The Sixth Year of Konoha's Founding
Kenichi Sato's Age: 10 Years Old
Early July – Final Week Before the Mid-Year Break
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The sky was gray, and the air felt heavy despite the absence of sun.
In the academy's outer training field, the students stood in a large circle. Instructor Hama announced:
"Today is a group exercise to test coordination and tactical techniques."
They were divided into three teams. Kenichi was placed in the third team, alongside students he barely knew.
One teammate said, "We've heard you're smart. You should be the one to come up with the plan."
Kenichi silently agreed. He drew up a strategy quickly, based on their known abilities—information he had gathered from previous observations.
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The exercise began. Their objective was to secure a flag placed in the center of a small forest and prevent the other teams from capturing it.
At first, the plan went smoothly.
But when the second team, led by Kagami, approached, Kenichi's team coordination fell apart.
One teammate ignored his position.
Another attacked without instruction.
A third misread a signal.
Kenichi tried to adjust quickly, but Kagami exploited every detail—trees, lighting, even the sound of enemy footsteps. He and his team moved like a single entity.
The exercise ended with Kagami's team winning effortlessly.
---
From the observation stand, Instructor Hama didn't say much. But he did state:
"A plan alone isn't enough. A leader isn't just the one who draws the map… he's the one who adapts it in real time."
It wasn't a scolding—
But it struck deep.
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During the break, Kenichi sat alone near the base of a tree.
He held his notebook, but didn't write.
> "I still think like a tactician… not like a leader."
"I need to understand people—not just observe them."
---
The next day, he tried to execute his new sensory technique.
He released a light wave of water chakra, hoping to detect targets around him.
But the wave rippled aimlessly—like something in his heart was clouding its clarity before it could stabilize.
> "A distracted mind can't sense clearly."
"Water doesn't listen if you don't understand yourself."
He breathed deeply.
He recalled his moment of failure, visualized it… then released the wave again.
This time… it held, just a little.
---
At the end of the day, Instructor Hama entered the training field and found Kenichi practicing alone.
He watched silently for a moment, then said,
"You know when you start becoming a true ninja? When you fail… and still stand."
Kenichi didn't answer, but nodded—
Then went back to training.
---
That night, after finishing his exercises, Kenichi returned home and found his sister Haru waiting for him at the door.
She held his hand and said, "Onii-chan… tell me a story."
He smiled, then sat with her on the bed and tucked her in.
"There was a princess… named Elsa. She was different. She had the power to freeze things, a power that scared people… even her sister sometimes.
But when she ran away into the snow, she discovered… she didn't need to fear herself."
Haru opened her eyes slightly, "Was she alone?"
Kenichi smiled and said,
"She was. But her sister followed her… and reminded her that she didn't need to stay away to protect them.
They loved her—even with her power."
Haru mumbled, "I'll have power too… when I grow up."
He laughed and said,
"And I'll be the first one to stand by your side."
Haru closed her eyes and whispered,
"I love that story…"
Kenichi watched her in silence.
> "The story of the 'Snow Princess'… in my old life, it was just fantasy. Now, it feels like a reflection of what we live."
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After she fell asleep, Kenichi stepped out onto the balcony and looked at the sky.
The stars weren't clear…
But inside, something had begun to sharpen.
The night was silent—
But his heart was alive with voices he had never known before.
And in the center of that gap…
Something new began to take shape.