Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

A few days later, the two returned to Konoha after completing their mission of slaying the giant bear.

At four o'clock the next morning, Zhenyi went out as usual and began his daily morning run around the village.

Before dawn, the streets were quiet, with only the echoing sound of his regular and powerful footsteps.

After running for an unknown amount of time, as he passed the perimeter of a training field, a bright green figure cut in from the side like a gust of wind and stayed steadily beside him.

"Shinichi, it's been a long time!"

The newcomer was none other than Matt Day. He was dressed in his signature green bodysuit, his steps were full of bouncy energy, the red ribbon around his waist fluttered in the wind, and his face wore the same passionate smile that seemed to never fade.

"Yes, Senior Dai." Zhen nodded slightly, responding calmly.

As a dedicated trainer who has practiced every day for years, Shinichi has encountered this famous, passionate father and son duo more than once or twice during his morning workouts.

Over time, although we weren't close friends, we became familiar with each other and could stop and chat for a bit.

"Isn't Kai with you today?" Shinichi asked casually.

"He's gone on a mission," Matt Day replied, his voice still loud, but a subtle pause could be detected if you listened carefully.

"You weren't with him, senior?" Shinichi asked.

Although it may sound surprising, Might Guy is indeed one of those who graduated early, even earlier than Shinichi—he successfully graduated last year and became a genin.

However, like Shinichi, he was not assigned to a regular squad and has been following his father, Might Day, since graduation, handling basic D-rank missions around the village.

Upon hearing Shinichi's question, Might Guy's ever-bright smile faltered almost imperceptibly for a moment. He raised a hand to scratch his stiff black hair, revealing a rare expression of embarrassment and helplessness:

"Kai said he's grown up and can carry out missions on his own now, so..."

Before he finished speaking, Shinichi already understood.

This is probably a stage that every child goes through in their growth—when they are young, they see their father as an all-powerful hero, but once they step into a wider circle and come into contact with the outside world's perspectives and evaluations, their mindset will quietly change.

Especially at Matt Kay's age, it's a time when self-esteem is sensitive and one is particularly concerned about the opinions of others.

After becoming a ninja, he probably felt more directly the contempt and even ridicule of some people in the village for his father being a "perennial genin" and "only knowing taijutsu".

His father's youthful declarations that once ignited his passion now seemed like clownish behavior in the eyes of others, making him feel embarrassed and even ashamed to appear with his father.

This estrangement and contradiction will likely continue until that turning point arrives—until Might Dai teaches him the Eight Gates, until he is trapped in a desperate situation and surrounded by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist during a mission.

His father, whom he had always considered "shameful," descended from the sky like a burning meteor, radiating miraculous brilliance despite being an ordinary man.

Only then will all the knots in my heart be completely washed away by burning tears and pride.

But that's all in the future.

Thinking this, Shinichi suddenly stopped running. He turned to Might Guy beside him and said seriously:

"Senior, there's something I'd like to discuss with you. I heard that this year's Chunin Exams will be held in Sunagakure, and I plan to participate, but my team is currently one person short. I'd like to invite you to be my teammate and go with me."

Matt Day was visibly taken aback. He blinked, seemingly doubting he'd misheard, then quickly waved his hand, his smile carrying its usual cheerfulness but tinged with a hint of awkwardness:

"Shinichi, you must be joking! You're the village's acknowledged genius; everyone has seen your strength. I... I'm just a low-ranking ninja who only knows a few taijutsu techniques; I'm completely clueless about ninjutsu and genjutsu. Teaming up with you would only hold you back and hinder your future!"

"Senior, I'm serious." Shinichi's eyes were clear, and his tone was devoid of any joking tone. "In my eyes, you are a very strong person. You have poured all your heart and soul into the art of taijutsu, and this focus and perseverance over the decades is admirable in itself. Someone who can hone their taijutsu to the extreme is definitely not to be underestimated. To be honest, I know another ninja who has cultivated taijutsu to an extremely high level, and I am planning to invite him to be the team leader of our squad."

Might Guy was somewhat flustered by these words, and his voice was lower than usual: "Shinichi, you...you flatter me too much, I really..."

"Senior," Shinichi interrupted him, his tone becoming even more earnest, "You often told Guy that even if you only know taijutsu, you can become a great ninja. That statement is full of power. But if even you, the one who said those words, don't truly believe in yourself, if you think you're not qualified and will hold him back, then how much of that power is left?"

He gazed into Might Guy's somewhat bewildered eyes and slowly said, "Senior, a father is a child's first and most important role model. If you yourself cannot face and believe in your own path, how can you expect Guy to truly believe that even focusing on taijutsu like your father can lead to a glorious ninja path?"

As dawn broke, it shone on Shinichi's calm yet earnest face. Might Guy looked at the sincere-eyed boy before him, and the flame that had burned within him for years, a flame that he sometimes overlooked, seemed to be gently stirred, burning even brighter.

"You're right, Shinichi! Then let's let our youth shine in Sunagakure!"

After successfully inviting Might Guy, Shinichi found Mr. Chen, who was instructing Takashi Ishizuka at the training ground, that evening.

He earnestly invited Teacher Chen to be the Jonin leading his team, citing Teacher Chen's promise that "once you become a Chunin, I will teach you a new taijutsu technique," and to go to Sunagakure together.

Shinichi's reason was straightforward: he wanted Teacher Chen to be the first to witness his promotion to Chunin.

Chen Baojun adjusted his round sunglasses, hesitated for a moment, and then agreed.

Late at night, lying in bed, Shinichi fell into deep thought.

He graduated and became a Chunin in the same year, which was the path he had planned before graduation. He needed to advance his career quickly to obtain the attribute boosts brought by the [Genin] and [Chunin] job titles in turn.

More importantly, the opportunities to draw affixes that come with each career advancement are crucial—based on previous patterns, starting from Chunin level, there is a high chance of having access to higher-level blue affix draws.

This is the fundamental motivation behind his eagerness and even willingness to go to Sunagakure to participate in the Chunin Exams. He needs to solidify his power foundation as soon as possible before the possible full-scale turmoil.

However, he did hesitate when he learned that this year's Chunin Exams would be held in Sunagakure.

Now, the team is led by Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, along with Chen, Konoha's strongest taijutsu ninja, and Maruboshi Kosuke and Might Guy, two perennial genin, as teammates.

The Third Hokage might even attend the finals.

Shinichi thought about it and realized there was nothing to worry about. Even if something unexpected happened in Sunagakure, he would be able to handle it.

Because this lineup could easily stage a Sunagakure version of the Sunagakure's Crash Plan.