Shinichi Higashino, born in Konoha Year 36, grew up in an orphanage.
As an orphan, he possessed neither a prominent family background nor a special bloodline, yet he had a personal panel that had hovered in his line of sight since birth.
After gradually figuring out the operational logic of this panel, he began a conscious process of "persona management."
Possessing an adult's mindset, he displayed understanding and learning abilities far beyond his age early on, causing the orphanage staff and nearby adults to praise his intelligence.
He etched diligence into his daily routine, taking the initiative to undertake chores in the orphanage from a very young age. From the moment he was old enough to run and jump, he began exercising according to a plan—push-ups, running, jumping—and he would grit his teeth to do even more and heavier sets, solely to leave an impression on others that he had an excellent physical constitution.
Even at the dinner table, he calmly displayed an appetite incongruent with his small frame, finishing a second bowl, then a third, eating cleanly and with focus.
He also cultivated his popularity, mingling with the children in the orphanage, soothing and caring for crying infants, and running errands for the elderly in the neighborhood.
He had even once used the excuse that "future ninjas need strong bodies and strong wills" to invite the children in the orphanage to strike his back and limbs with smooth wooden sticks. Though it hurt, he gritted his teeth without making a sound, and even pretended nothing was wrong the next day, as if that bit of pain was insignificant.
These bits and pieces, whether deliberate or unintentional displays, were like scattered puzzle pieces that eventually converged on his panel into one white trait after another. They were both the "truth" in the eyes of others and the foundation Shinichi had constructed for himself to reach the extraordinary.
Through observation and experimentation over these years, Shinichi gradually groped out certain rules regarding trait generation. The speed and quality of generation seemed closely related to three factors:
The number of people cognizant of a certain trait of his, the depth of their impression regarding that trait, and the strength and status—or rather, the influence—of the observer.
Precisely because of this, today's enrollment display of carrying the rock was merely another carefully orchestrated instance of persona building.
On the opening day of school, the Ninja Academy gate gathered numerous students, parents, and teachers; the flow of people was like a woven tapestry, and the level of attention was far greater than on ordinary days.
It was even possible that the Third Hokage was quietly observing the scene of new students enrolling through some method.
And that Yellow-Grey Rock, with its shocking volume that obscured his entire person, was also a result of his deliberate selection.
This type of rock had a relatively low density, so for the same weight, its volume appeared particularly massive. When people saw it at first glance, the visual impact would be exceptionally strong.
That exaggerated contrast between body size and burden was far more capable of instantly capturing eyeballs than carrying a metal block that was smaller but heavier, deepening the shocking impression of natural supernatural strength and an inhuman physique.
This behavior was a bit flamboyant, but looking around, there were certainly others in the village whose behaviors were even more exaggerated and maverick.
The most critical reason lay in the fact that Shinichi desperately needed to accelerate the generation and upgrading of traits to amplify himself.
To ensure that he could definitely, within the first academic year...
Defeat Kakashi!
Compared to the potential returns, this bit of eye-catching ripple was completely within a bearable range.
Kakashi, go ahead and fully display your shining talent, and let everyone in Konoha acknowledge your title as a genius!
Do not disappoint me!
Shinichi took a deep breath, calming the emotions that surged due to the weight bearing and his first meeting with Kakashi, and walked with steady steps toward the registration desk.
There, a male teacher wearing a green Chunin vest with a capable face was sitting behind a table, methodically processing documents.
"Name?" The teacher asked formulaically without lifting his head.
"Shinichi Higashino."
"Did you bring your admission notice?"
"I brought it, teacher."
Shinichi took the well-preserved notice from his bosom and handed it over with both hands. The Konoha Ninja Academy was open to all school-age children in the village regardless of background, but one still needed to pass a basic assessment before enrollment.
Every year, quite a few children failed to get in; someone like Might Guy had initially failed and only managed to enroll later through a make-up exam based on his taijutsu specialty.
The registration teacher took the notice, his gaze sweeping over the information fields and grade assessments. When he saw the straight "A"s across all subjects, he raised his head, revealing a trace of surprise and approval on his face: "All subjects are A? Not bad, your foundation is very solid."
His tone softened a bit as he glanced at Shinichi's birth date on the notice and asked casually: "You were of age to enroll last year, why come to register only this year?"
Shinichi's face took on his customary, gentle, and slightly apologetic smile as he explained calmly: "Yes, teacher. Last year, due to some personal reasons, I needed to save up a necessary sum of money, so I postponed it for a year. I mostly helped out at the village's blacksmith shop and a restaurant."
This was, naturally, a lie. Shinichi's primary objective for enrolling only this year was to ensure he was in the same year, or even the same class, as Kakashi. Only in this way would the possibility of competing on the same stage during combat classes and assessments increase significantly.
Secondly, this one-year period was also his exploration phase for the "Profession" slot. He didn't even need to find an excuse; for an orphan child to support himself by working and saving money, or even using the surplus to subsidize the orphanage that raised him—sensible, independent, valuing emotion and righteousness—what was there to question?
However, it was a pity that he had tried many professions, and almost none caused any changes.
Only when he studied swordsmanship at a dojo founded by an old samurai said to be from the Land of Iron who had settled in Konoha at its inception, did the originally empty "Profession" column slowly congeal into new writing after a long period: [Swordsmanship Apprentice].
A profession card that slightly improved his physical constitution and accelerated his swordsmanship training, and granted him one chance to directly draw a new white trait.
The registration teacher's gaze subconsciously glanced at the address field on the notice. The expression on his face froze slightly, and the formulaic attitude from before was instantly replaced by a trace of undetectable awkwardness and realization.
He coughed lightly, quickly composing his expression, and looked at the child with the brilliant smile before him, his tone unconsciously softening: "I see... The materials are complete, registration approved. Go over there to pick up your enrollment materials. Work hard in school from now on."
"Yes, thank you, teacher." Shinichi took the form with both hands, bowed politely, and turned to walk toward the materials collection area.
After handling all the enrollment procedures, he walked with a steady gait toward the school gate. Just as he stepped out of the gate, formally putting the Ninja Academy behind him, he suddenly felt something in his heart.
His steps paused slightly, casting his gaze toward the empty space ahead, and silently recited in his mind.
The semi-transparent panel that only he could see quietly emerged.
[Name: Shinichi Higashino]
[Profession: Ninja Academy Student (New), Swordsmanship Apprentice]
[Talents: ...]
[Draw Count: 1 (White)]
His gaze locked firmly on the new line of text that had appeared in the profession column.
[Ninja Academy Student: You have formally become a student of the Ninja Academy and started to systematically accept ninja-related knowledge and training. Under this identity, your perception and control of chakra, understanding of basic ninja theory, mastery of conventional weapons, as well as cultivation efficiency in basic subjects such as Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu, will receive a small increase.]
[Based on the opening of the Ninja profession, from this point on, the cognition and impressions others form of you related to ninja talents will form relevant talent traits. The profession level determines the conversion efficiency of others' cognition of your relevant talents. Reaching the maximum profession level allows you to designate one eligible talent trait to upgrade directly to the highest quality.]
[You have obtained a one-time draw opportunity: Random White Trait × 1 — You may randomly draw one white trait to generate directly.]
...