Going to the Ninja Academy

"Why not hand him over to me? I can train him into an obedient Anbu member."

After Wu Liang left, a bandage-wrapped figure appeared behind the Third Hokage.

"After all, he is Sensei's clansman. Can you really bring yourself to be that ruthless?" The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe, ignoring the person behind him as he slowly said, "Although quite a few of Sensei's clansmen remain in the Land of Fire, only Tsunade and her family are still on record. Those who changed their names have already become impossible to find. If Minako hadn't asked me to look after him before she died, I wouldn't even have known that child was Sensei's clansman."

The person behind him fell silent. After a long while, he said, "What are you planning? Or do you intend to use him to bring Tsunade back?"

"A little of both. Danzo, don't even think about him. Six years ago, I yielded to you and failed to clear Naruto's name. But you cannot touch A Liang." After taking the last puff from his pipe, the Third Hokage set it down and said seriously, "I know something about Orochimaru. I hope you won't set your sights on him again."

At the mention of Orochimaru, a flicker of wariness flashed through Danzo's otherwise calm eyes, but it quickly vanished. "I don't know what you mean, Hiruzen. I was only thinking of the village. If you disagree, then forget it. I won't say anything more. Fine, I'm leaving. Root still has plenty of documents waiting to be dealt with." With that, Danzo vanished from the Hokage's office in a flash.

"Ah..." The old Third Hokage lit his pipe again, sighed, and began puffing away at it.

Wu Liang followed the cat-masked Anbu through the streets. Along the way, the Anbu bought him a new blanket, toiletries, and other necessities. After several turns, they entered an apartment building. Wu Liang followed the Anbu all the way to the top floor and stopped before a door.

"All right, you'll be living here from now on. It isn't big, but it's more than enough for you. Someone will bring you living expenses every month. This month's money is already on the table in your room, and the refrigerator has been stocked with all kinds of vegetables and meat. From now on, you'll have to learn to live on your own." The cat-masked Anbu handed Wu Liang the blanket and keys. Before vanishing, he reminded him, "Tomorrow, I'll take you to the academy. I'll come again in the morning."

Watching the cat-masked Anbu leave with the Body Flicker Technique, Wu Liang was about to enter the room when he suddenly realized something. Why does this place look so familiar? Didn't Naruto live here in the anime too? Could the room next door be Naruto's? What does the old Third Hokage mean by placing me here?

Unable to figure it out, Wu Liang opened the door. The apartment was not large: one bedroom, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom—a standard single-person apartment. It was a little bigger than Naruto's place. A money pouch sat on the living room table. Wu Liang did not check how much was inside; it should be enough to last him a month anyway. There was also a family portrait hanging on the wall, probably taken shortly after Wu Liang was born. In the photo, a man and woman held a newborn baby. The reason he knew it was Wu Liang's family portrait was that the woman was Minako Senju, his mother in the Naruto world. As for the man, he was probably his bargain-bin father, Mori Senju. Sadly, he had been short-lived and died in the Nine-Tails Attack.

After tidying up the apartment, Wu Liang took something from the refrigerator and casually cooked a meal to fill his stomach before going to bed early. His consciousness had only just returned today, yet he had already absorbed six years of memories and been summoned for an audience. He was rather tired.

As he was about to sleep, Wu Liang remembered that he seemed to be immune to all mental attacks. He asked, "Seria, my hundred-year Wisdom Skull makes me immune to all mental attacks. Does that include the genjutsu of this world?"

Seria was slightly stunned before replying, "Yes, Host. Although you cannot use Soul Power in this world, you can still use your soul bone. After all, it has already fused with your body. Genjutsu in this world is also a form of mental energy, so you can resist it. Even Sharingan genjutsu will have no effect on you."

Having received Seria's definite answer, Wu Liang had no more concerns. He took a bath and slept soundly.

Early the next morning, Wu Liang got up and made breakfast. Then he waited for the Anbu to come take him to the Ninja Academy. Before long, at around eight o'clock, the cat-masked Anbu appeared punctually at Wu Liang's door. Wu Liang followed him straight to the Ninja Academy. Once all the procedures had been completed, he was assigned to follow Iruka to the classroom.

That was right—Iruka Umino, the man who taught the future Konoha Twelve and served as Naruto's guide. At this moment, Iruka wore a stern expression as he held Wu Liang's enrollment papers and walked ahead of him. Wu Liang followed him to a classroom.

The class bell rang just then. Iruka opened the door and led Wu Liang inside. Looking at the students in the classroom, he said, "Class, we have a transfer student joining us today. He is the student beside me, Ryo Senju. Please welcome him."

Clap, clap, clap!

Hearing that a new student had arrived, the children in the class applauded enthusiastically to welcome him.

From the moment he entered the classroom, Wu Liang looked over the little brats seated at their rows of desks. Other than the more recognizable members of the Konoha Twelve—Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Hinata, and the like—he did not recognize a single one. Standing beside the podium and looking at the children, Wu Liang slowly said, "Hello, everyone. My name is Wu Liang. Please take care of me."

The moment Wu Liang finished speaking, Naruto Uzumaki, who was seated in the middle, immediately stood up. "Iruka-sensei, didn't you say his name was Ryo Senju? Why does he say his name is Wu Liang?"

Hearing Naruto's question, the others immediately began discussing it noisily. Seeing the once-quiet classroom descend into chaos, Iruka slapped the desk. "Naruto, settle down! As for your question, I can tell you this: Ryo Senju's father was originally from the Senju Clan, but while living in the village, he adopted the surname Wu under an alias. So whether it's Wu Liang or Ryo Senju, call him whichever you prefer."

Then Iruka looked at Wu Liang. "Ryo Senju, find yourself a seat."

Hearing this, Wu Liang scanned the classroom. When he saw that the seat beside Hinata was empty, he immediately headed toward her row. Stopping next to Hinata, he slowly asked, "Classmate, may I sit beside you?"

A blush immediately appeared on Hinata's little face. Nervously, she replied, "Y-yes. No one is sitting here."

Wu Liang thanked her and sat down beside Hinata. To be honest, Hinata was not particularly pretty as a child. She only truly became beautiful after growing up. Still, compared to the odd-looking bunch in the class, Hinata seemed quite adorable.

Only after Wu Liang sat down did Iruka begin. "All right, today we'll discuss what to pay attention to when practicing Chakra Refinement, and how to refine Chakra."

When the students saw Iruka begin teaching, they shifted their attention away from Wu Liang and back to Iruka, taking notes attentively.

"First, let me introduce Chakra. Chakra is an energy produced when the various energies controlled by the human body are perfectly fused. It is the source of energy used to perform ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, or to form threads that bind opponents or cut through substances likewise made of Chakra.

This energy consists of: first, physical energy extracted cell by cell from the body's 130 trillion cells; second, spiritual energy cultivated through extensive training, accumulated experience, and refinement." Iruka watched the students take notes, then slowly continued, "Chakra also has attributes such as fire, water, wind, lightning, and earth. A small number of people also possess yin or yang attributes."

Iruka Umino spoke eloquently from the podium while the students took notes below. However, it was obvious that those taking notes were the children sent by civilian ninja families. Clan children had long since understood such basic material. It would be more accurate to say that they were already practicing Chakra at this moment. The easiest one for Wu Liang to sense was Hinata beside him. Although Wu Liang had not yet begun practicing Chakra, he could still sense a faint energy response from Hinata. The amount was very low, likely because Hinata had only recently begun training and possessed little Chakra. From Iruka, Wu Liang could sense an enormous amount of energy. Yet if one had to name the person with the most Chakra in the entire classroom, it was undoubtedly Naruto. To Wu Liang's senses, the energy within Naruto's body was as limitless as a vast ocean. However, it carried an ominous, evil aura. This was probably the Nine-Tails' Chakra. Naruto had not even begun training yet, otherwise Wu Liang should have sensed two different energies within him rather than one.

Damn Third Hokage. Where's the Senju Clan's Chakra Refinement technique you promised me? It still hasn't been delivered. Do I have to go find him myself? Damn it, raiding my home was one thing, but couldn't he have left me at least a little... sigh.

The morning class ended before he realized it. The little brats began heading home one after another for lunch, while Wu Liang also prepared to go home and cook. He had not brought a lunchbox, and the academy did not forbid students from going home at noon.

When he returned to his little nest, he immediately saw a scroll on the table. Wu Liang opened it and found the Senju Clan's Chakra Refinement technique inside.

"The old Third Hokage does keep his word," Wu Liang muttered.

Seria said, "Host, I advise you not to speak ill of him. He is watching you with the Telescope Technique."

Seria's sudden notification caught Wu Liang off guard, but his expression did not change in the slightest. If the old Third Hokage learned that he could tell when he was being watched and monitored, he definitely would not remain so easy to deal with.

"Seria, whenever the old Third Hokage monitors me with the Telescope Technique in the future, or whenever there is an Anbu nearby whom I have overlooked, please alert me. I don't want anyone to learn that I can use Wood Release so early. That old schemer Danzo is terrifying. Although dying in this world would send me back to Douluo Continent, dying like that would still be quite frustrating. I finally have so much extra time to practice my swordsmanship and gain real combat experience. How can I waste it so easily?" Wu Liang said seriously to Seria.

Seria replied, "Understood, Host."

After Seria agreed, Wu Liang did not immediately begin cultivating. Instead, he first dealt with his hungry stomach.

While cooking, he heard movement in the hallway. Curious, Wu Liang put down what he was doing and opened the door, only to see Naruto taking out his key to unlock his own door.

Naruto froze mid-motion, then said to Wu Liang in surprise, "Ryo Senju, so you live next door to me! I was wondering why the apartment that had been empty until yesterday suddenly had someone living in it. So you moved in!"

"Yes, I only moved in yesterday. You're Naruto, right? I've heard of you. Want to come over and eat? I'm cooking." Wu Liang said, raising the spatula in his hand.

"Ahahaha, how could I impose?" Naruto said, but his body was far more honest as he followed Wu Liang into the apartment.

"Oh, A Liang, can I call you that? Your place is so much bigger than mine," Naruto praised.