> [Name: Shinichi Higashino]
> [Class: Swordsman / Academy Student]
> [Traits: Genius (Blue), Spiritual Perception (Green), Auspicious Omen (Green), Glutton King (Green), Diligence Makes Up for Weakness (Green), Quick-Witted (Green), Innate Godly Strength (Green), Thick-Skinned (Green), Nimble as a Hare (Green), Kenjutsu Adept (Green), Affinity (White), Calm (White), Basic Wind Release (White), Basic Taijutsu (White), Basic Fire Release (White).]
Walking down the winding path home, the setting sun stretching his shadow long behind him, Shinichi habitually sank his focus into the depths of his consciousness, summoning the personal interface that only he could see.
Compared to two and a half years ago, the panel had undergone significant changes. [Thick-Skinned (Green)] had replaced the former [Tenacious (White)]; [Nimble as a Hare (Green)] was the upgraded version of [Agile (White)]; [Glutton King (Green)] evolved from [Glutton (White)]; and [Spiritual Perception (Green)] was born from [Perception (White)].
Furthermore, a brand-new White-tier trait had appeared on the board:
> [Basic Fire Release (White): Your perception of Fire-nature chakra is quite sharp, allowing for smoother control. Efficiency and success rates when learning and casting basic Fire Release ninjutsu are slightly increased.]
The nature of this trait was identical to the [Basic Wind Release] he had drawn years ago, just tailored to the Fire affinity.
When it first generated, Shinichi had been slightly surprised. His original goal had been to cultivate a broader, more comprehensive trait, something along the lines of [Basic Ninjutsu].
But upon deeper reflection, the reason made perfect sense. Over the past two years, during the various sparring matches and exams at the Academy, the techniques he used most frequently—and the ones that yielded the most outstanding results—were always Fire Release jutsu.
In the eyes of his teachers and classmates, the concrete impression that "Shinichi Higashino has incredibly strong Fire Release" was evidently much deeper and more visceral than the generalized idea that "he is good at Ninjutsu." The trait system had once again proven its logic: it generated rewards based on highly specific public perception.
Another phenomenon that gave him pause was the [Basic Taijutsu (White)] trait. Despite him never once slacking off in his public displays or physical conditioning over the past two years, it still hadn't upgraded to Green.
He could only attribute this to the lingering fallout from his duel with Kakashi. Crushing the White Fang's kenjutsu head-on with his own swordsmanship had leveraged a globally recognized reputation as a stepping stone. The resulting impact was far more massive and enduring than he could have ever imagined.
The sheer brilliance of his kenjutsu in that battle had, to a certain extent, entirely overshadowed his rock-solid mastery of Taijutsu.
When people brought up his hand-to-hand combat, they might praise his solid fundamentals and raw strength. But their deepest awe—the defining label they attached to him—was overwhelmingly drawn to his swordsmanship.
As for Genjutsu traits, it wasn't that he didn't want to cultivate them; the problem was Kurenai Yuhi. Not only did his classmate possess high innate talent for Genjutsu, but she also had a Genjutsu-specialist Jonin for a father.
Shinichi couldn't fathom a method to outshine the radiant halo of that Genjutsu prodigy, especially since his initial focus had been entirely on farming physical traits.
Later on, once Shisui Uchiha enrolled, Shinichi completely abandoned any lingering thoughts of fabricating a Genjutsu-talented persona.
Shinichi pulled his gaze away from the interface.
Through over two years of continuous, calculated PR management, he knew perfectly well that the traits on his panel were nowhere near abundant or perfect.
If he had ample time, he could treat them like raw jade—patiently generating more White traits, slowly nurturing each one until they blossomed into Green, and perhaps even reaching for the higher Blue domain to build an absolutely flawless, impregnable foundation.
But he was running out of time.
Based on his fragmented memories of the original plot and the average graduation age of his specific generation, he calculated that the fragile peace currently holding the shinobi world together would completely shatter in just over a year.
This was the fundamental reason he had decided to graduate early. Originally, he had planned to stay and build an even sturdier foundation before leaving the Academy.
But the reality remained: time was up.
Step One: Graduate early and become a Genin.
Once he did, the [Academy Student] class trait would naturally evolve into [Genin]. That class promotion would inevitably bring about a significant, comprehensive boost to his baseline shinobi aptitudes.
Moreover, following the system's established rules, a class promotion was almost guaranteed to grant him another draw opportunity. A brand-new, instantly acquired Green trait would immediately reinforce his power structure.
Step Two: Rapidly promote to Chunin.
This part of the plan was far more aggressive. He intended to find a way to enter the Chunin Exams—or use any other viable channel—to secure a promotion as quickly as possible within the exact same year he became a Genin.
If successful, the [Genin] trait would upgrade to [Chunin]. Not only would the class-based buffs experience another massive leap, but more importantly, reaching the Chunin rank might just cross the threshold required to trigger a higher-tier draw: a chance at a Blue-tier trait.
If everything went according to plan, then in just over a year—right when the shinobi world truly plunged into chaos—he would possess:
The enhanced buffs of a [Chunin] class trait.
A new Green trait acquired from his Genin promotion.
A new Blue trait potentially acquired from his Chunin promotion.
The compounding power of those three factors would grant him a massive surge in strength. It would give him the necessary confidence and absolute power to face the impending crucible of blood and fire, ensuring he had the means to protect himself during the chaotic early stages of the war.
"Then the next trait should be the final one I generate during my Academy career."
Shinichi reined in his thoughts, his gaze dropping to his hands.
At this moment, he was slowly rotating two solid, pitch-black iron balls in his palm. It was a habit he had suddenly picked up over a year ago.
To any onlooker, it was merely a training exercise. The rotation and friction of the iron balls worked the joints and muscles of the fingers, palms, wrists, and elbows, enhancing flexibility and strength. Consequently, it provided a tangible benefit to hand seal speed—a vital skill for any shinobi.
While that reasoning was perfectly valid, Shinichi's true objective ran far deeper.
His ultimate goal was to pull off a spectacular event that would shock all of Konoha, thereby forcing the generation of a comprehensive Ninjutsu trait.
Although he had only managed to generate a specialized trait like [Basic Fire Release] so far—rather than the broader, all-encompassing trait he had hoped for—he wasn't discouraged.
In fact, he had prepared a contingency plan for shaping and ultimately manifesting a powerful, comprehensive Ninjutsu trait a long time ago. The seeds for this specific scheme had been planted shortly after he first entered the Ninja Academy.
It was a long-term project that required extensive, painstaking research and the perfect moment to detonate.
And that detonation point was set for the new semester's opening ceremony, just a few days away.
If everything went smoothly and his plan came to fruition, the resulting trait likely wouldn't be White. It might not even be Green.
It would be a Blue-tier, comprehensive Ninjutsu trait!
It would serve as the final, meticulously crafted masterpiece of his Academy days, and the most magnificent parting gift he could offer himself for his early graduation.
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