Kensei was watg young Daichi's fatently. He saw the myriads of emotions and expressions fshing across his face. Kensei sighed to himself.

  'This kid is smart and intelligent, and perceptive far beyond his age, but he is a total newbie when it es to trolling his facial expression aions.'

  Kensei was a bit surprised at how quickly Daichi went from panig to suddenly keeping a calm face. But he didn't think much of it. He asked with a smug tone. "You wao see how I'd react, didn't you? Isn't that why you said I'd make a good pirate? Am I right?"

  Daichi was surprised even more. He didn't think the old man would figure him out so quickly. He nodded his head.

  "Yes." That was the only answer he gave.

  "So what now?" Daichi asked cautiously.

  "When I woke up this m I didn’t think I’d be adopting a genius." Kensei said.

  fusion ran across Daichi's face. "Genius? What are you talking about?"

  "Kid. Let's not beat around the bush. We both know you're much smarter than those ye. You're keen and perceptive and have a maturity that's not seen in a 5-year-old. Well, most 5-year-olds anyway." Kensei said as he recalled the faces of the handful of geniuses he had met over his lifetime. And the smile was ba his face.

  Daichi was listening to him with the same calm expression but he was relieved inside. 'Oh thank god. He thinks I'm a genius and not a spy. I work with that. But I o know why he adopted me. What he wants from me. Lets see if this old man is willing to give me the answers.'

  "I have two questions. Will you answer me holy?" Daichi asked politely.

  "Go ahead." Kensei nodded.

  "Why did you adopt me?"

  Kensei's face turned slightly solemn and had a sad smile on his face. He sighed and answered. "You remind me of my son. His name was Hotaru. He was killed in the ails attack 5 years ago. He and I had a... strained retionship and over the years we drifted apart. When I saw you a week ago with Aiko buying groceries, it looked like I was looking at a young Hotaru. You have such a resembo him, I thought you might be his son."

  "But judging from your expression, I'm not, am I?" Daichi asked.

  "No. I had Aiko run a blood test. You're not his son…. Listen Daichi, you may not be his son but I've decided to adopt you heless. I know we may not be reted by blood but from now on I am yrandpa. And I expect you to call me as such."

  "So your reason for taking me in is because I have a resembo your long-dead son!?" Daichi then smirked ily and tinued. "Are you sure it's not because yetting old and you need someoo take care of you?"

  "Ha. I'm still in my 60's brat. It'll be a couple dozen more years before I would need ao take care of me." The temosphere betweewo instantly disappeared.

  Kensei said with a ugh. Then he said, "He was smart and cheeky just like you. While not a prodigy he was definitely above his peers. So you see it's not just your looks that resembles him. Now you know why I chose you."

  Daiodded and smiled at him. "Thank you fiving me a home… Now for my sed question. Why did you decide to test me just now?"

  "I've seen orphaned children lead a difficult life. They are extremely cautious towards new people. They are also a bit smarter and more mature than the children of their age. But I doubt they'd be capable of assessing the advantages and disadvantages of an unknown situation and make hard, smart decisions. Especially when they only have a limited amount of information. And to do it all in the span of a few seds while keeping a cool face? Very few kids do that. So I wao see whie you were. A cautious slightly more mature child enuine genius."

  "e on. What makes you think I'm a genius?"

  "A gut feeling. Besides you don't talk like a regur kid, do you? For me it feels as if I'm talking to an adult." He said with a smirk pstered on his face. Daichi didn’t ahe rhetorical question.

  Just then a tantalizing aroma filled their nostrils and they automatically looked towards the kit. They saw Shi Fang holding two bowls heading towards them. He reached their table and pced the food in front of them.

  Daichi quickly used 'Observe' on his food.

  'Observe'

  [Rainbow Dumplings]

  A delicious breakfast dish made by Shi Fang. The inside of the dumpling has seven yers of vegetables a. The ingredients used to make this dish are all of high quality. Shi Fang uses a special method to cook this dish to ehat the ingredients retain some of their chakra and most of their vitality. 1 Dumpliores 15 HP and 9 CP.

  Daichi was incredulous after reading that description. 'Holyshit. This thing restore 15 HP and 9 CP. If that's the case, in my current state just 14 of these things and I'll be in full health. I definitely o chey iory and find out if It preserve food. If It , I am definitely buying a couple hundred of these for a rainy day.'

  Two white gss bowls with 3 white dumplings ead some soup poured and chopped onions sprinkled over it.

  The white and glossy 'Rainbow Dumplings' were not radiating rainbow colors despite its hese dumplings were smooth and translut, and the fillings inside could almost be seen.

  From the outside, there seemed to be a faint amount ranveloping the fillings and made the dumpling appear extremely tantalizing.

  "Enjoy." Shi said and then walked away.

  "Alright. Why don't we table our discussion until after we've had our stomachs filled?! Let's dig in. Yoing to love this pce after you've had a taste of these dumplings." Kensei said.

  Daichi didn't need any more encement and he quickly took the chopsticks, picked up a dumpling, and pced it in his mouth. As soon as he bit into the dumpling he could feel a soft fragrant smell filling his mouth. He closed his eyes and ehe blissful moment for a few seds.

  "Mmmm. Delicious." He couldn't help but say those words.

  Both Daichi and Kensei ehe food and ate at a fortable slow pace. They ate the 3 dumplings and fihe soup in about 10 minutes. Both of them were pletely satisfied with their breakfast.

  "Happy?" Kensei asked the boy.

  "Yes. I definitely have to e back here." Daichi replied.

  "Now then, shall we tinue our chat.?" Daichi simply o Kensei's question.

  "I want you to think long and hard before you ahis question... What do you want to be iure?" Kensei asked in a serious tone.

  Daichi paused at the question and was about to immediately reply, 'a shinobi.' But he stopped himself and thought about it a bit more.

  'What I want huh. I want to bee the stro, so I'm definitely going to be a ninja… but is that all I really want? I'm in a world full of possibilities and unknowns. And I bet there are a lot more iing things out there that the story didn't cover. I have the gamer's ability. The best tool for any situation. So theoretically nothing should be impossible for me. I could learn about all sorts of things.'

  As Daichi was having these thoughts, he looked toward the empty gss bowl in front of him. After thinking for a few more seds he made a decision and he had his answer.

  Daichi looked at the old man and had a resolute fad gave him his answer. "I am going to be a shinobi. Not just any shinobi, but the world's stro. But that's not all I want. I want to visit all sorts of pces. Travel the world. Experience all sorts of things. Try hings. But what I want the most is to not have as."

  Kensei heard Daichi’s answer and had an uandable expression. 'A free spirit.'

  "Daichi. I've been a shinobi for over four decades. The years and experiences have taught me that the world isn't bd white. There will be people who will oppose yoals, both outside the vilge and within, and bee your enemy simply because you might bee a threat to them. To make your dreams e true and live the way you want, you have to be strong. Strohan most. If not all. That journey will be extremely difficult. Do you really want that?" Kensei asked in a serious tone.

  "Yes. I'm prepared. I won't back down from any challehat es my way." Daichi replied without a sed's hesitation and with absolute resolve.

  Rep increases with Kensei Yasaji

  Seeing the look on Daichi's face Kensei uood the boy was serious. And he khe boy uood the challehat would face him.

  'A stro indeed'.

  He had a rge grin broadening on his old fabsp;

  The boy’s ambition reminded him of his own when he was a youth. At that moment Kensei decided he was going to help the boy achieve his dreams. But before he started training the boy, Kensei decided he was going to see just how strong-willed the boy was.

  “If you want to bee the strohen yonna need some interaining. Right now you’re 5. I’ll let you join the academy year. So that means we have a year to train a you to the same level as the kids.

  Now just because you said you wao be the stro doesn't mean you’ll bee one. I want to see your resolve when your body feels like it's on fire. Prove to me within the month that you do more than just talk big. If I’m vihen I’ll start your training.”

  Hearing the old man’s challe a fire inside him. He wao prove to Kehat he could do it. A new quest suddenly popped up.

  Quest Created - ‘Get ahead of your peers’

  Prove to Kensei Yasaji that you have what it takes to stand at the top of this world. vince him to start training you within the month. And then train hard and prepare for the academy. Time limit: 12 Months 3 days.

  ditions:

  Increase your level to 13 by the time you join the academy

  Learn Begiaijutsu and increase it to LV.15

  Learn Basic Chakra trol Teique and increase it to LV.15

  Increase your Basic Body ditioning to LV.15

  Learn Beginner Shuriken Jutsu and increase it to LV.15

  Learn 1 E-Rank Ninjutsu or more (0/1)

  Find out your Chakra Nature.

  Unloy 2 special stats.

  Rewards:

  1500 Exp,

  +1 Level

  +3 To all awakeat points

  +1 LV. to all Skills

  +12 Stat Points

  Rep increases with everyone.

  Rep massively increases with Kensei Yasaji.

  itle

  Special Reward

  Failure:

  -2 Levels

  Rep decreases with The leaf vilge citizens.

  Rep decreases with Kensei Yasaji.

  Rep decreases with Academy Teachers.

  Rep decrease with the ‘Rookie 9’.

  itle

  Accept (Y/N)

  After reading through the quest Daichi became excited. He immediately accepted it and was determio plete it. Right after he accepted the quest, a new one popped up. But the quest box only had a few lines with no reward or failure. Daichi was surprised and fused at the sed new quest.

  Quest Created - ‘Path to the stro (LOCKED)’

  This quest only be opened by successfully pleting the quest ‘Get ahead of your peers’. Failure to open this quest will signifitly increase your eetih within the 7 years aaih within 9 years.

  Well, that's not ominous at all.’ Daichi thought sarcastically.