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This book follows the revised Shippuden timeline, with Naruto being born in Konoha Year 51.
Konoha Year 42, late March.
Spring was already in full bloom. The air carried the scent of soil and new leaves, while the morning light, pleasantly warm, filtered through layer upon layer of foliage and cast shifting patches of light across the road.
It was the start of another school year.
"Kakashi, don't underestimate this child. If he keeps this mindset and perseveres, that boy will definitely surpass you in the future."
At the entrance to the Konoha Ninja Academy, Hatake Sakumo bent down and ruffled his son Kakashi's hair. Watching the retreating figures of Might Duy and his son, he spoke seriously.
Kakashi was unconvinced. Although he had asked Might Guy's name at his father's urging, he hadn't taken Might Guy seriously, nor did he believe his father truly thought highly of him.
That guy was merely someone his father had used to warn him against becoming complacent.
"He should first pass tomorrow's retest and get into the school before we talk about anything else. Come on, Dad, let's hurry inside and handle the enrollment procedures."
Hatake Sakumo smiled helplessly. Just as father and son were about to enter the Academy—
Tap, tap, tap.
A series of heavy yet steady footsteps came from the corner of the street directly opposite the school gate. Hatake Sakumo let out a soft exclamation and stopped, looking toward the source of the noise.
Seeing his father stop, Kakashi looked a little impatient, but he still followed his father's gaze.
The footsteps drew closer, pounding dully against the ground.
At the corner, a swaying shadow rolled into view first. What appeared before the father and son was a massive stone.
A stone that could run?
No!
Only after looking carefully could one see that beneath the huge stone, between it and the ground, a pair of small legs was alternating with extremely steady rhythm.
The stone was indeed moving.
More precisely, it was being carried by a lean, ordinary-looking child. The stone was more than three times the size of his torso. Without a close look, it seemed as if the stone itself were moving.
The coarse hemp rope dug deeply into his thin shoulders. He ran very slowly, but every step landed with exceptional solidity, leaving faint wet marks behind. His black hair was soaked with sweat and clung to his forehead, obscuring part of his vision, yet he seemed not to notice. He only stared at the road ahead, his lips pressed into a thin line. His breathing was heavy but steady.
"Whose child is that?"
"Th-That's a real stone?"
"He's carrying something that heavy? That's absurd!"
The moment the figure carrying the enormous stone appeared on the street, he drew the attention of everyone outside the Academy gate. Several parents who had brought their children to enroll began whispering among themselves.
"Just showing off!"
Kakashi took in all the astonished and curious comments around him. He snorted softly. He could already handle a burden of that weight, and could even run faster with it.
Judging by that guy's appearance and height, he should be a third- or fourth-year student at the Academy. The Ninja Tool Shop clearly had more suitable and scientifically designed weighted equipment.
Yet he had deliberately chosen a clumsy boulder—and not just any boulder, but Yellow-Gray Rock, which had a lower density and therefore a larger volume for the same weight.
He had even chosen to come when there were many people registering for school. In Kakashi's eyes, this was nothing more than a poorly executed, carefully planned performance meant to attract attention.
"Kakashi."
At that moment, Hatake Sakumo spoke calmly. His gaze remained fixed on the slowly moving figure, but something else had appeared in his eyes.
"Watch carefully." White Fang's voice was soft but steady. "This child... isn't using Chakra."
Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly at those words, and he immediately focused his attention on the figure again.
The flow of Chakra and the casting of a technique always caused fluctuations in one's aura, whether strong or weak, hidden or obvious. From that, one could determine whether the other party was using the Transformation Technique as a disguise, or roughly judge the power of their ninjutsu, among other things.
And from Kakashi's observations—sure enough! There wasn't the slightest trace of Chakra deliberately flowing around that guy's body. That meant the weight of the stone was being borne entirely by his physical strength!
Even with a lower-density rock like Yellow-Gray Rock, a stone of that volume would still weigh a great deal.
If he wasn't using Chakra, Kakashi thought for a moment before speaking in an even tone.
"He's just a little stronger than average."
Hatake Sakumo didn't reply. His eyes suddenly shifted upward for a glance, then moved away again without revealing anything.
"That child is... Shinichi?"
"It really is him."
Several parents in the crowd seemed to recognize the child carrying the enormous stone.
"He said he had been strong since he was little, but I didn't believe him. I never imagined it would be this exaggerated..."
"I heard him say last time that he was going to register..."
"What a pity. The world has lost a future cooking master..."
"Cooking? Isn't this child working at a blacksmith's shop?"
That guy is a new student just like me?
A look of surprise flashed through Kakashi's eyes. Judging by Shinichi's height and appearance, he had been certain that the other boy was a third- or even fourth-year student. He hadn't expected him to be a new student like himself.
Kakashi!
I finally get to meet you!
As he trudged toward the Academy entrance with the enormous stone on his back, his eyes quickly swept over the white-haired, masked boy by the gate. A barely perceptible fervor flashed deep within his eyes, and his heart began pounding uncontrollably.
Five years!
Kakashi, from the day I heard that you had been born!
Shinichi drew a deep breath, then shifted his gaze away without revealing anything. He ran to the open area beside the Academy gate and set down the enormous stone. After exchanging a few simple greetings with several familiar parents, he turned and prepared to enter the school.
When he passed the Hatake father and son and noticed Kakashi looking him up and down, he paused and gave Kakashi a smile.
The smile was clean and sunny, like a cloudless breeze. Despite his ordinary features, his face carried an inexplicable sense of Affinity that made people feel close to him without realizing it.
Seeing this, Kakashi was stunned for a moment. He unconsciously remembered the senior he had run into at Ichiraku Ramen last month, the one renowned as a Genius. That senior's smile had been just as clean and sunny, making people feel close to him without realizing it.
[Affinity (White): Your words and actions make others feel relaxed and close to you. When interacting with people, you are more likely to gain their favor and basic trust.]
Shinichi paid no attention to his reaction. He nodded at the Hatake father and son as if he had merely seen an ordinary father and son, then continued walking past them without slowing.
At that moment, Kakashi suddenly called out.
"Hey!"
Shinichi stopped and turned his head, a trace of confusion on his face.
"If you want to train your body properly," Kakashi said with the bluntness and self-assurance of a Genius, "you should go to the Ninja Tool Shop and buy professional weighted equipment. Carrying a stone with an irregular shape isn't just inefficient and difficult to control in terms of balance—it can also easily cause unnecessary muscle or bone injuries."
Shinichi listened seriously. His smile did not diminish as he nodded. "You're right. Professional equipment is indeed safer and more efficient. I've looked around the Ninja Tool Shop."
His tone was calm, without the slightest displeasure at being corrected.
"It's just that... I haven't found anything completely suitable for my current needs yet. This stone is cumbersome, but once I've gotten used to it, adjusting isn't too troublesome. Still, thank you for the advice, classmate. My name is Higashino Shinichi. What about you?"
How could the Ninja Tool Shop not have something suitable?
Kakashi frowned. He knew something about the shop's selection, and saying that there was "nothing completely suitable" was stretching the truth. But then he thought that he was being meddlesome. He had already stopped a stranger for no reason, so why press him further? He replied indifferently:
"Hatake Kakashi."
"Kakashi, is it? I'll remember that."
Shinichi nodded, turned around, and walked through the school gate.
"That child's life is hard. He lost his parents when he was little..."
"Most of the money he's earned working for more than a year has gone to the orphanage..."
"No wonder... He's a good child who values loyalty and affection..."
The quiet whispers of several nearby parents drifted over.
Kakashi's gaze settled on the back of Shinichi as he disappeared from view. He remained silent for a moment.
"Let's go handle the enrollment procedures, Dad."
Higashino Shinichi, who had already gone far away, knew nothing about what happened afterward. At that moment, he was recalling his earlier exchange with Kakashi.
Professional weighted equipment?
You make a good point, Kakashi.
It's just that...
If I didn't carry that enormous stone, how would the world know that I possessed Natural Strength and was different from ordinary people?
The corners of Shinichi's mouth curved into a faint smile. As his thoughts shifted, a floating panel visible only to him appeared in his field of vision.
[Name: Higashino Shinichi] [Occupation: Swordsmanship Apprentice] [Talents: Intelligent (White), Diligent (White), Affinity (White), Robust (White), Foodie (White), Tenacious (White), Agile (White), Calmness (White)] [Draws Remaining: None]
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