Returning home, Jiraiya let out a heavy sigh as he stared at the documents spread out before him. Just the thought of what lay ahead was enough to give him a splitting headache. The Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi and two of Konoha's most outstanding prodigies. If even the slightest thing were to happen to them... Sigh. It seemed that this time, his old teacher, Sarutobi, was determined to wring him dry.
His gaze slowly drifted over the three photographs attached to the personnel files. These dossiers, painstakingly compiled by Anbu operatives, contained exhaustive information on each of the youths from the very moment they were born. Furthermore, each of them boasted a flawless reputation and an impeccable lineage.
The Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi, of course, went without saying. Individuals like her served as the ultimate strategic deterrent for any hidden village. When guided properly, they possessed colossal combat potential, but the slightest misstep in their handling could trigger a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. That was precisely why such a weapon could never, under any circumstances, be allowed to fall into enemy hands.
Initially, Jiraiya had assumed that Kushina would be placed under unspoken house arrest within the walls of Konoha for her own safety. He had never expected the Third Hokage to display such astonishing boldness and resolve by sending a Jinchuriki straight to the battlefield to gain real combat experience.
Ultimately, his gaze settled on a peculiar boy by the name of Hanao Shiki. The psychological profile provided by the Anbu read: "Utterly devoid of fighting spirit, incredibly lazy, and armed with a sharp tongue." His daily routine consisted exclusively of commuting between the Ninja Academy and the orphanage. Aside from completing the mandatory assignments handed out by his instructors, he never wasted a single spare second on training, punctually heading home the moment classes were dismissed!
Had it not been for the terrifying display of power he had suddenly unleashed during the recent exams, no one would have paid him any mind whatsoever. To top it all off, the eccentric kid had a bizarre habit of wearing yellow tinted sunglasses and parading around in a cloak with the word "Justice" emblazoned boldly across the back.
Yet this seemingly unremarkable, and frankly somewhat irritating, individual had managed to secure first place in the graduation exams by a landslide. What's more, his top ranking had been personally endorsed by the Third Hokage himself!
The Third had also tasked Jiraiya with keeping a close eye on several highly specific taijutsu techniques Shiki had utilized. Should the boy agree, there were plans to record these moves into Konoha's secret scrolls. As he studied the reports, Jiraiya's gut told him that something simply didn't add up. How could a kid with no apparent innate talent, who put forth zero effort and actively tried to blend into the background, suddenly wield such devastating power? Did this boy truly possess some unique, heaven-sent gift for hand-to-hand combat?
...
The following day, a tense silence reigned over the classroom at the Ninja Academy. The instructor, Sawada Ki, stood before his students with an impenetrable, stony expression.
He had always been known for his stern disposition. In his youth, Sawada had been the pride of the village, holding the esteemed rank of Tokubetsu Jonin. Tragically, he had sustained a grievous injury during a mission, resulting in the loss of his arm. This forced him to retire from the front lines and dedicate his life to nurturing Konoha's next generation, ultimately finding his true calling within the walls of the Academy.
It was precisely because of his harrowing past that he imposed incredibly harsh demands on his students, maintaining an unyielding strictness at all times. Even now, on the verge of parting ways with his class, not a single muscle twitched on his face; there was not even the faintest ghost of a smile.
Many of the students frequently grumbled about his tyrannical methods, but Shiki, possessing a far more mature mindset, perfectly understood their instructor's true motives. Sawada Ki knew firsthand the sheer ruthlessness of war, which was exactly why he enforced such ironclad discipline. He wanted to ensure these children would never forget the heavy price of failure. After all, a blunder here in the classroom would only earn them a harsh reprimand, but out there on the battlefield, a single mistake would cost them their lives!
"Starting tomorrow, every single one of you officially becomes a ninja," Sawada Ki's voice sliced through the silence like a sharpened blade. He lifted his head and set a stack of documents down on his desk. "These are the team assignment rosters. They include the names of your commanding officers. Once you have reviewed them, contact your new squad leaders according to the provided instructions."
Having delivered the necessary information in his usual dry manner, Sawada Ki turned on his heel and headed for the door without a backward glance. However, just before the man stepped out of the room, Shiki, peering through half-lidded, sleepy eyes, noticed the faintest tremor on his teacher's lips. If he was reading them correctly, the stern instructor had whispered:
"Don't you dare go dying on me, you brats."
Following graduation, the students were divided into three-man squads. An experienced Jonin of Konoha was assigned to each group to lead them on missions and ensure the safety of the greenhorns during the early stages of their careers. It was safe to say that a Genin's chances of survival rested heavily upon the caliber of their commanding officer. Naturally, having reliable teammates played an equally crucial role.
The moment Sawada Ki exited the classroom, the rest of the students surged toward the teacher's desk in a noisy, chaotic mob, shoving one another out of the way in their eagerness to discover their fates. Shiki alone remained seated at his desk, perfectly motionless save for a lazy, lingering yawn.
Truth be told, Shiki's graduating class was packed with genuinely formidable talent. The legendary Ino-Shika-Cho formation of the previous generation—Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Nara Shikaku—were all his classmates. Alongside them were Hyuga Hizashi of the Hyuga Clan, the younger brother of the future head of the Uchiha Clan, Might Duy, and many others.
Unfortunately for them, all their budding talents were currently entirely eclipsed by Shiki's dazzling success. Might Duy, in particular, had been relentless. Ever since Shiki had demonstrated his terrifying taijutsu skills the day before, the boy practically refused to leave him alone.
"Shiki-kun, if only we were assigned to the same team! We could burn our youth together in the fiery crucible of training!" Might Duy chattered incessantly. Clad in his signature green spandex bodysuit, he loomed enthusiastically over Shiki's desk.
Shiki propped his cheek on his hand and, with a deadpan expression, replied:
"If you shut up right this second, I'll teach you the Shigan technique."
"Really, Shiki-kun?!" A look of absolute awe washed over Duy's face.
Shiki shot him an exhausted glance and let out a resigned sigh.
"Really."
"Thank you so much, Shiki-kun!"