[Wind Release Basics (White): Your perception of wind-attribute chakra is relatively keen, and your control is smoother. When learning and performing basic Wind Release ninjutsu, efficiency and success rate increase slightly.]
"Wind Release Basics…"
Shinichi silently took a white test strip from the drawer. A moment later, the strip ignited.
"Heh…."
Looking at the burned-out remnants of the test strip in his hand, Shinichi fell silent again, then suddenly laughed.
When people are truly at a loss for words, they really do laugh.
Fire attribute.
His chakra nature was pure fire.
His personal panel was an aggregator of external cognition and buffs. Those entries solidified through public perception provided him with boosts in various aspects: [Intelligence] increased thinking speed and comprehension; [Diligence] strengthened focus and reduced fatigue; [Robust] enhanced physical qualities…
As for his own innate talent, its values were not displayed on the personal panel, nor did they generate corresponding entries.
For example, he could refine chakra and possessed fire-attribute chakra, yet entries such as [Ninja Talent] or [Fire-Attribute Chakra] did not appear on the panel in entry form.
In essence, the personal panel was an "external equipment slot" condensed from outside perception. The entries on it were all equipment.
Because the outside world believed he was "exceptionally intelligent," a piece of equipment named [Intelligence] that increased intelligence was generated for him. It had no direct connection to how high his innate intelligence actually was.
Therefore, the equipment [Wind Release Basics (White)] was, for a pure fire-type character like him, something he could neither wear nor activate for the time being.
"It's not completely useless," Shinichi shook his head and could only console himself this way.
Generally speaking, acquiring a new chakra nature transformation later in life required reaching jōnin-level strength and insight, along with long and arduous effort.
Having the entry [Wind Release Basics] meant that at least one day in the future, when he began trying to touch upon the wind attribute, it could save him a great deal of effort.
But for now… it was ultimately just an ornament he couldn't use.
Shinichi walked to the window and looked out at the tranquil village under the night sky. In the distance, the silhouette of the Hokage Rock was faintly visible under the starlight. He was about to close the panel—
When suddenly, at that moment, the panel changed again!
The [Robust (White)] entry suddenly emitted a faint green glow. In the next instant, it shattered with a crash, and a new line of green text was generated.
[Innate Divine Strength (Green): You possess physical strength that surpasses the ordinary. Your muscular strength, endurance, and explosive power are all enhanced, allowing you to easily accomplish loads and destruction that ordinary people can hardly reach.]
Shinichi froze for a moment. In an instant, he only felt his heart give a heavy thump. Immediately after, a warm surge of blood—strong and powerful, thick and heavy like mercury—started from his heart and rapidly spread through his body along his blood vessels, bones, and major tendons, rushing into his waist, both arms, both legs, and other major parts. Then came an unprecedented sense of fullness and strength.
"Heh… hehehe…"
Feeling the power surging within him—power that had truly, tangibly skyrocketed—Shinichi lowered his head. His shoulders trembled slightly, and the laughter he could no longer suppress finally spilled out from deep in his throat.
Kakashi!!!
…
At the same time, the Hokage's office.
The lighting was gentle, and documents were piled up like mountains. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had a pipe in his mouth as he reviewed a report.
Every year during the school enrollment season, matters were always a bit more complicated than usual. For that reason, he had to "invite" his two old partners—Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu—to work overtime with him.
In the office, which was slightly quiet, Koharu seemed to recall something. Her tone carried a trace of her usual conservatism and pickiness. "Speaking of which, I heard about something. Today there was a new student. Not very old, but his conduct was quite unruly—he actually carried a rather conspicuous big rock on his back to come register at school, drawing quite a few onlookers at the gate. Kids these days really don't put one at ease. A ninja should value steadiness."
Homura raised his head from the documents and smiled. His tone was comparatively relaxed. "Oh? Sounds like he's quite strong. Koharu, it's not a big deal if the kids have a bit of spirit and show themselves off a little. As long as it doesn't affect order, it's fine."
Hiruzen's hand holding the pipe paused. Smoke slowly flowed out, and in his mind surfaced the scene he had happened to glimpse during the day through the crystal ball: a small figure carrying a huge boulder wholly mismatched to his body, moving with heavy yet steady steps.
"I have some impression of this child. His name should be Shinichi, right?" The Third spoke slowly, his voice calm. "It really is not small. The weight of that stone—for a child his age—even with chakra assistance, it would be very difficult. And he… seems to have carried it purely by physical strength."
"Purely relying on physical strength?" Homura adjusted his glasses and smiled with a hint of surprise. "Hiruzen, it seems this little fellow named Shinichi has quite a good physique. He should be a promising seed for training in taijutsu."
After a moment, the Third Hokage nodded. "Indeed, a good seed."
Koharu said nothing upon hearing this, but she formed a slight impression in her mind of the child named Shinichi.
The Hokage's office returned to calm, with only the rustling of turning documents and the faint sound of tobacco burning.
...
Two days later, after two days of registration and supplementary enrollment, the Ninja Academy officially began classes.
Shinichi maintained the habit he had kept for years, heading out for morning training at four in the morning.
When the dawn light had just begun to show, he finished his training, washed up, and, with a quarter of an hour still remaining before class, arrived at the academy right on time.
Passing through the still-quiet training field, he entered the classroom building.
The door to First Year, Class Two stood open, and from inside came the lively clamor unique to children. Shinichi stepped into the classroom, his gaze calmly sweeping over the seats that were already mostly occupied.
Hatake Kakashi, Might Guy, Yūhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma, Uchiha Obito, Nohara Rin… the figures corresponding to those rather familiar names from his memory—
Not a single one of them appeared in this classroom.
That was a good thing… right?
Shinichi could only comfort himself with that thought for the moment. But on second thought, he realized that it really was not a bad situation at all.
Although Kakashi had drawn attention since birth and enjoyed the title of genius from a young age, that reputation was, to some extent, somewhat hollow.
Only after he proved himself again and again through indisputable classroom performance, ninjutsu execution, and overwhelming results in actual combat—especially by crushing peers who were likewise highly watched, such as the Hokage's son—could that title of genius be hammered down from a vague rumor into an acknowledged fact.
'And for me, achieving victory at his most dazzling moment, on the stage where his reputation is most firmly established, will produce the best effect.'
Moreover, even if they were in different classes, the Ninja Academy's combat drills and periodic assessments would inevitably bring the two classes into contact, not to mention the midterm and final grade-wide examinations.
'It's just a slight adjustment to the angle of the spotlight.'
Shinichi's thoughts raced. His gaze swept over the classroom once more. By now, the seats were basically full, and his eyes finally settled on the position by the window in the upper right corner—a three-person desk where, at the moment, only a single girl was seated.