Founding Year: Second Year of Konoha's Establishment
Kenichi Sato's Age: 6 Years Old
On a quiet April morning, as Konoha slowly awakened to the sounds of the market and children heading to the academy, Kenichi sat in his room, staring at the glowing screen floating before him. For a whole week, he had been going to sleep imagining what he might receive… it wasn't just luck—it was a promise from another world.
> [First Year Reward: Random draw activated... Determining reward…]
The screen flickered, shuffling through blurry images and names he didn't recognize—some in languages he had never heard before, and others radiating familiar energies from worlds he had once seen. Then suddenly, the screen froze, and the text appeared:
> [Reward Obtained: Rokushiki – From the World of One Piece]
Silence.
Then he smiled. A warm sensation stirred in his muscles, as if they were being charged from within. It wasn't painful—more like a gentle wave reshaping him from the inside out.
"This… is perfect."
—
In the days that followed, he began to feel strange changes in his body. They weren't explosive, but rather like the quiet awakening of dormant potential. His muscles responded quicker, his senses were sharper, and the air itself seemed to obey his steps.
At four in the morning, as he had always done in his previous life, he woke up without an alarm. He quietly slipped into the backyard, where a light mist hovered above the dew-covered ground. He began his exercises gently—stretching muscles, loosening joints, lifting his body lightly, then balancing on one leg.
He never pushed himself too hard. He knew: "A child's body is fragile. If I overdo it now... I'll pay the price later."
He often repeated a quote he once read in a martial arts novel:
"Small injuries in childhood bloom into great hindrances in adulthood."
Every morning, he incorporated one Rokushiki technique into his training, evaluating how his body responded.
In the first week, he focused on Geppo—the ability to jump on air.
He experimented with double jumps by channeling chakra into the soles of his feet. He didn't manage to fly, but he doubled the height of his jumps, gradually feeling as if the air had resistance he could touch.
In the second week, it was time for Soru—high-speed movement.
Here, the difference was clear. While the instructors explained hill-running exercises, Kenichi was already practicing a slowed-down version of the flash-step technique, careful to make it look natural.
One of the instructors commented in amazement, "That little boy... the way he runs, it's like he's not even touching the ground."
In class, he maintained average performance—not the top, not the bottom. Just... present.
In theory lessons, he would intentionally answer a few silly questions wrong. He always told himself:
"No one fears a fool… but the smart one who stands out is watched. Best to be boring."
—
One morning, in the wide training field, the instructor asked the class to pair up for hand-to-hand combat.
That day, his opponent was an older boy from a side branch of the Hyuga clan—cocky and full of confidence.
With arrogance, the boy said, "Please don't cry when I hit you."
Kenichi replied with a small smile, "If you actually hit me... I'll consider crying."
The fight began.
Kenichi used only Tekkai—the iron body technique. He let the first blow hit his shoulder, but all he felt was air.
The boy looked at his hand in confusion, as if he had punched a tree trunk.
Then Kenichi gently pushed him in the chest, and the boy fell—his balance lost, nothing more.
The other kids laughed, but Kenichi didn't smile.
He returned to his spot, mentally writing:
"Tekkai is effective even in its early form. Chakra control helps activate it without needing extreme physical energy."
That day, someone watching from afar took notice.
A young man with sharp eyes and a serious face stood under the shade of a mulberry tree, observing.
His name was Kagami Uchiha.
He didn't speak, but thought to himself:
"That boy... he's not what he appears to be."
—
At the end of the week, the class had an outdoor activity—a mini-camp where students were tasked with building a shelter and working together to gather water and food.
Kenichi used the opportunity to train on Shigan—the finger-pistol technique. He practiced striking fruit mid-air, trying to pierce them without exploding them. One boy approached and asked, "Why are you always alone? You train too much."
Kenichi smiled softly and replied, "I just like winning… even if it's a game of collecting firewood."
It took him hours to master precise force distribution.
Later that night, Hiruzen overheard two instructors talking:
"Have you noticed? Kenichi acts like a kid, but he doesn't move like one."
The other replied, "Yeah... he has that silent look in his eyes—like someone who's seen too much for his age."
—
On the last day of the month, his father received an official notice:
"Your son demonstrates excellent physical aptitude despite his civilian background. He will be placed in an advanced evaluation group at the end of the year."
Kenichi read the letter, folded it calmly, and returned it to the drawer. In the corner of the room, Hiruzen watched him and said with a smile:
"You always act like you don't know anything… but when we train, you're like a little teacher."
And in his heart, Kenichi thought:
"I haven't shown anything yet... This is only the beginning. This world appears simple, but it hides the same shadows... I'm just more prepared this time."
End of Chapter Three.