Graduation season had arrived once again. The Ninja Academy, nestled right at the foot of the Hokage Rock, buzzed with unprecedented excitement. Today marked the graduation exam for a new generation of shinobi. Those who passed would finally become ninja—a dream they had nurtured their entire lives. Those who failed, however, would be held back a year to try their luck again next summer. For these children, brimming with boundless energy and enthusiasm, becoming a true shinobi was their most cherished desire.
Out on the grounds of the Ninja Academy, the Third Hokage was delivering his characteristically drawn-out, tiresome speech.
"Wherever tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew," the old man proclaimed. "Today is your graduation exam. I sincerely hope that each and every one of you will grow into a mighty tree capable of sheltering Konoha from any storm, and become the very flame that will illuminate our village's path into the future."
Everyone present—whether Academy instructors, students, or the villagers gathered around—listened to the Third Hokage with rapt attention and profound reverence. After all, this was the leader who had guided them through the grueling crucible of the Second Shinobi World War. His words embodied the very Will of Fire, Konoha's unyielding drive to move forward.
However, Hanao Shiki did not share this awe. He stood out starkly from the crowd, draped in a long white cloak. For a twelve-year-old boy of average build, the attire seemed slightly out of place, perhaps even a bit comical—especially considering the massive kanji for "Justice" emblazoned across the back. With his hands shoved deep into his pockets and a pair of dark shades perched on his nose, Shiki leaned back in his chair, looking utterly bored out of his mind. He lazily chewed on a blade of grass.
It couldn't be helped. While the others might have idolized the Third Hokage, Shiki, as a transmigrator from another world, simply couldn't muster the same level of respect. Knowing the future, he was well aware that this seemingly good-natured old man was, in reality, incredibly soft and indecisive. Not only did he allow the village elders and Danzo to lead him by the nose in political matters—resulting in a slew of frankly foolish decisions—but his personal attachments also caused him to let his rogue student, Orochimaru, slip through his fingers, ultimately dooming Konoha to unimaginable disasters in the future.
Naturally, Shiki didn't maintain this image of a frivolous slacker just for the sake of it. The primary reason lay in his own personal cheat. Behind the dark lenses of his shades, a glowing interface suddenly flashed across his vision.
[Character Simulation System activated.]
[Current simulated character: Borsalino]
[Synchronization progress: 19%]
[Available abilities: Rokushiki]
That's right—the character Shiki was currently roleplaying was none other than Marine Admiral Kizaru from the world of One Piece. In fact, if the orphanage director hadn't fought him tooth and nail on the matter back in the day, Shiki would have officially changed his name to Borsalino.
"Hey, Shiki, the Third Hokage is giving a speech. Could you at least try to show a little respect?" A mop of bright blond hair suddenly leaned into his field of vision.
Shiki turned his head to see a handsome boy with vibrant blond hair. This was the future Fourth Hokage, currently known as the undisputed genius of the Ninja Academy—Namikaze Minato. Several years had passed since Shiki first arrived in this world, and during that time, he had managed to strike up a rather solid friendship with the village's future leader.
"Oh, come on, what difference does it make..." Shiki drawled, keeping his hands firmly in his pockets. His sluggish, utterly apathetic demeanor made him look less like a child and more like a world-weary middle-aged man who had long since given up on this cruel reality.
It was precisely this deep, unwavering commitment to his roleplay that had allowed Shiki to push his synchronization progress to nineteen percent over the past three years. He was just one step away from the coveted twenty-percent milestone. For every ten percent of progress, the System granted him a spin on a roulette wheel, rewarding him with a random ability from Borsalino's arsenal. On his last spin, Shiki had drawn "Rokushiki."
"You have absolutely no fighting spirit," Minato sighed with a wry smile. Then again, his friend had always been like this.
"Shiki, you're insufferable! Snap out of it! We're going to become Hokage, you know!" an irritated girlish voice chimed in from the side.
It was Kushina. Her fiery red hair fluttered in the breeze as she passionately declared her dream of claiming the title of the village's leader.
Shiki tilted his head up toward the sky and lazily scratched the back of his neck.
"Hey, that's your dream. I have absolutely zero intention of becoming Hokage."
Becoming an ordinary ninja, slacking off all day while cashing a steady paycheck, and quietly grinding out my simulation percentage—isn't that the perfect plan? Laziness only makes me stronger, he chuckled inwardly.
Suddenly, Kushina roughly grabbed him by the collar of his cloak.
"You lazy jerk! Don't think I don't know how strong you actually are! Come on, show everyone what you're really capable of!"
But even in the face of a furious Kushina—who was glaring at him as if trying to strike a spark from a damp log—Shiki remained completely unfazed.
"What difference does it make..." he replied with the same phlegmatic drawl.
Kushina practically boiled over with anger. Out of their entire graduating class, the only ones she acknowledged as worthy rivals were Minato and Shiki. Seeing this guy act like a half-dead amoeba infuriated her to the point of grinding her teeth.
Seeing the situation escalate, Minato quickly intervened.
"Alright, alright, Kushina, calm down. Shiki surely has his reasons. Let's not interrupt the Hokage's speech."
Good old Minato, always knowing how to smooth things over, Shiki sighed in relief. His carefully cultivated persona could not be allowed to crumble under any circumstances!