"You went easy on me, Kakashi."
Watching Kakashi's dazed expression, Higashino Shinichi slowly retracted the long sword he had held against the other's throat.
Five years of scheming, achieved in one day.
Shinichi had mentally rehearsed this scene countless times, imagining the ecstasy he would feel after defeating this genius. But in this moment, now that it had actually happened and the dust had settled, what he felt was a calm as deep as a pool.
Even... a hint of indescribable emptiness.
"I lost." Kakashi came back to his senses, looking at the black-haired youth before him.
"You won this time. However, this doesn't mean my father's swordsmanship is lacking. It's just that I..." He pursed his lips, stopping himself from making excuses about lack of skill or strength.
"Next time, I will win it back!"
Shinichi met his gaze, that gentle and sunny smile remaining on his face: "I look forward to our next match, Kakashi."
"Ahem." Matsumoto Fumio stepped forward at the right moment, standing between the two. His voice boomed as he announced, "This concludes the practical combat assessment. The winner—Higashino Shinichi!"
"Shinichi! Shinichi! Shinichi!!"
Before Mr. Matsumoto could even finish speaking, the ranks of Class 2 erupted like a long-suppressed volcano! Deafening cheers soared straight into the clouds.
Among them, Ishizuka Ryu's rough, heroic voice acted like a war drum, leading the class's emotions: "Beautifully done! Shinichi! That was amazing!! I knew you could do it!"
"He... he actually won?!" Shizune's eyes were wide and round, her mouth agape.
In contrast to the boiling excitement of Class 2, Class 1 fell into silence.
"Kakashi..." Nohara Rin clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, worry written all over her small face.
"That guy Kakashi... actually lost..." Uchiha Obito was somewhat at a loss. He thought he would be happy to see Kakashi eat humble pie, but that wasn't the case; instead, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
In the crowd, Might Guy, who had also witnessed the entire process, said nothing. However, the eyes beneath his thick eyebrows burned with a flame unlike anything before.
"Now, please perform the Seal of Reconciliation!" Mr. Matsumoto announced loudly at the appropriate time, pulling everyone's attention back to the ceremonial procedure.
Shinichi and Kakashi extended their hands and formed the Seal of Reconciliation. After the seal, Kakashi remained silent, turned around, and walked back to the Class 1 line.
Shinichi, however, did not return to the Class 2 formation.
Mr. Matsumoto noticed him lingering and asked gently.
"Shinichi, is there something else?"
A look hovering between distress and apology appropriately surfaced on Shinichi's face. He bowed slightly, his tone sincere: "It's like this, Mr. Matsumoto. Although now might not be the most suitable time... I've recently encountered something that has made me somewhat uneasy and confused. Considering that after today's exam, I likely won't see you again until next semester, I have to take the liberty of asking you here."
"What is the problem? Tell me."
Shinichi organized his words, describing his situation with a tone of slight uncertainty: "It's just that recently, when I sleep at night, I occasionally feel very strange. Sometimes in the middle of the night, I inexplicably feel that the surroundings are very noisy, but I can't tell where the sound is coming from. Other times, I seem to vaguely sense something nearby, but when I wake up, everything is normal."
"Also... after waking up, my body always feels a bit tired. I checked and found that the chakra in my body seems to be less than before I went to sleep. It's as if... while I was in deep sleep, my chakra uncontrollably dissipated outwards a little bit."
He perfectly displayed the slight anxiety of a young boy: "Teacher, could this be... did something go wrong with my training? or is there some hidden danger in my body?"
"This..." Hearing this, Mr. Matsumoto immediately frowned, resting his chin in his hand as he fell into thought.
"Sensory talent!" The homeroom teacher of Class 1, Mr. Inoue, lit up. He spoke first, his tone carrying a hint of interest: "Shinichi, the phenomena you described sound very much like the initial awakening of a sensory talent! You likely possess the innate potential to become a Sensor Type ninja!"
"Right, right, right! Sensory!" Mr. Matsumoto also reacted suddenly, realization dawning on him. The doubt on his face was swept away, replaced by surprise and joy: "That's right! Chakra unconsciously releasing during deep relaxation, resonating faintly with the external environment or living creatures, thereby creating strange sensations or even vague information feedback... This is precisely one of the common signs of early awakening for many Sensor Type ninjas!"
"Sensor Type ninja?" Shinichi displayed the appropriate amount of confusion and curiosity.
Seeing this, Mr. Inoue took the initiative to explain to all the students straining their ears to listen: "A Sensor Type ninja refers to those who, naturally or through training, can release their chakra externally with high precision to investigate the environment, perceive vital signs, and especially detect the chakra of others. They are like the eyes and ears of a team, playing an irreplaceable role in reconnaissance, surveillance, and tracking. For example, our Konoha's Yamanaka clan specializes in sensory ninjutsu."
Mr. Matsumoto took over the conversation, comforting Shinichi with warm words: "So you don't need to worry. Not only is this not a bad thing, but it is a manifestation of talent worth celebrating! This means that on your path as a ninja, in addition to your excellent physique and will, you may also possess rare and precious sensory abilities!
"Rest well when you go back. You can try to calm your mind when you are awake and actively try to capture and familiarize yourself with that subtle feeling of external perception, but don't force it or get anxious. After school starts, if there are similar situations or new discoveries, you can come to find us at any time."
"Sensor Type, is it? So that's what it is." A look of relief mixed with realization appeared on Shinichi's face. He bowed respectfully to the two teachers: "Thank you both for clearing up my confusion. I feel much more at ease now."
Under the varying gazes of the crowd, Shinichi calmly retreated into the Class 2 group.
Everything he said was, of course, false.
He suffered from no chakra leakage during sleep, nor was he a natural-born Sensor Type.
This was simply another part of his carefully planned persona management.
Taking advantage of the perfect timing of just having defeated Kakashi head-on and becoming the center of attention, he publicly planted the seed that he might possess sensory talent under the guise of gently asking for help with a problem.
With authoritative teachers making the judgment and explanation of "suspected sensory talent" on the spot, and many classmates hearing and witnessing it with their own ears and eyes.
The seed of impression had been buried.
Once this perception was passed to families through the mouths of students, or perhaps recorded in files by the teachers, and gradually spread within Konoha Village... then the world would believe that Higashino Shinichi possessed sensory talent.
When that happened, there was a high probability that a new trait related to sensory perception would condense on his personal panel.
Shinichi always followed a core principle in crafting his persona: steady progress, grounding fiction in reality, and accumulating small victories into a great one.
He never hoped for, nor would he rashly attempt to weave, super-personas that were like castles in the air to directly generate powerful traits—such as Wood Release, Sharingan, Kekkei Genkai, being the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths, or reality-warping abilities.
Those were lies that would be punctured with a single poke, and the intensity and breadth of recognition required to generate them would inevitably reach a terrifying level.
Therefore, he always started with traits that were supported by his background, realistic performance, or logical reasoning—traits that could withstand basic scrutiny and the test of time.
Sensory talent was one of them.
Just like great strength or diligence, it was not exclusive to Kekkei Genkai ninjas; ordinary ninjas could also possess sensory talents.
After Shinichi returned to the crowd, the final practical exam continued.
While subsequent matches certainly had their highlights, with the earth-shattering duel having set the precedent, the remaining matches inevitably seemed somewhat plain.
The students of the two classes either went all out or fought cautiously until the sun slanted westward, and all assessments finally concluded.
The exam was over, but the waves stirred up by this assessment—especially that one duel—were far from settling. Instead, like a boulder thrown into a lake, the ripples were spreading rapidly.
On the streets of Konoha, on the way home from school.
"Hey, did you hear? That genius from Year 1 Class 1, Kakashi, lost to a student in the same grade during the practical exam today!"
"What? How is that possible! Didn't the teachers say Kakashi's strength was enough to graduate and become a formal Genin long ago? Last time, two seniors who graduated this year and became Genin came to cause trouble because they didn't like Kakashi's reputation as having the 'potential of a Hokage,' and they were both beaten by him."
"It's absolutely true. And later on, Kakashi even used a blade—it was Lord White Fang's swordsmanship! You have to know, he hasn't used a blade against any opponent before this!"
"Hiss... he used his family's swordsmanship and still lost? Where did this monster pop out from? What's his name?"
"Higashino Shinichi! Year 1 Class 2. Rumor has it he's of commoner origin!"
Well-informed senior students uttered the name with certainty.
At a training ground, evening.
"Master Chen! Master Chen! Did you know? Shinichi! The deskmate I told you about, Higashino Shinichi! He defeated that Hatake Kakashi in the practical exam today!"
Ishizuka Ryu rushed into the training ground like a whirlwind, shouting loudly at a stocky middle-aged man wearing small round sunglasses and possessing a somewhat comical air. His dark face was written with excitement as if he shared in the glory.
"Oh?" The man called Master Chen stopped his movements, adjusted his sunglasses, and a trace of surprise and interest entered his tone: "That kid... is that strong?"
He knew the reputation of the Hatake boy and vaguely understood the weight of his talent.
Near a certain mansion.
"Shizune, how was the final exam today?" Tsunade, one of the Sannin, asked Shizune, who had just returned home, without lifting her head as she casually flipped through a book in her hand. "First place should be that kid from the Hatake clan, right?"
"It was okay." Shizune put down her schoolbag, her tone still somewhat lazy, then added, "However, the first place in practical combat this time wasn't Hatake Kakashi."
"Hmm?" Tsunade looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Then who was it?"
"It was Shinichi!" Shizune answered seriously. "He beat Kakashi. Two rounds!"
"Shinichi?" Tsunade dazed for a moment, seeming to search her memory for the name. "Is that the deskmate you mentioned occasionally before? The one who looks very hardworking and has quite a bit of strength?"
"Mhm." Shizune nodded, recalling the storm-like attacks and the long sword that had steadily stopped at the opponent's throat in the end.
The Third Hokage's residence, dinnertime.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was warm; the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, his wife Sarutobi Biwako, and his eldest son Sarutobi Asuma were all present.
Asuma was gesturing somewhat excitedly, recounting the duel he had witnessed that afternoon.
"...And then, that guy Shinichi knocked Kakashi's short sword flying with one strike! Then came another attack that Kakashi couldn't block at all! Finally, the sword was right on his neck! It was too fast!"
The Third Hokage listened silently, his chopsticks pausing slightly.
Shinichi, is it? That child carrying a heavy boulder... actually managed to defeat Kakashi head-on?
At this moment, Sarutobi Asuma suddenly asked, "Old man, by the way, what is sensory talent? Today Mr. Inoue said Higashino Shinichi very likely has sensory talent..."
The Third Hokage's eyes shifted slightly as he murmured, "Sensory talent is a very precious ability..."
Hatake Residence, in the courtyard.
Hatake Sakumo stood quietly on the porch, watching his son in the yard. Since returning from school, the boy had not said a word and had been continuously practicing his sword swings.
After a long time, Hatake Sakumo spoke gently: "Kakashi, it's time to eat."
Kakashi's movements paused. He slowly sheathed his sword and turned to look at his father.
"Father, I..."
"Eat first." Hatake Sakumo interrupted him, his tone peaceful.
Dinner proceeded in relative silence until, after the meal, the father and son returned to the courtyard.
"I heard about what happened today." Hatake Sakumo looked at his son. "How does it feel to lose?"
"...I'm very unwilling to accept it." Kakashi lowered his head, clenching his fists. "I was too careless, and my strength was..."
"Kakashi." Hatake Sakumo placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Look at me. A momentary victory or defeat means nothing in a long ninja career. Failure is a mirror that lets you see your own weaknesses clearly. In my eyes, your talent and potential are far greater than mine were at your age. Your future is definitely not limited to this."
Kakashi looked up, the fire reignited in his eyes. "I will definitely defeat him next time, Father!"
Hatake Sakumo smiled with relief. "I believe in you. However, training must proceed step by step; do not be eager for quick success."
He paused, his tone shifting to instructions:
"By the way, I have to leave the village early tomorrow morning for a mission. It may take some time. While I am away, take good care of yourself. If there is anything you don't understand in your training, write it down first, and wait until I return..."
"Yes! Father, please be careful on your journey!" Kakashi nodded solemnly, turning the bitterness of defeat and the concern of his father's departure into even stronger motivation.
The night in Konoha grew deeper, but the name Higashino Shinichi, along with the story of his direct victory over Hatake Kakashi and the rumors of his latent sensory talent, spread like a sudden wildfire. It raced through every corner of the village with astonishing speed, searing itself into the consciousness of many.
One week later.
The impact of defeating Kakashi was visceral. Walking down the street, Shinichi could feel the sidelong glances and scrutiny from passersby more frequently, and occasionally catch fragments of hushed discussions.
This level of fame was far beyond anything he had accumulated in previous years.
During this period, new traits were generated on Shinichi's personal panel, and some existing traits leveled up.
However, the one change Shinichi anticipated most, the core change, was slow to appear.
Just as Shinichi was becoming somewhat disappointed, feeling that his scheme might have fallen through...
On this morning, after finishing his morning training, washing up, and returning home, his mind habitually swept over his personal panel.
At the very top of the Talent Trait column, without any warning, a brilliant blue light suddenly surged!
The light was pure and profound, possessing a certain transcendent quality completely different from the white and green glows of before.
Within the light, a brand new line of text, appearing as if condensed from starlight, slowly emerged and solidified.
[Genius (Blue): You are an absolute genius who displays excellence in every aspect. Your efficiency and upper limits in all fields—learning, cultivation, combat, innovation, etc.—receive a comprehensive and significant boost.]
"Hehe... Hehehehe..."
Looking at the newly generated trait above, the corners of Shinichi's mouth curled into an arc. A low, trembling laugh spilled from his throat, barely suppressed at first.
But that emotion, which had been pent up for far too long, soon erupted like volcanic lava that had finally found a fissure, no longer able to be contained!
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!"