Ninja World: Power through Bonds

Danzo kept his word. A week passed quickly, and at the last moment, he sent a messenger to inform Denji that his teammates and team leader were assigned to meet him at Training Ground 47 at 8:00 a.m. the next morning.

Denji, his curiosity piqued, arrived at the training ground on time.

When he got there, three individuals were already waiting: one man and two women.

The man's eyes, stark white and pupil-less, immediately caught Denji's attention—he looked as though he had a severe cataract condition.

The two women contrasted each other sharply: one had sleek black hair while the other sported vibrant purple locks. Despite their differences, both were undeniably beautiful.

Denji's expression shifted. These three weren't strangers.

The man, noticing Denji's arrival, broke into a smile.

It was just a little creepy with his serious and old-fashioned face and pure white pupils.

"You must be Denji Shimura," the man said. "I'm Hyuga Hizashi, your Jōnin leader. These two will be your teammates."

"Hello, Mr. Hizashi," Denji replied.

[Host has formed a mentor bond with Hyuga Hizashi. Reward: Enhanced physical fitness.]

Ignoring the system's prompt, Denji's thoughts lingered on what he knew of Hizashi.

Hyuga Hizashi was the younger brother of the Hyuga clan's leader, Hyuga Hiashi, and the former head's son. Despite his high lineage, he was branded with the Caged Bird seal and relegated to the branch family simply because he was born fifteen seconds later than his elder brother.

Initially, Hizashi accepted his branch family status without much complaint, maintaining a good relationship with Hiashi. However, that changed when his son, Hyuga Neji, was born. Hizashi's heart grew heavy knowing that his child, too, was fated to bear the same mark and be subject to the same control.

Both Hizashi and Neji were among Konoha's tragic figures—individuals who embodied the hidden struggles within the village. Neji, in particular, stood out as the only member of the original Twelve to perish during the Fourth Great Ninja War, despite being arguably the strongest among them apart from the story's main protagonists.

Denji tsked softly at the thought.

"Now that everyone's here, let's start with introductions. It's tradition. Only by understanding one another can we become true comrades, able to trust each other and guard one another's backs."

Hizashi's tone was casual, and his approach was friendly.

"Let me demonstrate first." Hizashi didn't put on the airs of a Jōnin and was very easygoing.

"I'm Hyuga Hizashi. I'm thirty-four years old, a Jōnin, and a member of the Hyuga clan's branch family."

When Hyuga Hizashi mentioned the branch house, his pale white eyes seemed to dim momentarily before returning to their usual opacity.

"I specialize in close-range combat, using my Byakugan for reconnaissance and my Gentle Fist technique in taijutsu. I'm not skilled in long-range ninjutsu and prefer fighting up close."

"My favorite food is sukiyaki. As for my dream…" Hizashi chuckled bitterly. "I'm too old to dream anymore. I simply want to live until my time comes."

With that, Hizashi shifted his gaze toward the black-haired girl. "Okay, it's your turn, Kurenai."

Yuhi Kurenai gave a polite nod and spoke clearly so everyone could hear. "My name is Yuhi Kurenai. I'm fifteen years old and a Chūnin of Konoha. I'm proficient in genjutsu, though my taijutsu and ninjutsu are average for my rank."

"My favorite food is shochu, and I dislike cake. My dream is to become the greatest genjutsu master in Konoha."

"Excellent," Hizashi acknowledged, before turning to the purple-haired girl. "Now it's your turn, Yugao."

The purple-haired girl spoke in a calm, detached voice. "My name is Uzuki Yugao. I'm fourteen, a Chūnin of Konoha, and I specialize in Konoha-style swordsmanship. I'm skilled in taijutsu and close-range combat."

"My favorite food is sakura-mochi, and I don't have a particular food I dislike. I can eat just about anything."

"As for my dream…" For the first time, a hint of longing appeared on Uzuki Yugao's face. "I want to become the strongest swordsman in Konoha."

Hizashi gave an encouraging smile. "That's a great ambition. I knew your father's reputation. His swordsmanship was truly remarkable. It's a shame…" Hizashi's voice trailed off, his expression clouded with regret.

Uzuki Yugao's brief moment of hope faded, and the atmosphere turned somber.

"Well, let's not dwell on that," Hizashi quickly said, trying to lift the mood. He turned to the youngest among them. "Denji, your turn."

Both Kurenai and Yugao turned to look at the young boy standing before them.

They'd heard the name Shimura Denji before. After all, it wasn't every day a seven-year-old became a Genin and earned fame as the grandson of Shimura Danzo. But hearing about someone and meeting them in person were two different things.

Despite the stories, doubt lingered in their minds. Could someone so young really be their teammate? Even if he was a prodigy, would he be able to carry his weight on the team?

Still, Denji's youthful appearance helped soften their skepticism. They kept their concerns to themselves, not wanting to seem rude, though inwardly they questioned the higher-ups' decision.

Under the watchful eyes of his new team, Denji began his introduction.

"My name is Shimura Denji. I'm the grandson of Shimura Danzo, Konoha's Elder and Hokage Assistant." Denji's voice carried a hint of pride as he emphasized his family connection.

His teammates' expressions collectively darkened.

Was this kid trying to flaunt his pedigree as if it weren't already obvious?

Unbothered by their reactions, Denji continued, "I'm seven years old and a Genin. I'm skilled in both close combat and long-range attacks, proficient in ninjutsu and taijutsu, and I'm also a trained medical ninja. My best skill is swordsmanship."

A sly grin spread across his face as he turned to Yugao. "So it's impossible for Uzuki Yugao to become the strongest swordsman in Konoha. I suggest you change your goal as soon as possible."

"There are lots of foods I enjoy. As for what I dislike... mustards, cabbage, sweet potatoes..."

Denji rambled on and on, listing off a litany of foods he detested. By the time he finished, Hyuga Hizashi and the two girls were completely blank-faced.

Snap!

Denji suddenly clenched his fist, his eyes alight with purpose. "My dream is to create bonds with everyone in the ninja world. Deep, meaningful bonds. That's it."

For a moment, the clearing fell silent. Not because they were impressed, but because they didn't know where to begin critiquing such an over-the-top proclamation.

Finally, it was Uzuki Yugao, the calmest of the three, who broke the silence.

"You claim swordsmanship as your best skill, and yet you also claim to excel at... wait, no—you're saying you're great at everything? That's not confidence; that's arrogance."

"Even the Hokage wouldn't boast like that," she added with a dry scoff.

"Exactly," Denji replied with a smug smile. "Which means I'm already better than that old man. I'm just telling it like it is. The fact that you can't handle the truth is your problem, not mine."

"Are you actually slandering the Hokage?!"

Seeing that a full-blown argument was about to erupt, Hizashi quickly stepped forward, planting himself between them.

"Alright, that's enough. No fighting among teammates. Denji may be a remarkably talented genius, but what you just said... well, it was a bit much."

He gave Denji a pointed look, then turned back to the group.

"Why don't we put all this talk to the test? That way, we can truly see what you're capable of."

...

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