Ninja
In the end, Tsunayoshi managed to complete the course within the one-hour time limit. However, after finishing, he was too exhausted to stand and collapsed onto the ground.
"When you feel tired, don't lie down; it's bad for your body," Minato said with a frown, concern evident in his eyes. Ignoring the mocking gazes from those around them, he stepped forward to help Tsunayoshi up.
Tsunayoshi was too worn out to speak. The exertion from that single lap was undoubtedly greater than any physical activity he had ever done since learning to walk.
"Are you okay?" Minato asked, worried by Tsunayoshi's disheveled appearance.
Using the last of his strength, Tsunayoshi weakly shook his head, indicating he was fine.
After another ten minutes, the class assignments were announced. There were four classes for first-year students, ranked according to their test scores. Tsunayoshi, without a doubt, ranked at the bottom and was placed in the lowest D class.
"This test was just to assess your basics and doesn't determine your future capabilities. This class assignment doesn't mean much; if you want to become great ninjas, you'll need to work hard in your school life!" The Chūnin judge stated this expressionlessly as he called out each new student's name and class before leaving them with those words.
Next, the homeroom teachers arrived to lead their respective students to their classrooms.
Tsunayoshi slowly followed behind his teacher. Unlike Class A, where everyone seemed energized, most students in Class D were drenched in sweat from their exhausting run. Their teacher deliberately slowed down the pace so they could recover.
Tsunayoshi felt tired and a bit disheartened.
He hadn't ended up in the same class as Minato.
In stark contrast to Tsunayoshi's position at the bottom, Minato had pushed past many ninja children to secure a spot in the top ten as a civilian. Naturally, he ended up in Class A. While Tsunayoshi was happy for Minato's success, he felt a twinge of sadness that he hadn't had a chance to congratulate him. After finishing the run, Tsunayoshi was nearly too exhausted to speak. With only a brief ten-minute break before class assignments were finalized, by the time he recovered, everyone had already lined up according to their new classes. At that moment, Tsunayoshi found it even harder to approach Minato.
'I'll talk to him after class!'
Tsunayoshi thought optimistically.
"I'm Goro; I'll be your teacher until graduation if nothing goes wrong." The Chūnin named Goro wasted no time dousing cold water on the group of eager children on their first day of school.
"The previous teacher said this class assignment doesn't mean much. But I want to say: don't set your expectations too high. While you're working hard and getting stronger, those who were already stronger than you are also putting in effort."
"Don't naively dream that you'll become the strongest ninja; such delusions will only lead you to be the first one dead on the battlefield."
"To grow stronger, you must first acknowledge your own weakness!"
"You must admit that you are far weaker than others if you wish to have an accurate understanding of yourself."
"How many of your parents are ninjas?"
"Those whose parents are ninjas have been trained from an early age; some have even learned one or two jutsu by now. How do you plan to compete with them?"
"Even if you risk your lives training, it doesn't guarantee you'll catch up!"
The man with a headband and a scar on his face delivered these harsh truths mercilessly: "I know this won't discourage all of you easily, but I still want to tell you: if you want to surpass others and stand at the forefront, you need to invest ten or twenty times more effort than they do!"
"During your brief time as students here, deeply experience your own inadequacy and recognize where you truly stand!"
"Lastly, the ninja academy does not prohibit private fights; as long as they don't endanger lives, there will be no punishment."
"This means you shouldn't foolishly challenge those stronger than yourselves; if you get injured or worse, they won't be punished for it. Being a ninja is a brutal profession; victors are celebrated regardless of how ruthless they are while losers can only lick their wounds in dark corners. No—losers don't even get that chance! What awaits them is death!"
Tsunayoshi didn't know what others thought about this but felt his still-developing worldview shaken profoundly.
'Did the teacher just say... people die?'
'Is he joking?'
In his short five years of life, Tsunayoshi believed he lived in a peaceful world. Yet here in Konoha, all the information he received was laced with danger signals.
'This world is incredibly dangerous.'
'People could die at any moment.'
'Even children must fight.'
Though young, Tsunayoshi understood what war meant.
War signifies suffering and death; it's something terrible.
'Did my mom and dad die because of war? They died protecting me...'
Even now, Tsunayoshi wasn't entirely clear on what had happened back then. However, piecing together what adults had said allowed him to vaguely grasp some truths.
'Vongola'
Tsunayoshi silently etched the word "Vongola" into his mind. This place, Vongola, might hold connections to his parents. If he could find it, perhaps he could uncover the truth about what had happened.
To achieve this, Tsunayoshi knew he had to study hard.
'Mom always said that if I study well, I can become strong!'
'I want to get stronger and find Vongola!'
His worries for his parents' safety made him overlook the warnings his mind was sending him.
'Something feels very wrong here!'
Since awakening, his instincts had been alerting him to this fact.
Although Tsunayoshi had lived in Namimori, he had gradually learned about the world through the educational toys his parents had bought for him.
The country where Tsunayoshi lived was an island situated in a vast ocean. Although he hadn't seen the sea yet, he had heard it was just a few hours' drive away.
However, the village of Konoha where he currently resided was deep inland.
Konoha and the country it belonged to were far from the coast.
'This is a different place.'
'Far away from Namimori, far from home.'
'But that's okay! As long as I grow up and become strong like Dad, I can find Vongola and return home!'
Tsunayoshi thought confidently.
Author's Note:
Once the concept of chakra ninjutsu comes into play, Tsunayoshi will realize he has arrived in another world...
Additionally, due to the nature of this world, Tsunayoshi won't be able to learn ninjutsu because he lacks chakra...
But that's fine; we'll just give him sage techniques instead!