Late March, Konoha Year 42.
Spring was already deep. The air drifted with the scent of soil and new leaves. The morning light, carrying just the right amount of slight warmth, pierced through layers of leaves, casting swaying spots of light upon the road.
It was another school opening season.
"Kakashi, do not underestimate this child. If he maintains this mindset and perseveres, that child will definitely surpass you in the future."
At the gate of the Konoha Ninja Academy, Hatake Sakumo lowered his body and rubbed his son Kakashi's head, watching the retreating figures of Might Dai and his son, speaking seriously.
Kakashi disapproved. Although under his father's advice he had asked for Might Guy's name, Kakashi did not take Might Guy to heart, nor did he believe his father truly favored Might Guy.
That guy was just an object his father used to admonish him not to be arrogant or complacent.
"Let him pass tomorrow's make-up exam and get into the school first before we talk about that. Alright, Dad, let's hurry inside to handle the enrollment procedures."
Hatake Sakumo smiled helplessly. Just as the father and son were preparing to step into the Ninja Academy gate.
Thud, thud, thud.
A sound of heavy and steady footsteps came from the street corner directly facing the school gate. Hatake Sakumo let out a soft sound of surprise, stopped his steps, and looked toward the source of the noise.
Seeing his father stop, Kakashi's expression showed some impatience, but he also followed his father's gaze.
The footsteps grew from distant to near, dully striking the ground.
At the corner, what rolled over first was a swaying shadow. Appearing in the father and son's line of sight was a large rock.
A running rock?
No!
Looking carefully, one could discover that between the bottom of the large rock and the ground, a pair of calves were moving alternately with an extremely stable frequency.
The rock was indeed moving.
But to be more accurate, it was a lean, plain-looking child carrying it on his back. The volume of this rock was almost more than three times that of his torso; without looking closely, one would just feel that a rock was moving on its own.
Rough hemp ropes dug deeply into his thin shoulders. He ran very slowly, but every step was planted extremely solidly, leaving shallow wet marks. Black hair was soaked with sweat, sticking to his forehead, obscuring part of his vision, yet he seemed unaware of it, only caring to stare at the road ahead. His lips were pursed into a tight line, his breathing heavy but rhythmic.
"Whose child is that?"
"Is... is that rock real?"
"Carrying such a heavy thing? That's too reckless!"
The moment that figure bearing the giant boulder appeared on the street, it immediately attracted the gazes of everyone at the Ninja Academy gate. Whispers arose from some parents who had brought their children to handle enrollment.
"Show off!"
Kakashi took in all the surrounding exclamations and curious discussions. He gave a light snort; he could currently achieve that level of weight bearing, and could even run faster.
Looking at that guy's appearance and height, he should be a third or fourth-year student at the Ninja Academy. Clearly, the ninja tool shop had more fitting, more scientific weighted equipment.
Yet he insisted on choosing a clumsy giant rock, and specifically Yellow-Grey Rock, a type with lower density and larger volume for the same weight.
And he specifically chose to come when there were many people enrolling. In Kakashi's view, this was nothing more than a carefully planned, clumsy performance to grab attention.
"Kakashi."
Just then, Hatake Sakumo spoke calmly. His gaze remained locked on that slowly moving figure, his eyes holding something else.
"Look closely." White Fang's voice was very light, yet very steady: "This child... is not using chakra."
Hearing this, Kakashi's pupils constricted slightly, and he immediately focused his gaze again.
Chakra flow and the casting of jutsu always result in aura fluctuations, strong or weak, hidden or obvious. Based on this, one can tell if the opponent is using the Transformation Jutsu for disguise, or roughly judge the power of the opponent's ninjutsu, and so on.
And in Kakashi's observation, sure enough! There were no traces of intentional chakra flow anywhere around that guy's body. This meant that the burden of the rock was being borne entirely by his own physical strength!
Even if it was Yellow-Grey Rock, a type with lower density, the weight under such volume was not small.
If he wasn't using chakra... Kakashi thought for a moment, then spoke in a calm tone.
"He just has a bit more strength, that's all."
Hatake Sakumo did not reply, only suddenly shifting his eyes upward to glance above, then moving them away without changing his expression.
"Is that child... Shinichi?"
"It really is him."
There seemed to be a few parents in the crowd who recognized the child carrying the giant rock.
"This child said he had great strength since childhood, I didn't believe it, didn't expect it to be this exaggerated..."
"Last time I heard this child say he was coming to enroll..."
"It's a pity, the world has lost a future cooking master..."
"Cooking? Isn't this child a helper at the blacksmith shop?"
This guy is actually a new student like me?
Kakashi's eyes flashed with surprise. Just now, looking at Shinichi's height and appearance, he was certain the other party was a third or even fourth-year student, but he didn't expect him to be a new student like himself.
Kakashi!
Finally seeing you!
Moving toward the Ninja Academy gate with the giant rock on his back, his gaze quickly swept over the white-haired boy with the mask at the gate; a trace of undetectable heat flashed deep in his eyes, and his heart thumped uncontrollably.
Five years!
Kakashi, from the day I heard you were born!
Shinichi took a deep breath, moved his gaze away without changing his expression, ran to the open space beside the Ninja Academy gate to put down the giant rock, exchanged a few simple pleasantries with some familiar parents, and then turned to prepare to enter the school.
When passing by the Hatake father and son, seeing Kakashi looking him up and down, his steps paused slightly, and he revealed a smile to Kakashi.
That smile was clean and sunny, like a breeze without any haze. The plain face inexplicably carried a kind of affinity, making people unconsciously feel a sense of closeness.
Seeing this, Kakashi was stunned for a moment. He unconsciously remembered the senior known as a genius he had encountered by chance at Ichiraku Ramen last month; his smile was also this clean and sunny, making people unconsciously feel a sense of closeness.
[Affinity (White): Your demeanor and behavior make people feel relaxed and close; it is easier to gain favor and basic trust when communicating with others.]
Shinichi did not care how he reacted. He nodded to the Hatake father and son, as if he merely saw an ordinary father and son, then continued his steps past the two without stopping.
Just then, Kakashi suddenly spoke.
"Hey!"
Shinichi stopped his steps, turned his head, his face holding a little confusion.
"If you want to train your body properly," Kakashi's voice carried the bluntness belonging to a genius and a certain matter-of-factness: "then you should go to the ninja tool shop to buy professional weighted equipment. Carrying a rock with such an irregular shape is not only inefficient and hard to control the center of gravity, but also easy to cause unnecessary muscle or bone damage."
Shinichi listened seriously to the end, the smile on his face undiminished, and nodded: "You're right, professional equipment is indeed safer and more efficient. I have been to the ninja tool shop."
His tone was peaceful, without the slightest displeasure of being corrected:
"It's just that currently... I haven't found any that completely fits my needs for the current stage yet. Although this rock is clumsy, once used to it, adjusting it isn't too much trouble. But thank you for your suggestion, classmate. I am Shinichi Higashino , and you?"
How could the ninja tool shop not have suitable ones?
Kakashi frowned. He had some understanding of the categories in the ninja tool shop. To say "there are none that are completely suitable" was really far-fetched. But on second thought, he felt he was being meddlesome. It was enough that he had inexplicably called out to stop someone; there was no need to question further now. So he only replied faintly:
"Hatake Kakashi."
"Kakashi, is it? I'll remember that."
Shinichi nodded, turned around, and walked into the school gate.
"This child has it bitter, lost his parents since childhood..."
"The money he earned from working this past year or so was basically all donated to the orphanage..."
"No wonder... he is a good child who values emotion and righteousness..."
The whispers of several parents nearby drifted over faintly.
Kakashi cast his gaze toward Shinichi's disappearing back and fell silent for a moment.
"Let's go handle the enrollment procedures, Dad."
Shinichi, who had already walked very far away, did not know about the subsequent events. At this time, he was recalling the exchange with Kakashi earlier.
Professional weighted equipment?
You make a lot of sense, Kakashi.
It's just...
If I don't carry that giant rock, how would the world know I am born with supernatural strength, different from ordinary people?
The corners of Shinichi's mouth hooked up into a shallow arc. With a thought in his mind, a floating panel that only he could see appeared in his line of sight.
[Name: Shinichi Higashino]
[Profession: Swordsmanship Apprentice]
[Talents: Intelligence (White), Diligence (White), Affinity (White), Robust (White), Glutton (White), Tenacity (White), Agility (White), Calmness (White)]
[Draw Count: None]