Ninja tool throwing was taught at the Academy. It was basic training.
But for most fresh graduates, throwing kunai and shuriken was nowhere near combat-ready.
Only true prodigies like Kakashi or Uchiha Itachi had possessed real combat-level precision at six or seven years old.
Just moments ago, however, Kimoto Dōichi had thrown those kunai and shuriken at full force.
Ordinary ninja—anyone below chunin—would have struggled to defend against them.
Yet Yoru had not only blocked them—
He had reacted in time.
He had even clearly tracked the trajectory of each projectile.
That meant his physical strength was formidable.
His coordination exceptional.
His perception and visual acuity—abnormal.
At Yoru's age, Dōichi himself had never reached such a level.
Yoru, of course, had no idea what Dōichi was thinking.
He was simply displeased.
Deeply displeased.
Though he didn't intend to do anything about it.
With his current strength, he couldn't.
Dōichi stepped in front of the three.
"Today, I'll take you to accept your first mission."
Shumu and Tada, still shaken from the earlier scare, immediately lit up.
They forgot their fear almost instantly.
"Really, sensei? We can take missions already?"
Dōichi nodded expressionlessly.
"Of course. For now, you'll only accept missions at C-rank or below."
"And during missions, I'll continue training you."
"You'd better prepare yourselves."
"My training is… harsh."
His tone turned cold.
Then he glanced at Yoru, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"But I imagine you're looking forward to it."
Yoru frowned slightly.
"Dōichi-sensei, you're currently leading three students who just graduated from the Academy. Was that kind of test really necessary?"
Dōichi patted his shoulder.
"You're still upset?"
"For those two, the days ahead might be difficult."
"But for you?"
"It's a good thing."
Yoru understood what he meant.
He did look forward to learning real ninjutsu.
But for Shumu and Tada—
Such harshness would not be kind.
Their talent was average.
If Dōichi pushed too hard, it would be painful.
Seeing Yoru fall silent, Dōichi chuckled.
"Let's go. To the Hokage Building."
Shumu and Tada didn't catch the undercurrent between the two.
They were too busy celebrating their first official mission.
After the four left, atop a tree at the training ground—
Kakashi stood there.
He had been supposed to take Team Seven to receive a mission.
A small orange novel rested in his hand.
But he hadn't turned a page in quite some time.
He had witnessed Dōichi's test from start to finish.
Yoru's performance surprised even him.
Even after they had gone, Kakashi muttered softly to himself,
"It's not just his chakra reserves."
"His reaction speed… his physical responsiveness… far surpass ordinary ninja."
"And his visual acuity… it's already comparable to mine when I'm using the Sharingan."
The kunai and shuriken Dōichi had thrown—
Kakashi believed that even average chunin would struggle to react.
Even if they sensed danger—
If they couldn't clearly track the trajectory, they couldn't block it.
That kind of perception was not normal.
For a moment, Kakashi even wondered—
If Yoru's eyes just now were already comparable to his Sharingan-enhanced vision.
"I wonder…"
"Could he learn my Chidori?"
The thought surfaced naturally.
With Yoru's reaction speed and sharp perception—
He was suited for it.
But Chidori was an A-rank technique.
Dangerous.
A near-forbidden jutsu.
Even if Kakashi wanted to teach it—
Yoru wasn't his student.
And even if he were, the risks were immense.
Chidori didn't just demand skill.
It demanded reflexes and perception beyond ordinary limits.
Kakashi himself had taken a month of intense training to master it—
And he possessed the Sharingan.
He had taught Sasuke largely because Sasuke had the Sharingan.
And because Sasuke was his student.
Watching Yoru's departing figure, Kakashi murmured,
"If you truly harbor no ill intent toward the village…"
"You're worth cultivating."
"With the right guidance… you might even become the next Fourth."
His vigilance toward Yoru eased slightly.
The reason was simple—
When Dōichi had endangered his teammates, Yoru had genuinely been angry.
That emotion had been real.
Yoru valued his comrades.
And Kakashi trusted people like that.
Yoru reminded him of his younger self.
No—
Perhaps better.
After all, there had been a time when Kakashi had fallen into darkness.
"…Dōichi got lucky," Kakashi muttered.
"Picking up a seedling like that."
As long as Yoru didn't die prematurely—
Kakashi believed his future achievements would not fall short of his own.
Then he thought of his own three troublesome students.
He sighed.
Sasuke had immense potential.
An Uchiha with the Sharingan awakened.
Naruto was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, with Uzumaki blood.
But neither was easy to guide.
The Third Hokage had placed them under him partly to use Sasuke's Sharingan to restrain Naruto if necessary.
Yet both boys were… difficult.
Compared to them—
Yoru seemed far more mature.
Far easier to teach.
Shaking his head, Kakashi vanished from the training ground.
Soon, Yoru and his team arrived at the Hokage Building.
The Third Hokage noticed nothing unusual about him.
Neither Asuma, Kakashi, nor Dōichi had mentioned anything.
After receiving their mission and stepping outside—
They ran into Team Seven, who were also there for assignments.
Naruto waved enthusiastically.
"Hey, Yoru! What mission did you get?"
He jogged over, grinning.
"Just a D-rank," Yoru replied calmly.
It was their first mission.
Of course it wouldn't be anything difficult.
Naruto puffed up proudly.
"D-rank? Hah! We're definitely getting a C-rank!"
Yoru simply smiled faintly.
"Then good luck."
Meanwhile, Kakashi's gaze lingered on Yoru.
The more he observed, the more satisfied he felt.
If he were being honest—
Yoru was exactly the kind of student he would have wanted.
Mainly because their personalities aligned.
Standing beside Kakashi, Sasuke glanced at Yoru with faint confusion.
He didn't have much impression of him.
He barely even remembered they had been classmates.
Sakura was similar.
But when she looked at Yoru—
She was momentarily stunned.
Outwardly calm.
Internally—
He's not any worse-looking than Sasuke…
Who is he?
He seems close to Naruto. How could someone like him get along with Naruto?
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