Naruto: System of Zoro

Chapter 29 - A New Beginning (End of Volume 1)

"Kazane, why don't you tell us about your dream first?"

Kurenai Yuhi's voice rang through the lively gathering, her red eyes gleaming with curiosity as she turned toward him.

At her words, the group gradually quieted, their chatter fading into expectant silence. Even the usually restless Uchiha Obito stilled, his dark eyes fixed on Kazane with rare focus.

It was clear—Kazane had already carved out a place for himself within this circle of promising young shinobi, a group that would one day shape the future of Konoha.

"Me?" Kazane tilted his head slightly, caught off guard by the sudden shift in attention. But as he met the eager gazes around him, something within him settled.

A faint smile tugged at his lips, and with renewed confidence, he pressed a fist to his chest.

"My dream is to become the strongest in the ninja world," he declared. "The world's greatest swordsman. To end this era of chaos and bring lasting peace to the shinobi world."

The room fell into a hush.

Then, in the next heartbeat—

"The strongest in the ninja world!"

"Ending the chaos and bringing peace!"

"That's so like him!"

Murmurs erupted around the table, admiration evident in their voices. Some were surprised, others awed, but none doubted that Kazane would chase this goal with everything he had.

Kurenai, seated to the side, propped her chin in her hands, a dreamy smile tugging at her lips as she watched his confidence grow.

Kazane, however, waved a hand dismissively. "Come on, everyone! Don't just listen to me. What about your dreams? Say them out loud!"

His words broke the trance-like spell that had fallen over the group.

"My dream is to become Hokage and make everyone acknowledge me!(Specially you)"

It was Obito who spoke first, his voice filled with conviction. But the moment the words left his lips, he cast a furtive glance toward Rin Nohara, who sat beside Kakashi.

A beat of silence—then, immediate laughter.

"Obito, you idiot! There's no way you'll be Hokage!"

"You're dreaming too big, Obito. The position of Hokage belongs to me!"

The group erupted in playful teasing, but Kazane noted the deeper undercurrent in their words. None of them truly understood Obito's drive, his unwavering desire to be recognized.

"Obito-kun's dream will definitely come true. What do you think, Kakashi?"

Rin's voice was gentle, her smile kind as she turned to Kakashi for his thoughts.

Obito, who had been puffing up proudly at her support, instantly deflated when he saw her looking at Kakashi instead. His fingers clenched slightly against his leg, though he forced his expression to remain neutral.

"Enough!"

The unexpected outburst drew everyone's attention to the other side of the table.

A young girl had stood up, her face flushed with indignation. She had soft, round features, and though her expression was fiery, there was a certain youthful charm to it.

"How can you mock someone else's dream like that? At least Obito-kun has the courage to say his dream out loud! How can you be so sure it won't come true? Don't belittle others so easily!"

Her passionate words left the room momentarily stunned.

Obito blinked, startled. For a long second, he simply stared at her, as if struggling to process what had just happened.

Might Guy, who sat beside him, nudged his arm with a knowing grin.

"Obito, looks like you've got a fan," he whispered teasingly.

Obito, realizing the attention suddenly on him, turned beet red. He scratched his head, laughing awkwardly before hurriedly sitting back down.

Meanwhile, Kazane exhaled quietly, observing the moment with a sense of understanding.

'Sigh… I was wondering how much it would affect Obito if Kakashi and Rin got together—if it would push him toward darkness. But I guess it doesn't matter anymore. He's already moving forward on his own.'

The tension in the air slowly dissolved, replaced by a renewed sense of camaraderie. Emboldened by the energy in the room, more voices joined in, sharing their own aspirations.

"I want to become the strongest taijutsu ninja and protect everyone!" Might Guy's voice rang with unwavering resolve. "I also want to prove that even without being a genius, through hard work, I can still become powerful!"

Kazane listened with a knowing smile.

'And one day, he will.'

"I want to become a powerful genjutsu user," Kurenai said next. "So that, in times of danger, I won't have to hide behind Kazane—I want to fight side by side with him."

Kazane glanced at her, mildly surprised. He hadn't expected that.

"I want to become an outstanding medical ninja," Rin added with a warm smile. "So I can heal everyone when they get hurt."

"I want to protect my family, the Hyūga clan, and Konoha," said Hinata Bofū, his voice steady.

"I want to protect everyone who is being bullied!" his younger sister, Hinata Enko, declared proudly.

Laughter rippled through the room once again.

Then, all eyes turned to one person.

Kakashi, who had remained quiet throughout, sighed as he felt the weight of their stares. He leaned back slightly, arms crossed over his chest.

"What a boring exercise," he muttered. "I'm not participating."

A few groans of protest followed, but Kakashi remained unmoved.

Then, Rin—who had been watching him closely—gently reached for his hand.

"Kakashi," she said softly, looking at him with quiet encouragement. "What about you?"

For the first time that night, the room fell into a true silence.

Kakashi, still staring off to the side, seemed unwilling to answer.

But as his fingers curled slightly under Rin's touch, something flickered in his gaze.

Kakashi had always been a step ahead of them, a genius shinobi destined for greatness—but no one had ever heard him speak of his own dreams.

A sigh escaped him as he glanced away, clearly reluctant.

"Alright, alright. You guys are impossible," he muttered, scratching the back of his head.

For a brief moment, he hesitated. Then, taking a deep breath, he finally spoke.

"My dream is to inherit the title of the White Fang of Konoha and restore the honor of the Hatake clan."

His voice was steady, but his sharp gaze flickered toward Kazane, as if seeking confirmation. As if silently asking—Do you understand?

Kazane met his eyes, instantly catching the weight behind those words.

Sakumo Hatake, Kakashi's father, had once been a hero. A shinobi of legendary skill and unwavering morality. But the world had turned against him, branding him a failure, a disgrace. The burden of that legacy had fallen onto Kakashi's shoulders, a wound that no amount of talent or hard work could erase.

"The White Fang, huh?" Kazane finally said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You can do it, Kakashi."

Kakashi blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sincerity in his voice. Then, with a quiet huff, he sank back into his seat, clearly flustered.

The moment passed, and soon, the remaining students eagerly shared their own dreams, each voice carrying a fierce determination that would one day shape the shinobi world.

At last, Kazane stood, raising his drink high with an infectious grin.

"For the future world's greatest swordsman, the future Hokage, the strongest taijutsu ninja, the greatest genjutsu kunoichi, an exceptional medical ninja, the new White Fang of Konoha…" He planted one foot on the table, his eyes sweeping across his friends. "Everyone, let's toast!"

For a second, there was silence.

Then, one by one, they grinned and followed suit, stepping onto the table, raising their drinks.

"To the future Hokage!"

"To the strongest taijutsu ninja!"

"To the new White Fang!"

Their voices overlapped, laughter breaking through as they clinked their glasses together, the sound ringing through the night.

Juice was downed in one go, and in the next moment, they collapsed into loud, unrestrained laughter.

The warmth of the moment stretched endlessly, as if time itself had slowed for them.

For tonight, they let themselves indulge—forgetting tomorrow, forgetting everything.

Remembering only each other.

---

Morning – At the Gates of Konoha

The sky was still tinged with the soft hues of dawn when Kazane arrived at the village gates.

A crisp breeze swept through the empty streets, carrying with it the lingering echoes of last night's laughter. They had stayed up far too late, and when he left, his friends had been sprawled across the courtyard, exhausted.

He preferred it this way.

Goodbyes were always the hardest. He didn't want them to wake up to tears and farewells—just memories of a perfect night.

"Let's go, Kazane," Orochimaru's voice came from beside him. "Take one last look at the village. It might be years before you return."

Kazane turned slightly, casting one final glance at the familiar streets, at the towering Hokage Monument in the distance.

Before he could take another step, a sudden chorus of voices shattered the quiet.

"Damn it, Kazane! You're not sneaking off on your own!"

"You bastard, you better come back alive!"

"Kazane, you have to become the world's greatest swordsman!"

His breath hitched.

Beyond the gate, figures were rushing toward him—his friends, the very ones he thought he had left behind.

They had come to see him off.

"Everyone…!"

A mix of emotions swelled in his chest—surprise, warmth, a deep sense of belonging.

"You have good friends, Kazane," Orochimaru remarked, his golden eyes flickering with something unreadable. "But it's time to go."

Kazane took one last, deep look at them.

These were the people he was fighting for.

No matter what awaited him outside these gates—he would return.

Turning away, he followed after the departing team, his steps steady, his gaze sharp.

'The shinobi world… Here I come!'

End of Volume 1.

Enjoyed the chapter? Want more?

Support the translation and get early access to 50+ chapters and latest release, exclusive content, and help me keep this translation going strong!

Join me over at [[email protected]/Zynos] and become a part of the journey!