Life in the Konoha Orphanage was undeniably challenging, but it was still better than not having a stable home at all. Most of the time, the children were left to their own devices, and no one really paid them much attention.
The orphans in the orphanage were like weeds in the Hidden Leaf Village—ignored and overlooked by most of the villagers.
Another month had passed since Nono successfully created the fishing trap. During this time, thanks to the trap's success, the children in the orphanage enjoyed fish as a regular part of their diet. With this added source of nutrition, the children gradually shed their previous sallow and emaciated appearances, and their skin took on a healthier hue.
The most dramatic transformation was seen in Kirito Tohsaka. He had gone from being pale and emaciated to becoming white, plump, and rosy-cheeked. His previous gaunt appearance was nowhere to be found.
This remarkable change could be attributed to two key factors. Firstly, the children now had access to ample nutrition thanks to the fish caught using Nono's ingenious trap. Secondly, Kirito's success in cultivating natural energy had played a significant role in his physical transformation.
After a month of practice, Kirito's physical attributes had steadily increased, with his force and speed now sitting at 3 points.
Although Kirito didn't have a clear benchmark to measure his strength, he was confident in his abilities. He could easily handle ordinary beasts like wild boars, wolves, and pythons that roamed the nearby forests. His proficiency in the Flying Stone Technique allowed him to strike with precision within a ten-meter radius, making all the ordinary beasts he encountered his potential dinner.
To prove his newfound strength, Kirito decided to hunt a wild boar that day. With one hand, he effortlessly dragged the massive beast, weighing several hundred pounds, out of the forest behind Konoha Mountain and into the village.
In any other village, seeing a six-year-old child dragging a wild boar of such size would have been a jaw-dropping spectacle. However, in Konoha Ninja Village, a place filled with superhuman abilities and prodigious talents, Kirito's feat didn't cause much astonishment. Instead, the villagers were mildly surprised by his ability to hunt wild boars at such a young age.
Ever since Kirito had showcased his incredible talents in front of the old matron—hitting a bird in the sky with a stone and effortlessly lifting a massive stone weighing hundreds of pounds—he had gained the privilege to freely enter and exit the orphanage.
The matron's initial concern about the safety of the younger children had lessened. She no longer worried about them getting lost or being unable to protect themselves. Kirito had proven that he was more than capable of looking after himself.
In Kirito's eyes, the strong should be self-reliant, especially children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Regarding his newfound strength, Kirito didn't see the need to hide it. He had a purpose in mind—raising money to attend the ninja school. Hunting the unowned beasts in the forest was the quickest way to achieve his goal.
Furthermore, in Konoha Ninja Village, where everyone was a ninja, concealing his strength was nearly impossible, especially when he lacked any knowledge of ninjutsu. He knew that even the ANBU ninjas in the village would easily uncover his true abilities if he tried to hide them.
Moreover, Kirito understood that for a helpless orphan like himself, demonstrating his worth and potential in the orphanage was crucial. It might be the key to securing a place in the ninja school.
To enter the ninja school, one needed to have the status of a Konoha villager. Technically, Kirito was merely an orphan brought back by Konoha ninjas. Despite his evident talent, he was easily overlooked in Konoha Village and suspected of consuming valuable teaching resources meant for villagers.
Therefore, it was in his best interest to showcase his genius and prove his worth to the village. Konoha was a place where geniuses were nurtured, not suppressed. The various ninja clans were quite tolerant, recognizing that even the most exceptional talents could never surpass the god of ninjutsu who had founded Konoha Village.
In such an environment, there was little to fear from a commoner child who wasn't even a ninja.
Kirito's current endeavors were effectively advancing him toward his goal of becoming a ninja. By selling the game he hunted, he had earned enough money to cover his tuition fees. With the recommendation from the old matron and a simple entrance test, he had secured his qualification to enter the ninja school as a student.
Assuming there were no unforeseen obstacles, he would be on track to start his ninja training in another month.
However, Kirito had a new goal now. He wanted to help the other children in the orphanage become ninjas as well. A lone hero was one thing, but having allies and companions from the orphanage who shared his status would be invaluable.
The children in the orphanage were exceptionally precocious and shared a common dream of becoming ninjas, gaining extraordinary powers, and making a mark on the world, even though they were aware of the dangers that came with being a ninja. Kirito was determined to pave the way for them, ensuring that they too had the opportunity to fulfill their dreams.
...
Kirito dragged the wild boar to a local butcher shop, where the owner spotted him from a distance and greeted him warmly, "Hey there, young kirito ! Looks like you've brought another wild boar today. I must say, having you around benefits us villagers. If Orion knew you've caught wild boars for three consecutive days, he'd be green with envy."
Kirito had become a frequent customer, selling game to the butcher regularly, which had significantly boosted the shop's business.
"It's just a stroke of luck, boss. Please weigh it for me," Kirito replied with a smile.
The shop owner promptly called his buddies over to help carry the wild boar into the store for weighing.
Before long, Kirito received a generous sum for the meat, totaling thousands of yen. It was equivalent to completing a low-level D-rank ninja mission.
With the money in hand, Kirito made his way to a nearby steamed bun shop to satisfy his hunger. They had freshly baked meat buns filled with a generous amount of stuffing, juicy and affordable at just 20 yen each—perfect for Kirito, who had a hearty appetite despite his limited funds.
Ever since he began practicing natural energy, Kirito's appetite had grown, partly due to the fact that he couldn't get enough to eat at the orphanage, which had stunted his growth.
Kirito stepped into the meat bun shop and ordered ten at once.
"I'll take twenty."
As Kirito completed his purchase, a familiar voice chimed in beside him. It was a plump boy of similar age named Choza from the Akimichi clan. He eyed Kirito provocatively.
Kirito noticed Choza's taunting expression and responded with a hint of disdain, "Twenty? Can you even afford it? Last time, your belly gave in before you could finish."
The day before, Kirito had encountered Choza at the same shop, and an unspoken competition over their appetites had ignited. Perhaps it was the clash of two big eaters that fueled this rivalry. In the end, Kirito effortlessly devoured ten meat buns, while Chouza couldn't stomach more than eight, resulting in him feeling unwell.
"Quit the chatter. Today, I'm determined to beat you," Choza declared.
Despite being defeated the previous day, Choza was determined to redeem himself in this culinary duel. He had skipped snacks all day to prepare for this showdown and believed that he could emerge victorious.
"You're such a bother," a boy with a pineapple-shaped haircut next to Choza remarked, sighing as if he were an old man witnessing their antics.
Meanwhile, a blond boy next to Kirito observed the showdown with great interest. They were Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza—close friends and part of the new generation of "Pig, Deer, Butterfly" trio.
The meat bun shop's young lady couldn't be happier with the food competition unfolding before her. She was so excited by the spectacle that she subtly advertised her shop, garnering more customers in the process.
The duel was about to commence.
Choza immediately showcased the hearty eating style of the Akimichi clan, opening his mouth wide and taking a huge bite of a meat bun. Kirito, on the other hand, ate in small, deliberate bites, yet his speed in devouring the meat buns was just as swift as Choza's.
In less than a minute, both contestants had cleared ten large meat buns.
Observing that Choza still had the appetite to continue, Kirito decided to order another ten buns from the young lady and resumed eating.
"Hey, hey, is this a joke? Who's that little kid? His appetite rivals that of the Akimichi clan children."
"This is already his fifteenth one. He has an incredible appetite, and even after devouring so many meat buns, his stomach doesn't seem to be bulging. His digestion must be superhuman."
"Look, look, the Akimichi clan kid looks like he's about to give up."
...
The villagers who had gathered to watch the spectacle chuckled and commented while pointing at the duo.
After all, Chouza was quite young, and he hadn't yet begun training in his family's secret arts. Having consumed fifteen large meat buns, he could barely eat anymore. Additionally, he had eaten so quickly that he nearly choked and had to wash down some water, which caused the starch in his stomach to swell. Now, he felt like his stomach was on the verge of bursting, and he was thoroughly uncomfortable.
"It seems I've won again today."
Kirito leisurely polished off the sixteenth meat bun and flashed a victorious gesture at Choza.
"I... I can still eat, ugh~"
Determined, Choza insisted on trying to eat the sixteenth bun, but as soon as he finished speaking, he vomited.
And thus, in their second epic showdown, Kirito emerged victorious.
At the same time, a young girl with white eyes in the crowd gazed at Kirito, the triumphant victor, and softly whispered with her rosy lips, "Kirito."
--------
The story is free so Don't forget to support me by follow my insta, youtube, and tiktok account along with putting likes to my publications. Its okay if you can't watch, just follow and mass like ❤️
I depend on you guys 🤜🏻🤛🏻
Ig, tiktok, YouTube: Multiversal tales