Name: Shinichi Higashino
Profession: Swordsman / Ninja Academy Student
Talents: Genius (Blue), Spiritual Sense (Green), Auspicious Sign (Green), Big Eater (Green), Diligence Can Compensate for Lack of Talent (Green), Quick-witted (Green), Innate Divine Strength (Green), Thick-Skinned (Green), Swift as a Rabbit (Green), Swordsmanship Proficiency (Green), Affinity (White), Calm (White), Wind Release Foundation (White), Taijutsu Foundation (White), Fire Release Fundamentals (White).
Walking down the small path toward home, the setting sun stretched his shadow long. Shinichi habitually sank his mind into the depths of his consciousness and summoned the personal status panel that only he could see.
Compared to two years ago, the changes on the panel were significant. [Thick-Skinned (Green)] had replaced the former [Toughness (White)]; [Swift as a Rabbit (Green)] had been upgraded from [Agility (White)]; [Big Eater (Green)] originated from [Foodie (White)]; and [Spiritual Sense (Green)] came from [Sensory (White)].
Additionally, a brand-new white entry had appeared on the panel:
[Fire Release Fundamentals (White): Your perception of fire-attribute Chakra is relatively keen, and your control over it is smoother. Efficiency and success rates are slightly increased when learning and performing basic Fire Release Ninjutsu.]
The characteristics of this entry were similar to the [Wind Release Foundation (White)] he had drawn in his earlier years, only corresponding to the fire attribute.
Shinichi was initially a bit surprised by its generation; his original intention had been to foster a more comprehensive entry like [Ninjutsu Foundation].
But thinking carefully, the reason perhaps lay in the fact that during the various school matches and assessments over the past two years, the techniques he used most frequently and performed most prominently were always Fire Release Ninjutsu.
In the eyes of his classmates and teachers, the impression that 'Shinichi Higashino's Fire Release is strong' was likely more concrete and profound than the generalized perception that 'his Ninjutsu is strong.' The entry system once again demonstrated its generation logic based on specific perceptions.
Another phenomenon that made him ponder was the entry [Taijutsu Foundation (White)]. Even though he had never slackened in his display and refinement of Taijutsu over these two years, it still failed to upgrade to green.
It could only be said that in Shinichi's battle against Kakashi, where he used swordsmanship to break the White Fang Swordsmanship head-on, the effect generated by using the world-renowned name of Konoha's White Fang as a stepping stone was even more massive and enduring than he had imagined.
In that battle, the brilliance of his swordsmanship had even overshadowed his solid foundation in Taijutsu to some extent.
When people mentioned his Taijutsu, they might praise it for having a good foundation or great strength, but the deeper amazement and labels were mostly drawn toward his swordsmanship.
As for entries regarding Genjutsu, it wasn't that he didn't want to build them, but there was a Kurenai Yuhi in the same grade. Not only did she have high Genjutsu talent, but she also had a father who was a Genjutsu Jonin.
Shinichi really couldn't think of any way to outshine this Genjutsu Genius. Furthermore, from the beginning, his focus had been on building entries related to his physical body.
Later, after Uchiha Shisui enrolled, Shinichi had even less interest in crafting a persona of Genjutsu talent.
Shinichi withdrew his gaze from the personal panel.
Through more than two years of continuous perception management and polishing, he knew very well that the entries on his panel were far from reaching a state of richness or perfection.
If time were sufficient, he could completely carve them like jade, generating more white entries and slowly nurturing each one to green, or even attempting to touch the higher blue realm to build an impeccable foundation.
However, time was running out.
Based on his calculations from fragmented information of the original story and the general graduation age of his current class, there was only a little over a year left before the existing, fragile stability of the Ninja World would be completely shattered.
This was the fundamental reason he decided to graduate early. Originally, according to his plan, he wanted to make his foundation even more solid before graduating.
But again, time was running out.
Step one: Graduate early and become a Genin.
At that time, the professional entry [Ninja Academy Student] would naturally advance to [Genin]. The increase in professional rank would inevitably bring a more significant, all-around boost related to Ninja talent.
Additionally, according to previous patterns, a professional promotion almost certainly came with a drawing opportunity. A brand-new, directly obtainable green entry could immediately strengthen his ability system.
Step two: Rapidly promote to Chunin.
This plan was even more aggressive. He intended to find a way to participate in the Chunin Exams in the same year he graduated as a Genin, or use other feasible means to strive for promotion to Chunin as quickly as possible.
Once successful, the [Genin] entry would upgrade to [Chunin] again. This not only meant another leap in the professional bonuses but, more importantly, starting from Chunin, there might be a chance to trigger a higher-level draw—a blue entry drawing opportunity.
With such planning, if everything went smoothly, when the situation in the Ninja World truly began to destabilize in over a year, he would possess:
A stronger [Chunin] professional entry bonus.
A new green entry obtained from the promotion to Genin.
A potential new blue entry obtained from the promotion to Chunin.
The leap in strength brought by the superposition of these three would allow him to face the coming trials of blood and fire with more confidence and greater power, possessing stronger self-preservation capabilities in the early stages of the turmoil.
"Then the next entry should be the last one I generate during my time at the Academy."
Shinichi withdrew his thoughts and turned his gaze to his own hands.
At this moment, his palms were slowly manipulating two pitch-black solid iron balls, a habit he had suddenly picked up over a year ago.
To others, this seemed like nothing more than a form of exercise—using the rotation and friction of the iron balls to move the joints and muscles of the fingers, palms, wrists, and elbows, enhancing flexibility and strength, which in turn would benefit hand seal speed, crucial for a Ninja.
While that reason was valid, Shinichi's purpose went far beyond that.
His deeper intention lay in accomplishing an event that would cause a Sensory throughout Konoha, using it to generate a comprehensive Ninjutsu-type entry.
Although he had previously only generated attribute-specific entries like [Fire Release Fundamentals] instead of the broader comprehensive entries he had hoped for, making him feel his plan hadn't quite gone as desired, he was not discouraged.
In fact, regarding how to shape and ultimately generate a powerful comprehensive Ninjutsu entry, he had a plan long ago. This scheme could even be traced back to shortly after he entered the Ninja Academy.
It was a long-term plan that required extended research and would be detonated at a specific moment.
And that detonation point was at the opening ceremony of the new semester in a few days.
If everything went smoothly and his plan was realized, then the entry generated at that time would likely not be white, or even green.
But a blue-level comprehensive Ninjutsu entry!
This would be the final entry he meticulously crafted during his Academy career, and it would also be the most significant parting gift for his early graduation.