History of the Ninja World

The time came to noon.

Takuma Senju announced the dismissal, and Renye hurried home for lunch.

The lunch break was one hour long; students could choose to bring a bento or go home to eat.

Since it was his first day, Renye naturally hadn't prepared a bento and had to go back.

"I wonder if Uncle made me lunch?"

Thinking this, he headed toward the Senju Clan Compound.

On the way back, Renye happened to spot a brat walking ahead.

That person was none other than Reppu Uchiha, the loudest one in the classroom earlier.

Renye looked around, found Reppu Uchiha alone, and immediately flashed a sly grin.

"Heh heh, gotcha, didn't I?"

This kid had carelessly ended up isolated, and Renye naturally wouldn't miss this golden chance—he had to make the other taste the consequences of provoking him!

"Damn it, I forgot my bento."

Reppu Uchiha grumbled as he walked.

He'd been so focused on the entrance test that he'd forgotten his bento.

Though he'd forgotten it, his two companions hadn't.

So no one accompanied him back; he had to go home alone to eat.

Suddenly, a faint rustling came from behind, like someone deliberately muffling their footsteps, the subtle scrape of soles against the ground.

"Who?"

Reppu Uchiha's heart tightened, and he instinctively whipped around.

His gaze swept the area, but the street was empty, nothing there.

Only a gentle breeze brushed by, rustling the roadside grass.

"Did I mishear?" Reppu Uchiha frowned.

He figured he probably hadn't eaten lunch, was too hungry, and was hearing things.

With that thought, he shook his head and turned to keep walking home.

But the moment he turned, a black shadow lunged from behind. Before he could react, a rough black bag dropped over his head, sealing it tight.

Then, a flurry of wind-driven fists and feet rained down on his body like a storm.

Reppu Uchiha was knocked off balance by the barrage and crashed heavily to the ground.

He struggled to push himself up, but a fist slammed into his face.

That punch was full of force, making stars burst before his eyes as the world spun.

Before he could recover, fists kept pounding his face.

"Ah! Don't hit the face, I'm begging you!"

The attacker said nothing, just kept throwing punches.

"Aaaah..."

Reppu Uchiha let out a heart-wrenching scream.

After who knew how long, the attacker stopped.

Reppu Uchiha gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently; each breath pulled at his injuries, drawing pained groans.

After a long moment, Reppu's trembling hands struggled to yank the black bag off his head.

He squinted through eyes swollen nearly shut, laboriously scanning the area for the assailant.

But the street was already empty.

Reppu looked up, touched his face—beaten to a pulp—and the searing pain made him suck in a sharp breath.

"Whoever you are, I'll never let you off!"

Reppu Uchiha staggered to his feet, swaying and unsteady.

He leaned against the wall, hobbling step by step toward home.

On the other side, the Senju Clan Compound.

"Today's a good day~"

Renye hummed a tune as he walked home.

And honestly, beating up Reppu Uchiha had lifted his spirits quite a bit.

"Uncle, is the food ready?" Renye pushed open the yard gate.

But what answered him wasn't Tobirama Senju, but a soft laugh.

Renye paused for a moment, then followed the sound.

Mito Uzumaki was sitting in the courtyard, a gentle smile on her face.

"Little Renye, you forgot your lunchbox, didn't you?"

"Aunt Mito, what are you doing here?" Renye was a little surprised.

Mito Uzumaki held up the lunchbox in her hand and said with a smile, "Tobirama had something to take care of and didn't have time to cook, so he asked me to bring you your lunch."

"I see." Renye nodded.

"Come eat quickly!" Mito Uzumaki opened the lunchbox. "Try your aunt's cooking."

"I'll dig in!"

Renye didn't stand on ceremony; he picked up the lunchbox and started eating.

Mito Uzumaki watched Renye with a beaming smile and asked, "Little Renye, are you having fun at school?"

"It's alright. My classmates are all talented, and they talk nicely."

"Is that so? Then you should get along well with them."

Renye couldn't help but think of Reppu Uchiha's miserable state and cracked a smile. "Don't worry, I've already become one with them."

"Haha, Little Renye really knows how to make friends."

She had no idea that Renye had become one with his classmates in a very physical sense...

After finishing lunch, Renye said goodbye to Mito Uzumaki and left. He still had to go back to class in the afternoon.

Afternoon, Ninja Academy.

Reppu Uchiha didn't show up for class; probably recovering from his injuries...

"Class, take out your history books. This lesson we'll be covering history," the history teacher said.

Renye: "???"

Wait, isn't it only Konoha Year 6 now?

What history is there to speak of?

In other words, Konoha Village hasn't even been around as long as he's been alive.

This year is Ninja World Year 6, and Renye just turned seven.

Yeah... he's a year older than Konoha Village.

But Renye misunderstood.

When he opened the history book, he realized it covered the History of the Ninja World.

Including the origins of the ninja world—like the birth of ninjas, the Warring States period, the grudges between the major clans...

Of course, there was also the history of Konoha's founding, but only a few thin pages.

He flipped through it and saw it was mostly praising Hashirama Senju's great achievements, with very little mention of Madara Uchiha.

Renye's mouth twitched. He didn't need to guess who wrote this history book.

His eyes fell on the cover, which read: "Written by Tobirama Senju."

Renye: "..."

Sure enough, it really was that Old Man Tobirama.

To that, he could only snort.

There was nothing worth learning in the history of the ninja world; he might as well sleep.

So Renye put his head down on the desk and dozed off.

He wasn't the only one—that guy named Motoya Nara was asleep too.

"Renye-kun, wake up. School's out."

Renye was groggily shaken awake, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Motoya Nara.

"School's out?" Renye instinctively looked around and found only the two of them left in the classroom.

Judging by the sky outside the window, it seemed school had been out for a while—it was almost dark.

Had that much time passed?

He'd only just closed his eyes a moment ago...

"Yeah, school's out." Motoya Nara looked impressed.

He thought he was already a heavy sleeper, until he woke up and saw Renye still sound asleep.

That was when Motoya Nara realized the difference between an ordinary clan and a major one...

"That was a great sleep!" Renye stretched. "Sleeping during class really hits different."

"It really does." Motoya Nara nodded in deep agreement.