At the same time, elsewhere in the village—
Something seemingly trivial in the eyes of others was unfolding.
But to Tian Yu, it meant much more.
It was the start of the New Year's Ninja Academy Entrance Exam!
This was no ordinary year.
It was the summer of the 54th year of the Hidden Leaf calendar, a turning point in Naruto's original story—the very year when Naruto Uzumaki, Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuga Neji, and other young Konoha prodigies enrolled at the academy.
And for Tian Yu, there was one critical detail:
Sasuke Uchiha had just enrolled.
A quiet yet ominous reminder:
The Uchiha Clan Massacre was drawing near.
…
> [Ding! Forging successful! Item: Sun Wheel Knife created!]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! Sun Wheel Knife successfully forged. Reward: +1 Law of Breathing Comprehension]
One month passed.
After repeated trial and error, countless reworks, and minor explosions in the forge, Tian Yu finally succeeded.
He had forged his **first three-star difficulty weapon—**the Sun Wheel Knife.
His eyes shimmered with excitement.
The blade before him glowed with a faint dark-blue sheen, flickering like water in motion.
With anticipation, he opened his system panel to view the weapon's data.
> [Item: Sun Wheel Knife]
Rank: Three-Star Weapon
Attribute: Water
Special Effect: Begin comprehension of "Water Breathing Technique"
Bound: No
Water Breathing Technique?
Tian Yu narrowed his eyes in thought.
Did this mean using the blade in battle would help him master the law of water breathing?
A ripple of anticipation stirred in his heart. He couldn't wait to test it out—feel how a three-star weapon truly performed.
But first, he needed to complete the binding ritual.
With practiced ease, Tian Yu bit his finger and let a drop of blood run along the blade's spine. A faint pulse surged through his arm—a sign of successful connection. The Sun Wheel Knife was now bound to him.
He stored the weapon into his Na Ring—and then froze.
The ring's internal storage was… full?
Only now did he realize: over the past month, while immersed in refining his forging skills, he'd blindly tossed every finished item into his ring.
The sheer volume was staggering.
And when he considered how much raw ore, chakra-infused minerals, and exotic alloys he had burned through—
The total cost must've exceeded 10 million ryo.
That was nearly an entire year's worth of their family's business earnings.
No wonder his father's eye twitched every time he raided the shop's warehouse. The man had probably aged five years in silence.
Yet through it all, his parents never uttered a word of complaint.
Despite the mounting cost and consumed materials, they wholeheartedly supported Tian Yu's dream of becoming a ninja.
Fortunately, their family's business—built over decades—stood among the most prosperous independent shops in Konoha. Though not a traditional clan, the Tian family rivaled some minor noble families in wealth and reach.
Tian Yu opened the Na Ring and began counting the tools he had created so far.
Even he was stunned by the total.
> Total Crafted Weapons:
One-Star Rank:
500 Kunai (Clone Technique)
500 Kunai (Substitution Technique)
500 Kunai (Transformation Technique)
Two-Star Rank:
5 Beginner Na Rings
10 Grass Pheasant Swords (Prototype)
5 Sky Feather Cloaks
5 Pairs of Lightweight Boots
Three-Star Rank:
1 Sun Wheel Knife
And along with his weapon count, his system data had also changed significantly:
> [Host: Tian Yu]
[Age: 7]
[Forging Level: Beginner]
[Unlocked Weapons:]
Tier 1: Clone Kunai (100%), Substitution Kunai (100%), Transformation Kunai (100%)
Tier 2: Na Ring (100%), Grass Pheasant Sword (100%), Sky Feather Cloak (100%), Lightweight Boots (100%)
Tier 3: Sun Wheel Knife (26%)
[Original Creations: None]