The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the forest outside Konoha Village, tree shadows swaying gently in the evening breeze.
Byakuya focused his strength and hurled a Kunai; it sliced through the air and struck the center of the distant target dead-on.
Bull's-eye!
His already thin Chakra was now down to the danger line, the ache in his arm muscles growing sharper.
Three whole days—finally done.
He called up the fate panel.
heaven rewards the diligent; the steadfast succeed.
Time limit: 3 days—throw Kunai into the ten-ring (100/100)
Reward: small increase in Chakra capacity]
A faint but clear warmth spread through his body; his nearly exhausted Chakra slowly regenerated, and his total pool grew noticeably.
Byakuya wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling great. These three days of grinding hadn't been wasted; growing stronger was the surest comfort in chaotic times.
It was early in the Third Great Ninja War, and the tension of conflict already loomed over Konoha Village.
He hadn't graduated from the Ninja Academy yet, but who knew when he'd be dragged onto the battlefield as cannon fodder? Every extra ounce of strength meant a better chance of surviving.
Reborn into the Ninja World, Byakuya's reincarnation roll had been lousy; instead of landing in a famous clan, he was the son of two Chunin civilians.
His talent was abysmal—his Chakra level wasn't even half that of his peers, and his Ninjutsu was a joke.
He'd only qualified for Konoha's Ninja Academythanks to his parents' years of bloody missions earning him an "inheritance" spot.
That peace hadn't lasted. On the eve of the war, his parents died on a classified mission.
From then on, he set one iron rule: if you can lay low, do it; if you can't, think harder and still do it. The bird that sticks out gets shot; the tall tree catches the wind. Goal—survive the war!
As for the Nine-Tails rampage, the Konoha Crush, Pain's assault… those were problems for later. You had to live long enough to worry about them.
After a decent rest, he stowed the training Kunaiand headed back to Konoha.
heaven rewards the diligent: his fate panel refreshed promptly at midnight.
He'd awakened the fate very early, but it had lain dormant, never issuing tasks.
Not until Kumogakure declared war on Konoha did the cheat suddenly spring to life like a startled corpse.
So far there had been three training quests; rewards were small boosts to speed, perception, and stamina.
Dragging his weary body back to the house his parents left, he reheated leftovers, ate, washed up, and collapsed into bed, fast asleep.
At dawn the alarm rang for ages before Byakuyajolted awake.
Yesterday he'd practiced Clone Jutsu at the Academy, then trained Kunai throwing in the forest after class. For his current frail body, that had been overkill; no wonder he overslept.
He slapped off the alarm and checked the new fatetask first thing.
[heaven rewards the diligent; the steadfast succeed.
Time limit: 2 days—practice Substitution Jutsu(0/20)
Reward: small boost to Chakra control]
Substitution Jutsu was basic Ninja Academymaterial, an auxiliary Ninjutsu and one of the classic three body techniques.
In the instant an attack lands, you swap your body for a log or similar object to fool the enemy—extremely practical.
Today happened to be Substitution class, and with the war on, the Academy had brought in a Jonin for live instruction.
He cooked rice, a set number of eggs, fixed vegetables, and a glass of milk.
To grow strong and stay hidden, he needed solid nutrition.
He washed the dishes.
Then headed straight for Konoha Ninja Academy.
The Village had just announced a new policy: the Academy's peacetime six-year course was cut to four because of the war, and students were encouraged to graduate early.
Byakuya was ten, had enrolled at five, and under the old rules would graduate next year, but the new edict said this year.
The Jonin teaching Substitution, Mimura Yeju, stood on the platform in a green flak vest and stubbled chin, eyes hard. Spotting the late Byakuya, he barked, "Crane Byakuya? Late—stand outside and listen."
Quiet! No theory today—only live drills. Learn to dodge and counter-kill using Substitution in the gap of an enemy strike.
It was wartime, and for the sake of efficiency the Ninja Academy had thrown students from different grades into the same class.
Mimura Yeju beckoned to Byakuya, who stood at the door: "Come here."
"Yes, sir!"
Byakuya obediently walked up to Mimura Yeju.
"I'll attack with a shuriken. You dodge with Substitution Jutsu, circle behind me, and make a killing strike."
The moment the words left his mouth, Mimura Yejuhurled a shuriken at him.
It was fast.
Byakuya's pupils shrank; he stood rooted in place, as if too slow to use Substitution Jutsu.
The shuriken struck his chest.
He felt the impact and dull Pain, but no wound.
Mimura Yeju plucked the shuriken from his chest and said in disappointment: "This one's made of wood, just painted to look real."
"Late to class, slow reflexes, failing Ninjutsu—this is your current level. I won't waste words. Go back to your seat and watch how the others use Substitution Jutsu."
"Yes, sir."
Byakuya fought to calm himself and walked toward an empty seat in the front row.
Yet before he could sit...
Mimura Yeju pointed to the back row: "Don't block the others' view—go there."
Head lowered, Byakuya drew a deep breath and sat in the last row of the large classroom, alone.
Mimura Yeju swept his gaze across the students: "Hyuga Ao, you're first."
Hyuga Ao, scion of the Hyuga Clan's Bloodline Limit nobility, successfully swapped places with a Substitution Jutsu clone, appeared behind Mimura Yeju, and delivered a knife-hand strike.
"Excellent! Your timing and concealment are better than some Chunin's."
"Akimichi Xiangyin, you're up."
"Yes, sir!"
...The bell rang to end class. Mimura Yeju gathered his teaching tools, glanced at the hopeless Byakuya in the back row, and shook his head.
Then he strode briskly toward the vice principal's office.
The Academy's nominal head was the Third Hokage, but the Hokage-sama was too busy; day-to-day management fell to the vice principal.
"Hard work, Jonin Mimura Yeju."
Mimura Yeju said: "Vice Principal Hiroya, I've never seen a student like Crane Byakuya—he can't even manage simple Substitution Jutsu! At this level, he'll just die on the battlefield."
"Crane Byakuya?"
"Jonin Yeju, per Konoha's new policy, even if Byakuya's Ninjutsu is failing, he must graduate this year. The Academy can't have any delayed graduates right now."
"I know. The front lines are stretched thin; we need students to graduate early.
After a bit of field experience they'll be sent up. Byakuya's a commoner, not an exception."
"Then your meaning, Jonin?"
"Arrange a solo graduation exam for him tomorrow."
"A solo exam? Is that appropriate?"
"Perfectly appropriate—it's wartime; policies can bend.
I'm afraid he'll fail alongside the others, and the Academy can't openly give him special treatment.
To keep the new policy from losing face, the best solution is a private exam."
Vice Principal Hiroya had once served with Byakuya's parents: "A commoner with poor bloodlines and no talent—he'll only get in the way on the front. I'd rather place him in the rear. What of the others? Any word from the Hokage-sama?"
"We'll start with students who've done well, especially those from noble clans. The exam will be in a week. The Hokage-sama has named several Jonin with good battlefield records to lead them."
"Under such renowned Jonin, those kids will improve by leaps and bounds."
Near day's end, Mimura Yeju found Byakuya.
"Crane Byakuya, come to school late tomorrow. I've scheduled a solo graduation exam for you."
"A... solo exam?"
"Correct."
"Understood. I'll go home and prepare. Goodbye, sensei."
Mimura Yeju watched his retreating back, eyes heavy, as if already seeing Byakuya's fate.
Common-born Ninja could never match those from great clans—education, resources, connections all lagged far behind.
If talent was lacking, the best future was a safe Village job, marriage, children, a life spent serving Konoha and its noble houses.
But that was peacetime; in war, their fates were no longer their own...