Chapter 3

“The external aid is useful, but it can’t teach me ninjutsu; even if skill points can directly boost me, they’re too precious to waste on just any jutsu.”

“Most importantly, Minato Namikaze…”

Fujinaka Genma’s original fate was to become Minato’s bodyguard and receive the Flying Thunder God Technique.

If I show even a bit more genius, could I possibly become his disciple?

“This is a goal after graduation, but I must start preparing now.”

After deep thought, Fujinaka Genma made his decision.

I must mold myself into a genius.

And a genius who inherits the Will of Fire!

As for the possible threat from Danzo, Fujinaka Genma also thought of a compromise.

There are many kinds of geniuses.

And he, is the kind who is a pacifist, dislikes war.

Fujinaka Genma smiled; a clear path had appeared.

Character concept: pacifist, dislikes war, wishes to become a teacher and train more outstanding ninja.

Strength focus: theoretical knowledge

Theory? I’m number one. All that fighting and killing? I’m not good at it.

As for the future…

When the Third Shinobi World War breaks out, I’ll ‘switch from literature to martial arts’ and protect the village.

How politically correct, how full of the Will of Fire, how inspiring!

After making his decision, Fujinaka Genma began formulating his next plan.

First, a five-year plan.

Then divide this five-year plan into five stages, one per year.

He wrote the plan until late at night, then finally fell asleep peacefully.

The next day.

Fujinaka Genma still woke up early, washed up, and began his morning training.

Whatever Itachi do, consistency is key.

Especially so with cultivation.

Morning exercise wasn’t intense—just normal physical training.

The process was boring, but if Itachi got used to it, Itachi’d grow to love it, just like lifting weights at the gym.

Moreover, with the Crusader Kings system, even a 0.1% improvement in his training directly reflected in his attribute data.

It was an unparalleled motivation.

After breakfast.

Fujinaka Genma entered school with full energy.

Upon entering the classroom, he immediately drew countless glances.

“Genma, Itachi…”

Hibi Shou stared at Fujinaka Genma’s new hairstyle, surprised.

“What do Itachi think? Doesn’t this hairstyle make Itachi look more energetic?”

Fujinaka Genma said with a faint smile.

After morning training, he had his mother Akie give him a simple haircut.

He cut his long hair short, especially on the sides—shaved completely, revealing his scalp—and his entire demeanor changed.

He looked bright, full of vitality.

“It really does feel different.”

Hibi Shou nodded seriously, then noticed the pink-tinged glances from the girls around them. He adjusted his glasses and leaned close to Fujinaka Genma’s ear, whispering: “Genma, what hairstyle do Itachi think I should get?”

Fujinaka Genma glanced at the girls staring at him, returned a gentle smile, sat down, and replied to Hibi Shou : “Itachi already look incredibly cool like this!”

“Really?”

Hibi Shou instinctively adjusted his glasses, sounding skeptical—but his face already showed smug satisfaction.

A closet show-off!

Fujinaka Genma couldn’t help silently chuckling.

After school in the afternoon.

Fujinaka Genma called out to Hibi Shou : “Train with me!”

“Hey, that’s too much! Itachi haven’t rested at all today.”

Hibi Shou said this, but didn’t refuse.

Fujinaka Genma turned to Yamashiro Aoba: “What about Itachi, Aoba?”

Yamashiro Aoba looked apologetic: “Sorry, Genma, I have to go home for training.”

Unlike Fujinaka Genma and Hibi Shou , he had a family-style jutsu; he’d already been corrupted by Fujinaka Genma at school and stopped following the plan—but at home, he had to stick to it.

The reason ninja clans are the backbone of Konoha is their systematic inheritance.

Fujinaka Genma felt a pang of regret, about to call someone else to train with him, when a soft voice spoke: “Genma-kun, may I join Itachi in training?”

Fujinaka Genma turned, slightly startled.

The speaker was his former desk-mate: a cute girl with a ponytail, a white headband, a white robe, pure white eyes, and a touch of baby fat.

Hyuga Mio, a branch family member of Konoha’s prestigious Hyuga clan.

“Genma-kun, I’ll be very serious. Is that okay?”

Seeing Fujinaka Genma didn’t answer, Hyuga Mio blushed slightly but asked again, firmly.

“Of course!”

Before Fujinaka Genma could speak, Hibi Shou shouted loudly.

Fujinaka Genma gave Hibi Shou a look of disbelief, then smiled at Hyuga Mio: “Of course Itachi can join us—but doesn’t your clan arrange training?”

Hyuga Mio immediately smiled warmly: “I’m from the branch family; it’s not that strict.”

“Then let’s go!”

He snapped his fingers, and Fujinaka Genma led the two out of school.

Behind his family’s orange grove, on the training ground, Fujinaka Genma fetched water and mud.

Hyuga Mio rolled up her sleeves to help, her cheeks occasionally flushing as she occasionally brushed against Fujinaka Genma’s hands.

Hibi Shou was utterly stunned.

Wasn’t this supposed to be training?

Playing with mud?

That’s so childish!

We’re already at ninja school!

Hibi Shou screamed silently in his mind, yet spoke with righteous indignation: “Genma, I won’t play such an embarrassing game!”

Hyuga Mio’s face turned even redder.

The mud was now well-mixed. Fujinaka Genma sighed and told Hibi Shou : “Come help. Roll these into mud balls—not too big, not too small, just right to use as shuriken.”

“As shuriken?”

“Is Genma-kun short on training kunai and shuriken?”

Hyuga Mio blinked, then quietly calculated how much pocket money she had saved.

“What are Itachi planning?”

Hibi Shou reluctantly started playing with mud.

“Itachi’ll see soon.”

Fujinaka Genma teased.

Soon, dozens of mud balls were rolled out, perfectly firm yet pliable.

Fujinaka Genma didn’t wash his hands. He stood five to six meters away from Hibi Shou and Hyuga Mio and said: “Now, attack me with the mud balls.”

“Is Genma-kun training his evasion skills?”

Hyuga Mio asked, surprised.

Fujinaka Genma smiled but said nothing, turning to Hibi Shou —the Mensao who vowed to become a teacher.

Hibi Shou looked down at the mud ball in his hand and thought: “If it’s just about training evasion, we could do that with regular drills—it’s more efficient and doesn’t require extra work.”

“Genma, Itachi’re training another kind of ability, aren’t Itachi?”

“Exactly!”

Fujinaka Genma nodded with a smile: “We’re training neural reaction speed—not just simple evasion.”

“Strong neural reaction speed improves not just evasion, but also counterattacks, offense, and information processing.”

Both Hyuga Mio and Hibi Shou were instantly captivated.