Enrollment at the Ninja Academy

"Hey, wait a moment."

At the sound of the voice, Chiba Genichi turned slightly and saw a stranger wearing a Konoha flak jacket and glasses.

"Sir, what is it?"

The man hurried over and said warmly, "I can tell you've got extraordinary potential. You must be a once-in-a-thousand-years ninjutsu prodigy. Why not join Root and climb to the top of the ninja world?"

Could that be Root? Genichi's heart sank, but he put on a puzzled expression.

"Root? I think I'll pass. I've never even heard of it."

The bespectacled man didn't get upset at the rejection. Instead, he explained enthusiastically, "Root is the Anbu's training division. Not only do we provide free room and board and train you in all kinds of ninja skills, we'll even assign you a job after graduation. You might even get to become a direct subordinate of that lord.

"For civilian ninjas like us, it's the best path to advancement. All you have to do is sign your name on this voluntary application, and you'll be set for life."

Set for life? Did he really think that was a good thing?

Genichi took a quick look. It was just an ordinary application, with nothing to reveal the cruelty within Root. He asked casually, "So how much do Root ninjas make a month?"

"Make? Root doesn't pay a salary."

The stranger adjusted his glasses without thinking. After a brief pause, he offered this earnest advice:

"At your age, you should be focused on honing and developing your abilities. Did you really become a ninja just for that little bit of money? Think of Konoha. Think of the Will of Fire!"

Genichi hadn't expected his first challenge on the path to becoming the strongest ninja to appear so early, on his way to the Ninja Academy. He hesitated, falling silent.

Noticing Genichi's reluctance, the Root ninja narrowed his eyes and darkened his expression. He threatened coldly, "What are you hesitating for? Are you unwilling to give anything for the village? Or do you resent that lord?"

Shimura Danzō, you're evil to the core. I'll remember this.

"Of course not. Root sounds pretty good to me," Genichi said, forcing himself to stay calm. Then an idea struck him. "But I already have an appointment with the Third Hokage. I have to go now—he's waiting for me. I'll give your offer some serious thought."

The bespectacled man watched Chiba Genichi disappear into the crowd and silently thought, Mission failed.

Lord Danzo had instructed Root to recruit promising people in secret. Although "Chiba Genichi" was a civilian prodigy who had stood out during this year's entrance selection, he wasn't worth provoking the Third Hokage over.

Meanwhile, as Genichi made his way to the Ninja Academy, he thought, There's nothing wrong with joining Root and becoming a tool, but if I'm going to serve the village either way, becoming the Fourth Hokage would give me a lot more room to spread my wings.

That's right. Chiba Genichi wasn't a native of Konoha—or even the Ninja World.

Some time ago, he'd extracted chakra for the first time and passed out from excitement. When he woke up, he found a flood of memories in his mind, and only then realized that he'd transmigrated to the Ninja World long ago.

There was no need to mention his previous life. In this one, both of his parents had been civilian Chunin from Konoha.

They'd died in an accident during a mission assigned by the village when he was three, leaving Genichi to fend for himself. Now, at last, he'd passed the Ninja Academy's entrance selection.

Today was the opening ceremony at the Ninja Academy. He'd managed to shake off the recruiter by invoking the Third Hokage's name. As he tossed the application into a trash can, Genichi couldn't help sighing again.

So a ninja's final destination is a government job, too? I haven't even entered the Ninja Academy, and Root's already come recruiting.

The Ninja Academy's gates were incredibly sturdy, gleaming like metal in the sunlight. Genichi's attention, however, was drawn to the wooden walls stretching away on either side. The years had left mottled marks across them, making them look rotten and fragile.

Unable to resist, he ran his hand over the wall and knocked on it. It felt sturdier than ordinary wood. Could it really have been built from the Wood Style left behind by the First?

"Huh? That's strange. What are you doing?" A soft, sweet voice came from behind him.

At the sound, Genichi turned around. A little girl was staring right at him, her lovely eyes full of confusion.

She had smooth, silky black hair and skin as fair as jade. Her delicate face looked so soft it could be broken with a touch. A simple, close-fitting outfit outlined her small frame, and over it she wore a red coat bearing the Uchiha Clan Crest.

Just looking at her made Genichi feel that his day was finally getting better.

"I'm paying my respects to the sacred relic of the First. Did you know? Lord Hashirama built this wall himself with Wood Style. It symbolizes the Will of Fire—the wish to protect the children's smiles."

Not wanting to leave a strange impression, Genichi put on a reverent expression and bluffed.

"Oh, I see." The girl tipped her head up slightly, as if she'd suddenly understood. Then she changed tack, flashing a sly smile, her eyes curving like crescents. "But wasn't the Ninja Academy founded after the First died?"

"Ahem. I almost forgot how precocious kids in the Ninja World are." Genichi felt the awkwardness of being caught in a lie. He could only put on a mysterious air and lower his voice. "There's a lot going on behind the scenes. I can't explain too much. Just trust me. We Konoha Ninja don't lie to other Konoha Ninja."

At Genichi's answer, Mikoto rolled her eyes. She didn't press him about the wooden wall any further. "We haven't properly introduced ourselves yet, have we? I'm Mikoto Uchiha. What's your name?"

"I'm Chiba Genichi, at your service—the future Fourth Hokage."

Mikoto Uchiha? Genichi's eyes lit up. He couldn't help taking another look at her. Then he stepped forward and pretended to speak with great admiration. "It's nice to meet you. Are you an Uchiha, the clan that supposedly founded Konoha alongside the Senju Clan? That's amazing! I've heard the Sharingan is really cool. Could you show it to me?"

"I'm not as amazing as you make me sound." Mikoto blushed and looked away, her eyes darting to the side. She hadn't expected this rather strange classmate to be so enthusiastic. "Besides, I haven't awakened the Sharingan yet. Maybe I'll show you when I do."

"Then it's a promise. You have to let me get a good look when the time comes."

Something felt a little off. Mikoto patted her cheeks with her small hands, gathering herself. "Chiba Genichi, was it? Now that I think about it, we seem to be in the same class. Have you seen the class list?"

Genichi's lips curled into a smile. "What a coincidence. I haven't checked the list, but I believe you, Mikoto."

"You're saying strange things again." Once she'd calmed down, Mikoto blinked her lovely eyes and asked, "The Third Hokage is about to give his annual speech about the Will of Fire. Want to go over together?"

Genichi nodded. He didn't mind, and he was a little eager to hear it. After all, he'd already decided on his own that he was going to attend.

And the Will of Fire? That's a real Konoha specialty. I have to try it.

The Hokage was already onstage, and the opening ceremony soon began.

"Wherever Konoha's leaves dance, the fire will continue to burn. Its light will keep shining on the village, allowing new leaves to sprout..."

Hearing the Third Hokage explain the Will of Fire in person was pretty interesting. It felt a little like visiting a sacred site.

But the novelty soon wore off. The speech was long, dull, and devoid of substance. All it talked about was sacrifice, like some kind of recruitment pitch, and Genichi began to nod off.

"Genichi, does this mean we're friends now?" Mikoto suddenly asked, sounding a little nervous.

"Hm? Of course. Why would you ask that?" He thought it was a little strange to ask someone if they were friends after barely talking, but he still gave her an emphatic answer.

"It's nothing. I thought it was a little strange, too." Hearing Genichi's answer, Mikoto finally relaxed and quietly explained, "I don't know why, but before I left for school, Grandpa repeatedly told me I had to make lots of friends."

That's nothing? Genichi's heart sank. Mikoto's grandfather? The image of a classic old Uchiha from the Warring States era came to mind. He imagined the worst.

Could he be planning to use me as material to awaken her eyes?

Mikoto looked at her new friend, who had started spacing out again, and asked quietly, "You don't seem interested in the Hokage's speech."

But what reached his ears was, You seem disloyal to the Will of Fire!

Genichi jolted. He came to his senses and immediately pretended to get a little worked up, as though he were listening intently. He gazed at the podium with admiration, then answered in a low voice, "Who said that? Lord Third's speech is amazing. The Will of Fire is so great. I'm a Konoha Ninja born and raised here. You're the one who's evil to the core—cough, I mean..."

As Genichi dealt with Mikoto, his thoughts began wandering again.

*In a world of superhuman power, strength belongs to the individual. I won't feel safe unless I become the strongest!

*If only I had a cheat ability. Being a ninja relies too much on bloodlines. Without one, you can basically only make it to jonin. Anyone who reaches Kage rank is either a genius or a specialist.

*Should I slowly develop my own Kekkei Genkai? That would take way too much talent.

Think. Is there a career build that's easy to execute and powerful, low-cost with high returns, quick to progress early on, and full of potential later?

"Ding..."