Water churned around Meian's frame, yet his feet never wavered. Kakashi watched from the shore as the boy walked onto dry land without so much as a stumble, movements precise and controlled.
"You learn too quickly," Kakashi said, sighing.
Meian brushed water from his sleeves. His body had always been different—he'd accepted that long ago. "What comes next?"
Kakashi smiled. "Don't worry. Come with me."
They made their way to the forest's edge. Meian already suspected what was coming. He'd seen this technique before, watched Kakashi demonstrate it during their earlier sessions.
Kakashi gestured to the nearest tree. "Next lesson: tree climbing. But not with your hands." He stepped onto the trunk and walked vertically upward, each footfall deliberate and controlled. "The key is chakra control. Channel it through your feet, keep it constant. This won't be easy."
Before Kakashi could finish, Meian was already moving. He planted his foot against the bark and pushed upward, matching Kakashi's position in seconds.
They stood face-to-face on the trunk, both vertical to the ground.
"Can you teach me actual ninjutsu now?" Meian asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Kakashi's eye twitched. "Are you even human?"
Meian climbed higher without answering, reaching the canopy with steady, unhurried steps. He laughed—a sound of genuine joy—then turned and walked down the trunk as casually as one might descend a staircase.
Kakashi stood motionless. "Your talent is frightening. I've never encountered anything like it."
"It's just fast learning," Meian said, landing softly beside him. "Nothing more."
But Kakashi knew better. In all his years—and he'd seen much for one so young—he'd never witnessed a mind absorb technique this quickly. Even his own childhood prodigy status paled by comparison. The records he'd set still stood: graduating the Academy at five, becoming a Chūnin at six, promoted to Jōnin at twelve. Those records remained unmatched across all the hidden villages.
Yet even Kakashi had to acknowledge it: Meian's raw talent exceeded his own. The thought was unsettling.
What disturbed him more was that Meian seemed indifferent to it all.
"Tell me," Kakashi said as they walked back toward the clearing, "what ninjutsu do you actually know? I refuse to believe it's only the Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."
Meian glanced at him with an expression far too measured for his age. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, Water Style: Water Sphere Technique, and Earth Style: Earth Crack Technique. Those three."
"All D-rank," Kakashi observed. "The fireball is C-rank at best."
"They're sufficient," Meian replied without defensiveness. "Ninjutsu is a foundation—it shouldn't be squandered or flaunted carelessly. I've learned three solid techniques. That puts me ahead of most."
He wasn't wrong. Kakashi had watched the Academy students during their training. Most struggled to master even one jutsu before graduation. The fact that Meian had already integrated three and demonstrated ready combat capability was exceptional.
Kakashi smiled. "Fair enough. I'll teach you another Fire Style jutsu today—C-rank. Something with more practical application."
Meian met his gaze calmly. "Why not something higher ranked?"
"Because," Kakashi said, settling onto a nearby log, "progression matters. You build foundational strength before reaching for advanced techniques. That's how actual shinobi develop—carefully, methodically. C-rank techniques are what separate competent Genin from the rest. They're already a significant leap."
Meian nodded, accepting the logic without protest. "What technique?"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique," Kakashi said. "The Uchiha variant—not the basic version. It's technically their clan's exclusive art, but its versatility is superior. Other shinobi have learned it. I'm one of them."
Meian's interest flickered. "How did you acquire it?"
"That's a conversation for another time," Kakashi said. "For now, know this: it's more powerful than the standard Great Fireball. In the right hands, a C-rank technique can perform like a B-rank jutsu. Even Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha rely on it heavily."
"Then I want to learn it," Meian said without hesitation.
Kakashi chuckled. "I expected nothing less."
They spent the next hour in focused instruction. Kakashi demonstrated the hand seals—Tiger, Ram, Monkey, Boar—and explained the chakra distribution required for effective output. Meian watched, absorbed every detail, and attempted the sequence. On his third try, he produced a small flame. On his fifth, a respectable fireball erupted from his lips.
By the time the sun hung low, Meian had achieved something resembling competence.
"One more thing," Kakashi said as they prepared to leave. "Stop calling me 'Mr. Hatake.' It's unnecessary."
"What would you prefer?" Meian asked.
"Just 'Kakashi' is fine."
Meian tilted his head. "That seems disrespectful."
Kakashi smirked. "Then 'Sensei' works. You are my student, after all."
Something shifted in Meian's expression—not quite a smile, but something warmer than before. "Sensei, then."
Kakashi felt an unexpected warmth at the title. In the ninja world, teaching someone a jutsu was rarely formalized—most Jōnin held no obligation to instruct their charges in anything beyond practical survival. Yet here he was, intentionally shaping this boy's development, building something deliberate.
Yes, he decided. Meian was his student. And that mattered.
---
---
To celebrate the launch, I will be releasing 5 chapters daily—but that's just the beginning.
Want more? Don't fall behind while others binge ahead.
For every 100 Powerstones, I'll unlock 5 bonus chapters. A quality review will instantly unlock a massive 10 bonus chapters.
Readers who act early will always stay ahead—while others wait.
This may be a translation, but it's a proven CN classic.
Don't miss your chance to experience it first.