Konoha Ninja Academy.
A group of exam candidates waited outside the building.
Inside, a black-haired boy was in the middle of his assessment while the Third Hokage and several academy instructors observed, scoring his performance.
On the floor, the boy moved through each portion of the exam with practiced ease.
Before long, the scores were called out.
"Taijutsu: Excellent." "Clone Jutsu: Excellent." "Transformation Jutsu..." "Overall: Excellent."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing the Hokage's hat, read out the results. He then stood up, picked up a forehead protector, and walked toward the student below.
He handed the forehead protector to him.
"After reviewing your assessment, the academy has approved you for early graduation. Ryohou Jingyan, as of today, you are a Genin."
"Yes! Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
Jingyan accepted it respectfully, a wave of emotion washing over him.
Transmigrated for over a year... after all that ceaseless effort, I've finally met the requirements for early graduation.
At almost the exact same moment, a voice echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations on successfully becoming the Hokage. The Hokage System will now serve you wholeheartedly.]
???
That voice?
A System?
What the hell!
I transmigrated over a year ago, worked my ass off for a full year to graduate early, and you decide to show up now*?*
He was both shocked and overjoyed.
According to the memories of this body's previous owner, Ryohou Jingyan's ancestors were once members of the Senju clan. They branched off after the First Hokage began advocating for inter-clan marriages within the village.
Jingyan was the third generation since the split.
However, his lineage was quite plain. His grandmother didn't possess any special constitution or Kekkei Genkai, and his parents were fairly ordinary ninja, blessed with slightly better-than-average physical health at best. Unfortunately, they had both died on the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
By the time it got to Jingyan, he was even more ordinary, with no discernible special traits.
Because of this, after transmigrating, he had quickly realized that his only path to survival in the brutal ninja world was to work relentlessly, just like Might Guy.
He never expected...
That today, he would awaken a System.
"Wait a second... a Hokage System? What's that supposed to mean? I'm not the Hokage!"
Jingyan was completely bewildered. He looked down at the forehead protector in his hand, then up at the Hokage hat on Hiruzen Sarutobi's head.
I definitely didn't become the Hokage!
"Jingyan, put on your ninja forehead protector."
"Yes!"
Jingyan snapped out of his daze.
He tied the forehead protector around his head, and then—
Another notification sound chimed in his mind.
[Winning the hearts of the people is an essential ability for a Hokage.] [By personally bestowing a forehead protector upon a graduating Genin, you have earned their complete trust.] [Reward: Body Flicker Technique proficiency increased by 1 level.]
Huh?
After confirming he wasn't hallucinating, Jingyan was thoroughly stunned.
Complete trust...
Of course I trust him!
I can even get rewards for putting on my own forehead protector? Is this System an idiot?!
He stood there dumbfounded for a moment before collecting himself.
This System...
It was clearly tailor-made for the "Hokage." But whether he had transmigrated into the wrong body or the System had found the wrong person, it had somehow ended up with him, a mere Genin.
Still, I'm in an examination hall. I have to stay calm!
Jingyan reined in his thoughts and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
This time, his thanks was completely sincere.
If this System had actually fallen into Hiruzen's hands, it would have been a total waste. Given that old man's personality, would he even know how to use it?
He didn't have what it takes!
It was much better off with him.
"Haha, I have high hopes for you. Keep up the good work!" Hiruzen said, patting Jingyan's shoulder.
He then turned to call the next candidate's name.
Jingyan walked out of the room, watching familiar and unfamiliar faces pass by. He couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.
In a decade or so, only a handful of these people will ever make a name for themselves.
The ninja world was a cruel place.
Without a Kekkei Genkai or secret clan jutsu, it was nearly impossible to get ahead.
Over the past year, Jingyan had come to understand all too well how difficult life was for an ordinary person. He had worked hard and fought for every scrap of progress.
But even so, all it amounted to was a better foundation, just enough to meet the standard for early graduation. He was nothing compared to someone like Kakashi, who had graduated long ago.
If things had continued normally, Might Guy would have been his best role model.
Fortunately, he was now one of the lucky ones with a cheat. And by graduating early, he had much more time to train and grow stronger.
You couldn't learn anything truly advanced at the academy.
The Hokage System.
The process was bizarre, but the result was good.
After leaving the exam hall, Jingyan tried a few commands. Finally, the word "Status" summoned a translucent panel into his vision.
On it were familiar lines of text.
...
[Name: Ryohou Jingyan][Age: 7][Kekkei Genkai]: None [Skills]: Transformation Jutsu (Proficient), Clone Jutsu (Proficient), Substitution Jutsu (Expert), Body Flicker Technique (Master)
...
Master-level Body Flicker Technique!
Jingyan suppressed the shock and excitement rising in his chest.
According to the System's grading, jutsu proficiency was divided into five levels: Beginner, Proficient, Expert, Master, and Grandmaster.
The Body Flicker and Substitution techniques were the two jutsu he had spent the most time on, without a doubt.
And yet, for the past six months, his Body Flicker Technique hadn't improved at all.
But now...
A profound understanding of the Body Flicker Technique flooded his mind.
"I see now. A Master-level Body Flicker requires far more minute and detailed control over muscles, strength, and chakra."
Micro-control.
That was the difference between Expert and Master.
Jingyan felt a sense of enlightenment. The feeling was magical, as if he had already practiced it thousands upon thousands of times and could now effortlessly use the "Master-level" Body Flicker.
"If I had to rely on my own training, it would have taken years of grinding to reach the Master level."
"This is incredible!"
"So then..."
"The question now is how to maximize the use of this System."
With no Kekkei Genkai or secret jutsu, Jingyan's best bet to defy his fate and avoid becoming just another casualty in a future war was the System right in front of him.
The events so far proved that it was a rigid program with plenty of loopholes to exploit.
If I were the Hokage, what kinds of things should I be doing?
Jingyan's mind raced.
The reward he just got was for...
Winning the hearts of the people, balancing the village's political factions, making the village stronger and more prosperous...
Contributing in times of war.
Handling the village's daily affairs and missions.
Jingyan summarized a few key points. As a Genin, most of those were impossible for him. For now, the only things he could realistically do were win people's trust and complete missions.
Jingyan fell into deep thought, and then—
Stepping out of the academy gates, he began to test his Master-level Body Flicker.
The minute control...
The muscles, the chakra...
Then.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Jingyan's figure vanished, reappearing at the other end of the street a moment later.
"So fast!"
"My physical body hasn't gotten any stronger, but the effect of my Body Flicker is two or three times what it was before!"
A fiery glint flashed in Jingyan's eyes.
If the Master level is already this good, wouldn't reaching the "Grandmaster" level be completely insane?
However, he could feel that while the ability had been integrated into his body, his eyes and reaction speed had not yet adapted to the new velocity. This caused him to misjudge distance and speed.
I need to train!
Jingyan started running toward his usual training ground on the outskirts of the village, moving like a bolt of lightning.
But...
As he dashed past a public bathhouse...
"Hm?"
A man with a wild mane of white hair turned his head, looking outside.
He saw a young boy sprinting past with incredible speed.
That's fast!
A Body Flicker Technique like that...
Who is he?
His interest was immediately piqued. He glanced hesitantly back inside the bathhouse, but ultimately turned and gave chase, following the direction Jingyan had gone.