Konoha Ninja Academy.
A group of students waited outside the examination room.
Inside, a black-haired boy was undergoing his final evaluation, observed closely by the Third Hokage and several academy instructors who were taking notes and scoring.
In the center of the room, he performed each test item with practiced precision.
Before long—
"Taijutsu: Excellent."
"Clone Jutsu: Excellent."
"Transformation Jutsu…"
"Overall: Excellent."
Seated above, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, called out each score, then stood and picked up a forehead protector. He walked toward the student.
He handed it to him.
"After thorough evaluation by the academy, you are approved for early graduation. Ryōmine Kyōen as of today, you are a genin."
"Yes! Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
Kyōen accepted it respectfully, his heart filled with emotion.
After transmigrating over a year ago and training relentlessly, I've finally earned early graduation.
At that moment, a strange voice echoed in his mind:
[Congratulations on officially becoming Hokage. The Hokage System is now at your service.]
What?!
That voice… a system?!
Seriously?! I've been grinding for over a year, training day and night, and now you show up?!
He was stunned and thrilled all at once.
According to his inherited memories, Kyōen's ancestors were once part of the Senju Clan. However, following the First Hokage's push for inter-clan marriage, their lineage branched off. Now, Kyōen was part of the third generation since then.
Unfortunately—
His grandmother hadn't inherited any special abilities or kekkei genkai, and his parents were just average shinobi with healthy bodies at best. They both died on the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
By the time it came to Kyōen, he was as ordinary as they came. No signs of special talents.
Which was why—
After transmigrating, he realized that if he wanted to survive in the brutal world of shinobi, he had to work hard—like Might Guy.
But who would have thought—
Today, a system awakened.
Wait… Hokage System? What do you mean?! I'm not the Hokage!
Kyōen looked down at the forehead protector in his hand, then up at Hiruzen's hat.
I'm not wearing the Hokage's hat!
"Kyōen, put on your forehead protector."
"Yes, sir!"
Snapped out of his daze, Kyōen tied the protector to his forehead. Instantly—
Another prompt chimed in his mind:
[Winning hearts is a must-have skill for any Hokage.]
[By personally receiving your forehead protector from the Hokage, you've gained his full trust.]
[Reward: Shunshin no Jutsu upgraded by 1 level.]
Huh?!
Kyōen blinked, stunned.
Full trust…
Of course I trust him!
I just received my forehead protector — and I still got rewarded for it? This system might be a bit dense!
After a moment of shock, he quickly gathered his thoughts.
So this system is clearly designed for a Hokage… but somehow, it ended up with me, a mere genin. Either I ended up in the wrong body… or it found the wrong host.
But right now, he was still in the exam hall. He had to keep calm.
Kyōen bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
And he meant it.
If this system had landed on someone like Hiruzen Sarutobi, that would've been a total waste. That old guy would probably never use it properly!
Better it came to me.
"Haha, I've got high hopes for you. Do your best," Hiruzen said with a smile, patting Kyōen's shoulder.
He then called the next student in.
As Kyōen exited the building, he passed familiar and unfamiliar faces alike. He couldn't help but reflect—
In the next ten years, only a handful of these people will rise to prominence.
The shinobi world was unforgiving.
Without a kekkei genkai or hidden techniques, surviving here is nearly impossible.
After this past year, I know just how hard it is to be an "ordinary" person in this world.
Even with hard work—
All Kyōen had achieved was an early graduation. Compared to prodigies like Kakashi, he was still leagues behind.
If things went normally, his best role model would be Might Guy.
But now—
With the system, and early graduation giving him extra time to train, he had a chance to rise.
You don't learn the real stuff at the Academy, anyway!
The Hokage System.
As bizarre as its activation was, the outcome was promising.
Leaving the exam hall, Kyōen tested a few keywords until one triggered a translucent panel in front of him.
On it were familiar words:
[Name: Ryōmine Kyōen]
[Age: 7]
[Kekkei Genkai: None]
[Skills]:
Transformation Jutsu (Proficient),
Clone Jutsu (Proficient),
Substitution Jutsu (Expert),
Shunshin no Jutsu (Master)
Master-level Shunshin!
Kyōen suppressed the excitement surging in his chest.
According to the system, ninjutsu proficiency was divided into five ranks: Novice, Proficient, Expert, Master, and Grandmaster.
Shunshin no Jutsu and Substitution were the two jutsu he had trained the hardest.
But for the past six months, his Shunshin had hit a plateau.
And now—
Insights into the technique flooded his mind.
So that's what it means… At Master level, every motion—muscle, strength, chakra—is precisely controlled.
Precision in exertion—that's the difference between Expert and Master.
Kyōen could feel it.
This sudden understanding was incredible. It felt like he'd practiced the jutsu tens of thousands of times, and could now use it instinctively.
If I were training the normal way, it would've taken years to reach this level.
This is amazing.
Now then…
How can I maximize this system's potential?
With no kekkei genkai or hidden techniques, Kyōen knew his only hope of rewriting his fate in the shinobi world was through the Hokage System.
And based on its current behavior, it seemed more like a rigid program—with plenty of room for exploitation.
So if I were Hokage, what kind of things would I do?
His mind raced.
The last reward had come from…
Winning hearts.
Balancing village factions.
Strengthening and enriching the village.
Contributing to wartime efforts.
Handling daily operations and missions.
He summed up the system's patterns.
As a genin, most of those were clearly beyond his reach. The only things he could actually do were: earn people's trust and complete missions.
Kyōen pondered briefly—
Then exited the school gate, eager to test out his Master-level Shunshin.
Every movement was now exquisitely fine-tuned.
His muscles. His chakra.
Then—
Whoosh!
In a flash, Kyōen vanished from his spot and reappeared down the street.
"So fast!"
"Even though my physical strength hasn't changed, the effectiveness of Shunshin is now two or three times better than before!"
A glint of fire lit in Kyōen's eyes.
If this is Master level… what kind of beast would I be at Grandmaster?!
Still—
He noticed that while the skill was integrated into his body, his awareness and perception hadn't quite caught up. His reactions were a bit off — his mind couldn't fully keep up with the enhanced speed yet.
I'll need practice!
Kyōen sprinted toward his usual training ground on the outskirts of the village, moving like the wind.
But then—
As he dashed past a bathhouse…
"Hm?"
A white-haired man turned his head.
He caught a glimpse of a boy speeding by in a blur.
That speed…!
Such refined Shunshin… who is that?
His curiosity was piqued. He glanced back into the bathhouse, hesitated—
Then turned to follow Kyōen..