First Meeting with Samui (Please Keep Reading, Everyone—Low Readership Won't Get Recommended)

"Are people from the Land of Lightning all this talented?"

Kurenai Yuhi declined Asuma Sarutobi's candy. She was afraid that eating too much sugar would make her fat.

Asuma Sarutobi could be considered her childhood sweetheart.

She had known Asuma Sarutobi before they had even started school.

"Someone in my family has fought Kumogakure ninja before. They said that's how it is."

Images of burly, dark-skinned men flashed through Asuma Sarutobi's mind.

No matter how he looked at it, they were nothing like the skinny Kiyoshi.

"But Kiyoshi's skin isn't exactly dark."

Asuma Sarutobi said.

He had heard the old man mention that while most people in Kumogakure were black, there were also some with very fair skin.

Of course, their shared trait was that they were built strong.

Who knew how they trained to get that way.

"Who knows."

Kurenai Yuhi shook her head.

She was not very interested in whether Kiyoshi was strong in taijutsu.

What she really wanted to ask about was Kiyoshi's talent for genjutsu.

She had always heard her father say that Uchiha Clan ninja were exceptionally powerful at genjutsu, and that everyone who awakened the Sharingan was a genjutsu master.

Kurenai Yuhi refused to accept that.

In her heart, her father had spent his entire life striving to reach the pinnacle of genjutsu.

How could just any Sharingan surpass him so easily?

Among those in their grade, Kiyoshi was the only one who had awakened the Sharingan.

It was said that even Lady Tsunade had been alerted and come to inspect him.

Kiyoshi sensed someone's gaze and looked over.

It was Kurenai Yuhi.

Why was she looking at him?

After thinking about it for a moment, Kiyoshi paid it no mind. He occasionally responded to the people beside him while focusing on the panel before him.

Trait: Long Runner (White).

Requirement: Run 5 kilometers.

Progress: (Completed).

Effect: Your lower-body strength has improved. You are better able to adapt to long-distance travel, and your leg strength has increased by 5% from its original level.

Note: Further advancement is possible.

"In just over one class period, I gained another new trait."

Kiyoshi closed the panel. It felt as though a warm current had been poured into his lower body, melding with every cell. He could feel his muscles becoming more solid.

His kicking-type taijutsu should receive some bonuses.

I wonder if training methods like rock climbing or throwing ninja tools will trigger corresponding traits as well.

"Qing— Kiyoshi, are you contemplating the meaning of youth?"

Might Guy asked with the expression of someone who had found a kindred spirit.

"..."

Kiyoshi said nothing.

Ten minutes later, once Umino Iruka and the other students had rested enough, he announced the results.

"Might Guy is first, Kakashi is second..."

He began reading out the rankings. In the end, Kiyoshi ranked sixth.

Kiyoshi's expression did not change.

He had only started training recently. Rising straight to sixth place was already enough to demonstrate his physical talent.

The others had undergone physical training every semester, yet he had surpassed them.

No wonder Yakushi Nonō had said he was suited to becoming a taijutsu ninja.

"All right, everyone. Remember to prepare for next week's sparring class. Here is the list."

Umino Iruka read out the pairings for the following week.

Before Kiyoshi had transferred in, everyone had a sparring partner, and the class had an even number of students. But now there was one extra person.

Umino Iruka thought for a moment and spotted Obito walking over to speak with Rin. He said:

"Obito, for now, you'll spar with Kiyoshi next week. The list rotates every week anyway."

Obito froze.

Wasn't this the perfect chance for him to show off?

If he defeated Kiyoshi handsomely in front of Rin, she would know that guy had only gotten lucky last time.

"Understood, Umino Iruka-sensei!"

Obito shouted.

"Mm."

Umino Iruka nodded.

Obito's grades were not very good, but his attitude toward learning was quite positive.

Obito also ranked near the bottom in taijutsu, so he could help the newly transferred Kiyoshi get used to things.

"Class dismissed."

Umino Iruka announced the end of class.

And with that, the day's lessons came to an end.

After school, Kiyoshi still went to find Rin Nohara and asked her to teach him more about controlling Chakra.

This time, both Kakashi and Obito were there.

Kiyoshi trained as diligently as he had the day before.

Today's exercise was still tree climbing, except they chose a taller tree.

It placed far harsher demands on maintaining Chakra control for long periods.

When the glow of dusk spilled through the woods, Kiyoshi was the first to leave.

"Kiyoshi, leaving so early today?"

"I've been in Konoha for a month now. I want to go out and try some good food."

"I see."

Rin Nohara nodded.

Some street vendors really did sell good food. She knew a little girl named Anko Mitarashi who often went to a shop for red bean soup and liked to eat it with dumplings.

After Kiyoshi left, he did not go straight home. Instead, he wandered through Konoha's streets.

Eventually, he casually entered an ordinary shop: a sushi restaurant.

The moment he stepped inside, before he could say anything, a clerk approached him.

"You're here to try our newly developed dish, squid sushi, aren't you?"

The female clerk had short blond hair. Her employee apron barely concealed her ample figure, revealing the gray top beneath.

Samui!

Kiyoshi remembered this woman well.

She was one of the few women in the original story who could rival Tsunade.

For no other reason than that she was big.

A moment later, Kiyoshi withdrew his gaze. Looking at her pretty face, he frowned slightly.

Samui looked to be already in her teens. This did not match the original timeline at all.

Could his transmigration have caused some kind of butterfly effect?

"I'm here for the squid sushi."

Kiyoshi went along with Samui's words.

Samui was from Kumogakure. If she could come here, it had to be under orders from Kumogakure's higher-ups.

She had probably come over because she recognized his face.

"You are the first customer to sample this new dish. Please come with me."

Samui led Kiyoshi deeper inside. "This is a newly developed dish, so it requires the freshest squid. The customer must personally select it."

Soon, they arrived at a room containing many glass fish tanks.

Many fish swam in the tanks, while the filter pipes released streams of bubbles that floated to the surface.

Samui did not stop. Instead, she pressed her hand against the wall.

Black Fuinjutsu patterns flashed, and an opening appeared in the wall.

A deep, shadowy passage revealed itself before Kiyoshi.

At the very end, a man with dreadlocks turned around. He looked rather conspicuous.

"Yotsuki Kiyoshi, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Samodo."

"Yotsuki is a surname from the past. I'm Uchiha."

Kiyoshi said blandly.

Samodo's hairstyle was quite normal in Konoha. During the first part of the story, when Iruka taught Konohamaru and the other students an outdoor class, Hiruzen Sarutobi came to inspect them and explained the Will of Fire to the students.

There had been a child with dreadlocks among them.

Clearly, it was nothing unusual.