"Chakra accumulation really isn't something I can control…"
Feeling the slight increase in chakra within his body after so much time, Kazama Shin curled his lips, then frowned as he continued thinking.
"I already copied the Three Basic Techniques from others a long time ago. As for other ninjutsu scrolls, I have no way to obtain them right now… so learning ninjutsu can only rely on my cheat."
Most of the ninjutsu he obtained this way could indeed enhance his combat power, but they could only be used as hidden trump cards and couldn't be revealed openly.
Take Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu for example. Its power wasn't too weak nor too strong—it was a fairly common C-rank technique, usually used by Chunin.
If a five-year-old civilian child like him suddenly used such an Earth Release technique, people might be shocked and call him a genius—but they would also question where he learned it.
From his parents?
That was barely plausible.
After all, his parents had only been Genin before they died that year, just on the verge of becoming Chunin. They had only left behind the Three Basic Techniques and had no time to pass down other ninjutsu.
But fortunately, no one else knew the details.
"Still, since they were about to become Chunin, knowing a few more techniques isn't impossible… but it's best not to expose too much…"
Kazama Shin muttered to himself.
"So, taijutsu is the safest option!"
"And besides, taijutsu isn't as useless as some people make it out to be!"
Standing upright, he lifted his right leg and kicked forward. A sharp whoosh cut through the air, looking somewhat impressive.
After days of physical training, his body had gradually begun to improve. Though the changes weren't obvious yet due to the short time, taijutsu training was always like this—it required constant, day-and-night refinement.
With his cheat ability, Kazama Shin naturally aimed to develop in all three areas: ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu.
However, genjutsu and ninjutsu were both difficult to access and depended heavily on luck, so for now he could only continue practicing what he had.
Taijutsu, on the other hand, was much simpler.
At the very least, basic physical conditioning—training his body—was something he did every single day.
…
That evening, as dusk settled over the village, Kazama Shin finished a full day of training, took a bath to relax his body, and once again wandered through Konoha's streets.
He had grown fond of this habit.
After a long day of intense training, taking a walk and copying a few abilities felt perfect.
After all, balance between work and rest was important.
…
Konoha was surrounded by vast forests stretching for miles, and even within the village itself, there were many trees and small wooded areas.
So in the quieter corners of the streets, tall trees cast deep shadows, creating a peaceful and secluded atmosphere.
This was one of Konoha's unique features.
Kazama Shin walked leisurely along a narrow path, his expression calm.
Suddenly, he stopped.
From ahead, a burst of noise reached his ears.
"Haha! You monster, don't come onto the streets!"
"That's right! Get lost, you freak!"
"Don't let us see you again!"
It sounded like a group of people bullying someone.
A voice, filled with grievance yet stubborn determination, shouted back,
"I'm not a monster!"
"You are! Monster, monster, monster! Hehe—everyone, throw stones at him!"
Hearing this, Kazama Shin changed direction and walked toward the nearby wooded area.
It didn't take long before he saw the scene.
Seven or eight children, about his age, surrounded another child. Some of them were throwing small stones and broken branches.
The boy in the middle refused to give in, charging at them in retaliation.
But the others simply laughed and scattered, continuing to torment him.
"Haha! Let's beat this monster!"
"Yeah, yeah! Make sure he never dares show up in the village again!"
"…"
Kazama Shin frowned.
The bullied child was covered in dust, looking rather miserable. He wore orange pants and a T-shirt, with a pair of goggles on his forehead.
Most striking of all were the six whisker-like marks on his cheeks.
Despite everything, the boy glared stubbornly at the others, refusing to submit.
"Uzumaki Naruto…"
Even though Kazama Shin knew the protagonist had a miserable childhood, he hadn't expected to encounter this scene firsthand.
…
Watching the boys show no signs of stopping, Kazama Shin spoke coldly,
"You guys should stop already."
His sharp voice startled them.
When they turned around and saw that it was just a child their age, their expressions quickly turned annoyed.
"Who are you?"
"Mind your own business!"
"If you dare protect that monster, we'll beat you up too!"
After saying that, they ignored Kazama Shin and prepared to continue.
Naruto, on the other hand, seemed to want to take a look at him—but he had no time, as he was busy dodging incoming stones.
"Hmph."
A cold glint flashed in Kazama Shin's eyes as he pushed off the ground.
In an instant, he appeared in front of the group, grabbing the arm of a boy who was about to throw a stone.
"Ah!"
The sudden movement shocked them all.
Especially the boy whose arm was caught—he struggled but couldn't break free, panic filling his face.
"Y-What are you doing…?!"
Kazama Shin curled his lips.
With his current chakra and physical training, his strength far surpassed that of these untrained children.
With a simple flick—
Thud!
The six- or seven-year-old boy was thrown to the ground, letting out a cry of pain.
"Ah!"
"Sh-Should we… attack him together…?"
The remaining kids looked at each other nervously. Seeing that Kazama Shin was alone—and even smaller than them—they hesitated before speaking.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
In just a few seconds, all of them were knocked to the ground, clutching their backsides and crying out in pain.
"Y-You… just you wait…!"
Tears welled up in their eyes, but they were truly frightened now.
After leaving behind a trembling threat, they quickly fled.
"Tch."
Kazama Shin didn't bother with them. He dusted off his hands, slipped them into his pockets, and turned to look at Naruto.
Naruto stood there, covered in dirt, staring straight at him with eyes full of admiration.
"So… so amazing!"
He kept repeating it, unable to stop.