The God of Shinobi Reincarnated?

"Th-this is the grass you were talking about???"

Yamato's voice trembled with shock as he asked.

"When I first sensed it, it was a little sapling, about the size of grass. Then it grew."

Shinki chuckled as he explained.

Yamato looked up at the huge tree Shinki was holding, and a storm of shock surged in his heart!

It was like...

Two men standing side by side at the urinals, one big and one small, the contrast unmistakable!

A sense of inferiority welled up inside him!

Back then, it had taken him three days of hard work just to sense a tiny flower!

Today, Shinki had created a towering tree like this in less than a few minutes!!

Genius couldn't even begin to describe him!

This was the God of Shinobi descended into the world!!

Seeing that Yamato hadn't moved for a long time, Shinki thought this mysterious teacher might be dissatisfied with his comprehension. He mustered his courage and asked quietly, "What's wrong, teacher? Did I do badly?"

Yamato: (´இ皿இ｀)

Badly?

If what you fucking did counts as bad, then who has ever done well?!

It had been ten or twenty years since Orochimaru had implanted Hashirama Cells in Yamato for Wood Release experiments.

All those years of experience.

Yet even for him, creating such a massive tree through Chakra control alone, without making Hand Seals, would have been extremely difficult!

Shinki's talent for and comprehension of Wood Release were terrifying!

He might already rival the First Hokage, who was known as the God of Shinobi!

Yamato suppressed the shock in his heart, slowly walked over to Shinki, and patted him meaningfully on the shoulder. After hesitating for a long time, he said, "Shinki, you... keep working hard."

As for why he hesitated...

Yamato simply didn't know what words to use to praise Shinki's talent!

But Shinki heard those words differently.

Hearing the hesitation in Yamato's voice, Shinki thought his teacher was dissatisfied with him. He clenched his fists and said, "I'll keep working hard!"

Yamato responded with silence.

(||๐_๐)

Work hard?

If you keep improving at this rate, even Lord First might not be your match if he came back to life!

"That's enough practice for today. You can go home now."

Yamato spoke after some hesitation.

Before Shinki left, Yamato made a point of adding, "Remember to think more about Wood Release when you get back. After all, Wood Release is a very special Kekkei Genkai."

Shinki nodded and returned to Naruto's house.

Naruto had finished training by then and asked Shinki in confusion,

"It's so late. What did you go out for?"

"Nothing. I went for a walk."

Shinki gave a casual answer.

Naruto: "..."

→_→

Even if you don't want to tell me, at least come up with a better excuse!

Who are you trying to fool?!

Seeing that Shinki didn't want to say more, Naruto didn't press him and fell fast asleep.

Night.

Shinki lay in bed with his eyes wide open, unable to sleep for a long time.

He was pondering how to use Wood Release...

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Sasuke Uchiha, the sole surviving heir of the Uchiha Clan, was practicing the Shuriken Clone Technique desperately in his courtyard.

He had to work hard!

He had to get stronger!

He refused to let anyone leave him behind!

Besides, he carried the burden of his family's vengeance!

He needed to grow stronger quickly!

Unfortunately, his talent was limited.

No matter how hard Sasuke tried, he couldn't grasp the basics!

Now he was even more convinced of his conclusion!

The Third Hokage must have given Shinki special instruction!

Otherwise, how could anyone casually comprehend an A-rank Ninjutsu?!

The next day, in the Hokage's meeting room.

Yamato knelt respectfully in the center of the hall, recounting the scene from the previous night that had turned his worldview upside down.

"Lord Hokage, Shinki will be someone who can rival the God of Shinobi in the future of the Shinobi World!"

Yamato spoke excitedly.

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared deep in thought.

Though he looked calm on the surface,

A storm was already raging in his heart!

What did the "God of Shinobi" mean?

It was the Shinobi World's highest praise, one that only the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had earned!

And now Yamato, who was always rigorous and meticulous, had actually used it to describe Shinki!

What magic did Shinki possess?

Could it be... he really was the God of Shinobi reincarnated?!

"All right, I understand. You may leave."

The Third Hokage waved a hand.

"Lord Hokage, please make sure to protect Shinki. He's the most talented ninja I've ever seen!"

Yamato made sure to say one last thing before leaving.

The Third Hokage nodded and waved for Yamato to go.

After Yamato left, the Third walked to the enormous window in the Hokage's office.

Through it, he could see the Ninja Academy in the distance.

The Third gazed into the distance, his thoughts unknown.

Shinki's predecessor had been a hardworking person.

Though he lacked talent for Ninjutsu, he had learned the textbook knowledge taught at the Ninja Academy very well.

That also gave Shinki more time to train in Ninjutsu.

Soon, Shinki finished another day at school, and evening came again.

Yamato was waiting outside Naruto's house early, curious and eager to see what surprise Shinki would bring him today.

Before long, Shinki appeared with a joyful expression.

"Teacher."

Shinki greeted him warmly.

Yamato, wearing a mask, nodded in greeting.

"Last night I told you to deepen your understanding of Wood Release. How did it go? Did you make any progress?"

Yamato was the first to speak.

An excited expression immediately appeared on Shinki's face. "I gained a little understanding. I found that Wood Release has lots of uses, like growing trees, building houses, or making sealing Ninjutsu..."

"Good."

Yamato listened and nodded in satisfaction.

Shinki continued excitedly, "It's especially convenient for building houses! After school this evening, I built a new one on the foundation of my old home. I can move back in tomorrow."

Yamato: "Huh?"

⊙▽⊙

Building houses?

"You can already use Wood Release freely?"

Yamato's voice rose sharply.

"No."

Shinki answered with an innocent expression.

Yamato let out a long breath.

Thank goodness.

He had thought Shinki had learned a simple Wood Release technique after just one day!

But on second thought, that was impossible.

Wood Release wasn't ordinary Ninjutsu. What kind of monstrous genius could develop a technique using Wood Release after only one day of learning?

"I just figured out more than a hundred Wood Release Ninjutsu yesterday. After school this evening, I went out into the wilderness to try them and found I could use them."

Shinki added obediently.

Yamato: "That's good. You only figured out more than a hundred Wood Release Ninjutsu. I thought you... wait!!! You developed hundreds of Wood Release Ninjutsu?!!"

(σ;Д)σ

Th-this...

I'm hearing things!

I must be hearing things!!

"Shinki, what did you just say? I didn't quite catch it."

After composing himself, Yamato asked again.

Shinki looked puzzled.

"I developed more than a hundred Wood Release techniques last night. You specifically told me to before you left yesterday, teacher."

I told you to?

I told you to get a feel for Wood Release!

Did I tell you to develop Ninjutsu?!

Yamato: ...

He was starting to lose his composure!

Shinki didn't seem like the kind of person who would make up lies for attention!

So Yamato was already forty or fifty percent convinced of what Shinki had said.

As for the part he still couldn't bring himself to believe, that was his last defense of his own worldview.