After hearing Kiyohane’s words, their chunin homeroom teacher, Umino Shika, suddenly felt that this class might be the hardest one he would ever have to handle.
There was Asuma, the Hokage’s son.
There was Kiyohane, Tsunade’s younger brother in all but name.
And that was not even mentioning the large number of students from noble clans like the Hyuga and Uchiha.
He was just a mere chunin instructor.
He could not afford to offend any of them.
Every step felt like walking on thin ice.
“Well said, Kiyohane-kun.”
Although Umino Shika was barely holding himself together inside, he still showed a smile.
[Collectible trait detected: E-rank trait.]
[E-rank Trait: Attitude Is the Mask of the Heart.]
[Effect: Your ability to manage your facial expressions increases by 40%.]
This trait…
Kiyohane glanced at Umino Shika.
He had a strong feeling it had dropped from this chunin instructor.
After all, he was the only one smiling.
Everyone else still looked completely dumbfounded.
After Kiyohane returned to his seat, Rin Nohara asked curiously, “Kiyohane, what’s your relationship with Lady Tsunade?”
Hearing that, Kiyohane immediately felt that Rin Nohara had asked a very insightful question.
“Oh, I live with Tsunade-nee.
Whatever she eats, I eat.”
Although Tsunade was not his biological older sister or even a cousin, and their blood relation was actually somewhat distant—outside the third degree, at least—they were still members of the same clan.
Because of that, she treated Kiyohane very well.
The students in the class exchanged looks.
They realized a big-shot background character had just joined their class.
Once everyone had finished introducing themselves, Umino Shika distributed their files and announced dismissal.
Formal classes would begin tomorrow.
“Obito’s late again.”
Rin Nohara sighed and had no choice but to help Obito pick up his file first.
Being late even on an important day like the entrance ceremony—only Obito could manage that.
“That’s just Obito’s usual style,” Kakashi complained.
Then he looked at Kiyohane and asked where he planned to practice swordsmanship.
“Let’s go to Training Ground Three,” Kiyohane said.
It was very close to the village.
“Fine.”
Kakashi nodded.
Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice.
“Oh no, oh no!
I absolutely can’t be late today!”
Wearing yellow goggles, Obito was sprinting toward the classroom with all his might.
But all he could see was the steady stream of people pouring out, which only made him more and more uneasy.
“He’s even late for the entrance ceremony?
Someone like that has no right to enter the Ninja Academy.
He’s hopeless.”
Kakashi shook his head as he watched Obito rush over in a fluster.
What he looked down on most was someone like Obito, who had no sense of punctuality.
A person like that could never become a real shinobi.
Hearing Kakashi’s words, Kiyohane also looked toward Obito.
Although Kakashi’s words were harsh, in a certain sense, he was right.
If someone was late for a mission, it could very well cause the entire mission to fail.
And when it came to the price of mission failure, Sakumo Hatake was the best example.
Kakashi, however, only needed Obito to awaken Kamui someday.
Kakashi himself had far more to worry about.
“It’s okay.
I picked it up for you.”
Rin handed Obito his enrollment file.
“Thanks, Rin!
Next time, I’ll treat you to dango!”
Obito’s face flushed for no obvious reason as he thanked Rin solemnly.
Kakashi shook his head.
With Rin spoiling Obito like this, how was he ever supposed to fix his habit of being late?
“Kiyohane, let’s go.”
Compared to someone like Obito, Kakashi was much more interested in Kiyohane.
“Let’s.”
Kiyohane and Kakashi continued forward.
Obito looked confused, not understanding where they were going.
After Rin explained it to him, Obito immediately started clamoring to come along.
And so, the group headed to Training Ground Three together.
…
At the Hokage Building.
“Hiruzen, we can’t keep letting Kiyohane roam freely.
He must be handed over to me for discipline!”
Danzo Shimura’s expression was grave.
In his eyes, every naturally wicked Uchiha brat needed to be managed.
That was the creed he had inherited from his teacher, Tobirama Senju, and one he had upheld all his life.
Every time Danzo saw an Uchiha breathe, he could smell the foul stench hidden deep in their bloodline.
“Danzo!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi was beginning to grow displeased with Danzo’s attitude, as if he were the one giving orders here.
It seemed he really had given Danzo too much authority.
“You need to understand that Kiyohane is also one of Tobirama-sensei’s clansmen.”
Hiruzen took a slow puff from his pipe.
“Hmph.”
Danzo snorted coldly.
“Precisely because of that, he must be placed under Root’s guidance and led onto the proper path.
Otherwise, he will become a future disaster.
You’ll regret this one day, Hiruzen.”
At Danzo’s words, Hiruzen set down his pipe.
“Enough.
I am the Hokage!”
Hiruzen slammed his hand onto the desk.
Back then, Tobirama-sensei had personally appointed him as Hokage.
Although Kiyohane carried half Uchiha blood, he also carried half Senju blood!
How could Hiruzen possibly stand by and watch a Senju clansman be thrown into Root for Danzo to ruin?
Hearing this, Danzo glared at Hiruzen in frustrated anger.
He had devoted himself completely to Konoha, yet Hiruzen was once again using the Hokage’s seat to suppress him!
Fine.
Impressive.
So noble of you.
If I hadn’t been a few seconds late back then, what would there even be for you, Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Danzo forced down his resentment, turned, and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Bang!
The door, which had endured who knew how many of Danzo’s tantrums, was already looking dangerously close to collapse.
Hiruzen immediately summoned an Anbu shinobi and ordered him to arrange repairs.
“Yes, Lord Hokage.”
The Anbu was about to leave when Hiruzen added, “Have Danzo Shimura pay for the repairs out of his own pocket.”
“Yes.”
After the Anbu left, Hiruzen turned his gaze back to the crystal ball on his desk.
Through the Telescope Technique, he had heard the students’ speeches in the classroom clearly.
“Judging from Kiyohane’s introduction, he seems like a calm, detached child.
I wonder how much he acknowledges the Will of Fire.”
Hiruzen stroked his chin, deciding to pay closer attention to Kiyohane from now on.
…
Training Ground Three.
“Does that guy really want to spar with Kakashi?”
Obito folded his arms, looking thoroughly unconvinced.
“Maybe Kiyohane-kun is really strong,” Rin said, speaking up for him.
She had a very good impression of a clean, handsome boy like Kiyohane.
“Hmph.
Doesn’t matter which of them is stronger.
I’m still the strongest!”
Obito pointed at his own eyes and declared with full confidence, “Once I awaken my Sharingan, I’ll be even stronger!”
“Idiot.”
Kakashi felt Obito’s intelligence was truly beyond saving.
The Sharingan was only a tool.
There were plenty of Uchiha who had never awakened it, but weren’t they still far better than Obito?
“Come on, Kiyohane.”
Kakashi looked at Kiyohane and picked up a branch from the ground to use as a wooden sword.
Kiyohane did the same.
“I won’t be holding back,” Kiyohane said calmly.
He wanted to see whether forcing Kakashi to use more swordsmanship-related moves would let him obtain the corresponding traits.
The moment his words fell, a flash of crimson appeared in Kiyohane’s eyes.
It was unmistakably the one-tomoe Sharingan.