One day, two days… spring passes and winter comes, winter goes and spring returns—and in the blink of an eye, a full year passed quietly.
Over the past year, Kaito had lived a simple routine: going back and forth between home and the Ninja Academy.
At the same time, he had carried Ino on his back nearly every day, drawing the envy of many of their male classmates.
That year, Sasuke Uchiha shone at school, placing first in every competition and earning the admiration of many.
Meanwhile, Kaito stayed far below the radar, always near the bottom of the class rankings.
But that had been part of his plan. It worked perfectly. No one paid him any attention. When his name was mentioned, people just shook their heads and moved on.
And just like that, Kaito survived the year completely unnoticed.
That year marked the 56th year of the Hidden Leaf Village.
At the same time, Kaito made great progress.
After all, while only a year had passed outside, it had been the equivalent of ten years inside the system training space.
Ten years! That's a quarter or even a third of an average shinobi's lifespan during the Warring States period.
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[System Record: Ayanami Kaito]
Age: 7
Lineage: 1% Senju Clan
Bloodline Limit: Thunder Fruit (Awakened)
Taijutsu: Elite Chūnin (Can match elite Chūnin with Lightning Chakra Mode)
Chakra: Elite Jōnin
Ninjutsu: Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, Substitution Technique, Great Fireball, Chidori...
Overall Strength: Quasi-Kage (between elite Jōnin and Kage-level)
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That's how much Kaito had grown over the year.
In terms of taijutsu, due to his small frame, he could only push his level from Chūnin to elite Chūnin. That was already quite a feat for a seven-year-old.
As for chakra—after ten years of refining it daily within the system space, his reserves were vast and extremely refined.
He had eliminated any impurities and was now compressing his chakra regularly to improve its density and potency. His chakra quality was top-tier even among elite Jōnin.
He had also fully mastered all six of the Navy Six Styles.
His maximum shadow clone count had increased from 15 to 30!
Not to mention his use of the Thunder Fruit—his grasp of Enel's lightning abilities, combined with Sasuke's Lightning Release techniques, had become extremely proficient. These days, he was even experimenting with electromagnetic abilities, inspired by Misaka Mikoto.
His relationships with Ino and Hinata had also deepened significantly over the year.
---
Snap!
At that moment, the front door creaked open, and Ino walked in.
"I thought you weren't home!" she called out, surprised as Kaito stepped out of the kitchen.
"I was making your favorite—braised meatballs," he said with a smile.
"It's ready?" Ino's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"It's done. Go wash your hands."
"Oh!" Ino hurried to the bathroom with practiced ease.
A few moments later, she returned, practically bouncing with anticipation, and sat at the table in the dining area.
Kaito found her enthusiasm amusing. He didn't make her wait—he brought out the steaming pot and set it on the table in front of her.
"Eat up," he said as he poured her a glass of water.
"Mmm! So good!" Ino praised between bites. Her cheeks puffed out adorably, and her lips were smeared with sauce—completely immersed in the meal like a little foodie.
When the pot was nearly empty, she set her chopsticks down and rubbed her belly with a satisfied sigh.
Then she frowned, switching expressions on a dime. "Ugh, I'll have to go home and diet again…"
Kaito chuckled, grabbing a napkin to wipe her mouth. "Then you should've eaten less! You nearly finished the whole pot yourself!"
"I couldn't help it! You make it too good!"
She pouted. "Seriously, why are you so good at cooking? If you opened a restaurant in Konoha, it'd be packed every day!"
"I won't open a restaurant."
"Why not? You'd make a fortune!"
Kaito leaned forward and gently pinched her nose, smiling. "Because I only cook for people I like. Everyone else? Forget it."
Boom!
Ino's mind blanked out. Her fair face turned bright red like a ripe apple.
Children in the Naruto world matured early.
At age seven, Ino already had a basic understanding of emotions and affection.
"Hmph! I don't care! I'm not talking to you anymore! I didn't know there were people in this world who didn't like money!" she huffed with a crimson face, but inwardly her heart felt sweet as honey.
Kaito smiled without replying. He could feel the warmth radiating from her.
Ino, flustered under his gaze, quickly changed the subject. "I should go. Oh—and don't leave the house for the next few days if you don't have to."
"What's wrong?" Kaito's tone grew serious at her shift.
"I heard… a genius from the Uchiha Clan died. Just stay safe and don't go out right now."
"Alright, alright. I'll listen to my Ino in everything," he teased.
"Hmph! I'm not listening to you anymore! I'm leaving!"
Her face turned even redder. She shyly muttered the words, then ran off toward her home.
As always, Kaito waited until she was safely back inside before returning to his own home.
---
"A genius from the Uchiha Clan died?" Kaito's gaze turned thoughtful.
"Shisui's already dead… that means—Itachi's night… the Uchiha Clan Massacre—will happen in the next few months."
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