“Wow…
Chiya-kun, you’re amazing!” Uchiha Izumi’s eyes went wide with shock as she watched Fujiwara Chiya master the Body Flicker Technique on his very first day.
She couldn’t help but gush with praise.
“Shh…” Chiya quickly reached out, pressing a hand over her small lips, and motioned for silence.
“Please keep this a secret.
I don’t want others to find out.” Izumi’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she nodded beneath his hand.
It’s fine, but why doesn’t Chiya-kun want anyone to know?
With his looks, he could be just as popular as Itachi-kun, she thought to herself.
“Because if I stand out too much, I’ll have too many eyes on me.
I won’t be able to come over and mooch meals off you anymore,” Chiya said, throwing out a casual excuse.
He couldn’t exactly tell her that until he possessed enough strength to guarantee his own survival, he had no intention of entering the line of sight of the “Konoha F4.” “I…
I see…” Though he hadn’t meant it that way, Izumi heard the subtext.
Her face grew even hotter, the blush spreading down to her neck.
She added, “My family does have quite a collection of ninjutsu, but most are restricted from being passed on to outsiders.
If I gave them to you, I’m afraid my clansmen would come to cause you trouble.” She hesitated for a moment before continuing, “How about this?
I can start by giving you the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, the Shadow Clone Technique, and the Body Flicker Technique.
These are relatively common in Konoha, so even if my clansmen happen to see you using them later, they won’t think much of it.” “I am incredibly grateful.” Chiya gripped her hand tightly, feeling a surge of excitement.
These were, without a doubt, the most essential ninjutsu he could ask for right now.
The Shadow Clone Technique, in particular, was the ultimate cheat code.
It allowed the user to create physical clones with independent consciousness and a certain degree of durability.
Once dispersed, all the memories and experiences of the clone would return to the main body.
And the Body Flicker Technique?
If he could combine it with the high-level “Flash” ability from his Tiangang Art, he might truly become the second-greatest taijutsu user in the ninja world.
As for the first?
That would be Might Guy in the future—once the Eight Inner Gates were opened, in terms of pure taijutsu, no one would be his match.
In an era of peace, the Ninja Academy didn’t just aim to train qualified genin; it also taught necessary life skills.
In the morning, the instructor focused on piquing the students’ interest, providing a simple explanation of how to refine chakra and demonstrating the Three Basic Jutsu.
The afternoon was reserved for formal instruction.
Even with the classroom filled with children from prestigious clans like the Uchiha, the very first lesson was about learning to refine chakra.
By evening, the first day of class was over.
The next day, Chiya received the Great Fireball, Shadow Clone, and Body Flicker techniques from Izumi.
After looking over the curriculum for the first year, he realized it was mostly about stealth, trap-making, and general shinobi knowledge—nothing involving actual combat.
It’s a job perfect for a shadow clone.
That very night, once he had mastered the Shadow Clone Technique, he stopped going to class entirely.
His real body headed for a secluded, deserted forest to focus on his path of cultivation.
He wasn’t the only one skipping class; Uchiha Itachi had started doing the exact same thing, sending a shadow clone to handle the lessons from the second day onward.
Though Chiya wasn’t particularly fond of Itachi’s personality, he had to admit that the boy was a genius in the truest sense of the word.
He mastered everything instantly, often surpassing the instructors themselves.
If Chiya hadn’t read the original story, he would have suspected Itachi was another transmigrator—the kind that starts off as an overpowered “Dragon Proud Heaven” protagonist.
One year later.
The Hokage’s office in Konoha.
The “Konoha F4″—Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane—sat together in the leadership seats.
Below them stood the chunin instructor responsible for the class containing Fujiwara Chiya and Uchiha Itachi.
Just as in the original story, Itachi had gotten into an accidental conflict with some upperclassmen and revealed his shadow clones, solidifying his reputation as a prodigy.
At the end of the school year, on the day before the sixth-year students graduated, the instructor had reported this to the F4, recommending Itachi for early graduation.
Chiya, having read the original plot, knew this was coming.
To avoid drawing the attention of the F4, he had made a rare effort to attend school in person during that period.
“A genius, you say?” Danzo spoke, his expression calm.
His right eye was hidden beneath bandages, making it impossible to read his intent, but his left eye flickered with complex emotions—caution, cunning, and a faint, hidden trace of killing intent.
He appeared somber, radiating an air of conspiracy.
As the most ardent supporter of the “Uchiha are an inherently evil clan” theory, he hated the Uchiha more than anyone else, yet he coveted them just as much.
He envied their unique Kekkei Genkai—the Sharingan.
“Yes, Danzo-sama.
It isn’t just the Transformation Technique from last year’s exam; he has already mastered the Shadow Clone Technique, and he is exceptional in every other aspect as well.
There is no longer any meaning in keeping him at the Academy,” the instructor replied respectfully.
He stood perfectly straight, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard.
He didn’t dare meet Danzo’s gaze.
It was clear that the leader of the Foundation, known as the “Darkness of the Ninja World,” had reached a point where even his own villagers feared him like a tiger.
This was exactly why Danzo was destined never to become Hokage—though, of course, he didn’t realize it himself.
“But he is only in his first year, isn’t he?” Hiruzen Sarutobi was a man of convention.
Living in an era of peace, he didn’t want Itachi to graduate so soon.
“Yes,” the instructor replied weakly, sensing the Third Hokage’s dissatisfaction.
At this, Danzo, who always loved to oppose the Third, interjected, “Isn’t that a good thing?
It’s not like there is no precedent for this.” “But the times are different now; that was during wartime…” The Third Hokage tried to continue, but Danzo cut him off with a single sentence.
Danzo looked at the instructor.
“He is a genius, correct?” “I have never seen a student like him,” the instructor affirmed.
“Letting Itachi graduate is for his own good!” Hearing this, the Third lowered his head, his eyes obscured by his conical hat, and he offered no further opposition.
The instructor then proceeded to report on other outstanding students, most of whom were from prestigious clans.
During this time, the Third remained silent until the name of the civilian, Fujiwara Chiya, was mentioned.
He finally looked up.
“Is he the child of the Fujiwara family?” The instructor replied, “Yes, Lord Hokage.
In the first year, apart from Itachi, the orphan of Special Jonin Fujiwara has the best talent in the class.
While he is far inferior to Uchiha Itachi, he is quite excellent in all regards.
With proper training, he has a bright future ahead of him.” “I see…
It seems Fujiwara left behind a good child,” the Third Hokage muttered thoughtfully.
No one knew what he was thinking, while Danzo and the others focused entirely on Itachi, showing a degree of disdain for a so-called “civilian genius” like Chiya.
Of course, this was exactly the kind of result Fujiwara Chiya had been hoping for.