Entering School with a Challenge

Qingyun had been in Konoha for more than half a year, so he was quite familiar with the buildings around him.

The main street was the busiest part of Konoha. Shops lined both sides, selling not only the supplies ninjas needed but also catering to the villagers.

Walking here, Qingyun often felt as though he were still in his own world.

"I never thought I'd get to stroll around the world of Naruto so freely. It's quite something. I wonder when Ichiraku Ramen will open."

The famous Ichiraku Ramen shop wasn't open yet, but Qingyun estimated it would be only a few years.

After arriving in this world, Qingyun had seen the Konoha Face Rock. It bore the carved faces of Hashirama, Tobirama, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, but there was no Fourth Hokage.

The village also showed no sign of the tension that would precede a war. It was clear that the Third Shinobi World War hadn't begun yet.

The Ninja Academy wasn't on the main street, though he had to pass it on the way. Qingyun had business to attend to, so he didn't waste any more time.

He hurried down the street and soon reached the entrance to the Konoha Ninja Academy.

A tree stood by the school gate, with a swing hanging from one of its branches.

That must be the swing Naruto will love to sit on someday, Qingyun guessed.

Just as Qingyun was about to enter the school, a voice rang out.

"Hey! Who are you?" An old man stepped out of a small room that looked like a guardhouse.

"Little one, what are you doing here?" When the old man saw Qingyun, his guard dropped.

"Hello, Grandpa. I'm here to enroll in the Ninja Academy. I need to complete the admission process." Qingyun got straight to the point.

"You? Where are your parents, child? You need a guardian to enroll. And school has already started, so you'd have to join as a transfer student." The old man answered Qingyun's questions kindly.

Qingyun shook his head. "I'm an orphan. I don't have a guardian. How can I become a transfer student?"

When the old man heard that Qingyun had no guardian, he fell silent for a moment.

"That's not for me to decide. Go talk to the teacher in charge of admissions."

The old man was a kind person. After saying this, he let Qingyun inside. Qingyun figured the old man felt sorry for him after learning he was an orphan.

Qingyun didn't find the teacher in charge of admissions. Instead, he went straight to the Ninja Academy's principal. The academy probably didn't have all those departments it would have in later years.

The principal was probably a ninja himself. He looked to be in his thirties or forties, and seemed very kind.

"Oh? Little one, it's class time. Why did you sneak out?" The principal sounded rather stern, not nearly as kind as he looked.

"Hello, Principal. I'm not a student here. I came because I want to enroll as a transfer student," Qingyun said.

"A transfer student? Where are your parents? How old are you?" The principal fired off one question after another.

"Yes, I want to join as a transfer student. I don't have parents, and I'm three and a half years old," Qingyun answered directly.

"An orphan, and three and a half..." The principal shook his head. "You're too young. Even if you want to enroll, you're still too little. Come back when you're five."

Then the principal waved for Qingyun to leave.

But Qingyun didn't budge.

"Principal, even though I'm only three and a half, I already have the strength of a Genin. If you don't want to enroll me, then at least let me ask the Lord Third to recommend me as someone fit to serve as a Genin."

Hearing Qingyun speak with such maturity, the principal couldn't help laughing.

"Little one, this isn't a place for jokes. This is the Ninja Academy, where we train ninjas. Being a ninja isn't an easy job."

"Since you're an orphan, I could mention you to the Lord Third and arrange for you to attend a school for ordinary children instead. When you grow up, you could do something other than becoming a ninja. That wouldn't be bad either," the principal said.

Qingyun shook his head. "This is the age of ninjas. Wouldn't it be foolish for me to choose another profession?"

Seeing how conflicted the principal was, Qingyun began speaking at length.

"After the First and Second Shinobi World Wars, the conflicts between the great nations weren't resolved. The small nations are barely scraping by, teetering on the brink of life and death. I think the Third Shinobi World War will break out within ten years. At a time like this, what's the point of living an ordinary life instead of becoming a ninja and protecting the village?"

Qingyun's words stunned the principal. He never would have imagined that a three-and-a-half-year-old child could analyze the situation like that.

"Little one, who told you all this?" The principal guessed that someone must have taught Qingyun what to say.

"Principal, I figured it all out myself. Please, give me a chance. I have the mindset and the strength. Make an exception and let me enroll!"

Seeing that the principal seemed somewhat moved, Qingyun immediately decided to prove himself.

Qingyun formed hand seals and called out, "Ninja Art: Shadow Clone Technique!"

With a pop, a cloud of smoke appeared, and another little Qingyun stood beside him.

"What!? The Shadow Clone Technique!?" This time, the principal was genuinely shocked. If someone had coached Qingyun on what to say, how could they explain the Shadow Clone Technique?

The Shadow Clone Technique was a B-rank jutsu. A child who could perform it at three and a half would become at least an Elite Jonin, even if he didn't reach Kage Level.

"Child, I'm sorry. I was rude just now. I need to report this to the Lord Third immediately."

"Okay!" Qingyun felt reassured. He had been worried that the principal might not tell the Lord Third.

He wasn't particularly eager to study here. He only wanted to complete the mission issued by the system. Once he became a Genin, he would receive the system's reward: the chakra of an Elite Jonin.

The principal then asked another teacher to deliver the message. The teacher returned shortly afterward and whispered something into the principal's ear.

The principal nodded and smiled. "All right, the Lord Third has approved your application, but there's one condition."

"What condition?"

"We'll arrange a match. You'll have to fight the strongest student in the Ninja Academy. Only if you win will you be allowed to enroll as a transfer student," the principal said.

"No problem. I can start whenever you like," Qingyun replied confidently. He knew the Lord Third was giving him a chance.

"However, you only get one chance. Your opponent is about to graduate from the Ninja Academy, and he's already ten years old. This fight won't exactly be fair to you," the principal warned.

Qingyun thought, Let's see who it's unfair to.

Qingyun had plenty of trump cards. No matter who his opponent was, he would defeat them.

"What's my opponent's name?"