Reincarated with Nanites

~ Omniscient Pov, The day... ~

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The sun hung high over Konoha, casting sharp shadows across the training field where today's early graduation test was about to begin. A sizable crowd had gathered—academy instructors, a few curious students, and several shinobi assigned to oversee the fight. Among them stood Might Guy, arms crossed, a knowing grin plastered across his face as he observed the young combatant who had come to him for training.

At the center of the field, Toyo-sensei stood beside Shiba Katō, a seasoned Chuunin and today's examiner... Shiba was tall, approximately 180-183 centimeters tall, relatively broad-shouldered, with a sharp, confident and hardened gaze. It was the look of a man who had spent years on the battlefield, building up and mentoring young Genin and pushing them to their limits. He wouldn't take this lightly.

On the opposite end of the field stood Hayatou Riki—calm, composed, standing in without a shred of hesitation... Rather, they realized he looked as if he was composed and confident in himself...

Might Guy's brows lifted slightly as he noticed. 'Hoh?' His grin widened as he nudged the instructor next to him. 'Is it just me, or is my youthful student still wearing his weights?' He thought to himself. He then turned towards Hayatou's teacher.

"I think you might need to pay a bit more attention to your student..." Guy smiled, crossing his arms with excitement he didn't think he'd feel in a long while...

Confused, Toyo looked closely, seeing wraps; wraps he had seen on the Konoha's green beast...

Toyo turned toward him, frowning slightly. "Weighted gear? Now!?" His eyes flickered toward Hayatou's legs and arms, noticing the thickened bands wrapped beneath his sleeves and pants. He stiffened slightly, "Wait… you mean—those weights?"

Others had caught wind of what Toyo had said, especially the leaders from the Hyuga clan and Uchiha clan. However they opted to not say anything for now, but rather to observe the up-coming fight.

Guy laughed heartily, his teeth gleaming under the sunlight, "I had him fitted with custom weights, far heavier than what even most ninja would even think to train with..! To think a child who isn't even a genin's planning to fight without taking them off!" He clenched his fist, his entire body trembling with enthusiasm. 

Toyo, on the other hand, looked more concerned than impressed, 'Why would the boy hold himself back in a fight like this?' He thought this was rash, especially not knowing what his opponent would bring.

Meanwhile, Shiba's eyes narrowed slightly at the revelation... 'So he's handicapping himself? Interesting... And extremely foolish.' Scoffing at the mere thought of what was happening.

At last, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, raised a hand, signaling silence... From his shaded platform, he gazed at the scene below, his expression unreadable. "This is an official assessment. Hayatou Riki, Shiba Katō—step forward."

Both fighters moved into position.

Toyo spoke up, "This will be a one-on-one combat assessment. Hayatou, you will be evaluated on your ability to fight on with at least Genin level capabilities. Victory is not necessary, but if you fail to demonstrate competency, your request for early graduation will be denied."

Shiba rolled his shoulders, taking an easy stance. "You ready, kid?" His tone was casual, but there was an undeniable sharpness in his gaze.

Hayatou simply exhaled, rolling his neck slightly before shifting into his stance—a stance Shiba didn't recognize.

A murmur rippled through to both the instructors, and prominent clan leaders...

"What kind of stance is that?"

"It's not academy standard…"

"It's too relaxed, but at the same time…"

Guy on the other hand had grinned wider, "Oh hoh~ He's even refined his stance in that short period of time? Beautiful! Look at that footwork, the posture—there is not even a hint of wasted movement."

Shiba smirked. 'Alright, let's see what you've got.'

The Hokage's voice cut through the murmurs. "Begin."

'A shame this kid is a little too arrogant for my tastes, but it's not unheard of geniuses being like that...' Shiba thought. He moved in first. Hoping to not waste any of the spectators time...

He closed the distance in an instant, his form blurring as he shot forward, fist already swinging toward Hayatou's ribs. A fast, clean opening attack.

But then—

Hayatou barely moved. A simple shift of his torso, a small step to the side—Shiba's punch passed harmlessly through empty air.

Shiba's eyes narrowed, 'He dodged that with such minimal effort?' The veteran had to keep his guard up now.

Not wasting time, the Chuunin followed up with a low sweeping kick, aiming to take Hayatou's legs out from under him.

Tap~

Hayatou stepped back exactly one inch out of range.

The moment stretched slightly as realization dawned on the spectators.

"…What's with his dodging?"

"He's not even just reacting either—it's as if... he's reading Shiba."

"There's isn't even a rookie's hesitation in his movements…"

Shiba clicked his tongue, annoyed at how long the fight was lasting, and decided press forward; switching to a rapid combination of punches and kicks. Left, right, left-left—each one fast, calculated, meant to overwhelm his opponent.

Yet, Hayatou weaved through them easily, shifting between micro-movements that felt almost inhumanly precise. His expression remained eerily calm, and his stance loose but always ready.

Shiba suddenly stopped his assault and leapt backward, eyeing Hayatou with a new level of focus...

"I can tell, you're definitely not just dodging me..." he said, voice now holding understanding. "You're predicting me." He didn't want to believe it, but the man had to give credit where credit was due. He had a feeling those movements weren't ordinary, but he confirmed it...

'To think a mere 7 year old would be this proficient in combat...'

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Hayatou tilted his head slightly, offering the barest hint of a smirk. "Hmm... Took you long enough to notice."

The crowd stirred. Even Hiruzen's sharp gaze flickered with curiosity, 'Fascinating... Could he be on their level?' He stroked his beard, considering the situation carefully.

"The boy is quite arrogant, but he definitely has the skills to back it up..." Fugaku said. But in his mind, 'Still, this is nowhere on the level of Itachi's overall strength, but on a technical level...' 

"Hmm... All his stances and movements are terrifyingly precise... It's as if he's performing them for years, and even improved upon them. I can even see semblances of the academies' style, and it seems the boy has polished even that to perfection..." Hiashi added.

Toyo, meanwhile, had a serious expression. 'That movement… that level of technique… it's not just talent. It's something else...'

Might Guy's grin widened. "OH YES! EXCELLENT! This is the power of a body that has been shaped through HARD WORK AND DISCIPLINE!"

Shiba exhaled sharply, "Alright, kid. No more testing you. Let's get serious."

He blurred forward again, this time faster, sharper, more precise. His attacks were no longer just standard strikes—they were feints, redirections, angles that forced Hayatou to commit.

For the first time, Hayatou had to block.

Thwack!

Shiba's fist met Hayatou's forearm. A clean block—but the force sent a small shock through his bones.

The Chuunin grinned. "Your dodging capabilities are well beyond your years... but let's see how well you handle direct combat."

Hayatou exhaled, rolling his shoulders. His expression still the same.

Then—he stepped forward. Shiba's grin faltered slightly as Hayatou's stance shifted subtly—no longer just evading, but now actively engaging as well...

The next exchange came fast—Shiba struck first, but this time, Hayatou didn't just dodge. He countered.

A slight redirection of force—Shiba's own momentum used against him. A controlled palm strike, perfectly timed, sent the Chūnin staggering back, his stance momentarily thrown off.

The crowd reacted instantly.

"He… He countered it?!""That kind of movement—was that the Gentle Fist?""No, it was something else… something even more refined."

At that last remark, Hiashi Hyūga's gaze sharpened, his normally impassive expression tightening ever so slightly. He had been watching carefully since the match began, but now? Now, he was truly paying attention.

Even he couldn't deny it.

The boy's technique looked eerily similar to the Gentle Fist—at least in principle. The fluid redirections, the minimal movement, the precise targeting of key points—it all mirrored the core philosophy of the Hyūga's revered taijutsu.

But there was a distinct difference.

This was even more adaptable.

Where the Gentle Fist followed a strict, almost ritualistic style of striking chakra points, Hayatou's movements were more versatile, almost like a fusion of multiple martial arts, merged into something entirely unique.

Hiashi narrowed his eyes. Who taught him this?

Meanwhile, Might Guy simply grinned.

He had known from the beginning that Hayatou had talent, but watching him apply it in live combat, against an opponent far more experienced than him, was something else entirely.

And it wasn't just talent.

It was control.

Every time Shiba adjusted, Hayatou adjusted right along with him. The moment the Chūnin tried to dominate the fight, Hayatou would shift—never allowing it to swing completely in either direction.

It was deliberate.

It was calculated.

And watching from his platform, Hiruzen finally leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Toyo swallowed. This boy… just—just what has he become?

In the crowd, another figure watched from afar. His arms were crossed, his fingers lightly resting against his chin, eyeing the fight like a hawk. His sharp, analytical gaze followed every movement, every shift, every single decision made within the exchange.

Shikaku Nara.

His mind was already several steps ahead, tracing the progression of the fight. He had seen skilled fighters before, had studied battlefield strategies countless times, had played war games in his mind more times than he could count.

And yet, something about this fight felt off. Not in a bad way.

In a way that made him deeply curious.

Hiruzen must have sensed it as well, because the old Hokage turned his head slightly, his voice calm yet expectant.

"What do you think of this battle so far, Shikaku?"

Shikaku let out a long sigh, closing his eyes. He remained silent for a moment, as if debating whether he should speak his thoughts aloud. But even as he hesitated, his body betrayed him. His fingers twitched slightly—a subconscious habit, one that appeared whenever his mind was deep in analysis.

Then, after a moment, he finally spoke.

"…I know it, the boy is holding back."

The weight of that sentence had literally hung in the air. Hiruzen's expression remained near unreadable, but his fingers tapped lightly against his desk.

Hiashi's brows furrowed ever so slightly.

Might Guy's grin faltered...

While Toyo's breath hitched.

Because if Shikaku Nara—one of, if not the sharpest tactical minds in the entire village—believed that Hayatou Riki was holding back? Then he very much was.

Then the real question became: Just how much stronger was he than what he was currently showing?

"Oi, Shiba!!!"

The seasoned Chuunin paused mid-step, his gaze flicking toward the voice. Standing in the crowd, hands shoved in his pockets, was none other than Shikaku Nara. His usually lazy posture was still there, but his eyes were anything but indifferent.

The man's gaze was locked onto the fight, his expression unreadable. And then—he spoke again, his words measured, but absolute.

"Stop holding back."

Then, Silence...

A few heads turned toward him in surprise, but Shikaku wasn't even finished...

"Throw everything you've got at the boy and stop underestimating him... If you don't…"

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"You're going to lose."

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END