Konoha Academy Gates - Late Afternoon
The legendary White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, stood waiting for his son—an uncommon sight that turned heads among departing students. Yet his sharp eyes lingered on two figures walking ahead.
"Kakashi," he called, nodding toward the pair. "Those are your classmates?"
Kakashi followed his father's gaze to spot Hoshita Shūichi and Might Gai in deep conversation. After nearly three months together, their dynamic was well-established: Gai saw Kakashi as his ultimate rival, while Shūichi—through their shared friendship with Gai—had become an unexpected companion.
"Yes, Father," Kakashi confirmed. "That's Shūichi. He's... remarkable."
A rare smile touched Sakumo's lips. "Double academic champion, I hear? If you slack off, he might surpass you completely."
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed. Though he'd defeated Shūichi in every spar, yesterday's match had unsettled him. Shūichi had anticipated his moves with eerie precision—victory came only through raw physicality and experience.
"May I train with them today?" Kakashi suddenly asked.
Sakumo chuckled. "Of course. Learn what makes him tick."
Training Grove - The Revelation
As the trio trekked toward their usual spot, Kakashi cut straight to the point:
"Yesterday, you predicted my attacks. How?"
Shūichi wasn't surprised by the question. Elite shinobi noticed subtleties.
"Imagine facing someone slower whose patterns you know," he explained. "You'd foresee their moves too."
Kakashi's brow furrowed. "But your physical speed—"
"—isn't the key," Shūichi interrupted, tapping his temple. "It's processing speed. From sensory input to motor response, my neural pathways are... optimized."
He omitted mentioning his Memory Palace, where he'd cataloged every classmate's fighting styles. Combined with his enhanced cognition, this created a pseudo-Sharingan effect—minus the chakra vision.
Kakashi's eye widened in realization. His father had taught him about neuromuscular conditioning; Shūichi had achieved something similar through sheer mental acuity.
"Father was right," he mused. "This 'talent' is terrifying."
The Spar
Under the canopy, Gai and Kakashi erupted into a blistering duel—fists and feet moving faster than Shūichi could track. Dust swirled as they traded blows that would shatter normal bones.
"They're holding back against me," Shūichi noted grimly. Even with [Physically Gifted]'s 100% taijutsu boost, his innate talent paled next to these monsters.
His thoughts drifted to tomorrow—June 25th—when the talent would fully activate. Would it close the gap?
Unseen by the trio, a shadowy figure observed from the trees...
Root Headquarters - Nightfall
Danzo studied the dossier before him, his lone eye glinting.
"Orphan. Average physique. Exceptional cognition and memory..." he murmured. The report emphasized Shūichi's ability to mimic Sharingan-like predictive combat—a tantalizing prospect.
The operative kneeling before him added: "His discipline surpasses most Jōnin. With proper... motivation, he could become an invaluable asset."
At the mention of Sharingan, Danzo's grip tightened. A child with such potential couldn't be left unchecked.
"Monitor him closely," he ordered. "I'll decide his... orientation soon."