As the night settled in and the soft hum of the orphanage lulled the other children to sleep, Satoru lay awake in his bunk bed, staring at the wooden beams above. The day had been exhausting, and yet, the anticipation of what was to come kept sleep at bay.
"Tatsuo," Satoru whispered, breaking the quiet. "What kind of ninja do you want to be?"Tatsuo, lying on the bunk below, turned slightly to face Satoru.
"Hmm, I think I'd like to be a nin-taijutsu specialist. You know, someone who can kick ass on the battlefield." There was a grin in his voice, the kind that always seemed to lighten the mood.
Satoru nodded thoughtfully, though Tatsuo couldn't see him. "That sounds like you." tatsuo asked back "what about you?"
"I'm thinking maybe... a medic, seal master, or sensor."Tatsuo seemed surprised. "You're going for a diverse career path, huh? That's smart. It'll give you a lot of options."
He yawned, the day finally catching up to him. "Good luck, Satoru.""Thanks, you too. Now, get some sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow."
Tatsuo muttered something in agreement, and soon, the gentle rhythm of his breathing signaled he had drifted off.
Satoru remained awake a little longer, his thoughts swirling around the choices he had made.He chose those paths not out of ambition but out of fear—fear of dying, of being on the front lines, of facing the brutal reality of being a shinobi.
'Maybe this way, I can avoid the worst of it,' he thought, trying to convince himself. Finally, sleep claimed him, and the orphanage fell into complete silence.
As Satoru approached the academy gates, the sight of children with their parents stirred a pang of loneliness within him.
His eyes were drawn to the various clan symbols embroidered on the clothes of many children. 'What must it feel like to have a family history? To be born into a clan with traditions and power?' he wondered.
He followed the flow of students into the large assembly hall, where a sea of excited faces filled the space. The room buzzed with anticipation until the doors at the front of the hall opened, and the atmosphere shifted.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, walked onto the stage, his presence commanding instant respect and silence.Hiruzen stood tall, his eyes sweeping across the hall, taking in the eager young faces before him.
"Welcome, future shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village," he began, his voice calm yet powerful. "Today marks the beginning of a journey that many before you have taken. Here, you will learn what it means to be a shinobi—not just in skill, but in spirit."Satoru listened closely.
The Hokage continued, "You will face challenges, hardships, and moments of doubt. But remember this: the Will of Fire burns within each of you. It is the spirit that binds us together, the belief that every shinobi has the power to protect the village, to protect each other. That will is what drives us to fight, to defend our home, no matter the cost."
As Hiruzen spoke of the shinobi who came before them, those who had given their lives to protect the village.The Hokage's gaze seemed to pierce through the crowd, as if he were speaking to each student individually.
"You are the future of the Hidden Leaf Village. It is your responsibility to carry on the legacy of those who came before you. Learn well, train hard, and never forget the strength of the Will of Fire. Make your country proud."
. As the speech came to an end, the students were dismissed to begin their first day at the academy.
As Satoru left the assembly hall, Hiruzan's words echoed in his mind. The "Will of Fire" sounded noble, but he couldn't help but wonder if it was just a way to ensure loyalty, a kind of subtle brainwashing to keep everyone in line.
'Is it really about protecting the village, or is there more to it?' he thought as he made his way to the classroom.
Lost in thought, Satoru didn't notice someone in front of him until he bumped into them. He looked up and saw the boy he had met the other day, the one with the Senju crest.
"Sorry about that," Satoru quickly apologized, stepping back. "Do you know where Class 1A is?"The boy looked confused.
"Yeah, I'm heading there too. Let's go together. Satoru offered a small smile. "I'm Satoru, by the way."
"Nawaki," the boy replied with enthusiasm. "Nawaki Senju! Nice to meet you!"
As they walked, Satoru couldn't help but notice the similarities between Nawaki's personality and someone he'd seen in the anime—though he couldn't quite place it.
When they reached Class 1A, Satoru scanned the room. He quickly spotted Sakumo and Tatsuo talking near the front but noticed that Dai was nowhere to be seen. 'He must be in a different class,' Satoru thought, a bit disappointed.
Satoru waved to Sakumo and Tatsuo, leading Nawaki over to join them. "Guys, this is Nawaki," he introduced."Hey there!" Tatsuo greeted, his usual grin in place. Sakumo nodded in acknowledgment, his demeanor more reserved but friendly.
Nawaki beamed at the group, immediately fitting in. "Looks like we're all in this together!" he exclaimed.
The four of them chatted as they waited for the teacher to arrive,as they settled into the first day of school
As Hiruzen Sarutobi left the assembly hall, he met with the village officials Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura in a private room.
The mood was serious, as they discussed the new arrangement for the academy students.
Koharu, with a concerned expression, was the first to speak. "Are we sure this new method of arranging the students will work? Before this, children were randomly assigned to classes. Now, this new system..."
Homura adjusted his glasses, nodding slightly. "We believe it will maximize the growth of the students. Talented children and those from clans will be grouped together, while those with less talent or lower motivation will be in separate classes."
Danzo, added, "The idea is to create an environment where motivated and talented children push each other to higher levels. It prevents less motivated students from dragging down the more gifted ones. It's about fostering excellence."
Koharu shook her head, her brows furrowing. "But that kind of segregation could promote discrimination, jealousy, and ill feelings among the children. It could create divisions that might last well into their adult lives."
Danzo leaned forward,"On the contrary, it will create a stronger force. The talented ones will drive each other to greater heights, while the others will find motivation in their own way, without being overwhelmed by those far ahead of them and losing their self esteem by endlessly comparing themselves . This is necessary for the village's future."
Hiruzen, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, "I understand both sides of the argument. I'll allow this new arrangement to proceed, but under one condition—every class, regardless of the talent or motivation of its students, must be treated equally. They must all receive the same opportunities, the same resources, and the same respect."
Danzo and Homura nodded in agreement, though the tension in the room remained. Koharu seemed somewhat placated by Hiruzen's condition, though her worry didn't entirely dissipate.
Hiruzen looked at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering on Danzo. "We're here to cultivate the future of our village. Let's make sure that we don't forget that every child, regardless of their starting point, has the potential to contribute to the Leaf Village. We must nurture that potential, not just the obvious talents."
With that, this meeting ended, leaving the officials to ponder the delicate balance between fostering talent and maintaining unity within the next generation of shinobi.
As the classroom settled into silence, the door slid open, and the sensei entered , he was bald and had long mustache. He introduced himself, " my name is Yamamoto and I will be your homeroom teacher."
Satoru, sitting beside Tatsuo and Sakumo, couldn't help but wonder if this academy would be as dull as the school he remembered from his previous life.
'Will this just be more lectures and tedious exercises?' he thought, stifling a yawn.
Yamamoto-sensei began explaining the curriculum for the year. "This year, you will all be learning the fundamentals necessary to become a shinobi. We'll start with taijutsu stances and the basics of the Leaf fighting style. You'll also undergo physical training to build your stamina and strength. Alongside that, we'll cover essential subjects like chakra control, strategy, and history."
As Satoru listened, his curiosity was piqued. 'This might actually be interesting,' he thought.
Then Yamamoto-sensei continued, "However, sparring will not be part of the curriculum this year. We'll focus on preparing your bodies and minds first."At this, Satoru let out a quiet sigh of relief.
He wasn't ready to go head-to-head with anyone just yet, especially after his encounter with Sakumo.
the teachers dived into subjects like math, science, and history.
Satoru couldn't help but be impressed at how these topics were seamlessly integrated into shinobi training.
The usage of Pythagoras' theorem to calculate the distance a kunai would travel or the velocity it needed fascinated him. It all made sense now—everything was practical here.
His curiosity spiked even more during biology class. The discussion wasn't about the mundane body systems he knew from his past life; instead, it delved into chakra pathways, how chakra affected muscle regeneration, and even hints of medical ninjutsu techniques.
As the classes came to an end, the bell rang for lunch. The gang finally regrouped as Dai bounded up to them,
"I don't get it! These subjects are so hard. When do we actually start doing physical training?" he complained, dropping onto the bench with a huff.
Sakumo, replied, "Usually, all the subjects requiring physical activities start after lunch break."
Satoru raised a valid concern, "But won't we feel sleepy after eating? It feels counterproductive to eat and then do physical activities right after."
He was recalling his previous life, where it was never recommended to train or work out on a full stomach.
Sakumo shrugged. "That's something only the teachers would know. I guess we'll find out soon enough."
Tatsuo chuckled, playfully punching Dai's arm. "Don't worry, you'll get your chance to show off your 'youthful' strength soon."The gang laughed, and they continued eating.
The playground buzzed with energy as all the classes gathered for physical training, the physical educatio(PE) teacher blowing his whistle in a vain attempt to maintain order.
Dai, in particular, was having the time of his life, running around and yelling about training.
His wild enthusiasm had attracted a following, as he managed to rope several other children into what Satoru jokingly dubbed his "youthful cult."
Tatsuo and Sakumo exchanged exasperated looks, sweat dropping at the chaos Dai was causing.
"We've got a situation here," Satoru remarked with a grin, "the youth virus has spread—we must stop him."
Tatsuo said "Indeed. If we don't end him soon, the entire world could fall into anarchy."
Satoru bent down and picked up a stick from the ground, holding it high with mock seriousness. "Behold, the legendary sword! The only weapon capable of vanquishing Dai and restoring order!"
Sakumo, understanding the joke, jumped in. "Brother, if we fail, there will be no home for us to return to. For the greater good, we must stop him."The three of them advanced toward Dai dramatically, their expressions serious despite the ridiculousness of the situation.
Dai spotting them, said, "I see, you're approaching me?"
Tatsuo smirked. "We can't defeat him without getting closer."Satoru made a move to "stab" Dai with the stick, but Sakumo swiftly intervened, holding up a hand with exaggerated emotion.
"No, you mustn't. I can't let you bear the burden of killing him."Sakumo took the stick from Satoru's hand, turning toward Dai with solemnity.
Dai, preparing for the inevitable, crouched low in a stance, as if bracing for a final showdown.
But Sakumo's speed surprised everyone. In a blur, he darted toward Dai, holding the stick as if performing some secret technique. "THOUSAND YEARS OF DEATH!" he cried, poking Dai in the backside with the stick.
Dai's "youth" visibly left his body as his face contorted in exaggerated shock, his life seemingly flashing before his eyes. He collapsed dramatically to the ground, defeated in the most humiliating way possible.
Meanwhile, the principal, who had been observing the children from afar, wore an expression of pure horror, unsure of what to make of Satoru's gang and their antics.