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"No wonder Chidori needs the Sharingan to reach its full power."
Leo's own Body Flash technique was running into the same problem.
His eyes, his body—they couldn't fully keep up.
It wasn't as deadly as Chidori, but it was enough to hold back his strength.
The solution was simple:
Either sharpen your vision to match your speed… or train your body to catch up.
The first takes talent—like Minato Namikaze, the gold standard.
The second? That's Kai's specialty.
Keep going!
Leo's eyes narrowed with determination. He launched into another round of Body Flash, mixing punches, kicks, and kunai attacks.
At first…
His speed was insane.
Then, it slowed slightly—but his movements became sharper, more precise, every strike carrying more weight.
Above him, Jiraiya perched on a tree branch, hidden by his ninja arts among the leaves, his face betraying his awe.
As one of the legendary Sannin…
He could immediately see what the boy was training for.
Control over speed.
Sure, Leo's Body Flash was impressive—but speed alone wasn't everything. If you pushed beyond what you could control, it became a liability in battle.
His Body Flash was strong.
Some Jonin, if you compared raw speed alone, might not match this boy's skill.
But that wasn't even the most astonishing part.
What really shocked Jiraiya was this:
The boy knew speed wasn't about being faster. It was about being in complete control before pushing further.
Control often mattered more than raw speed.
A truth simple on the surface, but most shinobi only grasp it in the crucible of life-and-death combat.
"This kid is incredible!"
Another Minato in the making?
Jiraiya's gaze was complicated.
He'd seen Leo before. In fact, the boy passed by the bathhouse every day during training. Several times, he'd almost exposed Jiraiya's whereabouts—but that also made him unforgettable.
Hardworking. Relentless.
And his mind… that was what really impressed Jiraiya.
He wasn't the only one putting in the effort. Jiraiya remembered a flamboyantly dressed boy in green who trained hard too—but their focus couldn't have been more different.
The green-clad boy trained in Taijutsu.
Leo?
From the start, he'd only practiced Taijutsu, Body Flash, and substitution techniques. Everything he did had a clear goal; it wasn't mindless repetition.
Now, he'd mastered Body Flash through sheer grit, and had begun exploring the subtleties of speed control on his own.
A mindset few possess.
A genius.
Just like Minato.
Jiraiya watched from the tree, observing the boy drenched in sweat, memories of the past flooding back.
The boy couldn't detect him hiding there—not yet.
By evening, Leo collapsed under a tree, exhausted.
He gazed up at the leaves swaying above, blinking. Then—
Something under the moonlight seemed off about the shadows.
He sat up.
"Who's there?"
"Whoosh!"
A bird-like shadow streaked across the night sky, disappearing into the trees.
At the Ninja Academy.
A group of newly minted Genin sat in the classroom.
The teacher hadn't arrived yet.
Everyone leaned against the windows, laughing quietly as they watched a child training below.
Everyone, that is, except two.
One was Might Guy.
He was in the corner, balancing on one hand, exercising with an odd, almost artistic grace.
The other was Leo.
He was watching Kai.
Finally, Kai couldn't hold it in anymore.
Back then, Leo had been a class outsider. After reincarnating, his focus was training and getting stronger—he didn't care about social circles. He was low-profile even among his peers.
His connection with Might Guy was… average at best. They knew each other's names and faces, that's all.
So—
"Leo, am I bothering you with my training?"
Kai sounded nervous.
Leo shook his head. "No. I just… admire you."
"Admire me?"
Kai blinked in surprise, then quickly sat up straight beside him. His face was a mix of excitement, disbelief, and a twinge of self-doubt. "You're teasing me, right? I almost failed my early graduation exam."
"You passed, didn't you?"
Leo sounded unconcerned.
Then, he spoke seriously: "Kai, I've been watching you. Your ninja talent isn't great, your intuition is average…"
He listed all the weaknesses.
Kai's expression fell.
Then Leo continued—
"But you have something no one else does: sheer determination and the courage to ignore what others think. That's a kind of talent too. Kai, you're a hard-working genius!"
"A… hard-working genius?"
Might Guy froze.
The first person outside his father to call him a genius. He blushed slightly.
"I-I'm not a genius."
"Why not? The Hokage says persistence is the strongest talent, something most people can't achieve. Look around—who else here is training besides you?"
Kai looked around.
No one.
Everyone else was lounging. Leo's fingers still danced with kunai in one hand, while the other hand seemed to be practicing hand seals.
The only other student quietly observing was that female ninja, Akane.
Kai turned back to Leo.
"Did the Hokage really say that?"
Did it matter? Of course not. It hadn't been the current Hokage—it was future Hokage Leo saying it!
Leo focused his mind, putting aside thoughts of shortcuts.
Then Might Guy suddenly hugged him.
"But I really thank you, Leo. You're the second person ever, besides my father, who truly sees me!"
He burst into tears.
Even Leo, usually composed, was startled by the sudden outpouring.
The classroom fell silent, all eyes on them. Students who had been teasing the lower years stopped, curiosity piqued.
Leo felt mortified.
He had worked hard, paid a price, and the reward… didn't show. He felt like a clown.
Kai cried.
He reflected.
Their emotions didn't match.
A female voice cut through the awkward tension, drawing everyone's attention.
"Kai, who was your first opponent?"
Right! Who was first?
Kai wiped his tears.
Surrounded by dozens of gazes, he didn't feel embarrassed. Instead, he felt proud:
"Of course… my eternal rival, Hatake Kakashi!"
Kakashi.
The classroom first went silent with respect, then snickered in disbelief—
"Wait, you?"
Then erupted into laughter.
"I could also say Kakashi is my eternal rival!"
"Hahaha! Me too!"
"Same here!"
The room buzzed with cheerful energy.
Kakashi had graduated at five, become a Chunin at six.
Kai, seven, graduating as a Genin—impressive, yes, but clearly not in the same league. How dare he call himself Kakashi's eternal rival?
Kai stayed silent.
Leo patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly to reassure him:
"No reward? That just means you weren't sincere enough. So—double down!"
"Set your goal as first place, and you might achieve second or third. Set your goal as second or third, and you'll only ever reach fourth, fifth, maybe lower. Kai… believe in yourself. You are Kakashi's eternal rival!"
"Leo!"
Might Guy hugged him again, this time in excitement and joy, not tears.
What is a soulmate?
This is it.
"My father finally understands me!"
Might Guy laughed until tears streamed down.
Leo realized—Kai's target was Kakashi, but his own target had been the future Kai.
Everyone had a bright future ahead.
He felt a deep satisfaction.
[Psychological development is a key part of a Hokage's work. You have strengthened the heart of a Genin, inspiring boundless fighting spirit.]
[Reward: Your basic Taijutsu techniques have improved.]
Basic Taijutsu techniques?
Leo thought, recalling movements, punches, and kicks—especially leg techniques.
He understood clearly now:
Rewards are linked to the impact of the event and the other person's current abilities.
Yesterday, his reward came from gaining "his own" complete trust, enhancing his strongest Body Flash.
For Kai, the best tools were a strong body and Taijutsu skills.
"....."