The Academy had a way of reminding Yuto that, despite his adult mind, he was still just a child in this new world. Surrounded by eager students who buzzed with energy and youthful ambition, he often felt like an outsider, a grown man stuck in the body of a child, fumbling through interactions with people he couldn't quite relate to.
It wasn't that he disliked them—far from it. The other kids had their own quirks and charms. But their exuberance felt alien to him, like watching a world he couldn't fully belong to.
The class itself was lively, a mix of promising talent and flailing limbs. Hiroshi Akimichi, with his ever-present snacks and booming laughter, often brought levity to the room. "Hey, Yuto-kun!" he called during a break one day. "You gotta try this! It's the best grilled meat bun ever!"
Yuto hesitated, staring at the offering. Hiroshi's grin was infectious, and he didn't seem to expect anything in return, so Yuto accepted. "Thanks," he said, taking a bite.
"See? Told ya it's good!" Hiroshi declared, thumping Yuto's shoulder.
Yuto nodded, unsure how to carry the conversation. Hiroshi didn't seem to mind the silence, though, happily munching away beside him.
There were others, too. Emiko Hyuga, quiet and diligent, always seemed to have her nose buried in a scroll or practicing forms with unnerving precision. Yuto occasionally caught her glancing in his direction during taijutsu drills. Perhaps she found his unrefined punches interesting—or amusing. He couldn't tell.
And then there was Riku Uchiha, loud and full of himself. He strutted around the classroom as though the Hokage seat was already reserved for him. Yuto found his arrogance both irritating and oddly amusing. Riku's overconfidence often led to him overextending during sparring matches, which Hideo-sensei corrected with an exasperated sigh.
Yuto observed them all with a mix of curiosity and detachment. It wasn't that he didn't want to connect—he just didn't know how. Being around these kids felt strange, like trying to bridge a gap he couldn't quite cross.
The lessons were a mix of triumphs and struggles. Yuto excelled in the theoretical aspects of ninja training, his adult mind giving him an edge.
"Yuto-kun," Hideo-sensei said during a strategy lesson, "you've got a sharp understanding of battlefield tactics. Great insight today."
Yuto nodded, a small flicker of pride lighting up his chest. But when it came to practical skills, he had a much harder time.
Clone Jutsu, in particular, was his nemesis. He tried to focus, forming the hand seals slowly, carefully. Chakra surged through him as he concentrated. With a puff of smoke, a clone appeared—its arms oddly bent and one eye twitching unnaturally.
The class burst into laughter, and Yuto couldn't help but grimace.
"Don't worry, Yuto-kun," Hideo-sensei said encouragingly. "It's better than last time. Keep at it."
Yuto sighed. It was progress, sure, but it felt slow. Too slow.
A few weeks into the term, Hideo-sensei introduced chakra induction paper to the class.
"This paper will reveal your chakra's elemental affinity," he explained. "Channel your chakra into it, and the paper will react based on your nature: Fire burns, Wind slices, Water dampens, Earth crumbles, and Lightning wrinkles."
When it was Yuto's turn, he stared at the slip of paper in his hands. Carefully, he focused his chakra, willing it to flow steadily. The reaction was immediate—the paper burned at the edges before splitting neatly in two.
The room buzzed with whispers.
"Fire and Wind?" Hideo-sensei murmured, raising his brows. "That's an impressive combination. With hard work, Yuto-kun, those affinities can complement each other beautifully."
Yuto stared at the charred and torn paper, his heart thudding in his chest. Fire and Wind… He wasn't entirely sure what that meant yet, but for the first time, he felt like he had something special.
Despite these small victories, Yuto couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place. During lunch breaks, he often found himself sitting alone under the shade of a tree, watching the other kids play.
Kaede, a civilian girl who struggled with ninjutsu, sometimes approached him. One afternoon, she plopped down beside him, her hair a mess from sparring drills.
"You're really good at the theory stuff, Yuto-kun," she said, brushing dirt off her knees. "But you're always so… quiet. Don't you want to play with the others?"
Yuto hesitated, unsure how to explain himself. "I guess… I'm not really used to it," he said finally.
Kaede tilted her head, considering his words. "Well, if you ever feel like talking, I'm around. You're kind of interesting, you know."
"Thanks," he said, feeling both grateful and awkward.
Over time, Yuto's skills began to improve. His taijutsu strikes gained more precision, his stamina increased, and his ninjutsu grew less lopsided. It was a slow process, but he felt progress inching forward.
Walking home one evening after a long day of training, Yuto found himself pausing to look up at the Hokage Monument. The carved faces of Konoha's leaders loomed over the village, their expressions resolute and unwavering.
He noticed villagers stopping to admire the monument, some whispering about the great deeds of the Hokage. Children nearby shouted about how they wanted to become Hokage one day, their voices full of excitement.
Yuto didn't share their dreams, but for the first time, he understood a little of their passion. This world was different from the stagnant monotony of his old life. Here, he could grow, improve, and explore endless possibilities.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he continued walking. The journey was still unfamiliar, but for the first time, he felt excited to see where it might take
uff another chapter done:) please drop a comment so that i can know someone read it please pleasee ~~