Uzuki Yugao clicked her tongue, eyes cold. "Hmph. Pathetic."
Ayato didn't rise to it. He just gave her a thin, unreadable smile and walked away.But inside, his fists tightened until his knuckles cracked.
One day… every single person who looks down on me will have to look up.
Kirimine Ayato's Room — Night
The small apartment was dim except for the faint glow of a candle. Ayato sat cross-legged on the floor, cycling his chakra with slow, practiced breaths. The air felt heavy, like the entire world was pressing down on him.
I beat Uchiha Yusuke in front of the entire academy. There's no way the higher-ups ignore that.
He wasn't wrong.
For a clan kid to win was expected.For a civilian to crush a recognized Uchiha prodigy—using clean taijutsu and even ninjutsu—was something the academy couldn't easily explain.
Commoner students weren't supposed to have that kind of progress.Before graduation, most didn't even know how to mold chakra properly, let alone cast jutsu. It was a rule carved into Konoha's spine—broken only once in decades.
By Namikaze Minato.
And even he had Sannin-level guidance.
But Ayato?A boy with no clan, no backing, no secret master?
He had just shattered that "rule" like brittle glass.
Root Headquarters — Subterranean Dark Chamber
A cold voice echoed through the underground room.
"Kirimine Ayato… interesting. Worth observing."
Half his face was swallowed by shadow, the other lit faintly by a lone lantern. His sharp eyes gleamed with predatory calculation, framed by the X-shaped scar at his chin.
Shimura Danzo sat unmoving, yet radiated a crushing authority—like a king ruling from the heart of the dark.
If talent appeared, he would claim it.If it couldn't be claimed… he would erase it.
Hokage's Office — Hokage Building
The Third Hokage leaned back in his chair, a soft laugh escaping him.
"To think such a child would emerge… The Will of Fire burns strong."
Unlike Danzo's suspicion, Hiruzen's eyes were full of warmth. In wartime, talent was more precious than gold. Konoha was bleeding men on multiple fronts, and every new prodigy was another spark of hope.
From the Sannin, to the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, to Minato, Shisui, and Kakashi—the village was filled with giants.
And now…Kirimine Ayato had joined that list.
"But it's strange," Hiruzen murmured. "Until now, he showed nothing noteworthy. A sudden jump in ability during wartime is always suspicious…"
His smile faded.
"We'll need to check personally. Caution saves lives."
Even admiration couldn't stop the paranoia of war.
Back to Ayato
None of their attention reached him.
He sat alone in his silent room, sweat dripping down his jaw as he continued grinding—pushing his body like a starving hunter clawing for one more day of survival.
His only real goal:
Complete the System's first Side Quest.Become the strongest of his generation within two years.
Ayato opened his eyes.
Fine… then I'll climb. I don't care how long the path is. I don't care how much blood it demands.
If the world wants me dead, I'll rise until it can't reach me.
He inhaled sharply and resumed channeling chakra, focused and merciless toward himself.
The grind wouldn't stop.
Not now.Not ever.