CHAPTER WORDS -1862
AN:- THIS CHAPTER IS A MIX OF CHAPTER 3 AND CHAPTER 4 OF THE FANFIC, SINCE CHAPTER 3&4 WERE SHORT CHAPTERS, AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH LENGTH FOR ME TO MERGE THE CHAPTER TOGETHER.
Chapter 3:- Self-Practice
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Before long, a young man with an unassuming face entered from the door. He stepped in calmly, scanning the classroom of forty-something students with an approving nod.
Under their collective gaze, he made his way to the front of the room and introduced himself:
"First, congratulations to all of you for passing the entry test and becoming students of the Ninja Academy. My name is Taiga Fujimura. I'm twenty-three, a chunin of Konoha, and I'll be your homeroom teacher until you graduate. My hobbies are walking and journaling, and my goal is to help you all grow into strong, capable ninjas."
Natsuki Matao sat quietly, assessing the situation, listening, as his mind raced. Having read extensively about this world back in his original life, he knew it well.
He would need to play this carefully. Not only was this a dangerous world, but the loyalty to "the Will of Fire"—an ethos deeply ingrained into Konoha's people—meant that even children here were often drawn into risky situations. Although Konoha might look like a haven, he knew its leadership had a long history of justifying their actions by sacrificing the few for the sake of the many.
As students around him introduced themselves, Natsuki was reminded of how young everyone truly was, many with wide-eyed ambitions and dreams. Yet, knowing the future for so many of them was unstable and even tragic, He could only hope they wouldn't face the challenges he knew this world often imposed on those who dared to stand out.
When a girl with calm composure introduced herself, he took notice.
"I am Ayane Hyuga. There's nothing I dislike, but I do enjoy hot springs. My dream is to become a remarkable kunoichi."
Her manner was refined, and her grace was hard to miss—a presence that drew the attention of the entire class. With her quiet strength and politeness, Ayane carried herself like a natural, poised member of the Hyuga clan.
Then, it was Natsuki's turn. Rising from his seat, he gave a small smile and said:
"Hello, everyone. I'm Natsuki Matao. I enjoy reading and learning new things. My goal is to become a Medical Ninja,or maybe a blacksmith as I Like Kunai and Shurikens Very Much!"
The mention of blacksmithing was intentional. He was aware of the risks involved in being a Medical Ninja—often deployed to the front lines. He was a medical practitioner in his former life, which gave him unique skills. but he knew he might benefit from also pursuing a craft less likely to place him in direct danger. If he developed his skills in weapon-making, he could serve Konoha in a useful but safer capacity.
He kept his introduction simple, blending in while subtly hinting at his dual interests. Nearby, another student stood up to introduce herself in a different tone altogether.
"My name is Uchiha Ruri. I don't care about any of you, so don't expect me to share my dreams or interests with those I find weak. Don't come looking for me if you don't need anything."
Her cold, indifferent gaze swept the room, her attitude already dividing her from her peers. But this was typical of the Uchiha's proud nature, and Natsuki knew from what he'd read that she was likely no exception. A quiet murmur spread among the other students in response.
"What's with her? Just because she's an Uchiha?"
"She acts like she's too good for us."
"Uchiha or not, we don't need her attitude."
Ruri's expression remained unimpressed as she returned to her seat. Natsuki couldn't help but wonder if her pride might make things more complicated, especially since they sat nearby.
Over the next 6 months, Natsuki adapted to his new life in Konoha's Academy, absorbing everything he could without drawing too much attention. He kept to an average performance in practical skills like chakra control and shuriken throwing, earning a reputation as a diligent but unremarkable student. His focus on blending in allowed him to gather valuable information while keeping his peers at ease.
Knowing about Chakra and its uses are one thing, but Using it is another thing altogether. the feeling of chakra, the time and effort it takes to 'Will' your Chakra to move through your Tenketsu Points so that You could learn some form of Chakra Control? It's hella difficult, but knowing what lies in store for this village and the pressure of the upcoming war, I go through all the intense training.
Although he didn't particularly enjoy the games and playful activities with his classmates, he understood the importance of forming casual bonds. His dedication to staying inconspicuous meant he often studied advanced techniques late at night, reviewing medical texts and blacksmithing manuals borrowed from the library.
While his past experience as a doctor fueled his interest in Medical Ninjutsu, he was wary of the field's risks. Medical Ninjas were essential on the battlefield and often among the first deployed in times of crisis. His interest in blacksmithing was his backup plan—an area where he could also contribute meaningfully without directly facing the dangers of the front lines.
Every day, Natsuki followed a strict routine: learning Academy techniques until the afternoon, training until nightfall, and then studying his personal interests until midnight. The intense schedule was tiring, but the knowledge and skills he was gaining felt worthwhile. For Natsuki, life in this world was all about balance, learning how to adapt and stay grounded while quietly pursuing his goals.
He knew he would need every bit of it if he was to survive in this world.
The Forest Behind the Ninja Academy
Kunai and shuriken flew toward Natsuki from all directions, slicing through the air with precision. But with a calm, unwavering expression, Natsuki shifted, intercepting each blade with ease. Gripping a kunai tightly, he twisted his body, deflecting the projectiles one by one.
A rhythmic clang, clang, clang echoed around him as kunai and shuriken dropped at his feet, scattering over the ground. He let out a small breath, his face remaining composed as though this were merely another drill.
Though Natsuki's deflections looked effortless, avoiding a full barrage like that without a scratch would have been challenging even for a fresh graduate. His accuracy came not just from training, but from his quick reflexes and naturally sharp dynamic vision, traits he had carefully honed. Using exercises and techniques he knew from his previous world, he'd optimized his movements to a high degree within just a couple of months.
Yet his greatest advantage wasn't just physical; it was the knowledge he had brought from another life. Aware of how critical dynamic vision and reflexes were in shinobi combat, he trained with discipline. He knew enough to avoid drawing too much attention to his skills, but these incremental improvements were essential for his future plans.
After gathering the kunai and shuriken around him, Natsuki tucked the slightly battered weapons away. Even damaged tools were valuable with his limited budget, so he preferred to save every piece of equipment he could. For now, he was focused on steady progress, honing his skills at a natural pace to avoid standing out.
Wrapping his fists and legs with white bandages, he approached a sturdy wooden post nearby and resumed his taijutsu training. As the night deepened, the only sounds in the quiet forest were the thuds of his fists and his steady breathing.
The Next Morning
"Good morning, Ayane." Natsuki greeted his deskmate Ayane Hyuga with a relaxed smile, as they had grown fairly comfortable with each other over the past 6 months.
"Good morning, Natsuki-kun." Ayane responded politely, her demeanor always warm yet refined. Being from the Hyuga clan, Ayane carried herself with the traditional grace of her family, although she was friendly enough with him.
Natsuki knew that her clan had a unique dojutsu called the Byakugan, which was paired with their renowned Gentle Fist taijutsu style, making them highly respected in the shinobi world.
"Good morning to you, too, Ruri-San." Natsuki then greeted the girl on his other side. Ruri Uchiha shot him a brief glance, then looked away, her gaze distant as she continued watching the grounds outside.
"Did you hear, Natsuki-kun?" Ayane asked, catching his attention.
"Oh? What's up?" Natsuki Raises his eyebrow in genuine interest, it seems that Ayane has some kind of information to give him, and he would be an idiot not to know what it is.
"Today, we'll be doing combat training," she explained.
"Combat training?" Natsuki Knows what this is, Fanfictions frequently mention it, Not only that, Naruto and Sasuke also had a Combat Training session in the Story.
"Yes, a hands-on sparring session instead of the usual drills," she clarified with a smile.
Natsuki considered this thoughtfully. His scores in theory had been consistent, but he'd kept his physical skills modest, aiming for a safe middle ground. Ruri, on the other hand, was a top student, holding high scores in both theory and practice, while Ayane was reliably in the top five. Both girls came from prestigious clans with unique dojutsu, something that added to their strength from the start.
"Let's do our best, Natsuki-kun," Ayane said encouragingly.
"Sure thing. If we end up paired together, remember to take it easy on me!" he joked lightly, playing along with the friendly atmosphere. He'd keep his performance level steady, aiming to avoid unnecessary attention.
The First Combat Class
Just as Ayane had mentioned, their teacher, Taiga Fujimura, arranged sparring sessions for Class A. Each student was assigned a partner, and Taiga stood at the sidelines, jotting down notes in his notebook.
Unfortunately, Natsuki was paired not with Ayane, but with Ruri Uchiha.
The stoic Uchiha girl took her position beside him, her expression unchanged as she surveyed the field where their classmates were sparring.
"Using these toy shuriken is ridiculous," she muttered, eying the blunt wooden practice weapons in the hands of two students nearby.
"Ruri-san, you know, we're just first-years. They probably don't want anyone getting seriously hurt," Natsuki replied, hoping she'd keep her volume low. Real weapons would have been a bit much for a first session, especially since some of their classmates had barely touched shuriken before.
Ruri glanced at him briefly, her eyes sharp. "Don't expect me to hold back because you're inexperienced."
Natsuki chuckled, shrugging off the remark with a friendly smile. There was no reason to talk anymore.Before long, their turn arrived, and Natsuki took his position across from Ruri in the ring, preparing himself for the first real test of his skills.
He didn't want to stand out, but there might be a sliver of a chance that some high-ranking Ninja might be watching this fight, and if he purposefully Held back, they might suspect something. So, Natsuki decides to do something interesting.
THE END
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AN:- HOW DO YOU LIKE CHAPTER 3 OF THIS TRANSLATED FANFIC, HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE IT!