"Are people from the Land of Lightning all this talented?"
Kurenai Yuhi declined the candy offered by Sarutobi Asuma. She was worried that eating too much sugar would make her gain weight.
Asuma could be considered her childhood friend.
They had known each other since before they even started attending school.
"I have family members who fought Kumogakure ninjas before. They said it's true," Asuma replied.
In his mind appeared images of dark-skinned, burly men with powerful builds.
No matter how he looked at it, they were completely different from the thin Kiyoshi.
"But Kiyoshi's skin isn't dark though," Asuma added.
He had heard from the old man that although most people in Kumogakure were dark-skinned, there were also some who were quite fair.
The one thing they all had in common, however, was their strong physique.
He had no idea how they trained their bodies like that.
"Who knows."
Kurenai shook her head.
She wasn't particularly interested in whether Kiyoshi was strong in taijutsu.
What she really wanted to know was how talented he was in genjutsu.
She had always heard her father say that Uchiha clan ninjas were extremely skilled in genjutsu, and that anyone who awakened the Sharingan was a master of illusion techniques.
Kurenai didn't agree with that.
In her mind, her father had spent his entire life perfecting genjutsu.
How could someone with just a Sharingan casually surpass that?
Among the students in their grade, Kiyoshi was the only one who had awakened the Sharingan.
It was even said that Lady Tsunade herself had come to examine him.
Kiyoshi felt someone watching him and looked over.
It was Kurenai.
Why was she staring at him?
After thinking about it for a moment, Kiyoshi decided not to worry about it. Occasionally responding to the people talking around him, he focused on the panel in front of him.
[Trait: Long-Distance Runner (White)]
[Requirement Achieved: Run 5 kilometers]
[Progress: Completed]
[Effect: Your lower body strength has increased. You are more suited for long-distance travel. Leg strength increases by 5%.]
[Note: Further upgrades are possible.]
"Just a little more than one class, and I've already gained a new trait."
Kiyoshi closed the panel.
A warm current seemed to flow into his legs, spreading through every cell. He could feel his muscles becoming more solid.
If he used kicking-type taijutsu techniques, he would probably gain additional benefits.
"I wonder if training methods like rock climbing or throwing ninja tools will trigger other traits."
Kiyoshi pondered silently.
"Kiyoshi! Are you contemplating the meaning of youth?"
Might Guy asked enthusiastically, as if he had found a kindred spirit.
"…"
Kiyoshi said nothing.
Ten minutes later, after the students had rested enough, Umino announced the results.
"Might Guy—first place. Kakashi—second place…"
He began reading the list.
Kiyoshi eventually ranked sixth.
His expression didn't change much.
After all, he had only recently begun training.
Jumping directly to sixth place already proved the natural talent of his body.
The others had trained their physical strength every semester, yet he had already surpassed many of them.
No wonder Yakushi Nono had said he was suited to become a taijutsu ninja.
"Alright everyone, remember to prepare for the sparring class next week. Here are the pairings."
Umino read out the list for the following week.
Originally, the number of students in the class was even, so everyone had a sparring partner.
But after Kiyoshi transferred in, there was now one extra person.
After thinking for a moment, Umino noticed Obito walking over to talk with Rin and said,
"Obito, for now you'll spar with Kiyoshi next week. The pairings will rotate every week."
Obito was stunned.
Wasn't this a perfect chance to show off?
If he defeated Kiyoshi coolly in front of Rin, she would realize that the guy had only gotten lucky last time.
"I understand, Teacher Umino!"
Obito shouted.
"Good."
Umino nodded.
Although Obito's grades weren't great, his attitude toward learning was quite positive.
And since Obito ranked near the bottom in taijutsu, it would also help the transfer student Kiyoshi ease into things.
"Class dismissed."
Umino announced the end of the lesson.
With that, today's classes came to an end.
After school, Kiyoshi once again went to find Rin and asked her to teach him more about chakra control.
This time, Kakashi and Obito were both there.
Just like yesterday, Kiyoshi trained diligently.
Today's training was still tree climbing—but on much taller trees.
This placed far stricter demands on long-term chakra control.
When the golden light of sunset filtered through the forest, Kiyoshi was the first to leave.
"Kiyoshi, leaving so early today?" Rin asked.
"I've been in Konoha for a month now. I want to go out and see if there's anything good to eat."
"I see."
Rin nodded.
Some street vendors did sell delicious food.
She even knew a girl named Mitarashi Anko who often went to a certain shop to drink red bean soup and liked to eat it with dumplings.
After leaving, Kiyoshi didn't head straight home.
Instead, he wandered along the streets of Konoha.
Eventually, he casually entered an ordinary shop.
A sushi restaurant.
He had just stepped inside when a waitress approached him.
"Are you here to try our newly developed dish—squid sushi?"
The female waitress had short blonde hair.
Her waitress apron barely covered her impressive figure, revealing a gray shirt underneath.
Samui.
Kiyoshi had a deep impression of this woman.
In the original story, she was one of the few women who could rival Tsunade in a certain… aspect.
Simply put—she was big.
After a moment, Kiyoshi withdrew his gaze and looked at her pretty face, slightly frowning.
Samui looked like she was already in her teens.
But according to the original timeline, that didn't make sense at all.
Could his arrival in this world have caused some kind of butterfly effect?
"I came for the squid sushi," Kiyoshi replied.
He simply followed along with Samui's words.
Samui was from Kumogakure.
If she was here, it must have been with the approval of Kumogakure's higher-ups.
And the fact that she approached him probably meant she had recognized his face.
"You're the first guest to try this new dish. Please follow me."
Samui led Kiyoshi deeper into the shop.
"This dish requires the freshest squid. The customer personally chooses it."
Soon they arrived in a room filled with glass aquariums.
Many fish swam inside, while bubbles from filtration pipes floated to the surface.
But Samui didn't stop there.
She placed her hand on the wall.
Black sealing patterns flashed briefly.
The wall opened.
A dark passage appeared before Kiyoshi.
At the end of the passage stood a man with dreadlocks.
He turned around.
"Yotsuki Kiyoshi, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Samodo."
"Yotsuki is my former surname. I'm Uchiha now."
Kiyoshi replied calmly.
Samodo's hairstyle wasn't unusual in Konoha.
Back during the academy outdoor lesson when Iruka was teaching Konohamaru and the others, even some children had similar hairstyles.
So it wasn't strange at all.
(End of Chapter)