> [Basic Wind Release (White): Your perception of Wind-nature chakra is quite sharp, allowing for smoother control. Efficiency and success rates when learning and casting basic Wind Release ninjutsu are slightly increased.]
"Basic Wind Release..."
Shinichi fell silent. He pulled a piece of white chakra induction paper from his drawer. A moment later, the paper burst into flames.
"Heh..."
Staring at the charred remnants of the paper in his hand, Shinichi fell silent again before suddenly laughing. It was true what they said: when you're truly speechless, all you can do is laugh.
Fire nature. His chakra affinity was purely Fire.
His personal interface was essentially an aggregator for external perception and buffs. The traits solidified from public impression provided him with various enhancements : [Clever] boosted his cognitive speed and comprehension , [Diligent] enhanced his focus and reduced fatigue , and [Robust] improved his physical constitution.
However, his actual innate talents and baseline stats weren't displayed on the interface, nor did they generate corresponding traits.
For instance, he could mold chakra and possessed a Fire affinity, yet traits like [Shinobi Talent] or [Fire-Nature Chakra] were nowhere to be found on his panel.
Ultimately, his interface was just an "external equipment slot" forged by public perception. The traits were merely equippable items.
The outside world believed him to be highly intelligent, so the system generated a stat-boosting item called [Clever]. It had no direct correlation to his actual baseline IQ.
Therefore, for a pure Fire-type build like him, this [Basic Wind Release (White)] was essentially a piece of gear he couldn't equip or activate right now.
"It's not entirely useless, I guess," Shinichi muttered, shaking his head to comfort himself.
Usually, acquiring a new chakra nature transformation post-birth required the strength and insight of a Jonin, not to mention a grueling amount of effort. Having the [Basic Wind Release] trait meant that if he ever decided to dabble in Wind chakra in the future, it would save him a massive amount of time.
But for now... it was just a useless paperweight.
Shinichi walked over to the window, gazing out at the quiet village wrapped in the night. The silhouette of the Hokage Monument was faintly visible under the starlight. He was just about to close the interface.
But suddenly, the panel shifted again!
The [Robust (White)] trait suddenly erupted in a brilliant emerald glow. A split second later, it shattered, reforming into a brand-new line of green text.
> [Innate Godly Strength (Green): You possess physical power that transcends mortal limits. Your muscular strength, endurance, and explosive power are all vastly enhanced. You can easily accomplish feats of heavy lifting and destruction that are impossible for ordinary people.]
Shinichi froze. His heart gave a violent, heavy thud. Immediately after, a surge of vital warmth—thick and heavy like liquid mercury—pumped out from his heart. It rapidly flooded his blood vessels, bones, and tendons, spreading to his core, arms, and legs. An unprecedented sensation of absolute fullness and raw power washed over him.
"Heh... hehehe..."
Feeling the very real, surging power rampaging through his body, Shinichi lowered his head. His shoulders began to tremble slightly until a low chuckle finally bubbled up from the depths of his throat, impossible to suppress.
Kakashi!!!
---
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's office.
Bathed in warm light and surrounded by mountains of paperwork, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, puffed on his pipe as he reviewed a report.
The start of the Academy year always brought a heavier workload than usual. To cope, he had "invited" his two old comrades—Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane—to stay late and help.
Breaking the mild silence of the office, Koharu spoke up, her tone carrying its usual conservative and critical edge. "Speaking of the Academy, I heard an interesting rumor. There was a freshman today—quite young, but rather erratic in his behavior. He actually carried a highly conspicuous boulder on his back to enroll, drawing quite a crowd at the gates. Kids these days really are a handful. A shinobi should prioritize composure above all else."
Homura looked up from his documents and chuckled, his tone much lighter. "Oh? Sounds like he's got quite a bit of strength. Koharu, it's fine for kids to be a little lively and show off, as long as they don't disrupt the peace. No harm done."
Hiruzen's hand paused on his pipe. He slowly exhaled a plume of smoke, his mind flashing back to the scene he had coincidentally glimpsed through his crystal ball earlier that day : a tiny figure, shouldering a massive boulder entirely disproportionate to his size, moving with heavy yet incredibly stable steps.
"I have some impression of that child. His name is Shinichi, I believe?" The Third Hokage nodded, speaking slowly. "His strength is indeed considerable. For a child his age, bearing the weight of that stone would be incredibly difficult even with chakra enhancement. Yet he... seemed to have carried it using pure physical strength."
"Pure physical strength?" Homura adjusted his glasses, a look of genuine surprise crossing his face as he smiled. "Hiruzen, it seems this little guy, Shinichi, possesses quite the constitution. He might be an excellent prospect for Taijutsu."
After a moment of thought, the Third Hokage nodded. "A fine prospect indeed."
Hearing this, Koharu didn't offer any further comment, but the name 'Shinichi' quietly etched itself into her memory.
The Hokage's office returned to its peaceful silence, accompanied only by the rustling of turning pages and the soft crackle of burning tobacco.
---
Two days later, following the enrollment and supplementary registration period, the Ninja Academy officially opened its doors for the term.
Maintaining a daily habit he had kept for years, Shinichi headed out for his morning training at 4:00 AM sharp.
By the time the first light of dawn broke, he had finished his regimen, washed up, and arrived at the Academy exactly fifteen minutes before the first bell.
He crossed the still-quiet courtyard and stepped into the main academic building.
The door to Class 1-2 was wide open, spilling out the energetic, chaotic chatter unique to children. Shinichi walked in, his calm gaze sweeping over the desks that were already mostly filled.
Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara... the faces belonging to those incredibly familiar names from his memory.
Not a single one of them was in this classroom.
This is a good thing!
Shinichi forced himself to look on the bright side. On second thought, maybe it really wasn't so bad.
Kakashi had been the center of attention since the day he was born, basking in the title of "Genius" since childhood. But right now, that title was still a bit unsubstantiated.
Kakashi needed time. He needed to prove himself through undeniable classroom performances, flawless ninjutsu execution, and overwhelming victories in practical combat—especially by crushing high-profile peers like the Hokage's son. Only then would his "Genius" moniker transition from a floating rumor to an undisputed, concrete fact.
And for me, the most effective strategy is to secure a victory over him at the exact moment he shines the brightest—when his reputation is at its absolute peak on the most public stage.
Besides, even in different classes, their schedules for practical combat exercises and regular assessments were bound to overlap. Not to mention the mid-term and final exams that encompassed the entire grade.
It just means adjusting the angle of the spotlight a little.
His mind raced as his gaze swept the room once more. The seats were practically full now. Ultimately, his eyes locked onto a spot in the top right corner near the window—a three-person desk where only a single girl was currently seated.
---