"Congratulations, child."
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wore a kind smile as he personally tied the Konoha forehead protector—the ultimate symbol of a Leaf shinobi—around Shinichi's forehead.
"From today onward, you are a true shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. Remember the shinobi way: protect the village, and cherish your comrades."
"Yes, Lord Third!"
After the brief ceremony concluded, Shinichi turned and walked out of the classroom that had served as his temporary testing site. The moment he stepped through the door, a familiar wave of clamor washed over him.
"Shinichi! Congratulations on graduating!"
"That's awesome! You're a real shinobi now!"
"We expected nothing less from you, Shinichi!"
Led by Takashi Ishizuka's booming voice, a crowd of familiar classmates eagerly swarmed him. They showered him with congratulations, the atmosphere incredibly warm and genuine.
A natural smile surfaced on Shinichi's face as he nodded in acknowledgment to the crowd.
"Just wait for me, Shinichi!" Takashi clenched his fists, his eyes burning with unwavering determination. "I'll catch up to you in no time and become a real shinobi too!"
"Congratulations on your graduation, Shinichi." Shizune stepped forward from the edge of the crowd, a gentle smile on her face.
She handed him a small, highly practical-looking medical pouch. "I put together some basic medical supplies and emergency medicine. You might find them useful when you're out on missions."
"Thank you, Shizune." Shinichi accepted the pouch with a grateful nod.
However, beneath his gratitude, a faint trace of regret rippled through his mind.
Over the years, he had successfully used his connection with Takashi to access Master Chen's guidance, effectively opening a massive door for his Taijutsu training.
But on Shizune's end, his anticipated progress had completely stalled. He had never managed to use her as a bridge to reach Lady Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin.
His relationship with Shizune was undeniably solid, and she frequently complained to him about "that unreliable Lady Tsunade." Yet, she had never once hinted at introducing them.
Meanwhile, the meticulously crafted persona Shinichi maintained—that of a hardworking, grounded boy who never actively sought to curry favor—prevented him from making any overt moves. Consequently, there had been zero tangible progress.
As for Tsunade herself... Shinichi knew perfectly well that the legendary kunoichi, having consecutively lost her younger brother and her lover, had long since sealed her heart. Drowning in her own world of grief, she was completely apathetic to almost everything else.
Keeping Shizune—Dan Kato's niece—by her side was likely more out of a sense of obligation and shared trauma than anything else.
Given Tsunade's current state, it was entirely logical that she had absolutely no interest in some "prodigy from the Academy," nor could she be bothered to "drop by" and observe him as Master Chen had.
Still, Shinichi wasn't deeply disappointed. Cultivating networks, especially with figures of that caliber, fundamentally required perfect timing and immense patience.
Maintaining a strong relationship with Shizune was, in itself, a highly valuable, long-term seed quietly planted in the dark.
One day in the future, when the time was right, that seed might just sprout and bloom into a bridge leading straight to that absolute treasure trove of knowledge.
"Everyone!" Shinichi raised his voice, ensuring the surrounding crowd could hear him clearly. "To thank our teachers for their guidance over the years, and to thank all of you for your companionship, I plan to host a small gathering at the Aji no Takumi restaurant tomorrow afternoon. All the teachers and classmates I know, as well as the elders who have looked after me—if you have the time, you are all welcome to come join me."
He said it casually, but anyone familiar with his style knew perfectly well that this "small gathering" would likely be another massive, open-house banquet.
Just like the gratitude banquet he had hosted for his kenjutsu master two years ago, this had become his unique, signature method of expressing thanks and maintaining his social network.
As for the cost, the current Shinichi truly had no need to worry about money. That day in the Hokage's office, when the Third Hokage proposed officially cataloging the Rasengan into Konoha's jutsu repository, he had asked Shinichi what kind of reward he desired.
Shinichi hadn't asked for forbidden jutsu or special privileges. Instead, citing the desire to "pay off my Academy student loans and ensure I can focus entirely on training for the foreseeable future without being distracted by mundane financial matters," he had openly requested a substantial monetary reward.
This highly pragmatic, entirely reasonable request had been swiftly approved.
Right now, his financial situation was incredibly comfortable.
Hosting this banquet was a genuine expression of gratitude, but more importantly, it was a meticulously calculated public declaration. It was designed to refresh public perception and rapidly push his [Academy Student] class trait to upgrade into [Genin].
Simultaneously, it would further solidify his image as someone who "values bonds and always repays his debts"—a reputation that brought absolute benefits and zero harm.
---
> [Ill Omen (Green): Your fate has faintly brushed against the ominous.
> You will occasionally sense minor signs of malice and the latent beginnings of potential danger.]
The time it took for [Academy Student] to upgrade to [Genin] was far shorter than his previous transition from [Kenjutsu Apprentice] to [Swordsman].
This made perfect sense. He was now a prime sapling under the heavy scrutiny of Konoha's highest echelons, and he had officially graduated under the personal witness of the Third Hokage himself. Naturally, the corresponding perception and acknowledgment were generated far faster and with much greater concentration.
When the free draw opportunity accompanying his class promotion arrived, Shinichi followed his usual routine. He meticulously washed his hands, bathed, and changed clothes. After completing a seemingly devout but ultimately useless prayer ritual, he initiated the draw.
The result was this Green trait named [Ill Omen]. Just like the [Auspicious Omen] he had pulled previously, it fell under the highly esoteric category of luck and fate.
Based on the description, if [Auspicious Omen] governed the favorable, lucky aspects of fate—allowing him to occasionally sense highly beneficial trends and opportunities—then [Ill Omen] corresponded to the sinister, perilous side.
Of course, this didn't mean the trait carried negative effects. Based on years of personal testing, Shinichi was absolutely certain that every single talent trait generated by the interface was fundamentally a positive buff; they simply operated in different domains and manifested in different ways.
Over the past two years, he had intentionally and unintentionally tested the [Auspicious Omen] trait multiple times.
For example, when playing the slot machines outside the village casinos or participating in luck-based games during festivals, his win rate was tangibly higher than an ordinary person's. This proved that [Auspicious Omen] was indeed subtly boosting his baseline luck stat.
More importantly, it would occasionally trigger a vague, magnetic pull—a whim that hinted at approaching opportunities or highly favorable turning points connected to him.
By that logic, the mechanics of [Ill Omen] should act as its counterpart, while still remaining firmly within the buff category. It likely didn't bring him bad luck, but rather made him hyper-sensitive to impending disasters. Or perhaps it actively worsened the luck of his enemies?
Similarly, if a massive crisis or personal disaster was brewing, [Ill Omen] would likely trigger a similar, sudden whim of warning—much like the drop in atmospheric pressure right before a violent storm. It might not give specific details, but it would be enough to put him on absolute high alert.
After waiting at home for about three days, Shinichi finally received the official notification regarding his squad assignment:
He was to rendezvous with his new teammates tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM at Training Ground 6.
"A training ground, huh?" Shinichi set the letter down, his eyes turning thoughtful.
It seemed these teammates he had yet to meet fully intended to test his strength right out of the gate.
Who could they be?
Carrying that faint curiosity, he spent the night in quiet meditation.
Early the next morning, carrying his standard combat gear, Shinichi arrived punctually at Training Ground 6.
To his surprise, there was only a single figure waiting for him on the field.
It was a middle-aged shinobi of average build, dressed in simple, drab brown clothing. Most glaringly, he had a massive iron cooking pot strapped prominently to his back.
His getup was highly eccentric, radiating a somewhat comical, rustic vibe.
The moment Shinichi laid eyes on him, he felt a spark of familiarity, though he couldn't place it immediately. He walked forward steadily, taking the initiative to bow in greeting. "Good morning, Senior. I am Shinichi Higashino, reporting for duty today. I look forward to working with you."
The middle-aged man turned around. His face broke into an incredibly kind, almost overly simple smile, and his tone was so mild he hardly seemed like a shinobi at all.
"Oh, oh, Shinichi Higashino! I know you. Everyone in the village has been talking about how we've produced an unbelievable genius."
He scratched the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed. "I never imagined you'd end up assigned to a useless old man like me. I'm sorry to drag you down. My name is Kosuke Maruboshi."
It really is him!
Kosuke Maruboshi!