The setting sun cast its last rays over the forest outside Konoha, and the trees' shadows swayed gently in the evening breeze.
Byakuya focused his strength, then hurled a kunai. It sliced through the air and struck the bull's-eye in the distance.
Ten rings!
His already meager chakra had now dwindled to the edge of exhaustion, and the ache in his arm muscles was growing stronger.
"Three whole days. It's finally over."
He brought up the Fate Grid Panel.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success Time limit: 3 days: Hit the ten-ring mark with kunai throws (100/100) Reward: Slight increase in chakra reserves]
A faint but distinct warmth spread through his body. The chakra that had nearly run dry began to slowly replenish, and his overall chakra reserves rose by a small amount.
Byakuya wiped the sweat from his forehead, in high spirits. His three days of grueling practice hadn't been for nothing. There was no feeling more reassuring in troubled times than getting stronger.
It was the early stages of the Third Shinobi World War, and the tension of war had already engulfed all of Konoha.
He hadn't graduated from the Ninja Academy yet, but who knew when he might be dragged off to the battlefield as cannon fodder? So every bit stronger he became gave him a better chance of staying alive.
Reborn in the Shinobi World, Byakuya had drawn a terrible lot. He hadn't been born into a prestigious clan, but was instead the son of two civilian Chunin.
His talent was absurdly bad. His chakra reserves were less than half those of his peers, and his ninjutsu was even worse—not worth looking at.
The only reason he was able to attend Konoha Ninja Academy was that his parents had spent years rushing from one mission to the next, earning him a place through their blood and sweat.
But that stability didn't last long. Just before the Third Shinobi World War broke out, both his parents died while carrying out a classified mission.
From then on, he set himself a strict rule: if he could keep his head down, he would. If he couldn't, he'd rack his brains until he found a way. The tallest tree catches the wind, and the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. His modest goal was to make it through the Third Shinobi World War.
As for the Nine-Tails Incident, the Konoha Crush Plan, Pain's attack on Konoha, and so on, those were all matters for later. There was no point thinking that far ahead if he didn't live long enough to see them.
After resting enough, he tucked away the kunai he used for training and headed back to Konoha.
The Heaven Rewards Diligence Fate Grid's missions refreshed at midnight, right on schedule.
His Fate Grid had awakened early, but until now it had been as good as dead, never issuing any missions.
It wasn't until Kumogakure declared war on Konoha that his cheat suddenly sprang to life, like a corpse getting back up.
He had received three training missions so far, with rewards such as slight increases to his speed, perception, and stamina—all basic attributes.
Dragging his exhausted body home to the house his parents had left him, he reheated the leftovers, ate, washed up, and collapsed into bed, falling into a deep sleep.
The next morning, the alarm he'd set rang for a long time before Byakuya finally woke with a start.
He'd practiced the Clone Technique at the Ninja Academy the day before, then headed to the forest outside the village after school to train his kunai throwing. For his frail body, the workload had been far too intense, so it was no wonder he'd slept in.
He reached over to turn off the alarm and immediately checked the refreshed Fate Grid mission.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success Time limit: 2 days: Practice the Substitution Technique (0/20) Reward: Slight increase in chakra control]
The Substitution Technique was part of the Ninja Academy's basic curriculum. It was a support-type ninjutsu and one of the classic Three Body Techniques.
When attacked, a ninja could instantly replace their body with an object such as a log, deceiving the enemy. It was an especially practical technique.
As luck would have it, today's class was on the Substitution Technique. With the war underway, the Academy had specially invited a Jonin to give a practical lesson.
He cooked rice, along with a fixed number of eggs and a fixed portion of vegetables, then drank a glass of milk.
To grow strong and keep himself safer, he needed to get enough nutrition.
He washed the dishes.
Then he headed straight for Konoha Ninja Academy.
The day before, Konoha had announced a new policy. Because of the war, the Ninja Academy's six-year curriculum in peacetime had been shortened to four years, and students were being encouraged to take their graduation exams early.
Byakuya was ten years old. He'd entered the Academy at five and, under the usual schedule, would have graduated next year. But under the new policy, he had to graduate this year.
Mimura Hamaki, the Konoha Jonin teaching the Substitution Technique, wore a green flak jacket and sported a mustache. His gaze was resolute as he stood at the front of the classroom and eyed Byakuya, who had arrived late. His voice was stern and left no room for argument. "Senkaku Byakuya? You're late. Listen to the lesson from outside."
"Quiet! Class is starting. We're not covering theory today, just practical combat. We'll learn how to use the Substitution Technique to dodge and counterattack in the gaps between an enemy's strikes."
It was wartime, and to make things more efficient, the Academy was making special arrangements and grouping students from different grades together for lessons.
Mimura Hamaki beckoned to Byakuya, who was standing by the door. "Come here."
"Yes!"
Byakuya obediently walked over to Mimura Hamaki.
"I'll attack you with a shuriken. Use the Substitution Technique to dodge, get behind me, and make a move as if you're going to kill me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mimura Hamaki flung a shuriken at him.
It was fast.
Byakuya's pupils contracted. He stood there dumbly, as though he hadn't had time to use the Substitution Technique.
The shuriken struck him in the chest.
He felt the impact and a dull ache, but he wasn't hurt.
Mimura Hamaki took the shuriken from his chest and said in disappointment, "This shuriken is made of wood and painted to look real."
"You were late to class, your reactions are slow, and your ninjutsu skills are failing. That's where you are right now. I have nothing more to say. Go back to your seat and watch how the other students use the Substitution Technique."
"Yes."
Byakuya tried to compose himself and walked toward an empty seat at the front.
But before he could sit down, Mimura Hamaki pointed toward the back row. "Don't block the other students' view. Go sit there."
Byakuya lowered his head, took a deep breath, and sat in the last row of the large classroom. He was the only one there.
Mimura Hamaki surveyed the students. "Hyuga So, you're first."
Hyuga So, of the Hyuga Clan, Konoha's prestigious Kekkei Genkai clan, successfully used the Substitution Technique to replace his real body and quickly appeared behind Mimura Hamaki, making a chopping motion as if to strike him down.
"Very good! Your timing with the Substitution Technique and your ability to keep it hidden are better than some Chunin's."
"Akimichi Shoin, your turn."
"Yes!"
The bell rang. Mimura Hamaki gathered up the teaching materials, glanced at the inept Byakuya in the back row, and shook his head.
Then he hurried off to the vice principal's office.
The Third also served as principal of Konoha Ninja Academy, but the Hokage was busy with official business, so the vice principal was responsible for managing the Academy's day-to-day affairs.
"Thanks for all your hard work, Jonin Mimura Hamaki."
Mimura Hamaki said, "Principal Hiroya, I've never seen a student like Senkaku Byakuya. He can't even use a simple Substitution Technique properly! At this level, he'll only get himself killed on the battlefield."
"Senkaku Byakuya?"
"Jonin Hamaki, according to Konoha's latest policy for the Academy, Senkaku Byakuya must graduate this year, even if he fails his ninjutsu exams. The Academy can't have a single student graduate late for now."
"I know. The fighting at the front is intense, and we're desperately short on manpower. The Academy's students have to graduate as soon as possible.
"After they get some experience and learn what war is like, they'll be sent to the front. Byakuya's a civilian, so he's no exception."
"And what do you suggest, Jonin?"
"Arrange a graduation exam for him on his own tomorrow."
"An individual graduation exam? Is that really appropriate?"
"There's nothing inappropriate about it. We're at war, and policies can be applied flexibly.
"I'm worried he won't pass if he takes the graduation exam with the other students, and the Academy can't openly give him special treatment.
"To keep the new policy set by the higher-ups from being discredited, the best solution is to let him take the exam alone."
Vice Principal Hiroya had once been on a mission with Byakuya's parents. "Byakuya comes from a civilian family. His bloodline is weak, and he lacks talent. He'd only get in the way on the front lines. Personally, I'd rather see him placed in the rear. What about the other students? Has the Hokage given any new instructions?"
"We'll start with the students who've done well in the past, especially those from prestigious clans. The exams are set for a week from now. The Hokage has named several Jonin with strong battlefield records to lead them."
"With those renowned Jonin leading them, these kids will surely grow stronger by leaps and bounds."
Near the end of the afternoon classes, Mimura Hamaki found Byakuya.
"Senkaku Byakuya, you can come to school a little later tomorrow. I've arranged a graduation exam for you alone."
"An exam... just for me?"
"That's right!"
"Understood. I'll go home and prepare for the exam. Goodbye, Sensei."
Mimura Hamaki watched him leave, his gaze heavy, as though he could already see how Byakuya's story would end.
A ninja from a civilian family simply couldn't compare to one from a prestigious clan. Their education, resources, and connections all fell far behind.
If they lacked talent, their best prospect was to find a stable job in the village, marry, have children, and devote their lives to Konoha and the prestigious clans.
But that was in peacetime. During war, their fates were no longer in their own hands...
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