As Hayashi swung his sword, cutting through the stream's rolling water, a weak voice broke the silence. He paused, his focus shifting to the sound's source.

The voice was soft, almost lost in the rushing water.

His gaze fell on a petite figure emerging from behind a tree, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. "Hinata?"

Hinata mustered up the courage to approach him. "Hayashi, you... Aren't you supposed to be in school?"

He didn't answer right away, instead asking, "How did you find this place? Could it be that you have been observing me?"

Hinata's expression faltered, her cheeks flushing slightly as she hastily explained, "I didn't mean to follow you! I just stumbled upon you by accident."

Fearing his disapproval, she spoke more than usual, her voice laced with a hint of distress, revealing her inner turmoil.

In truth, she hadn't meant to follow him.

While passing by Hayashi's house, she noticed two identical chakra signatures coming from inside.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she secretly tailed him, hoping to uncover a secret.

Seeing Hinata on the verge of tears, Hayashi quickly reassured her, "It's okay, I don't blame you. I'm just curious about how you found me here."

Relieved by his understanding, Hinata's panic subsided, replaced by embarrassment. She looked down, unable to meet his gaze.

After a moment, she gathered her courage and looked up at him.

"Hayashi, when did you start sending shadow clones to class?" she asked softly.

"It's been over six months," he replied with a casual shrug.

Hinata's eyes widened in amazement. "That's incredible!"

----------

In his previous world, Hinata's kind and caring nature had won over the hearts of many.

Her qualities as a devoted wife and mother were highly respected. Hayashi was no exception to this admiration.

So, when he saw three kids bullying her, he couldn't help but rush to her rescue.

If the system hadn't activated, he might have seen her as a leader figure. But now, he dedicated all his time to getting stronger.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

In the ninja world, power was everything. Without strength, you couldn't protect what mattered most.

He had been an ordinary person in his previous life, but now he was driven to become stronger.

However, he didn't want to sacrifice everything else in the process. He believed that love and relationships were important aspects of life.

Since Hinata had taken the initiative to seek him out, he was open to developing a connection with her.

He knew she was still young, and he promised himself not to cross any boundaries until they were older.

So, he chatted with her, doing most of the talking as Hinata was too shy to speak up.

Occasionally, Hinata would chime in with a few words, often sneaking glances at Hayashi before quickly looking away.

Her shy behavior was charming to him.

Suddenly, Hinata's eyes widened as she remembered something.

"Oh no, class is about to start!" She hastily said, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Hayashi, I have to go! Goodbye!"

"Goodbye," he nodded and waved.

Just before leaving, Hinata turned back to ask, "Hayashi, are you really not going to school anymore?"

"Ah, I probably won't go to school much anymore, except for big exams," Hayashi said with a nod.

"But if you're free, you can come here and we can train together. Your physical skills are still top-notch, after all."

Hinata's face lit up with excitement at his words.

"Really? You're okay with that?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.

Worried that Hayashi might change his mind, she quickly added, "I understand, I'll go now," and turned to hurry away.

As he watched Hinata disappear from view, Hayashi couldn't help but smile.

He finished his task by slashing through the stream with Shigure Kintoki, then took a refreshing shower in the cool water.

Afterward, he headed back to the village for breakfast.

And finally, he visited the spiritual world to learn about Hawkeye's growth experiences.

He wrapped up his practice and left the valley, returning to the village just as the sun set.

When he got home, he noticed that his shadow clone was still missing. School should have ended by now, so he found it strange that it hadn't returned on time.

Despite his curiosity, he didn't dwell on it too much. After dinner, he finally saw his shadow clone return.

As he released the Shadow Clone Technique, Hayashi's mind was hit with a wave of information.

Feeling drained from a long day of training, he decided to unwind with a refreshing shower before calling it a night.

Under the warm water, memories of the day replayed in his mind like a vivid dream, filling him with nostalgia and reflection.

Hayashi decided to skip refining his chakra today, feeling unusually exhausted.

----------

When he woke up, it was already morning.

Having developed the habit of waking up at the same time over the past year, he went through his morning exercise routine before heading out with his shadow clone.

That's when he learned why school had been extended the previous day.

The Uchiha Genocide Incident had occurred.

The once prestigious Uchiha clan, known as one of the strongest families in the ninja world, had been wiped out by Uchiha Itachi.

Only two members survived: Itachi himself, now labeled an S-level rebel, and his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke.

While the official story was all over the villages, Hayashi knew there was more to it.

He was familiar with the plot behind the genocide, orchestrated by Itachi and Uchiha Obito. But the circumstances were complex.

The clan's dissatisfaction with the village had driven Itachi to drastic action.

In the end, he chose to side with the village, burdened by the weight of his actions. He became a double agent, pinning his hopes on Sasuke to revive the clan.

But Hayashi didn't let the news faze him. He knew his own limitations and prioritized self-improvement.

Having spent over a year in this new world, his mature outlook set him apart from his peers, making him feel like an outsider in Konoha.

The ideals of the Will of Fire held little significance for him. What truly mattered was his own journey to power.