My Dream Is...!

The next day, Li got up early and finished his fitness training. After learning that he had landed in the world of Naruto, he had started planning a whole series of workouts. He wasn't planning to focus on Taijutsu, but at the very least, he didn't want it to become a weakness. A great man once said, "Don't let your shortcomings become your fatal weakness." Li firmly agreed, and he had always lived by that principle.

After picking up a few Kunai, Li headed out alone. It was almost time for class. Perhaps Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Fugaku had left before him, because he didn't see them.

Today was the first day of school at the Ninja Academy. Students were heading there in groups, one after another, while Li walked quietly by himself. Some of the children along the way pointed at him and whispered. There was no helping it: the Uchiha Clan was Konoha's most prominent family, and the clothes they wore bore the Uchiha Clan Crest. Li stood out in a crowd, and anyone could tell he was from a great clan. Well, some people just liked envying others for their family background.

When he arrived at the school, Li found his classroom and went inside. The room was already full, and the students were chatting in pairs and groups, the atmosphere lively. He looked around and spotted Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto sitting in the middle. They had left a seat between them, presumably for him. Not wanting to spurn their kindness, Li walked over.

"Big Brother Li, where did you go this morning? I looked everywhere for you!" The moment she saw Li, Uchiha Mikoto pouted in protest. Knowing she would be going to the Ninja Academy that day, she had gotten up early to find him so they could walk there together. But after searching everywhere, she'd only found Uchiha Fugaku, the poor kid. With class about to start, she'd reluctantly come to school with him.

"Sorry, I just went somewhere to take care of something." As he spoke, Li squeezed past Uchiha Fugaku and sat down between them. Uchiha Fugaku looked thoroughly aggrieved. He had wanted to sit next to Mikoto, but she had refused and insisted on saving the seat for Li. He didn't dare upset her, so in the end, he'd had no choice but to give in.

Uchiha Mikoto was about to say something else, but just then, a middle-aged ninja walked in. He wore a Chunin vest. The students stopped chatting and gazed at the ninja at the front of the room, their little faces flushed with excitement.

"Hello, everyone. Starting today, I'll be your teacher. I'll be teaching you the fundamentals of Ninjutsu for the next six years." As he spoke, the middle-aged ninja picked up a piece of chalk and wrote his name on the blackboard behind him.

Morita Mushio!

"That's my name. From now on, you can call me Teacher Morita!" Morita Mushio said with a smile. But when he looked at the three of them, his pupils contracted ever so slightly. He quickly recovered, but Li still noticed the unease in his eyes.

I guess the Uchiha Clan thinks too highly of themselves, and most teachers can't handle teaching them, Li murmured, stroking his chin.

"What are you mumbling about?" Mikoto turned to Li and asked, puzzled.

"Nothing." Li shook his head and said no more. That earned him another glare from Uchiha Mikoto.

On the first day of class, the teacher's job was naturally to have the students introduce themselves. One after another, the little kids excitedly stood up and shared their names and dreams. When a blond-haired boy stood up, Li's gaze settled on him.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Minato Namikaze, and my dream is to become Hokage!" Minato Namikaze smiled warmly, full of youthful optimism.

"Yeah, right!"

The kids in the class didn't appreciate it. Hearing an ordinary shinobi like Minato Namikaze brazenly claim he wanted to become Hokage, they immediately burst into jeers. But Minato Namikaze didn't seem to mind. He simply sat back down, still smiling warmly.

No wonder he was the kind of person who could become Hokage. Li admired Minato Namikaze's magnanimity. If he'd been that age and someone had questioned his dream, he probably would've jumped up and argued back, his face red and his neck bulging.

"Next!"

After a while, it was finally Li's turn. The moment he stood up, everyone in the class looked his way and began whispering, mostly about the Uchiha.

"My name is Mirai Uchiha. My one and only dream is to never make a mistake." It was a simple sentence. When he finished, Li sat down without caring what anyone else thought.

Honestly, is Big Brother Li that afraid of making mistakes? Is it because Uncle Hao is too strict, so Big Brother Li is scared? Mikoto tilted her head, wondering. But she was next. Coming to her senses, she quickly stood up. Soon, though, she began to feel nervous. She could feel a lot of eyes on her, which made her uncomfortable.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Uchiha Mikoto, and my dream is... I hope I'll never make a mistake!"

Mikoto didn't really have a dream. After stammering for a while, she suddenly thought of Li's dream and blurted it out without a second thought.

Li stared at Uchiha Mikoto, speechless. Was it possible to copy someone else's dream? But Uchiha Mikoto shot him a fierce glare. Having made a fool of himself, Li turned away, closed his eyes, and ignored the noisy classroom.

Uchiha Fugaku had been holding back for a while. As soon as Uchiha Mikoto sat down, he hurried to his feet, lifted his chin, and said, "My name is Uchiha Fugaku. I'm the heir to the Uchiha Clan, and my dream is to lead the Uchiha Clan to glory!" As he spoke, he glanced at Uchiha Mikoto. In truth, that bold dream was only meant to impress her. But Uchiha Fugaku nearly choked with frustration when he saw that she wasn't looking at him at all. She was staring at Li.

After making a fool of himself, Uchiha Fugaku slumped back into his seat. He couldn't be bothered with anything else, so he simply copied Li and closed his eyes to rest.

The first day of classes ended amid the noisy introductions. After class, Li headed for the Uchiha Clan Compound with Mikoto and Uchiha Fugaku. Though it was more accurate to say Mikoto insisted on following him. Ever since she could walk, Uchiha Mikoto had been trailing after him, while Uchiha Fugaku liked to follow Mikoto. And so, the three of them often ended up together.

Judging by the timeline, Kushina Uzumaki should be coming to Konoha soon. As he walked, Li thought of the red-haired girl. Back when he watched Naruto, the two characters he liked most were Kushina Uzumaki and Konan, who lived far away in the Land of Rain.