The spring breeze of Year 62 of Konoha swept across the Hokage Rock, carrying a refreshing scent of vibrant green.
Beneath the massive vermilion gates at the village entrance, a youth carrying an enormous pack paused and looked up.
He wore a faded, wash-worn gray ninja outfit.
His soft, fine black hair swayed gently in the breeze, the tips cut in a clean, sharp style.
If one ignored his deep, dark eyes that resembled silent pools of water and the faint diamond-shaped mark on his forehead, his delicate features and the gentle curve of his lips would make anyone momentarily mistake him for the Yellow Flash who had once saved the village.
“So this is Konoha…
It’s far more prosperous than Master described, but also much more oppressive.” Sei muttered to himself, his mind involuntarily conjuring the alcohol-flushed face of Tsunade before his departure.
“Sei, once you step through those gates, you must bury the name Uchiha deep in your gut.
If that old fox Danzo catches even a whiff of anything off, you’ll end up as a human specimen in his basement dungeon!” Sei tapped the sealing scroll tucked against his chest, which contained the jar of Sharingan.
A cold gleam flashed deep in his eyes.
He knew very well that beneath Konoha’s peaceful surface, the eyes of the Anbu and Root clung to everyone like marrow-eating maggots.
*** Inside the Hokage’s office, smoke swirled in the air.
Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his crystal ball.
Looking at the youth who had just pushed the door open, a subtle, complex look flashed across his eyes.
“Sei, Tsunade’s letter says you’ve given her quite a headache these past few years.” The Third Hokage’s voice was raspy yet warm.
He studied Sei closely, particularly his pure black hair.
“You look so much like him…
Except for the hair, you’re practically Minato’s double.
What a pity.” Sei bowed politely, his smile completely harmless.
“Lord Hokage, Master always says I’m a jinx, constantly causing trouble for her when she’s winning money.
She told me to return to the village to learn some proper skills so I wouldn’t starve to death in some casino’s back alley.” “Haha, that does sound like Tsunade.” The Third Hokage was amused by Sei’s down-to-earth humor, and his tense posture relaxed considerably.
“Your registry has been settled, and only I know your true identity.
For now, you are registered as a war orphan with no surname, just Sei.
Go to the Ninja Academy; there are other kids your age there.” “Yes, Lord Sandaime.” “Don’t be so stiff.
In private, you can just call me Grandmaster.” “No can do.
During work hours, I have to address you by your official title.
I’m off, Lord Sandaime.” …
When Iruka Umino pushed open the door to Class 6-1, the noisy classroom—which had been on the verge of bringing the roof down—instantly fell silent.
“Everyone, we have a new classmate joining us today.
Due to some special circumstances, he has been training outside the village until now.” Iruka clapped his hands, gesturing for Sei to enter.
Sei stepped over the threshold.
His extraordinary, refined aura and a face handsome enough to make any girl scream instantly made him the center of attention.
“Wow!
He’s so handsome!” Sitting in the front row, Ino Yamanaka stood up from her seat, clutching her blushing cheeks.
Her eyes virtually overflowed with little stars.
As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of good looks, she felt her years of absolute loyalty to Sasuke instantly crumble.
Sakura Haruno was also stunned.
She looked at the cool, aloof Sasuke in the back row, then back at the black-haired youth on the podium who smiled like warm spring sunshine, nervously gripping the hem of her shirt.
“Hello, everyone.
My name is Sei.
I specialize in medical Ninjutsu, hate taking medicine, and know a bit of hand-to-hand combat.
Pleased to meet you.” Sei’s brief introduction sparked a wave of whispering.
“Medical Ninjutsu?
Isn’t that support-unit work?” Kiba Inuzuka, holding Akamaru in his arms, jeered loudly.
“Hey, newbie, ninjas are supposed to fight enemies on the battlefield.
A pretty boy like you should go back to the hospital to sweep the floors!” Sei didn’t get angry.
He merely tilted his head, his smile remaining bright.
“You’re right, sweeping floors is indeed a skilled job.
But compared to sweeping floors, I’m much better at setting broken bones.
If you ever break a bone, come find me.
I’ll give a classmate discount of twenty percent off.” “You…!” Kiba was choked with rage by Sei’s devious attitude.
Meanwhile, Sasuke Uchiha, who sat by the window, had kept his hands clenched tightly against the edge of his desk since the moment Sei entered.
His pitch-black eyes stared intently at Sei, a shudder rising from the depths of his soul that made him feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
*That feeling…
He is definitely no ordinary civilian!* Sasuke screamed internally.
As the sole remaining survivor of the Uchiha Clan on the surface, he was extremely sensitive to even the faintest fluctuations of ocular power.
Although Sei concealed it exceptionally well, that innate pressure of a superior could not be faked.
*** At the training ground after school, the setting sun painted the grass a warm orange-red.
“Hey, newbie.
Fight me.” Sasuke blocked Sei’s path.
The other rookies—Naruto, Ino, Shikamaru, and the rest—all gathered around.
“Sasuke, fighting is exhausting.” Sei sighed helplessly, keeping his hands in his pockets as he spoke in a lazy tone.
“What bad luck.
I run into this kind of trouble the moment I return to the village.
How about this: if you lose, you buy me a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen.
Deal?” “Hmph, only if you have the skills!” Sasuke lunged forward instantly, his body moving so fast he became a blur.
Among this year’s students, Sasuke’s Taijutsu was indeed in a league of its own.
His kunai sliced through the air, thrusting toward Sei’s shoulder with sharp, lethal intent.
However, in Sei’s perception, this speed was like watching slow motion.
During his years in the Shikkotsu Forest, he had faced Tsunade’s monstrous-strength punches every single day—attacks that could shatter mountains.
Tsunade’s strikes left no blind spots; they were lightning-fast and carried titanic force.
Compared to his violent master, Sasuke’s current attack felt like a child waving a wooden stick.
Sei didn’t even take his hands out of his pockets.
When the tip of the kunai was a mere three inches away, Sei pivoted lightly on the grass, his body tilting aside at a physically impossible angle.
“Too slow,” Sei murmured.
Using his left foot as an axis, he whipped his right leg out.
He didn’t activate his Sharingan, nor did he use Chakra.
Relying solely on the physical instincts honed over the years, he unleashed a precise roundhouse kick.
This was the foundational power-delivery technique of Tsunade’s monstrous strength.
Although it wasn’t enhanced by a burst of Chakra, the perfect combination of muscle flexibility and raw force still produced a sharp, piercing sonic boom.
*Bang!* Sasuke felt an overwhelming, mountain-shattering force slam into his guarding arms.
It felt exactly like being rammed head-on by a charging bull.
“Ugh!” With a muffled groan, the self-proclaimed genius of Konoha flew backward like a broken kite, plowing a trench over ten meters long through the grass before crashing heavily against a large tree, scattering fallen leaves everywhere.
The entire field fell dead silent.
Sakura, who had been cheering loudly for Sasuke, froze.
Naruto rubbed his eyes, his mouth open wide enough to fit an entire Onigiri.
“Holy crap…
One hit?” Naruto stared blankly at the youth, who still stood in his original spot with his hands in his pockets.
Ino’s breathing stopped, her eyes turning into stars.
Looking at Sei’s tall, straight back, the seed of a crush instantly blossomed into a towering tree.
A guy this powerful, mysterious, and handsome was practically custom-made for her!
Sei scratched his black hair sheepishly.
Looking at Sasuke, who was struggling to stand in the distance, he flashed his signature devious smile.
“Well, Sasuke, looks like you’re buying that ramen.
I might have overdone it a bit—you’re not hurt, are you?” He walked over and extended a hand to Sasuke.
As the setting sun bathed his black hair in gold, the faint diamond-shaped mark on his forehead flashed with an imperceptible glimmer of light.