Child of Darkness

In the twenty-ninth year of Konoha, the Konoha Ninja Academy welcomed another graduation ceremony. Another batch of fresh cannon fodder was about to truly step into the shinobi world.

"Today is a day worth celebrating and remembering. Our Konoha Ninja Academy has once again cultivated a group of outstanding talents. You are Konoha's future, and the future of the shinobi world needs to be written by your own hands..."

Watching the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, spray spittle from the stage while delivering brainwashing pyramid-scheme... no, a speech, Shimura Kentei could not help but mutter a complaint.

"This old man truly deserves to be called the strongest Hokage. In four years, he's never repeated a single graduation speech!"

Honestly, he rather admired Sarutobi Hiruzen's ability to give a two- or three-hour speech without notes. He truly deserved to be called the strongest Hokage of all time, wielding the shinobi world's most powerful genjutsu—the Will of Fire!

If he had been in Kentei's previous life, he definitely would have become a pyramid-scheme tycoon.

"Young Master Kentei, please do not speak so carelessly. Lord Hokage is your uncle, and he is still in his prime. He is not old!"

Shimura Genma, seated beside Shimura Kentei, could not help but advise him in a low voice. After speaking, he cautiously glanced around, afraid someone might have heard his young master's treasonous words.

Though he had long grown used to some of this young master's taboo expressions, hearing them now still made his heart pound. That was the Hokage, after all!

"Look at you, scaredy-cat!"

Shimura Kentei shot a contemptuous glance at his younger clansman, Shimura Genma.

This kid was far too timid, wasting a name like Genma.

Of course, he was the Shimura Clan's Genma, not the Shiranui Clan's one. Besides, that Genma from the Shiranui Clan had not even been born yet!

"Young Master, the clan head asked me to tell you that if you still fail to graduate this year, you must return and follow the path he has arranged for you. After all, you have already repeated three years!"

After looking around once more, Shimura Genma lowered his voice and quietly conveyed the order from their clan head.

"Graduating is nothing. Easy!

"I'm a man who spent three years repeating grades to forge the destiny of a supreme underachiever. Soon, I'll become a Genin, rise to Hokage, become the Ninja King, marry a rich and beautiful woman, and reach the pinnacle of life!"

Shimura Kentei replied arrogantly, brimming with confidence.

He had long expected that this year would be the limit of what that father of his could tolerate. He was already twelve years old and had repeated grades for a full three years, nearly becoming the laughingstock of the Ninja Academy and all of Konoha.

This was long before the beginning of the Hokage storyline. Even Kakashi Hatake had not been born yet, and many of the Ninja Academy's rules differed from those at the start of the story. For instance, academy students generally graduated at nine.

That was perfectly normal. The Ninja Academy had only existed for a little over twenty years, and many rules were still being explored and refined. The Sannin, for example, had graduated at six. Compared to that, the current graduation age of nine was already far better.

As for him, he had repeated grades for a full three years and was the oldest student among this year's academy class.

The path his father had arranged for him was simple: go home and become a useless pig living off his family, then continue mooching until death after producing a son with excellent talent. His father had even found him a fiancée already—the child-bride kind.

That sort of life would certainly be pleasant enough, but as a transmigrator who had graduated from Earth Village, he had loftier aspirations!

"Shouldn't you advance from Genin to Chunin, then jonin, and only then have the slightest chance of becoming Hokage after graduating?"

Shimura Genma blinked innocently, utterly unable to understand his young master's train of thought. What did "underachiever destiny" and "Ninja King" even mean?

"You wouldn't understand the world of the strong!"

Shimura Kentei shook his head slightly, uninterested in explaining such metaphysical matters. This was a romance belonging only to transmigrators.

One had to know that in the Hokage world, the destiny of an underachiever was incredibly overpowered. From the most ancient underachiever of the shinobi world, Ōtsutsuki Ashura, to Jiraiya, then Might Guy's father, Might Guy, Tsuchikage, and Naruto—they were all ridiculously impressive!

And Konoha's Genin were the most terrifying powerhouses of all. Some could even crush Six Paths level existences. Naruto, in particular, had directly skipped from Genin to becoming Konoha's CEO, and even married the rich and beautiful goddess Hinata. That was the template Shimura wanted.

"Graduation won't be a problem, but I need to secure a better teacher!"

Rubbing his smooth chin, Shimura Kentei began to ponder.

He had long prepared for graduation. Even if his current chakra and physical flaws were far from meeting the standards, he could still overtake everyone on a curve!

As a well-rounded outstanding youth of the new era, he was certainly not lacking in crooked methods.

The most urgent issue now was how to get himself a decent squad leader. After academy students graduated, the only way for them to obtain ninjutsu was through their own squad leader.

There really were policies in some Hokage fanfiction where one could exchange merits for ninjutsu from the Hokage. However, the lowest-tier ninjutsu available from the Hokage was A-Rank, so one could imagine just how many merits were required. Moreover, one needed their squad leader to provide a guarantee.

Thus, a squad leader was extremely important to a fresh graduate like him!

Of course, it would be even better if the squad leader personally possessed extensive ninjutsu inheritances. There would be no need for merits. As long as one pleased the squad leader, or even got taken advantage of a little, one could basically obtain some fairly good ninjutsu inheritances.

"Speaking of ninjutsu inheritances, this year really is a good opportunity."

Thinking of that, Shimura Kentei could not help looking toward a certain fat cow... no, Fat Sheep, standing several meters behind Sarutobi Hiruzen on the raised platform.

"Why did Tsunade and the others come to attend the Ninja Academy's graduation ceremony this year?"

His gaze shifted from Fat Sheep, who carried the shinobi world's number one weapon, and swept over the two young men beside her before he asked Shimura Genma.

"Lady Tsunade's younger brother, Senju Nawaki, is also graduating this year!"

Shimura Genma promptly answered. He knew that much well, since Senju Nawaki was his classmate.

"Senju Nawaki?"

Shimura Kentei paused, then realized who that was.

He had no interest whatsoever in the little brats at school and had never looked into them. Even the name Senju Nawaki was only something he had seen in the Hokage anime during his previous life.

Yet even in the Hokage anime, Senju Nawaki had merely been a background character, mentioned in passing. He had apparently died young, and died quite miserably.

"It'll be her!"

His gaze returned to Fat Sheep, the woman carrying the shinobi world's number one weapon, and Shimura Kentei's confidence surged.

At this stage, there was no better squad leader than Tsunade. Even Jiraiya and Orochimaru, fellow members of the Sannin, could not compare to her in that regard.

After all, the Senju Clan still stood behind Tsunade, and the Senju Clan was currently at the height of its power. It had not yet declined as it had by the beginning of the Hokage storyline.

Not to mention that Tsunade's second grandfather, Senju Tobirama, had been Konoha's first Pot Kage—though his nature differed somewhat from that of Kentei's father, the second Pot Kage.

Just like a truth from his previous life: if there was a blame in the shinobi world that no one claimed, it definitely belonged to his father. If there was a Forbidden Jutsu whose creator was unknown, it definitely belonged to Senju Tobirama.

Konoha's Scroll of Seals had practically been established specifically for Senju Tobirama.

And as one of the Senju Clan's great figures, would Senju Tobirama not have left copies of the Forbidden Jutsu he developed for his own clan?

As long as he could become Tsunade's disciple, he would have a chance to bypass the Third Hokage and come into contact with those powerful Forbidden Jutsu inheritances.

"I'm about to become a ninja!"

Shimura Kentei took a deep breath and could not help sighing.

Though he had never worked as a ninja, he was not unfamiliar with the profession. In his previous life, he had been an omniscient and omnipotent Yellow and Blue Knight. The two jobs were similar: both involved running errands for money, and both required a wide range of skills to satisfy one's employer.

As for why he was a Yellow and Blue Knight rather than merely a Yellow Knight or Blue Knight, it was mainly because he had received too many bad reviews as a Yellow Knight and could only switch jobs to become a Blue Knight. Not long afterward, he was fired again for receiving too many bad reviews.

"Young Master, I think you should go back and apologize to the clan head!"

Shimura Kentei's words made Shimura Genma glance sideways at him. After hesitating, he kindly advised him, while silently complaining to himself.

With that little chakra of yours, you haven't even reached the minimum Genin standard. What ninja are you going to become?

He knew this eldest young master of the Shimura Family reasonably well. Because he had been born prematurely, he possessed virtually no talent as a ninja. At twelve years old, the amount of chakra he could refine still did not meet even the minimum standard for a Genin.

Forget compared to the geniuses—he was vastly inferior even to civilian ninjas.

Moreover, this eldest young master could not form hand seals to cast ninjutsu, which was an even more fatal flaw.

Yet he was stubborn to the bone and insisted on becoming a ninja.

"Apologize? What have I done wrong? Others may fear Shimura Danzō, but I don't!"

Shimura Kentei sneered coldly. He would never apologize to that black-hearted father of his.

Of course, while he claimed not to fear him, he was actually a little intimidated inside. That was a man known as the Shadow of Shinobi!

That was right. His name was Shimura Kentei—a terribly unfortunate surname and an even more unfortunate given name. Hyuga Kagami next door was also a tool-man, but at least he was only a mirror. Kentei, on the other hand, was a pot—a black pot, at that.

That name was filled with ominous energy, carrying terrifying signs that brought misfortune upon its owner: a darkened brow, calamity of bloodshed, and more!

If it had not been the name given to him by his deceased mother, he would have wanted to change it.

Beyond that, he also had a father who had inherited the legacy of pots and dragged him into the abyss: the Shadow of Shinobi, Shimura Danzō, known by such titles as the Pot of This World, King of Pots, Pot Kage, and more.

There was a saying that even a vicious tiger would not eat its cub, but Kentei was not sure whether that saying applied to the Shadow of Shinobi!

Of course, though he was intimidated, he still decided to become a ninja who walked in darkness, with no bright future ahead!

Only by becoming a ninja could he grasp the strongest power in this other world. Besides, as a transmigrator, he had a Golden Finger.

A very powerful Golden Finger, though it required the sponsorship of many young ladies. And among Konoha's most formidable young ladies at present...

Thinking of that, Shimura Kentei could not help looking once again at that fat cow... no, Fat Sheep!

She was Konoha's most awesome young lady, indeed the entire shinobi world's most awesome young lady. If he could get her to sponsor his Golden Finger, he would definitely soar into the heavens!

"Wherever leaves dance, fire will burn. The shadow of the fire will shine upon the entire village and cause new leaves to sprout. When one wishes to protect those precious to them, a ninja's strength will truly manifest!"

Who knew how much time had passed before Sarutobi Hiruzen finally finished his speech, which had been as long and tedious as an old woman's foot bindings, ending it with the Will of Fire.

Thunderous applause immediately erupted below, while Shimura Kentei, who had been drowsing, suddenly perked up.

"I've been developing quietly for twelve years. It's time to show off!"

His gaze fell once more upon Fat Sheep, who carried the shinobi world's number one weapon. Shimura Kentei took a deep breath, knowing it was time for his performance.

Although he preferred playing the pig to eat the tiger over showing off in public, time was too tight this time.

After the graduation examination, academy students would have a week-long break to relax. One week later, the Third Hokage would personally come to the Ninja Academy and distribute forehead protectors to the graduates.

It would not be easy to win over Tsunade and make her his teacher within seven days, especially since his class was the worst one in this year's cohort.

After all, repeaters had no rights!

Especially someone like him, who had repeated grades for a full three years. If his father's notorious reputation had not protected him, the school would have expelled him long ago.

Therefore, he could only resort to more extreme methods at this stage. Hopefully, Tsunade would not hammer him to death!

At the same time, Tsunade, who had been listening in a sleepy haze, also suddenly perked up. A trace of fear appeared in the way she looked at the teacher before her.

This old man could really ramble. He truly deserved to be called the strongest Hokage of all time!

If not for her younger brother Nawaki graduating this year, she would never have come to listen to this old man's brainwashing drivel.

For the sake of her foolish little brother, she endured it!

"Hokage Uncle, I want to report someone!"

Just as the applause subsided and Sarutobi Hiruzen was preparing to say something more, a loud shout suddenly came from below.

"Little Kentei! Who do you wish to report?"

His gaze settled on the young man who stood a head taller than the other graduating students around him. Sarutobi Hiruzen asked with a benevolent smile.

Naturally, he was familiar with his old friend's only son. That boy was even his nephew-in-law!

"I want to report the Ninja Academy principal for being muddleheaded and incompetent, accomplishing nothing, promoting the excellent while suppressing the inferior, being a useless sack of wine and rice..."

Below the stage, Shimura Kentei unleashed a rapid-fire barrage, condemning the Ninja Academy principal, whose identity he did not even know.

Given his current condition, it was impossible for him to graduate through normal channels. If he wanted to graduate, he could only break the Ninja Academy's current graduation rules. At a time like this, firing at the unknown academy principal could not go wrong.

Only by making Sarutobi Hiruzen take things seriously could he break the existing rules.

However, his words left everyone around him dumbfounded. The benevolent old face of Sarutobi Hiruzen on the main platform gradually darkened. After Shimura Kentei finished ranting, he spoke gloomily.

"Little Kentei, is this old man really such a poor Ninja Academy principal?"

His aged eyes stared fixedly at the heroic young man, while the veins on Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand, hidden inside his sleeve, throbbed.

If that boy had not been his old friend's only son and his own nephew-in-law, he would definitely have hung him up and beaten him!

Shimura Kentei's body stiffened. He rigidly turned to look at Shimura Genma beside him and spoke in the same gloomy tone.

"Why didn't you tell me that old man was the Ninja Academy principal?"

He felt that this little brother was setting him up!