"I'll cover the retreat!"
"Of course I'll provide cover. I'm the captain, after all."
(Of course I'll be the bait. I'm the Hokage, after all.)
"Kakashi, from now on, you're the captain."
(Monkey, from now on, you're the Hokage.)
"I'll leave the intelligence in your hands."
(I'll leave the village in your hands.)
In the Hokage Office, the boy's clear, resolute voice rang out from the Crystal Ball, speaking words that seemed strangely familiar.
A scene that the Third Hokage had etched deep into his soul—crystal clear and searingly vivid—suddenly surged into his mind.
For a moment, the calm yet resolute profile of the black-haired boy in the rain overlapped with astonishing clarity with the face of his teacher as he'd looked back for the last time.
An immense sense of unreality engulfed the Third Hokage, as though the walls of time had been pierced in that instant.
After a long while, he finally drew a slow, painstaking breath and closed his eyes, calming the storm raging inside him.
He'd been sensible from a young age, grown up in an orphanage, volunteered to help with chores, and cared for the younger children.
He treated others kindly, cared about his companions, ran errands for the elderly nearby, helped the neighbors, and got along well with his classmates.
He was grateful for those who had helped him. Even from the meager wages he earned at his part-time job, he remembered to give back to the orphanage that had raised him, and he'd hosted a feast to thank the teacher who'd taught him swordsmanship...
Fragments of information about that child passed through the Third Hokage's mind.
A moment later, the Third Hokage opened his eyes again. His gaze had regained its usual depth and clarity.
His eyes fell on the desktop, where lay an application that had arrived that afternoon: a formal request from a Ninja Academy Student to study the Shadow Clone Technique.
He picked up his pen and smoothly wrote two large characters:
[Approved]
His pen paused. Somehow, it didn't seem like enough.
So beneath "Approved," he added another instruction:
"An exception may be made to the standard ninjutsu library access restrictions, allowing the student to choose and study additional practical B-Rank and C-Rank ninjutsu as appropriate, as an encouragement. The Academic Affairs Office and the student's instructor should discuss and prepare a list of suitable techniques."
After writing this, he pondered for a few seconds, still feeling it wasn't enough.
"Furthermore: if the student encounters difficulties in their studies, the instructor may submit a request to arrange regular or specialized guidance from a suitable person. I will personally oversee this matter."
With his final stroke, the Third Hokage gently set the report aside and looked once more out the window at the rain, which was beginning to let up.
Some time later, over the weekend.
Konoha Training Ground 4, in the faint light of dawn.
Shinichi was doing basic physical training—push-ups.
His form was precise and steady, each dip and rise following a clear rhythm of exertion. Sweat dripped steadily from his chin and neck, darkening the earth beneath him.
This time, instead of carrying a boulder like he usually did, he wore a dark Weighted Vest that fit snugly against his body. Several Metal Weights etched with tiny runes were also strapped to his limbs and waist.
They were professional weighted training gear he'd carefully picked out at the Ninja Tool Shop, similar to the kind Rock Lee would wear later.
After realizing how difficult it was to generate a blue Trait—he needed to affect all of Konoha and create a shocking effect, and would likely need the approval of influential core figures—he'd adjusted his strategy.
Outlandish stunts to draw attention were no longer the priority. At this stage, efficiency was what mattered.
This gear, which applied the load more evenly and scientifically, was better for building his physical strength at his current level.
Scattered around him were seven or eight figures identical in appearance and clothing to him—Shadow Clones.
Some were practicing water-walking to improve their Chakra control, others were practicing swordsmanship with long swords, and still others were studying a scroll.
Now that Shinichi had the [Genius] Trait, which boosted his learning efficiency across the board, [Quick Wit], which sped up his thought processes, and the Ninja Academy Student Occupation, which slightly enhanced his ninja abilities...
After getting his hands on the scroll, he'd only needed to read it once to learn the technique.
Chakra came from the combination of physical and mental energy. Shinichi's body and mind—especially his body—were already quite formidable, thanks to the various Traits he possessed. If he gave it his all, he could create a little over ten Shadow Clones, just over half the maximum number this technique allowed. (Note:)
But that put too much strain on him. To maintain a longer-lasting and more efficient training aid, he currently kept the number to seven or eight.
Everything was progressing according to plan, and some aspects were even going better than expected.
Not long ago, he'd received official notice from the school that his application to study the Shadow Clone Technique had been approved.
But when he received the ninjutsu scroll, he discovered it contained more than just the Shadow Clone Technique. It also included several practical Konoha Style Taijutsu and sword techniques, along with one B-Rank and several C-Rank Fire Release Ninjutsu.
Shinichi realized that the Third Hokage must have observed what he'd done at the cemetery that day. In particular, the words he'd spoken at the end—so closely aligned with the essence of the Second Hokage's last words—must have deeply moved the Hokage.
That was why his application had not only been approved without a hitch, but he'd also received some extra benefits.
Over the years, Shinichi had carefully cultivated a certain image through his actions, in addition to trying to generate Traits: mature and sensible, kind to others, hardworking, and grateful to those who'd helped him.
An orphan with a clean background and impeccable roots, a gifted child whose talent had begun to show, and whose character seemed pure and promising—he was exactly the sort of person the Konoha High Command liked.
Even a man like Shimura Danzō might have scoffed at such naivety in private, but he would never turn down a subordinate or friend who was reliable, controllable, and held to such pure convictions.
After all, even bad people wanted the people around them to be good.
As things stood, his long-term effort to cultivate this image had clearly succeeded. It had convinced the Third Hokage to make him a priority for development.
Just as they'd discovered and cultivated Minato Namikaze back then, the Konoha High Command was happy to support a gifted child who was loyal and had impeccable roots, bringing him into their own circle.
"I'll focus on upgrading the Tenacious Trait next."
As he did push-ups, he turned his attention to the Tenacious Trait on his Personal Panel.
[Tenacious (White): Your body's endurance and recovery are better than average. You recover from impact injuries more quickly and can withstand pain more easily.]
From now on, he'd have his Shadow Clones replace his morning runs with weighted stones at school, and publicly put his body through intense impact training. Every student arriving at school in the morning would see him grit his teeth and endure the blows, only to stand firm again and again.
At the same time, the [Foodie] Trait, which let him quickly replenish his energy by eating, also had great potential for improvement. Perhaps he could deliberately eat large amounts during lunch breaks or between training sessions.
He'd also keep an eye out for the Big Eater competitions occasionally held in the village. If he got the chance, he'd enter and let people know he had an astonishing appetite and could really put food away.
With his plan taking shape, he finished his final set of push-ups and slowly stood up, sweeping his gaze over the Shadow Clones still busy around the training ground.
Before you continue