Chapter 2 — Hokage
Sensing the fluctuation of chakra, Kinoshita Muraichi's eyes widened. He saw chakra emanating from his younger brother's body.
He sensed chakra already?
Since when was chakra this easy?
How long had it taken him to cultivate chakra back then? A month, if he remembered correctly. Even so, his father had been overjoyed, drinking several extra cups in celebration and praising him as a genius.
And now?
If he had been considered a genius, then what was his little brother?
This—this was a true genius. Compared to him, he was nothing but trash.
Suppressing the excitement surging in his heart, he decided he would report this to the Third Hokage after class.
The entire class consisted of civilian children, all diligently practicing. Suddenly feeling the energy fluctuation, they opened their eyes one after another to look.
"Close your eyes. Don't be distracted by external things. Carefully sense the energy within your bodies," Kinoshita Muraichi barked in a low voice.
…
Kinoshita Hikaru felt no particular joy at successfully cultivating chakra. Instead, he was filled with anticipation for the system.
Ecstatic, he thought to himself: After waiting six years—wishing upon stars and the moon—his system had finally arrived.
"Rubber Fruit? And it's a non-toxic version?"
This fruit was the standard protagonist package—durable, powerful, high damage output, and it could even grow larger.
While everyone else was peacefully practicing chakra, Kinoshita Hikaru quietly took out the Rubber Fruit.
It looked like a round cantaloupe, covered in spiral patterns—just like in One Piece. The only difference was that instead of purple, it was golden.
According to the advice of various transmigrator seniors in fanfics, the best way to consume a Devil Fruit was to swallow it in one bite. Otherwise, the energy might dissipate.
Hikaru stared at the Rubber Fruit, which was even bigger than his head, and fell into dilemma.
If he swallowed something that big in one bite… wouldn't he choke to death?
Wouldn't it get stuck in his throat?
Forget it. For the sake of a happy life in the future, he'd gamble on it.
A trace of determination flashed in his eyes. If Luffy could swallow it, why couldn't he?
Ahem. Hello, everyone watching online. Today I'll be performing a special show—one bite, one whole cantaloupe!
He opened his mouth wide—stretching it to its absolute limit—and swallowed it in one gulp.
He was doomed.
The Rubber Fruit got stuck in his throat.
Hikaru's eyes bulged, his mouth clamped shut, and his throat burned with searing pain.
At that moment, the other students were all focused on cultivating chakra. No one noticed Kinoshita Hikaru in the back row by the window.
But—
Kinoshita Muraichi saw everything clearly.
He watched as his foolish little brother pulled out what looked like a cantaloupe from his desk.
As a teacher, he should stop students from eating snacks during class.
He had just been about to walk over and confiscate the fruit—perhaps to "dispose" of it himself—when he saw his idiotic brother swallow the entire thing in one bite.
Muraichi's expression froze.
Had his brother already discovered his intentions?
But there was no need to go this far! Wasn't he afraid of choking to death?
"Idiot!"
Panicking, Muraichi used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared behind Hikaru in an instant, slamming his palm against his back.
"Spit it out! Hurry and spit it out!"
Hikaru's small hands clamped tightly over his mouth, refusing to spit it out.
At that moment, his throat surpassed its physical limits, adapting to the extreme stretch. The Rubber Fruit suddenly slid down.
Gulp.
"I'm saved!"
Seeing that his brother had actually swallowed it, Muraichi grabbed his little leg and began shaking him frantically. "Idiot! You won't be able to digest it like that! Hurry and spit it out!"
…
The students were startled awake by Muraichi's shouting and all turned to look.
"He stretched! Hikaru-kun stretched!"
They cried out in shock and disbelief. What was happening?
Minato Namikaze's eyes widened as he watched his playmate flail around like a noodle in midair. Only one thought filled his mind:
"Sugoi!!"
"So amazing!!"
Hikaru felt the world spinning around him, his head dizzy. "S-stop… shaking… Put me down…"
…
Elsewhere—
In the Hokage's office, thick stacks of documents covered the desk. Beside them sat a crystal ball, within which the scene of the Ninja Academy was clearly displayed.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, took the new generation's first attempt at cultivating chakra very seriously. He had been observing the Academy through the Telescope Technique, hoping that more geniuses would emerge from among these children.
When Kinoshita Hikaru successfully cultivated chakra, Sarutobi Hiruzen already knew—this child was a genius.
But when he saw Hikaru's body twisting and swaying through the air like a spirit serpent—
He shot to his feet with a start.
What kind of jutsu was this?
A new kekkei genkai?
Why did it resemble Orochimaru's Soft Physique Modification technique?
As Hiruzen watched the scene inside the crystal ball, he recalled the intelligence file on the Kinoshita family.
As a qualified Hokage, every villager in Konoha with the potential to become a ninja was recorded in his mind.
Hikaru's parents had been jōnin—civilian-born ninjas who firmly supported him. Unfortunately, they had died three years ago. He also had an older brother, Kinoshita Muraichi, one of Hiruzen's direct subordinates.
Thinking this through, Hiruzen revealed a pleased, almost indulgent smile. The awakening of a kekkei genkai within his own faction was undoubtedly good news.
"Could the Kinoshita family descend from some ancient Warring States clan? Otherwise, how could a bloodline ability suddenly awaken? Or… is Kinoshita Hikaru the first-generation awakener? If that's the case, he may prove unexpectedly useful."
After all, the ninja world had developed for over a thousand years. Countless kekkei genkai had emerged—and beyond that, even kekkei tōta.
The major ninja villages had long memorized intelligence on known bloodlines. A brand-new kekkei genkai, one not yet recorded in other villages' archives, would certainly produce astonishing effects in battle.
"The storm is approaching. I hope you grow quickly."
Hiruzen slipped into a contemplative mood, lifting his pipe and taking steady puffs.
Puff… puff…
…
Before long, a knock sounded at the office door.
"Enter."
The door opened to reveal a man with a resolute, cold expression, clad in samurai-style armor.
He was the leader of Root—Shimura Danzō.
At this time, Danzō was in the prime of his life, sharp-edged and decisive in killing.
Only thirty-eight years old, he harbored immense ambition—to become Hokage and unify the ninja world.
Hiruzen looked at his old friend and smiled faintly. His feelings for the man who was always ready to shoulder the darkness for him ran deep.
"What is it, Danzō? Is something the matter?"
"Spies stationed in the Land of Wind have sent secret reports. They're stockpiling war supplies. Not only that—the Land of Earth is doing the same. Hiruzen, we must begin preparing as well," Danzō said.
"I see. It seems peace has lasted too long—they've forgotten the pain of war. You're right. We must prepare too. Konoha may dislike war, but we certainly do not fear it."
In his prime, Sarutobi Hiruzen might have leaned toward diplomacy, but he had not yet grown into the indecisive elder of later years.
Though it ran contrary to his governing philosophy, Konoha would not shrink from any enemy.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "I have only one condition—that the war must not be brought onto the soil of the Land of Fire."
Danzō bared his teeth in a grim smile. "Of course. It's about time those smaller nations fulfilled their proper roles."
"Then it's settled."
"However, Root has suffered heavy losses recently. We need to replenish our ranks," Danzō added.
Hiruzen had expected this. Once serious matters were settled, Danzō would naturally ask for concessions. He took a couple of slow drags from his pipe, feeling a headache forming.
"Tell me. How many do you need?"
"Root does not accept trash—we require elites. I've taken notice of a few brats in this year's Academy class. Especially one named Kinoshita Hikaru."
"No."
Hiruzen refused without a second thought.
What a joke. Not only was the entire Kinoshita family part of his direct faction, but Hikaru was suspected to possess a first-generation kekkei genkai. How could he possibly be turned into a mere tool for Root?
After all, the first thing Root did was erase emotion. How could a machine devoid of feelings ever fully develop its bloodline power?
"Hiruzen, this is a first-generation bloodline! Only Root can cultivate him properly. Give him to me—I will forge him into the most loyal killing machine," Danzō pressed urgently.
"Enough. This matter is absolutely out of the question. The boy carries justice in his heart. He can inherit the Will of Fire. I already have plans for him."
"Hmph. He is most suited for Root. Hiruzen—you will regret this…"
"That's enough. If there's nothing else, you may leave. I still have work to do… And remember—I am the Hokage…"