[Name: Higashino Shinichi]
[Class: Swordsman / Ninja Academy Student]
[Talents: Genius (Blue), Spiritual Perception (Green), Auspicious Omen (Green), Big Eater (Green), Diligence Redeems Dullness (Green), Quick-Witted (Green), Natural Divine Strength (Green), Thick-Skinned (Green), Nimble as a Hare (Green), Swordsmanship Proficiency (Green), Affinity (White), Calm (White), Wind Release Basics (White), Taijutsu Basics (White), Fire Release Basics (White).]
Walking along the path home, the setting sun stretching his shadow, Shinichi habitually sank his mind into the depths of his consciousness, summoning that personal panel visible only to him.
Compared to two years ago, the changes on the panel were not small. [Thick-Skinned (Green)] had replaced the former [Tenacity (White)], and [Nimble as a Hare (Green)] was an upgrade from [Agility (White)]. [Big Eater (Green)] originated from [Glutton (White)], and [Spiritual Perception (Green)] from [Sensory (White)].
In addition, a brand new white trait had appeared on the panel:
[Fire Release Basics (White): Your perception of Fire-attribute chakra is relatively keen, and your control is smoother. When learning and executing basic Fire Release ninjutsu, efficiency and success rate are slightly increased.]
The characteristics of this trait were similar to the [Wind Release Basics (White)] he had drawn earlier, only corresponding to the fire attribute.
Shinichi was initially a bit surprised by its generation; his original intention was to facilitate a more comprehensive trait like [Ninjutsu Basics].
But thinking about it carefully, the reason perhaps lay in the fact that over the past two years of major and minor matches and exams at the academy, the ninjutsu he used most frequently and performed most outstandingly with was always Fire Release.
In the eyes of his classmates and teachers, the impression that "Higashino Shinichi's Fire Release is very strong" was probably much more concrete and profound than the broader perception of "his ninjutsu is very strong." The trait system once again reflected its generation logic based on specific perceptions.
Another phenomenon that made him ponder was the [Taijutsu Basics (White)] trait. Over the past two years, even though he had never slacked off in his display and refinement of taijutsu, it still failed to upgrade to green.
He could only say that during his battle with Kakashi back then, the effect produced by him directly shattering the White Fang's blade technique with his swordsmanship—using the world-renowned Konoha's White Fang as a stepping stone—was far more massive and enduring than he had imagined.
The brilliance of his swordsmanship in that battle had even to some extent overshadowed his solid attainments in taijutsu.
When people mentioned his taijutsu, they might praise his good foundation and great strength, but their deeper amazement and the labels they gave him were far more attracted to his swordsmanship.
As for genjutsu traits, it wasn't that he didn't want to forge one, but there was Kurenai Yuhi in his grade. Not only was her genjutsu talent high, but she also had a genjutsu jonin for a father.
Shinichi truly couldn't think of any method or means to overshadow the brilliance of this genjutsu genius. Furthermore, his initial focus had been entirely on building physical traits.
Later, after Shisui Uchiha enrolled, Shinichi had even less desire to craft a persona around genjutsu talent.
Shinichi withdrew his gaze from the personal panel.
Through more than two years of continuous perception management and refinement, he was very clear that the traits on his panel were still far from abundant or perfect.
If he had ample time, he could absolutely generate more white traits like carving jade, slowly nurturing each white trait into green, and even attempting to touch the higher blue realm, building an impeccable foundation.
However, time was running out.
Based on his fragmented information of the original story and the general graduation age of his class, he calculated that there was only a little over a year left before the ninja world's current, fragile stability was completely shattered.
This was the fundamental reason he decided to graduate early. Originally, his plan had been to make his foundation even more solid before graduating.
But again, time was running out.
Step One: Graduate early and become a genin.
At that time, the class trait [Ninja Academy Student] would naturally advance to [Genin]. This increase in class level would inevitably bring more significant, all-around enhancements related to ninja aptitude.
Moreover, according to previous patterns, a class promotion was almost certainly accompanied by a draw opportunity. A brand new, directly obtainable green trait could immediately reinforce his ability system.
Step Two: Rapid promotion to chunin.
This plan was more radical. He intended to find a way to participate in the Chunin Exams, or through other feasible means, strive to be promoted to chunin as quickly as possible in the same year he graduated as a genin.
Once successful, the [Genin] trait would upgrade again to [Chunin]. This not only meant another leap in class-related buffs, but more crucially, starting from chunin, there might be a chance to trigger a higher-level draw—a blue trait draw opportunity.
With such planning, if everything went smoothly, when the ninja world's situation truly began to destabilize in a little over a year, he would possess:
The stronger buffs of the [Chunin] class trait.
A new green trait obtained from the genin promotion.
A new blue trait potentially obtained from the chunin promotion.
The combination of these three would bring a leap in strength that would allow him to face the impending trials of blood and fire with far more confidence and power, giving him a stronger ability to protect himself in the early stages of the turmoil.
"So the next trait should be the very last one I generate during my academy life."
Shinichi gathered his thoughts and cast his gaze down at his hands.
At this moment, he was slowly rolling two pitch-black, solid iron balls in his palms. This was a habit he had suddenly picked up over a year ago.
To onlookers, this was nothing more than a method of exercise—through the rotation and friction of the iron balls, mobilizing the joints and muscles of the fingers, palms, wrists, and elbows to increase their flexibility and strength, which in turn would benefit the hand-seal speed so crucial to a ninja.
While this reason was certainly valid, Shinichi's purpose went far beyond that.
His deeper intention was to pull off an event that would cause a sensation throughout Konoha, thereby using it to generate a comprehensive ninjutsu-type trait.
Although previously he had only generated attribute-specialized traits like [Fire Release Basics] rather than the broader, comprehensive traits he had anticipated—leaving him slightly feeling his plan hadn't fully succeeded—he was not discouraged.
In fact, he had long prepared a contingency plan on how to mold and ultimately generate a powerful, comprehensive ninjutsu trait. This scheme could even be traced back to shortly after he had entered the Ninja Academy.
It was a long-term plan that required extended study and needed to be detonated at a specific moment.
And that detonation point was at the new term's opening ceremony a few days away.
If everything went smoothly and his scheme was realized, then the trait generated at that time would very likely not be white, or even green.
It would be a blue-grade comprehensive ninjutsu trait!
This would be the final trait he meticulously crafted during his academy life, and it would also serve as the most momentous farewell gift for his early graduation.