Some Progress!

"Young people really have it good!"

Watching the three figures disappear into the distance, Futaki Ryusei, who had just finished work, smiled and sighed.

"We're not that old ourselves!"

A voice sounded beside Futaki Ryusei.

He turned and saw his colleague. Smiling, he said, "Yome, compared to them, of course we count as old."

With his hands in his pockets, Yome shrugged. "They're just kids. Besides, I'm not old at all. I'm only twenty-two!"

"By the way, I heard your class has a genius?"

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

Yome nodded. "Probably. It definitely isn't anyone from a ninja clan."

A genius from a ninja clan? That was nothing unusual.

Take Kakashi, for example. He'd already made a name for himself before entering the Academy.

After all, he was the child of the White Fang of Konoha!

And he'd performed exceptionally well in the entrance assessment, earning the Third's praise.

Futaki Ryusei smiled. "Genichi really is exceptional. He picks up everything right away. I believe he'll become an outstanding ninja one day, just like..."

"Lord Jiraiya!"

Yome was astonished. "Lord Jiraiya... Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"

Jiraiya was one of the Sannin.

One of Konoha's strongest ninjas beneath the Third.

He was also a leading candidate for Fourth Hokage.

Seeing Yome's surprise, Futaki Ryusei didn't explain. He simply smiled and said, "Let's wait and see!"

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

It meant his plan to establish himself as a genius was off to a promising start.

But at that moment, he was leaping swiftly from building to building.

Kakashi and Might Guy were close behind him.

Between the Ninja Academy and Konoha's village gates lay countless buildings and plenty of pedestrians.

So despite its simple appearance, the race tested much more than speed and stamina. It also tested reflexes and even route planning.

What's more, Shita Genichi hadn't said whether they could attack each other during the race.

When Kakashi and Might Guy raced during Konoha's reconstruction after Pain destroyed the village, they'd thrown everything they could find at each other—pots, pans, and all.

So when Shita Genichi spotted an empty can on a rooftop, he couldn't resist making a move.

He spun around without warning and kicked it. The can shot toward Kakashi behind him.

Kakashi, who was in hot pursuit, was startled and hurriedly dodged. The can flew so close it nearly grazed his ear.

That brief delay was all Might Guy needed to catch up.

Up ahead, Shita Genichi opened up an even bigger lead, then changed direction and left the dense cluster of buildings behind.

Kakashi and Might Guy immediately followed.

They ran through a patch of woods, and a river came into view.

Shita Genichi ran across the surface as if it were solid ground.

But after crossing the river, he suddenly stopped and turned. Seeing Kakashi entering the river behind him, he immediately formed Hand Seals.

Tiger–Snake–Ox–Ram–Rooster–Rat!

Watching Shita Genichi form the seals, Kakashi's eyelid twitched. "That's... Water Release!"

Sure enough.

The next moment, the river water spiraled upward, then surged toward him like a giant serpent.

Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!

The current wasn't very strong. Shita Genichi had deliberately limited the jutsu's power. At most, it would knock Kakashi down without hurting him.

Kakashi's reflexes were quick, and he dodged immediately.

The current was about to sweep into Might Guy, who was catching up behind them.

But Shita Genichi made another hand gesture.

He stretched out both hands, palms open and tilted slightly upward, with his thumbs and index fingers facing each other.

It was the "In" seal from the Nine Syllables Hand Seals.

After forming it, Shita Genichi crossed his hands and swept them apart.

The next moment, before Kakashi's astonished eyes, the rushing current turned and surged back.

Boom!

Caught off guard, Kakashi was swept straight into the river.

Might Guy stared, eyes wide.

He hadn't yet learned to run across the surface of the water, so at that moment, he was... swimming.

On the bank,

Shita Genichi smiled.

His research into the Nine Syllables Hand Seals had yielded its first results. He'd only grasped a little of the "In" seal, but even that gave him better control over Water Colliding Wave, a C-rank jutsu.

Shita Genichi wondered what he'd be like ten years from now.

He turned and continued on.

In the river, Kakashi surfaced and watched Shita Genichi disappear into the distance. His shock only stirred his competitive spirit. He leaped out of the water and gave chase at full speed.

Meanwhile,

at the Hokage Office,

Third Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, his eyes fixed on the crystal ball before him.

The scene displayed in the crystal ball was none other than Shita Genichi, Kakashi, and Might Guy racing.

He'd received a report from Futaki Ryusei, and Shita Genichi had also impressed him during the lecture on the Will of Fire, so he'd taken a sudden interest and decided to watch.

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

Watching Shita Genichi use Water Colliding Wave from the riverbank to knock Kakashi into the water, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help thinking of someone.

Senju Tobirama!

The resemblance was uncanny!

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, Shita Genichi's use of Water Colliding Wave was still very rough.

Yet it already had a distinctive style of its own.

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

Hiruzen Sarutobi dispelled the jutsu, and the name and face of Shita Genichi were firmly etched in his mind.

At Konoha's gates,

Shita Genichi sat cross-legged off to one side, resting.

After a while, Kakashi arrived.

Bracing his hands on his knees, Kakashi panted for a long while before finally looking up at Shita Genichi. "When did you learn Water Release Ninjutsu?"

Shita Genichi smiled. "Not long ago. My grandfather left me that jutsu."

Kakashi nodded, then asked, "That last hand sign... It was one of the Nine Syllables seals, right?"

Shita Genichi didn't hide it. "Yes, the 'In' seal."

"Those nine seals are pretty interesting. I studied them a bit and didn't expect them to actually work."

"By the way, would you be up for a sparring match with swords sometime?"

Kakashi looked at Shita Genichi. "Swordsmanship?"

"You've learned swordsmanship too?"

Shita Genichi nodded. "I taught myself."

"My grandfather didn't leave me any sword techniques, so I just practice basic moves on my own. I focus on Draw-Sword Strike, also known as Iaijutsu."

Kakashi hesitated, worried he might discourage Shita Genichi. But after thinking it over, he nodded. "Sure."

After chatting for a bit, Might Guy arrived too.

The three of them headed back together.

Might Guy, of course, walked on his hands.

After that race, Shita Genichi's relationship with Kakashi and Might Guy had improved by leaps and bounds. They could be called friends now.

Starting that day,

the three of them began having spirited contests of youth from time to time, gradually growing more and more fired up.

Time flew.

Before they knew it, summer vacation was over.

The new semester began, and so did practical combat classes.

On the training ground, a crowd of little kids formed a ring around the chain-link fence, leaving the center open.

Futaki Ryusei stood in the middle of the training ground. "Let me repeat the rules for practical combat class. Stop once you've made your point. Don't deliberately inflict serious injuries on your classmates."

"Of course, don't hold back too much either. I'll be watching the whole time and will step in when necessary."

"Now, fight one-on-one when I call your names."

"Shita Genichi and Sarutobi Asuma!"

Beside Shizune, Shita Genichi stepped forward.

Nearby, Sarutobi Asuma also emerged from beside Yuhi Kurenai.

The two faced each other in front of their teacher.

"Form the Seal of Confrontation!"

Futaki Ryusei called out.

Shita Genichi and Sarutobi Asuma did as instructed. Then Futaki Ryusei stepped back twice, raised his hand, and swept it downward, shouting, "Begin!"