April 1st, Konoha Year 38
Click!
With the sound of the camera shutter, the enrollment ceremony for Hoshita Shūichi's class officially concluded.
The previously quiet crowd erupted into chatter as students and parents began dispersing from the academy grounds.
Shūichi walked side by side with Might Gai when they spotted a panting, late-arriving Uchiha Obito.
Seeing his classmates already leaving, Obito sighed in disappointment—he had missed the ceremony.
Kakashi paused, glancing back with his usual mocking tone: "Couldn't even make it to enrollment on time..."
Obito gritted his teeth but held back a retort.
Shūichi stopped to watch the scene unfold with amusement.
Ah, the classic Obito-Kakashi dynamic.
Back in their orphanage days, Obito had been the brightest among his peers—until Kakashi appeared.
Unlike Shūichi, who had grown up in the orphanage, Obito, Rin, and Kakashi had already been close before entering the academy.
"Here, I got these for you!"
Nohara Rin approached Obito, holding out a file folder with a warm smile.
"Huh?"
Obito blinked, then flushed red, his irritation at Kakashi instantly forgotten. "Th-Thanks, Rin!"
What a nostalgic scene.
Shūichi smirked internally before patting Gai's shoulder. "Let's go."
Gai followed, then suddenly asked: "Shūichi, do you know them?"
"Yeah."
"That white-haired kid... he's the son of the famous White Fang."
Gai's eyes lit up with competitive fire. "I see! Another rival to surpass!"
"He's strong. We'll need to train harder," Shūichi said casually.
"Then let's double today's routine!" Gai declared.
Shūichi: (⊙o⊙)...
When they arrived at Shūichi's newly inherited home, they found it spotless—thanks to Yakushi Nonō and the older orphans who had cleaned it.
Might Dai had also helped, taking on the heaviest chores.
Together, they prepared a lavish lunch using ingredients Shūichi had bought after morning training.
Originally planning to leave, Might Dai stayed at Shūichi's insistence—there was too much food to waste.
By 1 PM, after the meal and cleanup, the Might father-son duo departed.
Nonō and the orphans lingered at the doorway as Shūichi assured her: "Don't worry, Director. I'll be fine."
Nonō nodded. "I believe in you. But if you ever need help, come back to the orphanage."
Then she handed him a notebook—her personal medical ninjutsu notes. "Consider this a gift. You can always ask me for guidance."
Overwhelmed, Shūichi hugged her tightly. "Thank you."
Nonō gently ruffled his hair. "You're independent now. Do your best."
As Nonō and the others walked away, Shūichi noted silently:
"The 'Wandering Witch' is only in her early twenties... and still under Danzo's thumb."
He recalled that Kabuto wouldn't become a spy until after the Third War—at least ten years from now.
Ten years...
Shūichi closed the door, his resolve hardening.
"Enough time to become a Jonin—or even a legend like the Sannin or White Fang."
Or... to kill Danzo.
The Root leader often left the village for missions.
All I need is enough strength.
In his study (one of the two rooms in his parents' modest home), Shūichi examined two scrolls—his inheritance.
His father, a Chunin, had left:
Fire Release: Flame Bullet (C-rank)
Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique (C-rank)
His mother, a Genin, left:
Wind Release: Gale Palm
"A rare wind affinity... though affinity doesn't guarantee talent."
Placing Nonō's notes beside them, Shūichi focused on his Talent Tree—and gasped.
New Notification:
"Student" Talent (now fully unlocked) can merge with "Discipline" to form:
"Prodigy" Talent
Condition: Maintain 100% focus for 100 study hours.
Effect:
10x concentration boost.
+100% mental processing speed.
Retains original talent effects.
Shūichi's hands trembled.
"A 10x focus multiplier?! And doubled thinking speed?!"
Even a 1x boost had let him study flawlessly in chaotic environments.
"At 10x... I might forget to eat or sleep."
More crucially: "Faster thinking means faster reactions—useful in combat too!"