Konoha, Year 38.
The Second Great Ninja War had recently come to an end. A fragile peace had been restored across the nations, but it was only a matter of time before tensions would rise again. The Five Great Ninja Villages were quietly recovering, nursing their wounds from the fierce battles that had taken so many lives.
In the Village Hidden in the Leaves (Konohagakure) of the Land of Fire, life seemed to move on as normal. The streets remained lively and bustling, but the villagers carried an uneasy quiet with them. The ninjas that patrolled the village wore serious expressions, betraying the fragile peace that still hung in the air. It wasn't hard to see that the shinobi world remained on edge, despite the supposed calm.
In the early morning breeze, a subtle chill filled the air. Zhao Qianming walked silently under the shadows of the village walls, observing a group of children noisily making their way to the Ninja Academy. Though his outward appearance remained calm, Zhao was lost in thought.
It had been nearly five years since Zhao had found himself transported to the world of Naruto. Unfortunately, unlike many transmigration stories, he hadn't been granted any special powers or system. He was just an ordinary person. Born as an orphan in the aftermath of the war, he had no prestigious bloodline like the Uchiha or Senju to give him an edge.
As it stood, Zhao was just another face in the crowd.
But Zhao counted himself fortunate. He had been born into Konoha, one of the safest villages in the ninja world. As a war orphan, there were a few paths available to him. He could choose the relatively peaceful life of a civilian, working in a shop to earn a modest living. But today, he held the "Ninja Academy Enrollment Form" in his hand and pondered his future. He knew the risks, but he couldn't shake the feeling that if he didn't at least try to become a ninja, he would be filled with regret for the rest of his life.
Zhao knew that being a ninja was dangerous, but he also couldn't ignore the allure of powerful jutsus like Rasengan or Chidori. Despite having lived over 20 years in his previous life in a peaceful world, the fire of ambition still burned within him.
The atmosphere at the Ninja Academy was lively and spirited. A long banner hanging over the gate announced, "Ninja Academy Entrance Ceremony." Groups of young children, around five years old, stood at the gate, excitedly chatting. For most of these children, becoming a ninja represented a path to prestige and admiration. The danger of the ninja world still seemed distant to them, as no adult had likely discussed the harsh realities of war. After all, many of these kids were also war orphans.
Zhao blended into the crowd, waiting patiently. At his current age, he didn't have much in common with these small children. In the past few years since arriving in the Naruto world, his experiences had made him more withdrawn, and he wasn't one to talk much.
Before long, a Chūnin in the standard vest appeared and began leading the group of children. The first step of their training was an entrance assessment: a simple physical endurance test of running 200 laps around the academy's playground.
The task may have seemed simple, but in a world where strength was vital, even something as basic as running was taken seriously. Ninja training revolved around strengthening both physical stamina and mental focus. Zhao had done some basic training on his own, so he felt confident in his ability to complete the laps. For the children of ninja clans, 200 laps were likely nothing more than a warm-up.
The morning sun shone through the trees, casting dappled light across the faces of the running children. Zhao's eyes were focused on one boy at the head of the group. The boy had white hair, a black mask covering the lower half of his face, and a pair of sharp, calculating eyes.
"Kakashi Hatake," Zhao thought. "I'm in the same year as him?"
Kakashi's reputation preceded him—he was already known as a prodigy and the son of Sakumo Hatake, the legendary White Fang of Konoha. Getting noticed in the Academy meant standing out in assessments like this, so Zhao resolved to push himself to the limit.
If Zhao wanted a chance at being assigned to a good Jōnin instructor after graduation, he needed to make an impression. In the world of ninjas, Ninjutsu techniques were tightly controlled, often passed down from generation to generation, or taught in the context of master and apprentice relationships. Being paired with a skilled Jōnin would greatly improve his future prospects.
Zhao didn't care if showing too much potential would attract the attention of people like Danzo Shimura or Orochimaru. In fact, Zhao considered it a potential advantage. Being noticed by such figures could lead to opportunities to learn powerful techniques or even forbidden jutsus.
Determined, Zhao increased his pace, chasing after Kakashi. Winning first place in the entrance exam would certainly make an impression, especially if it meant outpacing a prodigy like Kakashi.
Kakashi, sensing the competition, glanced back before speeding up effortlessly, widening the gap between them. Some of the other clan children, noticing Zhao catching up, also pushed harder. While they could accept losing to Kakashi, losing to a civilian like Zhao would be a blow to their pride.
Despite the clan children having an early advantage due to their chakra training, Zhao relied on his own steady endurance. The amount of chakra they had at their age was limited, and once they were drained, their advantage disappeared. Zhao's adult mind and discipline from his previous life had helped him train more consistently, allowing him to stay focused while others lagged.
As the laps continued, the group began to spread out. Kakashi maintained his lead effortlessly, while Zhao gritted his teeth, pushing himself to stay in second place. No matter how hard Zhao tried, Kakashi always seemed to be one step ahead, maintaining the gap between them.
By the time the 200 laps were completed, Zhao was utterly exhausted. He bent over, hands on his knees, struggling to catch his breath. Glancing over at Kakashi, who was only slightly winded, Zhao couldn't help but marvel at his talent.
"You weren't even trying, were you?" Zhao gasped, speaking to Kakashi for the first time.
Even with the soul of an adult, Zhao had to admit that Kakashi was on a whole different level. If not for the personal tragedies and changes to come, Kakashi's potential could have taken him even further beyond what was shown in the original timeline.