip on the strap of her bag loosened, and a faint, hopeful smile played on her lips as they arrived at the towering, white-walled gates of the Hyuga estate.
After escorting Hinata to the threshold, Evan turned to leave—but his steps slowed. His eyes flickered subtly, the pupils dilating as he felt a heavy, scrutinizing presence washing over him from deep within the compound.
Future father-in-law…? The thought crossed his mind with a touch of dry humor.
Deep within the darkened recesses of the main house, sitting perfectly still in a meditation hall, Hiashi Hyuga opened his eyes. The veins around his temples bulged as his Byakugan remained active, peering through layers of wood and stone to observe the boy standing at his gate.
"What terrifying chakra…" Hiashi murmured to the empty room. "The density is abnormal. Is this really the aura of a five-year-old child? It feels like looking at a dormant volcano."
He exhaled slowly, the veins receding. "But… it's still not enough. Raw power is a tool, but the Hyuga require lineage."
On the way home, Evan frowned, replaying the sensation of Hiashi's gaze. He wasn't offended; he was calculating. Perhaps it was because he was still so young, or perhaps Hiashi simply couldn't see past the "commoner" status to recognize the sheer value of Evan's evolving Sage Body.
Evan sighed softly into the cold autumn air. Understanding the rigid, tradition-bound mindset of a clan patriarch wasn't exactly his specialty. He preferred the logic of medicine—if a part is broken, you fix it or remove it. But the Hyuga clan was a complex organism.
The road ahead with Hinata would not be a smooth one. Her father was not a man softened by ideals like the Third Hokage. The Hyuga were the most conservative, iron-fisted noble family in Konoha.
Caged Bird Seals. Branch family sacrifices. Absolute hierarchy.
If Evan wished to stay by Hinata's side in the future, brute strength alone would be a blunt instrument. He needed to be indispensable. Yet, strangely, Evan did not feel pressured. He knew that systems built on oppression were inherently brittle. If Hiashi truly wanted to push him into a corner, Evan was confident that systematic "therapy"—both physical and political—could solve many problems. Given enough time, even the strongest cage could be dismantled from the inside.
Autumn's gold turned to winter's white. In the blink of an eye, several more months slipped by, and Evan's daily routine became a masterclass in efficiency.
Every day, the hospital saw an influx of wounded shinobi. Border skirmishes, internal "accidents," and the rising tension within the village provided Evan with a steady stream of high-quality patients. The attribute points and system rewards poured in at a terrifying pace.
Even Evan found himself slightly uneasy at the rate of his own growth. His strength was burgeoning so fast that he had to spend hours every night in the forest just to recalibrate his muscle memory to his increasing power. The sheer number of wounded he treated was far beyond the capacity of an ordinary medic. He was becoming a legend in the wards—the "Ghost Doctor" who never seemed to tire.
Occasionally, he even treated members of the Uchiha clan. Their appearances were brief, guarded, and filled with a desperate pride. Through these interactions, Evan gradually completed his fundamental understanding of Fire Style. Now, only the mastery of Lightning Style remained as his primary elemental objective.
What he didn't expect was that two words would suddenly begin to surface in his life again through the system's hidden logs: Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu.
Itachi's Mangekyō techniques.
For now, Evan's body couldn't handle the strain of such high-level Yin-release. Only by reaching the true Mangekyō level himself—or evolving his Sage Body further—could such divine powers be unlocked. But Evan was a patient man. He knew that with enough points, even the legendary blindness caused by the Sharingan could be repaired. He wasn't chasing godhood; he was building it, brick by brick.
One evening, Evan was summoned to the Hokage's office. The atmosphere was thick with the scent of tobacco and old parchment.
"Old Man Hokage," Evan asked calmly, standing before the desk, "to what do I owe the late-night invitation?"
The Third Hokage exhaled a long, grey cloud of smoke. He looked older tonight, the lines on his face deeper. "Evan, your progress has been… exceptional. Perhaps too exceptional. From today onward, you are no longer required to go to Konoha Hospital personally."
Evan froze. His eyes narrowed. "…Not allowed?"
"If you continue to walk the halls in your physical body," the Hokage continued, "you will attract the kind of attention that leads to a premature grave. There are eyes in this village that do not belong to me, and they are starting to covet your talent. Your safety is a priority I cannot compromise on."
Evan frowned. He understood the subtext: Danzo. "Shadow Clones can still work," Evan muttered, testing the boundaries.
The Hokage sighed, a faint smile touching his lips. "I know you, brat. Which is why I'm allowing one condition. You may use Shadow Clones for hospital duties. Your real body, however, is strictly forbidden from entering the hospital grounds until you graduate from the Academy. You need to focus on being a child, at least for a few hours a day."
The condition was absolute. Evan thought for a moment, weighing the loss of direct experience against the gain of security and the freedom to train his real body in secret.
"I understand," Evan nodded. "Healing with clones is still healing."
As Evan turned to leave, he paused at the door. He looked back at the man who held the fate of the village in his hands and spoke with a terrifyingly calm conviction.
"By the way, I'm going to marry Hinata in the future."
The Third Hokage, caught mid-inhale, choked on his smoke and burst into a fit of rough laughter. "Brat! You haven't even hit your growth spurt! You're still a toddler in the eyes of the law!"
"I'm serious," Evan replied, his expression unchanging.
The Hokage laughed even harder, wiping a tear from his eye. "The Hyuga? You certainly pick the tallest mountains to climb. But I suppose, with the support of the Hyuga clan, your path to becoming Hokage would be paved in gold."
Evan shrugged, his hand on the doorknob. "I'm not aiming for the hat. I just want what's mine."
Before Evan stepped out, Hiruzen added one last detail: "From today on, your name will be registered under Konoha Hospital's Shadow Division. Officially, you are a secret research asset. This is to protect your identity from the Council and the Root."
Evan paused. "…Does the Shadow Division get a separate payroll?"
"Yes, Evan. A substantial one."
"Then I have no objections."
As Evan stepped into the crisp night air, his thoughts were clear. Strength. Status. Time. He had all three. The Hyuga clan was like an ancient tree, majestic on the outside but decaying from within due to its rigid traditions.
He looked toward the Hyuga compound in the distance. When the day of reckoning finally came, he wouldn't just be a medic; he would be the force that allowed the tree to shed its dead weight. Even iron cages eventually rust when the environment changes—and Evan Kamiyo was the change.
Author's Note:
The atmosphere in Konoha is tightening. As Evan grows stronger through his Lightning training, the Uchiha tragedy is accelerating toward its climax. Thank you for your continued support! Every Power Stone helps us dive deeper into the lore.