Chapter 1: No Errors

"Seiryū, what's your dream?"

"To open a barbecue shop next to a ramen shop. It's safe and profitable."

The summer moonlight spilled into a small courtyard where two children, a boy and a girl, sat on the steps. They looked quite young, probably around six years old.

They were chatting idly.
"Barbecue? Grilled meat?"

"Mm, something like that..."

Kurenai tilted her head cutely and asked tentatively, "Shouldn't it be to become Hokage? That's many people's dream."

Hearing this, Seiryū shook his head like a rattle-drum.

"What's so good about being Hokage? You work yourself to death for so little pay. It's not as profitable as opening a barbecue shop next to a ramen shop."

"And opening a shop next to a ramen shop ensures safety!"

What's so great about being Hokage?

It seemed powerful and influential.

But Seiryū knew very well that it was a mess. Only those hot-blooded types would go all out to become Hokage. Even if someone paid him, he wouldn't do it!

Kurenai poked her chin with her index finger, looking very cute, and asked doubtfully, "But Konoha is very safe now, and the competition for barbecue shops is fierce. As far as I know, Konoha already has several, and their food is quite good!"

It's only safe for now… Seiryū muttered to himself, then explained, "Whether there's competition or profit doesn't matter. The main thing is being able to open a shop next to a ramen shop, that's the key!"

Kurenai: "?"

Not considering competition, not considering profit, then what's the point?

Even though she had been with Seiryū for two months, she still found some of his thoughts and actions hard to understand.

For example.

For some unknown reason, Seiryū hung a sign reading "Shin'ō Academy" on his door... He sat cross-legged on the floor, seriously claiming to be sensing some kind of "Space Shuttle Gate"... She didn't understand it, but she had been deeply shocked!

She had once suspected Seiryū had a few screws loose, but fortunately, he seemed normal most of the time, though he would occasionally blurt out things she didn't quite understand...

Kurenai blinked, looking very adorable, her bright red eyes fixed on Seiryū.
"But do you have money? Opening a shop requires a lot of money!"

At the mention of money, Seiryū's face fell.
"No..."

A single coin can trip a hero. Dreams are dreams precisely because they're hard to realize!

Kurenai's eyes darted around, and she giggled.

"Then become a ninja! Genin can take on missions and get paid well. Once you save enough money, you can open your shop!"

"I get it now!" Seiryū looked at Kurenai, who had clearly revealed her true intentions.

He rubbed her slightly upturned, soft black hair and said, feigning sternness,
"Tell me, did Uncle Shinku send you to do ideological work on me?"

Becoming a ninja... too dangerous!

Look at the current time. The Third Great Ninja War is about to break out. Is this a good time to become a ninja?

She swatted away Seiryū's mischievous hand, feeling a bit guilty and not daring to look directly at him.

"No, no, I... I just..."

Unable to find a good excuse... Kurenai pursed her lips, looking pitiful, and decisively played the emotional card.

"Actually, it's like this. Tomorrow is registration day for the Ninja Academy, and I want you to come with me. If I go alone, I'll be nervous..."

To get Seiryū to attend the Ninja Academy with her, Kurenai decided to make a big sacrifice. She blushed and stammered,
"At worst... at worst... I can call you onii-chan!"

She had noticed Seiryū always wanted her to call him "onii-chan." She wondered what kind of strange hobby that was?

Still, for the pocket money her father had promised, she decided to go through with it.

Of course, she truly did want to go to school with Seiryū... Seeing Kurenai's cute expression, Seiryū couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, though his face remained serious.
"I'm older than you, so I'm naturally your older brother!"

Kurenai snorted softly.

"Liar, I'm taller than you, so I'm the older sister!"

Then she put on a stern face and glared at him.

"Are you going or not? If you don't go, I won't call you anything!"

"Of course I'm going. I naturally have to agree to my little sister's request." Seiryū chuckled, then paused, drawing out the sound.

"However..."

"I'm the older sister!" Kurenai argued, annoyed by his teasing.

"However what?"

Seiryū raised his index finger.
"I want half of your pocket money!"

Kurenai was stunned.
"Eh!? You, you, how did you know!?"

"I heard it yesterday..."

"Darn it, you're so mean, Seiryū! Did you already decide to go to the Ninja Academy and were just messing with me?"

"Not at all. I only agreed because my cute little sister asked me!"

"Hmph! Liar. I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Watching the sulking Kurenai leave, Seiryū couldn't help but smile.

Sitting alone on the steps, looking up at the full moon in the sky, Seiryū sighed and mumbled with emotion.

"Becoming a ninja isn't good, but not becoming a ninja is even worse..."

He sighed, full of melancholy.

Seiryū had been in this world for two months now.

Nothing to say, really, just your average Naruto fanfic orphan.

He woke up in the Yūhi household, adopted by Yuhi Shinku.

Why not in an orphanage?

This was closely related to Seiryū's striking red hair.

In a certain ocean-themed world, red hair was impressive, and those who didn't show respect often suffered. In this world, some red-haired individuals were also incredibly powerful, tracing their bloodlines back to the Sages.

That's right, Seiryū was believed to be a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan, so he naturally received special treatment.

Moreover, he was rescued by Shinku and brought back to Konoha, so of course he stayed with the Yūhi family.

Red-haired people weren't unheard of in this world, but someone going from severely injured and near death to bouncing around energetically overnight was rare. People wouldn't believe there wasn't something special about him.

As for whether Seiryū was actually from the Uzumaki Clan?

Who knew!

Anyway, Seiryū knew that his injuries didn't heal because of some Uzumaki constitution. It was simply because the system wouldn't let its Host die like that.

That's right, the system... Like many transmigrators before him, Seiryū also had a system after arriving here, but this one was so unreliable it left him completely unprepared...

It happened like this:

Seiryū still remembered the first day after transmigrating.

To help Seiryū get familiar with Konoha, Shinku had arranged for Kurenai to show him around...

At that time, Seiryū was just walking down the street when a system prompt suddenly rang out in his mind.

[Achievement Soul King System loaded!]

[This system will strive to help the Host achieve the title of Soul King.]

[As the future Soul King who governs the Three Realms, the Host will use his power to maintain the balance of the Three Realms and solve the problems of all beings within them.]

[This is a grand undertaking for the benefit of all realms, and also the responsibility of the one who rules over them.]

[Host, please report immediately to Shin'ō Academy, activate the system, and begin your legendary journey toward becoming the Soul King step by step!]

"???"

Hearing the strange voice in his mind and seeing the text appear before his eyes, Seiryū subconsciously looked around.

He saw several ninja in green flak jackets with Konoha headbands. He couldn't help but frown in confusion.

"System, are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"

[Ding, this system has no errors. Host, please report to Shin'ō Academy as soon as possible!]

Seiryū: "???"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 2: The System From Another Anime

What should I do?

I'm in the Naruto world. Where am I supposed to find the Shin'ō Academy from Bleach to activate this thing?

And the stupidity doesn't end there. Even if it can't be activated, ever since the first notification, it dings at midnight every day. When asked, it just repeats that there's no error.

Pure noise. Extremely annoying.

Just like now.

[Ding, this system's 61st reminder: Host, please do not slack off. Please report to Shin'ō Academy as soon as possible to activate the system and achieve the Venerable of the Soul King early, fulfilling your responsibility as the Soul King who governs the Three Realms!]

Listening to the system's voice and seeing the text appear again, Seiryū was furious, grinding his teeth.

"I'm in the Naruto world. Where am I supposed to find Shin'ō Academy to activate your dumb system?!"

"And what the hell is 'achieve the Venerable of the Soul King' and 'govern the Three Realms as Soul King'? Anyone who's watched Bleach knows the Soul King is a scam! He was chopped into a limbless torso and sealed away!"

"Even pyramid schemes aren't this shady!"

"Legendary life? More like a torso life!"

Even after two months, Seiryū was still irritated by it. After cursing it out in his heart, he finally felt a bit better.

This idiotic system!

To be honest, transmigrating into the Naruto world and ending up with a system from Bleach... Seiryū couldn't tell if it was a good thing or a bad thing. The good thing is the system can't be activated. The bad thing... is also that it can't be activated.

How is that not depressing?

Of course, as someone with a system, not trying to activate it wouldn't be right. Maybe it was one of those setups where you travel between two worlds?

With that in mind, Seiryū made many attempts over the past two months.

He named his room "Shin'ō Academy," trying to trick the system. He sat cross-legged, attempting to sense some "space-time shuttle gate." As expected, nothing happened.

This is the Naruto world. Where is he supposed to find the actual Shin'ō Academy to activate this thing?

Completely ridiculous.

Aside from saving him from dying at the beginning, this idiotic system is no better than air. It doesn't even qualify as decoration.

To make it worse, it dings on time every day just to harass him.

"Stupid system."

He cursed coldly, then chose to ignore it.
"This thing is useless. I can't rely on it. From now on, I'll have to count on myself…"

To be honest, when he first realized where and when he was, Seiryū panicked a little.

He even thought that being an ordinary person wasn't so bad. At least he wouldn't be sent to the battlefield. The Third Great Ninja War was a meat grinder where even Kage-level ninja could fall.

Not to mention ordinary ninja. They were just numbers, cannon fodder.

Seiryū didn't think his small body, without a cheat or an active system, could survive a war.

It would be better to open a shop next to Ichiraku Ramen. If he played it safe, maybe he could survive until the Boruto timeline. A wife, some kids, a warm home. That wouldn't be too bad either.

But Ichiraku Ramen doesn't exist yet, and he has no idea where it will be built in the future. Plus, opening a shop needs money. Where is a little kid supposed to get money?

No connections either.

Plagiarize some novels from his previous life? Start a cultural takeover of the Naruto world?

Forget it. His school essays in his previous life were never even praised by his teachers.

Without money, he couldn't move an inch. A single coin can trip a hero. That's true in any world.

Of course, that idea of living as an ordinary person came after realizing he couldn't activate the system.

Now, Seiryū had changed his mind.

After these two months of living together, Seiryū had come to view Shinku and Kurenai as family. He didn't want either of them to meet a tragic end.

Shinku dying in the Nine-Tails attack? Kurenai being snatched by some spiky haired guy?

Absolutely not!

The Naruto world is a place where the strong decide everything. If he wanted to change those outcomes, he couldn't do it without strength.

Reluctantly, he could only enter the Ninja Academy and become a ninja.
"So what if I'm a transmigrator with no cheat or active system? I can still make a name for myself in this world!"

"Stupid system, get lost!"

Seiryū refused to believe that someone who knew the plot couldn't make it in this world.

Knowing the plot is his cheat.

As for the system?

Pfft!

"Time to sleep!"

The alarm rang on time. Midnight. Time to go to bed.

Tomorrow was Ninja Academy enrollment day. Since he had decided to take this path, Seiryū wouldn't slack off. Who knew? He might even be a genius.

After all, red hair could mean Uzumaki blood.

Anyone who's watched Naruto knows that besides Kurama, Naruto's other cheat is the Uzumaki physique.

Throughout the entire series, Naruto was ridiculously durable. He could spam Rasengans all day and still be full of energy.

Unlike a certain famous Chakra gauge... Hatake Kakashi. Use a technique once and he's out. Totally not comparable.

Morning.

At the dining table.

Shinku looked at Seiryū with a hint of surprise. His usual serious face even showed a slight smile.

"You've made up your mind?"

Not long ago, this kid was completely against becoming a ninja. Now, he was going on his own?

Sure enough, words from a peer work better than from an adult like him.

Seiryū nodded seriously.

"I can't keep eating your food and using your things, can I? I'm part of the Yūhi family now. Becoming a ninja means I can earn money and help support the household."

Shinku smiled.

"I'm not so poor I can't even feed you, kid. But going to the Ninja Academy and making new friends is a good thing."

There was a 90% chance this kid was a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan. If he didn't become a ninja, that would be a waste of talent.

This was also a mission given by the Third Hokage, to guide this child onto the path of becoming a ninja.

He had put in a lot of effort for this...

Seiryū shrugged.

"Just think of it as me watching over Kurenai. With me around, no one will bully her. I am the older brother, after all."

Kurenai, nibbling on her breakfast, puffed out her cheeks and looked dissatisfied.

"What do you mean! I'm clearly the older sister, okay? And just now... doesn't count!"

Just now, she had called Seiryū "onii-chan" to fulfill their agreement from last night… and her dad overheard. She was furious!

Shinku glanced at his daughter and gave a rare fatherly smile.

She called him "onii-chan" just a moment ago. Why deny it now? Girls' moods change way too fast.

He didn't say anything and smiled at Seiryū.
"Then I'll leave Kurenai to you, her older brother, to look after."

To be honest, aside from sometimes doing things he couldn't understand, Seiryū was usually very reliable.

He had a maturity beyond his age.

Some experiences force people to grow...

"I will," Seiryū nodded, then raised an eyebrow at Kurenai.

The meaning was clear: See? Even your dad confirmed it. I'm your older brother!

"Why am I the younger sister?" Kurenai's small face was full of defiance. Even her own dad said that?

Was it just because she had been forced to say "onii-chan" earlier?

Her lips pouted in frustration, almost able to hang a water jug, and she muttered,
"I'm clearly the older sister..."

She decided, no matter what, she would make Seiryū call her "older sister" voluntarily. Earlier... earlier didn't count!

Soon, the three finished breakfast.

Led by Shinku, they headed to the Ninja Academy.

Not long after, the three arrived at the gates of the Academy.

Today was enrollment day. Parents and children filled the area in front of the Academy.

Seiryū scanned the adults and kids around him and muttered to himself, The timeline in the original story is such a mess. I wonder how many familiar faces I'll see?

The Naruto timeline was just like his system.

Both were the kind of things that made you want to complain every time they were brought up...

Forget it. I'll find out tomorrow once enrollment officially begins.

He shook his head, deciding not to think too much. Everything would be clear tomorrow.

He followed Shinku and Kurenai into the Academy and went to the office to complete the registration process.

However... just as Seiryū stepped through the Academy's main gate, a sudden "ding" sounded in his mind.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 3: Bugging the System

[Ding, detecting Host has arrived at Shin'ō Academy, Achievement Soul King System activating...]

???

The sudden system notification in Seiryū's mind left him filled with questions. He thought he was hallucinating.

What's going on?

Did the stupid system just activate?

Wait, when did he arrive at Shin'ō Academy?

Is this dumb thing malfunctioning again?

Just as Seiryū was confused and completely lost, the system notification rang out again.

[Ding, Achievement Soul King System activated!

[As the Host, the future Soul King who will govern the Three Realms, your starting point is crucial. Shin'ō Academy is the Shinigami training institution of Soul Society and an indispensable part of the Host's path to becoming the Soul King!]

[Mission issued: Become a first-year student at Shin'ō Academy!]

[Mission Reward: Spiritual Pressure aptitude increased!]

...

The repeated notification and the glowing text in front of him made Seiryū fall silent. This wasn't a hallucination. It just made him speechless as he sank into deep thought.

This system isn't just dumb, it's clearly bugged.

Ninja Academy = Shin'ō Academy?

Fine, if that's how it wants to play, so be it.

He had already given up on relying on the system and was mentally prepared to live his life with no cheats, using the system as a glorified bedtime reminder.

He never expected this sudden twist.

Damn it, it really is his ridiculous system. The way it activated is just... clever?

He knew it. Using bugs was the right idea. He just hadn't figured out the correct angle before.

Ninja Academy and Shin'ō Academy did share some common ground. Both were schools for training the next generation. It made sense. It actually made a lot of sense!

No, I can't be too happy just yet. What if this is a false alarm? This dumb system has always been unreliable…

Plus, these are two completely different worlds. Even if the reward is issued, whether it can be used or not is a whole other matter…

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Seiryū reminded himself not to get carried away. He had to wait and see if the mission reward would really be given and whether it would take effect before he could relax.

There was a reason he called this system idiotic. It was just too shady. He had to stay cautious.

Besides, Shinigami and the Naruto world belonged to different settings entirely. Just because the system activated didn't mean the reward would be useful here. And even if it could be used, it might not work the way it should.

Didn't that saying go? Receiving a gift doesn't mean you agreed to it, and getting a reward doesn't mean you can actually use it. If this ended up being a false hope, Seiryū would only feel more frustrated.

Caution is key!

Seiryū thought to himself, The mission is to become a first-year student at Shin'ō Academy. If there's a shared context, it should mean becoming a first-year student at the Ninja Academy, right?

If he remembered correctly, the Ninja Academy also had grade levels.

The Ninja Academy had grades one through six. Shin'ō Academy had first through sixth-year students. There was definitely overlap.

As he continued walking with Kurenai and Shinku, Seiryū's mind was focused on the mission reward.

Looking at the system message, Seiryū muttered, Spiritual Pressure aptitude increased? Spiritual Pressure is the power measurement on the Shinigami side, right? And aptitude increase probably means enhanced talent?

Speaking of Spiritual Pressure, it was how a Shinigami's power level was gauged.

It was divided into twenty ranks.

The higher the Spiritual Pressure rank, the stronger the combat power. Rank three and above meant Captain-level.

If his Spiritual Pressure aptitude increased, that likely meant a talent boost.

Once the mission was completed, he'd see if the reward really worked. If it did... Thinking of the cheat-like life awaiting him, Seiryū couldn't help but grin.

"Hehe…"

Hearing Seiryū's strange laugh, Kurenai tilted her head in confusion.

"Seiryū, what are you laughing about?"

"Cough…" Seiryū coughed lightly, quickly shifting his expression to one of seriousness.

"Just thinking about getting half your pocket money makes me inexplicably happy."

Kurenai stared blankly at Seiryū, then pouted and snapped, "I never agreed to that!"

"Then I'll leave," Seiryū shrugged.

"That way you won't get any pocket money at all."

"You're so unfair!" Kurenai got flustered and tried to bargain.

"No, half is too much. Only... only one-third!"

Seiryū clapped his hands.

"Deal!"

Seeing him agree so easily, Kurenai suddenly realized she'd been tricked again. She raised her hand and pounced angrily.
"Ahhh, hateful Seiryū, you tricked me again! I'm gonna beat you up!"

The little girl's punches were soft and light, more like a massage. Seiryū raised an eyebrow and gestured toward the people around them.

"Stop. People are watching…"

"Mmm…" Prompted by Seiryū, Kurenai noticed the stares and instantly blushed. She quickly stopped, hiding behind Shinku and shrinking her presence.

She glared at Seiryū with eyes that screamed—you just wait!!

Seiryū smiled calmly and returned a meaningful look—One-third of the pocket money!

...Kurenai understood that look perfectly. Her teeth itched with frustration.

But maybe this isn't so bad… Shinku smiled slightly as he watched the two children argue.

Ever since his wife passed away unexpectedly a year ago, Kurenai had changed. Probably not wanting her father to worry, she had become very mature.

Being mature was good, but Shinku preferred his lively daughter. In these past two months since Seiryū's arrival, Kurenai had slowly started to return to her old self.

The enrollment process was simple and quickly completed.

From today on, Seiryū and Kurenai were officially students of the Ninja Academy, Class B, first-year, and desk mates.

As he received his Ninja Academy student ID, Seiryū heard the system notification again.

[Ding, mission completed, reward being distributed...]

Somehow, Seiryū felt a subtle change in his body. It was hard to describe. Warm and somewhat comfortable…

It worked!

Feeling the changes, Seiryū's eyes lit up with excitement. The corners of his mouth curled into a smile that gradually grew wild.

The bug exploit worked.

This meant... in the future, as long as he could find shared traits, he could keep using these system missions and get rewards.

Achievement Soul King System.

The Soul King in Bleach was a scam, reduced to a limbless torso sealed in crystal, forced to become the stabilizing pillar of the Three Realms. Couldn't move, couldn't speak, truly a miserable fate.

Who would want to be that Soul King?

But in the Naruto world, there were no such dangers.

Now, Seiryū had a new goal.

Achieve Soul King status in Naruto!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 4: The Sibling Showdown

Watching Seiryū's smile, Kurenai, who was walking beside him, once again felt like today's Seiryū was doing things she couldn't understand.

He had been acting completely normal just a few days ago!

So why...

She couldn't help but reach out and poke Seiryū's smooth cheek with her small hand. She pursed her lips and asked, "Seiryū, what are you smiling about again? Does getting pocket money really make you that happy? Or... are you actually looking forward to going to school?"

The arrogant smile on Seiryū's face faded. He snapped out of his fantasy of becoming Soul King in the Hokage world and crushing all enemies beneath his feet. Slapping away Kurenai's hand, he grumbled, "Don't mess around."

His skin was still delicate and tender. What if she poked him too hard?

He glared at Kurenai and said seriously,
"What nonsense are you talking about? Who said I'm looking forward to school? If I could just lie around doing nothing, who would bother going to school?"

Kurenai tilted her head.

"Then why were you smiling so weirdly? Did something good happen?"

"Isn't it worth smiling about when you get to go to school with your cute little sister?"

"Eh? So I'm that important?"

Kurenai's face turned slightly red, clearly very pleased by his words. But being called "younger sister" again made her annoyed. She emphasized, "Also, I'm the older sister!"

Seiryū wasn't as tall as her.

An older sister should be taller and stronger than her younger brother. She needed to firmly establish this image in Seiryū's mind.

"Let me clarify. You were born in June, and I was born in May. I'm a month older, which makes me the older brother!" Seiryū said firmly.

How could someone with a mental age over twenty call a little girl "older sister"?

Impossible. Absolutely not.

He didn't actually know his real birthday, but he decided he had to be older than Kurenai.

Kurenai pouted.

"But last time you..."

Not giving her a chance to finish, Seiryū interrupted and quickly made up an excuse,
"Back then, I wasn't familiar with the place or the people. You didn't know me, and I didn't know you. One has to be cautious and not reveal their true identity too soon.

Understand?"

"Hmm..." Kurenai was briefly confused by his explanation, but she wasn't completely convinced.

She crossed her arms.

"I don't care. I'm the older sister! Unless... you can beat me. Starting today, we're ninja. Ninja settle things with strength. Whoever's stronger is the older one!"

Seiryū burst into arrogant laughter again.
"You said it!"

Hehehe, did she really think she could suppress him?

Now that the system was activated and its rewards were effective, how could he, a cheater, possibly lose to this little girl?

Ridiculous!

Kurenai snorted with confidence.
"Of course. I'm not like you, who always goes back on his word. Once you can use your chakra, we'll have a match to determine who's the older sibling."

"Pfft, who's the older brother or sister? We'll see soon enough."

In her mind, she was sure to win. After all, she had already been training her Chakra for half a year.

And Seiryū? He had been completely against becoming a ninja before and hadn't even started Chakra training. He was far behind her, with no chance of winning!

Seiryū clapped his hands.

"Alright, deal. Uncle Shinku, you're our witness. I'm afraid Kurenai might go back on her word."

Kurenai puffed her cheeks.

"I won't go back on my word!"

"Hahaha!" Shinku couldn't help laughing as he watched the two bicker. He nodded and said, "I can be the witness. But as the older brother, you should be more tolerant of Kurenai."

He was well aware that Seiryū most likely had a special constitution. Recovering from near-fatal injuries overnight strongly suggested he was part of the Uzumaki Clan.

His daughter had decent talent, but it all depended on the comparison.

If Seiryū was indeed Uzumaki, his future achievements would surely be impressive.

Seiryū nodded.

"Next time, for sure!"

"..."

Kurenai pouted again, her cheeks puffed like a steamed bun, silently expressing her disapproval of her father's statement.

They hadn't even fought yet. Why was her father already siding with Seiryū?

She was not happy.

Seeing her expression, Shinku smiled awkwardly and quickly said, "Sorry, sorry. Father was wrong. Please forgive me!"

Kurenai's mood shifted quickly. She wasn't truly angry, just a bit displeased. Hearing her father apologize, she giggled and said brightly, "Then I want to eat dango. Double portion!"

Shinku smiled and nodded.
"Alright, alright."

Seiryū glanced at her.

"That stuff is way too sweet. If you eat too much, you won't be a cute little girl anymore. You'll turn into a little chubby girl."

Kurenai glared.

"No way. I'm naturally beautiful!"

The three of them chatted and laughed as they left the Ninja Academy. Today was just registration. Tomorrow would be the actual first day of class.

On the way home, Shinku was summoned to the Hokage's Office by an Anbu.

Kurenai and Seiryū walked home together.

Watching Kurenai eat dango one bite at a time like a little hamster, Seiryū couldn't help but comment, "If you eat that much, you won't be able to eat lunch. And this stuff is way too sweet. Don't you get tired of it?"

Kurenai's cheeks were puffed as she chewed her dango. She looked adorably smug.

After swallowing, she gave him a knowing look.

"Girls actually have two stomachs. One for sweets, and one for everything else."

Then she popped another dango into her mouth.

Seiryū: "..."

So now biology doesn't exist?

As he stared at her, Kurenai carefully moved the remaining dango behind her back and looked defensive.

"No. You can't have even one!"

"..."

Was she seriously guarding her food from him?

"Just don't turn into a chubby little girl."

"Hmph, I won't! I told you, I'm naturally beautiful!"

Seiryū suddenly had the urge to tease her. As they walked, he said casually, "There's a saying: 'You are what you eat, and you become what you shape.' I once saw a girl who ate too much dango, and eventually..."

He trailed off, deliberately building suspense.

Gulp Kurenai swallowed her bite. Seeing how mysterious Seiryū looked, she got a little nervous.

"She... turned into a dango?"

"..."

Seiryū's mouth twitched. What kind of logic was that?

Chapter 11: First Day Chaos at the Academy

The next day.

It was the first day of the Ninja Academy.

After finishing breakfast, Seiryū and Kurenai headed toward the Ninja Academy together. Their steps were hurried, and they were almost late. Along the way, Kurenai grumbled at Seiryū, "This is all your fault! What if we're late and leave a bad impression on the teacher?"

Seiryū replied indifferently, "Don't worry. If we're late, we're late. We might not even have real classes today. We're just going to school to meet some friends."

Yesterday, he had been studying Bakudō #1: Sai. Since he wasn't used to not having a system alarm reminding him to sleep, he had lost track of time and only fell asleep when fatigue finally caught up to him late at night. However, this also led Seiryū to discover something unusual about his body.

Overnight, the injuries and fatigue from yesterday's training had completely healed. Even though he had only slept for two or three hours, he felt full of energy in the morning.

Seiryū wasn't sure whether this was due to the improvement of his Spiritual Power Aptitude or if he truly had the Uzumaki Clan bloodline.

It was worth mentioning that after some experimentation, Seiryū had already managed to use the reward he received yesterday for "defeating Ochiai Rumi," Bakudō #1: Sai, in this world.

This was reasonable, as Kido and Ninjutsu had similar foundations.

The only difference was the driving force, which had changed from Reiatsu to Chakra.

Bakudō #1: Sai was a basic technique for controlling Reiatsu and didn't yet involve transforming it into elemental properties.

It was also likely that because it was a low-level Bakudō, Sai didn't have a corresponding incantation.

Its effect was to paralyze and bind the target's limbs, restricting their movement. It wasn't particularly destructive, but it was practical and useful in combat.

As for its effectiveness, that depended entirely on the user's skill and Chakra control. The same technique could vary widely in power depending on who used it.

Seiryū still didn't know if he would be able to replicate Kido that required an incantation or involved elemental attributes in the future.

He hadn't received enough rewards yet... Kurenai glared at Seiryū. "Hurry up! We really are going to be late!"

Seiryū sighed. "Alright, alright."

The two quickened their pace, but when they arrived at the Ninja Academy, specifically First Year Class B, they were spectacularly late. Another student was also late.

It was a small boy wearing a track jacket, goggles, and spiky hair. He was sprinting and shouting his excuse, "I'm sorry, Teacher! I was helping an old lady cross the street, so I..."

Realizing others were late as well, he inexplicably let out a sigh of relief and even glanced at Seiryū and Kurenai with a look of "fellow sufferers." Seiryū looked over and instantly recognized him, muttering in his heart, Late on the first day. Obvious signs...

The future big boss, Uchiha Obito.

He never expected the first "acquaintance" he'd meet at school would be such a heavyweight.

Seiryū curled his lip and maliciously guessed in his heart, But does Konoha really have that many old ladies? Could Uchiha Madara have White Zetsu impersonate them?

Where would Konoha find so many old ladies to help across the street?

Seiryū felt maybe Uchiha Madara had White Zetsu impersonate them... Since it was the first day of school, the Chūnin teacher, who had thinning hair and whose name was unknown, didn't press too much on why the three of them were late.

After a light reminder to be punctual in the future, he let the three return to their seats.

The Chūnin teacher clapped his hands to get the students' attention. He cleared his throat and began his opening speech. "Hello, students. Starting today, you are... blah blah blah..."

After a motivational speech, he began his self-introduction. "I am the teacher for First Year Class B. You can call me Oda-sensei."

The students in the class respectfully addressed their new teacher, shouting "Oda-sensei" in a slightly chaotic chorus. Only Seiryū almost laughed out loud, barely stopping himself from blurting out, "Oda-sensei, what exactly is ONE PIECE?" He held it in. No laughing.

Oda smiled and continued, "Well then, let's start the first class with self-introductions so that everyone can get to know each other, and I can learn more about you all."

Oda glanced around, then pointed to one of the latecomers who happened to be sitting in the first seat. He smiled and said, "You go first."

"Yes, Sensei!" Obito wasn't shy at all. He stood up and adjusted his goggles.

Trying to leave a good impression on his classmates, he confidently said, "My name is Uchiha Obito. I'm five years old. My favorite food is ramen. I don't have many hobbies. My dream is... to become Hokage!!"

As soon as he said that,

The expressions of the students in the class varied. Some were impressed, some indifferent, and some seemed to have found a like-minded friend.

However, few showed disdain or mockery.

After all, becoming Hokage was a dream many people had.

Six out of ten kids probably had the same goal.

Of course, having the courage to declare it so confidently in front of everyone wasn't something just anyone could do. This Uchiha kid really was something.

Impressive, seriously impressive.

There are quite a few familiar faces... Sitting in his seat, Seiryū looked around at the other students, trying to recognize any "acquaintances."

Suddenly, someone poked his waist, making his body twitch. He turned and saw Kurenai raising an eyebrow at him.

Seiryū somehow understood what she meant—Look, this is what normal people think! Only you would have a dream like opening a barbecue restaurant next to a ramen shop!

Ignoring her, he reminded himself, No whispering in class!

Clap clap clap...

The Chūnin teacher, Oda, clapped his hands in encouragement. He was used to hearing this kind of thing,

but this was the first time someone had said it with such confidence.

The combination of being late and this bold declaration made Obito stand out in his mind. He smiled and said, "That's a great dream. I hope student Obito works hard."

"Next is..."

"..."

One by one, the students introduced themselves. The class atmosphere remained lively, and applause continued... until a cool-looking boy stood up to introduce himself. The class fell silent for a moment, then erupted.

No one could help it. His introduction could be summed up in one sentence—My father is the Hokage, and I will surpass the Hokage in the future!

He was the Hokage's son, Sarutobi Asuma!

Seiryū couldn't help but mock inwardly, Six points. An essay titled 'My Father.' If you're not in it, I'm not reading it!

Beside him, Kurenai started poking his waist again, giving him a look that said: Look, he's the Hokage's son, and his dream is to surpass the Hokage. Learn from him and stop obsessing about opening a barbecue restaurant next to a ramen shop!

"..." Seiryū slapped Kurenai's hand away. His waist was ticklish. It really tickled!

He glared at her. Stop poking my waist!

As if she had found one of Seiryū's weaknesses, Kurenai was amused by his reaction and covered her mouth to giggle.
"Hehe…"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 12: Astronaut Dream

Seiryū scanned the students in the classroom and indeed spotted many "acquaintances" with unique appearances.

For example, the boy in the green jumpsuit who had just introduced himself, revealing a mouthful of white teeth and claiming his hobby was training, was Might Guy, the same person who nearly kicked the series to its end in the later parts of the original story. Behind him sat Kakashi Hatake, with white, broom-like hair and a mask covering the lower half of his face. In the front left sat a girl with short brown hair and purple markings on her cheeks, Nohara Rin. As for other well-known characters from the original work, Seiryū didn't spot anyone familiar.

He wondered if they were in another class, hadn't enrolled yet, or if their features simply weren't distinct enough for him to recognize without an introduction.

Talented individuals everywhere.

That was Seiryū's evaluation of this class.

Hmm, Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, Seiryū... scratch that, Guy, Obito... these people are my classmates, same year, same class, irrefutable proof, I saw it with my own eyes!

As mentioned before, the timeline in the Naruto manga was extremely chaotic, just as unreliable as the system itself. Thinking too hard about it was pointless.

Especially this point in time, which was rarely mentioned in the original series.

What does Kishimoto know about Naruto? When it comes to the current timeline, he probably knows less than Oda-sensei standing on the podium.

And certainly less than Seiryū.

He had seen it with his own eyes!

The introductions continued. Through them, Seiryū recognized another "acquaintance," Shiranui Genma. At this point, he wasn't chewing on a toothpick yet, so his features weren't very distinct, and Seiryū had completely overlooked him.

It wasn't until he said his name that Seiryū realized who he was.

Oh, and there was Ebisu, who also wouldn't be recognizable without his signature sunglasses. Of course, there were also other students with obvious features: the one with cataracts, the one with a billiard cue embroidered on their clothing, and those with the surnames Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and Inuzuka. This class really was full of talent. Could this have been arranged by the Third Hokage?

Next, it was Kurenai's turn to introduce herself.

The young girl seemed a little nervous and uneasy. What she had told Seiryū earlier wasn't a lie. She really was anxious about attending school alone.

Her voice wasn't loud. "I... my name is Yuhi Kurenai. I'm six years old this year, and my favorite food right now is dango... My dream is to become a kunoichi like Lady Tsunade of the Sannin!"

Clap, clap, clap...

Perhaps because Kurenai was cute, the class responded with enthusiastic applause.

Seiryū also noticed a certain cool-looking kid, Asuma, whose eyes lit up when he saw Kurenai.

Children in this world were generally precocious. They understood romance at a young age.

He couldn't understand it. He couldn't figure it out.

Didn't Obito, at only thirteen years old, have his entire personality change because of the death of the girl he liked? From a chuunibyou to someone dark, profound, and cruel?

He vowed to destroy the world and create an ideal world.

World peace wasn't the point. The point was whether Rin was there!

Terrifying!

While he was lost in thought, it was Seiryū's turn to introduce himself. As a young man with a mental age of twenty-something, Seiryū wasn't shy. He stood up straight away.

He instantly drew a lot of attention, especially from the girls, whose eyes lit up.

A little red-haired shota!!

Seiryū began, "My name is Seiryū. I'm Kurenai's older brother. My favorite foods are barbecue and grilled meat. I don't really have any hobbies, but if I had to say, eating and sleeping, and then sleeping and eating, would that count?"

"Dreams, well, I have quite a few."

"My first dream is to open a barbecue shop next to a ramen shop. That way, it'll be both profitable and safe. My second dream is to have a warm family, with a wife and children, and live until I die of old age. My third dream is to become an astronaut. My grandparents would be very happy. And my biggest dream is for peace in the Ninja World. That's all."

Seiryū sat down.

The classroom, however, fell silent for a moment. The teachers and students looked at each other in confusion.

What a unique self-introduction. Compared to the others, this was a clear breath of fresh air. Most people only had one dream, but you... you actually had four?

And none of them were related to being a ninja. What's up with that?

Also, what is an astronaut?

Why would grandparents be happy?

And lastly, wishing for peace in the Ninja World... can dreams even be that big?

They didn't understand, but they were amazed!

Seiryū is doing incomprehensible things again... Kurenai covered her face. Couldn't he just introduce himself normally?

She didn't even understand half the things he said... "Ha, haha..." Oda let out a dry laugh. This made an even deeper impression on him than Uchiha Obito.

This batch of students was incredibly unique. "Seiryū-kun's dreams are very good. Work hard to achieve them. Alright, you can sit down now."

"..."

With dozens of people, the self-introductions alone took up the entire class period.

The bell rang, and Oda announced the end of class before leaving the room... The classroom immediately became lively. Some students who already knew each other gathered to chat.

Others were more aloof, sitting silently like meditating monks. Calm and composed, just like that masked, broom-haired kid...

"Hello, my name is Asuma. Sarutobi Asuma!" The cool kid walked over to Kurenai and Seiryū, clearly emphasizing the "Sarutobi" part.

He was afraid people wouldn't know he was the Hokage's son.

He glanced at Seiryū and ignored him for now. Asuma then flashed what he believed was a charming smile and said to Kurenai, "You're Kurenai, right?"

Facing Asuma, the Hokage's son, Kurenai merely nodded politely. "Mm..."

Seiryū gave Asuma a sidelong glance. "What? Something wrong?"

Asuma was annoyed that Seiryū interrupted. He wasn't here to talk to him. But since he was Kurenai's brother, he held back.

He still smiled politely. "I just wanted to get to know you two."

"Oh." Seiryū nodded. "Her name is Kurenai. My name is Seiryū. Hello, Asuma. We've met."

"Huh?" Asuma rarely encountered people who didn't go along with him.

He was the Hokage's son. And they talked to him like that?

Interesting!

Asuma gave a dry laugh and revealed his real goal. "Uh, Seiryū-kun, my eyesight isn't very good, and I can't see the blackboard clearly from that seat. Could I possibly swap seats with you?"

His real intention was exposed!

Seiryū was stunned. Good grief, that forward?

So cringe!

If he'd had even a tenth of that boldness in his past life, he wouldn't have been single for so long!

Seiryū looked him up and down, then acted surprised. "Asuma-kun, if you're sick, go see a doctor. This isn't something you can fix by switching seats..."

Asuma: "..."

He was at a loss for words.

"Well, uh... you're right. I'll go get my eyes checked. I'm really sorry to have bothered you two..." Asuma was completely rejected and smiled awkwardly.

He had no face to stay, so he left a remark and returned to his seat.

As the Hokage's son, his upbringing was very strict.

He wouldn't get angry over something like this. He wasn't that petty. Just a little resentful.

He, the Hokage's son, made a request and actually got rejected?

But it was fine. At least they didn't treat him like the Hokage's son or try to suck up to him. This was someone worth getting to know.

And he was Kurenai's brother.

He'd remember this!!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 13: Study Secrets

Kurenai poked Seiryū's waist, leaned in, and whispered, "Seiryū, do you have some problem with him? Did he make you mad?"

Although Seiryū rarely interacted with people outside their circle, he was usually polite.

So why did he seem to have an issue with Asuma, the Hokage's son?

Grabbing Kurenai's mischievous hand—why was she poking his waist again?—Seiryū whispered, "I don't have a problem. But bad eyesight really can't be solved by just changing seats. It's an illness. And if it's an illness, then he needs to see a doctor."

Kurenai nodded thoughtfully. "That's right. He's the Hokage's son. If he's sick, why doesn't he get treated?"

The girl clearly hadn't grasped the true meaning behind Asuma's earlier words. She seemed a little slow when it came to emotional cues.

"Who knows? People's thoughts are weird," Seiryū shrugged.

He glanced toward Kakashi. "Look at Hatake Kakashi, the one Uncle Shinku mentioned. It's so hot right now, and he still wears that mask. Isn't that strange?"

Kurenai looked over too and found it odd. After thinking about it for a moment, she nodded firmly. "Just like you, Seiryū. Sometimes you do things others don't understand, and other people do strange things too? I get it now!"

Applying the logic to Seiryū, she suddenly felt enlightened.

So it wasn't just Seiryū who behaved strangely. Other people also did inexplicable things.

From now on, she shouldn't think there was something wrong with Seiryū's brain. She was just behind the times!

Seiryū: "..."

You don't get it at all!

When did he ever do things people couldn't understand?

This was slander. Slander! He was perfectly normal!

Since it was only the first day, there was no rush to make friends. Seiryū and Kurenai chatted casually at their desks until the bell rang shortly after, signaling the next class.

Oda walked to the podium, textbook in hand. He cleared his throat and began, "You've all received your textbooks, right? Turn to the first page. Today, I'll be teaching about the 'Will of Fire.'"

"This is a will, a spirit, proposed by First Hokage-sama, Senju Hashirama. It is also Konoha's most precious treasure…"

After a lot of blah blah blah, the other students listened intently, but Seiryū grew extremely drowsy.

They're just blindly promoting selfless devotion, fearless sacrifice, collective effort, and putting the greater good above all else… Even pyramid schemes aren't this bad. At least those offer some benefits first…

Seiryū shook his head. If someone tried this kind of sales pitch in his previous life, even elementary schoolers wouldn't fall for it.

This propaganda wasn't convincing at all.

They just asked people to give and sacrifice, go to the battlefield, without even mentioning any benefits. They relied entirely on that hollow phrase, "For the sake of Konoha," to make people shed their blood and sweat?

This might not work in his past life, but in this world, it actually worked. The level of awareness was different, and the concept of critical thinking barely existed here.

For Konoha shinobi, the slogan "For the sake of Konoha" was more than enough. Especially since the Hokage did act when needed and wasn't just shouting slogans...

Of course, Seiryū still felt it was ridiculous. He was just a kid, and they were already trying to brainwash him into sacrificing himself on the battlefield?

This was messed up.

Even if you want to start them young, this was too early...

Over the next stretch of time,

Life remained peaceful.

The signs of the Third Great Ninja War had yet to fully emerge. The major hidden villages were only engaging in minor skirmishes, and no large-scale conflicts had broken out yet.

These weren't things a student like Seiryū needed to worry about.

The Ninja Academy curriculum advanced steadily, cycling through theory, physical training, chakra insights, and history. It was even more intense than elementary school in his past life...

Take ninja tool throwing, for example. Would you believe they needed to apply math knowledge to calculate the trajectory arc?

Fortunately, Seiryū was extremely talented and learned quickly. Having completed nine years of compulsory education and some beyond that in his past life, this was no challenge at all!

His written test scores were firmly in first place, followed by Kakashi in second, with Kurenai in third...

Kakashi really lived up to his title as the genius who graduated at five and became a Chūnin at six. Compared to the other little kids, he truly stood out. Calling him a genius wasn't an exaggeration.

Seiryū, though, was even more of a prodigy. Aside from the "reading comprehension" section on the Will of Fire, where he couldn't guess the grading teacher's "intended answer," he scored full marks on every other test!

He completely crushed the rest of the class.

On top of that, with his appearance—red-haired shota style, cuter than the aloof, masked Kakashi—he was much more popular with the girls.

His popularity in class was solidly ranked number one, completely outshining Kakashi.

There were even faint signs that Kakashi viewed him as a rival...

Nearly a month passed during this time.

The Academy still didn't arrange any practical combat training, focusing mainly on building strong foundations.

The students gradually got to know each other. As if guided by fate, bonds were silently forming between them... except for the transfer student Seiryū.

During a break.

Obito, wearing his goggles, came over and quietly asked Seiryū, "Seiryū, do you have a special way of studying? We attend the same classes, so how are your grades so good? Even that arrogant guy Kakashi can't beat you!"

Because Kakashi and Rin were deskmates and sat right in front of him, Obito was deeply unhappy. The girl he liked was sharing a desk with someone else?

Unacceptable!

What was even worse was that Kakashi's grades were excellent. He had even heard Rin asking Kakashi for help with schoolwork. How could he put up with that?

So, he came over to consult Seiryū, the number one in their class, hoping to get some tips.

"Oh, it's Obito." Although Seiryū didn't keep his distance from Obito, the future big boss, their relationship was nothing more than regular classmates.

But seeing him come over to ask questions, Seiryū didn't act standoffish either. One reason his popularity stayed high in class was because he was approachable and kind. He shrugged. "You can't learn my method."

Obito blinked. "Why not?"

Seiryū shook his head and sighed. "Because it's talent. Talent can't be learned. You're either born with it or you're not."

Obito didn't believe him. "Hmph. If you don't want to say it, just say so. So stingy!"

Seiryū smiled. "But it's not like there's no way to improve your test scores."

Obito's eyes lit up, and he immediately leaned in. "What is it? Tell me!"

"Do more practice problems. As long as you do enough, your scores will go up," Seiryū said, his tone turning serious and deep. "Why do you think Kurenai placed third on the written exams?"

Before Obito could reply, Seiryū answered for him. "It's because she did enough practice problems. Only by accumulating little by little can one succeed."

Kurenai, who was nearby and overheard the words "practice problems," shuddered involuntarily. Her beautiful red eyes filled with horror, as if recalling some traumatic memory.

That was hell...

(To be continued.)

Chapter 14: Exam Practice? Sounds Like a Scam!

Not noticing Kurenai's reaction, otherwise Obito definitely wouldn't have continued the topic. His attention caught by the words "exam practice," he looked at Seiryū in confusion and asked, "Exam practice? What does that mean?"

So the reason Seiryū and Kurenai's grades were so excellent was... exam practice?

He became curious.

He wanted to improve his grades too!

Seiryū answered honestly, "A student's essentials. Three years of mock exams, five years of entrance exams... ah, I'm going off track. In short, it's a great thing that helps you raise your scores!"

Seiryū was genuinely worried about his sister Kurenai.

How could someone who ranked first on the test have a silly sister who only scored average?

Unacceptable.

Kurenai had to keep up with him.

The Third Great Ninja War was like a sword hanging over their heads, ready to fall at any moment. Don't be fooled by how Kurenai survived all the way to the Boruto era in the original story.

But now things were different.

Because of his appearance, the butterfly effect had already started. Who knew how the future would change? The stronger Kurenai became, the safer she would be.

"…" Kurenai, who had been secretly eavesdropping with her ears perked up, shivered again after hearing Seiryū's words.

She thought to herself, if she hadn't asked Seiryū how to raise her grades back then, maybe she wouldn't have to endure this kind of hell now.

Every day after school, she had to do exam practice. A lot of it.

Her grades had gone up, but the suffering behind it... only she truly understood.

Obito was a brave soul, willingly stepping into hell.

She was deeply moved!

"That…" Obito's eyes lit up. He rubbed his hands together awkwardly and said, "Seiryū, can you let me see this exam practice too? I want to improve my grades…"

Seiryū purposely showed a troubled expression. "Those questions... were all carefully written by me, word by word..."

Obito immediately understood. He waved his hand generously. "Don't worry, I'm not someone who takes advantage of others. Learning advanced Ninjutsu costs money, so something that can raise grades should too. Just tell me, how much?"

"As expected of the prestigious Uchiha Clan, so generous!" Seiryū gave him a thumbs-up and praised him sincerely.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "It's nothing too expensive. How about the price of a C-rank Ninjutsu scroll? We're classmates, so I'll give you the friendship price!"

Ordinary civilians also had ways to learn Ninjutsu. They could borrow scrolls from the library or hire private tutors, all of which cost money.

Of course, only C-rank and above required payment. E-rank and D-rank were the most basic and could be borrowed freely from the library.

Without money, you couldn't do anything. Seiryū felt that making money should start from a young age.

Obito thought about it and felt it wasn't expensive at all. "Okay!"

He still had plenty of inheritance left from his parents. Let alone a C-rank scroll, even a B-rank would be fine.

Seiryū wouldn't scam him. Especially since the results were obvious.

They were all around the same age, same intelligence level. He refused to believe he would fall behind just because of method!

A paying customer had arrived, and Seiryū greeted him with a big smile. "I'll organize the questions and bring them tomorrow. I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

Obito thanked him sincerely. "Then I'll leave it to you!"

"Hmm…" Kurenai rested her chin in her hand as she watched the grateful Obito. Her eyes flickered with pity, admiration, and confusion.

Someone actually paid money for that?

Was life going too well for him?

So weird.

Seiryū, Kakashi, Asuma, and... oh, also Guy. None of their actions made any sense.

Now Obito too.

Was she really just behind the times?

But... but… she still felt this wasn't normal behavior...

At that moment, Asuma also leaned over. He had heard the conversation between Seiryū and Obito and couldn't help but speak up. "You had something like this and didn't share? I knew it. How else could your grades be so high? So there was a trick!"

He, the dignified son of the Hokage...

His written exam score was only fourth. That didn't make sense.

His family had hired plenty of private tutors, and yet he still couldn't beat Seiryū, Kakashi, and Kurenai.

Wasn't that embarrassing?

And how would he get Kurenai's attention like this?

"Asuma, you want it too?" Seiryū's eyes lit up. This guy had money. The Hokage's son, after all.

Still smiling, Seiryū was like a walking advertisement. "You're already in fourth place without exam practice. If you train seriously, you might even surpass me and take first!"

"No, I'll rely on myself!" Asuma's eyes kept drifting toward Kurenai. Seeing that she was also looking at him—though... he couldn't read her expression.

But he still puffed out his chest and declared confidently, "Next time on the written exam, I'll beat you and take first place!"

"…If you don't want it, then why join the conversation?" What a waste of a sales pitch.

Seiryū's tone changed instantly. He said indifferently, "Then go study. I believe in you."

"Hmph!" Asuma twitched at the corner of his mouth. Too realistic. His tone changed faster than a Transformation Jutsu.

With a displeased snort, he said, "You might be first in written exams, but the practical class this afternoon is another story. I'll be number one there!"

For nearly a month, every time he wanted to talk or get close to Kurenai, Seiryū would interrupt and watch him closely.

It made him furious.

What made him even angrier was how popular Seiryū was. The girls really liked him. Even though he was the Hokage's son, he didn't get that kind of treatment. So what if he was handsome? So what if he got first place?

He had to win back his pride. This afternoon's practical class would be his chance to defeat Seiryū.

Written exams meant nothing. Looks meant nothing. A ninja proved himself with strength. He would show the other girls, and Kurenai too.

He, Asuma Sarutobi, was the strongest!!

Seiryū: "Oh."

"Just you wait!" Asuma took a deep breath and clenched his fists.

Too infuriating. He swore he would surpass Seiryū in the practical class this afternoon.

With a snort, he turned and returned to his seat.

"Oh right, we have practical class this afternoon…" When the practical class was mentioned, Obito seemed a little less confident. He already knew what it would be—ninja tool throwing. "Seiryū, are you confident?"

Seiryū sighed. "Not really. I'm not very hands-on. Especially with throwing ninja tools, I miss the target a lot. It's really hard…"

"Same here. I also miss the target when I train at home. Guess it's just something you improve through constant practice…" Obito sympathized.

But he also secretly felt relieved. So Seiryū didn't know everything after all. He gained a little confidence again and became determined to perform well this afternoon to catch Rin's attention!!

Seiryū kept sighing. "Yeah, yeah."

Obito encouraged him, "Just try your best this afternoon. I believe you won't do too badly!"

Seiryū nodded. "I'll try."

"…" Listening to their conversation, Kurenai opened her mouth but didn't know what to say...

The "missing the target" Seiryū referred to and the "missing the target" Obito mentioned were completely different things.

Missing the bullseye counts as missing the target? Is that how you describe it?

Seiryū was too much of a bully!!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 15: Nine Bullseyes and One Broken Ego

The afternoon lesson was the practical session for ninja tool throwing.

Standing in front of a row of wooden targets, Oda looked at the students, cleared his throat, and announced, "I've already taught you the technique for throwing ninja tools. Today, let's see how much progress you've made."

"Of course, don't be discouraged if your scores aren't great. This is just a small practical test."

"So, who wants to go first?"

The Ninja Academy curriculum followed a fixed schedule. What classes were taught and when was all pre-arranged.

The first month focused entirely on laying a foundation, such as chakra refinement and basic theory. Practical training was only introduced once students had grasped the essentials.

Ninja tool throwing was one of the first and most basic forms of application, and an essential skill for all shinobi.

"Teacher, I'll go first…" Kakashi, who ranked second in the written exam, raised his hand. Highly motivated, his competitive spirit was strong.

Losing the written exam to Seiryū had bothered him.

He absolutely had to shine here and take the lead.

Kakashi's performance was flawless. Of the ten senbon he threw, six hit the bullseye directly, one was very close, and the rest all landed within the target.

Not a single miss.

For a five-year-old, this was an astonishing result.

Even Chūnin Oda was surprised. He applauded enthusiastically and exclaimed, "That's a very impressive score. Even students in the upper years might not manage this!"

Clap, clap, clap!

The class broke into applause, marveling at Kakashi's skill. Not only were his written test scores excellent, but his tool-throwing technique was also strong.

Truly deserving of the title of class genius.

Now, everyone was curious how Seiryū, who had beaten Kakashi in the written exam, would perform in comparison.

Chapter 21: Rin’s Curiosity

To be honest.

Quite a few people were interested in the "notebook" that Obito had bought from Seiryū, and they would occasionally glance in his direction. These included Kakashi, Asuma, Genma, Ebisu, and others.

Rin was also among them.

Seeing Obito scratching his head and looking completely distressed, the young girl could not help feeling curious.

Taking advantage of the break, she turned around and softly spoke to Obito, who was sitting behind her. "Obito-kun, may I take a look at those problems?"

Rin's gentle voice entered Obito's ears. The moment he heard it, the gloomy expression on his face vanished, as if all negative effects had been cleansed at once.

He nodded hurriedly. "O of course you can."

But then he suddenly remembered something and scratched his head. "Ah, wait. I should ask Seiryū first. I can only show them to you after getting his permission."

This was an unspoken rule.

In Konoha, knowledge was considered private property.

Just like unique ninjutsu taught by a teacher, it could not be passed on to others without the consent of the owner.

"That's true." Rin stuck out her tongue and blushed slightly.

She had been too curious and forgot that this kind of thing required Seiryū's permission. She did not mean it intentionally.

Rin's cute reaction made Obito's heart race. He immediately said, "Then I'll go ask Seiryū."

He quickly ran over and asked.

"Yes. As long as you don't copy them, you can show them to anyone," Seiryū replied, clearly not bothered by it.

This was also a form of promotion, wasn't it?

If the problems really improved grades, others might also buy copies from him.

By then, everyone in the class would have one. No, aiming even higher, everyone in the entire Ninja Academy could have one.

Wouldn't that make him a fortune?

As for the possibility of the problems being copied and spread, Seiryū did not think that would happen.

During this time, he had learned that Konoha actually had something similar to intellectual property protection.

Ordinary people would not pirate knowledge, as that was considered theft. If caught, they would be invited to Anbu for a chat. The crime was not serious, but it was extremely embarrassing.

The village was small, and word spread quickly. It would be impossible to face others afterward.

Returning to his seat, Obito excitedly shared the good news. "Rin, Seiryū said others can look at it as long as they don't copy it. I've already solved a few problems. We can discuss them together."

Just moments ago, he had hated the idea of grinding problems and secretly cursed himself for buying the notebook.

Now, however, he felt only excitement and relief.

Being able to talk with Rin was wonderful.

"Oh, thank you, Obito-kun." Rin smiled sweetly. She really was curious about Seiryū's problems.

If they truly helped improve grades, she felt she could buy a copy as well.

Her grades were not bad, but they were only upper middle tier and could not compare to true geniuses. Still, she wanted to work hard and not slack off.

"Hehe…" Obito scratched his head, his heart nearly melting. This feeling was incredible.

He handed the notebook to Rin. "Rin, you look first."

"Okay, thank you." Rin nodded gently and took the notebook, examining it carefully.

Her grades were better than Obito's, so she did not find the simpler problems at the beginning difficult.

She also noticed the few questions Obito had worked on during class.

They were all wrong.

She felt too embarrassed to point it out and decided to let him discover it himself. Rin was very considerate.

As she continued reading, her delicate eyebrows soon knitted together.

Starting from around the tenth problem, she began to struggle, looking completely puzzled.

"The difficulty is very high. This shouldn't be material that first year students are supposed to learn. Seiryū-kun really is a genius."

Although she did not show the same level of admiration for Seiryū as some of the other girls, she was still curious about him.

After all, someone who was good looking and academically outstanding was bound to attract attention from peers of the opposite sex.

"Maybe I should also buy a copy from Seiryū-kun. It really does seem helpful for improving grades."

Rin thought about it seriously.

The price was not expensive. Her family could afford the cost of a C rank ninjutsu scroll.

Handing the notebook back to Obito, Rin smiled gently. "Thank you, Obito-kun. If someone can understand these problems, they will be very helpful for grades. I plan to buy a copy from Seiryū-kun as well."

"Oh, is that so?" Obito actually wanted to look at the notebook together with Rin.

But he was too shy to say it.

Thinking of a way to interact more with her, he stammered, "Then, then we can discuss the problems together more often in the future. Solving them together should be faster than doing it alone, and we can compare answers."

"Hm." Rin was gentle by nature and did not reject his suggestion. She smiled softly. "That sounds good. That really would be better."

Obito immediately became excited. "R really? I'll work hard to solve them."

Not wanting to hurt his confidence, Rin simply smiled and nodded. "Mhm."

Class resumed, then ended. Break time came.

"Hello, Seiryū kun."

Rin, having decided to buy the problems, walked up to Seiryū's desk. She blinked her bright eyes and noticed that Seiryū looked even better up close.

Her voice was soft and gentle. "May I also buy a copy of the problems from you? I feel they would be very helpful to me."

"Rin wants one too?" Looking at her, Seiryū thought that her cuteness was no less than Kurenai's.

Both of them were adorable little girls.

Especially the two markings on Rin's cheeks, which made her even cuter.

As a businessman, with business coming to his door, how could Seiryū refuse?

He smiled brightly. "Of course. I still have copies, and the price is the same as Obito kun's."

"Fair pricing for everyone. No one loses out, and no one gets cheated. If you can't solve them, I even provide two after sales services."

"After sales service?" Rin tilted her head curiously. "Does that mean explaining the answers, like a teacher would?"

Seiryū showed the benevolent smile of a cunning merchant. "Exactly. Isn't that thoughtful? But the after sales service is limited to two times."

That was right.

Selling the problems was only the first step. The second step was selling the methods to solve them, which cost extra.

As for some of the later problems, even adults might not be able to solve them, let alone first year students.

Making money?

Seiryū declared that he was a professional.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 22: Unsolvable

The Ninja Academy's curriculum is divided into three semesters.

Early April to late June, early August to late October, and early December to late February.

Three months of classes, followed by one month of vacation.

In this regard, it was quite humane and showed consideration for the students.

Two months had passed since Seiryū became a student at the Ninja Academy. This period was neither particularly long nor particularly short.

During these two months, Seiryū did not waste any time.

With his outstanding talent, he ranked first in every subject.

His reputation as a genius had already spread throughout the Ninja Academy.

Even senior students knew about this new student.

Of course, it was not only because of Seiryū's genius. There was another reason as well.

In short, Seiryū's existence was well known throughout the entire Ninja Academy.

Early in the morning.

In the Yūhi family backyard.

Seiryū and Kurenai were practicing basic taijutsu together.

After nearly a month of training, Seiryū had completely mastered basic taijutsu.

His punches were powerful, and his movements were smooth and fluid, making them pleasing to watch.

Judging purely by proficiency in basic taijutsu, he might not even be inferior to Yuhi Shinku, a Jōnin.

As for Kurenai, although her movements were not as fluid as Seiryū's, they were precise and effective.

"Hoo…"

After completing a round of basic taijutsu practice, Kurenai sat down on the ground.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her small hand and sighed like a little adult. "So tired."

She looked at Seiryū, who was still practicing seriously beside her, and pouted. "Seiryū, aren't you going to stop? Don't end up being late again."

Over the past month, she had tried to compete with Seiryū in diligence, but she could not keep up at all.

His talent was stronger than hers, and he worked harder than her.

How could someone like this exist?

She was exhausted.

No more competing. No more competing.

She admitted defeat in every aspect.

Anyway, Seiryū was her older brother. It was normal for an older brother to be stronger than his younger sister.

As long as she was not left too far behind, that was enough.

Seiryū did not stop moving and spoke while continuing his practice. "I'm just finishing the last set. You go take a shower first. You smell sweaty."

Kurenai sniffed herself and pouted. "I don't smell. I smell nice."

She did not continue arguing and instead trotted off to take a shower.

After smoothly completing his set of "military taijutsu," Seiryū drew his fists back, stood still, and slowly exhaled a long breath.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel and felt refreshed. "This feeling of sweating freely is really refreshing."

The sense of comfort after exercise was excellent, and Seiryū had grown fond of it.

His recovery ability was extremely strong. No matter how much he trained, all fatigue disappeared after a night's sleep.

This was the foundation that allowed him to train so hard.

Effort naturally brought results.

Seiryū had already perfected the Monster Strength Fist technique.

As he had expected, the issue was indeed related to physical fitness and taijutsu.

Meeting the physical requirements, mastering the timing of striking at the moment of impact, and unleashing chakra explosively. Combining these three allowed him to fully grasp the Monster Strength Fist.

However, it could not be used repeatedly, as the burden on his body was still quite heavy.

His young age and undeveloped body meant this could not be resolved in a short time.

"Today should be a practical combat class. I should complete the task. The Kidō involving elemental nature still makes me curious."

Muttering to himself, Seiryū ended his training and returned indoors.

He took a shower.

During breakfast.

At the dining table, Shinku spoke seriously to Seiryū. "The Ninja Academy seems to have a practical combat class today. Seiryū, be careful when you strike. Don't injure your classmates."

He had never seen talent like Seiryū's.

Only two months had passed.

Seiryū had gone from someone who did not even have chakra to his current level.

Through his own exploration and training, he had perfected a chakra application technique similar to Lady Tsunade's Monster Strength Fist.

He had even saved on the tuition fees of learning directly from Lady Tsunade.

Of course, Seiryū was not lacking money now.

In Shinku's opinion, even a Genin who had graduated from the Ninja Academy probably could not withstand one punch from Seiryū.

Was having Uzumaki clan blood really that amazing?

It seemed that it truly was.

Seiryū ate his breakfast and nodded casually. "Don't worry. I know my limits. I won't give their parents a reason to come knocking and say I bullied their kids."

"That's not what I meant…" Shinku's mouth twitched.

Was that really what he meant?

In the end, he could only say helplessly, "Never mind. As long as you know what you're doing."

As long as Seiryū did not act recklessly, he was reliable.

At that moment, Kurenai glanced at Seiryū and said cautiously, "Seiryū, Seiryū, if I get picked by lottery, remember to go easy on me. I don't want to cry in front of my classmates."

Seiryū waved his hand. "Relax. Relax. How likely is it to draw you? There are dozens of students in the class."

Kurenai said unhappily, "What if I really do get picked? I don't care. You're not allowed to make me cry. I'm your cute little sister."

Seiryū replied perfunctorily, "Alright, you're the cutest. Truly my sister."

"Hmph."

Kurenai let out a small huff, clearly dissatisfied with his attitude.

She thought to herself that if she really were matched against Seiryū, she would immediately surrender, just like that previous bet.

She would not give him the chance to make her cry.

After breakfast, the two of them put on their small backpacks and headed to the Ninja Academy.

They arrived right on time.

As soon as they entered the classroom, countless gazes instantly turned toward Seiryū and Kurenai.

Those looks were filled with resentment, indignation, displeasure, grief, and other emotions.

Seiryū was already used to it, but Kurenai was not yet accustomed and could only force a smile.

"Yo, everyone's doing practice problems?" Seiryū waved with a bright smile, completely unfazed. "You're all working hard. Keep it up. I have high hopes for you."

Why were the students looking at Seiryū like this?

That went back to a written exam from more than ten days ago.

Uchiha Obito, who was always at the bottom, was no longer last. Rin, whose grades had been average to above average, had also improved noticeably.

Why had they improved so quickly?

Because of practice problems.

It was a crushing blow.

Many students in the class became curious and bought problem sets from Seiryū, hoping to improve their grades through practice.

Then came the suffering.

They could barely handle the initial questions, but the later ones were completely beyond their ability.

The key point was that it was not just them. Even their parents could not solve them.

Only Seiryū knew the solutions, but after the two free after sales explanations, he actually started charging.

Everyone felt like they had fallen into Seiryū's trap.

Sarutobi Asuma, who had also bought a set, refused to accept this quietly. He consulted his private tutor about the unsolved problems.

The tutor was just as confused, wearing the same pained expression.

Left with no choice, Asuma went to his knowledgeable father.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The result was shocking.

Even the Hokage could not solve those problems.

Asuma was stunned.

The news that even the Hokage could not solve them spread rapidly.

Driven by curiosity, even students from other grades and classes came to Seiryū to buy problem sets.

Naturally, they all ended up suffering as well.

Eventually, the situation grew so widespread that it alarmed the Ninja Academy's leadership.

After discussion, the Academy decided to purchase the rights to Seiryū's problem sets and solution methods, printing them as textbooks for all Ninja Academy students.

From first years to sixth years, no one was spared.

Everyone suffered under the torment of practice problems.

The source of all this suffering was Seiryū.

If he had not created those problem sets, why would they have to endure this?

Some people wished they could tear Seiryū apart with their eyes alone.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 23: Practical Class

When Asuma saw Seiryū's smile, he immediately became furious and shouted, "You hateful guy. If it weren't for you, why would we be doing these awful problems?"

"In today's practical class, I'm definitely going to beat you black and blue."

It was simply too infuriating.

Doing practice problems really could improve grades, but doing one or two was enough.

Now everyone had a copy, and everyone was back on the same starting line. What advantage was left?

Not only was the advantage gone, they were still being tormented by these awful problems. How could anyone not feel resentful?

Many people were holding grudges, just waiting for the practical class so they could thoroughly beat Seiryū and vent their anger.

Seiryū spread his hands. "Can you blame me? I didn't expect my problem book to be favored by Hokage sama and compiled into a textbook for everyone to study. I'm helpless about it too."

Things had developed somewhat beyond Seiryū's expectations, but the outcome was very good. Very nice.

The Third Hokage had not been stingy at all, purchasing the rights and giving Seiryū a considerable sum of money.

Seiryū could now be considered modestly wealthy. He had more savings than Shinku, enough to open a shop in Konoha.

This brought him one step closer to his dream of opening a barbecue restaurant next to Ichiraku Ramen. It was truly a joyous occasion.

Asuma took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the urge to punch Seiryū on the spot.

Grinding his teeth, he said, "Fine. Just wait for the practical class later. I've been learning combat for a long time. This time, I won't lose to you again."

That was not an exaggeration.

As the Hokage's son, his education was extremely important. He had already begun learning combat before entering the Ninja Academy.

He was confident he could take first place.

[Ding. As the future Soul King who will rule the Three Realms, the Host should remain unmoved in the face of provocation. The Host can face members of the Five Great Noble Families without blinking, let alone members of the mid tier noble Ōmaeda Clan. Please fully display your power in the practical training.]

[New Quest Received: Defeat the provocateur, Ōmaeda Shun.]

[Quest Reward: Shunpo.]

As expected.

Hearing the system prompt, Seiryū's eyes lit up.

Sure enough, the system only triggered quests when there was conflict, and when he was aware of it, or rather, when the system was aware of it.

This was good. He now understood some of the system's rules.

In the future, he could try to stir up a bit more trouble to trigger quests.

Of course, stirring up trouble required moderation. He could not be too high profile.

When necessary, he still needed to hide his strength. After all, there were still a few troublesome people in this village.

Seiryū sighed and said, "I've already said it. I'm not very experienced in practice. Combat is still difficult for me since I haven't been through much of it. Asuma-kun, please go easy on me later and don't embarrass me too badly."

That was actually true.

Seiryū had not really fought many people before.

However, aside from the genius Kakashi, others should not be too overwhelming, right?

Even without using the Monster Strength Fist, Seiryū felt quite confident.

Some people nearby were speechless.

Here he went again, saying he was not good at practice.

Did this guy ever say anything truthful?

That said, this time it sounded more believable. Aside from a few individuals, practical combat was not really something these children were familiar with yet.

Kakashi, who was nearby, glanced at Seiryū and thought to himself, "Father said I already have Genin level strength. I wonder what Seiryū's strength is like."

He had already been surpassed by Seiryū in both the written exam and the practical shuriken throwing class.

Recently, Seiryū had become well known because of his problem book. Even some Chūnin and Jōnin knew there was a genius in the Ninja Academy.

This made Kakashi feel somewhat unconvinced.

Especially since some of the problems in that book could not even be solved by his own father. That made him even more curious about Seiryū.

He wanted to compete with him.

For some reason, he felt he could vaguely understand Guy's feelings.

Might Guy, whose emotions were stirred, felt a surge of passion and gave Kakashi a thumbs up. "Kakashi, let's have a passionate sparring match later too. I haven't slacked off these past few days. I'm even stronger than before."

Kakashi fell silent.

He decided to take back his thought about understanding Guy. They were still quite different.

Rolling his eyes, Kakashi said helplessly, "The practical class isn't about sparring with whoever you want. You have to draw lots."

"Huh? There's a rule like that?" Guy was stunned for a moment, then broke into a wide grin, his white teeth gleaming as he laughed. "Hahaha. I believe we'll meet. Youth will not betray us."

Kakashi replied perfunctorily, "Yes, yes."

Because Obito was late again, the class was delayed by a few minutes.

Led by Oda, the students arrived at the academy's training ground.

Clearing his throat, Oda addressed the class. "Students, today we will demonstrate the results of your basic taijutsu training. Practical combat is something every ninja must experience, and I hope you all take it seriously."

"I won't waste any more time. Let's begin drawing lots. Students whose seat numbers are called, please step forward."

The rules were simple.

First, a round of matches decided by drawing lots. Then, the winners would continue drawing lots until first place was determined.

Written exams, practical classes, combat classes. Every course at the Ninja Academy had rankings.

The Academy trained ninja, and this profession was inherently cruel. If someone did not have sufficient mental resilience, it was better to give up on becoming a ninja and go home to farm.

"Twelve. Twenty."

As Oda called out the seat numbers, two students stepped forward to the center.

Seiryū glanced over and saw that they were unfamiliar faces, so he did not pay much attention.

At Oda's signal, the two students formed the Seal of Confrontation and began their clumsy sparring.

First year students had not learned much ninjutsu yet.

They had only studied basic taijutsu for a little over two weeks, so how strong could they be?

Still, since they had already refined chakra in their bodies, their physical fitness was far superior to that of children from Seiryū's previous life.

As a result, they fought back and forth in a fairly respectable exchange.

After about a minute, a winner was decided. Seat number twelve won.

After the two formed the Seal of Reconciliation, it was time for the next match.

As the lot drawing continued, Oda looked at the next two numbers, showed a faint smile of interest, and announced, "Thirty six and forty one. Please step forward."

Kurenai poked Seiryū in the waist and said excitedly, "Oh, Seiryū, it's your turn."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 24: The Plot Shouldn't Go Like This!

After all, the Uchiha Clan are descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, so members of this clan are rarely ugly.

At the very least, Ryota is a handsome little shota. Well, if you ignore that sinister gaze... If looks were ranked, he'd just barely make the cut!

'Hmph, I finally found an opportunity!!'

When Ryota saw that his opponent was Seiryū, he wasn't cautious at all. Instead, he was extremely excited and eager.

He had long wanted to teach this attention-seeking guy a lesson.

Especially since... he had recently created those annoying "workbooks," making Ryota experience real suffering. If he weren't still too young, he felt like he would've awakened his Sharingan by now... In the arena, the two faced each other.

Ryota stared at Seiryū with a sinister look, revealing the standard Uchiha Clan smile. "I'll let you know, the scores from written exams and practical classes are meaningless. Only actual combat is the true measure of a shinobi's strength!!"

His grades were decent overall, but nothing outstanding. He was above average, and not everyone in the Uchiha Clan was a genius.

However, he was very confident in actual combat.

Because he had an older brother who was already a Genin and often sparred with him, Ryota firmly believed he was definitely number one when it came to real fighting!

Seiryū nodded humbly. "Yes, I also understand that written tests and practical classes don't mean much. Please guide me, Ryota-san..."

After all, he had already agreed with Shinku to hold back and not injure his classmates too seriously. Otherwise, their parents would complain about him bullying others, which would look bad...

"Hmph." However, Seiryū's modest tone didn't reassure Ryota at all. Instead, it made him feel provoked, and he couldn't help but let out a cold snort.

The Uchiha Clan were exactly this kind of neurotic, they only accepted their own logic and rarely changed their views.

Commonly known as fanatics.

A trace of disdain flashed in his sinister eyes. "Then let's begin. I hope you can hold on for a while, so you won't disgrace the title of genius."

He deliberately emphasized the word "genius," clearly expressing his dissatisfaction.

He wanted to drag Seiryū, this so-called genius, down from his pedestal and use this actual combat test to restore the glory of the Uchiha Clan.

The Uchiha are the true geniuses!!

"Oh, let's start." Seiryū wasn't bothered by the other's hostility. The Uchiha Clan are neurotic. How could he, a transmigrator, not know that?

Besides, it's normal for capable people to be resented.

In the novels he'd read in his previous life, the protagonist was always followed by hate wherever they went. Conflict is what drives the plot forward, like a system triggering a mission.

The two formed the Confrontation Seal, signaling the start of actual combat!

Ryota didn't say a word and took the initiative to attack. As expected of someone from the Uchiha Clan, he was skilled.

His speed was quite good. With just a few steps, he was already in front of Seiryū. Clenching his fist, he punched straight toward Seiryū's face like a thrust aimed at his heart.

There was quite a bit of force behind it. Taking that punch directly would probably result in a bloody nose and tears flowing like waterfalls.

Even the most handsome person, looking like that, would suffer a severe blow to their image. Their popularity would drop fast!

'What a malicious thought!' Seiryū believed he had seen through the intent behind that punch—it was aiming for his face! How vicious!

Did he not even know the unspoken rule about not hitting someone's face?

How did the Uchiha Clan teach their kids?

Just as the punch was about to land, Seiryū tilted his head slightly, narrowly dodging it with a movement that resembled Observation Haki at work.

At the same time, he crouched and swept a kick at Ryota's legs!

"Not bad reaction!" Having mastered the Uchiha Clan's signature flair, Ryota smiled calmly. His first strike had failed, and the sweep came in fast.

He stomped off the ground with both feet and jumped into the air. While dodging, he twisted in midair and swung his right leg toward Seiryū's head.

Despite his short legs, the kick cut through the air with a faint whooshing sound, showing just how powerful it was.

This was a strike no one could block. It was the finishing move his older brother had taught him. He was certain of it!

"You're not bad either. Worthy of the Uchiha name." Seiryū felt that praising your opponent mid-battle made beating them later even more satisfying. This was how you show off properly.

Reacting instantly, Seiryū raised his left arm to block the kick, then immediately followed up with a counter-kick... Bang...

With a dull thud, Ryota, still midair, couldn't dodge at all. He was firmly kicked by Seiryū and sent flying like a sack of potatoes... He tumbled several times across the ground, clutching his stomach and groaning in pain...

Ryota's eyes were full of disbelief and confusion. Why did his opponent still have the strength to counterattack after blocking his guaranteed strike?

Impossible!!

The plot shouldn't go like this!

He was supposed to win gracefully! Where did it all go wrong?

"Phew, that was close!" Seiryū wiped the imaginary sweat from his forehead, speaking with a lingering sense of fear. "I almost lost!"

"..." Ryota's face flushed red. It was hard to say if it was from the shame of being defeated so easily or from Seiryū's words... Recalling the confident boasting he'd done just moments ago, his body trembled.

Too humiliating...

However, the Uchiha Clan's pride didn't allow him to deny his defeat. He slowly stood up from the ground, clenched his fists, then released them, lowering his head. Like a frostbitten eggplant, he muttered dejectedly, "I lost..."

[Mission Complete. System Rewards Issued...]

Hearing the system prompt and seeing the message appear in his mind, Seiryū smiled faintly. Mission complete, system rewards issued. Not bad, not bad.

He cupped his fist toward Ryota and humbly said, "You let me win."

Forming the Reconciliation Seal, the two left the arena in turn.

Once the winner was decided, the surroundings erupted in cheers, mostly from the girls, whose eyes were full of excitement.

Seiryū had actually defeated a member of the Uchiha Clan in actual combat, and he did it so easily! Too strong!

It was foreseeable that after this round of actual combat, Seiryū's popularity in class would only continue to rise...

"What the hell, it ended that fast?" Asuma, standing in the crowd, curled his lips, though his eyes were serious. "This guy was totally lying. You really can't trust a word he says..."

Was that the reaction of someone who didn't understand combat?

This guy never tells the truth!

Nearby, seeing Rin's slightly excited expression, Obito clenched his teeth secretly, feeling extremely upset. "Damn it, so what if he's a genius!"

Rin never used to show this kind of expression.

But lately, she had occasionally taken the initiative to talk to Seiryū. Even though he hadn't heard what they were saying, her smile said it all.

He's stealing her!

Damn it, so what if he's a genius? So what if he's handsome?!

He swore, one day, he would definitely make Rin smile like that at him too...

(To be continued.)

Chapter 25: The Early Bird Gets the Worm!

Kakashi recalled the scene he had just witnessed and murmured to himself, "Such a fast reaction... could I have done that?"

In that moment, he wasn't sure whether Seiryū had predicted the opponent's move or simply reacted on instinct to counterattack.

Regardless of the reason, it proved that Seiryū's combat ability was strong. Kakashi grew even more curious about Seiryū's strength, and his desire to spar with him deepened. He had lost in the written exam and the practical class. He absolutely could not lose in actual combat!

Father had said he was a rare genius, and he wouldn't let his father down!

Guy swung his fists a few times and said excitedly to Kakashi beside him, "Hahaha! As expected of one of the rivals I've chosen! Seiryū really is a genius, but I'll definitely surpass both of you, Kakashi!"

Chapter 31: Chakra Nature Transformation

Today's classes came to an end.

The sparring match between Guy and Seiryū concluded with Seiryū's victory, as expected.

Perhaps Guy had not yet learned the Eight Gates, or perhaps his body had not fully developed to handle it, but he did not use it during his sparring matches with Kakashi and Seiryū.

Of course, Guy's current combat ability still had its strengths.

As long as it did not involve written exams or Ninjutsu, Guy was not weak.

After all, he was already undergoing high-intensity training, and his physical fitness was only slightly inferior to Seiryū, who had a cheat-like advantage.

Unfortunately, Guy only had one chance to challenge someone, and he chose Seiryū. After losing, his score in this practical combat class was arguably the lowest.

Even Obito's score was better than Guy's.

However, Seiryū felt that Obito's character setting was a bit unstable. If Obito was not the "dead last," could he still become a major BOSS in the future?

Uh, probably. After all, it was almost certain that the old woman was very likely disguised by a White Zetsu. Uchiha Madara was truly ruthless.

Class dismissed, school was over. Tomorrow was Sunday, a holiday.

The students happily went home, with only a few at the bottom of the class feeling less cheerful.

But this was fate. Who could they blame?

In any case, Seiryū felt very happy. No school tomorrow. In an entire month, only those four days could truly make him happy.

Only on Sundays did Seiryū feel like a human instead of a workhorse.

Walking alongside him, Kurenai tilted her head and asked, "Seiryū, what are you going to do tomorrow? Still training?"

Seiryū shrugged. "What else would I do? Where else would I go?"

Tomorrow, he planned to carefully study all the rewards he had received today. The rewards from the system all required research. None of them could be used immediately after acquisition.

This was not the world of Bleach.

Although Kidō and Ninjutsu had similarities, they also had differences. Seiryū needed to explore and research them himself to see if he could replicate them. He did not find this process boring at all. On the contrary, he enjoyed it.

Just like when he spent nearly two months researching the Monster Strength Fist technique, he had been extremely patient.

Kurenai sighed softly. "Besides training, do you have nothing else to do? You're already so strong, yet you're still this diligent. Being your sister puts a lot of pressure on me."

"Because the Ninja World War is about to break out…" Seiryū murmured to himself, naturally not saying it out loud. There was no sign of it yet.

He simply smiled. "I didn't ask you to compete with me. But how does that saying go? If you don't work hard now, you'll be a junior next year. Kurenai, you can't be lazy either."

Kurenai still did not understand Seiryū's thoughts. She always felt that he was in a hurry, but she did not know why. She could not help but say, "You don't have to be so anxious, right? The Ninja Academy curriculum is six years, and we're only in our first year…"

Seiryū replied calmly, "It's not necessarily six years."

In the original records, among their batch, Kakashi graduated the fastest, at five years old. Seiryū vaguely remembered that the others did not stay in the Academy for very long either.

They also seemed to graduate and become Genin around the age of eight or nine.

That was about three years later.

If it was not because the tense situation in the ninja world shortened the Academy's curriculum, then some unforeseen circumstances must have occurred, turning the six-year system into a three-year one.

Kurenai looked confused. "Hmm?"

"It's nothing. Just keep working hard," Seiryū said, shrugging without explaining further.

Then he smiled. "But we also need a balance between work and rest. So tomorrow will be a real day off. Kurenai, I'll take you out to play for the day."

The little girl was probably worried that he was overworking himself, but was too shy to say it directly. It was rather cute.

In any case, it was just one day, and Seiryū did not think it would delay much. So he decided to accompany Kurenai and relax for a day. It really was time to take a break, otherwise he truly would become a workhorse.

Hearing this, Kurenai showed a cute smile. "Hehe, okay. Relaxing might even help your brain return to normal…"

She was indeed a little worried about Seiryū.

Since entering the Ninja Academy, he had not slackened for a single day. That kind of lifestyle could cause problems.

She secretly guessed that the reason Seiryū had been acting strangely recently was probably due to overwork. If he relaxed his mind, maybe things would improve.

Seiryū fell silent. "…"

He knocked Kurenai lightly on the head with a thud and said fiercely, "Do you really want me to make you cry, Kurenai?"

"Ugh…" Kurenai held her head with both hands, glared at Seiryū resentfully, and snorted. "Hmph. I'm going to tell Dad that you hit my head again. It hurts."

"That's what you get for being so reckless. You deserve a lesson."

"Wah, no. I won't dare again."

"…"

The two of them walked home while bickering.

When they passed by the dango shop, Seiryū generously treated Kurenai to dango. She was so happy that she looked like a silly fool, an extremely cute silly fool.

After dinner.

Seiryū went to the backyard and began researching the two Kidō he had obtained, Shunpo.

Hado #4: Byakurai, and Hadō #1: Sho, both had no incantations.

Perhaps low-level Kidō were too simple to require incantations.

In any case, there was no related memory in the information.

"Hado #4: Byakurai!"

Seiryū began attempting to use Byakurai. This was a Kidō that involved elemental attributes, and he was very interested in it.

However, his first attempt failed.

As expected, his first attempt at Hado #1: Shō had also failed back then.

It was only after analyzing its principles, adding his own understanding, and spending some time experimenting that he successfully replicated it.

After that, Seiryū made several more attempts, but still failed. He was not discouraged. Instead, he began to seriously think it over.

"Does this require chakra nature transformation? I haven't learned that yet…"

There were a total of seven chakra nature transformations.

Among them, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water were the Five Great Nature Transformations, which could be detected using chakra paper.

As for Yin and Yang chakra transformations, they needed to be judged through specific Ninjutsu.

Hado #4: Byakurai from the Bleach world was most likely related to Lightning Release Ninjutsu in the Naruto world.

Speaking of chakra nature transformation, Seiryū suddenly recalled an important issue and muttered to himself, "By the way, I hope I'm not lacking a Lightning chakra affinity…"

Generally speaking, everyone was born with one chakra affinity that was easier for them to learn, and this had nothing to do with later training in chakra nature transformation.

It was an innate talent.

Of course, chakra affinities could still be learned and mastered through training later on, but it would not be as fast or as natural as having an inborn affinity.

Seiryū had never actually tested how many chakra affinities he possessed. If he did not have a natural Lightning affinity, he would need to spend much more time training in that area.

That would be a significant drawback.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 32: All Five Natures Complete

"Uncle Shinku, do you have any chakra paper at home?"

To quickly determine one's chakra nature, all that was needed was a piece of chakra paper. So Seiryū directly asked Yuhi Shinku.

"Chakra paper?" Shinku was slightly startled. He thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. Are you planning to start training in chakra nature transformation?"

Chakra paper was neither rare nor expensive. Since Shinku had led Genin before, he still had some at home.

Seiryū nodded and casually made an excuse. "Yeah. I sparred with Kakashi this morning. He's already learned Fire Release Ninjutsu, so I can't fall behind."

"Sakumo's son really is a genius," Shinku said without thinking much about it. When a classmate learned Ninjutsu, it was only natural for others to feel motivated.

"Wait here, I'll go get it."

After speaking, Shinku walked toward the storage room. He soon returned with two sheets of paper in his hand.

He said to Seiryū, "Go call Kurenai as well. We can test her chakra nature together. I'll wait for you in the backyard."

"Oh," Seiryū replied, then went to the living room to call Kurenai, who was sprawled on the sofa.

Kurenai was resting comfortably and got up reluctantly. She had just eaten and did not want to move. But Seiryū kept pestering her, pulling and dragging her along. In the end, she complained helplessly and was forced to follow him to the backyard.

Seeing the two of them, Shinku could not help but smile. Then he went straight to the point.

"Chakra nature transformation usually only begins after becoming a Genin. Still, it's good to know your innate attributes in advance, so you can choose a suitable path in the future."

"Father, aren't I more suited for Genjutsu? Why do I need to test my chakra nature?" Kurenai muttered.

Although she did not know her innate attributes yet, her future path already had a direction.

That was Genjutsu.

The reason she had not started learning it was simply because the time was not right. She would begin after a while.

Shinku replied, "You do have talent in Genjutsu. But if you encounter an opponent that Genjutsu cannot deal with, you will still need other methods."

Indeed, Shinku already had a plan for his daughter's future. It was to specialize in Genjutsu. He had tested it before, and Kurenai truly did have aptitude for it.

Still, having more options would never hurt.

Kurenai nodded lightly. "Alright."

Shinku handed over the two sheets of paper. "Just channel your chakra into it. The chakra paper will react differently depending on your chakra nature. Everyone has at least one or two chakra natures that suit them."

To be honest, he was also a little curious about Seiryū's chakra nature.

He no longer doubted Seiryū's talent.

However, chakra nature determined one's future development path. Naturally, he needed to understand it clearly and report it to the Hokage.

As Seiryū's status as a descendant of the Uzumaki clan was gradually being "confirmed," the Third Hokage paid great attention to him. One could say he valued him highly.

'It's no different from ordinary paper…'

Holding the chakra paper, Seiryū looked it over, rubbing it between his fingers. He could not find any difference from normal paper.

What kind of principle did it use?

It could actually test a person's chakra nature.

Kurenai was not in a hurry to channel her chakra. Instead, she tilted her head and asked curiously, "Has anyone ever tested positive for all five chakra natures at once?"

Only having one or two chakra natures sounded a bit few.

Were there really no people with all five?

After thinking for a moment, Shinku shook his head. "No. The most I've ever seen is two chakra natures."

He could not recall anyone like that. Usually it was one or two. He had never even seen three, let alone all five from the start.

He then smiled and explained, "Chakra natures can also be acquired through later training. Not having them at first doesn't mean you won't have them later. Hokage-sama is a master who can use all five chakra natures. He is known as the strongest Hokage, the Professor of Ninjutsu."

"As long as you work hard enough, you can also master Ninjutsu of all attributes, just like Hokage-sama."

After explaining this to Kurenai, he did not forget to give her a dose of encouragement.

"Is that so?" Kurenai nodded, still feeling a little confused.

The Ninja Academy had not taught these things yet. This was all new to her.

"Well, it seems you've met one today," Seiryū said, shrugging at the father and daughter. He looked at the chakra paper in his hand, which had already changed. "Someone with all five natures complete has appeared."

The chakra paper between Seiryū's index and middle fingers showed five different reactions.

Burning, splitting, wrinkling, crumbling, and soaking, corresponding to Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water.

In a cultivation world, this would be called a Five Element Spirit Body. In the ninja world, it meant having all five chakra natures complete.

"…"

Both father and daughter subconsciously looked over.

After seeing the chakra paper in Seiryū's hand, they both fell silent.

Kurenai looked suspiciously at her father, her gaze clearly saying, didn't you just say there weren't any?

Shinku understood her look and did not know what to say.

Was this kid deliberately here to undermine him?

"Ahem…" Shinku coughed lightly, putting his fist to his mouth as he tried to salvage the situation. "It's possible that I simply haven't seen one before. Hokage-sama might also be someone with all five natures. Seiryū is clearly a genius of the same type."

He did not actually know whether Hiruzen possessed all five chakra natures, but today he had truly seen one.

All five natures on the first test.

He had genuinely never encountered such a situation and felt that he had learned something new.

"Hm…" Kurenai felt that her father was becoming more and more unreliable. Just a moment ago, he had spoken with such confidence, and now he was immediately proven wrong.

She shook her head like a little adult and sighed. "Father, you shouldn't speak so decisively about uncertain things. It'll make me form the wrong judgments."

The sight of a young girl making such a gesture was inexplicably amusing and adorable.

Shinku was speechless.

This daughter of his had learned bad habits from someone. She was actually stabbing him in the back. She was no longer his sweet little cotton jacket.

"I'll try too. Maybe I also have all five natures complete," Kurenai said. She was also curious about how many chakra natures she had.

She eagerly gave it a try.

The result was only one.

Water nature.

Kurenai puffed out her cheeks. "Why only one?"

"Sigh…"

She let out a small sigh.

She had been outdone by Seiryū again.

But there was no resentment. It was as if she had already gotten used to it.

Habit truly was a terrifying thing.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 33: Sums It Up Well

Ignoring Kurenai's exaggerated reaction, Seiryū slightly furrowed his brows and pondered inwardly.

"I have all five elements, so it's not because I lack Lightning Release chakra nature. Then why can't I use Hado #4: Byakurai?"

"I don't need an incantation, and I know the specific method and principles. What exactly am I missing?"

Now the problem became clear.

Before, he had thought the issue was a lack of Lightning Release chakra nature. But now that was ruled out. So why was he still unable to cast Hado #4: Byakurai?

"Hado #1: Shō is a technique that applies spiritual pressure. In this world, it can be replicated with chakra. Hado #4: Byakurai is also a relatively basic Kidō, but it adds the factor of elemental nature…"

"Do I really need to first master Lightning Release nature transformation?"

Seiryū thought about it and recalled that in the original records, Naruto had undergone Wind Release nature transformation training when developing Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.

Being born with a chakra nature and being able to directly use it were not the same thing.

The reason he could not use Byakurai likely lay here. Seiryū had not yet begun nature transformation training at all, like having nine out of ten points figured out but missing the last one.

Still, he always felt something was off.

Why could Uchiha Itachi perform the Great Fireball Technique with hand seals after seeing Uchiha Fugaku use it once?

Did Fire Release nature transformation not need to be learned?

Or was it that the Uchiha clan truly possessed some kind of Fire Release saint body, allowing them to instantly grasp and master Fire Release Ninjutsu?

Ah, Seiryū suddenly understood.

This had to be a setting added later, just like a rubber man suddenly becoming a sun god. It just happened.

Seiryū accepted it. This was very normal.

Understanding aside, if you do not know something, you ask someone who does. The ancestors said that one should not be ashamed to ask questions, and not always assume oneself to be amazing or a genius.

Among three people walking, there is always someone who can be my teacher.

So Seiryū voiced his question.

"Uncle Shinku, I have all five elements. Does that mean that as long as I know the hand seals for a Ninjutsu, I can use it?"

"What do you think?" Shinku glanced sideways at Seiryū, feeling that this kid was daydreaming.

Then he explained, "Unless you already know how to perform chakra nature transformation, even with a Ninjutsu scroll, you still wouldn't be able to learn it."

"Shape Transformation and Nature Transformation are the foundations of using Ninjutsu. To successfully perform a Ninjutsu, both are indispensable."

"However, for you, it won't actually be difficult. Whether it's Shape Transformation or Nature Transformation, they both come down to chakra control."

As before, he no longer doubted Seiryū's talent. He estimated that as long as he explained the principles, Seiryū would grasp it very quickly.

In terms of chakra control, Seiryū was no worse than him, a Jōnin.

"Oh, Uncle Shinku, then please teach me Lightning Release chakra nature transformation first."

"Why Lightning Release? Water and Fire Release are easier than Lightning Release."

"Because Lightning Release is cool. Think about it. Raise your hand, shout 'Lightning, come,' and a bolt of lightning strikes down from the sky. That's way too cool."

"…All Ninjutsu are released using the chakra within the body. There is no such method as what you described. What you're talking about isn't Ninjutsu at all."

"Uncle Shinku, you don't understand. You can use Fire Release to rapidly heat the air. The heated air accelerates the condensation of water vapor, forming cumulonimbus clouds. Then we use Lightning Release to guide the lightning from those clouds to strike. I've even thought of a name for it. Lightning Release: Kirin."

"Don't indulge in fantasies, kid. That kind of thing is impossible. Perhaps only the Six Paths Sage from legends could accomplish something like that."

"Then when I develop this Ninjutsu in the future, please call me Sage Seiryū."

Seiryū felt that the other party simply lacked imagination. How could it be impossible?

This was a Ninjutsu he had "copied," or rather, borrowed.

There was clear evidence that it was an S-rank Ninjutsu. He had seen it in a manga called Naruto.

Shinku chuckled. "Alright. If you really develop such a Ninjutsu, then not only will I call you Sage Seiryū, I'll even declare you the strongest, stronger than the Hokage."

This kid's imagination was too wild. Just hearing about it sounded unreliable.

Seiryū's expression turned strange. "Uchiha Madara?"

Damn it, could "I'll declare you the strongest" really be said so casually?

Was he some kind of Uchiha clone hiding in the Yūhi family?

"Uchiha Madara?" Shinku naturally did not understand the reference and interpreted it differently. He laughed and said, "You even know that name? Hm, if you develop that kind of technique, you'll definitely be stronger than Uchiha Madara."

"…"

Seiryū silently signaled that he should stop setting flags.

That old man was not dead yet.

Even White Zetsu might still be disguised as an old woman in Konoha. Konoha was practically their backyard, coming and going as they pleased. They had been watching Uchiha Obito since very early on.

If those words spread and reached certain ears, the consequences would be serious.

Seiryū did not want to attract that old monster's attention, so he decisively changed the topic.

"Then let's begin."

Shinku froze for a moment, his tone hesitant. "You're not actually going to make me guide you in that Lightning Release: Kirin, are you? Let me say this first, I don't have that ability. And are you really trying to become Sage Seiryū?"

Seiryū looked completely confused. "???"

"Pfft…"

Seeing the expressions on Shinku and Seiryū's faces, Kurenai could not help bursting into laughter.

"Hehe, Father, you're too silly. Seiryū wants you to start teaching him Lightning Release chakra nature transformation. How did you end up thinking about Lightning Release: Kirin? Hahaha…"

She laughed so hard she was almost out of breath.

How had she never noticed that her usually serious father could have such a foolish moment?

And Seiryū's expression was utterly bewildered. He clearly had not expected her father to say that. It was truly hilarious.

"Uh…" Shinku finally came back to his senses and realized he had gone completely off track.

After giving a dry laugh, he began explaining the essentials of nature transformation to Seiryū.

"Lightning Release nature transformation is about taking chakra, doing it this way, then that way, and finally this way…"

Although he did not have the lightning attribute and had not personally trained in Lightning Release nature transformation, he had guided Genin before and was familiar with the theory.

Teaching Seiryū was no problem.

Seiryū listened attentively, nodding repeatedly. "Mm, oh, so it's like this, then that, and finally this. I understand."

Listening to Shinku's explanation, Seiryū did not feel it was particularly difficult.

It was nothing more than changing the nature of chakra.

This was not an empty statement. It really was just that.

Changing chakra into the nature of electricity was Lightning Release nature transformation.

As someone experiencing life as a ninja for the first time, Seiryū admitted that he did not know how to explain the principles of chakra nature transformation in a way others could easily understand.

First this way, then that way, and finally this way.

Shinku summed it up very well. There was no problem at all.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 34: Successfully Replicating Byakurai!

Seiryū was still working hard.

Shinku and Kurenai had already gone to sleep.

Not everyone had as much energy as Seiryū. Needless to say, the Uzumaki clan's constitution was starting to show its effects. Hard work always paid off.

Now that he had learned how to change the nature of his chakra, after only a few hours of repeated attempts, Seiryū finally succeeded in replicating Hado #4: Byakurai.

Seiryū formed an unformed seal with one hand, then pointed forward with a finger and called out, "Hado #4: Byakurai!"

Crackle. Bang.

A dazzling white bolt of lightning shot out from Seiryū's fingertip, striking a nearby wooden stake. It pierced straight through it, leaving a charred hole as wood chips scattered everywhere.

Looking at the damage he caused, Seiryū twitched at the corner of his mouth. "It actually requires hand seals. That's really something, but it also makes sense. Very few Ninjutsu don't require hand seals."

To use Hado #4: Byakurai from the Bleach world in the Naruto world, Seiryū realized that two conditions had to be met.

First, possessing Lightning Release chakra nature.

Second, using hand seals.

This was perfectly reasonable. Aside from certain kekkei genkai and a handful of seal-less Ninjutsu, as long as it was Ninjutsu, hand seals were required to guide the chakra within the body along specific meridians for proper execution.

Even when the First Hokage clapped his hands and summoned whatever he pleased, that clap was also a type of seal.

Rather than calling it replicating Kidō, it was more accurate to say that Seiryū had developed, modified, and researched a new form of Ninjutsu after understanding the principles and methods of Kidō.

Just like the previously mentioned Lightning Release: Kirin, as long as the conditions were met, Seiryū could truly replicate and use it.

The Kidō obtained through system rewards followed the same logic.

"I'll try Bakudō and Shunpo later."

"Time to sleep."

It was already late, close to midnight, so Seiryū decided to rest first.

He was going out to play with Kurenai tomorrow, and he had no intention of continuing his grinding routine. Tomorrow, he would properly slack off for a day.

The night passed without incident.

Morning came.

Seiryū woke up feeling refreshed, all the fatigue from the previous day completely gone.

The system's rewards were extremely effective, keeping him energetic throughout the day.

"Time to wash up."

Seiryū sprang up with a carp jump, went to the bathroom to clean up, and then headed to the living room.

Seeing that Shinku and Kurenai had not woken up yet, Seiryū took it upon himself to make breakfast.

Kurenai was the only one in the family who could not cook. She treated sugar as salt and oil as water. After tasting Kurenai's "delicacy" once,

Shinku and Seiryū decisively made her abandon any thoughts of becoming a chef.

It simply was not suitable.

While Seiryū was cooking, Shinku woke up. Seeing Seiryū making breakfast, he was slightly surprised. "What got into you today? Aren't you usually exercising at this time?"

Seiryū was not only exceptionally talented but also extremely diligent.

After waking up, he often went straight to the backyard to train and cultivate, which was why Shinku was surprised to see him cooking instead.

Seiryū continued frying the eggs without turning his head. "I need to relax once in a while too. I'm going out with Kurenai today, so I won't be exercising."

"That's good." Shinku nodded. Hard work was important, but occasional relaxation was also necessary, perhaps especially for Seiryū's mental state.

He shook his head, brushing away the odd thought, and asked, "Have you decided where you want to go?"

Seiryū continued battling the eggs and replied casually, "Not really. Maybe we'll just walk around. Konoha doesn't seem to have much entertainment. If nothing else, we can go to the hot springs. Uncle Shinku, are you free today? If so, you can come along."

Konoha's overall area was not that large. Otherwise, it would not have been flattened by a single Shinra Tensei.

There were not many entertainment options.

At most, there were hot springs, casinos, and the red-light district. The latter two were obviously not places a kid like Seiryū could go. The hot springs, however, were quite nice. He even wondered whether there were mixed baths. Cough, cough.

Shinku shook his head. "I have a mission today. You and Kurenai go by yourselves and have fun. As for money… just make sure you take good care of Kurenai."

He had originally wanted to say that he could give them some money if they needed it, but then he remembered Seiryū's savings.

Those savings were actually more than what he, a Jōnin, had.

That kid somehow came up with questions that even he, a Jōnin, could not answer. Later, he heard that even Hokage-sama could not answer them either, which made him feel much better.

Geniuses were always a bit unusual.

"Oh." Seiryū replied. The eggs were perfectly fried, with a soft center. His cooking skills were quite decent.

After that, he continued dealing with the bacon.

Soon, breakfast was ready, and Kurenai had just finished washing up.

The three of them ate together.

While eating, Seiryū asked, "Uncle Shinku, what's your mission today? Do you need to leave the village?"

Because Seiryū was still just a child and could not access much information, he occasionally tried to subtly gather information about the current state of the ninja world from Shinku.

After all, a butterfly flapping its wings could lead to drastic changes. Seiryū's appearance alone might already be affecting the original flow of events.

It was safer to keep a close eye on the situation in the ninja world.

Shinku did not go into detail and only gave a brief explanation. "We caught a spy. It's not an important mission, and I don't need to leave the village."

"Mhm." Seiryū immediately lost interest and continued eating.

Shinku specialized in Genjutsu, which was highly effective for interrogation.

Actually, the Uchiha clan was best suited for interrogation, but as for the Uchiha situation… those who knew, knew.

Kurenai did not join the conversation she did not understand. Instead, she was more curious about where Seiryū planned to take her.

"Seiryū, where are we going later?"

"How about the hot springs?" Seiryū suggested.

Kurenai's eyes lit up. "Hot springs? Yay. I've always wanted to go, but they seem a bit expensive."

Seiryū waved his hand grandly, full of nouveau riche swagger. "Money isn't a problem. I might not have much else, but I definitely have money, and I'm worried about where to spend it."

"Hehe, Seiryū, you're amazing." Kurenai praised him, then blinked her bright red eyes and acted cute. "Can you give your cute little sister some pocket money?"

Seiryū refused without hesitation. "No. I need to save money to marry a wife in the future. Save when you should save, spend when you should spend."

"Hmph, stingy." Kurenai muttered softly, then whispered under her breath, "Why marry a wife? Isn't having me, your cute little sister, enough?"

Seiryū did not hear her clearly, but he sensed she was saying something bad about him. His gaze immediately sharpened.

"What did you say? Were you talking behind my back?"

If you do not discipline them for three days, they will tear the roof off the house. This girl was getting more and more bold.

Kurenai made a face. "Nyaa nyaa nyaa, I didn't."

Watching the two of them interact, Shinku smiled.

It was a warm scene, and he hoped it could continue forever.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 35: The Peeping Tom

It had been nearly half a year since arriving in Konoha, yet Seiryū rarely wandered around the village.

Now, walking leisurely with a relaxed and playful mindset, Seiryū felt a slightly different atmosphere.

Although Konoha was not as prosperous as the great cities of his previous life, it had a stronger pastoral charm and a distinct rural flavor. Of course, there were no actual farmlands.

No wonder they needed funding from the Fire Daimyō. Given Konoha's situation, it could not even be self-sufficient.

Why was the excellent land in the Forest of Death not cultivated into fertile fields?

This made Seiryū feel that it was a terrible waste, such a large piece of land left unused.

Oh, wait. Wasn't this area created by the First Hokage using Wood Release?

Then forget it.

Since it was a relic left behind by a predecessor, it should indeed be preserved.

Still, Konoha's administration truly did not know how to make money.

They could completely develop the Forest of Death into a tourist attraction and charge admission fees.

This place had been created using Wood Release by the legendary shinobi Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi and First Hokage.

Just saying that would already attract people.

They could even add a selling point, claiming that the secrets of Wood Release were hidden within the Forest of Death. Believe it or not, not only Konoha, but all the other villages would be interested.

Chapter 41: Feeling Lucky

Back home.

Shinku had already returned from his mission.

After hearing Seiryū's words, he froze for a moment. Then his tone became excited, his speech quickening.

"You mean Jiraiya-sama, one of the Sannin, wants to take you as his disciple?"

One of the Sannin. The Hokage's disciple.

Both his strength and status in Konoha were top-tier.

And he actually wanted to take Seiryū as his disciple?

How could something this good fall upon their family?

That's right, their family.

Even though Seiryū did not carry the Yūhi surname, he was already a part of the Yūhi family.

'I really underestimated the reputation of the Sannin…' Seeing Shinku's uncontrollable excitement, Seiryū complained silently in his heart.

Normally, Shinku was extremely serious, yet he showed such obvious excitement over this?

The Sannin truly held a special status in Konoha.

Seiryū nodded. "Jiraiya-sama told me so himself."

"Father, are the Sannin really as powerful as the rumors say?" Kurenai spoke up. After seeing Jiraiya in person, the image of the Sannin in her heart had already cracked somewhat.

She pursed her lips and said, "Why do I feel like Jiraiya-sama seems a little… unreliable?"

She genuinely felt he was unreliable.

A peeping pervert was actually one of Konoha's Sannin.

If someone had told her before, she would never have believed it.

But she had seen it with her own eyes. It was far too unreliable.

"Hm?" Shinku glanced at his daughter, not understanding where this impression came from.

He deeply revered the Sannin, so he replied, "The Sannin are disciples of the Hokage-sama, renowned powerhouses of the shinobi world. How could they be unreliable?"

Kurenai did not argue, only muttered softly, "Their strength might be real, but their character is another matter…"

Only Seiryū did not hear her muttering. Otherwise, he would definitely have complained inwardly.

Each of the Sannin had their own "unique" traits. One was lecherous, one loved gambling, one was obsessed with poisons. Shinku also did not hear it. He turned back to Seiryū and asked, "Have you confirmed his identity? Are you certain it was Jiraiya-sama?"

Although he did not believe anyone in Konoha would dare impersonate a Sannin, he still wanted to be sure.

Seiryū nodded lightly. "Jōnin Minato was also there at the time. There's no mistake."

"Minato, huh." Thinking of the genius who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique and had once carried out missions with him, Shinku nodded to himself. "If he was present, then it must be Jiraiya-sama."

Minato was Jiraiya's disciple. There was no room for doubt.

This was truly great news.

After a brief pause, Shinku asked, "What do you think yourself?"

Although he was Seiryū's guardian, he would never interfere with Seiryū's own decisions.

Putting aside his occasional unreliability, Seiryū was always clear-minded when it truly mattered.

Seiryū thought for a moment. "He is Jiraiya, one of the Sannin. His strength, status, and identity are all top-tier in Konoha. Becoming his disciple will only benefit my future, not harm it."

"Leaving everything else aside, just the identity of a Sannin's disciple is something countless shinobi can only dream of. And he himself is a disciple of the Hokage's disciple."

This was the truth.

Becoming Jiraiya's disciple inherently came with a powerful identity.

The Hokage lineage.

From Senju Hashirama to the future Uzumaki Naruto, every Hokage was connected by blood or close ties.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was the disciple of Senju Tobirama.

Namikaze Minato was the disciple of Hiruzen's disciple.

Senju Tsunade was the granddaughter of the First and Second Hokage and the disciple of the Third.

As for the Sixth and Seventh, the Hokage lineage's tendency toward internal succession was no joke. Without the right connections, rising to that position was nearly impossible.

The Uchiha clan had competed for the Hokage seat for generations, yet it was never as effective as having a Hokage lineage background.

Of course, Seiryū had no interest in becoming Hokage. That was a dream for hot-blooded youths.

He had many "dreams," but becoming Hokage was definitely not one of them.

Instead, with the identity of Jiraiya's disciple, he might not be able to run rampant in Konoha, but he could certainly avoid many hidden troubles.

"You see things very clearly," Shinku said with admiration. "The identity of a Sannin's disciple is indeed something many people can only dream of. With this status, you even have the qualifications to become Hokage in the future."

Once again, Shinku marveled at Seiryū's insight.

The Yūhi family had truly struck gold this time.

With Seiryū's talent and intelligence, there was a real chance he could become Hokage one day. If that happened, the family would benefit immensely.

Hearing her father's words, Kurenai immediately complained, "Seiryū won't become Hokage. His dream is to open a barbecue restaurant next to a ramen shop, be an astronaut, hope for peace in the shinobi world, and now he's added another dream of contracting out the Forest of Death and selling admission tickets."

Hokage?

What was that?

Seiryū would never become Hokage.

She was not sure about other things, but on this point, she was absolutely certain. Seiryū was completely serious about it.

Shinku fell silent. "…"

He did not understand, but he was deeply shaken. He almost wanted to take back what he had just said.

"Cough, cough." Shinku cleared his throat lightly, glanced at Seiryū, opened his mouth, and could only manage, "Ahem, that's… a good dream. You should… work hard."

Seiryū: "…"

Why did it feel like he was being comforted for no reason?

Shinku did not continue the topic of dreams. Those were indeed the kinds of things Seiryū would say. He continued, "As for this matter, you can decide for yourself. I will not interfere with your choice."

Seiryū smiled. "This is good for me and for our family. I have no reason to refuse. And having a renowned teacher guide me will also help me grow stronger."

There really was no reason to refuse.

Seiryū could not think of a single downside to becoming Jiraiya's disciple.

Of course, if he had the choice, he would actually prefer to become Tsunade's disciple, for no reason other than she was big, fair, and beautiful.

Shinku's mouth twitched. "Do you still think your progress is too slow? Ordinary Genin are no longer your match. Once you learn the three basic jutsu, you can apply for graduation."

The Ninja Academy's graduation requirement was the ability to use one of the three basic jutsu. That standard was far too low for Seiryū.

If someone taught him today, he would probably master it by tomorrow.

Seiryū waved his hand. "Why apply for graduation? It's too early. I'm not short on money right now, so there's no rush to become a shinobi…"

However—

[New Quest Received.]

[As a well-known genius within the Shinō Academy, you should act like one.]

[Quest Objective: Apply for graduation from the Shinō Academy within one year.]

[Quest Reward: Hadō #63, Raikōhō.]

Seiryū's tone immediately changed. "Well… let me think about it again."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 42: I’m the Hokage, You’ll Regret It

The Yūhi family was holding a family meeting.

At the same time, inside the Hokage Office, two people were arguing.

Danzo, currently serving as Advisor Elder, leader of Root, and the Hokage's assistant, spoke bluntly in a low voice. "Hiruzen, hand Seiryū over to me. Only by letting him join Root can we ensure he won't do anything harmful to Konoha. Only then can he become the perfect Jinchūriki!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe, slowly exhaled the smoke, and rejected the proposal. "He is not suitable for Root."

However, his heart tightened slightly.

He had deliberately suppressed the news that Seiryū was a descendant of the Uzumaki clan. Very few people knew about it.

How did Danzo find out?

But the other party was the Hokage's assistant and an Advisor Elder. This kind of information could not be kept secret forever.

Moreover, that child had become quite famous recently. It was inevitable that he would attract the attention of people with ulterior motives.

After a long silence, Danzo frowned and raised his voice slightly. "Soft methods won't work. Uzumaki Kushina's inability to perfectly control the Nine-Tails proves that this approach has failed. A Jinchūriki who cannot fully control their Tailed Beast will bring enormous losses to Konoha!"

Glancing at his old comrade, Hiruzen remained calm. "It's too early to say that. Kushina is an Uzumaki recognized by Lady Mito. She simply hasn't fully matured yet."

"Hmph!" Danzo snorted heavily. "Even if what you say is true, and Kushina can suppress the Nine-Tails in the future, she will only completely seal it like Lady Mito. She still won't be able to wield the Tailed Beast's power!"

"Tailed Beasts are the most powerful weapons. Other villages already have Jinchūriki who can control their power. We have already fallen behind!"

"Hand Seiryū over to me. I will train him into a perfect Jinchūriki, one who can use the Nine-Tails' power. You should know that I can do it!"

The root of the issue was Seiryū himself, a child who possessed the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan.

He was the most suitable candidate for the next Jinchūriki.

Danzo naturally understood what a Jinchūriki represented. He wanted Seiryū, who carried Uzumaki blood, to join Root.

To cultivate, from the very beginning, a Jinchūriki who could perfectly control the Nine-Tails' power.

As for how Danzo knew Seiryū was from the Uzumaki clan, it was because of Seiryū's reputation as a genius, his hair color, and Kushina's contact with him.

That was the deduction.

Hearing these words, Hiruzen remained unmoved. He took another puff of smoke, exhaled, and shook his head. "I know what you're thinking, but this method is not suitable for Seiryū. His talent surpasses Kushina's. He is Konoha's future."

Danzo immediately interrupted him, frowning. "Precisely because his talent is greater, only I can fully draw it out!"

Being cut off mid-sentence made Hiruzen feel a trace of displeasure. Who was the Hokage here?

His tone grew heavier. "Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

"…" Choked by those words, Danzo's expression darkened.

He wanted to argue, but at this moment, any words felt weak and meaningless.

The Hokage was Konoha's leader.

He was merely an assistant and Advisor Elder.

Hiruzen smiled inwardly but showed no change in expression as he said calmly, "There is no need to discuss Seiryū any further. I already have my own arrangements."

Suppressing his emotions, Danzo spoke in a low voice, his face grim. "His background is still questionable. He's displayed far too much talent. And that problem set, this is simply not something a six-year-old child could…"

"Enough." This time, it was Hiruzen who interrupted him. His expression remained unchanged. "His background is clean. I have already investigated it thoroughly."

"There's also no issue with that problem set. If you understood the solution method, you wouldn't be misled."

"Besides, geniuses are all different. It reminds me of Orochimaru back then."

Geniuses could not be judged by ordinary standards.

Orochimaru had also been an undeniable genius in the past, graduating from the Ninja Academy at the age of six. He was once described as a genius that appeared only once every few decades.

From childhood, Orochimaru displayed extraordinary talent, not only in ninjutsu but also in scientific research.

Some of the questions Orochimaru had asked back then, even he, as Hokage, could not answer.

The same was true for Seiryū.

The problem set Seiryū created was indeed difficult, but once the solution method was known, it suddenly became clear how it could be solved.

It was a difference in thinking and approach. The questions were too tricky, almost deliberately guiding people down the wrong path.

The reason other Jōnin could not solve them was because the solution method had not been released.

If one could not change their way of thinking, solving those questions would naturally be difficult.

Geniuses could not be judged with common sense. In Hiruzen's eyes, Seiryū's talent was even greater than Orochimaru's had been.

This was because he had already learned about Seiryū's situation from Yūhi Shinku.

Extracting chakra in just over ten seconds, developing a chakra application technique similar to Monster Strength, and having natural compatibility with all five elemental natures.

If that was not a genius, then what was?

"He can be compared to Orochimaru?" Danzo narrowed his eyes. He had not expected Hiruzen to hold the boy in such high regard.

He even brought up Orochimaru.

There must be things he did not know, things that made Hiruzen trust the boy's genius completely.

Even after those problem sets, he still thought it was normal.

What else was he unaware of?

Damn it. If he were the Hokage…

"You only need to know that his talent surpasses everyone you have ever seen," Hiruzen said calmly. "So put those thoughts away, Danzo."

"He is Konoha's future. He already has bonds here. As long as those bonds are firm enough, he will not do anything harmful to Konoha. Go back and reflect on the Will of Fire."

Although he had not personally met Seiryū, Hiruzen paid close attention to him.

Even the matter of buying the problem set and its solution was not a whim. He had his own considerations.

Money might be vulgar, but it was undeniably useful.

The reason the boy wanted to become a shinobi was to take on missions and support his family. He was a grateful child. Someone like that, if treated well, would naturally return that kindness.

Bonds formed from the heart were far more reliable than brainwashing or cursed seals.

Moreover, although his own son often complained about Seiryū when he came home, talking about beating him or surpassing him, he still regarded Seiryū as a friend and comrade.

Actions went both ways, and so did bonds.

Hiruzen believed that Seiryū also saw his son as a friend and comrade, and that their bond had quietly taken shape.

"Hmph!" With the conversation reaching this point, Danzo already understood Hiruzen's stance. There was no changing it. Especially the remark about reflecting on the Will of Fire, which displeased him greatly.

In the end, he merely snorted coldly. "Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

After saying that, Danzo inexplicably felt much better. He flicked his sleeve and left.

"…" Watching Danzo depart, Hiruzen simply shook his head and paid it no mind.

Without his permission, the other party would not dare overstep.

Because he was the Hokage.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 43: Unreliability Has Its Benefits

It had been nearly a month since Seiryū became a disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Sannin.

It was now a one-month holiday period.

During this time, the Ninja Academy had not yet begun teaching ninjutsu. That would start next semester. For now, it was still the foundational stage.

Aside from theoretical courses, the academy taught the use of various ninja tools, such as shuriken, kunai, and explosive tags, including their advantages, disadvantages, and methods of use.

Overall, the schedule was quite full.

However, those with good talent and strong family backgrounds had already begun learning ninjutsu.

Many talented students had already mastered the Three Basic Jutsu, such as Seiryū, Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai.

Those with even greater talent and better conditions had even skipped the Three Basic Jutsu stage and begun cultivating D-rank and C-rank ninjutsu.

Of course, Seiryū had not yet started learning other ninjutsu.

It was not that he was neglectful. He would never ignore powerful ninjutsu. Rather, he had other matters to deal with.

Hado #4, Byakurai, had already been successfully replicated.

However, Shunpo and Bakudō #1, Sai, had both run into bottlenecks.

First, Shunpo.

The principle of Shunpo in his memories was actually very simple. At the moment of movement, spiritual pressure was released into the legs, and with special footwork, one moved at a speed difficult for the naked eye to perceive, as if teleporting.

In this world, spiritual pressure corresponded to chakra.

The principle was simple, but execution was not. The key issue was that Shunpo placed an enormous burden on the legs, even greater than that of Monster Strength.

Seiryū's physical condition was too weak, and his leg muscles could not support such extreme movement.

Shunpo was not just a straight dash. It required instant changes in direction and sudden stops during movement, placing tremendous strain on the legs.

Physical shortcomings could not be compensated for by talent alone, and Seiryū found himself unable to pull it off.

In the Bleach world, those who could enter the Shin'ō Academy, regardless of the age of their souls and judging only by appearance, were at least teenagers.

There was no one as small as him in his memories.

Moreover, these were two completely different worlds with different power systems. One used chakra, the other used spiritual pressure. Seiryū also possessed a physical body, unlike Shinigami, who were purely spiritual beings.

The differences were significant.

Because of this, Seiryū found himself stuck when it came to replicating Shunpo.

Next was Bakudō #1, Sai.

This one frustrated him even more.

Its principle was to inject spiritual power and spiritual pressure into the target's hands and feet, achieving an effect similar to sealing their movement through pressure points. It was only similar, not true acupoint sealing.

The reason was the same. The principle was not complex, but Seiryū found it difficult to reproduce in this world.

Thinking about it further, if Hado manifested as ninjutsu, then Bakudō should manifest as fūinjutsu.

However, Seiryū had not yet come into contact with fūinjutsu.

Replicating Kidō in this world had prerequisites and could not be accomplished overnight.

Lying on his bed, Seiryū was unusually relaxed today and did not get up early. Staring at the ceiling, he could not help but complain.

"Damn it, why does it always feel like there's not enough time? This is exhausting. It's a holiday, and I'm still thinking about all this."

"It's all because of that stupid system mission."

Earlier, the system had issued another mission, requiring him to graduate from the Shin'ō Academy, meaning the Ninja Academy, within one year.

One year.

If he remembered correctly, the original Bleach story mentioned that geniuses such as Ichimaru Gin, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, and Shiba Kaien all graduated early.

From that perspective, the system's mission was actually quite reasonable.

After all, he was a famous genius of the "Shin'ō Academy," someone who had even clashed with "nobility," and his reputation as a genius was already well established.

But honestly, Seiryū was not very eager to graduate early from the Central 46 Spirit Arts, Ninja Academy.

How old was he?

Judging by this body, he was only five or six years old.

Such a small child going out to work. Did they not know child labor was illegal?

Besides, he was not short on money right now. Even if he graduated and became a Genin, the early missions would just be tedious and dirty jobs like cleaning sewers or catching lost pets.

And the pay was low. He was not particularly enthusiastic.

However, he was tempted by the mission reward, Raikōhō.

This was not the Bleach world, and the Ninja Academy was not the real Shin'ō Academy. There was no way to learn Kidō here.

In other words, any system reward, regardless of its strength, was unique.

Raikōhō was also a relatively high-level Hado.

To be honest, this mission left Seiryū feeling conflicted.

If he did not graduate, he could continue grinding missions and obtaining more rewards, but the mission would likely fail, and he would lose Raikōhō.

If he graduated, he would gain Raikōhō, but it would become harder to grind missions and obtain further rewards.

Either way, it felt like a loss.

Yet he could not avoid making a choice, so he could only use this period to grind as many missions as possible.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.

Seiryū sat up and stroked his chin.

"Wait. The deadline says within one year. When does the system start counting? From enrollment, or from when the mission was issued?"

When he had a question, he asked it.

Seiryū immediately queried the system.

[Ding, there are 3650 days remaining until the deadline for applying to graduate from the Shin'ō Academy within one year. Please do not slack off, Host, and complete the mission as soon as possible.]

Seiryū froze.

"W what? 3650 days?"

It was not that his eyes or ears were malfunctioning.

The system was broken.

As expected of this stupid system. Not only did it recognize the wrong world, it also got the numbers wrong and added an extra zero.

Where was this thing manufactured?

Amazing.

Fortunately, Seiryū had encountered plenty of absurd people and situations recently. He paused briefly and quickly calmed down.

Experience really did make people grow.

"System, are you sure it's 3650 days?"

[Ding, this system has not made an error. It is 3651 days.]

Seiryū: "…"

Even one extra day appeared.

"System, how many days are left until the deadline for applying to graduate from the Shin'ō Academy within one year?"

[Ding, there are 10 days remaining until the deadline for applying to graduate from the Shin'ō Academy within one year. The deadline is approaching. Please hurry, Host, and complete the mission as soon as possible.]

"System, how many days are left until the mission deadline?"

[Ding, please do not repeatedly question this system. This system will remind you one final time. There are 9527 days remaining until the deadline for applying to graduate from the Shin'ō Academy within one year. Please do not slack off, Host, and complete the mission as soon as possible.]

Seiryū lay back down on the bed and waved his hand.

"Alright, I understand. You can withdraw."

9527 days was equal to about 26.1 years.

Seiryū did not even know how he would waste all that time.

Fortunately, he had been cautious enough to ask. Otherwise, he might have rushed to graduate early out of anxiety and suffered a huge loss.

The system was indeed unreliable.

But that was fine.

Unreliability had its benefits.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 44: Habit Is a Frightening Thing

Seiryū lay flat on the bed until Kurenai called him to get up and eat. Only then did he climb out of bed.

After washing up.

At the dining table.

Shinku spoke to Seiryū while eating. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. After all, you're only six years old. There's no need to rush to apply for graduation."

Seiryū had seemed a little restless lately.

He guessed he might be feeling pressure because of the talk about early graduation and becoming Jiraiya-sama's disciple.

Was Seiryū under pressure?

As a guardian, he felt he should advise him.

A six-year-old child really should not be in such a hurry.

"Mm. I'll wait until the time is right. I don't plan to graduate from the Ninja Academy too early anymore," Seiryū nodded. He truly was not in a hurry now.

The system's unreliability was actually somewhat useful.

He wanted to take on more missions while staying at the Ninja Academy to earn more rewards. Since they were being offered, why not take them? Opportunities like this did not come twice.

This stupid system did not even give him a Kidō gift pack that explained all the principles. If it did, why would he need to worry so much?

Shinku nodded lightly. "That's a good way to think."

Kurenai chewed her food, swallowed, and her tone became a bit happier. "Seiryū, you really don't plan to graduate early anymore?"

To be honest, she did not want Seiryū to graduate too early. She still wanted to spend more time with him at the Ninja Academy.

If Seiryū graduated, would she not be left alone at school?

"No. With my strength, I can graduate at any time, so there's no rush," Seiryū said as he took a bite of the omelet.

Hmm. It tasted a little strange.

Sweet.

It had to be Kurenai's doing, mistaking sugar for salt.

Lately, Kurenai had started having trouble with cooking. When asked why, she would not say.

Seiryū did not ask further. It was probably a little girl's secret.

Kurenai made a small sound and picked up an omelet herself. She took a bite, chewed, then froze.

"Ah, why is it sweet? Did I mix up sugar and salt? Darn it, why do these two look so similar?"

Cooking was too difficult, even harder than the Three Basic Jutsu.

How was she supposed to be a good wife in the future?

No, she needed to work harder.

Kurenai secretly made up her mind. During the holidays, she would diligently practice cooking and strive to become a good wife in the future.

Seiryū was silent.

This was not the first time. He was too lazy to complain.

How could sugar and salt look similar? Their grains were clearly different.

Shinku took only one bite of the omelet and did not touch it again. He did not like sweet food and preferred savory flavors.

Remembering something, he asked, "By the way, Seiryū, how have things been with Jiraiya-sama recently?"

He trusted Seiryū's character. He would not cause trouble.

Still, he was a little curious about what Jiraiya was teaching him.

"It's fine," Seiryū replied, taking another bite of the sweet omelet. He did not dislike sweet omelets.

In his previous life, he liked sweet foods. He considered savory-only eaters heretics.

And compared to the completely burnt food from the beginning, Kurenai's cooking had already improved quite a bit.

He continued, "Because the academy schedule is pretty tight, I haven't met Sensei very often. But today, he asked me to go to Training Ground Three."

In the past month, about twenty days had passed.

With one day off each week, that meant only three Sundays.

Perhaps because he knew Seiryū was a Ninja Academy student, Jiraiya did not call him over often. He also needed time to "gather material," so they had not met much.

But today was a holiday, and Jiraiya remembered him, asking him to go to Training Ground Three.

"Training Ground Three?" Shinku recalled that it was near the Forest of Death and smiled. "You're still young. Laying a solid foundation is the most important thing. There's no need to rush. Just take things step by step."

"I know," Seiryū said.

After breakfast, Seiryū headed toward Training Ground Three.

Kurenai actually wanted to go with him, but for certain reasons, she did not insist and could only stay home, feeling a bit down.

Having always been with Seiryū, now that he was not by her side, she felt unaccustomed.

Not happy.

Not only did Kurenai feel unaccustomed. Seiryū did too.

Without Kurenai's constant chatter, everything felt a little strange.

He shook his head and muttered to himself, "I'll ask later and see if I can bring Kurenai along next time."

As he walked, Seiryū suddenly heard two "youthful" voices approaching from behind.

"Keep it up, Guy. Five more kilometers and we can eat."

"Oh oh, I will work hard, Father. This is youth."

Seiryū turned around and saw two figures in green jumpsuits, running wildly on their hands, drenched in sweat.

Habit truly was a frightening thing.

Although he still found them unconventional, Seiryū realized he was already getting used to it.

He waved at them. "Yo, Guy, Uncle Duy, still training?"

These two were none other than Might Duy and Guy.

In order to build a good relationship, Seiryū had met Duy more than once. He had seen the father and son training many times. After several encounters, he was no longer unfamiliar with them.

"It's Seiryū," Guy said happily, still upside down.

Meeting a rival he wanted to surpass on the first day of the holiday felt like fate's arrangement. His voice was filled with passion.

"Do you want to join us for a youthful handstand run?"

"Hahaha. Guy is right," Duy laughed, deeply pleased with his son's enthusiasm. This was youth, vibrant youth.

He also invited Seiryū. "Seiryū, youth must not be wasted. Come and join our passionate training."

At the Ninja Academy, Seiryū was the typical "other people's child" that adults talked about. Duy was also very glad that his son had such an outstanding friend and goal.

This was youth. He was fired up.

Seiryū quickly waved his hands. "No, Guy, Uncle Duy. I have something to do today. Let's burn our youth together another time."

"What a pity," Guy said regretfully. He had actually wanted to take this chance to compete with Seiryū.

But hearing Seiryū say "another time" and "burn our youth," his eyes lit up. He flashed a bright smile, his tone full of excitement.

"Then let's compete next time."

Seiryū's mouth twitched. "Yeah. Next time. Definitely next time."

Duy was moved again, tears streaming down his face. He was deeply touched by the youth of the two children.

Wiping away his tears, he said excitedly, "This is youth. Guy, Seiryū, you are both amazing. Having such encouraging friends and rivals means you have not wasted your youth."

Guy was also in tears, his blood boiling as if he had endless strength.

"Father, let's continue. I've decided. If I don't run ten kilometers on my hands, I won't eat breakfast. I feel like I have limitless energy now."

"Oh oh oh. Then I'll run fifteen kilometers on my hands. I also need to burn my youth. Passion forever."

"Father, I won't lose either."

"Guy, well done."

The father and son were practically about to embrace in a moment of passionate bonding.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 45: Should Seiryū Help Develop and Perfect the Rasengan?

"…"