Ninja Academy

Konoha's early Ninja Academy was nowhere near as refined as it would be in the era of the Naruto anime. Under the leadership of Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, it merely gave civilians the opportunity to cultivate Chakra and become ninja. It also provided a platform for Ninja Clans and other Ninja Clans, Ninja Clans and civilians, Ninja Clans and the village, and civilians and the village to interact and form bonds. Children were more easily influenced by the so-called Will of Fire, allowing them to break free in their thinking from the constraints of their small Ninja Clan circles and view matters from the higher perspective of the village. Setting aside Second Hokage Tobirama Senju's exceptional talents as a ninja, he was also an outstanding politician.

The Ninja Academy currently had only three grades. The first grade was the beginner class, where students were taught the Chakra refining technique. Only students who could refine Chakra could advance to the second grade. After refining Chakra, they would be taught the basic Three Body Techniques: the Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, and Substitution Technique.

The second grade was the foundational class, teaching theory and practical courses, including ninja self-cultivation, Shinobi world history, physics and chemistry, Shuriken Throwing, Trap Setting, and other basic subjects. Its main purpose was to lay a foundation for the students as ninja.

The third grade was the graduation class. Aside from more advanced theory courses, it also offered advanced practical classes such as combat and wilderness survival.

The Graduation Exam required proficient mastery of the Three Body Techniques and a passing score in student combat evaluations.

At Konoha's current early stage, the Ninja World was unstable. Every Shinobi village and ninja organization was restlessly stirring, and a great war could break out at any moment. The Graduation Exam was far more difficult than it would be during the anime's storyline, because graduating without truly possessing the strength to become a ninja meant certain death—nothing but cannon fodder. That went against the First Hokage's ideals.

A student could spend no more than six years at the Ninja Academy. If they still had not graduated after six years, they could only withdraw and become civilians. Of course, those with outstanding talent could apply for early graduation, just like Kakashi Hatake. Although there were no freaks like Kakashi, who graduated at five and became a Chunin at six, quite a few students successfully graduated after completing all three stages in three years, especially those from Ninja Clans.

As for their protagonist, Jiogan, he was already six when he entered the Ninja Academy. At that age, many children from Ninja Clans already had the strength to graduate, or were close to it.

It could not be helped. During Konoha's early years, the gap between civilians and Ninja Clans was simply that vast. This was also the situation Second Hokage Tobirama Senju had hoped to change by establishing the Ninja Academy.

Of course, civilians were not without their rising stars. Orochimaru and Jiraiya, those two beacons among civilians, had just been accepted as disciples by Hiruzen Sarutobi. It was said that their strength was improving by leaps and bounds.

After watching his mother leave the academy, Jiogan curiously surveyed his surroundings: the bustling children arriving for school and the parents seeing them off.

This isn't much different from kindergarten on the first day of school in my previous life. The only difference is that there aren't any crying kids. Jiogan thought. After all, this was the Ninja World. Children matured somewhat early here, and there were more excited, noisy figures than tearful ones.

After finding his classroom, Jiogan saw that only about half the students had arrived. He chose a seat by the window near the middle, then quietly waited for the entire class and their teacher to arrive.

Finally, after half an hour of waiting, the class was complete, and the teacher entered the classroom.

"Hello, everyone. I'm your homeroom teacher, Kiyokatsu Sarutobi. I'll be responsible for your studies during this beginner term. You've only just gathered together and are still unfamiliar with one another, so let's start with the first person by the window in the front row and introduce yourselves one at a time."

Kiyokatsu Sarutobi began the student introduction session.

It really is just like in the anime. Looks like self-introductions are an old Konoha tradition. Jiogan thought.

"My name is Inuzuka Yoru, and I'm from the Inuzuka group. What I like most is my dog, Ranmaru. What I hate most is cats. My dream is to grow stronger together with Ranmaru and protect the village."

As expected of one of the Ninja Clans that had been among the first to respond to Konoha's founding. Their awareness was truly high.

At last, it was Jiogan's turn. "Hello, everyone. My name is Jiogan. I like Lemonade most and hate bananas. I don't have any grand ideals. I only want to establish myself in the Ninja World through my own efforts, become strong, and protect our home, Konoha." (P.S. He forced out that last sentence while suppressing his disgust.)

"My name is Kurama Feiyun. I'm from the Kurama Clan. I like eating fruit and dislike dango. My dream is to become a Genjutsu Master."

Hearing someone mention that she liked fruit, Jiogan, who had been so bored he was getting sleepy, perked up slightly. He looked at Kurama Feiyun, who was introducing herself. She was the Kurama Clan girl he had seen several times at his family's Fruit Shop. They had not spoken much, but he still remembered that she loved cherries and bought them every time she came for fruit. Earlier, he had sat in his seat and drifted off the moment he entered the classroom, completely failing to notice that she was in the same class as him.

"Now that everyone has introduced themselves, I'm sure you have a preliminary understanding of your classmates. Over the coming year, you will all be in the same class, so build bonds that belong to you," Kiyokatsu Sarutobi concluded. "That's all for this morning's lessons. Formal theory classes will begin this afternoon. You're free to do as you please now, but you are not allowed to leave the academy."

After Kiyokatsu Sarutobi left, the classroom immediately became as lively as a market. Quite a few students who already knew each other gathered into small groups. However, these groups were mainly centered around Ninja Clans, while the civilian students appeared somewhat left out.

"Jiogan-kun, do you remember me?"

A pleasant girl's voice came from beside him. Jiogan turned and saw Kurama Feiyun standing next to him. Her brown ponytail, pale yellow dress, delicate face, and large, watery eyes that seemed able to speak struck straight at his soft spot with their cuteness.

Jiogan froze for a moment before quickly coming back to himself. "Of course. Hello, Feiyun. You often come to my family's Fruit Shop. I didn't expect us to end up as classmates."

"Yes, Jiogan-kun's family's fruit is fresh and delicious. It has an excellent reputation throughout the village. My clansmen all like it, and I'm also very happy to become Jiogan-kun's classmate," Kurama Feiyun replied with a smile.

Looking at the adorable Kurama Feiyun, whose eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, Jiogan felt as though something had struck his head. His face reddened involuntarily.

Good heavens, this thick-skinned old man with more than thirty years from both lives combined is actually blushing at a little girl? Genjutsu, it has to be Genjutsu. Right, the Kurama Clan is most famous for Genjutsu. Release, release!

"Cough, cough. Feiyun, you have a really beautiful smile," Jiogan somehow blurted out. The moment he said it, his expression stiffened. Words spoken were like water spilled—there was no taking them back.

Now it was Kurama Feiyun's turn to blush. Too shy to look at Jiogan again, she thought, Oh no, Jiogan-kun actually used Genjutsu on me. I'm from the Kurama Clan! Release, release!

Realizing that his words had come out wrong, Jiogan's soul of over thirty years reacted quickly. He hurriedly changed the subject. "Feiyun, we're in the same class, so please take care of me from now on!" With that, he revealed a warm, brilliant smile.

Kurama Feiyun quickly regained her composure as well. Looking at Jiogan's radiant smile, she replied, "Please take care of me too, Jiogan-kun!"