New Era Female Ninja

The ninjutsu instructor hung a diagram on the blackboard and explained the concept of "hand seals."

"Basically, there are twelve types of hand seals. I'll demonstrate them first, so watch carefully..."

"Rat, Ox..."

The ninjutsu instructor struck while the iron was hot and quickly taught everyone how to form hand seals.

"Everyone, raise your hands and follow me in making this motion..."

There were not many of the twelve seals. After practicing them a few times, they were basically memorized. Many students, like Aoba, had already learned hand seals long ago.

Those who did not know them could more or less learn them after following along a few times.

"Now, based on this, let's try some beginner-level ninjutsu."

"The exercise is the [Clone Jutsu]."

"The seals are Ram, Snake, Tiger."

"Everyone, first watch the teacher demonstrate."

The ninjutsu instructor then began forming seals, doing so slowly so everyone could see clearly.

Although Aoba had learned it long ago, he still had the Chip record it. Even a single word could be written in many ways, let alone ninjutsu.

With a bang, two clones identical to the instructor appeared on either side of him.

"All right, now everyone will come up one at a time and demonstrate. Relax, there's no need to be nervous."

The ninjutsu instructor dispelled the clones and began directing the students to come up one by one.

Although it was only the lowest-ranked E-rank Clone Technique, ninjutsu still carried a certain amount of danger. The instructor did not dare let this bunch of kids do it unsupervised. He had to watch them closely for their first attempt.

The first to go up was, of course, Kakashi.

Kakashi was the youngest and shortest, and he happened to sit in the front row. He was perfectly suited to serve as the example.

After all, he was the son of Konohagakure's White Fang and had entered the Ninja Academy with the top score. He was unquestionably a genius. Who else could have been chosen?

Kakashi stood up but did not go to the front. Then, with a bang, another Kakashi appeared behind the ninjutsu instructor before the instructor could even react.

Bang, bang, bang...

Kakashi's clones appeared throughout the classroom.

This shocked not only the instructor, but also all the other students, whose mouths fell open one after another.

Aoba rested his chin on his hand. Watching Kakashi show off was rather amusing.

Though Kakashi usually put on a cool and aloof facade, he was actually quite the show-off inside.

Still, this was no longer a demonstration. He was practically wrecking the stage.

His level had already surpassed that of many genin, making the demonstration meaningless.

Fortunately, this was no ordinary background-character class.

Apart from Uchiha Obito and Might Guy, everyone else managed to produce at least one decent clone.

From then on, Kakashi's name as a genius spread throughout the Ninja Academy. After all, many veteran genin could not create so many lifelike clones.

"Aoba, why didn't you outdo Kakashi and make a few more clones?"

Seeing Kakashi receive so much attention, Kurenai was deeply displeased. In her eyes, Aoba was the true number one genius of the Ninja Academy.

After Aoba's "personal instruction," Kurenai had long become immune to Kakashi's cool, handsome-boy image. Instead, she thought he was just putting on an act.

Moreover, Kurenai knew Aoba's strength. During private practice, she had seen him create a large number of clones more than once.

"Have you already forgotten what you just learned..."

Aoba lightly tapped Kurenai on the head. She tried to dodge, but failed.

"Ninjas must be careful not to leak their own information. Unless necessary, don't reveal your trump cards."

"Is the title of genius really that good? Look at Kakashi. Everyone watches him wherever he goes. Would you like that too?"

"The Second Shinobi World War only ended not long ago, and relations between the villages are still tense. Who knows when the Third Shinobi World War might break out? Geniuses are prime assassination targets for every village."

Under Aoba's "guidance," Yuhi Kurenai was no longer a soft and timid little girl.

"Oh, I know, I know. You're as naggy as my dad."

With that, Kurenai tossed her head disdainfully and went off to find her little companions.

Aoba felt somewhat helpless. It seemed that his little cabbage, like the system, had grown a little crooked.

Watching Kurenai gradually develop into a "big sister" type, Aoba began to doubt his own skills at "educating" others.

Kurenai sat beside Shizune, then made a face at Aoba. He could only smile wryly.

Recently, Kurenai had been planning to recruit Shizune as one of her "underlings."

The main reason was that she did not think much of the other girls. Every one of them turned lovestruck at the sight of Kakashi.

Well, Aoba had taught her the word "lovestruck" too.

Shizune was comparatively quiet and did not act like the others.

As a new-era female ninja aspiring to become the first female Hokage, Kurenai had to correct this unhealthy trend. Shizune was the first supporter she needed to win over.

Aoba could only shake his head helplessly. He did not understand little girls' thoughts.

At least preventing puppy love and staying away from blond delinquents was not wrong—especially staying away from Sarutobi Asuma. The current Sarutobi Asuma did not yet have the sense of responsibility he would gain later. At the Ninja Academy, he was like a street punk.

He claimed to hate being called "the Hokage's son," yet he never did anything proper. Either he took the lead in causing trouble, bullied classmates, or openly defied the teachers. He was even worse than Naruto in the original story.

But in reality, if he were not the youngest son of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, he might have been expelled from the Ninja Academy long ago.

That was right, the Ninja Academy did have expulsions, and every year there were students who either dropped out on their own or were expelled by the school.

As ninjutsu training continued, the afternoon taijutsu lessons also gradually began incorporating actual combat.

The original wooden kunai were also replaced with standard-issue kunai.

That afternoon, there was a throwing test.

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

Three kunai struck three separate targets.

"Yamashiro Aoba, kunai throwing, 15 points!"

"Wow!"

"That's amazing!"

Quite a few watching students cried out in amazement.

The teacher responsible for recording the scores twitched at the corner of his mouth, but still wrote down the result in his notebook.

Aoba walked over, removed the kunai, handed them to the next person, and returned to the line.

"What? Only 15 points?!"

"Obito, didn't you notice? Aoba got 15 points, but all three of his kunai landed in the exact same spot. I might not even be able to hit the target, but Aoba can hit wherever he wants to hit."

Nohara Rin said enviously.

"Hmph, what's so impressive about that? Rin, just watch me perform later!"

Obito said with great confidence.

Throwing ninja tools was ridiculously easy for an Uchiha.

Soon, it was Obito's turn.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

"Uchiha Obito, 2 points!"

As the teacher announced the score, laughter immediately erupted from all around. Obito stood frozen in place.

Kakashi: "Idiot!"

Obito returned to the line in a daze. Clearly, he had yet to recover from the blow, and he continued staring blankly at his palm.

"No, there's something wrong with those kunai!"

Obito said in exasperation.

He had clearly aimed properly. Fine, they had gone off course—but why had they fallen off even after hitting the target?

"Hey, you only noticed that now? Those kunai are older than we are. I suspect they haven't been replaced since the Ninja Academy was founded. They're badly worn out. Throwing them one at a time might not even hit the target, yet you threw them all together. If you wanted to show off, that wasn't how to do it..."

Ebisu could not help reminding him.