"The boy facing Shikadai is from the Yutian Clan," Shisui explained, eyes focused on the stage.
"A well-known family from the Land of Fire. They have a strong sense for business, and after discovering Yutian Hideyoshi's potential, they poured resources into nurturing him. In both elementary and middle divisions, he was always considered the most talented among his peers."
On stage stood a proud-looking child—chin lifted, confidence bordering on arrogance.
Naruto observed him for only a moment before giving a soft hum.
"Oh? Not bad. He has spirit. But letting him meet the true geniuses of the Ninja World will be good for his temperament."
Naruto's eyes easily pierced through the boy's demeanor. Yutian Hideyoshi was indeed excellent—but in a world where true prodigies emerged from every corner, he fell slightly short of the highest tier.
Even so, he already held Kage-level strength—a testament to how far the world had progressed.
In the present Ninja World, Kage-level was merely the entry requirement for the Super Class selection.
As the match began and the protective barrier activated, the outcome soon became clear.
Although their power levels were close, Nara Shikadai—inheriting both his clan's intellect and Temari's discipline—outsmarted Yutian Hideyoshi with superior strategy. One flawless plan after another forced the boy into a corner he simply couldn't escape.
Brains over brawn.
When Yutian Hideyoshi finally lost, he stood frozen for a heartbeat… then exhaled with a helpless smile. Reality had humbled him. Only by standing at the heart of the Ninja World could one truly witness what a "genius" meant.
Naruto smiled with satisfaction. The loss hadn't broken Hideyoshi—instead, it had tempered him. His reactions showed a promising mindset. Naruto had always placed great importance on shaping the psychological resilience of the next generation.
"Give him another chance later," Naruto instructed. "Arrange a special recruitment spot."
Shisui nodded with a knowing grin.
The match was broadcast globally, and Hideyoshi was considered a prodigy in his region. To see him eliminated in the very first round shocked the people of his homeland. But it also forced them—and the elders especially—to recognize how fearsome the current generation had become.
Some even cried—not out of sorrow, but out of pride.
Their peaceful, prosperous world had birthed children whose strength rivaled the Kage of the past.
"What a spectacular match! Now, moving on to the second round—Raimon Denki versus Uchiha Naiko!"
Shisui continued to brief Naruto.
"Raimon Denki is a very intelligent boy—skilled in analyzing ninjutsu from a scientific perspective. He's a young genius who merges modern science with Ninjutsu. His father is a core member of our Umbrella Organization."
Naruto nodded with recognition.
He remembered the boy—one of the Twelve Genin in the Boruto-era. In the original timeline, his father had been a wealthy Konoha CEO. It was interesting to see how things had shifted.
"And Uchiha Naiko," Shisui added warmly, "is one of the rising stars of our clan. She's Zeroping's daughter, close friends with Sarada. Among the new Uchiha generation, she ranks easily within the top five in strength."
Pride slipped into Shisui's expression.
The Uchiha Clan was finally rebuilding—solidifying a future it once lost.
Soon, the battle began.
On the field…
Raimon Denki immediately activated his scanners and began analyzing Uchiha Naiko with scientific precision.
"According to the data, Uchiha Naiko possesses mastery over three chakra natures—Wind, Lightning, and Fire. Additional chakra nature proficiency is not ruled out. She wields the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and is proficient in Wind–Fire Combination Ninjutsu. Despite her quiet demeanor, her combat style is extremely aggressive."
He tapped rapidly on his wrist device.
"She is the creator of the A-ranked combination technique: Wind–Fire Kirin.
Her genjutsu proficiencies include—"
He continued listing her strengths, one after another.
At the same time, Uchiha Naiko was calmly scanning him as well.
"Raimon Denki," she murmured to herself with a smirk. "A classic pay-to-win fighter. Nobody knows how many scientific ninja tools he's packed into his gear. They say he can counter any type of opponent… so I'd love to see how true that is."
Her lips curled upward.
Scientific ninja tools had long been accepted as legitimate strength—but only if they matched the user's capabilities and fell within approved regulations.
Around the arena, the other prodigies watched in anticipation.
A battle between science and sharpened Uchiha talent was about to unfold.
One young man with the Byakugan glanced at the girl beside him and asked,
"Sarada, who do you think is stronger between them?"
The speaker was Hyūga Hatsune, Neji's son.
Sarada folded her arms.
"It's hard to say. Raimon Denki's fighting style is said to counter any type of shinobi—that's not an exaggeration. If the exam rules didn't forbid mecha support, he'd probably bring an entire mech unit."
She continued calmly, her analysis crisp and precise.
"Setting aside his scientific tools for a moment, his Ten-Seal Sealing Jutsu, which he created himself, is already extremely troublesome. And on top of that, he's mastered all five elemental chakra natures. Add the fact that his master is Uncle Orochimaru, and who knows what kind of techniques he's hiding?"
Compared to the original timeline, the current Sarada—like Boruto—had been trained thoroughly and rigorously from an early age.
Hyūga Hatsune whistled.
"That's true. As Boruto always says, people who rely on dirty tricks always have rotten hearts. I hope I never have to fight him."
Sarada shot him a sideways glance.
In truth, Hatsune's strength was very high—though still below hers, he certainly wasn't weaker than Raimon Denki.
Before she could comment, another voice interrupted.
"What are you two whispering about?"
They turned to see a lively blond boy striding toward them.
"Boruto, why are you only arriving now?" they asked in unison.
Boruto scratched his cheek helplessly.
"I was with my sister. What else?"
"Your sister?" Sarada asked. "You mean Yamanaka Inojin, or Himawari?"
Yamanaka Inojin was Naruto and Ino's daughter, one year younger than Boruto.
In the original timeline, Ino Yamanaka married Sai. But in this world, Sai's ashes were scattered together with Danzō's.
Ino's long-standing childhood crush on Naruto eventually blossomed—through years of quiet devotion—into marriage.
The people of the Uzumaki Empire supported the union wholeheartedly. A ruler with only one wife was "unacceptable" by traditional standards. Shisui and the elders had even encouraged Naruto to take concubines… which he refused firmly, earning himself resentful glares from both Hinata and Ino.
Inojin, despite being only eleven, was already comparable to some of the youths participating in the Super Class selection. Besides Naruto, her favorite person to cling to was Shisui, from whom she had learned a devastating sword style.
It wasn't that she couldn't use ninjutsu—just that every technique she learned inevitably became sword-based.
"Of course it was Inojin," Boruto muttered. "Himawari is adorable—she doesn't go around terrorizing her big brother."
Just thinking of Inojin's blade work made his mouth twitch. Sparring with her always felt like she was trying to carve him into pieces.
But everyone also knew one thing: she wasn't malicious. She was simply completely devoted to the way of the sword. As Naruto often said, she possessed a pure sword heart.
The two smiled knowingly before turning back to Boruto.
"So, Boruto," Sarada asked, "who do you think will win between the two on stage?"
Boruto leaned forward and studied the match-up, then widened his eyes.
"Oh, it's Denki and Naiko? Don't underestimate Denki just because he looks gentle. He's Uncle Orochimaru's disciple—his fighting style is filthy. Uchiha Naiko's usual tricks won't work on him. Unless she awakens her Mangekyō Sharingan, she won't be able to suppress him."
Sarada and Hatsune looked at each other, startled.
"You rate Denki that highly?" Hatsune asked.
They had estimated the battle as a sixty–forty split—Raimon Denki with sixty percent chance to win, Uchiha Naiko with forty.
But from Boruto's tone, it sounded like Denki had an overwhelming advantage.
(End of Chapter)
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