Leaf Village, Year 41, March 18th. Early spring—still cold, but warming up.
The bulletin board outside Leaf Village Ninja Academy was packed. The enrollment list for this year's class had just been posted, and parents were crowded around it with their kids.
Off to the side under a tree, Kitagawa stood watching with a smile on his face.
Though inside, he was pretty much losing it.
Especially when his eyes landed on the white-haired kid with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
Equipment: Kakashi Hatake's Undershirt-and-Mask Combo
Trait: Kage-Tier Lightning Style Talent
That's what popped up in Kitagawa's vision when he looked at Kakashi.
And below it, there was a line of extra-small text.
Note: Quietly unhinged is your base setting. Equip this gear and you'll be unbearably smooth.
Small print or not, this was ridiculous.
An undershirt-and-mask combo? What was he supposed to do—steal his future student's clothes?
Dammit.
Kage-tier Lightning talent, though...
Kitagawa reluctantly dragged his eyes away and landed them on a kid with a senbon needle between his teeth.
Equipment: Senbon Needles from Genma Shiranui's Mouth
Trait: Endless Supply
Note: After this, you'll never need a toothpick again.
Since Kitagawa hadn't actually gotten his hands on any gear yet, he had no clue what this little note actually meant. But it seemed like some kind of side effect?
You'll never need a toothpick again?
Did that mean he'd be forced to use senbon needles as toothpicks after equipping it?
He swept his gaze across the crowd and landed on a small girl.
Cute kid. Too bad—no gear popped up.
Suddenly, loud crying grabbed his attention.
Following the sound, his eyes caught sight of something aggressively green.
Just from the back, Kitagawa knew exactly who it was: Dai and his kid, Gai.
Equipment: Dai's Neon Green Bodysuit
Trait: Eight Inner Gates
Note: The title "Perpetual Mid-Level Ninja" will suit you perfectly
Kitagawa put his hand to his forehead. No words.
Looking at the kid riding on Dai's shoulders, Gai had gear too.
Equipment: Gai's Leg Wraps
Trait: Iron Body, Unbreakable Will, Triple Recovery Rate, Triple Damage Resistance
Note: Your tear ducts are overactive.
Kitagawa sucked in a breath.
Okay, okay—finally some decent gear.
A talented kid like this? The academy couldn't pass him up.
Kitagawa walked right over.
"Dai, sir!"
Dai spun around at the sound of his name.
"Oh! Teacher Kitagawa!"
Dai quickly set his son down and bowed respectfully.
Kitagawa smoothly dodged the bow and reached over to ruffle Gai's hair.
Gai looked up, tears still streaming down his face. "Teacher Kitagawa... do you really think I can't become a ninja?"
Dai wiped his own eyes, looking at Kitagawa with a careful mix of nervousness and hope. "Teacher Kitagawa... is there any other way?"
"Come with me."
Kitagawa smiled. Too many people around here to talk.
Dai's face lit up. He grabbed his son and they followed.
The three of them headed to the main training grounds outside the academy.
Looking at the hopeful father and son, Kitagawa felt his usual sharp instinct kick in. He spoke carefully: "Dai, the reason Gai wasn't accepted is because the evaluators determined he has no talent for ninjutsu or genjutsu."
Gai's face fell.
In the ninja world, there's a standard way to measure a ninja's potential: physical combat, ninjutsu, and genjutsu. Physical combat is the foundation, but if that's all you've got—if you can't do ninjutsu or genjutsu—you can't be a real ninja. I mean, how would you even graduate if you couldn't master the basic three techniques?
And if you don't graduate, you don't become a ninja.
So... no point enrolling.
Made sense.
"But," Kitagawa said, shifting his tone, "if you show real determination, I'm willing to file a special request with the Third Hokage. You could get in."
Gai's eyes went wide. "Determination?"
"Teacher Kitagawa, what kind of determination?"
Kitagawa said it seriously: "The determination to become a ninja."
Gai nodded fast, his voice loud. "Teacher Kitagawa, I have the determination to become a ninja!"
Kitagawa shook his head. "Gai, determination isn't something you just say."
Gai looked confused. "Then... what do I do, Teacher Kitagawa?"
Kitagawa pointed at the training grounds. "You need to show everyone your determination. And more importantly, you need to prove it to yourself—and actually follow through on it."
"Real determination only comes from actually doing it."
Gai stared blankly, not getting it yet.
But Dai understood. His eyes lit up and he shouted with excitement, "That's what I'd expect from Teacher Kitagawa!"
"Did you hear that, Gai? Now's your chance to show what you're made of!"
Gai still looked lost. "Dad... Teacher Kitagawa... how do I prove it?"
Kitagawa said, "Gai, set yourself a goal: run 500 laps around this field."
Gai's eyes went huge. "Five... five hundred?! Can I really...?"
THWACK!
Dai kicked his son flat on his back.
"Gai! How can you talk like that?!" Dai bellowed. "This is your determination—you will do it!"
"This is your youth!"
Gai scrambled up. "Yes! I'll do it, Dad! Teacher Kitagawa!"
Kitagawa watched this play out and had to admit—Dai's parenting style was hardcore.
He didn't step in though. Instead, he gave Gai a big thumbs up. "Gai, your teacher believes in you. You can do this."
"And I'm going to be right here with you—a witness to your growth!"
Gai's eyes welled up with tears. "Thank you, Teacher Kitagawa! I'm going to finish this!"
And then, with fire in his eyes: "And I'm going to use the self-discipline method Dad taught me!"
Gai's voice was steady. "If I fail the 500 laps, I'll do 500 push-ups as punishment!"
"Gai!"
Dai immediately pulled his son into a hug and started crying tears of joy.
Some other academy students passing by pointed and snickered at the weird scene.
Kitagawa felt a little awkward, but he didn't show it. If I'm not embarrassed, then they're the ones who should be.
Dai, being resourceful, made a banner for Gai that said something like "My Determination to Become a Ninja" and sent his son off on his laps.
As Gai's future teacher, Kitagawa kept his word. He jogged alongside Gai, shouting encouragement the whole way.
And the Third Hokage, watching from a distance, took it all in.
"Looks like I didn't make a mistake..."
The Third was impressed with Kitagawa's character. And maybe... Gai deserved a shot too.
Out on the training grounds.
Kitagawa's encouraging voice carried far. Even Kakashi, passing by, stopped for a second to look.
But just for a second.
He didn't think effort like that would matter. No talent, just willpower—it wouldn't help Gai get into the academy or become a real ninja.
Plenty of the other students playing around felt the same way.