March 15th, Konoha Year 38, the bulletin board outside the Ninja Academy was already bustling with people.
There were students taking the assessment, as well as their parents.
Hoshishita Shuichi's gaze quickly scanned through the names, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his own.
Although he was confident about getting into the Konoha Ninja Academy, he only truly relaxed once it was official.
Passing the assessment meant that all that was left before entering the Ninja Academy was submitting his documents after the entrance ceremony; once those were submitted, he could officially start school on April 1st.
While silently thinking about the process, Hoshishita Shuichi's attention was focused on a tree in his mind.
He called it the skill tree, and at the moment, this tree was bare with only two leaves, which represented keywords.
One of the leaves glowed with 90% white light, while the remaining 10% was gray.
Keyword: Student
Acquisition Condition: Become a Ninja Academy student
Effect: When studying, concentration increases by 100%
He then looked at the other skill tree leaf, which was fully activated and enveloped in white light.
Keyword: Self-Discipline
Acquisition Condition: Persist in a daily exercise plan (at least half an hour) for one continuous year.
Effect: Diligence can compensate for lack of talent; effort will be rewarded, no matter how insignificant, for without accumulating small steps, one cannot travel a thousand miles.
For this keyword, Hoshishita Shuichi, whose innate wisdom awakened at age 4, spent a full year, rain or shine, exercising daily, starting from half an hour and now doing at least an hour every day.
Although he had already obtained the keyword, he had also become addicted to it.
Of course, it was also because this keyword was truly useful.
Diligence can compensate for lack of talent; effort will be rewarded.
This effect was simply incredible!
What people fear most is putting in effort and not receiving feedback, no reward.
If not for his orphan status, he would have trained even more fiercely.
And being able to train so consistently at such a young age, come rain or shine, was also thanks to his good Orphanage director.
Yakushi Nonou!
The Orphanage's funds were not abundant, making it impossible for him to purchase various secret medicines to aid his training, but Yakushi Nonou possessed Medical Ninjutsu, which could, to some extent, compensate for the lack of secret medicines.
Thinking of that kind and gentle woman, Hoshishita Shuichi felt a warmth in his heart.
However, he couldn't help but think of the detestable Danzo, and his heart immediately grew cold.
"I need to get stronger quickly!"
"And make money…"
Hoshishita Shuichi clenched his fists.
He wasn't an orphan without a background; his father was once a Konoha Chunin, and his mother a Genin, and they had left an inheritance.
Now that he had passed the assessment and was starting at the Ninja Academy, he could claim his parents' inheritance and move out of the Orphanage.
However, the inheritance left by his parents probably wouldn't be much, and even with the Village's subsidy, living would certainly be fine, but supporting his intense training might be a bit difficult.
But how to make money?
He was too young!
Hoshishita Shuichi was lost in thought, then heard crying nearby.
"No, my name isn't on it at all, Dad!"
"Keep looking, Might Guy, you've tried your best!"
"Your efforts can't possibly go unrewarded; on a path soaked in tears, you will eventually find your name!"
...
Hoshishita Shuichi turned his head and saw two figures so green they made one panic.
Maito Dai and Might Guy!
This scene certainly made one want to laugh, but listening to the conversation between the father and son, Hoshishita Shuichi couldn't laugh anymore.
Then he turned his head again to look at the people nearby who would likely be his classmates in the future.
Rin Nohara?
Kurenai Yuhi.
They were all so young!
He withdrew his gaze, avoiding becoming a pervert.
Huh?
Hoshishita Shuichi saw a white-haired boy with his hands in his pockets walk past from behind the crowd.
This guy was already showing off at such a young age, how annoying!
The crowd gradually dispersed, and as Hoshishita Shuichi was about to leave, a coolness spread through his mind, and he immediately saw a new gray leaf on his skill tree.
Hoshishita Shuichi stopped in his tracks, secretly delighted; he had actually triggered a keyword.
Keyword: Strong and Robust
Acquisition Condition: Train with Might Guy for 100 days.
Effect: Strong and robust, full of vigor, recovery power increased by 100%, disease resistance increased by 100%, Taijutsu talent increased by 100%
Oh my goodness!
The three 100%s immediately made Hoshishita Shuichi gasp.
He absolutely had to get this keyword!
Hoshishita Shuichi immediately changed his plan; instead of turning to leave, he went to a nearby swing, sat down, and swung while watching the backs of Maito Dai and Might Guy.
Not long after, Maito Dai and Might Guy also left, but Hoshishita Shuichi didn't go; he waited quietly.
Sure enough, less than half an hour later, Might Guy appeared again.
Might Guy, with a long banner hanging from him, started running laps around the Ninja Academy courtyard.
This scene attracted the attention of many nearby people, and some scattered mocking sounds reached Hoshishita Shuichi's ears.
A smile appeared on his face, and Hoshishita Shuichi got off the swing and walked over.
...
"Eh?"
Might Guy, who was running, suddenly noticed someone next to him, and after a moment of surprise, his pace involuntarily slowed down. He looked at Hoshishita Shuichi and asked, "Um... did you not pass either?"
Hoshishita Shuichi said, "No, I passed the assessment, but that doesn't mean I don't need to work hard."
"I think Uncle Dai said something very true."
Might Guy's eyes lit up, and he subconsciously asked, "What?"
Hoshishita Shuichi smiled, his figure surpassing Might Guy's: "Effort can't possibly go unrewarded!"
"I believe that effort always pays off, it's just a matter of time."
"Might Guy, my name is Hoshishita Shuichi, and I believe you can get into the Ninja Academy."
A bowl of chicken soup made Might Guy completely stop in his tracks. He looked at Hoshishita Shuichi's back, but an infinite surge of power suddenly welled up inside him, and then he smiled: "Goal: 500 laps! If I don't make it, I'll walk 500 laps on my hands!"
Shouting loudly, Might Guy quickly caught up with Hoshishita Shuichi, and then the two ran side by side, circling the school courtyard lap after lap.
From that day on, two figures training relentlessly, rain or shine, were added to the Ninja Academy courtyard.
Sometimes Maito Dai would loudly cheer for Hoshishita Shuichi and Might Guy from the sidelines, sometimes it was just the two of them, and they could occasionally hear the disdainful and mocking voices of some kids.
And occasionally, a white-haired boy would also coolly pass by with his hands in his pockets, his gaze lingering for a moment.
10 days later, March 25th.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi came to inspect the Ninja Academy, preparing for the school's opening in April, and then he saw Hoshishita Shuichi and Might Guy, sweating profusely.