Chapter 1: The Oddball and the Genius
Late March, Year 42 of Konoha.
The Ninja Academy was about to begin its new term. The list of students who passed the entrance test had been posted that day, and children, along with their parents, crowded around the bulletin board, discussing it excitedly.
At the very front of the crowd, however, a father and son dressed in green one-piece training suits drew some dissatisfied looks.
With his thick beard, Might Duy held his son up high, ignoring the surrounding laughter as he loudly encouraged him. Meanwhile, Might Guy, who kept twisting his body left and right while searching for his name, finally whispered in frustration after failing to find it:
"Not here! Not here! Still not here…"
Although he had already expected this outcome when the test ended, disappointment still appeared on Guy's face when he saw the results. The surrounding voices only made him feel worse.
"Ah! Found it!"
"I passed!"
"As expected of my son…"
"That's wonderful, congratulations!"
"…"
A group of children around six years old and their parents burst into cheerful laughter. While being a ninja came with danger, it was still a respectable, well-paid profession, and for civilians, the best way to change their social status.
"Son, look carefully…"
Might Duy's expression grew more serious as he continued encouraging him loudly. But halfway through speaking, his face suddenly felt cool. He instinctively looked up and discovered that his son had already begun crying in disappointment.
"It's not there. My name isn't on the board, Dad."
"Guy, you've already done your very best. Your efforts will surely be rewarded."
Looking up at his son, Might Duy gradually raised his voice. Seeing Guy's tears increasing, he shouted with even greater intensity, completely drowning out the surrounding mockery:
"On the road ahead, soaked with tears, you will eventually find your name! Keep searching!"
"Yes!"
Encouraged by his father, Guy suppressed his disappointment and responded quickly. The boy stopped crying and continued swaying left and right, searching for a name that wasn't there.
Might Guy…
At the very front, Genma Shiranui, who had been hearing the voices above his head nonstop, looked helpless. At six years old, he was already considered a big child in the village. He tried to act mature as he muttered quietly:
"That guy really doesn't get it. His name isn't going to suddenly appear."
Beside him, Ebisu pushed up his sunglasses, sympathy appearing on his face as he sighed.
"I can't bear to watch this…"
Hearing his friends whispering, Furukawa Shu noticed the father and son growing increasingly discouraged. He had no choice but to raise his voice to remind them:
"Don't forget there's still the supplementary admission list. Don't worry; he'll definitely get into the Academy."
Might Duy and Guy immediately turned around, as if they had just heard something incredible. Both widened their eyes, their thick black eyebrows lifting at the same time.
Under their burning gazes, Furukawa Shu felt slightly awkward. He instinctively glanced down at his black high-collar short-sleeve T-shirt and black pants, then rubbed his slightly curly black hair.
Just as he was about to say more, the father and son interrupted him.
"THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!!"
They shouted while raising their thumbs together. Looking at their dazzling smiles, Shu suddenly had the illusion that their teeth were actually sparkling.
The surrounding crowd unconsciously stepped back, and the scene fell silent until a voice from behind broke the awkward atmosphere.
"Shu, let's go. The orientation is about to start."
Wearing a patterned scarf that covered half his face, Kakashi Hatake stood with his hands in his pockets, calmly calling out to Furukawa Shu.
The crowd soon returned to its noisy state, and the laughter resumed.
Before Shu could offer more "motivational soup," Genma and Ebisu quickly pulled him away from the crowd. Behind them, Might Duy and Guy had already begun encouraging themselves again.
"If I can run 500 laps around the field, I'll definitely get admitted as a substitute student!"
"Guy!"
Turning back to look at the father and son, both clenching their fists emotionally while crying, Furukawa Shu could only sigh inwardly.
'Those are some seriously 'anime-level' tears…'
The attempted kidnapping of a jinchūriki candidate had made Konoha sense the approach of war. Under orders from the village leadership, the Ninja Academy further lowered its admission age.
Although Konoha would not send genin directly to the front lines, the village still needed to prepare them early to handle low-risk missions.
Inside the First-Year Class A lecture classroom, a chūnin instructor with a scar on his left cheek and ordinary features, Kimura Ryosuke, patiently answered questions from parents without the slightest sign of impatience.
After the orientation ended, Kimura Ryosuke looked down at the two boys standing beside Sakumo Hatake and smiled warmly.
"Teaching geniuses is a lot of pressure."
"At that age, I was still playing ninja games. Kakashi has already mastered the Three Basic Techniques. As expected of Sakumo's son."
The remaining parents and children in the classroom all looked toward Kakashi, who wore a face mask. Dressed casually, Sakumo Hatake instead rubbed Furukawa Shu's head and said with a smile:
"Shu's talent in ninjutsu is even better than Kakashi's."
"Please train them strictly over the next few years. Entering the Academy is only the beginning."
Hearing praise from the "White Fang of Konoha," Kimura Ryosuke was slightly surprised. Recalling the entrance test, he nodded subconsciously.
Like Kakashi, Furukawa Shu would only turn five years old in September.
"Lord Sakumo, Teacher Ryosuke, I'll work twice as hard in the coming years."
Furukawa Shu responded immediately, showing an appropriately excited and sincere expression. Beside him, Kakashi quickly turned his head and muttered softly:
"Father, I'll soon master a C-rank ninjutsu too."
Seeing this, Kimura Ryosuke laughed out loud, growing even more satisfied that he could teach two prodigies. He immediately encouraged them:
"Haha, this is the competition between geniuses! Work hard, Kakashi, Shu!"
Kakashi and Furukawa Shu both gave slight bows. Noticing several girls staring at them, some boys clicked their tongues in annoyance. Handsome and talented people were the most irritating.
"Shu, Kakashi wants to play kick-the-can?"
At the classroom door, Genma Shiranui called out loudly, a dango skewer in his mouth. Many classmates had gathered behind him. Shu felt helpless inside but replied energetically:
"You be 'it'; I'll be right there!"
Kakashi wanted to go too, but didn't move. He looked up at his father, then murmured:
"I just want to train as soon as possible…"
Sakumo Hatake patted his not-so-honest son. Seeing Kakashi reluctantly follow the others out, he nodded slightly.
Ninja instructors from the school kept coming to greet him. The White Fang of Konoha, without any airs, exchanged pleasantries with each of them. Thinking of Furukawa Shu's parents, who had sacrificed themselves on a mission not long ago, he silently said to himself:
"Shu will become an outstanding shinobi."
At the Ninja Academy training field, Furukawa Shu flipped over a wooden fence and hung upside down from a tree branch, his feet sticking to it.
Stretching out his right hand toward the tree trunk, he used his [Gathering Technique].
Watching the notification "Essence obtained" appear again in his vision, Furukawa Shu couldn't help but think:
"If I could gather the complete Divine Tree, what would I get?"
—
End of Chapter