Satoru suddenly grew very curious. If it were Kakashi, the age wouldn't fit—he was too young. If Itachi, he probably wasn't born yet. Satoru couldn't guess who it would be.
"Hm, his name is Minato Namikaze. He's one of the strongest, if not the strongest student in the Ninja Academy," the principal said.
"Minato Namikaze? Him?!" The transmigrator was shocked to his core, but excitement followed. The young Minato! He was about to fight the future Fourth Hokage! He was over the moon.
"By the way, I never asked your name, kid?" the principal realized.
"I'm Satoru. And your name, Principal?"
"You can call me Teacher Ikkaku," the principal smiled.
*Ding-ding-ding!*
The school bell rang. But students didn't rush home. Instead, they crowded the training grounds. During class, word had spread that a three-year-old brat challenged Minato Namikaze—the near-graduate and Academy star!
Curiosity drew everyone: students, teachers, even some parents.
A blond boy already stood on the field. His gaze held no disdain or arrogance, only seriousness and focus.
"Greetings!" Minato was very polite and well-mannered. He showed no contempt for his junior. Instead, he bowed courteously, following etiquette, then prepared for battle.
Seeing such politeness from his opponent, the transmigrator couldn't act casually. He bowed slightly too, then readied himself.
"Begin!" Teacher Ikkaku wasted no words. Seeing both ready, he started the duel.
The instant Teacher Ikkaku said "Begin!", Minato charged.
Though the future Fourth Hokage hadn't mastered Hiraishin no Jutsu yet, his ninjutsu casting and combat speed were astonishingly high.
Satoru rushed to meet the blond genius, but his opponent's kunai were already flying at him.
Nothing left but to draw his kunai and parry.
Minato Namikaze seized the initiative, using kunai for cover, then delivered a powerful punch.
However, though the future Hokage's speed was high, the System bearer kept up.
By then, he had formed seals and shouted:
"Ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Technique!"
Two more Satoru appeared instantly. Everyone—kids and adults—froze in amazement.
"No way! A kids' duel, and he's using such advanced ninjutsu!"
"This kid really is incredibly gifted! No wonder the Third Hokage-sama let him fight Minato Namikaze!"
"Incredible! Look at him—he's not even four yet? And he masters Shadow Clone Technique so skillfully!"
"What?! Won't his chakra run out?!" Even Minato felt slight confusion and worry.
Though the Academy's strongest, he hadn't met students using Shadow Clone Technique before.
"Ha-ha! How interesting!" But the blond boy quickly overcame his surprise. More than that, joy and excitement surged. He was thrilled to meet a worthy, interesting opponent.
"Here I come!" Satoru shouted, noticing his foe distracted. He and his shadow clones charged.
"Not so easy! Watch out!" Minato hurled more kunai at the Earth native. But this time, it wasn't simple.
The future Fourth Hokage formed a single seal and said:
"Shadow Shuriken Clone Technique!"
This was akin to Kunai Shadow Clone Technique. It created material chakra shuriken copies that could inflict real damage. A complex ninjutsu, and Satoru hadn't expected his opponent to wield it already.
The future Naruto father's genius was undeniable. Even Satoru hadn't imagined an Academy student, not yet graduated, using such powerful techniques so effortlessly and masterfully.
Countless shadow kunai swarmed like enraged hornets toward the transmigrator. Most spectators mentally decided the duel.
"Incredible! Minato Namikaze is the Academy's strongest for a reason! His talent rivals Orochimaru-sama's genius!"
"Mastering such complex ninjutsu at that age! Looks like this Satoru kid will lose."
"Sigh! Shame, but a loss is a loss. Even genin or chunin might not survive a shadow shuriken barrage!"
Hearing the crowd, Satoru barely suppressed a smirk.
"Who am I? Satoru! And I haven't used my main trump cards yet!"
Naturally, he wouldn't reveal all his cards. That would be foolish.
"Decided—you'll do!" Satoru quickly resolved.
"Armament Haki!"
He activated the "One Piece" power.
Though his Armament Haki was far from "hardening" level, it could withstand the kunai barrage.
Plus, Minato wasn't aiming to kill. To everyone's astonishment, Satoru endured.
*Boom-boom!*
Two muffled pops, and Satoru's shadow clones vanished. They were just clones, and Satoru lacked much chakra, so it was no surprise.
But the real Satoru still stood. "Withstood" fit perfectly.
"What?! How?!" Just as all thought the duel decided, the battlefield shifted sharply.
In that instant, Satoru dashed at the still-stunned Minato.
The future Hokage tried a punch but was too late.
Seizing the momentary hesitation, Satoru unleashed a devastating Haki-enhanced fist.
A dull "Bam!" echoed.
The slender boy's body flew like a cannonball in the opposite direction.
"How... strong... What a hard fist! I... I lost! I admit my defeat unconditionally!" the blond-haired youth, knocked back by the blow and helped to his feet by the arriving spectators, said with difficulty. He looked at Satoru and, with great effort, finally acknowledged his defeat.
This outcome naturally shocked everyone present, especially Teacher Ikkaku.
Teacher Ikkaku was very worried about the condition of both boys and immediately called for the medical team.
"Faster! Send them both to Konoha Hospital!" he ordered.
Satoru, however, spoke calmly:
"Teacher Ikkaku, don't rush. What's the result? You haven't announced it yet, have you?"
"I declare that Satoru is the winner in this match!" Teacher Ikkaku announced loudly to everyone present. Then, more quietly, he added, looking at Satoru, "And that means, according to our previous agreement, you can enroll in the Ninja Academy!"
At that moment, Satoru finally breathed a sigh of relief. The weight lifted from his soul.
However, he wasn't too satisfied with his performance in this fight. His shadow clones had been practically useless from the start. Namikaze had nullified all his efforts with just the Shadow Clone Shuriken Technique.
Satoru had won only thanks to Armament Haki. Without that special ability, he surely would have lost. So he seriously reflected, analyzing and summing up the match.
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan