After the training, the boys went to their classes to retrieve their bags so they could go home.Satoru saw a booklet on all of their desks and picked it up alongside his bag while leaving.
As Satoru and Tatsuo walked back, Satoru scanned the booklet with keen interest.
The details on potential career paths were intriguing: sensors, medics, seal masters, poison specialists — all fascinating options.
Each one offered a path that aligned with Satoru's future plans.
Tatsuo peeked over, noticing a form that had fallen.
"You gonna fill that out?" he asked, handing it back to Satoru."Not yet," Satoru replied.
"I think I'll show this to Aunty Hana first. But... I definitely want to sign up for medical ninjutsu and chakra control classes. Taijutsu, too."
Tatsuo gave him an approving nod. "Smart preparing for your future this early. The medical part might save your life someday, and the taijutsu will keep you from getting killed in the first place."
At the end of the form, it mentioned that these optional and remedial classes wouldn't begin until the second year, and students had until the final exams to finalize their choices. This gave Satoru some relief, knowing he had time to make a well-thought-out decision.
As they neared the orphanage, Satoru's mind raced with thoughts of how to balance his chosen subjects. 'I'll need to manage my time properly if I want to excel in these areas... but for now, let's just see what Aunty Hana thinks.'
Satoru, Tatsuo, and Dai washed up after returning from school, hearing the excited chatter of other children gathered around Aunty Hana.
She was sitting with the same booklet they had just received, listening to the kids talk about their day. Seeing the crowd around her, Satoru figured it would be difficult to talk with her right away.
He turned to Dai and Tatsuo. "Let's grab something to eat first," Satoru suggested, and the three headed for the dining area.
At the dinner table, Dai was still grumbling about Sakumo's earlier prank. "That technique... it was against everything youth stands for!" Dai declared dramatically, pounding his fist on the table.
Tatsuo could barely contain his laughter, teasing him between bites. "You've got to admit, it was hilarious, though."
Satoru listened quietly, sitting next to them while his mind wandered back to the chakra theory class they had earlier that day. He couldn't help but wonder about chakra.
'What does it even feel like? I've never had anything like superpowers before.' The idea of manipulating chakra seemed almost too fantastical.After they finished eating, the trio decided to visit Aunty Hana's office.
They found her behind her desk, sifting through documents but immediately welcoming them with a warm smile as they entered. Dai wasted no time, dashing forward and leaping into her lap with boundless energy.
"How does he still have so much energy after all that?" Tatsuo muttered in disbelief, shaking his head.
Satoru pulled out the booklet and the form, and the three of them presented it to Aunty Hana.
"What do you think about all these options?" Satoru asked, pointing at the sections on extra classes and career paths.Aunty Hana studied the forms and smiled gently.
"I have full faith in each of you to choose what's best for yourselves. You've grown so much, and I trust your instincts."She paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on Satoru. she added, "but take your time and really think about what suits you."
Satoru caught the brief hesitation in her voice. As they left her office, he couldn't help but wonder if she had her own doubts about his choice.
It was time to sleep, and the room had fallen into a comfortable silence. Satoru, lying in his bunk bed, stared at the ceiling, his mind restless.
"Hey, Tatsuo," he called out quietly. "Have you thought about the extra courses yet?"Tatsuo, already halfway into his bed, gave a lazy shrug. "That's future Tatsuo's problem," he mumbled before flopping down like a sack of rocks, instantly falling asleep.
Satoru sighed, left alone with his thoughts. He tried to imagine what chakra would feel like, but his mind wandered to more mundane topics.
'I wonder if there are school bullies here,will i have to give my lunch to someone just to survive,or will i be the one to take others lunch money. Probably... But will it be like back in my old world?'
His thoughts shifted again. 'Is there a college after the academy or do you just go straight into ninja life? What about... will I get a girlfriend? Going on dates and such might be nice once in a while. Will i even have time such things ?'
He smirked a little at the last thought, his mind lingering on it longer than the others.
After a while, he snapped out of his dreams, realizing that he didn't feel anything extraordinary.
No magical sensation, no spark of chakra flowing through him. Nothing. He let out a small, frustrated sigh, closing his eyes.
'Guess I'll figure it out later.'With nothing left to occupy his mind, Satoru let the stillness of the night pull him into sleep.
The second day began, and Satoru walked through the hallway toward the classroom. As he turned the corner, Nawaki approached from the side, grinning wide.
The second day began, and Satoru walked through the hallway toward the classroom. As he rounded the corner, he spotted Nawaki approaching from the side, wearing his usual grin.
"Morning, Satoru!" Nawaki greeted him, falling into step beside him.
"Morning," Satoru responded, adjusting the strap of his bag.
"So, what do you think of the teachers?" Satoru asked.Nawaki groaned dramatically. "Honestly, they're alright... but the subjects are a drag. I don't get why we have to learn all this math and science stuff. When am I ever going to need it as a shinobi?"
Satoru smiled. 'Of course, he'd say that,' he thought. "Well, I think it's kind of cool. Like how they talked about using math to calculate the distance of a kunai or how biology helps in medical ninjutsu. It's more practical than I expected."
Nawaki scrunched up his face. "Ugh, I guess. But still, I didn't sign up to become a shinobi just to do math equations. I'm more interested in the cool jutsu and fighting stuff."
Satoru chuckled. "I get that. But we'll need both, right? I mean, strategy is important too, not just fighting. Besides, some of the things we're learning now could help in other areas."
"Yeah, but..." Nawaki trailed off, not entirely convinced. "I just want to get to the action already. I'll leave the book smarts to you."Satoru shook his head, still amused by Nawaki's complaints.
'Not surprising that he'd be bored. But honestly, I'm kind of excited. Everything seems useful if you look at it the right way.'
"You know," Satoru said, smiling, "even if it's tough now, it'll all pay off when we're real shinobi."Nawaki groaned again but smiled back. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'll survive somehow."
Nawaki turned to Satoru with a mischievous grin. "So, do you like anyone from our class yet?"
Satoru blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. 'A classic school question,' he thought.
"I'm not sure," he replied casually. "I haven't talked to many people yet."Nawaki pouted dramatically. "Man, no girl likes me, and I've tried talking to everyone! It's like I'm invisible."
Satoru laughed at his friend's frustration. "Maybe you're trying too hard. Why not aim for the older girls? They might like your confidence."Nawaki's eyes lit up, clearly considering the idea. "Older girls, huh? Maybe I will!" He grinned, as if he'd found his next big mission.
They both chuckled as they reached the door to their classroom, but their conversation was cut short as they found themselves face-to-face with a group of older students.
Naoya, a third year student, stood with two boys, chatting, when Nawaki accidentally bumped into him, causing Naoya to stumble and spill his drink. Furious, Naoya grabbed Nawaki by the collar, his face twisted in anger.
"Watch where you're going, you brat!" Naoya growled, yanking Nawaki closer.
Nawaki stammered, "I didn't mean to! It was an accident!"
Satoru, seeing things escalate, quickly tried to intervene. "Sorry, he didn't mean to! We can clean up the mess—"
Before he could finish, Naoya's friends stepped in, blocking Satoru's path. One of them said, "Back off, this doesn't concern you."
Satoru's stomach dropped. 'I jinxed myself by thinking about bullies earlier,' he thought grimly.
Naoya's fist suddenly connected with Nawaki's face, sending him to the ground. Without hesitating, Satoru bolted down the hall, determined to find help. Behind him, he could hear Naoya's friends chasing after him.
They were closing in fast, but just as they were about to grab him, a teacher appeared."What's going on here?" the teacher asked, stopping the boys in their tracks.
Satoru quickly explained, "Nawaki's getting beaten up!"
Moments later, they were all in the principal's office—Satoru, Nawaki, Naoya, and his two friends. Satoru glanced at Nawaki, who was nursing his cheek, and thought, 'This could've gone a lot worse.' Naoya sat quietly, glaring at them as they waited for the principal to speak.
Satoru and Nawaki walked quietly back to class after their time in the principal's office. Satoru glanced at Nawaki, guilt gnawing at him.
"Sorry for not doing much back there… I should've stepped in earlier."Nawaki, grinned. "It's fine, Satoru. You got a teacher's attention in time. That was enough to stop things from getting worse."
Satoru nodded, still feeling a bit unsettled. "Naoya was pretty aggressive, though. I didn't expect him to act like that.""Eh," Nawaki shrugged, leaning back in his seat. "Guys like him are just all bark and no bite. Let's not waste time thinking about him."
They settled into their benches with the rest of the gang. Sakumo noticed the bruise on Nawaki's cheek and raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"Nawaki waved it off, but Satoru's attention had already shifted.
The teacher's voice droned on, but one sentence caught his attention, cutting through the monotony: "Final exams, responsible for your promotion to second grade, will start 11 months from now."
Satoru sighed quietly to himself, a feeling of déjà vu washing over him. 'Another training montage, huh?' he thought with a touch of exasperation, realizing how much work was ahead of him once again.
In chakra theory class, the students were quietly reading their books, the sound of pages turning blending with the soft footsteps of the teacher as he strolled between the rows.
Satoru, however, had his mind elsewhere. Hidden under his bench was a book meant for second graders—something he wasn't supposed to have yet.
'In these 11 months, I've got my work cut out for me,' he thought, glancing around the room. 'First, I need to complete the second-grade syllabus. Then there's the social hierarchy… smart students, bullies, influential or rich kids, and such.'
Satoru's eyes scanned the classroom, pausing on each of his classmates. 'Who here is worth befriending? Who can I learn from?'He noticed some children studiously reading, while others seemed less focused.
Nawaki, sitting a few seats ahead, was already glancing around in boredom, fidgeting. Sakumo was absorbed in his book, as always, while Tatsuo was leaning back, his eyes flickering between the pages and the clock on the wall.
'If I can ally myself with the right people,' Satoru mused, 'I might make things easier down the line.'He turned his gaze to some of the other students—those who seemed to be from well-off families, possibly clan kids.
There were a few who stood out, but not all of them looked approachable. Satoru weighed his options, thinking about how to navigate this new world strategically.
'It's all about maximizing opportunities. One wrong step, and I could end up like those kids who are always in trouble or overlooked.' He smirked a little, knowing that his approach to everything, even friendships, had to be tactical.
With a final glance back at the teacher, he continued reading the second-grade book.