[Chapter Size: 1700 Words.]
Third Person POV
Konoha, Year 33.
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As the dawn of a new academic day approached, the bustle and anticipation filled the air at the orphanage. Madame Gorete, always the maternal and encouraging figure, stood at the door, wishing each child success and good luck. "Good luck on the first day of school!" she exclaimed with a warm and genuine smile.
"Yes, Madame Gorete!" came the enthusiastic chorus from the children, their faces aglow with a mix of nervousness and excitement. Minato, among the second-year students, was in the midst of the group. He was not alone; beside him were new students, eager and hopeful after going through the start-of-the-school-year trials as Minato did last year. Minato had become a small idol among the younger ones after his achievement of being first in class A. Now, all the classes at the academy were united by the shared beginning of another academic year.
Upon arriving at the academy, the familiar buzz of animated conversations and laughter filled the air with all the children. The building was as crowded as Minato remembered from the previous year, with a sea of new and some familiar faces.
As he entered the room indicated on his new schedule, Minato noticed that despite the small changes in the room, much remained the same. The students had already occupied their usual places, creating a familiar pattern of voices and colors as they chatted among themselves. He headed to the back of the room, his preferred spot, and noticed with a smile that Mikoto was already there, settled in.
"Hello, Minato!" Mikoto greeted, her smile a rare but sincere expression of welcome coming from the Uchiha.
"Hello, Mikoto. Is Tsuna late?" Minato asked, looking toward where Tsuna normally sat, finding only the empty space.
"I'm here!" Tsuna's voice suddenly rang out, and Minato turned in time to see her emerge from behind a cloth she used to camouflage against the wall, a typical trick of her mischievous and unpredictable nature. She advanced for a surprise attack, trying to hit Minato with a quick punch.
Minato, for a moment, was stunned by the similarity of the scene to something he remembered from another life, a memory of a blonde boy named Naruto hiding from his pursuers with the same trick in the original work's first episode. But the surprise soon gave way to instinct, and he skillfully dodged Tsuna's punch. With an awkward movement, she lost her balance and fell to the floor.
"Always trying to surprise me, huh, Tsuna?" he teased, as she accepted the help and got back on her feet.
The classroom, which normally buzzed with the murmur of conversations and laughter typical of the first day of school, suddenly focused on the small spectacle provided by the trio. Mikoto, always ready for a sharp remark, didn't miss the chance to mock Tsuna's failed attempt.
"Hahahahaha! You even made her fall to the floor! I told you it wouldn't work, Senju..." Mikoto spoke, a mocking laugh accompanying her words. Tsuna, now standing thanks to Minato's help, shot an annoyed look at Mikoto before addressing Minato.
"Damn, you and that weird ability!" Tsuna murmured with frustration over Minato's capacity to always evade her pranks.
"Tsuna, these pranks are dangerous, you could get hurt..." Minato warned with a concerned expression. He was used to coming out unscathed from Tsuna's antics, but he didn't want to see her injured.
"I don't want you worrying about me!" Tsuna replied, a blush appearing on her cheeks as she moved away to sit on the other side, leaving Minato no choice but to sit between her and Mikoto.
The attention of the class gradually returned to their own conversations, and Mikoto took the opportunity to question Minato about his plans for the year. "So Minato, what are your plans for this year?" she asked curiously.
"Study, train, and get a job, I need some money," Minato replied, his voice carrying a mix of determination and realism. He knew that the upcoming year would demand more from him, not just academically, but also personally.
"Interesting, are you going to start sending clones to school?" Mikoto asked, intrigued by the strategy Minato mentioned during the holidays.
"Yes, this year it's possible since we'll only have two days of practical classes per week. I can send clones to attend the theoretical classes, with the original working or training elsewhere," Minato explained. It was a bold and risky tactic, but he had carefully considered his options.
"But if you get caught, you could be in trouble, you know that?" Tsuna intervened, her voice laden with genuine concern.
"I'll only be in trouble if I get caught, Tsuna. So I'll do it without getting caught," Minato responded, his confidence instilling a respectful silence in his friends.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll do the same as Minato!" Tsuna replied, crossing her arms, a spark of challenge in her eyes. The idea of being left behind was unthinkable to her, always so fierce in her determination to excel.
"You, Senju?" Mikoto raised an eyebrow, surprised and somewhat skeptical of Tsuna's declaration.
"Of course, Uchiha. I won't be left behind! You should worry about yourself since you'll be increasingly left behind by us." Tsuna spoke with typical arrogance.
"Tsk! You think I won't do it. I'm with you guys, then. I don't know the shadow clone, but Minato will teach me, and I'll show you that I'm superior to you, Senju!" Mikoto responded with a firmness that made it clear she wouldn't accept being underestimated.
"Oh? You're full of yourself, Uchiha..." Tsuna retorted, but before the conversation could escalate further, Minato intervened.
"Tsuna, let's talk about this later, the teacher is coming in." Minato said and pointed to the door, where a new instructor entered the room.
The man who entered wore sunglasses and discreet clothing, a marked change from the more familiar style of Professor Fuuma. "Isn't that Professor Fuuma, has he been replaced this year?" Mikoto asked, confirming everyone's surprise.
"Hello everyone, my name is Kuy Aburame, I'll be the chunnin in charge of you this year. Professor Fuuma is taking care of the first year, I will take his place this year." the man announced calmly, his voice low but clear.
"A new teacher... What a drag..." Tsuna murmured, clearly less enthused by the change.
"He's from the Aburame clan, but he doesn't seem to be as shy as all the others..." Minato observed. He noticed the classmates from the Aburame clan, usually reclusive and reserved, appearing equally surprised by the new teacher.
The first day of Minato's second year at the Konoha academy was marked by the introduction of a new teacher, Kuy Aburame, whose approach was noticeably different from that of Professor Fuuma. Without the usual discussions about dreams and ambitions, the room filled with notes and focused attention as the teacher shared the theoretical classes of mathematics and ninja world history that followed, demanding the students' complete attention.
At the end of the day, Minato headed to his usual training spot. He was committed to improving his taijutsu and chakra control, and for that, he used the basic taijutsu scrolls he had acquired at the academy.
"If I have the six styles of the navy, I'll have my own style," Minato murmured to himself, reflecting on his aspirations and limitations. "But, for now, I'll have to make do with the basic techniques from the academy." Despite his closeness to Tsuna, he was aware of the barriers his lack of affiliation with a powerful clan brought, he would never achieve a taijutsu style as good as the great clans had and could never acquire a scroll. He knew that, although his speed and strength were notable, his techniques were still inferior to those of students from the great clans.
The next day, committed to his rigorous routine, Minato created a clone to attend classes in his place, while his original body headed to the training spot. Hours passed as Minato dedicated himself to training throughout the day. He alternated between taijutsu exercises and meditation to improve his chakra control.
At sunset, exhausted but satisfied with the day's progress, Minato returned to the orphanage. As Minato's clone dispersed, the memories of the day's theoretical classes flowed into him. Tsuna and Mikoto, though curious and impressed, still hesitated to use the same strategy as Minato. But surprised by Minato's audacity, they finally gained the courage needed to follow in his footsteps. However, before they could implement the plan, Minato needed to teach Mikoto the shadow clone technique.
The next day, repeating his method, Minato sent another clone to school while his original body headed to the training spot. Tsuna was already there, practicing diligently, waiting for him. Together, they dove into an intense training session, honing their techniques and strength.
As the sun reached its peak in the sky, Mikoto joined them, having discreetly escaped from the academy. She asked Minato to teach her how to create shadow clones. Patiently, alongside another clone of his, Minato guided Mikoto through the complex steps. After a few hours of practice and guidance, Mikoto finally mastered the technique, albeit limited to one clone.
With this new ability, the trio began to skip theoretical classes, opting to send clones in their place, while reserving their physical presence for practical sessions where the risk of unmasking the clones was high. This tactic allowed them to maximize training time and personal growth during theoretical days.
Meanwhile, Minato looked for a source of income to support his needs and perhaps save for future resources. He found a job at a warehouse of a local grocery store, where his tasks included noting inventories and carrying heavy items for the owner. It was a discreet job, away from watchful eyes that might recognize him as an academy student, and it paid enough to get by for the next few months.
He began to divide his chakra between two more clones — one at school and another at work — while his original body trained with Tsuna and Mikoto; it was exhausting. Minato arrived at the orphanage each night feeling every muscle protest from fatigue. However, he persisted, knowing that each day of work and training brought him closer to his goals.
This routine extended over the days, weeks, and months. Minato, Tsuna, and Mikoto became increasingly synchronized and strong for their ages, as Minato balanced his school responsibilities, work, and personal ambitions.
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