I noticed the orphanage in front of us wasn't big. It was a simple two-floors oriental-style house with a small yard surrounded by large trees. My eyes widened when I looked at one tree with a trunk charred and cracked like it was struck by lightning.
'So it was there...'
That must have been where this body was struck by lightning and fell. If Hoshino Kenshin's body hadn't gone through that, would I even be here?
"Oh, you noticed... We requested a team of ninja from the Hokage to remove the tree, but unfortunately, they haven't sent anyone yet." Kaori placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about it now. Come, I'll show you where you'll stay."
We soon entered the wooden structure of the house, and I realized it was probably mealtime. The ground floor of the orphanage consisted of several tables, where a large number of children were eating.
It seemed this orphanage had more orphans than I had initially thought. I received a few curious glances, but Miss Kaori quickly guided me to the first floor.
The rooms appeared to be shared by 20 children, with futons scattered wherever there was space.
"Your futon is the one in the corner near the window. Dr. Koichi said it's important for you to have good access to wind." Kaori explained, pointing to the futon in the corner. "Meals are served at the same time every day."
Before Kaori could turn and leave the room, I decided to take the opportunity to ask her some questions and request a few things I would definitely need.
"Kaori-san, could you get me some paper and a pencil?" I asked, trying to use the young age of this body to be convincing.
"Eh, you want to draw, Kenshin-kun? Of course! Follow me, I'll get you some paper and a pencil."
Her hand ruffled my hair and silently thanked god for letting me reincarnate as a cute child.
I followed Miss Kaori to another room that seemed to be an office and watched her gather some sheets of paper and two pencils before handing them to me.
In the corner of the room, I noticed an old painting of the Second Hokage hanging on the wall. Perfect—this was a good way to ask another question.
"Kaori-san... The Hokage is a ninja, right?" I asked, putting on a thoughtful expression. "Can I... Can I become a ninja?"
I tried to put as much hope as possible into my words and acted like a curious child while holding the papers against my arm.
"A ninja? Of course, you can, Kenshin-kun. The academy admission exams will happen in two weeks. All the children in the orphanage between five and six years old who wish to be a ninja can try to join."
Her statement relieved me. I didn't know how admission to the Leaf Ninja Academy worked. Of course, I still didn't know what it would take to get in, but I was determined to give everything I had to become a ninja.
"Thank you, Miss Kaori! I really want to! I want to become a strong ninja like my father and the Hokage!" I said with a big smile on my face.
I tried to be as convincing as possible. The truth is; my desire to become a ninja wasn't because of some poor father I had never known or admiration for the Hokages. The real reason was that I didn't want to die when Pain came to invade the Leaf Village.
"I'm sure you'll make it, Kenshin-kun. Now let's go eat—you need to eat well to become a ninja." Kaori guided me back to the dining hall.