Born in Konoha Year 36, Shinichi Higashino grew up in the village orphanage.
He had no illustrious family background and no coveted bloodline limits. What he did have was a personal interface—a translucent status board visible only to him since the day he was born.
Once he figured out the logic behind this system, he began to deliberately and meticulously craft his public persona.
Possessing the mind of an adult, he displayed a level of comprehension and learning capacity far beyond his years. The orphanage staff and neighborhood adults constantly praised his intelligence.
He ingrained diligence into his daily routine, volunteering for chores from a young age. As soon as he could walk and run, he began a grueling, structured physical training regimen—push-ups, sprints, jumps—always pushing himself harder, through gritted teeth, simply to leave the impression of having a stellar physical constitution.
Even at the dinner table, he calmly displayed a monstrous appetite that entirely contradicted his small frame, polishing off a second and third bowl with single-minded focus.
He also actively cultivated his popularity. He got along seamlessly with the other orphans, coaxed crying infants, and ran errands for the elderly around the neighborhood.
He went as far as convincing the other children to strike his back and limbs with smooth wooden sticks, claiming that "a future shinobi requires an iron body and an unbreakable will." Even when the pain was agonizing, he bit his tongue and endured it silently, acting the next day as if the bruising was utterly trivial.
Piece by piece, these calculated behaviors—whether subtle or overt—acted like scattered puzzle pieces. Ultimately, they coalesced on his interface as a series of White-tier traits. They were the "truth" in the eyes of others, and the foundational stones Shinichi was laying for his path to supremacy.
Through years of observation and trial, Shinichi had uncovered the mechanics behind how these traits were generated. The speed and quality of a trait's manifestation relied entirely on three core factors:
1. The number of people who recognized the trait.
2. The depth of their conviction.
3. The influence (power and status) of the observers.
Because of this, his stunt today—dragging a massive boulder to his enrollment—was just another meticulously planned PR campaign.
Opening day at the Ninja Academy drew massive crowds of students, parents, and teachers. The level of attention was unparalleled. There was even a chance the Third Hokage was secretly observing the new recruits through his crystal ball.
The gargantuan chunk of yellow sandstone, which completely dwarfed him, was deliberately chosen. Its low density meant it had a massive volume relative to its weight, maximizing the visual shock value. The sheer, exaggerated contrast of a small boy hauling a giant boulder would instantly grab eyeballs and cement the impression of his "superhuman physical prowess" far better than carrying a small, ultra-dense block of metal.
The stunt might seem eccentric, but Konoha was no stranger to bizarre behavior.
Most importantly, Shinichi desperately needed to accelerate the generation and upgrading of his traits to boost his strength. He needed an absolute guarantee that, within his very first academic year... he would defeat Kakashi!
Compared to the potential payoff, a few weird looks were a completely acceptable price to pay.
Kakashi, go ahead and flaunt your dazzling talent to your heart's content. Make sure all of Konoha recognizes you as a peerless genius! Don't disappoint me!
Taking a deep breath to steady the surging emotions stirred up by the heavy lifting and his first encounter with Kakashi, Shinichi walked purposefully toward the registration desk.
A sharp-looking male instructor wearing a standard green Chunin flak jacket sat behind the desk, efficiently processing paperwork.
"Name?" the instructor asked formulaically, not looking up.
"Shinichi Higashino."
"Did you bring your admission notice?"
"I did, sir."
Shinichi pulled the pristine document from his jacket and handed it over with both hands. The Konoha Ninja Academy was open to all age-appropriate children in the village, regardless of background, but they still had to pass a basic entrance exam. Many failed every year—Might Guy, for example, had initially failed before later passing a remedial Taijutsu exam.
The instructor took the notice. His eyes scanned the information and grades. When he saw a uniform row of "A"s across all subjects, he finally looked up, a hint of surprise and approval on his face.
"Straight A's across the board? Not bad. You have a very solid foundation." His tone softened slightly. Glancing at Shinichi's birth date, he asked casually, "You were old enough to enroll last year. Why are you only signing up now?"
Shinichi offered his usual gentle, slightly apologetic smile. "Yes, sir. Due to some personal circumstances last year, I needed to save up a necessary sum of money, so I delayed my enrollment. I've been helping out at the village blacksmith and a local restaurant."
This, of course, was a lie.
Shinichi's primary goal in delaying was to guarantee he would be in the exact same academic year—and hopefully the exact same class—as Kakashi. It was the only way to maximize his chances of competing against him in practical combat classes and exams.
Secondly, the gap year served as an exploration phase for his interface's "Class" feature. He didn't even need to invent a complex excuse: an orphan working odd jobs to support himself and subsidize his orphanage was the perfect image of a sensible, independent, and fiercely loyal child. Nobody would question it.
Unfortunately, despite trying his hand at numerous mundane jobs over the year, his Class panel had remained largely unchanged.
It was only after he became a disciple at a local dojo—run by an old samurai who had emigrated from the Land of Iron during Konoha's founding—that the empty "Class" field slowly materialized new text: [Kenjutsu Apprentice].
This Class provided a passive, minor boost to his physical constitution and accelerated his sword training. More importantly, unlocking it granted him a one-time opportunity to directly draw a new White-tier trait.
The instructor's gaze unconsciously drifted down to the "Address" field on the admission notice. His expression froze for a fraction of a second. The strictly professional facade was instantly replaced by a flash of subtle awkwardness, followed by deep understanding.
Clearing his throat, the Chunin quickly composed himself. Looking back at the boy's radiant smile, his voice softened involuntarily. "I see... Your paperwork is in perfect order. Your enrollment is approved. Head over there to collect your academy materials. Work hard once you start your classes."
"I will. Thank you, sir." Shinichi accepted the forms with both hands, bowed politely, and headed toward the distribution desk.
After finalizing all the administrative details, he walked steadily back toward the campus gates. The exact moment he stepped past the threshold, officially putting the Ninja Academy at his back, he felt a sudden shift within his mind.
He paused, his eyes focusing on the empty air in front of him. With a silent command, the translucent interface quietly booted up.
[Name: Shinichi Higashino]
[Class: Academy Student (New), Kenjutsu Apprentice]
[Traits: Omitted...]
[Draws Available: 1 (White)]
His gaze locked onto the newly generated text under the Class section.
[Academy Student: You are now officially enrolled in the Ninja Academy and will begin systematic shinobi training. Under this status, your efficiency in Chakra perception and control, theoretical comprehension, basic weapon mastery, Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu will receive a minor boost.]
[Notice: Shinobi Class path unlocked. From this point forward, the perceptions and impressions others form regarding your shinobi talents will manifest as corresponding Talent Traits. Your Class Level dictates the conversion efficiency of public perception into power. Reaching the maximum Class Level will allow you to instantly upgrade one qualifying Talent Trait to maximum quality.]
[Reward: You have received a one-time draw opportunity: Random White Trait × 1.]
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