The Lord Hokage's Grandson

The Ninja Academy midterm exams were drawing closer.

Ever since meeting Might Guy and Rock Lee that day, Shinki had continued his Taijutsu training.

He could now just barely open the Sixth Gate.

Improving one's physical condition couldn't be done all at once. It had to be done gradually, or it would cause irreparable damage to the body.

So Shinki kept training every day, but didn't rush for results.

Meanwhile, under Shinki's guidance these past few days, his good friend Naruto had made noticeable progress in his studies.

His grades in academic subjects were now consistently a little above the passing mark.

He had also made good progress with several basic Ninjutsu techniques.

In the yard, Shinki trained his body while encouraging Naruto, who was practicing Ninjutsu nearby.

"Come on, Naruto! We're both going to graduate from the Ninja Academy and become real ninja!"

Naruto's face was as sour as a bitter melon. "Shinki, I think what you've taught me is already beyond the passing standard... The final exam probably won't require me to make two hundred Shadow Clones..."

Shinki shook his head. "We can't let up. All our classmates are training hard!"

"The last time I saw Sasuke training alone outside the village, he could already use Fire Style! If we don't work hard, everyone else will leave us behind!"

"Huh? They never taught us Fire Style at the Ninja Academy!"

Naruto asked in surprise.

"He must have figured it out himself too!"

Shinki said with certainty.

Then he gave Naruto a reassuring look.

"But if you want to learn it, I can teach you too."

"After I saw Sasuke practicing, I experimented at home for a while and figured out more than two hundred Fire Style techniques. They should be enough to meet your learning needs..."

Naruto had long since grown accustomed to Shinki's terrifying comprehension.

And after Shinki had drilled it into him for so long, he believed their classmates were all like Shinki, with comprehension and learning abilities he couldn't match!

After hearing Shinki's words, Naruto gritted his teeth and said, "All right, I'll learn! I can't let Sasuke steal Sakura away!"

"Okay, I'll teach you after you finish practicing today."

Shinki nodded.

There was something Shinki had never understood.

What exactly did Naruto see in Sakura?

She wasn't all that pretty, had a bit of a temper, and often insulted Naruto...

In the end, Shinki chalked it up to the complexities of love!

The Hokage's Office.

Because of Shinki, Iruka had become an almost constant visitor to the office.

Today, he had something else to report.

Iruka said, "Lord Hokage, ever since Shinki and Naruto started living together, Naruto's grades have improved significantly! They're already good enough for him to pass the Ninja Academy's final exams!"

"Oh? It seems we have Shinki to thank for all of this!"

Relief showed in the Third Hokage's eyes.

"That boy hasn't let me down! Not only has he figured out a whole bunch of terrifying Ninjutsu himself, but he can also teach Naruto what he's learned, helping his friend grow alongside him..."

"When it comes to teaching others, Shinki may be even better than I am."

Iruka gave a wry smile.

After all, he had taught Naruto for five or six years without ever managing to improve his grades.

Yet Shinki had turned things around for him in just half a month!

"Iruka, don't belittle yourself. You're an excellent ninja teacher! Shinki is already beyond the scope of an ordinary ninja, so don't compare yourself to him."

The Third Hokage fell into thought. "Besides, if we really must compare, at the rate Shinki is growing, I'm afraid it won't be long before he surpasses me..."

"Lord Hokage, Shinki will soon graduate from the Ninja Academy. Have you decided which Jonin will lead him afterward?"

Iruka suddenly asked.

Shinki was the most perceptive student Iruka had ever seen. He was like a rough stone containing the finest imperial-green jade, still growing and in need of someone to carve him.

And as a teacher who had taught Shinki,

Iruka didn't want Shinki's talents to go to waste.

He hoped Shinki could find a good teacher in the future, someone to help him go further on the path of a ninja!

"I've been thinking about that very question these past few days."

The Third Hokage looked troubled. "But Shinki's talent is simply too outstanding. We'll have to select a teacher for him very carefully..."

"All right."

Seeing how seriously the Third Hokage was taking the matter, Iruka felt a little reassured.

Outside the Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage's grandson, Konohamaru, had been pressed against the door, listening in.

When he heard the Third Hokage say, "I'm afraid it won't be long before he surpasses me," Konohamaru Sarutobi rushed off excitedly.

He wanted to defeat his grandfather and become Hokage.

And Shinki, whom his grandfather held in such high regard, could surely help him!

In three days, Shinki would face his final exams.

Just as he had for every exam in his previous world, Shinki studied diligently.

He did his best to practice every Ninjutsu technique that would be tested until it was as close to perfect as possible.

Practice was important, but so was eating.

With Naruto, Shinki ate almost nothing but instant noodles every day.

Even when they occasionally ate something better, it was Ichiraku Ramen from the stand next door.

After more than ten days of that, Shinki was practically turning into a noodle himself.

So today, he decided to go out and buy groceries and make himself a proper meal.

As he walked down the street,

Shinki noticed a sneaky little brat following him!

Shinki turned to check, and the brat hurriedly threw a camouflage cloth over himself.

He tried to fool Shinki with his crude disguise.

Shinki looked at the black camouflage cloth, which stood out starkly against the gray wall, and exposed him without mercy. "Hey! Kid, stop pretending! Why do you keep following me?"

"Whoosh!"

The child dramatically yanked off the camouflage cloth and said admiringly, "Not bad! You saw through my disguise right away. You really are the Shinki my grandpa praised so highly!"

Shinki: ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Your disguise is so obvious, anyone could see it!

Shinki was in a hurry to buy groceries and wanted to get rid of the brat quickly. "Come on, what do you want? Why do you keep following me?"

"Grandpa said it won't be long before you surpass him, so I want you to teach me a Ninjutsu technique that can defeat him!" Konohamaru waved his little fist, full of fighting spirit.

"Your grandpa? Who's your grandpa?"

Shinki asked, puzzled.

"He's the one you call the Lord Hokage."

Konohamaru spoke with a perfectly calm expression.

Shinki: ∑(°Д°)

This kid is actually the Lord Hokage's grandson!

He doesn't look any different from an ordinary kid!

Tch! If anything, he seems a little dumber!

Konohamaru noticed the change in Shinki's expression and felt a little disappointed.

What Konohamaru disliked most were people who fawned over him because of his grandfather's power.

Those people only saw him as the Hokage's grandson, not as "Konohamaru" in his own right.

"Well? Now that you know my grandpa is the Hokage, hurry up and teach me Ninjutsu."

Konohamaru put on an arrogant front.

In any case, his goal was to learn Ninjutsu and defeat his grandfather.

It didn't matter who he learned it from, even if they were the kind of person he hated.

Shinki said, "No. ┐(´-｀)┌"