Ryuuji stood outside the Uchiha compound with Shisui, who seemed in no hurry as he checked his surroundings. A light breeze rustled the leaves, and for a moment, the morning felt peaceful—almost ordinary. But Ryuuji knew better; nothing about this world was ordinary.
"Ready?" Shisui asked, smiling down at him.
Ryuuji adjusted his bag, giving a confident nod. "Ready."
They began walking toward the Academy, passing by familiar shops and homes. Ryuuji took in the sights, quietly marveling at how real everything felt. The walls of Konoha weren't just a setting from a series anymore; they were solid, tangible. And the people—they were real, with faces full of expressions, lives, and memories. Ryuuji felt a strange blend of nostalgia and awe.
After a while, Shisui broke the silence. "Ryuuji, do you know anyone at the Academy yet?"
"Other than Sasuke, I don't think I know anyone," Ryuuji admitted. "But… I might recognize a few faces."
The original Ryuuji and Sasuke were rivals. They got to know each other through their brothers/
Shisui raised an eyebrow. "Let's hope you're as good at making friends as you are at unlocking the Sharingan."
Ryuuji laughed. "I'll do my best."
Shisui ruffled his hair, a warm, brotherly gesture that Ryuuji couldn't help but appreciate. "Don't worry too much. Just be yourself."
They arrived at the Academy shortly after, and as they reached the main gates, Shisui gave him one last encouraging nod. "You'll do great, Ryuuji. Remember, if you need anything, I'm just a flicker away." With that, he gave Ryuuji a small salute and vanished in a blur.
"Show-off," Ryuuji muttered with a smirk, shaking his head.
He turned back to the Academy, squaring his shoulders.
'Alright, let's do this.'
***
The Academy halls bustled with excited kids and nervous chatter. Ryuuji scanned the crowd, his eyes quickly catching sight of a familiar face: a little blonde boy with whisker-like marks on his cheeks, standing alone by the wall, kicking at the ground with a mix of boredom and frustration.
'Naruto.'
Seeing him in person brought a strange pang to Ryuuji's heart. Here he was, still just a kid, not yet carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"Alright, let's see what orientation has in store," Ryuuji murmured, tearing his gaze away and heading toward the classroom.
Inside, the class was alive with a blend of chatter and curiosity. He caught sight of a few other familiar faces scattered throughout the room: the lazy-looking Shikamaru, Choji with his chips, a brooding Sasuke in the corner, the shy Hinata, the quiet Shino including Sakura and Ino who seemed more interested in Sasuke than anything else.
Ryuuji slid into a seat near the middle, settling in as he took in his surroundings. This wasn't the animated world he once watched; it was real, right down to the faint smell of chalk and the scribbled notes on the board from a previous class.
"Alright, settle down, everyone!" A voice boomed from the doorway, and in walked Iruka-sensei, his scarred face warm yet commanding. The students quieted down immediately.
"Welcome to the Academy," Iruka began, glancing around at each of them. "You're all here because you want to become shinobi. But let me tell you, it's not just about flashy jutsu or being the strongest. Being a shinobi is about dedication, loyalty, and heart."
Ryuuji smirked slightly. 'Same speech as always, huh?'
Iruka continued, explaining the basics of the Academy life and what they would learn. Ryuuji listened intently, already familiar with much of it but appreciating the chance to view it all up close. He could feel the anticipation building in the room; every kid here had their own reasons for wanting to become a ninja.
Just as Iruka was finishing up his speech, a hand shot up from the front row.
"Yeah, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto called out, a challenging look on his face. "So if it's not just about being strong, then what about Hokage? Hokage is the strongest, right? So that means being strong is important!"
Iruka sighed, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Naruto, being Hokage is about more than strength. It's about responsibility, too. A Hokage protects the village, makes hard decisions, and—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! But you still gotta be strong, right?" Naruto insisted, clearly not giving up.
The class chuckled, and Ryuuji couldn't help but grin at Naruto's determination. 'This kid… he's always been like this, hasn't he?'
Iruka shook his head, clearly amused. "Alright, alright. I think we'll save the 'Hokage talk' for another day."
***
In the Academy courtyard, after classes,
Iruka-sensei gathered the students for their first training session, paired up for some quick sparring to gauge skills. Excitement mixed with nerves filled the air as he explained the basics.
"Today, we're focusing on evaluating your skills. Remember, this isn't about winning; it's about learning from each other," Iruka announced.
"First up… Ryuuji and Kiba!"
Kiba grinned, stepping into the circle confidently. "Ready to see what an Inuzaka's got?" he taunted. Ryuuji gave a small nod, unfazed by Kiba's bravado.
However, just before the battle started, a system prompt appeared in front of Ryuuji.
[DING!]
[Sudden Quest: Sparring Session has been triggered!]
[Requirements: Defeat your opponent in less than 2 minutes!]
[Reward: Phoenix Flower Jutsu]
[Penalty: Death]
'What? The Phoenix Flower Jutsu? Now, this is going to be interesting.'
"Hajime!" Iruka called, signaling the start.
Kiba lunged first, charging at Ryuuji with swift punches. Ryuuji dodged and sidestepped each one, his movements fluid and precise. Kiba threw a kick, aiming for Ryuuji's side, but Ryuuji blocked, his expression calm and focused.
Kiba's grin wavered as Ryuuji countered with a quick jab, forcing him back. The crowd of students murmured as Ryuuji's skill became apparent. Kiba, realizing he'd underestimated him, growled, "Alright, no more games!"
Kiba launched into a series of aggressive attacks, each one faster than the last. Ryuuji kept his guard up, deflecting most of the blows, waiting for the right moment. Finally, spotting an opening, he ducked under Kiba's arm, swept his leg, and knocked him off balance. Kiba hit the ground, surprised but unhurt.
"Nice one, Uchiha," Kiba muttered, accepting Ryuuji's outstretched hand to get back up.
Ryuuji if he wanted to, could have ended the fight in just one move. However, Iruka, a staunch supporter of the Hokage might just report him to the higher-ups because of his talents. The last thing he wanted was for Danzo to be after him.
'Although, I think it's useless trying to hide my strength. After all, by now Koharu might've found about my Sharingan already. Knowing her, she might've already ratted me out to Danzo.'
At this moment...
[DING!]
[Congratulations on completing the Sudden Quest: Sparring Session!]
[You've been rewarded with the Phoenix Flower Jutsu!]
[Would you like to accept?]
[Yes/No]
'Not now.' Ryuuji inwardly said and almost immediaptely, the prompt disappeared.
'I don't know what weird thing might happen after I accept. So, it's better I do it after I go home.'
"Alright, next up… Naruto and Sasuke!" Iruka called, moving on.
Naruto bounded into the circle with energy, facing a composed Sasuke. The match began, and Naruto charged recklessly, while Sasuke stayed calm, deflecting each strike with ease. Within moments, Sasuke maneuvered behind Naruto and tripped him, ending the match quickly.
Ryuuji watched closely, noting each classmate's strengths and weaknesses. As the session wrapped up, he was even more convinced that while the Academy held promise, he would need to push beyond these early exercises to truly sharpen his skills. Ryuuji quietly resolved to keep honing his craft, ready for the challenges that lay ahead.
"Good job today, everyone!" Iruka said, smiling proudly. "Remember, improvement comes from practice and observation. Keep at it!"
***
If you're enjoying this, then you can try one of my other novels: Modern World: Author's Harem