Ninja Academy Enrollment

"Student, please hold on."

Hearing this, Chiba Genichi turned slightly to see a stranger wearing a Konoha flak jacket and glasses.

"Ninja-sama, is there something you need?"

The man hurried over and said cordially, "I see that your bone structure is extraordinary; you must be a one-in-a-million ninjutsu genius. Why not join our Root and reach the pinnacle of your ninja life?"

It wouldn't be that Root, would it? Genichi felt a sense of foreboding, but he feigned confusion on his face:

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

The bespectacled man was not annoyed by the rejection; instead, he explained with great enthusiasm: "Root is the training department of the Anbu. We don't just provide room and board and free training in various ninja skills; we even handle job placement after graduation, and you might even have the chance to become a direct subordinate of that great man.

For civilian ninjas like us, it's the best path for advancement. Just sign your name on this voluntary application, and your future will be set for life."

Set for life? Does he really think that's a good thing?

Genichi took a brief look; it was just a standard application form that completely failed to reflect the cruelty within Root. He asked, seemingly casual: "So, what is the monthly salary for a Root ninja?"

"Salary? How could there be a salary in Root?"

The stranger pushed up his glasses involuntarily. After a brief silence, he suggested solemnly:

"At your age, you should focus more on training and cultivating your own abilities. Do you think becoming a ninja is just for a bit of pay? Think of Konoha, think of the Will of Fire!"

Genichi had not expected his first hurdle on the path to becoming the strongest ninja to appear so early on his way to the Ninja Academy. He hesitated, falling into silence for a moment.

The Root ninja sensed Genichi's inner resistance, his eyes narrowing as his expression turned gloomy. He threatened coldly:

"What are you hesitating for? Are you unwilling to contribute to the village? Or are you harboring dissatisfaction toward that great man?"

Truly, Shimura Danzō is evil by nature. I'll remember this grudge for now.

"How could that be? I feel that Root is actually quite good." Genichi forced a calm explanation, then a thought flashed through his mind, and he said:

"However, I have already arranged a meeting with the Third Hokage. I must go now as he is waiting for me. As for your recommendation, I will give it serious consideration."

Watching Chiba Genichi disappear into the street crowd, the bespectacled man stood in place and muttered to himself: "Mission failed."

Lord Danzō had instructed Root to recruit talent in secret. Although "Chiba Genichi" was a civilian genius who had performed well in this year's entrance exams, he was not worth a direct conflict with the Third Hokage.

On the other side, Genichi, having arrived at the Ninja Academy, thought to himself:

"Joining Root to become a tool isn't necessarily bad, but if I'm going to contribute to the village anyway, becoming the Fourth Hokage offers a much broader horizon."

That's right, Chiba Genichi was not a native of Konoha, or even the ninja world.

Some time ago, after he first refined chakra, he had fainted from excitement. Upon waking, he found his mind filled with many memories, realizing he had transmigrated into the ninja world.

There was no need to dwell on his past life; in this one, his parents were civilian chunin of Konoha.

They had died accidentally while performing an external mission assigned by the village when he was three, forcing Genichi to live independently until now, when he finally passed the initial selection for the Ninja Academy.

Today was the day of the opening ceremony at the Ninja Academy. Having managed to escape using the Third Hokage's name, Genichi tossed the application into a trash can, unable to help but sigh again:

"Is the end goal of a ninja also to secure a government position? I haven't even entered the academy yet, and Root's recruitment has already caught up to me."

The gates of the Ninja Academy were sturdy, revealing a metallic luster under the sun. However, Genichi's attention was focused on the wooden walls extending to both sides. Time had left mottled traces upon them, making them look decayed and fragile.

He couldn't help but reach out to touch and knock on them, feeling they were sturdier than ordinary wood. Could they really have been built using the First Hokage's Wood Style?

"Eh? How strange, what are you doing?" A soft, sweet voice came from behind him.

Hearing the voice, Genichi turned around to see a little girl staring straight at him, her beautiful, large eyes filled with questions.

Her smooth, silky black hair and fair skin like mutton-fat jade, combined with an exquisite face, gave the impression of being delicate enough to break with a touch. A simple, tight-fitting outfit outlined her small frame, covered by a red cloak bearing the Uchiha clan crest.

Just looking at her, Genichi felt his mood for the day finally improve.

"I am admiring the sacred relics of the First Hokage. Did you know? These walls were built by Lord Hashirama himself using Wood Style, symbolizing the Will of Fire he held to protect the smiles of children."

Not wanting to leave a strange impression, Genichi spoke with a look of piety, spinning a tall tale.

"Oh~ so that's how it is." The little girl tilted her head slightly, as if suddenly enlightened, but then her tone shifted, revealing a sly smile as her eyes curved like crescent moons:

"But how do I remember that the Ninja Academy was built after the First Hokage sacrificed himself?"

"Cough, cough. Almost forgot that kids in the ninja world are quite precocious." Genichi experienced the awkwardness of being called out on his bluff, so he had to feign mystery, lowering his voice to continue:

"The water runs deep here; I can't explain too much to you. You just have to believe me. We Konoha ninjas don't lie to other Konoha ninjas."

Hearing Genichi's reply, Mikoto couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, though she didn't dwell on the wooden wall issue anymore: "We haven't formally introduced ourselves yet, have we? My name is Mikoto Uchiha, and you?"

"This Humble One is Chiba Genichi, the future Fourth Hokage."

Mikoto Uchiha? Genichi's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but take a few extra looks before stepping forward, pretending to speak with great admiration:

"Nice to meet you. Is the Uchiha clan the legendary one that founded Konoha together with the Senju clan? That's too impressive! I've long heard that the Sharingan is incredibly cool; could you let me see it?"

"It's not as amazing as you say." Mikoto's eyes darted away, her small face blushing as she turned to the side. She hadn't expected this slightly strange classmate to be so enthusiastic: "Besides, I haven't awakened the Sharingan yet. I'll show you in the future."

"Then it's a promise; you have to let me see it properly later."

Feeling that something was strange, Mikoto Uchiha patted her cheeks with her small hands to regain her composure: "Chiba Genichi, right? Come to think of it, we seem to be in the same class. Have you seen the class list?"

Genichi's lips curled upward: "What a coincidence. I haven't seen the list yet, but I trust you, Mikoto."

"You're saying strange things again." Having calmed down, Mikoto blinked her beautiful eyes and asked:

"Next up is the Third Hokage's annual speech promoting the Will of Fire. Shall we go over together?"

Genichi nodded, having no objections; in his heart, he was even faintly expectant, as he had unilaterally decided to come and listen to the speech long ago.

And the Will of Fire? That truly is a Konoha specialty—one simply must experience it.

The Hokage was already in position on the platform, and the opening ceremony began in short order.

"Where the leaves of Konoha dance, fire shall burn. The fire's light will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout..."

It had to be said that listening to the Third Hokage explain the Will of Fire in person was quite interesting; it felt like checking in at a holy site.

However, the novelty quickly wore off. The long-winded, boring speech, devoid of any substantive content and focusing solely on self-sacrifice—much like a pyramid scheme—made Genichi drowsy.

"Genichi, does this mean we are friends now?" Mikoto Uchiha asked suddenly, sounding a bit apprehensive.

"Hm? Of course. Why would you ask that?" Although he found it a bit strange to be asked if they were friends after barely speaking a few sentences upon their first meeting, Genichi still gave an affirmative answer.

"It's nothing, really. I also think it's a bit strange." Hearing Genichi's reply, Mikoto finally set her mind at ease and softly revealed the reason:

"I don't know why, but before school started, my grandfather repeatedly urged me to make as many friends as possible."

And you call that 'nothing'? Genichi's heart instantly turned cold. Mikoto's grandfather? The image of a classic, old-school Uchiha from the Warring States period vaguely surfaced in his mind, and he speculated with the worst possible malice:

He wouldn't be using me as material to awaken his Sharingan, would he?

Beside him, Mikoto watched her new friend start to zone out again and whispered, "You don't seem interested in the Hokage's speech?"

What reached his ears, however, sounded like, "You seem to be a bit disloyal to the Will of Fire!"

Genichi was startled, and upon snapping back to reality, he immediately pretended to be moved and eager to listen. He cast a look of adoration toward the podium and whispered back:

"Who says? Lord Third's speech is excellent, and the Will of Fire is truly magnificent. I am a homegrown Konoha ninja, unlike you born-evil... cough, cough, never mind."

Genichi hummed and hawed to appease Mikoto, but his mind couldn't help but wander again:

In a world of extraordinary power, strength belongs to the individual. If I don't become the strongest, I'll have no sense of security at all!

If only I had a cheat. The ninja profession is too reliant on bloodlines; without one, you can basically only reach the level of a Jonin. Those who can be called Kage are either freaks of nature or masters of a unique specialty.

Should I slowly develop my own Kekkei Genkai? That requires way too much talent.

Quick, think. Is there any excellent career build that is simple to operate, powerful, low-investment, high-return, with fast early-stage progress and high late-stage potential?

"Ding..."