NARUTO: Ninja World Scientific Revolution

By the river, Hyuga Mirai prepared his fishing rod, baiting the hook with practiced ease. 

This small river wasn't far from the village, and on most days, it was devoid of people. Even if a spy from another village happened to wander by, any disturbance would immediately alert the Uchiha patrols. It was one of the few places where Hyuga Mirai could train in peace. But after today, this spot would be abandoned. 

In the coming days, Mirai planned to dissuade Kiyo Hyuga from accompanying him on his outings. Otherwise, his options for solitary training would dwindle even further. 

"Aren't you here to train?" Kiyo Hyuga asked, her tone laced with irritation as she watched Mirai deftly bait the hook and cast his line. 

"I spent a lot of energy at the Konoha Hospital this morning," Mirai replied without missing a beat. "And the food supplies at home are running low. If you're here to train, though, I can be your sparring partner." 

Without hesitation, Mirai employed the type of emotional manipulation that only children could wield effectively. He first emphasized how tired he was, then claimed the fishing was for survival, and finally offered himself as a sparring partner to seal Kiyo's argument. 

If Kiyo insisted on sparring, she'd come across as lacking empathy. And if it came to that, Mirai was prepared to use his refined acting skills to let her win—or even take a minor injury to deepen her guilt. That guilt would serve as a foundation for the persuasion he planned to deploy in the future. 

Scheming against a young girl left Mirai with a brief pang of guilt—but only for three seconds before he dismissed it entirely. 

Seeing Mirai dust off his hands and step over to an open patch of ground by the river, apparently ready to train alongside her, Kiyo's cheeks flushed red. She hadn't intended to pressure him; she'd only wanted to ask a question! 

"There's no need. If you're not in top condition, take the afternoon to rest," Kiyo said primly. She then walked to the riverbank and took a seat on the small stool Mirai had set up for her. 

Mirai sat down as well, maintaining a respectful distance in accordance with the etiquette between branch and main family members—not too close, yet not too far. 

"By the way," Mirai started casually, "isn't the genius from your class, Kakashi Hatake, applying for early graduation?" 

At the mention of Kakashi Hatake, Kiyo's composed expression faltered. 

Kakashi was widely recognized as a prodigy at the Ninja Academy. Apart from being slightly behind Mirai in theory classes, he excelled in everything else. He could even perform ninjutsu with multiple elemental natures, and his combat skills were already on par with a Genin. 

No matter how competitive Kiyo was, she couldn't deny that no one in their year could rival Kakashi. Even her grandfather, the fourth elder of the main family, had admitted she wasn't yet a match for him. 

"Why do you care about him?" Kiyo asked. 

"I ran into him in the village a few days ago," Mirai replied. "He's already a ninja. I saw his headband." 

Mirai and Kakashi had only a nodding acquaintance. Although both bore the title of "genius" at the academy, Kakashi didn't see Mirai as a peer. Even their chance encounters on the streets rarely went beyond a polite nod. 

"That guy is indeed impressive," Kiyo muttered, her lips pressed together in frustration. It stung to admit it, but even she knew that no one in their year was a match for Kakashi. 

"I've heard he's applying for the Chunin Exam," she added. 

"The Chunin Exam?" Mirai's face froze momentarily in surprise before he asked, "But didn't he just become a Genin? How could he be eligible for the exam already?" 

"It's been two months," Kiyo explained. "People at school don't know about it, but my grandfather told me." 

So, it hadn't been widely publicized. Mirai nodded thoughtfully. 

His reclusive habits at the academy—focused on studies to the exclusion of all else—had left him out of the social loop. And his recent stint at Konoha Hospital had further distanced him from the school grapevine. The information he received was often second- or third-hand. 

"To think Kakashi is that skilled—becoming a Chunin at only six years old," Mirai said, feigning admiration. But inwardly, he was far from impressed. 

A Chunin in Konoha bore the responsibility of leading teams on missions, often B- and C-rank ones. A six-year-old Kakashi couldn't possibly handle such duties. 

If Konoha genuinely approved his promotion, it would be nothing short of astonishing. 

"Kiyo-sama," Mirai asked suddenly, breaking into a bright, hopeful grin, "what do you think about the Will of Fire?" 

Caught off guard by his radiant smile, Kiyo stared at him in a daze before quickly regaining her composure. Turning away, she replied, "The Will of Fire is admirable. It's the guiding principle introduced by the First Hokage that brought peace and founded Konoha." 

"Indeed," Mirai said, his voice light but reflective. "Wherever the leaves dance, the fire burns brightly. The fire will continue to illuminate the village and nurture new leaves." 

But Mirai wasn't a naïve child swayed by grand ideals. He had his own judgment and a mature worldview. 

Sometimes, actions spoke louder than words. 

Konoha was originally established to provide children a safe haven to grow up away from the battlefield. But after two world wars, that noble intention had been reduced to a hollow phrase. 

When the Third Shinobi World War inevitably broke out, even students from the Ninja Academy would be sent to fight, and the Will of Fire would become nothing more than empty rhetoric. 

During the Warring States period, children were indeed sent to the battlefield. However, this practice was primarily associated with clans like Senju and Uchiha. Other clans, such as the Hyuga or the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, largely avoided such extremes, focusing instead on their wealth and traditions. 

In contrast, the Senju and Uchiha seemed destined for conflict, repeatedly accepting missions that clashed with the other, fueling their enduring enmity. 

These insights weren't Mirai's conjectures but the fruits of extensive research in Konoha's library. He had pored over records from the Warring States period, including detailed accounts left behind by the Senju clan. 

The Hyuga archives were more selective, preserving only less sensitive records, with their most guarded secrets likely passed down exclusively within the main family. 

Having read through more than half of the library's resources, Mirai had pieced together a broader understanding of history and the roots of war in the ninja world. 

(End of Chapter)