The weight of the forehead protector felt heavier than Kayomi had expected.
Standing before the Hokage, the polished metal plate gleamed under the soft glow of the morning sun. The village square hummed with life—clan heads, Jōnin instructors, and fresh graduates gathered to witness this moment. Yet, for Kayomi, the world seemed to quiet, as if all the noise had faded into the background.
He stared at the symbol of Konohagakure etched into the steel. A year ago, this would have seemed impossible. He had been just another academy student, wrestling with his bloodline and haunted by the weight of his first kill.
His grip tightened.
-- Flashback—Training Grounds, One Year Ago --
"Again."
Kayomi barely had time to breathe before his father's kunai shot forward. He twisted his body, deflecting with his own blade, but Akari's movements were relentless. The clash of steel rang out, sparks flying between them.
"You're improving." Akari's voice was calm, unreadable. "But you still hesitate."
Kayomi's Sharingan spun, tracking his father's next strike before it landed. He countered—just barely—but his breath was uneven.
Akari suddenly stopped, eyes narrowing. "You're thinking about it, aren't you?"
Kayomi didn't answer.
"The man you killed."
His jaw clenched.
"You remember how his blood felt. How he stopped breathing." Akari sheathed his kunai, stepping closer. "You think you need to forget it."
Kayomi's fingers curled into fists. "Don't I?"
"No." Akari's gaze bore into him, unwavering. "You need to carry it. Not as guilt, but as resolve." He gestured to the kunai in Kayomi's hand. "A blade isn't meant for hesitation. It's meant for action."
Kayomi stared at his own reflection in the polished metal.
"Again," his father ordered. This time, Kayomi moved first.
-- Flashback Ends --
His hand trembled slightly as he tied the forehead protector around his head. The cool metal pressed against his skin.
From the crowd, Akari watched, arms crossed, expression unreadable. But Kayomi caught it—just for a second—the faintest nod of approval.
He exhaled slowly.
The hesitation was gone.
The blade was steady.
He was a Genin now.
[System Notification]
Congratulations on achieving the rank of Genin!
Your System has been updated. Please check the Status window for more details.
But before Kayomi could process the new update, the Hokage's voice cut through the air.
"Your first mission will be assigned shortly," the Hokage announced.
Kayomi turned and made his way toward the mission office
[User Kayomi's Current Stats]
Age: 6
Chakra Capacity: Average
Bloodline: Uchiha/Inuzuka
Traits:
- Sharingan [Level 4]
- Beast Magic [Level 6]
- Six Eyes [Level 4]
- Fire Dragon Slayer Magic [Level 5]
[System Update]
Congratulations, Kayomi! As a reward for your rank of Genin, the following features have been unlocked:
- Inventory
- Shop
- Quest Log
Kayomi clicked through the notification with curiosity, eyes scanning the newly unlocked features. Inventory seemed straightforward useful for storing items. The Shop intrigued him, though it didn't mention any currency. He would have to investigate that later.
"Hey, there you are, Kayomi."
Kayomi snapped out of his thoughts as Shisui approached, a teasing smile playing on his lips but with an edge of annoyance beneath the surface.
"So, you graduated early, huh?" Shisui raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Don't get too full of yourself,."
Daisuke stepped out from behind a pillar, his expression tense, clearly bothered. "Yeah, congrats, Kayomi. But don't think that makes you the big shot just yet." His voice carried a hint of bitterness—seeing his childhood friend breeze through the academy while he'd dropped out to pursue blacksmithing stung more than he wanted to admit.
Mebuki, who had been standing quietly nearby, glanced up from her notebook, her usual calm demeanor still in place, but her voice had a sharper edge. "Congratulations, Kayomi," she said, the words almost too polite.
Kayomi smirked, enjoying the playful tension. "You guys should catch up. I'm a Genin now, after all. Gotta stay ahead of the curve, right?"
"And since I'm a Genin, I'm gonna need a reliable blacksmith," Kayomi added, casually placing a hand on Daisuke's shoulder. "Guess you'll need to keep studying hard, huh?"
Daisuke's lips twitched, but he remained silent, his posture rigid.
Mebuki scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "So, what, you don't need any antidotes for poison?" she teased, raising an eyebrow as if she were already preparing for his future blunders.
Shisui let out a low chuckle, joining in on the banter. "I'm sure our prodigy here will need plenty of those once he gets his first real mission. How about we head to a restaurant? I'm sure someone as accomplished as Kayomi can treat us all to lunch as an apology for making us wait so long."
Kayomi grinned. "Alright, alright. I'll treat. But don't expect anything too fancy—I've got to save my money for important things... like a misson ".