Of course, at the same time, in the village, another seemingly trivial event was occurring in the eyes of others. However, to Kazuki, this was of great significance.
The entrance exam for the Ninja Academy had begun!
It was the summer of Konoha Year 54, one of the most pivotal moments in the original timeline. This was the year Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and the other Konoha Genin would officially enroll in the academy, marking the beginning of their journey.
For Kazuki, Sasuke Uchiha's enrollment was more than just a milestone—it was a warning. The Uchiha Clan Massacre was approaching!
[Ding! Forging successful! Forged item: Nichirin Blade!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have successfully forged a sun-shaped blade. The system rewards you with +1 comprehension of the Breathing Law!]
A month later, after multiple failed attempts, Kazuki finally succeeded in forging his first three-star difficulty weapon—the Nichirin Blade!
His eyes lit up with excitement as he gazed at the newly crafted blade, its surface shimmering with a dark blue aura. Opening the system menu, detailed information about the weapon appeared before him.
[Item: Nichirin Blade] [Rank: Three-Star Weapon] [Attribute: Water Affinity] [Skill: Grants comprehension of Water Breathing techniques] [Bound: No]
"Water Breathing?" Kazuki mused.
Did this mean that by wielding this sword in battle, he would gradually comprehend the Water Breathing techniques?
His anticipation grew. He was eager to test the power of this three-star-grade Nichirin Blade. But first, he needed to establish a bond with it.
Kazuki bit his finger and smeared a drop of blood onto the blade. Almost immediately, a sense of connection to the weapon formed in his mind. With the contract complete, he stored the sword into his Space Ring—only to realize that his storage space was nearly full.
He had been so focused on improving his forging skills that he had been piling up finished weapons without keeping track. Now that he thought about it, he must have spent close to 10 million ryo on materials alone—almost equivalent to his family's annual business revenue.
No wonder his father had been twitching every time he withdrew resources from the warehouse. The financial strain must have been weighing on him!
Yet, despite the expenses, his parents never once complained. They had always insisted on fully supporting their children's ninja ambitions. Even though Kazuki's forging consumed a tremendous amount of money and materials, they never uttered a word of discontent.
Luckily, Kazuki's family had been in business for decades, accumulating significant wealth. They were financially stable enough to sustain his crafting endeavors, on par with some of the prominent ninja clans.
Opening his Space Ring, Kazuki took inventory of his accumulated weapons, only to be shocked by the sheer number.
[Weapon Inventory:] [One-Star Grade: 500 Clone Kunai, 500 Substitution Kunai, 500 Transformation Kunai] [Two-Star Grade: 5 Beginner Space Rings, 10 Beginner Grass Cutter Swords, 5 Sky Feather Cloaks, 5 Pairs of Light Boots] [Three-Star Grade: 1 Nichirin Blade]
His forging journey had truly yielded incredible results. His system data had also undergone significant changes.
[Host: Kazuki] [Age: 7] [Forging Level: Beginner] [Unlocked Weapons:]
Tier 1: Shadow Clone Kunai (100%), Substitution Kunai (100%), Transformation Kunai (100%)Tier 2: Beginner Space Ring (100%), Beginner Grass Cutter Sword (100%), Sky Feather Cloak (100%), Light Boots (100%)Tier 3: Nichirin Blade (26%) [Self-Created Weapons: None]
Kazuki clenched his fists in excitement. His journey had just begun, and he was determined to push his forging skills even further!
In Konoha's training ground, Kazuki held his Nichirin Blade firmly in his hand and swung it gently toward a wooden training post nearby.
"Shhhhhhh!"
A white arc streaked through the air, and the wooden stake was sliced cleanly in two, as if it were made of paper.
He had repeated this action hundreds of times today.
"Hah…"
Kazuki lowered his sword and exhaled slowly.
"Although I haven't fully grasped the true essence of Water Breathing, this Nichirin Blade is indeed a fine weapon," he thought to himself.
Afterward, he sat cross-legged on the ground, placing the sword across his lap. Slowly, he closed his eyes, his breathing becoming deep and rhythmic—steady like the tide.
This was the Zen of the Sword—a method used by swordsmen to refine their technique and cultivate their mindset.
Right now, Kazuki was using this method to better comprehend the intricacies of Water Breathing.
In this meditative state, his mind became still. The world around him grew silent, except for the faint, rhythmic sound of breathing that seemed to resonate from all things.
Everything breathes.
Time passed.
When Kazuki finally opened his eyes, a sharp clarity flickered within them. His understanding of Water Breathing had deepened.
"At this rate, in three more days… I should be able to grasp the fundamentals of Water Breathing."
Just then, a mechanical chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding! New Mission Issued: Collect Fire Release Chakra Energy]
[Reward: Hidden Mask Blueprint]
Kazuki immediately asked, "How do I collect Fire Release chakra energy?"
The system responded swiftly:
[Host may place a kunai within a Fire Release jutsu. Once the energy absorption reaches capacity, the kunai will automatically break.]
Kazuki nodded. Though he didn't fully understand the mechanics behind the system's ability to absorb chakra energy, he knew that following its instructions was the easiest way to complete the task.
However…
"Fire Release jutsu, huh? I don't have one myself."
If he wanted to collect Fire Release energy, he'd have to find another way.
Closing the system prompt, Kazuki decided to wrap up his training for the day and leave the training ground.
But just as he was about to depart—
A figure in Konoha's Anbu uniform suddenly appeared before him, wearing a white animal mask.
An Anbu under Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Kazuki immediately tensed, his guard up.
Then, to his surprise, the masked figure slowly removed his mask—
Uchiha Itachi.
Kazuki's eyes narrowed slightly. Why is he looking for me?
"What do you need?" Kazuki asked, his voice calm but wary.
At this time, Uchiha Itachi was even more dangerous than most Anbu operatives.
While Kazuki studied him, Itachi was also scrutinizing him carefully.
The rhythm of his breathing, the flow of his chakra, the way his muscles coiled, ready to spring into action—Itachi could tell at a glance that this boy was far from ordinary.
No wonder Shisui had mentioned him before.
Shisui once told him that he had met a young genius in the village—someone with a demeanor far beyond his years. Someone who made even him feel humbled.
Now, seeing Kazuki in person, Itachi understood.
Despite being only a year older than Sasuke, this boy didn't feel like a younger sibling. He felt like a peer.
"I came here because I need to ask you something," Itachi finally spoke, his voice unreadable.
Kazuki remained silent, waiting.
For a brief moment, the air between them seemed to freeze.
Seeing that Kazuki had no intention of prompting him, Itachi exhaled slightly and continued.
"Then I won't waste time. The reason I came to find you… is because of Uchiha Shisui."
Kazuki's eyes flickered slightly at the mention of the name.
"You must have heard about Shisui's death."
Itachi's voice remained controlled, but there was an unmistakable weight behind it.
"The last time I saw him… he spoke of you."
"He said he was deeply grateful to you."
"What did he mean by that?"
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