Three years. That was the time it took.
The wait had been long, but finally, the moment had come.
Senju Gojo, now six years old, stood before the gate of the Five Nations' outpost, his small hands tightening the straps of his travel pack.
His face was flushed with excitement, his sapphire-blue eyes gleaming with anticipation, and a gentle gust of mountain wind tousled his silver hair.
It was snowing faintly as he looked back at his hometown one last time.
"You've grown, Gojo," his grandfather said in a low voice, standing behind him.
Gojo smiled, flashing a set of teeth a little too white for a six-year-old.
"I'll be back, jii-san," he said. "And when I return, I'll be even stronger."
During these three years, he had often pestered his grandfather to teach him ninjutsu or clan techniques.
But the old man, wise as he was stubborn, had refused.
"You don't build a mansion on loose soil," he had said. "First, build your foundation."
So Gojo trained in chakra refinement until his control was razor-sharp.
He mastered basic taijutsu forms with the grace of a dancer. He learned stillness, restraint, and timing.
The real training would begin now—in the village, among peers, where true talent was forged in rivalry.
The old man nodded, his eyes dim yet understanding.
He had resisted Gojo's desire to become a ninja for three years.
But ultimately, he knew he couldn't hold back the boy's fate.
Not when Gojo had that glint in his eyes—the fire of someone who was destined to change the world.
As Gojo departed, [System] chimed cheerfully in his mind.
[ System Notification: Host has reached major milestone.
Original plot arc commencing in 72 hours. Prepare accordingly. ]
"Finally," Gojo whispered with a wide grin. "The real story begins now."
Then Gojo said System Show status panel
---
Gojo's Updated Status Panel
Name: Senju Gojo
Age: 6
Chakra Reserve: Jounin level
Bloodlines:
Senju (Intermediate)
Uchiha (Complete)
Uzumaki (Intermediate)
Physique: Sage Body (Intermediate)
Special Traits: Golden Sharingan (Mutated)
Bloodline Limit: Sharingan (2 Tomoe, Golden)
Skills: Basic Taijutsu, Chakra Control, Sealing Affinity
Comprehension: Primary
Ninjutsu: Primary
System Points: 15,000
---
---
The Hidden Leaf Village – Konoha
The village had been mostly calm these past few years. But something was about to change.
At the Hyūga compound, in the central training hall, soft thuds echoed as a petite figure danced across the mat.
Her long indigo hair fluttered behind her, and her pale white eyes—Byakugan activated—were focused with an intensity far beyond her years.
Hinata Hyūga, just six years old, was relentlessly practicing the gentle fist on a training dummy.
Her cheeks were still round with baby fat, but her gaze was steady.
From the side, Hiashi Hyūga, her father, watched silently, arms folded.
"Hinata, that's enough for today. You've done well," he said with his usual sternness.
But Hinata shook her head, stubbornly.
"I want to be strong, so I can walk beside Gojo-kun," she whispered, sweat dripping from her forehead.
Hiashi's face stiffened, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
He had once hoped his daughter's hard work was to earn his approval.
But that wasn't the case.
Everything she was doing now—all her growth, all her effort—was for another boy. For Senju Gojo.
Still, Hiashi could not bring himself to stop her. Gojo's background was impressive. Senju, Uzumaki, and Uchiha blood coursed through his veins.
And perhaps, if fate permitted, a bond between the Hyūga and Gojo would be a great benefit to the clan.
Outside the compound, two girls waited by the entrance.
"Hinataaa!" came the cheerful voices of Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno.
Both had grown a little since the last time Gojo had seen them, but their personalities hadn't changed.
Hinata paused her training and ran toward them, a faint blush on her cheeks.
Hinata bowed respectfully and turned to leave.
Outside the compound gates, two familiar girls waited eagerly.
"Ino! Sakura-chan!" she called, surprised.
The two waved, beaming.
"Hinata! Finally done training?" Ino asked, arms folded impatiently. "You're always busy these days."
"You train more than I do," Sakura added with a small pout. "And that's saying something."
The three girls giggled as they walked through the streets of Konoha together.
Their steps were light, their conversation bright with youthful cheer.
All three shared one common excitement.
"So… do you think Gojo-kun will be at the Academy entrance ceremony?" Ino asked suddenly, glancing sideways.
"He will," Sakura said confidently. "He promised he'd come back when it started."
At that, all three girls paused—smiling, hearts fluttering just a little.
Hinata touched her chest, as if to calm the butterflies inside.
"I hope he remembers us…"
---
Not far from them, a blur of gold and orange zipped down the street, brushing past villagers and stalls.
"Watch it, Naruto!"
"Sorry!" the blond boy shouted back, not stopping.
Uzumaki Naruto's feet skidded across the dirt as he turned sharply into a narrow alley, only to run face-first into the trio of girls.
He stumbled back, rubbing his nose.
"Geez, Naruto," Sakura snapped, dusting herself off.
Naruto's blue eyes widened with energy. "Gojo's coming back, right? After three years?"
The girls nodded.
Naruto's face lit up with burning resolve. "Then it's time. I'm gonna beat him! I've been training every day—eating less ramen even!"
"That's hard to believe," Ino teased.
"I'll prove it!" Naruto grinned. "When the Academy starts, I'll become number one! I'll beat Gojo and show the village I'm not just some noisy kid!"
The girls looked at him with a mix of amusement and admiration.
He was still the same loudmouth—but his fire was real. And in a way, his words struck a chord in all of them.
The storm was gathering.
And in the distance, on a mountain trail leading back into the Leaf Village, a snow-haired boy with a charming smile took his first step into the future.
---
Chapter ends
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Author's Note:
Loving the journey so far?
Please support with a Power Stone!
Your votes help this fanfic grow—and as a thank you, there will be bonus chapters for Power Stone milestones!
Got suggestions or wild ideas?
Drop them in the comments—I'd love to include your thoughts as we shape Gojo's path together.
Let's keep pushing forward—no regrets, just pure hype!
– azuredragonx
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