Enrollment

Konoha Ninja School.

By the time Rinto arrived at the school gate, the children coming and going were long gone.

The warm morning sunlight filtered through the green leaves overhead, spilling onto the ground in a peaceful, leisurely scene.

At the school entrance stood a middle-aged ninja in a green vest, ramrod straight, scribbling in a small notebook.

When he saw Rinto approaching, the middle-aged ninja froze briefly before striding over.

"Sakuta Rinto?" The middle-aged ninja frowned as he checked the notebook in his hand.

Rinto nodded.

The middle-aged ninja did not waste words. With a snap, he shut the notebook and introduced himself at a rapid pace.

"My name is Nakaryu Taiku. You may call me Teacher Taiku. Now then, Rinto-kun, follow me!"

With that, he turned and headed into the school without hesitation. Rinto quickened his pace slightly and followed.

Seeing that Rinto had caught up, Nakaryu Taiku said nothing more. He opened his notebook and began reading in a stiff, methodical tone as they walked.

"Sakuta Rinto. Orphan. Born in the Land of Hot Water. Arrived in Konoha with a Merchant Caravan more than half a month ago."

Rinto nodded repeatedly upon hearing that.

"I have a general understanding of your situation. Now, let me explain the school rules.

The Ninja School was founded by Lord Tobirama, the Second Hokage. It is the most fundamental stage of training for all Konoha ninja.

Here, you can learn the Will of Fire, the Three Basic Jutsu, and the knowledge that will help a novice ninja survive."

As he spoke, Nakaryu Taiku cleared his throat.

"Ahem. Since this is your first time, I will not make you copy out the Will of Fire. But remember this well: classes at the Ninja School begin at nine every morning and end at three in the afternoon.

There are two classes every morning and one in the afternoon.

They include history, theory, and practical classes.

..."

After rattling off a whole mountain of rules, Rinto rose slightly onto his toes and stealthily glanced at the small notebook in Nakaryu Taiku's hand.

Good lord, the characters were as small as grains of rice and packed tightly together. Was this guy, unlike Mizuguma, actually serious?

But Rinto simply could not get along with people who were genuinely that serious.

The words went in one ear and out the other. Rinto yawned as he walked beside Nakaryu Taiku.

Soon, the two crossed the open space in front of the school, passed the swing that the future prince would love most, and entered a small three-story building.

"The first floor is for first-years and sixth-years.

The second floor is for second-years and third-years.

The third floor is for fourth-years and fifth-years."

"Teacher Taiku, what year am I assigned to?"

Rinto did not know how Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged things. Based on his circumstances, he should have been placed in the first year.

But in terms of age, Rinto was already old enough for the second year.

At that, Nakaryu Taiku's expression suddenly became strange. Rather than answering Rinto's question, he asked instead,

"Rinto-kun, do you have any relatives in the Konoha High Council?"

"No." Rinto honestly shook his head.

"Then before enrolling, did you receive any basic ninja education?"

Rinto was startled inside.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't tell this guy about me, did he? No, no, no! He shouldn't have. This involved Konoha's secret infiltration of Amegakure. The higher-ups would never tell an ordinary Ninja School teacher about something like that.

With that thought, Rinto gave a self-mocking smile and shook his head.

Nakaryu Taiku's expression became even stranger.

"Then this is very strange. Why would the higher-ups have a student with no foundation directly enter the second year?"

Rinto felt a faint surge of delight.

Being placed in the second year meant he would have to spend one less year in this school full of little brats. That was certainly good news to him.

Muttering to himself, Nakaryu Taiku led Rinto up the stairs to the second floor.

There were not many students capable of becoming ninja, so each grade only had one class.

In other words, aside from the teachers' office, each floor only had two large tiered classrooms.

After climbing the stairs, Nakaryu Taiku and Rinto arrived on the second floor and entered a tiered classroom right beside the stairwell.

The classroom was empty. Books, papers, pens, and scrolls lay scattered across the desks. It looked as though the students had only just left.

Nakaryu Taiku was still rattling on about the Ninja School's various rules, acting as if every second counted. Rinto clutched his forehead in irritation.

"Teacher Taiku, where are the other students?"

Having been interrupted, Nakaryu Taiku shot Rinto an annoyed look and replied sourly, "This is practical combat class. Everyone has gone to the field behind the school."

"Then, Teacher Taiku, do I need to attend class?"

This guy was far too talkative. In just this short time, Rinto already felt like pulling out his intestines and strangling him with them.

"You can. But from the school gate until now, you have asked five questions and interrupted me seven times. Therefore, I will delay you for five minutes."

With that, he flipped through his notebook and continued reading to himself.

Rinto rolled his eyes speechlessly, clutched his forehead, and casually found a seat.

He finally understood why Supreme Treasure wanted to club Tang Sanzang to death with a single blow. Being nagged at like this was even more unbearable than being sliced apart.

Rinto felt as if he had returned to his previous life, sitting in a classroom.

It felt as though a century had passed. Nakaryu Taiku's thin lips finally stopped moving, and the world became quiet again.

Rinto stood up with some excitement and looked at Nakaryu Taiku.

"Teacher Taiku, let's hurry to the field. I can't wait to meet my dear classmates."

Nakaryu Taiku nodded in satisfaction.

Although this boy always liked interrupting him, although he had skipped from the first year to the second for no apparent reason, although he was late on his very first day of school—still! As long as he could get along lovingly with his classmates, he was a good child.

With that in mind, Nakaryu Taiku beckoned Rinto over and pointed at a corner in the last row.

"Rinto-kun, there are no other empty seats in the classroom for now, so you will have to make do with sitting there."

Rinto took one look and was delighted, immediately nodding like a pecking chicken.

A corner seat was perfect! He could sleep when there was nothing to do, and if he could not sleep, he could sneak looks at the scenery outside the window. It was practically tailor-made for someone like him who had come here to coast through the days.

After confirming his seat, Nakaryu Taiku led Rinto out of the teaching building again.

On the vast field behind the building, a group of children under the guidance of two ninja were divided into pairs, constantly punching and kicking at one another.

Though they were only seven- or eight-year-old children, their sparring already showed a fair amount of structure, with measured advances and retreats.

They exchanged blows back and forth as childish grunts of "Hmph! Hah! Hey!" rang out without end.

Two teachers in green vests moved among them, constantly correcting the students' movements.

Rinto, who had initially been somewhat curious, immediately lost interest.

How should he put it? They certainly had the combat style of ninja: both sides either blocked or dodged, with none of the raw, hard-hitting intensity of punches landing flesh on flesh. Compared to this, Rinto still found Kumogakure's taijutsu more exciting.

Bold and forceful, every punch landing solidly—now that was exhilarating!

Closest to Rinto, a black-haired boy was pinning down a silver-haired boy.

What stood out was that the silver-haired boy was especially full of fighting spirit. Even while pinned to the ground, he continued struggling wildly.

Meanwhile, the brat on top of him had one hand arrogantly clamped around his neck, wearing an expression that practically begged to be punched.

Rinto's gaze swept over them, and the corner of his lips curled up slightly.

"Heh~ An evil little brat from the Uchiha clan."