Konoha Ninja Academy.
A group of examinees waited outside the building.
Inside, a black-haired boy was undergoing his examination. The Third Hokage and several Ninja Academy instructors stood together, observing closely while recording their evaluations.
In the training area, the boy carried out each test item with practiced ease.
Before long—
"Taijutsu: excellent."
"Clone Technique: excellent."
"Transformation Technique…"
"Overall evaluation: excellent."
Above him, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing the Hokage's hat, announced the results one by one. Then he stood up, picked up a forehead protector, and walked toward the student below.
He handed the headband to him.
"After the academy's review, you are approved for early graduation. Kyohiko Yoshimine—starting today, you are officially a genin."
"Yes! Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
Kyohiko Yoshimine accepted it respectfully, unable to stop the sigh in his heart—
After transmigrating more than a year ago and training relentlessly ever since, he had finally reached the threshold for early graduation.
Almost at the same moment, a voice echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations on successfully assuming the position of Hokage. The Hokage System will serve you wholeheartedly.]
???
That voice?
A system?
Damn it!
"I transmigrated over a year ago, trained like crazy for an entire year, and only now you decide to show up—after I've already graduated early?"
He was both shocked and delighted.
According to the original owner's memories, Kyohiko Yoshimine's ancestors had once been members of the Senju clan. Later, after the First Hokage promoted intermarriage within the village, they branched off and separated from the clan proper.
By Kyohiko's generation, it was already the third generation.
However—
His grandmother never possessed a special physique or any bloodline limit. His parents were also quite ordinary, at most slightly stronger physically. Unfortunately, they had died on the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
As for Kyohiko himself, he was even more ordinary—no special traits were visible at all.
Because of that, after transmigrating, he had realized one thing very clearly: only by working and struggling like Might Guy could he possibly survive in the cruel ninja world.
And yet—
Today, he had actually awakened a system…
"Wait a second? The Hokage System? What does that mean? I'm not the Hokage!"
Kyohiko was completely baffled. He lowered his head to look at the forehead protector in his hands, then raised his gaze to the Hokage's hat on Hiruzen Sarutobi's head.
I didn't become Hokage either!
"Kyohiko, put on your ninja headband," Hiruzen said.
"Yes!"
Kyohiko snapped out of his daze.
He tied the forehead protector around his head, and then—
Another notification rang out.
[Winning people's hearts is an essential ability of a Hokage.][By personally placing a forehead protector on a graduating genin, you have gained their complete trust.][Reward: Body Flicker Technique increased by 1 level]
Huh?
After confirming he wasn't hallucinating, Kyohiko was deeply shaken.
Complete trust…
Of course I trust myself!
Putting a headband on my own head and still getting rewards—what kind of idiot system is this?!
He stood there stunned for a moment before finally coming back to his senses.
This system…
It was clearly tailor-made for a "Hokage." But whether he had transmigrated to the wrong place or the system had chosen the wrong person, it had somehow landed on him—a mere genin.
Still, he was in the examination hall. He had to stay calm!
Kyohiko reined in his thoughts and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
This gratitude was sincere.
If the system had actually landed on Hiruzen Sarutobi, that would have been a complete waste. With that old man's personality, would he even know how to use it?
He simply didn't have the ability!
Better to give it to me.
"Haha, I believe in you. Keep it up!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said, patting Kyohiko on the shoulder.
Then he began calling out the next name, summoning the next examinee inside.
Kyohiko stepped out of the room, watching unfamiliar and familiar faces pass by one after another. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly—
More than ten years later, only a handful of these people would truly stand out.
The ninja world was cruel.
Without bloodline limits or secret techniques, it was impossible to move forward!
Over the past year, Kyohiko had come to understand all too well how hard life was for ordinary people.
Work hard. Struggle.
Even so, all he had gained was a stronger foundation and early graduation. He couldn't compare at all to Kakashi, who had already graduated long ago.
If things continued normally, Guy would be his best role model.
Fortunately, now he could be considered part of the "cheat-enabled" group. And with early graduation, he had far more time to train and grow stronger.
You can't learn anything truly profound in school!
The Hokage System.
Although the process had been bizarre, the result was undeniably good.
After leaving the examination hall, Kyohiko experimented with a few commands. Finally, by using "Panel," he summoned a faint, illusory interface.
Familiar text appeared on it.
…
[Name: Kyohiko Yoshimine][Age: 7][Bloodline Limit: None][Skills:]Transformation Technique (Proficient)Clone Technique (Proficient)Substitution Technique (Expert)Body Flicker Technique (Master)
…
Master-level Body Flicker Technique!
Kyohiko suppressed the shock and excitement surging in his heart.
According to the system's rankings, ninjutsu proficiency was divided into five levels: Beginner, Proficient, Expert, Master, and Grandmaster.
The Body Flicker Technique and Substitution Technique were the two techniques he had spent the most time training—without question.
Yet—
Over the past six months, his Body Flicker Technique had not improved at all.
But now—
All kinds of insights into the Body Flicker Technique surfaced in his mind.
"So that's how it is. Master-level Body Flicker Technique requires far more refined control of muscles, strength, and chakra."
Power down to the smallest detail.
That was the difference between Expert and Master.
Kyohiko felt a faint sense of realization.
This sudden enlightenment was miraculous, as if he had practiced tens of thousands of times and could now effortlessly use a "master-level" Body Flicker Technique.
"If I relied purely on my own training, it would probably take several years to reach the master level."
"Truly powerful!"
"Then…"
"The real problem now is how to maximize the system's value."
Without a bloodline limit or secret techniques, Kyohiko's greatest hope of defying fate and not becoming just another nameless casualty of the Ninja World Wars lay in the system before him.
Everything that had happened so far proved that it was nothing more than a rigid program—with plenty of room to exploit.
If he were the Hokage, what would he do?
Kyohiko's mind raced.
The rewards he had received earlier were related to—
Winning people's hearts, balancing the village's internal forces, and making the village stronger and more prosperous.
Contributing during wartime.
Handling the village's daily affairs and missions.
Kyohiko summarized several key points.
As a genin, the other objectives were simply impossible to accomplish. Right now, the only things he could realistically do were win people's trust and carry out missions.
After pondering for a moment—
Kyohiko stepped out of the academy gates and began testing his master-level Body Flicker Technique.
Meticulous control.
Muscles. Chakra…
Then—
Whoosh!
In an instant, Kyohiko's figure blurred, and in the next moment he had already appeared at another spot down the street.
"So fast!"
"Even though my physique hasn't improved, the effect of the Body Flicker Technique is two or three times stronger than before!"
A burning gleam flashed in Kyohiko's eyes.
If even master-level was like this, then reaching "Grandmaster" wouldn't that be completely insane?
However—
He could clearly feel that although this ability had integrated into his body, his eyesight and awareness hadn't yet adapted to the increased speed. His judgment of distance and velocity still contained errors.
Train!
Kyohiko sprinted toward his usual training area in the outskirts, moving like a gale, astonishingly fast.
But—
As he ran past a bathhouse…
"Hm?"
A white-haired man turned his head and looked outside.
Then he saw a young boy rushing past at incredible speed.
What speed!
That kind of Body Flicker Technique…
Who is that?
His interest was instantly piqued. After hesitating briefly and glancing at the situation inside the hall, he finally turned around and chased after Kyohiko.