Although the outcome was not the overwhelming victory she had predicted earlier, being able to fight such an unfathomably powerful opponent to this extent, ending in a draw and even receiving the other party's recognition as the strongest, along with a solemn invitation for a future duel, that itself was already an unimaginable victory!
As she looked at the figure in the arena, beginning to nod slightly toward the audience in acknowledgment, her heart was filled with pride.
At the same time, memories of the three years at the Ninja Academy inevitably surfaced in her mind.
Back then, they were desk mates.
Every morning when she carried her schoolbag to the school gate, she would unconsciously glance toward the training ground.
Because there would always be a boy there, carrying an enormous stone on his back, running lap after lap along the track.
At that time, Shizune did not understand.
Why would someone carry something so big and heavy while running so many laps? No one was supervising him, no one was checking, and it might even attract ridicule from others.
So why would he do it?
Even if it was physical training, there was no need to carry such a huge stone, right?
The same thing happened at noon.
As soon as the lunch break bell rang, the classroom became like a disturbed beehive. Some people ran to the open space near the training ground to play and roughhouse, some crowded into the shaded corridor to chat and eat snacks, and others lay on their desks to catch up on sleep.
Shizune and several girls gathered near the window. Lunch boxes were spread across the table as they chattered about who from which class had gotten involved with whom again.
But while she ate, the corner of her eye would always drift outside the window.
Because beneath the cherry blossom tree on the training ground, her desk mate, Shinichi Higashino, would always appear there on time, holding a sword and swinging it again and again in the empty air.
When the snow of spring had just melted, and the cherry blossoms were about to bloom, he was there.
When the summer sun was so hot the leaves curled, he was there as well.
When autumn came, and the cherry blossom leaves had all fallen, leaving only bare branches, he was still there.
When the winter wind cut painfully across the face, and snowstorms filled the sky, he was still there.
Occasionally, other classmates passing by would stop to take a look, whispering among themselves.
"Isn't that Shinichi Higashino from class two?"
"He does this every noon."
"Isn't he tired?"
"Who knows?"
Shinichi never explained.
He simply swung that sword again and again, treating the entire noisy lunch break as his own personal training time.
At that time, Shizune still did not understand.
She only felt that there was something strange about this deskmate. He was never anxious, never flustered, and never tried to prove anything to anyone.
When people praised him as a genius, he only smiled politely.
When people questioned him, he did not rush to refute them.
Just like that stone.
Just like that sword.
He carried it.
He swung it.
Three years.
More than a thousand mornings and nights.
Today, Shizune stood at the edge of an arena with one hundred thousand people, looking at that boy in the arena.
Suddenly, she understood.
He had only been doing the same thing all along, doing what he believed he should do.
From the age of six until now.
And he would continue to do so.
"Hmph! Not bad."
Tsunade crossed her arms, though the corner of her mouth curved into a faint smile. She glanced at the two girls beside her, one excited and the other thoughtful, and deliberately put on a stern face.
"Do you see the gap now? You two, starting today, must keep working hard as well! Don't let that kid leave you too far behind!"
"Yes! Lady Tsunade!"
Kurenai Yuhi immediately straightened her body and responded loudly, an even stronger fighting spirit igniting in her eyes.
"Understood!"
Shizune also quickly came back to her senses and responded loudly.
On the high platform, the third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi gently stroked his chin. The fine wrinkles on his face seemed to relax a great deal, and his eyes were filled with undisguised gratification and pride.
This match, with its many twists and turns, had ultimately ended in such a way, far exceeding his best expectations.
Not only had the village's honor been preserved and generous compensation obtained, but a dazzling new star of Konoha had, in the most shocking way possible, won the recognition of the entire village and the respect of a powerful opponent.
Beside him, advisor Koharu Utatane, who was usually known for being serious and strict, also revealed a rare smile on her stern face.
That smile carried relief, amazement, and a trace of complicated emotion.
Koharu Utatane turned her head and said softly to the third Hokage: "Hiruzen, I think I finally understand now why you value that child Shinichi so much, one could even say you've been indulgent toward him."
She recalled how, over the past few years, the third Hokage had practically granted Shinichi whatever he requested.
Special approval for the Shadow Clone Jutsu, opening access to the Ninjutsu library, early graduation, arranging Kosuke Maruboshi as a teammate to escort and protect him, arranging for Enma to guide his training and even a contract, tacitly allowing him to develop dangerous Ninjutsu and fully supporting his treatment after he was severely injured because of it…
Even when selecting a mentor for the child, Hiruzen had deliberated for a long time and discussed it with her and Homura many times.
In the end, they had originally decided on Minato, intending to have him serve as the child's guiding teacher.
However, at that time, Tsunade, who had been depressed ever since the last Shinobi War, showing no concern for the outside world and even abandoning her duties as a ninja, suddenly stepped forward, causing Hiruzen to temporarily change the candidate.
But no matter what, the trust and investment Hiruzen placed in him even surpassed what he gave to his own biological son, Asuma. Because of this, Koharu Utatane had privately expressed dissatisfaction, believing that Hiruzen was being somewhat too biased and indulgent.
"This child's talent and mentality, and the speed of his growth, have far exceeded our original assessment."
Koharu Utatane looked at the boy in the arena who was calmly accepting the cheers of the crowd, her tone complicated as she spoke.
"More importantly, this child is not a reckless brute who only pursues power. He has his own path and his own thoughts. He knows how to treat companions well, care for his fellow villagers, and at critical moments, he has the courage to step forward to defend the dignity of the village. Even when facing praise from powerful opponents, he can remain calm. This kind of character, combined with this kind of talent…"
Koharu Utatane paused for a moment, then finally let out a soft sigh. In that sigh, there was no longer the slightest trace of dissatisfaction, only recognition and expectation.
"You did the right thing, Hiruzen! Looking at it now, the investment and cultivation you placed in him may have been one of the wisest decisions we have made for Konoha's future! In the turmoil that is about to come, he may become an important cornerstone for stabilizing the situation."
After speaking, Koharu Utatane once again turned her gaze toward the arena, looking at the boy whose expression was calm yet naturally inspired goodwill in others.
Her thoughts unintentionally returned to a morning four years ago in the summer.
That morning, she had set out from home. Passing by the Ninja Academy, it was still early, and there were not many people on the street.
From a distance, she saw several people gathered near the school gate.
She had not paid much attention, but from the corner of her eye she noticed something moving…
It turned out to be a child carrying an enormous rock.
The rock was so large that at first glance it seemed absurd. It pressed down on the child's back like a heavy mountain. The hemp rope dug deeply into his shoulders, so deeply that the clothes he wore were already torn.
At the school gate, there were a few parents sending their children, along with two villagers passing by. They stopped there and whispered among themselves.
"What is he carrying?"
"A rock, probably? Carrying something that big is way too crazy."
"This kid does this every morning. I've seen it several times."
"What's the point? He's so young. Won't he ruin his body by training like that?"
"Exactly…"
Amid the crowd's discussions, the child did not turn back.
He did not slow down or speed up. He simply ran steadily like that, as resilient as a reef battered by ocean waves.
Koharu Utatane stood there, watching the child walk through the school gate. His figure was completely covered by the massive stone on his back. Only two thin legs could barely be seen, step by step, firmly stepping onto the road.
Later, she learned that this child was named Shinichi Higashino, the very same unruly and restless child she had previously mentioned on the day school began.
Homura Mitokado pushed up his glasses. The gaze behind the lenses was also filled with admiration as he spoke.
"Not only that. In today's match, the talent and potential that Shinichi displayed, as well as the recognition spoken by that samurai at the end, will greatly boost the village's morale during this period of war preparation and unite the hearts of the people. Its value far surpasses completing an S-rank mission. That samurai from the Land of Iron spent his money well on this commission, but our Konoha has gained even more."
As he spoke, he also turned his gaze toward the calm young figure in the arena, unable to help recalling the day four years ago when he passed by the Ninja Academy.
It was also summer.
At one in the afternoon, the sunlight was exceptionally scorching. The cicadas screamed deafeningly. Even the leaves of the old cherry blossom tree on the training ground had curled from the heat.
The entire Konoha seemed as if it had fallen asleep.
Homura Mitokado took a shortcut past the outer perimeter of the school. When he passed the training ground, something in the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he stopped.
Under the cherry blossom tree beside the empty training ground stood a child.
That child held a katana.
He raised the blade, then swung it down.
Sheathe the blade, raise the blade, swing down!
Homura Mitokado stood at the edge of the shadows in the distance, watching him swing the sword.
Once, twice, three times, countless times…
Homura Mitokado did not count carefully. He simply watched the child repeat the monotonous movement again and again.
From the teaching buildings surrounding the training ground came faint sounds of other children laughing and playing.
It was lunchtime break. Some were sleeping with their heads on desks, some gathered in the cool shade of the corridors chatting, and some were sharing snacks brought from home.
Only this one child stood under the blazing midday sun, standing on the empty training ground, swinging his sword again and again.
Homura Mitokado watched for a while, then left.
Later, he passed by several more times. Sometimes it was cloudy, sometimes sunny, sometimes even under blazing sun or heavy rain, but without exception… that child was always there.
Later, when that child displayed his self-created Ninjutsu, Rasengan, at the school opening ceremony, Homura Mitokado felt incomparable shock and only then realized that this child was Shinichi Higashino.
The third Hokage listened to the words of his two old friends and merely smiled slightly. His gaze remained on Shinichi, as if he were gazing at the ever-burning and increasingly bright flame of Konoha's future.
His thoughts also involuntarily returned to that rainy night four years ago…
After a moment, he came back to his senses, took a puff of his pipe, and slowly exhaled.
This farce had finally ended in the most perfect way.
And with the promise made by that foreign samurai. Everyone knew that today's twisting and shocking exchange match had already come to an end with the departure of that foreign samurai who had stirred up the storm.
But the name Shinichi Higashino, along with the invitation to the future strongest battle of the Shinobi World, had already been branded like a mark, deeply engraved into this afternoon, and engraved into the hearts of countless ninjas and villagers of Konoha.
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