Spring was already deep, and the air was filled with the scent of earth and new leaves. The morning light, carrying a pleasant warmth, filtered through the layers of foliage, casting shimmering spots of light onto the road.
It was the start of another school year.
"Kakashi, don't underestimate that child. If he maintains this attitude and persists, that child will definitely surpass you in the future."
At the gates of the Konoha Ninja Academy, Sakumo Hatake bent down and ruffled his son Kakashi's hair, looking at the retreating figures of Might Duy and his son, and spoke seriously.
Kakashi was unconvinced. Although he had asked for Might Guy's name under his father's advice, Kakashi did not take Might Guy seriously, nor did he believe his father truly favored Might Guy.
That guy was merely an example his father used to warn him against arrogance and complacency.
"He should focus on passing tomorrow's makeup exam to get into the school first. Alright, Dad, let's go in and complete the enrollment procedures."
Sakumo Hatake smiled helplessly. Just as the father and son were about to step through the Ninja Academy gates.
Step, step, step.
A series of heavy, steady footsteps came from the street corner directly opposite the school gates. Sakumo Hatake let out a soft sound of surprise, stopping and looking toward the source of the noise.
Seeing his father stop, Kakashi looked slightly impatient, but followed his father's gaze.
The footsteps drew closer, pounding heavily on the ground.
At the corner, a shifting shadow rolled into view first. What appeared in the sight of the father and son was a large rock.
A running rock?
No!
Looking closely, they could see a pair of calves moving alternately between the bottom of the large rock and the ground, maintaining an extremely steady rhythm.
The rock was indeed moving.
But more accurately, it was being carried by a lean, ordinary-looking child. The rock's volume was nearly three times that of his torso. Without a close look, it seemed as if the rock was moving by itself.
Coarse hemp ropes dug deeply into his thin shoulders. He ran very slowly, but every step was incredibly solid, leaving faint damp marks. His black hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to his forehead, partially obscuring his vision, yet he seemed oblivious, focused only on the road ahead, his lips pressed into a tight line, breathing heavily but rhythmically.
"Whose child is that?"
"Is... is that rock real?"
"Carrying something so heavy? That's reckless!"
The figure carrying the giant rock immediately attracted the attention of everyone at the Ninja Academy entrance, and whispers began among the parents who had brought their children to enroll.
"Showboating!"
Kakashi took in all the surrounding remarks of astonishment and curiosity. He snorted lightly; he could handle that amount of weight right now, and even run faster.
Judging by that guy's appearance and height, he should be a third or fourth-year Ninja Academy student. Clearly, the Ninja Tool Shop sells more suitable and scientific weight training equipment.
Yet he insisted on choosing a clumsy, giant rock, and specifically a low-density rock like Yellow-Gray Granite, which is larger in volume for the same weight.
He even deliberately chose to come when many people were enrolling. In Kakashi's view, this was nothing more than a poorly executed, attention-seeking performance.
"Kakashi."
Just then, Sakumo Hatake spoke calmly. His gaze remained fixed on the slowly moving figure, and there was something more in his eyes.
"Watch closely." The White Fang's voice was soft, yet steady: "This child... is not using Chakra."
Hearing this, Kakashi's pupils constricted slightly, and he immediately focused his attention back on the figure.
The flow of Chakra and the execution of Jutsu always produce fluctuations in aura—strong or weak, hidden or obvious—which can be used to determine if someone is using a Transformation Jutsu for disguise, or to roughly gauge the power of their Ninjutsu, and so on.
And under Kakashi's observation—sure enough! There was no trace of intentional Chakra flow around the guy. This meant that the burden of the rock was being borne entirely by his own physical strength!
Even with a low-density rock like Yellow-Gray Granite, the weight at that volume is considerable.
If he wasn't using Chakra, Kakashi considered this for a moment, then spoke with a calm tone.
"He's just a little strong."
Sakumo Hatake did not reply, merely glancing upwards briefly before subtly shifting his gaze away.
"Is that child... Shinichi?"
"It really is him."
Several parents in the crowd seemed to recognize the child carrying the giant rock.
"The child said he'd been strong since he was little, but I didn't believe it. I never expected it to be this exaggerated..."
"Last time I heard the child say he was coming to enroll..."
"What a pity, the world has lost a future Culinary Master..."
"Culinary? Wasn't this child working as an apprentice at a Blacksmith Shop?"
This guy is a new student, just like me?
Surprise flashed in Kakashi's eyes. Based on Shinichi's height and appearance earlier, he had been certain the boy was a third or even fourth-year student, but he turned out to be a new student like himself.
Kakashi!
I finally get to see you!
As he moved the giant rock toward the Ninja Academy entrance, his gaze quickly swept past the white-haired, masked boy at the gate. A trace of imperceptible heat flashed in the depths of his eyes, and his heart pounded uncontrollably.
Five years!
Kakashi, ever since the day I heard you were born!
Shinichi took a deep breath, subtly shifted his gaze away, ran to an open area beside the Ninja Academy gate, put down the giant rock, exchanged brief greetings with a few familiar parents, and then turned to enter the school.
As he passed the Hatake father and son, seeing Kakashi scrutinizing him, he paused slightly and gave Kakashi a smile.
The smile was clean and sunny, like a wind without shadows. His ordinary face inexplicably carried a sense of affinity, making people feel welcomed instinctively.
Seeing this, Kakashi paused, instinctively recalling the senior he had coincidentally met last month at Ichiraku Ramen, who was known as a Genius. His smile was also this clean and sunny, making people feel welcomed instinctively.
[Affinity (White): Your words and actions make people feel relaxed and welcomed, making it easier to gain favor and basic trust when interacting with others.]
Shinichi paid no mind to his reaction, nodding at the Hatake father and son as if they were just an ordinary pair, and then continued past them without stopping.
Just then, Kakashi suddenly spoke.
"Hey!"
Shinichi stopped, turned his head, and looked slightly confused.
"If you want to train your body properly," Kakashi's voice carried the bluntness and certainty characteristic of a Genius, "you should go to the Ninja Tool Shop and buy professional weight training equipment. Carrying an irregularly shaped rock like that is not only inefficient, making the center of gravity hard to control, but it also easily causes unnecessary muscle or bone damage."
Shinichi listened attentively, his smile unchanged, and nodded: "You are right. Professional equipment is indeed safer and more efficient, and I have checked out the Ninja Tool Shop."
His tone was calm, without the slightest hint of displeasure at being corrected:
"It's just that currently... I haven't found anything perfectly suited to my present needs yet. Although this rock is clumsy, adjusting to it isn't too troublesome once you get used to it. But thank you for your suggestion, classmate. My name is Shinichi Higashino, and yours?"
How could the Ninja Tool Shop not have anything suitable?
Kakashi frowned. He was familiar with the inventory at the Ninja Tool Shop, and claiming "nothing perfectly suitable" was far-fetched. However, he quickly decided he was being nosy. It was already strange enough that he had called out to the boy; why press the issue now? So he simply replied faintly:
"Kakashi Hatake."
"Kakashi, is it? I'll remember that."
Shinichi nodded and turned to walk through the school gate.
"That poor child, he lost his parents when he was little..."
"The money he earned working over the past year has mostly been donated to the Orphanage..."
"No wonder... he's a good kid who values loyalty..."
The low whispers of several parents nearby faintly drifted over.
Kakashi's gaze followed Shinichi's retreating figure, and he remained silent for a moment.
"Let's go complete the enrollment procedures, Dad."
Shinichi, who had already walked quite a distance, was unaware of what happened next. He was currently recalling his conversation with Kakashi.
Professional weight training equipment, huh?
You make a lot of sense, Kakashi.
It's just... if I didn't carry that giant rock, how would the world know that I possess Innate Divine Strength and am different from ordinary people?
A slight curve appeared at the corner of Shinichi's mouth. His heart stirred, and a Floating Panel visible only to him appeared in his line of sight.
[Name: Shinichi Higashino]
[Class: Swordsmanship Apprentice]
[Talents: Wisdom (White), Diligence (White), Affinity (White), Sturdy (White), Foodie (White), Toughness (White), Agility (White), Calmness (White)]
[draw count: None]