Konoha Ninja Academy.
A group of examinees waited outside the building.
Inside, a black-haired boy was undergoing his final evaluation, observed by the Third Hokage and several academy instructors, who graded his performance.
In the examination area, he flawlessly executed one test after another.
Before long—
"Taijutsu: Excellent."
"Clone Technique: Excellent."
"Transformation Technique…"
"Overall assessment: Excellent."
Above him, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wearing the Hokage's hat, announced each result before standing up and picking up a forehead protector. He walked toward the student and handed it to him.
"After careful consideration by the academy, you are permitted to graduate early. Yoshimine Kyohiko, from this day forward, you are a genin."
"Yes! Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
Kyohiko accepted the forehead protector respectfully, though inwardly, he couldn't help but sigh—
After over a year of transmigration and relentless effort, I've finally met the requirements for early graduation.
Almost simultaneously, a voice echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations on successfully assuming the role of Hokage. The Hokage System is at your service.]
???
This voice…
A system?!
What the hell?!
I transmigrated over a year ago, trained like crazy this whole time, and only now, after pushing myself to early graduation, does it show up?!
He was both shocked and thrilled.
From his predecessor's memories, Yoshimine Kyohiko's ancestors had once been members of the Senju clan. However, after the First Hokage advocated for inter-village marriages, the family branched off.
By his generation, they were already three generations removed.
Unfortunately, his grandmother had no special physique or Kekkei Genkai, and his parents were equally ordinary—at most, slightly healthier than average—before they died on the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
As for Kyohiko himself? Utterly unremarkable. No visible talents whatsoever.
Thus, after transmigrating, he realized that only through relentless effort, like Might Guy, could he hope to survive the brutal shinobi world.
And yet—
Today, of all days, he awakened a system…
Wait… Hokage System? What does that mean? I'm not the Hokage!
Kyohiko was utterly baffled. He glanced down at the forehead protector in his hands, then up at the Hokage's hat on Hiruzen's head.
I'm definitely not the Hokage!
"Kyohiko, put on your forehead protector."
"Yes!"
Kyohiko snapped out of his daze.
He tied the forehead protector around his head—and then—
Another notification sounded.
[Gaining loyalty is an essential skill for a Hokage.]
[By personally awarding a forehead protector to a graduating genin, you have earned their complete trust.]
[Reward: Shunshin no Jutsu proficiency increased by 1 level.]
Huh?
After confirming he wasn't hallucinating, Kyohiko was stunned.
Complete trust…
Of course I trust myself!
Putting the forehead protector on myself actually counted as 'earning loyalty' and gave me a reward? Is this system stupid?!
He stood frozen for a moment before regaining his composure.
This system…
It was clearly designed for the Hokage, but whether due to his transmigration or some mistake, it had somehow ended up with him—a mere genin.
Still, he was in the middle of an exam. He had to stay composed!
Kyohiko steadied his mind and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
This gratitude was genuine.
"Hahaha, I have high hopes for you. Keep it up!"
Hiruzen patted Kyohiko's shoulder before calling the next examinee in.
As Kyohiko stepped outside, he watched a stream of familiar and unfamiliar faces pass by, a thought surfacing in his mind—
In a dozen years, only a handful of these people will stand out.
The shinobi world is cruel.
Without a Kekkei Genkai or secret techniques, progress is nearly impossible!
Over the past year, Kyohiko had learned just how difficult life was for an ordinary person.
Hard work and perseverance—
No matter how much he trained, the best he could achieve was a solid foundation, enough to graduate early. Compared to someone like Kakashi, who had long since left the academy, he was still far behind.
Under normal circumstances, Guy would've been his best role model.
Fortunately, he now had his own cheat—and with early graduation, he had more time to train and grow stronger.
The academy doesn't teach advanced techniques!
This Hokage System…
The process might've been bizarre, but the result is what matters.
After leaving the examination hall, Kyohiko tested a few commands before finally summoning a translucent status panel with the word "Status."
Familiar text appeared before him.
…
[Name: Yoshimine Kyohiko]
[Age: 7]
[Kekkei Genkai]: None
[Skills]:
Transformation Technique (Proficient), Clone Technique (Proficient), Substitution Technique (Advanced), Shunshin no Jutsu (Master)
…
Master-level Shunshin no Jutsu!
Kyohiko suppressed his shock and excitement.
According to the system's classification, jutsu proficiency was divided into five tiers: Novice, Proficient, Advanced, Master, and Grandmaster.
Shunshin and Substitution were the two techniques he had spent the most time mastering—by far.
Yet, for the past six months, his Shunshin had shown no improvement.
Now, however—
His mind flooded with new insights into the technique.
So this is it… Master-level Shunshin requires precise control over muscles, strength, and chakra utilization.
Perfect efficiency.
That's the difference between Advanced and Master.
Kyohiko felt a sudden epiphany.
It was as if he had trained the technique thousands of times, effortlessly executing it at a Master's level.
If I had relied on my own training, reaching Master-level Shunshin would've taken years of grinding.
This is incredible!
Now, the real question is—how do I exploit this system to its fullest?
Without a Kekkei Genkai or secret techniques, Kyohiko's only hope of defying fate and avoiding becoming just another casualty in the shinobi wars was this system.
The earlier events proved it was a rigid program with exploitable loopholes.
If I were the Hokage, what would I need to do?
Kyohiko's mind raced.
The previous reward came from…
Earning loyalty, balancing village factions, strengthening the village's power and prosperity.
Contributing in war.
Handling daily village affairs and missions.
He summarized a few key points.
As a genin, most of these were impossible—except for earning loyalty and completing missions.
Kyohiko pondered, then—
Stepping out of the academy gates, he decided to test his Master-level Shunshin.
Precise control.
Muscles, chakra…
Then—
Whoosh!
In an instant, Kyohiko's figure blurred, reappearing further down the street.
So fast!
Even though my physical abilities haven't improved, the effectiveness of my Shunshin is now two or three times better!
A fiery determination flashed in his eyes.
If Master-level is this strong, what would Grandmaster be like?
However, he also realized that while the skill had integrated into his body, his reflexes and perception hadn't yet adjusted to the heightened speed, causing slight miscalculations in distance and timing.
More training!
Kyohiko sprinted toward his usual training grounds in the outskirts, moving like the wind.
But—
As he passed by a bathhouse—
"Hm?"
A white-haired man turned his head, glancing outside.
His eyes locked onto the blur of a boy darting past.
That speed…
Such refined Shunshin…
Who is that?
Intrigued, he hesitated for a moment—glancing back at the bathhouse's interior—before finally giving chase.
—————————————————————
Extra Chapter: On Every 50 powerstones
—————————————————————