Preparing for Enrollment

After blowing the targets away, Danzo explained the so-called nature transformation of Chakra, then introduced the elemental counterrelations between Chakra natures.

Water countered fire, fire countered wind, wind countered lightning, lightning countered earth, and earth countered water.

Though there were counterrelations, that was only when the Chakra used in both sides' techniques was on the same level. Once the opponent's Chakra far surpassed yours...

You knew Madara, right? When he spewed out a Fire Release, if you foolishly tried to block it with Water Release, sorry, unless you were a Water Release expert on Tobirama's level, you were destined to end up as roast chicken.

So, if you wanted to live comfortably in the ninja world, it all came down to having good bloodline.

Look at the Uchiha. Later on, they could practically pilot Gundams. You could say it was an essential bloodline for transmigrators.

At the very least, he needed to get himself some Uzumaki blood. Their vitality was abundant, and their Chakra reserves were plentiful.

As for an ordinary Kekkei Genkai like his...

He might as well wait for the old man to cough up some gold.

Thinking about how Ice Release performed in the original story, Kazashiro only wanted to cry.

It would have been nice if he were Uchiha's illegitimate son. If his protagonist's luck kicked in, he might even get an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

If Danzo knew that his own son would rather be an Uchiha, he would surely curse those evil Uchiha for bewitching people's hearts.

"You try it too." Danzo stepped half a pace aside, pointed at the targets that had somehow been set back up in the distance, and spoke flatly.

"Yes."

Kazashiro walked to where Danzo had been standing and assumed his stance.

Wind Release Chakra...

For Kazashiro, who could already condense Chakra into ice crystals, this was not difficult.

If he showed the old man something extra, maybe he would be happy enough to have Ryoma beat him up less. If he got even luckier, the old man might give him more allowance.

With that in mind, Kazashiro began forming hand seals.

Rat—Rabbit—Dog.

"That seal..." Danzo's heart tightened, and he looked at Kazashiro with a trace of surprise.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave."

Feeling Wind Release Chakra gather in his throat, Kazashiro violently exhaled toward the targets.

The sharp wind blades instantly sliced through every humanoid target present, even carving a deep mark into the wall at the far end.

"With this amount of Chakra, as expected, Kekkei Genkai ninja naturally have more Chakra than ordinary people."

Narrowing his eyes as he assessed Kazashiro's condition, Danzo knew that an ordinary person his age would have nearly collapsed from exhaustion after using a ninjutsu of this level.

And he had hit the targets precisely, too...

"How was that, Dad?" Since Danzo had not praised him, Kazashiro simply took the initiative and asked.

"As expected of my son." Only after hearing Kazashiro's voice did Danzo nod.

Kazashiro had not been happy for long before Danzo's next words made his little face fall at once:

"But your hand seals are still too slow. Starting tomorrow, extend your hand seal practice time."

Kazashiro's fists clenched.

A true man stood between heaven and earth...

"Hm? Did you hear me?" Receiving no response, Danzo lowered his head to look at Kazashiro.

A true man knew when to bend and when to stretch!

"Yes, Dad." Kazashiro nodded with a smile.

Amid training filled with hardship and pain, blood and sweat, the day of the entrance exam arrived.

"Yo, Kakashi." At the entrance of the Ninja Academy, Kazashiro greeted Kakashi.

"Mm." Kakashi answered neither warmly nor coldly, then looked behind Kazashiro. "Your dad didn't come?"

"He said he'd be here later and told me to go in when it was time. Where's Uncle Sakumo?" Kazashiro did not care whether Danzo came or not, and asked Kakashi about Sakumo's whereabouts.

"Who knows?" Kakashi shrugged and took a book from his clothes, beginning to read.

"Kakashi, Kazashiro." Before Kazashiro could continue asking, Asuma squeezed over from somewhere and greeted them both.

"Fine, no need to say it. Your dad didn't come either." Kazashiro did not need to ask to know that the Third Hokage was surely busy with work.

"It doesn't matter whether he comes or not. Say, Obito's late again, isn't he? I just saw Rin with her mother." Asuma looked around but did not spot Obito.

"When is he ever not late? He probably went to help some old man again."

After nearly a year of getting along, Kazashiro had grown accustomed to Obito's lateness.

"That guy, if he holds things up, he'll have to wait until next year." Asuma finally found the pretty figure he had been looking for. He waved to Kazashiro and Kakashi, then ran off. "I'm done talking with you two. I'm out."

Ah, as expected, it was Kurenai Yuhi.

Following the direction Asuma had gone, Kazashiro saw Kurenai as expected.

"Yo, Kazashiro."

An arm hooked around his neck, bringing a familiar scent. Without turning around, Kazashiro guessed who it was. "Isn't this a little inappropriate with so many people around, Anko?"

"Hehe, what are you scared of? Are you embarrassed?" Anko poked Kazashiro's little face with a broad smile.

This girl really did have a carefree personality. Too bad she was still too young. If she pulled something like this ten years from now, he would probably be moved.

But right now...

I, Shimura Kazashiro, Danzo's son, who aspired to become the Second Root Leader, only found her noisy.

So...

She could hold him if she wanted. It was not like he would lose a piece of flesh.

Kazashiro rolled his eyes and let Anko fuss over him.

"Obito..." Blinking as she looked around, Anko had just begun to speak when Kazashiro interrupted her:

"No need to ask. He's late again. And for the record, you're the second person to ask."

"Tch, you're no fun." With her words interrupted, Anko reached out and vigorously rubbed Kazashiro's head.

Before she could go any further, two ninja wearing forehead protectors and ninja flak jackets suddenly appeared at the school gates.

The two slowly opened the gates. Several teachers emerged from inside, first separating the parents from the children, then having the children line up in order to enter the academy.

"I'm off, Father!"

"Mm, Guy, let your youth burn!"

Two impassioned voices rang out. Before Kazashiro could see who they belonged to, Anko pushed and shoved him into the academy.

"There are quite a few promising seedlings among this year's students."

In the principal's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with his hands behind his back, looking through the window at the line of students below.

"..."

Behind Hiruzen, Danzo sat in his chair without responding.

"Aren't you going to see Kazashiro?" Receiving no reply, Hiruzen turned around with a smile on his lips, somehow produced a pipe, and sat in the principal's seat.

"I know my son's abilities well enough." Danzo lifted the teacup before him, calm and composed, without the slightest ripple on his face.

"But you, Asuma is usually cared for by Biwako, isn't he? Is it really fine that he hasn't learned any of your skills?" After taking a sip of tea, Danzo set down his cup and began teasing Hiruzen instead.