It was another enrollment season, and the Ninja Academy located beneath the Hokage Rock was bustling at its peak.
As the head of the Shimura clan, Shimura Danzo, known as "Darkness of the Shinobi", didn't fancy such lively scenes. He had never participated before.
But this year was different. Since the founding of the Shimura clan, there emerged a genius, or rather a prodigy surpassing all other clan members. Today, that prodigy, or rather monster, was set to enroll. As the clan head, Danzo naturally had to be present to accompany the occasion.
In Danzo's opinion, a genius born in the clan should not waste time in a conventional ninja school playing games but should enter the ANBU and undergo the strictest, most advanced training. This would turn the prodigy into the clan's sharpest weapon, helping Danzo ascend to the position of Hokage in the future or even supporting someone to achieve that position.
If it weren't for the stubborn elders in the clan, Danzo would never have agreed to send such a genius to the ninja school.
"Shimura Kizaru!"
"Uchiha Inabi!"
As the ninja instructors on the training ground shouted, Danzo refocused his attention on the practice field below.
A child, standing at around 1.7 meters, clad in a distinctive yellow suit and sporting tea-colored sunglasses, emerged from the group of children.
Although the school teachers, accompanying parents, and village elders had witnessed this six-year-old with a slender physique during the physical test, they still couldn't help but express amazement and engage in discussions.
"This kid is only six years old?"
This thought wasn't limited to one person's mind but was shared by the majority present.
Standing beside Danzo, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, took a puff of smoke, glancing at his old companion by his side.
Anticipating what Hiruzen wanted to say, Danzo coldly spoke first, "Six years old. Confirmed by bloodline. My younger brother's child."
*Cough* *cough!* Awkwardly coughing twice, smoke billowed from Hiruzen's nose and mouth, creating an awkward encounter with Danzo.
Slightly furrowing his brow, Danzo stealthily shifted away, creating distance between himself and Hiruzen, the old smoker.
Danzo's subtle move didn't escape Hiruzen's eyes. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Hiruzen turned his head away, pretending nothing had happened, shifting his gaze back to the field.
At the practice field, the chūnin instructor responsible for supervision stood by, flanked by Kizaru and Inabi, both geniuses of their respective clans.
"I've heard of your name, Shimura Kizaru. I'll prove that in front of the Uchiha, any genius is just a joke." As a true member of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Inabi, with a stern face, looked down at Kizaru through his nostrils.
Taking his hand out of his pocket and tapping his head, Kizaru looked at the haughty little Uchiha in front of him, a smile forming on his face.
As a transmigrator, or rather a transmigrator with hacks, facing a mere six-year-old Uchiha side character was no pressure at all for Kizaru.
Kizaru, previously known as Li Yuan in his past life, had been in the world of Naruto for six years. Since the day he was born, he had awakened his hacks, a character template card of the great general Kizaru from One Piece.
However, this character template card didn't directly match him with the peak strength of Kizaru. It depended on fusion rate.
The higher the fusion rate, the more power he could access from Kizaru's template.
There were two ways for the compatibility to increase: continuous training and imitation of Kizaru's style of doing things, gaining corresponding fame.
Interestingly, Li Yuan's personality in his previous life bore some resemblance to Kizaru. His greatest ideal was to secure a good job, work from 9 to 5, have a two-hour lunch break, and enjoy weekends off—a typical ordinary life, a plan he had set for himself since primary school and had been striving for.
After twenty years of striving, he finally succeeded in securing that ideal job, but on the day his dream was about to come true, he transmigrated to the Naruto world—a "happy" world where one could start working as a ninja as early as 12 years old, with job placements guaranteed.
Working at 12 years old, and guaranteed placement—what a "happy" place!
Thinking about this, Kizaru's smile carried a hint of melancholy.
It's truly tragic!
"Uchiha, eh? You're quite terrifying!"
Regaining his wandering thoughts, Kizaru maintained a sincere expression on his face.
"Darn it!"
Hearing Kizaru's response coupled with his mocking tone, the six-year-old Inabi's face flushed red with anger.
It wasn't just Inabi; everyone present felt the strong sense of ridicule emanating from Kizaru.
"Damn it, I'll make you see how formidable the Uchiha are!"
Here is the translated text in past tense:
Yelling loudly, Inabi charged straight at Kizaru.
Having only received basic education within the family, Inabi's attacking techniques lacked variation. He charged straight ahead, right hand raised, gathering force, and aimed a harsh blow toward Kizaru's upper body.
Lowering his right hand from his head, reinserting it into his pocket, Kizaru faced Inabi's attack without moving his feet. He merely shifted his body slightly, effortlessly evading Inabi's assault.
"Hoo, that was close!"
Another sincere sigh escaped Kizaru's mouth, further infuriating Inabi.
Steadying his stance, adjusting his posture, Inabi launched a side kick, accompanied by a sharp gust, directed at Kizaru's waist.
Still not moving his feet, Kizaru just twisted his waist to the left, once again dodging Inabi's attack.
"How terrifying!"
After evading the attack, Kizaru sighed again.
"You bastard!"
Shouting loudly, Inabi, disregarding restraint, bent his knees right after planting both feet firmly, exerted force from his legs, and leaped into the air, performing a suicidal-style attack, pouncing toward Kizaru.
This time Kizaru finally moved; he took a half-step with his right foot, shifted his body, easily avoiding the attack.
"So frightening!"
Avoiding the attack, Kizaru didn't seize the chance while Inabi was still airborne and unable to readjust his posture to attack directly. Instead, he calmly smiled and spoke.
As Inabi landed from the air, hearing Kizaru's words, he displayed a wary expression. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he forcefully leaped backward, trying to create distance between himself and Kizaru.
Maintaining the posture with his hand in his pocket, Kizaru waited until Inabi had distanced himself by several meters before taking action.
With powerful and agile legs, Kizaru pushed off the ground, leaving an afterimage, and appeared in front of Inabi almost instantaneously, as if teleporting.
"Do you know? Speed is power!"
Kizaru's speed was too fast; Inabi had no reaction whatsoever, standing dazed in place, listening to Kizaru's question, feeling shocked and fearful.
Before the command from his brain reached his body, Inabi felt an immense force striking him. He was kicked into the air, flew several meters, and landed on the ground with a thud.
"Boom!"
A cloud of smoke erupted on the training ground, and the surroundings fell silent.
Everyone present was astounded by the speed and power displayed by Kizaru, which rivalled that of a Jōnin.
On the platform, Danzo, who had been keeping a stern face, couldn't help but curl his lips upward.
Beside him, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, turned to look at Danzo.
"Oh, Kizaru… My incompetent nephew." Danzo expressed dissatisfaction plainly.
Quietly retracting his gaze, Hiruzen couldn't help but reminisce about the time when he and his teammates used to complain in front of Tobirama.