Neji Hyuga's eyes no longer held the same brilliance as before.
Doubt clouded his mind.
Was it really only people like Kazuki who could be called geniuses?
The achievements he had once taken pride in now seemed insignificant in comparison.
A loser…
Completely and utterly defeated.
Kazuki noticed the frustration and self-doubt in Neji's gaze but chose to remain silent.
He was an arrogant yet easygoing person—some realizations had to come from within. No one else could force them upon him.
"Hurry up and eat some barbecue! Why are you just standing there like an idiot?" Kazuki clapped Neji on the shoulder and pushed him toward the others gathered around the grill. "Why overthink things? If you're not helping with the cooking, I have to question your intelligence!"
With that, Kazuki turned away, leaving Neji to his thoughts as he rejoined the lively group.
Neji's gaze lingered on Kazuki, filled with complexity.
Eventually, something within him seemed to yield, and he walked toward the barbecue, choosing to join the others.
Sizzle—
The aroma of grilled meat filled the air.
Kazuki and the others had been waiting impatiently, and as the scent wafted through the clearing, they wasted no time in digging in.
"More meat! Bring me another skewer of wild boar!"
"I want some too! Hey! Neji, stop stealing from my plate!"
"Hey, hey, hey! Save some for Hinata and me! Show some respect for the girls!"
"Freshly grilled pork belly—fatty and lean, first come, first served! Only twenty skewers left!"
Laughter and playful bickering echoed by the riverside.
After all…
They were just kids—not yet even ten years old.
Precocious, perhaps.
Burdened with deeper understandings of the world than they should have been.
Sometimes clashing, sometimes competing.
But in this moment, deep in the woods, by the crystal-clear stream,
All of that faded away—
Leaving only the sound of children laughing, playing, and enjoying their youth.
The Spring Festival passed quickly.
The experience left Kazuki and the others with fond memories.
Before long, life returned to its usual rhythm—
Mornings at the Ninja Academy, evenings spent training.
One day, Might Guy approached Kazuki with an unusual proposal.
"What? Training outside the village?" Kazuki blinked in surprise.
Might Guy nodded, his expression firm. "That's right, Kazuki! Your strength has already surpassed the level of an academy student. But since early graduation isn't an option right now, staying here would just be a waste of time."
Kazuki silently agreed.
He had long since mastered everything the academy had to offer.
Remaining here felt pointless.
But…
This was a rule set by the Third Hokage himself.
It reminded him of his past life—of university students stuck in school just to obtain a diploma, even when they had already learned everything they needed.
Still, if Guy was bringing this up now…
Did this mean he could take a leave of absence from the academy and train outside the village?
That was an opportunity he couldn't pass up!
Kazuki's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Since birth, he had never left the borders of Konohagakure.
The outside world was a mystery, a vast expanse waiting to be explored.
Sensing Kazuki's hesitation, Might Guy asked, "What's wrong, Kazuki? You're not interested?"
Kazuki quickly shook his head. "No! Of course, I want to go! I was just so surprised that I zoned out for a moment!"
"Hahahaha!" Might Guy burst into laughter. "I knew it! You're just like me, always eager to take on a challenge! This is what it means to embrace the flames of youth!"
Kazuki's excitement bubbled over. "So, when do we leave? Tomorrow?"
"Not so fast." Guy's tone grew more serious. "The Hokage just approved my request to take you out for training, so I came straight to tell you. But before we go, we have a lot to prepare."
His expression hardened.
"This isn't some child's school trip, Kazuki.
We need to pack enough food and water to last the journey.
Weapons, supplies—everything must be accounted for.
And of course, I need to pick up a few missions for us to complete during our training."
Kazuki clenched his fists.
His heart pounded with anticipation.
This was it.
The first step toward something greater.
Kazuki nodded.
Indeed, they had set out on this journey for training, and it was uncertain how long it would take before they returned to Konoha.
In this world, there were no modern means of transportation such as airplanes or high-speed trains. Travel was mostly done on foot.
While shinobi had chakra to enhance their speed,
they still had to remain cautious—
the world outside was filled with unknown dangers,
and they could be forced into battle at any moment.
To be ready for any situation,
they had to maintain a sufficient level of chakra, ensuring they could engage in combat instantly if needed.
Before leaving Konoha,
there were many preparations to be made.
After Might Guy finished explaining everything to Kazuki,
the two parted ways, each making thorough preparations for their upcoming journey.
The departure date was set—three days from now.
At Kazuki's house,
after informing his younger sister, Tenten, about his departure,
her reaction was immediate and intense.
"What?! Brother, you're going out on a training journey and not taking me with you?! Am I not your real sister?!"
Tenten crossed her arms, her face puffed up like a steamed bun.
"You're not strong enough yet. It's dangerous outside, and neither Teacher Guy nor I will have the time to look after you."
Kazuki ruffled her hair with a smile.
"Stay in the village and focus on getting stronger. Once you graduate from the Academy, I'll take you out to see the world."
"Hmph." Tenten pouted.
"To make it up to you, I got you something special."
Tenten's curiosity immediately sparked.
"Something special? What is it?"
Kazuki smiled mysteriously.
"You'll love it."
"Really?"
Though upset at first, Tenten wasn't the type to stay angry for long.
She quickly composed herself,
then, trying to act proud, she said,
"Well… if this gift is really good, then I might forgive you for not taking me along."
"Haha, my sister is the best!" Kazuki chuckled,
then led her to his room.
From his storage, he retrieved a collection of ninja tools—
hundreds of kunai and shuriken of basic grade,
dozens of more advanced weapons like Grass Cutter swords,
and even special equipment like the Sky Feather Robe, light boots, and—most importantly—a mysterious ring.
Tenten's eyes were immediately drawn to the elegant, flowing Sky Feather Robe.
"Wow! What a beautiful outfit!"
Kazuki had expected this reaction.
Taking her hand, he pricked her fingertip with a kunai.
"Ow! What was that for?" she yelped,
though she didn't seem truly upset.
"Drip your blood onto the robe," Kazuki instructed.
Though confused,
Tenten followed his directions.
The moment her blood touched the fabric,
a soft white light flashed,
and in the next instant, the robe had seamlessly wrapped itself around her.
Tenten gasped in awe.
"I… I can feel it! This robe—it's mine now! I know exactly what it does!"
Kazuki smiled.
"This robe is a special ninja tool I created.
The moment your blood touched it, you formed a contract with it.
It has self-cleaning properties, and I'm sure you've already sensed its other abilities."
Tenten's eyes sparkled like crescents as she hugged the robe in excitement.
"Brother, this is amazing! I love it!
It's not just beautiful—it has so many cool features!"
At that moment, Tenten seemed to make up her mind about something.
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