The Hokage's office.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, taking deep draws from his pipe. Smoke swirled around him, obscuring his expression. Shengu Xuan stood casually by the window, looking down over the thriving village of Konoha, his gaze indifferent.
On their way back earlier, the Third had already made some indirect inquiries about the origins of the "Shadowkhan."
Naturally, Shengu Xuan's story was watertight. He attributed everything to the "accidental awakening of a Kekkei Genkai." He fabricated a perfect explanation: because his chakra was so severely depleted, his body had undergone some kind of beneficial genetic mutation to protect itself, awakening a power that required no chakra and communicated directly with the "shadow realm."
This explanation perfectly matched the Third's earlier speculation, making him even more convinced that Shengu Xuan was an unparalleled gem waiting to be polished.
"Shengu Xuan." The Third finally broke the silence. "Your power is an unprecedentedly powerful Kekkei Genkai. It doesn't rely on chakra, which is both a strength and a weakness."
Shengu Xuan turned around and looked at him with interest, signaling for him to continue.
"The advantage is that your endurance in battle is practically limitless, and your attacks are strange and unpredictable enough to give any enemy a headache." The Third paused, his tone growing serious. "But the drawback is that you can't use conventional ninjutsu, and you lack the broader skills a ninja needs, such as teamwork, intelligence gathering, infiltration, and assassination. Right now, you're like an incredibly sharp blade with no technique behind it. You could easily hurt yourself, or be exploited by people with ulterior motives."
Shengu Xuan sneered inwardly. He thinks my Shadowkhan are a fine blade with no technique behind it? The Ninja Clan are already masters of infiltration and assassination of the highest caliber. Still, he did not argue, merely listening quietly.
"So I've decided to formally assign you to a ninja team, where you'll start with the most basic missions and learn how to become a true, qualified Konoha ninja." The Third looked intently at Shengu Xuan. "I hope you understand the care I've put into this. It's both to help you better control your power and to protect you."
"Fine," Shengu Xuan answered readily.
He had wanted to meet this world's main cast anyway, to see what was so special about its so-called "child of destiny." Besides, completing missions would let him unlock the remaining Talismans faster. The system had previously indicated that increases in his integration level were closely tied to the events he experienced and the impact he made.
"Good." The Third nodded with satisfaction and took a freshly drafted list from his drawer. "Given your unique circumstances, I've arranged for this year's finest graduates to be your teammates, along with one of the village's top jonin instructors."
"Starting today, you'll join Team 7 as a Special Member."
The next day, at the Ninja Academy.
Umino Iruka was announcing the graduating students' team assignments.
The classroom was packed with graduates who had passed the exam, each face filled with anticipation and nervousness.
"...Team 8: Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga. Your jonin instructor will be Kurenai Yuhi."
"...Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka. Your jonin instructor will be Asuma Sarutobi."
As each roster was announced, a commotion rose in the classroom, some delighted and others disappointed.
"Next, Team 7!" Iruka cleared his throat and looked at several of the classroom's most prominent figures.
Naruto Uzumaki pressed his palms together, muttering, "Please, please, don't put me with that bastard Sasuke. Put me with Sakura instead..."
Sakura Haruno gazed dreamily at Sasuke Uchiha, silently praying she would be on the same team as the boy she loved.
"Team 7 members: Naruto Uzumaki!"
Naruto instantly turned to stone.
"Sakura Haruno!"
Sakura froze for a moment, then let out an ecstatic shriek!
"Sasuke Uchiha!"
"Yes!!!" Sakura jumped up in excitement, while Naruto turned into a gray-white statue as though he had been struck by lightning.
"And..." Iruka paused, glanced at the special note in his hand, and drew a deep breath. With a complicated look, he turned toward Shengu Xuan, who sat in the corner with the same calm expression he had worn all along.
"And, as a specially assigned member... Shengu Xuan!"
At those words, the entire classroom erupted!
"What?!"
"A four-person squad? Isn't that against the rules?"
"And why Shengu Xuan of all people?! That dead last who couldn't even use the Clone Technique in the graduation exam?"
"I heard about it! He went berserk in the exam room yesterday and seriously injured Mizuki-sensei! How can a violent maniac like that graduate?"
"Exactly! Putting him on Sasuke-kun's team is an insult to Sasuke-kun!"
Waves of discussion, doubt, and contempt surged toward Shengu Xuan. The girls who adored Sasuke, in particular, looked at him with eyes that practically spat fire.
Naruto snapped out of his petrified state as well. Pointing at Shengu Xuan, he shouted, "Iruka-sensei! Why does this guy who can't even use the Clone Technique get to be on our team?! And with that jerk Sasuke, too!"
A shadow of displeasure also crossed Sasuke's cold face. He admitted that the power Shengu Xuan had displayed yesterday was bizarre, but a brute who could not use ninjutsu would only be a burden to the team.
Faced with the entire class's verbal attacks, Shengu Xuan did not even raise his eyelids.
His gaze merely swept calmly over Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke.
These are the so-called child of destiny and his companions? A loudmouthed idiot, a lovesick girl with nothing but romance in her head, and an edgy teenager steeped in hatred.
How... utterly boring.
"Quiet!" Iruka slammed his hand on the desk, silencing the commotion. He swept a stern gaze over the room. "This order came directly from Lord Hokage! Anyone who objects can go to the Hokage's office building and appeal in person! Shengu Xuan's strength is beyond question!"
At the mention of "Lord Hokage," everyone shut their mouths, but the resentment and jealousy in their eyes did not diminish at all.
"All right, your jonin instructors will come to collect you this afternoon. Dismissed!" Iruka announced.
That afternoon, the four members of Team 7 sat in the classroom, waiting for their late jonin instructor.
The atmosphere could not have been more awkward.
Naruto glared at Sasuke in annoyance, while Sasuke rested with his eyes closed, not bothering to acknowledge him. Sakura alternated between stealing glances at Sasuke and glaring warily at Shengu Xuan, as though he were some virus that could contaminate the air.
Shengu Xuan, meanwhile, leaned by the window, watching the clouds gather and disperse outside, his thoughts wandering far away.
"Seriously! What is our instructor doing?! Everyone else is gone! We're the only ones left!" Naruto finally lost patience and jumped to his feet.
His eyes darted. He brought over a stool, picked up an eraser covered in chalk dust, and wedged it atop the doorframe.
"Hehe, that's what he gets for being late! This'll teach him!" Naruto laughed smugly.
"Naruto! You idiot! Our instructor is a jonin! How could he fall for a stupid prank like that?!" Though Sakura scolded him aloud, she secretly felt a faint sense of anticipation.
Sasuke snorted coldly. "A dead last is still a dead last. All you do is waste time on stupid things."
Shengu Xuan finally drew back his gaze and glanced indifferently toward the other side of the door.
Within his perception, a figure with a steady, barely perceptible presence had already been standing outside for at least five minutes. The way the man's chakra flowed was unusual, concentrated and powerful.
"He's here," Shengu Xuan said softly.
The instant he finished speaking-
Creak-
The classroom door slid open, and a man with gravity-defying silver-white hair, a Forehead Protector covering his left eye, and a mask over his face poked his head inside.
Plop.
The chalkboard eraser landed squarely on his head, scattering a cloud of white dust.
The air instantly froze.
Naruto pointed at him and burst into earthshaking laughter. "Hahahaha! You fell for it! You fell for it!"
Sakura looked panicked and desperately tried to explain. "S-sorry, sensei! I wanted to stop him, but Naruto..."
The silver-haired jonin brushed the chalk dust from his head, his exposed, dead-fish eye slowly sweeping over the four of them.
His gaze finally settled on Shengu Xuan, seemingly a little surprised by his earlier warning.
"Hmm..." The man rubbed his chin and spoke in a thoroughly unmotivated tone. "How should I put this? My first impression of you is..."
"-A bunch of hopeless idiots."
Kakashi's gaze instantly sharpened, and the oppressive presence of an elite jonin enveloped the entire classroom.
Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke instantly felt their hearts lurch, even finding it difficult to breathe.
Only Shengu Xuan remained expressionless, as though that pressure were merely a light breeze brushing his face.
Kakashi narrowed his lone eye slightly, thinking, Oh? Interesting. Is this the newcomer Lord Third specifically told me to give 'extra attention' to?
"All right, come with me." Kakashi waved a hand. "Let's go somewhere nice and get to know each other."
He turned to leave, but after two steps, he seemed to remember something. Looking back specifically at Shengu Xuan, he said meaningfully:
"Especially you, Shengu Xuan. As for you... I have plenty of questions to ask."
Before you continue