Shinichi Higashino was born in Konohagakure in the year 47 of the village's founding. He was a child of the orphanage, growing up amidst the wooden halls and the scent of old tatami.
Born with no clan name, no distinguished family background, and no inherited bloodline limits, he was, by all accounts, destined for mediocrity. However, he possessed a secret advantage that no one else could see: a translucent, personal interface that had hovered at the periphery of his vision since the moment he opened his eyes.
It took time, but once he deciphered the operating logic of this mysterious panel, Shinichi began to consciously engage in "persona management."
Possessing the mental maturity of an adult in a child's body, he carefully curated his behavior. From a young age, he demonstrated a capacity for understanding and learning that far outstripped his peers. He earned the praise of the orphanage caretakers and the admiration of the neighbors, crafting a reputation as a prodigy of unparalleled intelligence.
He wove diligence into the very fabric of his daily existence. Even as a toddler, he volunteered for chores at the orphanage. As soon as his legs were strong enough to run and jump, he began a systematic regimen of physical conditioning. He performed push-ups until his arms trembled, ran laps until his lungs burned, and gritted his teeth through heavy labor that would exhaust a grown man.
He did all of this not just for the exercise, but to imprint a specific image onto the minds of everyone watching: Shinichi Higashino possesses excellent physical fitness.
Even during meals, he treated eating as a performance. He would openly display a voracious appetite that seemed disproportionate to his slender frame, polishing off second and third bowls of rice with focused intensity, ensuring everyone saw his "potential" for growth.
He also meticulously cultivated his social network. He became the reliable big brother to the other orphans, the one who comforted crying infants in the middle of the night, and the helpful boy who ran errands for the elderly in the district.
In a move that bordered on masochism, he even invited the other children in the courtyard to strike his limbs and back with smooth wooden sticks during play.
"Future shinobi need bodies of iron and wills of steel," he would declare with a serious expression.
Though the blows stung and bruised, he clamped his jaw shut and refused to utter a sound. The next day, he would act as though nothing had happened, treating the pain as insignificant.
These actions—some calculated, some seemingly incidental—were like scattered puzzle pieces. Over time, they converged on his hidden panel, crystallizing into one white "Trait" after another. These traits became the "truth" in the eyes of others, and simultaneously, the solid foundation Shinichi built for himself on his road to the extraordinary.
Through years of observation and experimentation, Shinichi had decoded the algorithm behind the generation of these traits. The speed and quality of their formation appeared to be triangulated by three key factors:
First, the number of people who recognized a specific characteristic in him.
Second, the depth and intensity of that impression.
Third, the status, strength, or influence of the observer.
Therefore, the spectacle at the school entrance today—the "Child Carrying the Stone"—was merely another carefully orchestrated scene in his grand performance.
It was the first day of the academic year. A sea of students, parents, and instructors had gathered at the gates of the Ninja Academy. The scene was bustling, a hive of activity that naturally drew far more eyes than any other location in the village.
There was even a high probability that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was observing the new intake through his Telescope Technique or from a concealed vantage point.
The massive, yellow-grey boulder that eclipsed Shinichi's small frame was also a calculated prop.
Yellow limestone. A rock with relatively low density. While it was heavy, its volume was deceptive; it appeared exponentially heavier than it actually was. The visual impact of a small child moving such a mountain was far greater than if he were carrying a compact, denser block of iron.
The exaggerated contrast between his size and the sheer bulk of the stone was designed to etch a single, shocking thought into the minds of the onlookers: *This child possesses innate, superhuman strength.*
Was the behavior eccentric? Perhaps. But in a village of ninja where people breathed fire and walked on water, a little eccentricity was hardly a crime. In fact, looking around, there were others—like the boy in the green jumpsuit shouting about youth—who were far more ostentatious.
The crucial driving force behind this stunt was Shinichi's urgent need to accelerate the generation and upgrading of his system traits. He needed to enhance himself rapidly.
He had to ensure that within this first academic year, he would have the power to achieve his primary objective...
Defeat Kakashi Hatake.
Compared to the potential rewards of deriving traits from the village's elite, the minor social ripple of being seen as "that weird strong kid" was an acceptable price to pay.
'Kakashi' Shinichi thought, his mental voice sharp. 'Unleash that dazzling talent of yours. Let everyone in Konoha worship your genius. The higher you rise, the more valuable you become to me.'
'Don't let me down.'
Shinichi took a deep breath, steadying the emotions that churned within him—a mix of physical exhaustion and the adrenaline of finally meeting his rival. He dropped the stone at the designated area and walked steadily toward the registration desk.
Behind the table sat a male instructor wearing the standard green flak jacket of a Chunin. He looked capable but bored, methodically processing a stack of paperwork.
"Name?" the teacher asked formulaically, not bothering to lift his head from the roster.
"Shinichi Higashino."
"Do you have your acceptance letter?"
Aà
"Yes, Sensei."
Shinichi reached into his pocket, retrieved the neatly folded admission notice, and handed it over with both hands, a gesture of perfect respect. The Konoha Ninja Academy was technically open to all school-age children, civilian or clan-born, but a basic assessment test was required for entry.
Not everyone passed. Every year, children were turned away. Even someone like Might Guy had initially failed the entrance exam and only scraped in later as an alternate due to his tenacity in Taijutsu.
The registration teacher took the letter, his eyes scanning the biographical data. When his gaze drifted down to the grades section, he paused.
Straight 'A's.
He looked up, his eyebrows raising in genuine surprise. The boredom vanished from his face, replaced by a look of appreciation. "All subjects graded 'A'? Not bad at all. Your foundation is incredibly solid."
His tone softened significantly. He glanced back at the birth date on the form, then looked at Shinichi with curiosity. "Wait. Going by your age, you were eligible for enrollment last year. Why are you only registering now?"
Shinichi offered his practiced smile—gentle, slightly sheepish, and utterly disarming.
"Yes, Sensei. I had to postpone my enrollment for a year," he explained calmly. "I needed to work to save up for the tuition and living expenses. I spent the last year helping out at the village blacksmith and a few restaurants."
It was a lie, of course.
The tuition for the Academy was negligible for orphans, subsidized by the village. The real reason Shinichi had delayed his entry was solely to align his timeline with Kakashi Hatake. He needed to be in the same grade, ideally the same class. Only by standing on the same stage could he interact with Kakashi enough to trigger the system's recognition mechanics during sparring and exams.
Furthermore, the gap year had served as an exploration period for his system's "Class" slot.
But he didn't need to explain that. To the teacher, he was a sensible, independent orphan who supported himself and even sent money back to the orphanage. A model citizen.
The truth of his "gap year" was more frustrating. He had tried numerous jobs—waiter, courier, laborer—but the system had remained dormant.
It was only when he enrolled in a rundown dojo, run by an old samurai from the Land of Iron who had settled in Konoha, that things changed. After months of swinging a bokken until his palms bled, the previously empty "Class" slot on his panel finally shimmered with text:
[Swordsmanship Apprentice]
It was a class card that provided a minor boost to his physical attributes, accelerated his learning of blade work, and granted him a chance to draw a new white-tier trait. It confirmed his theory: the system only rewarded paths related to combat or the shinobi arts.
The Chunin instructor glanced at the address section on the form—the orphanage. The professional mask slipped, replaced by a flash of sympathy and understanding. The instructor already thought of the scenario of what happened regarding the circumstances and difficulties of this orphan.
He coughed lightly, composing himself, but his eyes remained kind as he looked at the smiling boy.
"I see..." the teacher said, his voice dropping to a gentler register. "Well, all your materials are in order. Your registration is approved. Go over to the side table to collect your textbooks and enrollment documents. Study hard, Shinichi. You have a bright future."
"I will. Thank you, Sensei."
Shinichi accepted the stamped form with a deep bow, then turned to head toward the collection area.
After completing the logistics, he walked steadily out of the administrative zone. As he crossed the threshold, officially transitioning from a civilian to a cadet of the Ninja Academy, he felt a sudden, familiar vibration in his mind.
He paused, his gaze fixing on empty space.
'System.'
A semi-transparent blue panel rippled into existence, visible only to him.
[Name: Shinichi Higashino]
[Classes: Ninja Academy Student (New), Swordsmanship Apprentice]
[Talents: ...]
[Available Draws: 1 (White)]
His focus snapped to the new line of text in the Class column.
[Class: Ninja Academy Student]
[Description: You have officially entered the cradle of Konoha's military force. You have begun the systematic absorption of shinobi knowledge and conditioning.]
[Effect: While holding this status, your perception and control of Chakra, your comprehension of ninja theory, and your mastery of standard weaponry are enhanced. Additionally, your training efficiency in the three basic academies—Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu—receives a small corrective bonus.]
[System Note: With the Ninja Class unlocked, the perception of others regarding your ninja abilities will now coalesce into relevant Talent Attributes. Your Class Level determines the efficiency with which these perceptions are converted into data. When your Class Level reaches its maximum, you may select one specific Talent Attribute (meeting prerequisite conditions) to be instantly upgraded to the highest quality.]
[Bonus: You have been granted a one-time draw opportunity. Reward: 1 Random White Trait. You may select one White Trait from the pool to generate immediately.]