Mystery

"Jian, you've arrived?"

"plum."

Shijian arrived at the place where he often trained.

In a relatively remote mountain forest, people were already practicing their exercises.

Looking at the small figure with a handsome middle parting, he greeted him familiarly.

"Sorry I'm a little late."

"It's nothing." The small figure shook his head, seemingly very happy about Shi Jian's arrival. He stopped his training, put his hands on his hips, and gave a sunny smile. "Life always has its pauses, but don't forget to stand up and keep moving forward after you've rested."

Just looking at that small body, one can feel a surge of heat rushing towards them.

That's right, this kid is Rock Lee, one of the future Konoha Thirteen.

Although the child doesn't yet have a kappa-like hairstyle or wear that special green bodysuit, you can still see glimpses of his future in his small body.

Meeting Rock Lee was also an accident. He was worried that he would fail the ninja entrance exam, so he planned to find a place to train his body. In the end, he found this place and met Rock Lee here.

Upon learning that he was a freshman preparing for exams, Lee Rock, who claimed to be a senior, enthusiastically taught him how to train himself and even comforted him that it didn't matter if he failed the exams, as the academy would give freshmen a chance to retake them!

"Jian, I've seen your name on the list. Congratulations!" At that moment, Rock Lee gave a thumbs-up with his bandaged right hand, a slight smile playing on his lips, a glint of light flashing in the sunlight. "As expected of a promising junior, but don't get too complacent. For you, the path of the ninja has only just begun. I'll be waiting for you ahead. Don't stop!"

"..."

Looking at Lee Locke, who was putting on a tough act of being a senior, Shi Jian couldn't help but twitch his lips.

If others don't know, surely he does?

Despite his later strength, Rock Lee is currently just a loser who gets bullied at the academy.

That's right, this child was also bullied at school.

I have to say, those brats are really domineering!

They bullied those with good grades, and they bullied those with bad grades too. They bullied the young lady of the ninja clan, and they bullied commoner children in the same way. They were incredibly fierce.

Of course, Rock Lee hasn't met the teacher who can change his style of dress and hairstyle yet, so at this time Rock Lee isn't very strong, or rather... he's only good in terms of physical fitness, while in other aspects he's terrible.

It wasn't until one day, when he changed into a kappa hairstyle and wore that iconic green outfit, that he truly showed his youth.

He had previously thought that if he couldn't find other ways to become stronger, he could find an opportunity through Li to become Might Guy's apprentice and learn the Eight Gates.

Although that might mean shaving my head like a kappa, wearing a green bodysuit, and shouting about youth, it's all acceptable in order to survive in this ninja world.

Unexpectedly, a cheat code suddenly appeared.

And he doesn't need to shave his kappa head or wear a green bodysuit!

Of course, Shi Jian was quite accommodating and didn't expose his pretense; in fact, he even earnestly offered him emotional support.

"Yes, Senior Lee Rock!"

Regardless, he should thank them for their guidance during this period.

"Mmm~" Seemingly quite satisfied with the address, or rather, hearing it made Lee Rock feel like he'd been injected with adrenaline. His blood, as hot as the rising sun, burned even brighter. He put his hands on his hips again, threw his head back, and laughed heartily. "Excellent! Junior Jian, let's train together today! To avoid disappointing the younger generation, I've decided to hammer a tree a thousand times today!"

Before Shi Jian could say anything, Lee Locke started hammering the tree like an idiot.

Seeing this, Shi Jian shook his head helplessly, but he also began his training for the day, finding a suitable tree and starting to hammer.

But he didn't notice... At that moment, on a tree not far behind him, a black figure gave him a deep look before disappearing.

……

This place is located underground in a remote forest in Konoha.

In the dim light, one can see this magnificent yet eerie building deep beneath Konoha.

At the very back of the building, a figure sat on a spacious chair, his right hand touching his chin, seemingly deep in thought.

At that moment, with a "whoosh," another figure appeared in front of the one sitting in the chair and knelt down on one knee.

"Lord Danzo!"

"You're back?" Hearing someone call his name, the man called Danzo, who was sitting in a chair, also put aside his thoughts, looked up at the masked man in front of him, and said in a calm and indifferent voice, "Did you find out anything?"

"I'm sorry, Lord Danzo, I didn't find anything strange." The masked man remained kneeling on one knee, bowing his head and speaking respectfully, "After leaving the Hokage Rock, that kid wandered aimlessly around the village, helping the Hyuga clan princess who was being bullied, and then went to the back mountain next to the village."

I'm currently training with a commoner named Rock Lee. I've already investigated him; he's a second-year student at the Ninja Academy, and just a hopeless underachiever with no real talent. It seems that the kid has been deceived by that underachiever.

"That's all?" Hearing his subordinate's account, Shimura Danzo frowned again, but after a moment's thought, he seemed to realize something. "Do you know what that kid got at the Hokage Rock?"

"Reporting to Lord Danzo, the investigation has been completed. It is a kunai, but there seems to be a jutsu mark on it, possibly..." The masked man paused for a moment before continuing seriously, "A Flying Thunder God kunai specially made by the Second Hokage."

"Teacher?!" Upon hearing the name of the Second Hokage, Shimura Danzo was momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered, his gaze returning to his subordinate. "I understand, you may leave!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo!"

Upon receiving his superior's order, the masked ninja did not hesitate and vanished from the spot in a flash.

After he left, Shimura Danzo withdrew his gaze, his brows furrowing slightly, as if he were pondering something.

After a moment, he slightly raised his head. In the dim light, his eyes flickered, once again displaying their cold indifference, but this time, a hint of expectation lingered in his voice, "That legend... is it really true?"