Small Success! (Seeking Follow-ups!)

"Youth is truly a wonderful thing!"

Watching the three figures receding into the distance, Futaki Ryusei, who had just finished his shift, sighed with a smile.

"We aren't exactly old ourselves, you know!"

A voice rang out right beside Futaki Ryusei's ear.

Futaki Ryusei turned his head to see his colleague and chuckled, "Yome, compared to them, we certainly count as old."

Yome, hands tucked into his pockets, shrugged, "They're just brats. Besides, I'm not old at all—I'm only twenty-two!"

"But tell me, I heard your class produced a genius?"

Futaki Ryusei raised an eyebrow, "You mean Shita Genichi, right?"

Yome nodded, "Must be him. It certainly wouldn't be someone from a ninja clan."

A genius from a ninja clan—isn't that common enough?

Take Kakashi, for instance; he was already famous before even entering the Ninja Academy.

After all, he is the son of the White Fang of Konoha!

Furthermore, his performance during the entrance examination was exceptional, earning him praise from the Third Hokage.

Futaki Ryusei smiled, "Shita Genichi is indeed outstanding. He learns everything the moment he sees it. I believe this child will become a truly remarkable ninja in the future, just like..."

"Lord Jiraiya!"

Yome was astonished to hear this, "Lord Jiraiya... isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"

Jiraiya is, after all, one of the Sannin.

He is one of the strongest ninjas in Konoha, second only to the Third Hokage.

He is also a top candidate for the Fourth Hokage.

Facing Yome's surprise, Futaki Ryusei offered no explanation, simply smiling as he said, "Let's wait and see!"

If Shita Genichi had heard Futaki Ryusei's assessment of him, he would surely have been very gratified.

This meant the initial success of his "genius persona" plan.

However, at this moment, he was leaping through the air between buildings like a bird in flight.

Kakashi and Might Guy were following closely behind.

There were countless buildings and many pedestrians between the Ninja Academy and the entrance to Konoha.

Therefore, what seemed like a simple race tested far more than just speed and stamina; it required reaction time and even route planning.

Shita Genichi hadn't even specified whether attacking others was allowed during the race.

Much like when Kakashi and Might Guy raced during the reconstruction of Konoha after Pain destroyed the village, the two of them had used everything from pots and pans to attack and interfere with one another.

So, upon spotting an empty can on a rooftop, Shita Genichi couldn't help but make a move.

He suddenly spun around and delivered a flying kick, sending the can hurtling toward the pursuing Kakashi.

Kakashi, who was in the middle of the chase, was startled and hurriedly dodged; the can flew past, nearly grazing his ear.

In that split second of delay, Might Guy had already caught up.

Ahead, Shita Genichi widened the gap, then turned, exiting the dense cluster of buildings.

Kakashi and Might Guy followed immediately.

Passing through a patch of woods, a river came into view.

Shita Genichi traversed the surface of the water as if it were flat ground.

But after crossing, he suddenly stopped and turned around. Seeing Kakashi, who had also entered the river, he immediately formed hand seals.

Tiger-Snake-Ox-Ram-Bird-Rat!

Watching Shita Genichi form the seals, Kakashi's eyelids twitched violently, "This is... Water Style!"

Indeed.

The next moment, the river water spiraled upward, surging toward him like a massive python.

Water Style: Water Colliding Wave!

This stream of water wasn't particularly large; Shita Genichi had deliberately controlled the power of the jutsu so that it would at most knock Kakashi over without causing injury.

Kakashi's reaction speed was incredibly fast, and he dodged it immediately.

Seeing the water about to rush toward Might Guy, who was catching up from behind, Shita Genichi made another gesture.

He extended his hands forward, palms open and slightly upturned, with his thumbs and index fingers touching.

It was none other than the "Zai" seal from the Nine Syllables Hand Seals.

After forming this seal, Shita Genichi crossed his hands and swung them outward.

The next moment, under Kakashi's shocked gaze, the rushing water veered and surged backward.

BOOM!

Caught off guard, Kakashi was swept directly into the river by the current.

Might Guy, trailing behind, widened his eyes.

He hadn't yet learned how to walk on water as if it were flat ground, so at this moment, he was... swimming.

On the bank.

Shita Genichi revealed a smile.

His research into the Nine Syllables Hand Seals was showing initial results; although he had only grasped a superficial understanding of the "Zai" seal, it had granted him better control over the C-rank ninjutsu, Water Colliding Wave.

Shita Genichi looked forward to it—what would he be like in ten years?

He turned and continued on.

In the river, Kakashi surfaced and watched the departing Shita Genichi. Beyond his shock, a competitive spirit was ignited, and he immediately leaped up, giving chase with all his might.

Meanwhile.

In the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, bit down on his pipe, his eyes fixed on the crystal ball before him.

The scene displayed on the crystal ball was none other than the sparring match between Shita Genichi, Kakashi, and Might Guy.

He had received a report from Futaki Ryusei, and coupled with Shita Genichi's excellent performance when he had gone to lecture on the Will of Fire, he had felt a sudden whim to take a look.

He hadn't expected to see something that would surprise even him.

Watching Shita Genichi use Water Colliding Wave on the bank to knock Kakashi into the river, an image involuntarily surfaced in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind.

Senju Tobirama!

It was too similar!

Even though, in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, Shita Genichi's execution of the Water Colliding Wave was still quite immature.

Yet, it already possessed a unique style.

Just like his teacher, the previous Hokage, Senju Tobirama.

Dispelling the ninjutsu, Sarutobi Hiruzen firmly etched the name and face of Shita Genichi into his mind.

At the main gate of Konoha.

Shita Genichi sat cross-legged to rest.

After waiting a while, Kakashi arrived.

With his hands on his knees, panting heavily for a good while, Kakashi finally looked up at Shita Genichi: "When did you master Water Style ninjutsu?"

Shita Genichi smiled: "Not long ago. This ninjutsu was left behind by my grandfather."

Kakashi nodded, then added: "That last seal, it was one of the Nine Syllables Hand Seals, right?"

Shita Genichi did not hide it: "Yes, the 'Zai' seal."

"They are a very interesting set of nine seals. I studied them a bit, and I didn't expect them to actually be useful."

"By the way, how about we spar with swords sometime?"

Kakashi looked at Shita Genichi: "Swordsmanship?"

"You also learned swordsmanship?"

Shita Genichi nodded: "Self-taught."

"My grandfather didn't leave behind any sword techniques, so I only practice basic moves myself, focusing on the Draw-Sword Strike, also known as Iaijutsu."

Kakashi hesitated upon hearing this, fearing he might discourage Shita Genichi too much, but after a moment of thought, he nodded: "No problem."

After chatting for a few minutes, Might Guy arrived as well.

And so, the three of them strolled back together.

Of course, Might Guy was walking on his hands.

After this bout of sparring, the relationship between Shita Genichi, Kakashi, and Might Guy had made significant progress; they could now be called friends.

From this day on, it began.

The three would occasionally engage in passionate, youthful competitions, gradually becoming more and more intense.

Time flew like a shuttle.

Before they knew it, the summer vacation had passed.

A new semester began, and practical combat classes commenced.

On the training ground, a group of little sprouts gathered around the chain-link fence, leaving the center of the field clear.

Futaki Ryusei stood in the middle of the training ground: "Reiterating the rules for practical combat class: stop at the appropriate point, and intentional serious injury of a classmate is prohibited."

"Of course, there is no need to hold back. I will be watching the entire time and will intervene at the critical moment."

"Now, I will call out the names, and you will spar in pairs."

"Shita Genichi, Sarutobi Asuma!"

Beside Shizune, Shita Genichi stepped forward.

Not far away, beside Yuhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma also walked out.

The two stood facing each other in front of their instructor.

"Perform the Seal of Confrontation!"

Futaki Ryusei announced in a clear voice.

Shita Genichi and Sarutobi Asuma complied. Immediately after, Futaki Ryusei took two steps back, raised his hand, and swung it downward while shouting, "Begin!"