An Exchange with Kakashi

"All right, today we'll focus on getting used to this posture. Follow me and jog slowly. Remember, don't channel too much Chakra—just a tiny bit to reinforce your legs."

A good kid like Shuichi naturally practiced along with them. It looked a little cringe, but ninja fundamentals that could improve his survival rate had to be mastered properly.

After this ninja Chakra marching exercise, Shuichi considered that he had more Chakra than ordinary children and added ninja running practice to his after-school training.

Since the students were still young, the Ninja Academy had not arranged any other practical combat projects this term. In the subsequent Shuriken practice classes, not many people challenged Shuichi in silence either.

As the term entered its latter half, once the Shuriken practice quota had met the semester's requirements, Teacher Sanada Tomohisa added Kunai practice.

In Shuichi's impression, Kunai were more often used as thrown weapons in the original story, perhaps even more often than Shuriken. Yet at the Ninja Academy, they were still taught mainly for close-quarters combat.

According to Teacher Sanada Shiku, because Kunai were larger than Shuriken, ordinary ninja did not carry many of them. Only in urgent situations would they be used as throwing weapons.

So in class, the teacher only taught them how to grip a Kunai and some basic techniques, such as how to block Hidden Weapons and what to do when facing attacks from heavy weapons.

Time slowly passed. Autumn in the Land of Fire lasted longer than usual this year. By the latter half of the term, Konoha had entered winter. Though it was somewhat cold, there was no snow.

For Shuichi, this term's material was even easier than the previous one's. Since practical classes now made up a greater proportion of the curriculum, he could spend less time balancing theory and practice.

In the practical classes that followed, relying on the formidable physical abilities enhanced by the system, Shuichi met the final exam requirements through classroom practice alone. Before long, the final exams for the term were over.

"First place, Takeda Shuichi. Shuriken Fundamentals, full marks; Ninja World Geography, full marks; Basic Ninja Technique Theory, full marks; ..."

"Second place, Hatake Kakashi. Shuriken Fundamentals, full marks; Ninja World Geography, full marks; Basic Ninja Technique Theory, full marks; ..."

"Twenty-sixth place, Uchiha Obito. Shuriken Fundamentals, full marks; Ninja World Geography, 60 points; Basic Ninja Technique Theory, 70 points; ..."

Shuichi was somewhat surprised when he heard that. Only later did he remember that, according to official records, Uchiha Obito was the earliest among this batch of students to be promoted to Chunin aside from Kakashi. Nohara Rin had advanced alongside him.

Even Sarutobi Asuma, the Third Hokage's son, became a Chunin a year later than they did. So this so-called dead last was probably just something the anime joked about.

Otherwise, he could not have been assigned to Namikaze Minato's team. That showed that, in Konoha's eyes, Uchiha Obito should have had greater potential than Asuma.

After the teacher announced the results, Hatake Kakashi's expression could be described as aggrieved and helpless. At that moment, Shuichi seemed to sense something and looked in his direction, then smiled at him.

After everyone listened to Teacher Sanada Tomohisa's term summary, the students shot up from their stools with a roar and rushed out of the classroom in a scramble.

Shuichi then unusually went straight to Kakashi. Kakashi had originally planned to head home immediately, so he was a little surprised to see Shuichi approaching.

"Do you need something?" Kakashi still wore that dead-fish-eyed expression.

"Do you know why I always come first? Look, Kurenai, Ishikawa Tatsuki, and the others who train with me all get very good grades in practical classes. That's because we have a special training game."

"How about it? Want to come play with us during the break? I know White Fang's guidance is useful, but at our age, I don't think you can truly learn that much from him yet. The basics are all more or less the same, so we might as well exchange pointers." Shuichi did his best to show his sincerity.

Kakashi could not care less about the other students, but Shuichi was the one who had always stayed ahead of him. Shuichi's mention of training really did pique his curiosity.

"All right. I'll tell my father. If he agrees, I'll come find you." After thinking it over, Kakashi agreed.

"Sure. We're usually near Training Ground 23 in the afternoons. You should be able to spot us easily." Shuichi felt that being from a great clan was not all good. Those strict rules alone made him uncomfortable.

Even after transmigrating here for a year, Shuichi still preferred the free and easy feeling of his previous life. He remained unaccustomed to the etiquette of the Naruto World, which was so similar to that of an island nation.

That was also why, despite having an adult's mind, he had always played with children instead. He could have visited many of his father's old connections, but he had not done so.

Even though he and Kurenai were already so familiar with each other, he had yet to meet Yūhi Shinkō. He rarely visited even the home of Ishikawa Tatsuki, his childhood friend. He simply disliked all those rules from the bottom of his heart.

Shuichi had his own reasons for inviting Kakashi to play with them. Kakashi's talent and potential were extremely high, after all. He could serve as a good benchmark and opponent in the future, and perhaps they might even become colleagues someday. It would be even better if Shuichi could learn something of White Fang's insights through their exchanges.

As for Uchiha Obito, one of the future major bosses, Shuichi neither deliberately drew close to him nor deliberately kept his distance. He was very curious about how Uchiha Madara had discovered that Uchiha Obito was kind-hearted and simple-minded.

It was precisely because he suspected that Madara had always kept an eye on Konoha that Shuichi naturally had to be careful. He did not want his small body to get dragged into it.

In the coming terms, Shuichi also planned to gradually get in touch with the other students, because he felt that teamwork and personal character were important factors in Konoha's assessment of a person's potential.

When it came to interpersonal relationships, Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi from his previous life could be considered negative examples. Konoha had clearly seen their isolation. Though exceptionally gifted, they had no peers they could get along with.

So Shuichi decided to learn from their mistakes and actively mingle with his classmates. For his persona, he just needed to follow Namikaze Minato's example.

After asking Teacher Tomohisa what course material would be suitable to study in advance, Shuichi politely bid him farewell.

As he left the academy and walked through the streets of central Konoha, he thought, I've successfully settled down in the Naruto World. I should buy some good ingredients and properly celebrate this New Year on my own.