"Is that the boy you were talking about, Hokage-sama?"
"Yes." Sarutobi Hiruzen took a long, slow drag from his pipe, exhaling a plume of gray smoke. A gentle, deeply intrigued smile touched his aged features as he peered into the glowing crystal ball sitting on his desk. "His name is Tanaka Suzuki."
Hearing the name, several elite Jonin standing in the Hokage's office leaned in slightly, their eyes drawn to the shimmering image in the crystal.
Yes, Suzuki was considered a genius, but in a military powerhouse like Konohagakure, "genius" was a dime a dozen. There were prodigies who graduated from the Academy at age five, and monsters who achieved the rank of Chunin by six. In terms of raw combat potential, this civilian orphan was arguably nothing special.
If there was a reason Tanaka Suzuki's name was currently circulating through the highest echelons of the village administration, it was because of his unprecedented economic mind.
At a shockingly young age, he had successfully established a bustling charcoal distribution network and a highly profitable guesthouse. But what truly caught the Hokage's eye was who he hired. Suzuki exclusively employed civilian orphans and crippled, retired shinobi who could no longer take active missions. Furthermore, he regularly donated portions of his net profits to the village orphanages.
He stood completely apart from his peers. While the clan heirs focused entirely on mastering deadly jutsu or loudly proclaiming their dreams of becoming Hokage, Suzuki quietly built a business that genuinely benefited the village's economy. Even without a forehead protector, he was already an undeniable asset. He was a completely different breed of genius.
"Still, he is about to fight Sasuke Uchiha," a silver-haired Jonin murmured, leaning lazily against the office wall, his visible eye curved in skepticism. "No matter how sharp the kid's mind is, he's a civilian. Against the heir of the Uchiha clan... all that hard work falls flat in the face of pedigree."
The other Jonin didn't speak, but their silent expressions perfectly mirrored Kakashi's sentiment. None of them believed Suzuki stood a ghost of a chance against Sasuke.
However, Hiruzen merely chuckled, tapping his pipe against the ashtray. "Just watch, Kakashi. Let us see what kind of a surprise this boy will show us."
With those words, the room fell silent, all eyes focusing on the sparring ring.
Down in the Academy courtyard, the atmosphere was electric.
Sasuke Uchiha stood in the center of the dirt ring, his arms crossed casually over his chest. His expression was cold, arrogant, and overwhelmingly bored as he looked at Suzuki with thinly veiled disdain. Naturally, that signature brooding look instantly whipped the female population of the class into an absolute frenzy.
"Kyaa! Sasuke-kun~!"
"So handsome! Look over here, Sasuke-kun!"
"Beat him in one second, Sasuke-kun!"
Sasuke didn't even twitch, maintaining his flawless, untouchable idol persona.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAA!"
However, the cheering wasn't entirely one-sided. Scattered among the squealing fangirls, several older girls were looking at Suzuki with flushed cheeks, cheering for the underdog.
"Suzuki-kun! Do your best—!"
Before the girls could even finish their sentence, they suddenly felt a freezing, murderous intent wash over them. They turned to see Hinata Hyuga and Ino Yamanaka glaring daggers at them. The sheer territorial intensity radiating from the two kunoichi instantly terrified the older girls into complete silence.
"Man... those two are terrifying," Shikamaru Nara muttered from the sidelines, scratching the back of his head with a heavy sigh.
Looking closely at Suzuki, Shikamaru completely understood why the guy was so incredibly popular.
Suzuki wasn't exceptionally, breathtakingly handsome like Sasuke. His facial features were just slightly above average. But he was meticulously neat, impeccably clean, and exuded an aura of absolute competence. He had a gentle, approachable expression, even though his eyes constantly carried the heavy, deeply attractive exhaustion of a man who overworked himself for the sake of others.
Moreover, Suzuki actually took care of his physical body like an adult. While the rest of the kids in the village survived on a cheap, carbohydrate-heavy diet of ramen and rice dumplings, Suzuki used his wealth to consume a strict, protein-heavy diet. Because of this, he was significantly taller and broader than the majority of his age group. Yet, thanks to his extensive medical knowledge, he wasn't overly bulky or slow. Beneath his academy shirt, his physique was lean, shredded, and dangerously coiled—exactly like a professional kickboxer.
If Sasuke was a cold, unreachable star meant to be worshipped from afar, Suzuki was the capable, reliable older brother next door. He was grounded. He was reachable.
Sasuke was great if you wanted a poster on your wall. But if you wanted a life partner? Shikamaru knew that any girl with half a brain would choose Suzuki.
Honestly, Shikamaru mused lazily, if I were a woman, I'd probably date him too.
In a shinobi world defined by constant bloodshed, betrayal, and sudden death, absolute financial and emotional stability was the ultimate aphrodisiac.
But Suzuki wasn't just popular with the girls.
"BEAT THAT ARROGANT JERK UP, SUZUKI!"
"DON'T LET HIM WIN SO EASILY!"
"WE BELIEVE IN YOU, SUZUKI!"
If Sasuke was the natural enemy of every boy in the class, Suzuki was the universally beloved older brother. The boys roared their support, desperate to see the untouchable genius get knocked down a peg.
"....."
Suzuki heard the roaring crowd, but his attention was completely hijacked by the cold, mechanical voice echoing inside his skull.
[Report. The external surveillance frequency has been intercepted and successfully analyzed.]
[Ninjutsu identified: The Telescope Technique.]
[Do you wish to learn this jutsu?]
[Yes / No]
Can I actually learn it just by being observed? Suzuki thought, his heart suddenly hammering against his ribs in sheer disbelief.
[Affirmative. The Manager can reverse-engineer the chakra frequency scanning the host, providing a perfect theoretical framework for the user to learn the Telescope Technique.]
"....."
Suzuki blinked, his mind racing to comprehend the absolute magnitude of this revelation. A terrifying, world-shattering thought emerged in his head.
Manager... is it possible for me to copy absolutely any type of jutsu, as long as I witness it or interact with it once?
[Affirmative. It is entirely possible. We can treat any observed jutsu as a raw data file. We will dissect the mechanics, optimize the chakra flow, and formulate the most effortless learning pathway for the user.]
...Literally all types?
[Correction. There are biological limitations. Jutsu that require a specific elemental affinity the user does not possess, or genetically locked bloodline techniques (Kekkei Genkai), cannot be replicated natively.]
Hmm... but is it possible for you to analyze a bloodline limit, and then help me develop a completely new, standard jutsu that perfectly mimics its effects using my own nature types?
[Affirmative. Workarounds and alternative engineering are possible.]
Suzuki had to physically suppress a manic grin. This cheat was infinitely more terrifying than he had initially thought.
The "Manager" wasn't just a simple UI. It was literally a hyper-advanced Research and Development AI implanted directly into his soul.
By the way, Suzuki asked quickly, needing to establish his baseline. What are my specific nature types? And just in case, do I have some crazy hidden bloodline?
[Scanning complete. The user possesses three innate chakra affinities: Fire, Wind, and Yang release. The user possesses absolutely zero hidden bloodlines. Genetically, the user possesses an above-average civilian ninja talent. Nothing more.]
"...."
Suzuki felt a brief wave of helplessness, but he quickly brushed it off. Honestly, being genetically average was perfectly fine. With the Manager acting as his support, his learning speed would shatter the boundaries of common sense. He could automate his businesses, optimize his training, and develop jutsu at a terrifying pace.
Speaking of jutsu development...
Manager, Suzuki thought, focusing his gaze on Sasuke. Is it possible for you to finally finish the custom jutsu I've been struggling to develop in my spare time?
He had been painstakingly working on a new technique for months, trying to weaponize his elite charcoal-making temperature control. In this brutal world, he needed a lethal trump card to survive.
[Affirmative.]
[Initializing Project: Jutsu Fusion.]
[Debugging chakra pathways. Refining Technique Integration.]
[Compiling advanced Fire Release applications.]
[Analyzing thermal mechanics.]
Ding!
[Project Complete. Commencing direct neural download.]
In a fraction of a second, an ocean of perfectly organized data flooded into Suzuki's brain. There was no pain, only blinding clarity. Muscle memory, which he hadn't even trained forcefully, overwrote his nervous system. His body, his mind, and his chakra pathways instantly aligned. He had flawlessly mastered a jutsu that didn't even exist ten seconds ago.
His mind had never felt so incredibly sharp.
Suzuki took a slow, measured step forward into the ring. His pragmatic, "hide in the background" mentality instantly vanished.
If Danzo was watching, staying weak meant becoming a disposable pawn. If he wanted absolute protection, he needed the Hokage to step in personally. And the only way to get the Third Hokage to protect him... was to prove that he was worth investing in.
He looked up at the Hokage's tower in the distance, a confident, incredibly dangerous smile touching his lips.
Alright, Lord Third, Suzuki thought, his chakra flaring to life. Please invest in me!