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Chapter 5 - The Path Ahead

Unlocking his second talent trait was like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart of the constantly anxious Yamanaka Tobirama.

Ever since he activated his first trait, he'd been pushing himself to train nonstop. Now, finally, he could afford to ease up—just a little.

In his previous life, Tobirama was as ordinary as they came. And he understood all too well just how brutal the shinobi world was.

This was a world where even children had to fight to survive. And once they became adults, they fought even harder—for power, resources, and a better life.

He'd considered giving up the ninja path altogether. With his clan's support, he could've started a business in the capital of the Land of Fire, which would still count as contributing to the Yamanaka.

Given the experience he brought from an information-rich modern society, who's to say he couldn't have grown that business into something huge?

But both the Sixth Elder and his grandfather gave him a clear answer: No.

First, his talent was too good. The clan simply wouldn't allow him to walk away.

And second, there were political limits in place—between the Daimyō, the nobility, and Konoha.

In fact, not just in the Land of Fire—all five great nations had similar treaties. Starting a business was allowed, yes—but only with official approval, and the scale was strictly limited.

If someone disrupted that delicate balance?

They'd be quietly erased—and their clan punished.

When Tobirama asked if someone could just force their way in through power, the Sixth Elder gave him a long, meaningful look.

> "Samurai may be in decline... but why do you think nobles still keep squads of them around?

Even if they're weaker than high-tier ninja, they're far cheaper to train."

His grandfather simply said two words:

> "Power balance."

Tobirama, still just a child, decided not to overthink it. He wasn't some five-year-old genius with the mind of a Hokage.

Now that he had two talent traits, it was better to focus on increasing his strength. As long as he grew strong enough, he could crush any obstacle that stood in his way.

What he needed to figure out now… was the path he wanted to walk.

With "Senju Tobirama" as a trait, he was clearly leaning toward becoming a ninjutsu-type shinobi.

Secret techniques were far too limiting. Even though he had access to both the Yamanaka clan's and the Nara clan's secret arts, they lacked direct offensive power. Not his style.

Also, ROOT was likely already active by now.

Thanks to his talent and clan protection, he probably wouldn't be shoved into ROOT like Yamanaka Fū had been. (Fū wasn't even born yet, after all.)

But even so—why take chances?

ROOT didn't need generic shinobi.

It needed specialists—clan arts, sensor types, unique abilities.

And Tobirama didn't want to be on their radar.

So, he decided—he would become an outlier within the Yamanaka.

His skill with secret techniques would appear average at best—he'd even act like he disliked them.

Instead, he'd put his love of Water Release on full display, citing the "Tobirama" name as his source of obsession.

He'd already picked out his future ideal teacher: Maruboshi Kosuke.

Of course, this was all just planning for now.

Still, wouldn't the clan support him?

A boy named Tobirama, who openly adored the Second Hokage and willingly gave up his clan's techniques to chase that path...

Wasn't that the purest embodiment of the Will of Fire?

A visible, obvious ninjutsu genius was far easier to promote and protect than a secretive, specialized heir.

Now that his short-term path was clear, Tobirama was ready to truly enjoy life as a Ninja Academy student.

---

Lunch break flew by quickly.

When Yūhi Kurenai returned to her seat, she immediately noticed something different about Tobirama.

"Tobirama, you seem really happy. Something good happen?"

"Yeah," he answered smoothly. "This morning, I figured out the key to a jutsu I'd been struggling with. I finally succeeded at noon."

Without the slightest guilt, Tobirama lied through his teeth to the innocent little girl.

"You've already started learning jutsu?"

"Yep."

"Your clan's techniques?"

"Nope. I'm not really interested in them. Just a basic D-rank Water Release jutsu."

Kurenai blinked in surprise.

"You're not learning your clan's techniques?"

"Can't help it. My talent isn't suited for them. Besides, Water Release is amazing. I want to become a ninja just like the Second Hokage."

Tobirama had started crafting his persona. No hesitation—he sold his story like a pro.

"So lucky... you get to train freely. My dad makes me study genjutsu materials every day."

Kurenai sounded genuinely envious.

"I wish every jutsu were as easy as the basic academy ones."

"Right? Life would be so much simpler."

The two kids sighed in unison and started bonding over their mutual struggles.

While they chatted and laughed, Sarutobi Asuma, sitting in the back, began to notice.

He glanced around at the boys seated near him—each of them surrounded by people, yet the way they sat felt like they were in their own world.

Still, he couldn't help but peek back at the pair chatting just a few seats away.

---

The afternoon class passed quickly.

It was more basic knowledge. The Academy's first three months would focus almost exclusively on this, since many civilian-born kids still didn't know the Three Basic Jutsu.

Not everyone was like Yamanaka Tobirama or Yūhi Kurenai, who had mastered them before even entering school.

Tobirama spent the whole lecture internally simulating and refining jutsu concepts in his head.

As soon as class ended, he waved goodbye to Kurenai and Kaidōmaru and rushed straight to his private training ground.

It was time to reveal his plans to the clan.

As always, the Sixth Elder was overseeing the younger generation's training. Tobirama asked him to summon his grandfather as well.

Then, with practiced clarity, he demonstrated both the Yamanaka secret arts and the vastly enhanced Water Release jutsu—carefully omitting anything related to ROOT.

He laid everything out: his desire to present himself publicly as a Water Release specialist, not a clan technique user. And he asked for the clan's support.

The response?

The two elders dragged him off for blood tests and full-body scans.

When everything came back normal, their deeply wrinkled faces lit up with joy.

By that evening, they had already summoned the clan's high council for an emergency meeting.

---

At 10 PM, Tobirama—who had fallen asleep outside the Ino-Shika-Cho council chamber—was gently woken up by his still-beaming grandfather.

The verdict:

> The clan had agreed.

Tobirama would receive increased training resources moving forward.

As his grandfather escorted him home, he added one more thing before leaving:

> "Soon, you'll be getting a special gift."

Then—with a grin still plastered across his face—he vanished with a Body Flicker toward the Akimichi compound.

Tobirama guessed:

Probably going to show off to his old rival.

---

Ravenously hungry, Tobirama demolished the dinner his mom had saved for him, skipped his bath, and fell into bed like a log.

The next morning, he woke up at his usual time. While washing up, he ran into his father—who he hadn't seen all day yesterday.

With a rare (and slightly awkward) smile, Yamanaka Naraku rubbed his son's head vigorously and said:

> "You really are my son."

Then fell back into silence.

Tobirama, long used to his father's stoic nature, stared at the blank face for a moment—and suddenly thought of another man who said the exact same thing:

Uchiha Fugaku.

Was this just how cold-faced dads operated?

Saying cheesy lines in the most expressionless way possible?

Or… did they act cold because they knew how cringe it was?

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