"Wow… Kamikawa-kun, you're incredible…"
Seeing that Shimizu Kamikawa had mastered the Three Basic Techniques on his very first day, Uchiha Izumi was completely stunned and couldn't stop praising him.
"Shh…"
Kamikawa quickly covered her mouth and made a silencing gesture.
"Please keep this a secret. I don't want others to know."
With her mouth covered, Izumi's face turned bright red as she nodded.
"I-I can do that, but… why don't you want others to know? With how handsome you are, Kamikawa-kun, wouldn't you become as popular as Itachi-kun?"
She only said that last part in her heart.
"Because if too many people pay attention to me, I won't be able to come here and freeload meals from you anymore."
Kamikawa casually came up with an excuse.
There was no way he could tell her that, until he had enough strength to protect himself, he didn't want to fall under the watchful eyes of Konoha's F4.
"I-I see…"
The speaker might not have meant much by it, but the listener certainly did.
Izumi's face turned even redder, a faint blush spreading down to her neck.
"My family does have quite a few ninjutsu scrolls, but most of them are forbidden from being shared outside the clan. If I gave them to you, my clan might come after you…"
She hesitated for a moment before continuing:
"How about this—I'll teach you Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, Shadow Clone Jutsu, and the Body Flicker Technique. These are relatively common in Konoha, so even if my clan finds out later, they probably won't say much."
"Thank you so much."
Kamikawa excitedly grabbed Izumi's hands.
These were exactly the techniques he needed most right now.
Especially the Shadow Clone Jutsu—
It could create tangible clones with independent consciousness and some durability, and once dispelled, all their memories and experience would return to the original body.
It was practically a cheat code.
As for the Body Flicker Technique, when combined with the high-level teleportation-like abilities of the Tiangang Art, it might allow him to become the second strongest in taijutsu in the ninja world.
As for first place—that would be Might Guy in the future.
The power of the Eight Gates was simply unmatched in pure taijutsu.
…
In times of peace, the Ninja Academy didn't just train students to become qualified genin—it also taught basic life skills.
In the morning, to spark interest, the teacher had only briefly explained chakra extraction and demonstrated the Three Basic Techniques.
The real lessons began in the afternoon.
Despite the presence of elite clan children like those from the Uchiha, the first official lesson still started with the basics of chakra extraction.
By evening, the day's classes came to an end.
The next day, Kamikawa received the Great Fireball Technique, Shadow Clone Jutsu, and Body Flicker Technique from Izumi.
After reviewing the first-year curriculum, he realized most of it consisted of stealth, trap-making, and general ninja knowledge—with very little actual combat training.
It was the kind of material that could easily be handled by shadow clones.
So that very night, after mastering the Shadow Clone Jutsu, he essentially stopped going to school.
Instead, he left a shadow clone to attend classes in his place.
His real body went to a secluded forest and began training.
Interestingly, another person who rarely attended school in person was Uchiha Itachi.
Starting from the second day, he too used shadow clones to attend classes.
Even though Kamikawa didn't particularly like Itachi as a person,
he had to admit—
Uchiha Itachi was a true genius.
He could learn almost anything instantly, often improving upon it.
If Kamikawa hadn't read the original story, he might have suspected Itachi was also a transmigrator—
the kind who starts off as an overpowered protagonist.
…
One year later.
Konoha, Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane—the full "Konoha F4"—sat together.
Below them stood the chūnin instructor responsible for teaching Kamikawa and Itachi's class.
Just like in the original story, Uchiha Itachi had accidentally revealed his Shadow Clone Jutsu during a conflict with upperclassmen, solidifying his reputation as a genius.
At the end of the academic year, just before the sixth-years graduated, the instructor reported this to the F4 and recommended that Itachi graduate early.
Meanwhile, Kamikawa—who knew the plot—had learned of this through his shadow clone.
To avoid attracting attention from the F4, he had deliberately attended school in person during that period.
"A genius, you say?"
Danzō spoke calmly.
His right eye was covered in bandages, hiding any expression, but his left eye flickered with complex emotions—wariness, cunning, and a faint trace of killing intent.
He exuded an aura of constant scheming.
As the staunchest believer that the Uchiha were an inherently evil clan, he both despised and envied them.
Envied their unique bloodline—
the Sharingan.
"Yes, Lord Danzō. Not only did he master the basic Clone Technique during last year's exams, he has also learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu. In all other aspects, he is equally outstanding. Keeping him in the Academy serves no purpose."
The chūnin instructor replied respectfully.
Standing stiffly, he swallowed nervously, not daring to meet Danzō's gaze.
The leader of Root—known as the "Darkness of the Ninja World"—was feared even within his own village.
This was also why Danzō was destined never to become Hokage—
though he himself never realized it.
"But he's only a first-year student."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was conservative by nature. In this time of peace, he didn't want Itachi to graduate so early.
"Yes…"
The instructor sensed the Third Hokage's displeasure and responded weakly.
At that moment, Danzō—who often opposed Hiruzen—interjected:
"Isn't that a good thing? It's not like there's no precedent."
"But times are different. That was during war—"
Hiruzen tried to argue, but Danzō cut him off with a single question:
"He's a genius, isn't he?"
"I've never seen a student like him."
The instructor answered firmly.
"Letting him graduate early is for his own good."
Hearing this, Hiruzen lowered his head slightly, his eyes hidden beneath his hat.
"…For his own good."
He repeated the words and did not object further.
Afterward, the instructor reported on several other outstanding students—most of them from prominent clans.
Hiruzen remained silent until one name came up:
Shimizu Kamikawa.
"Is that the child of the Shimizu family?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage. Among the first-years, aside from Itachi, the most talented is the orphan of Special Jonin Shimizu. While far inferior to Uchiha Itachi, he is still above average in all areas. With proper training, he has great potential."
"I see… it seems Shimizu left behind a fine child."
Hiruzen murmured thoughtfully.
No one knew what he was thinking.
As for Danzō and the others, their attention remained fixed on Uchiha Itachi.
A so-called "civilian genius" like Kamikawa barely registered in their eyes.
And that…
was exactly what Kamikawa wanted.