Naruto: System of Zoro

Chapter 3 - Combat Assessment

"If only I could make breakthroughs like this every day…"

Kazane exhaled slowly, flexing his fingers as he relished the lingering sensation of his earlier training. Compared to where he had started, his progress felt almost surreal. He couldn't help but think of the monstrous physiques in *One Piece*—towering figures who shattered limits with nothing but sheer effort and willpower.

Of course, he knew such growth wasn't realistic. Right now, he was still at a stage where his abilities were weak, so every improvement felt significant. But once he reached a certain level, breaking through would become far more difficult. It was the difference between a fledgling learning to walk and a master honing the final refinements of their craft.

Today was an important day—the combat assessment at the academy. Unlike his usual routine, he decided against extra training before heading out. Normally, he would spend some time practicing at home before going to school since most of the academy's lessons focused more on theory than actual combat. But today was different. He needed to be in peak condition.

After finishing breakfast, he grabbed his wooden sword from its stand, feeling the familiar weight in his grip, and set off toward the academy.

The Konoha Ninja Academy had been established by the Second Hokage as a place to cultivate future shinobi, and its impact on the village's dominance was undeniable. It was here that many of the most legendary figures in history had taken their first steps—warriors whose names still carried immense weight. The Three Sannin, the White Fang, and countless other elite ninja had once walked these very halls.

At this point in history, two clans stood at the pinnacle of Konoha's power—the Uchiha and the Hyūga.

The Uchiha Clan, in particular, was widely regarded as the strongest noble family in the ninja world. Their unique dōjutsu, the Sharingan, granted them an unparalleled advantage in battle. Anyone who awakened it was considered elite, even among their peers. By the time an Uchiha reached the third tomoe, they were practically guaranteed to become a Jōnin.

This overwhelming superiority had bred arrogance. The Uchiha rarely considered anyone outside their clan as true equals—especially commoners born without prestigious bloodlines. While it wasn't unheard of for civilian-born shinobi to rise through sheer talent, those cases were the exception, not the rule.

The Hatake Clan, once known for producing a powerhouse like the White Fang, had long since faded from prominence. With so few members remaining, they could no longer stand on equal footing with Konoha's great clans. Now, only two remained—Kazane and his younger brother, Kakashi.

As Kazane stepped into the classroom, he was immediately met with a bright, enthusiastic voice.

"Kazane, you're here!"

The greeting came from Kurenai Yūhi, one of the few people who openly acknowledged him.

Most of their classmates either ignored him entirely or regarded him with thinly veiled disdain. His younger brother's extraordinary talent cast a long, suffocating shadow over him, making it nearly impossible for him to escape the comparisons. Even his good looks didn't change how people viewed him. In the ninja world, strength mattered more than anything else.

But today, something was different.

For the first time, the entire class was looking at him—not with their usual indifference, but with curiosity. More specifically, their eyes were locked onto the green headscarf wrapped around his head and the wooden sword in his hand.

Kazane returned Kurenai's smile before walking over to his seat.

She tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "That headscarf… I haven't seen you wear it before. It looks pretty unique. And why are you carrying a wooden sword today? Does it have something to do with the combat assessment?"

Kazane glanced around, noticing that several students were still subtly watching him. He remained calm, giving a simple explanation.

"The headscarf is because I sweat a lot when I train, and my hair tends to get in my eyes. I figured this would help keep it tied back," he said.

"As for the wooden sword… The Hatake Clan specializes in kenjutsu. I don't have much talent for ninjutsu, so I can only rely on my family's swordsmanship."

Kurenai nodded, though her gaze lingered on Kazane thoughtfully. Unlike most of their classmates, she had never distanced herself from him, even as his reputation declined. While others judged him by his lack of talent in ninjutsu or compared him unfavorably to his younger brother, she had never treated him differently.

Before she could say anything else, their instructor strode into the room, his presence immediately commanding attention.

"Today is the class combat assessment," the Chūnin instructor announced. "Everyone, follow me to the training grounds."

The classroom filled with the sounds of students shuffling to their feet, chairs scraping against the floor as they hurried to follow him out the door.

The outdoor training field stretched wide before them, surrounded by sturdy wooden posts meant for target practice. The ground was a mix of dirt and patches of grass, worn down from years of students sparring on it. Several training dummies were lined up along one side, while a simple wooden stage stood at the front, where the instructor now stood with a clipboard in hand.

He quickly scanned the list of matchups before calling the first names. One by one, students stepped forward to face their assigned opponents.

Though the training weapons provided—dull kunai and wooden shuriken—were designed to prevent serious injuries, minor wounds were inevitable. This was, after all, a school for shinobi. Konoha valued the safety of its students, but it could not afford to raise warriors unprepared for the battlefield.

Kazane stood among the gathered students, silently observing the matches as they progressed. He recognized several familiar faces in the crowd.

Kurenai Yūhi stood nearby, watching the fights with keen eyes. Not far from her, Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin whispered to each other, their attention flickering between the ongoing battles. A short distance away, Morino Ibiki stood with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze analyzing every move made on the field. Sarutobi Asuma leaned lazily against a post, chatting with a few others while Might Guy bounced on his feet, clearly itching for his turn.

And then, among the spectators, there was Uchiha Shisui.

Though he belonged to a different class, his reputation preceded him. He was said to be undefeated among his peers, capable of besting even Genin-ranked shinobi in duels. Some even whispered that he was the greatest prodigy the Uchiha Clan had seen in years—one of the few who might one day rival Kakashi's fame.

But for now, they were all still just children, barely seven or eight years old.

Within Kazane's own class, the strongest student was Uchiha Makoto. He was the undisputed top of their year and a rising star even within the Uchiha Clan. If Shisui was their clan's most promising genius, then Makoto was not far behind.

Yet, for some reason, Kazane could not recall ever hearing of Makoto in the original timeline. He had either faded into obscurity or, more likely, perished at some point—one of the countless victims of the unforgiving shinobi world.

Makoto stepped forward for his match, and the moment his name was called, excited murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Then came the cheers.

A large group of girls clapped and whispered among themselves as he took his stance, their admiration evident. His cold, aloof demeanor, paired with his undeniable strength, made him one of the most popular students in their class—just as Uchiha Sasuke would be years in the future.

There was a time when Kazane had been admired in much the same way. When the academy days had first begun, his name had carried weight. The son of the legendary White Fang, the older brother of the prodigy Kakashi—there had been expectations placed upon him. But as time passed and his lack of natural talent in ninjutsu became apparent, that admiration slowly faded.

Now, he was little more than an afterthought in the eyes of most of his classmates.

Makoto's match ended in an instant. His opponent barely had time to react before he was knocked to the ground with a swift, precise series of movements. The crowd erupted into cheers again, impressed by his overwhelming display of skill.

Beside Kazane, Kurenai clenched her fists.

She had seen firsthand how hard he trained every day.

Yet, in the shinobi world, hard work alone was often not enough. No matter how much effort one put in, there were limits to how far a person could go without natural talent. Those born into prestigious clans—those with bloodline abilities like the Sharingan or the Byakugan—would always have an advantage.

The instructor glanced down at his list, then called out the next names.

"Hatake Kazane versus Hyūga Nami."

A stunned silence fell over the students.

Kurenai stiffened beside him, eyes widening in shock. "A Hyūga?" she muttered under her breath. "And not just any Hyūga, but *her*?"

If Makoto was the strongest in their class, then Hyūga Nami was a close second.

The Uchiha and Hyūga Clans had long been recognized as Konoha's two most powerful noble families. Their bloodlines ensured that their members were trained from a young age, giving them an undeniable advantage over their peers. Unlike civilians, who had no inherent abilities, the Uchiha possessed the Sharingan, and the Hyūga wielded the Byakugan—two dōjutsu that granted incredible insight and battle awareness.

And unlike some of their classmates, Nami had already begun training in her clan's Gentle Fist style.

Not just anyone could wield the Eight Gates or possess secret techniques to make up for their shortcomings.

Even against Makoto, Nami had managed to hold her ground for a time. There was no doubt—she was one of the strongest students in the entire grade.

So why had Kazane been paired against her?

Kurenai's brows furrowed as she shot a glance toward the instructor. This wasn't a fair matchup. The pairings had to be intentional.

Before she could stop herself, she grabbed Kazane's arm, her grip tightening. "Something's not right. Kazane, don't do this. Just forfeit. The Hyūga specialize in Gentle Fist—it's designed to counter taijutsu fighters like you. Nami won't hold back. She'll go for your chakra points, and if she lands a clean hit, you won't even be able to move."

For a brief moment, Kazane remained silent.

Then, slowly, he pried her fingers from his sleeve, his grip gentle but firm.

"Thanks for worrying, Kurenai," he said with a calm smile. "But I have to do this."