"That was fast..."
Shinichi's heart skipped a beat. Generating his [Kenjutsu Apprentice] Class hadn't happened overnight. It took months of joining the dojo, casually mentioning his training to people at the orphanage, the blacksmith, and the restaurant, and actively showing off his progress before public perception finally solidified into a Class.
But [Academy Student]?
It generated the exact second he finished his enrollment paperwork.
Shinichi's mind raced. The key difference had to be the observers.
Yes, there was a massive crowd of parents, teachers, and freshmen at the gates today. But more importantly, it was the "weight" of the individuals in that crowd.
Kakashi was there.
His father, Sakumo Hatake—the legendary White Fang of the Leaf—was there.
And perhaps...
Shinichi recalled the moment he had glanced at the Hatakes. Sakumo had been watching him, but then the White Fang's eyes had suddenly flicked upward.
That was it. The Third Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the man who routinely surveyed the village using the Telescope Jutsu, was highly likely keeping an eye on opening day at the Academy.
These individuals stood at the absolute pinnacle of Konoha, and even the entire shinobi world. Even a passing glance from them, however fleeting, carried an influence far beyond that of ordinary civilians!
The generation speed of a trait is absolutely tied to the strength and status of the observer.
Shinichi's eyes lingered on the two Class traits sitting side-by-side on his interface: [Kenjutsu Apprentice] and [Academy Student].
Just as he had theorized, before a Class trait could be generated via "perception," it first had to be "recognized" and "accepted" by an established system, tradition, or authority.
His sword instructor, Shuji Yamashita, had settled in Konoha when the village was founded, but he hailed from the Land of Iron. He was a bona fide samurai, representing a lineage of swordsmanship far older than the shinobi system. Gaining his approval and entering his tutelage acted as an official endorsement within that specific discipline.
Similarly, the Ninja Academy was the universally recognized, orthodox starting point for shinobi in Konoha. The exact moment his enrollment was finalized, he was integrated into the foundational layer of the grand "Shinobi" system, granting him base-level official certification.
Then why didn't Blacksmith or Chef work?
A new question popped into Shinichi's mind. Blacksmithing and cooking were ancient, stable professions with lineages predating shinobi. Did a discipline need to involve supernatural power or chakra manipulation to form a Class?
But he knew for a fact that the shinobi world had "Artisan Ninjas" and "Culinary Ninjas" who utilized chakra in their crafts.
Did I just lack the endorsement of the proper authorities in those fields? Or perhaps...
His eyes narrowed as he grasped the key difference. The answer was becoming clear, but he didn't dwell on it. He had more pressing matters at hand. He would likely confirm his theory once he entered the Konoha Hospital to formally study pharmacology and medical ninjutsu.
Stepping out of the Academy gates, he hoisted the eye-catching boulder back onto his shoulders and resumed his weighted run around the village. His heavy footsteps pounded against the dirt, drawing fresh waves of curious and astonished looks.
I need to level up as quickly as possible.
As he ran, he mentally reviewed his White-tier traits: [Diligent (White)], [Robust (White)]... These were the fruits of years of meticulous acting, the bedrock upon which he would leverage true power. Every drop of sweat, every time he pushed past his limits under the public eye, served to reinforce those impressions.
---
An hour later, utterly exhausted, Shinichi arrived at his new home.
He had moved out of the orphanage a week ago and rented a slightly run-down little apartment. Moving out wasn't just for convenience; it officially expanded his "stage." He was shifting his PR campaign away from the orphanage, centering it around the Academy, and radiating outward to the rest of Konoha.
He shut the door, cutting off the eyes of the outside world. Leaning against the wall, he let his breathing steady. The mask of perfect composure he had worn all day finally melted away, revealing deep exhaustion, though his eyes remained sharp and bright.
Heading into the cramped kitchen, he put his culinary skills to work. Years of helping out at the orphanage, combined with a year of actual work in a restaurant, had made him an excellent cook. He prepped the ingredients with practiced efficiency, and soon, the aroma of a simple meal filled the room.
Sitting at the table, Shinichi ate rapidly. His body seemed to instinctively know how to extract every single calorie and nutrient with maximum efficiency.
It was a quick meal, but it replenished a surprising amount of his depleted stamina and washed away much of his mental fatigue.
> [Glutton (White): You possess an extraordinary passion and palate for food. You absorb nutrients with supreme efficiency, gaining bonus stamina recovery and a sense of deep satisfaction from meals.]
---
Later that night, after returning from yet another training session, Shinichi washed up, changed into clean clothes, and brought his focus back to the interface in his mind.
His eyes locked onto the [Draws Available] section.
> [Draws Available: 1 (White)]
Generating a new Class trait didn't just grant passive buffs related to that field; it rewarded him with a free, completely randomized Talent Trait draw, bypassing the need for public perception entirely.
Two months ago, when he unlocked [Kenjutsu Apprentice], he used his first draw and received [Calm].
> [Calm (White): In times of crisis, combat, or sudden emergencies, you easily maintain a cool head, resisting external interference to formulate countermeasures.]
Shinichi had mixed feelings about that draw. There was no denying the immense value of the trait; keeping a level head in a crisis was a vital skill for any shinobi.
However, he felt he could have easily generated that trait manually through his persona. He just hadn't had the time. Early on, he had been desperately rushing to farm physical traits like [Diligent], [Robust], [Tenacious], and [Agile].
To get [Tenacious] quickly, he had subjected himself to public beatings at busy street corners just to leave a lasting impression. Obviously, pulling erratic stunts like that completely contradicted a "calm and collected" persona.
But now, his second draw was here, courtesy of his new Academy status.
What am I going to get this time?
Shinichi took a deep breath, steadying his slightly elevated heart rate. He focused his intent on the faintly glowing text: 1 (White).
There were no flashy special effects or agonizing loading times.
A faint ripple seemed to wash over his vision, and the text on the panel shifted.
> [Draws Available: None]
Down in the Talent Trait column, right below [Calm (White)], a fresh line of text quietly materialized in a soft, white glow.
---