The first thing I noticed about the world outside my crib was that it was bigger than I imagined.
By the time I was three, crawling had been replaced by running. Not normal toddler running—my legs moved in fluid, precise arcs, almost like I could anticipate where I'd land before I lifted my feet. The staff, now taller than I was, leaned against the wall of the Sarutobi estate. Even at this age, I could reach it, grab it, and swing it just enough to knock over a small training dummy Hiruzen had left for me.
He watched from across the courtyard, a faint smile brushing his lips. "Already testing your reflexes, Jin?"
I froze for a heartbeat, my hands still gripping the staff. "I… I was just—"
"You were learning," he finished for me, calm and measured. "Good. That's exactly what you were doing."
Biwako appeared behind him, holding a small bowl of rice porridge. "Don't overdo it, Jin. You're strong, yes, but strength isn't everything. Patience, control… those will guide you more than raw power."
I lowered the staff, blinking up at them. "Patience… control…" I muttered, as if tasting the words. My body itched to move again. The staff hummed faintly in response, a gentle vibration against my hands.
[Viewing Panel Updated]
Name: Jin SarutobiAge: 3 yearsAffiliation: Konohagakure (Sarutobi Clan)Parent: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Biwako Sarutobi
[Attributes]Ninjutsu: Academy Prep – LowTaijutsu: Low + Reflexes ModerateGenjutsu: InfantileChakra: Moderate – Rising
[Body]Strength: ModerateSpeed/Agility: ModerateStamina: HighChakra Control: Low
[Abilities]Staff Resonance: Level 3 – Early ManipulationReflexive Combat Awareness: Level 2
System Note: Growth potential unusually high. Recommend early combat training.
By age four, Hiruzen decided it was time for actual staff lessons. He brought me to a small clearing near the estate, sunlight glinting through the trees, the smell of grass sharp and familiar.
"The staff," he said, placing one in my hands, "isn't just a weapon. It's an extension of your body. You move, it moves. You think, it reacts. Abuse it… and it betrays you."
I gripped it, feeling the hum again, stronger this time. My fingers tightened instinctively, and for the first time, I felt the pulse of chakra through the wood, faint but undeniable.
"Let's start simple," he said, placing a row of small wooden dummies in front of me. "Hit the closest one. Don't overthink. Just move."
I raised the staff. Time seemed to slow. The wind whispered through the trees. I swung.
Impact. The dummy toppled perfectly. My reflexes kicked in again—spin, lift, strike another. Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly. "Interesting… already instinctively chaining attacks. And… the staff is responding. I didn't even teach him that."
Biwako crouched beside me. "Control, Jin. Remember… not just power. Precision."
I adjusted my grip and flicked the staff lightly. The dummy swayed but didn't fall. Perfect. Balance. Control.
[Viewing Panel Updated]
Name: Jin SarutobiAge: 4 yearsAffiliation: Konohagakure (Sarutobi Clan)Parent: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Biwako Sarutobi
[Attributes]Ninjutsu: Low Academy PrepTaijutsu: Moderate – FluidGenjutsu: BeginnerChakra: Moderate – Rising
[Body]Strength: ModerateSpeed/Agility: HighStamina: HighChakra Control: Moderate
[Abilities]Staff Resonance: Level 4 – ResponsiveReflexive Combat Awareness: Level 3
System Note: Early combat awareness and staff integration developing faster than expected.
By age five, I could run circles around the courtyard, staff in hand, weaving between trees, jumping over small rocks, and landing perfectly on the balls of my feet. The system flickered, updating stats in a blue haze I could barely process: speed, agility, stamina all spiked.
Hiruzen clapped softly. "Not bad. Faster than most Academy students at your age. But power without control is dangerous. Focus."
I grinned, feeling the pulse in my arms. The staff hummed faintly, almost like it agreed with me. I twirled it, spun it, and performed a small strike pattern Hiruzen hadn't even taught me yet. It connected with the dummy perfectly, ricocheting off the edge and returning upright.
Biwako laughed softly. "You're reckless, Jin. But… effective."
[Viewing Panel Updated]
Name: Jin SarutobiAge: 5 yearsAffiliation: Konohagakure (Sarutobi Clan)Parent: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Biwako Sarutobi
[Attributes]Ninjutsu: Academy Prep – LowTaijutsu: Moderate + Reflexes HighGenjutsu: BeginnerChakra: Rising – High
[Body]Strength: ModerateSpeed/Agility: HighStamina: Very HighChakra Control: Moderate
[Abilities]Staff Resonance: Level 5 – Full Body IntegrationReflexive Combat Awareness: Level 4
System Note: Combat instincts and staff synchronization developing rapidly. Recommend exposure to real-world scenarios.
By six, it was time for basic chakra control exercises. Hiruzen guided me through small bursts of chakra: moving leaves, igniting small flames, lifting tiny stones. The staff responded to chakra pulses almost like a second nervous system, vibrating and extending slightly with each controlled surge.
"Chakra is the flow of life, Jin," Hiruzen said. "It is your energy, your connection to everything. Master it, and you master yourself."
I focused. The staff lifted slightly, hovering in my grip as chakra ran through me. My body felt like it was awake in a way it had never been before, every movement precise, deliberate, instinctive.
Biwako's voice was soft behind me. "He's strong, Hiruzen… and smart. But remember… heart matters too. Teach him kindness, patience. Those will guide his hands more than force ever could."
The system updated again, numbers flashing: Taijutsu, reflexes, and now chakra control rising steadily.
[Viewing Panel Updated]
Name: Jin SarutobiAge: 6 yearsAffiliation: Konohagakure (Sarutobi Clan)Parent: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Biwako Sarutobi
[Attributes]Ninjutsu: Low – RisingTaijutsu: High – FluidGenjutsu: BeginnerChakra: High – Moderate Control
[Body]Strength: ModerateSpeed/Agility: Very HighStamina: Very HighChakra Control: Moderate – Rising
[Abilities]Staff Resonance: Level 6 – IntegratedReflexive Combat Awareness: Level 5Chakra Flow Manipulation: Level 1
System Note: Rapid early development. Recommend exposure to village life and basic mission scenarios to test growth.
By this point, the courtyard had become my playground, the staff my companion, and the system a quiet guide in my mind. Hiruzen watched, ever the observer, ready to step in if I pushed too far. Biwako's gentle guidance reminded me that strength alone didn't define me.
I was Jin Sarutobi, born into the Sarutobi clan, replacing Asuma in the timeline, and already the coil of potential inside me was waking. The world was vast, full of missions, challenges, and threats I hadn't yet seen—but I would face them.
And when the time came, I would step into the role Asuma would have played, wielding my staff, flowing with chakra, and guided by the system to become something… unique.
The wind rustled through the trees, the system flickered faintly in my vision, and I tightened my grip on the staff.
I was ready.
The world had to wait.