It had been a month since Shanks regained his memories. During this time, he had rigorously followed his training schedule.
By the end of this period, Shanks had gained decent control over his chakra. He could now stand or move on a wall for up to an hour. However, the third chakra control exercise—standing and moving on water—was much more challenging and required greater chakra reserves. To ensure safety, Shanks practiced this exercise at home, in his bathtub. After numerous attempts, the maximum time he could stand on water was 50 minutes. Despite trying to push further, his limited chakra reserves held him back.
His swordsmanship and physical training had been somewhat delayed due to the time he invested in mastering chakra control. Nevertheless, Shanks felt stronger and had gained a moderate grasp of the basics of swordsmanship.
The one training he never compromised on was mastering Conqueror's Haki. He meditated regularly, practiced maintaining composure, and worked on controlling his emotions. He meticulously recorded his progress every week. Four weeks wasn't enough to achieve his ultimate goals, but Shanks continued his efforts without any doubt or hesitation.
Adjusting to life at the academy was tough at first, but Shanks gradually got used to the new environment. The first friend he made was Choji, whom he befriended by sharing snacks. Through Choji, he also became friends with Shikamaru. Despite being only seven years old, Shikamaru's intelligence was far beyond that of most adults.
Making friends with Naruto was more complicated. Shanks wasn't worried about how the village would treat him, but he was cautious about drawing the attention of Konoha's higher-ups. He especially didn't want to catch Danzo's eye, fearing he might be dragged into Root. The Hokage, too, was someone who could be terrifying if the situation demanded it.
Despite his concerns, Shanks couldn't ignore Naruto's living conditions, which broke his heart. So, he chose to befriend him, offering the boy some much-needed companionship.
Shanks also tried to talk to Hinata and found it interesting that she was able to hold a conversation with him despite her shy nature. She occasionally blushed like a tomato but never fainted. After some thought, Shanks concluded that Hinata hadn't yet experienced the pressure and expectations from her clan that would later shape her personality in the original timeline.
The academy's lessons bored Shanks. The teachers repeated topics five or more times, and students reviewed the same concepts over and over.
To master high-level techniques, Shanks had to start by learning basic-ranked techniques. That's why he began training in the Clone Jutsu technique.
Shanks had been practicing the D-rank Clone Jutsu for two days. This technique required Yin release and resembled Genjutsu in many ways. After studying its principles, Shanks realized that Naruto's difficulty in mastering it stemmed from his imbalance between Yin and Yang elements. As an Uzumaki and the reincarnation of Ashura, Naruto had a naturally strong Yang affinity. Combined with only possessing Kurama's Yang half, this imbalance became even more severe.
Shanks could now create a single clone. Based on his research in the library, he concluded that mastering the technique would require him to create at least five clones.
One morning, Shanks woke up, got ready, and headed to the academy. Today was the day for hand-to-hand combat practice, and he was eagerly looking forward to it.
The first class was math. Iruka and another instructor were teaching basic algebra, like five plus two or nine minus four. Naruto, visibly frustrated, whispered to Shanks:
"These problems are so hard and annoying. Just when I think I've got it, I get stuck on the next one."
Shanks grinned. "Naruto, my friend, you're doing it wrong. Let me teach you a trick."
Using ramen as an example, Shanks helped Naruto understand the math problems, much to the boy's delight. Naruto's eyes lit up. "Shanks, you're a genius!"
After math class and a short break, the students practiced throwing kunai.
In the final period, the students gathered on the academy's training grounds. Iruka announced, "When I call your names, step into the ring for a sparring match. Remember, you're sparring as comrades, not enemies. Fight seriously, but without malicious intent. Before and after the match, perform this ninja sign of respect, symbolizing camaraderie and friendship."
The first match was between Kiba Inuzuka and Izumo Kei.
Kiba and Izumo stood on opposite sides of the ring. Iruka counted down:
"Three… two… one… begin!"
The fight started immediately, with Kiba taking the lead. His moves were quick, aggressive, and precise, showcasing the combat skills he had been trained in from a young age. As a member of the Inuzuka clan, Kiba's techniques heavily relied on Taijutsu, and his upbringing gave him a significant advantage over ordinary students.
Despite Izumo's best efforts, Kiba's superiority was undeniable. The match ended when Kiba landed a solid punch to Izumo's stomach, followed by a powerful kick to his side, leaving Izumo unconscious.
Iruka hurried to check on Izumo and glared at Kiba. "Kiba! I told you not to attack with malicious intent!"
Kiba, with a casual shrug, placed his hands behind his head and said, "Sensei, it's not my fault he's so weak."
Iruka: "Oh, is that so? Well, I'll make sure you're severely punished for today's actions, both by the academy and your mother!"
Iruka's response sent a wave of dread crashing over Kiba. His mother—she was his greatest fear. The thought of her stern gaze, the sharp tone of her voice, and the way she could silence an entire room with just a single word made his heart race uncontrollably. His palms grew sweaty, and his throat felt dry as he imagined the inevitable lecture, the sharp reprimand, and the piercing disapproval in her eyes. Kiba's legs felt like jelly, and for a moment, he wondered if he could somehow vanish into thin air to escape the doom that awaited him.
Before kiba could respond,
Shanks smirked and spoke loudly, ensuring everyone could hear:
"Wow, Kiba! For someone so tough in the ring, you sure are scared of your mom. The mighty wolf becomes a little puppy when her name comes up!"
The other students burst into laughter, some clutching their sides as they pointed at Kiba. Even Naruto couldn't hold back and laughed louder than anyone.
Kiba's face turned red with anger as he clenched his fists. "What did you just say, Shanks?!"
Shanks, still smirking, crossed his arms and replied, "You heard me. Or do I need to say it again for the 'mighty puppy'?"
The students erupted into another round of laughter, and Kiba's frustration grew. Iruka, noticing the tension, quickly stepped in.
"Enough! Kiba, stand down! Shanks, that's enough from you too. This is a sparring match, not a comedy show!"
Shanks raised his hands innocently and said, "Hey, I was just making an observation."
Kiba shot him a glare but said nothing, storming out of the ring while the other students chuckled quietly behind his back. Shanks, meanwhile, leaned back against the wall, looking pleased with himself.