The Ninja Academy stood in one corner of the village, old and imposing.
Liuli and Sasuke stood at the school gate.
"Sasuke, are you ready?" Liuli asked softly. Her words carried a gentle yet resolute strength.
Sasuke looked at her and nodded, determination shining in his eyes.
He knew that enrolling in the Ninja Academy was an important step on his path to becoming a powerful ninja.
Liuli smiled faintly, then continued, "I still need to pick up my Teacher Certification. After that, I'll come teach your class. Most of the Ninja Academy's lessons are pretty boring. When it's not my class, you can use Shadow Clones to skip."
"Huh? Use Shadow Clones to skip?" Sasuke froze. He hadn't expected Liuli to suggest something like that.
He had always believed every lesson at the Ninja Academy was valuable, whether it covered theory or practice, and deserved to be taken seriously.
Liuli had just treated him so gently, and now she was telling him to skip class and be a bad kid. Sasuke had trouble processing it.
Seeing Sasuke's astonished expression, Liuli couldn't help laughing. "What? Think it's unbelievable? Actually, using Shadow Clones to skip class is a Ninja Academy tradition. Of course, that doesn't mean you can skip whenever you want. You have to make sure you've mastered the material first. Then you can send a Shadow Clone to attend the classes you find boring or repetitive."
Sasuke was still a little puzzled by Liuli's explanation, but he also felt a hint of excitement and novelty.
He had always worked hard and had a powerful desire to grow stronger.
Now he had the chance to try an entirely new way of learning, which made him feel both eager and a little nervous.
"Then... how do I do it?" Sasuke asked tentatively.
Liuli smiled and explained, "It's simple. Once you've mastered the Shadow Clone Technique, you can create clones of yourself. Then you can send a clone to class while you go do something else, like train, take on a mission, or explore new ninjutsu."
Liuli herself had used the Shadow Clone Technique to create three clones and send them to join the Akatsuki.
Liuli's explanation cleared things up for Sasuke. He had been working hard to master ninjutsu, and the Shadow Clone Technique was one of the skills he'd most wanted to learn.
"But it's a B-rank jutsu, so it's still a little too advanced for you right now. I'll stay after school and teach you how to learn it, starting with the basics and guiding you step by step."
A determined glint flashed in Sasuke's eyes. He knew this was a rare opportunity, and a challenge for him, too.
He nodded and said firmly, "Okay! I'll work hard and won't let you down."
"Then go on to class," Liuli said softly.
Sasuke turned and headed to the classroom, looking forward to learning a new jutsu.
After they parted ways, Liuli headed for the Ninja Teacher Center Studio.
She pushed open the studio door, and an air of solemnity washed over her.
Liuli looked around. The walls were covered with portraits of outstanding teachers from generations past.
"You're Uchiha Ruri, aren't you?" A middle-aged man looked up and smiled at her.
His eyes were wise and kind, inspiring respect.
Liuli nodded and replied politely, "Yes, I'm Uchiha Ruri."
The man nodded, took a document from his desk, and handed it to her. "The Lord Third had your Teacher Qualification Certificate prepared in advance. Once you have it, you'll be part of the Konoha Classroom staff."
Liuli took the document. It bore her name and photograph, along with the seal of Konoha.
A surge of excitement and pride welled up inside her. This was the moment she'd been waiting for, and it had finally arrived.
"Thank you," Liuli said.
The man smiled and shook his head. "No need to thank me. You earned this through your own abilities. I believe you'll become an excellent ninja teacher and train many more outstanding ninja for Konoha."
Liuli nodded in acknowledgment, then took her leave and headed toward the classroom.
"Ding! You have a new points-use record to view!" A blue notification window popped up from the system, catching Liuli's attention.
She set aside what she was doing and tapped the window. The interface opened to a detailed record of points usage.
Liuli scanned the page, her eyes immediately settling on the line that read, "User: Hanabi."
She froze for a moment. What the hell? Could her clones use points, too?
She continued reading and saw the words, "Points used: 1,000."
A thousand points was no small amount. She had only earned four thousand.
Hanabi had spent that much all at once, so it had to be for something important.
"What are those three up to now?"
Her curiosity grew. She tapped the "Usage Details" link.
The page changed, and Liuli's eyes fell on the specifics of Hanabi's purchase.
She had assumed Hanabi would spend the points on training resources or a ninjutsu manual. Instead, she'd chosen to customize the appearance of Susanoo.
Every Uchiha's Susanoo had a fixed appearance that couldn't be adjusted to suit personal taste.
And Hanabi had spent a thousand points for the chance to change hers.
Liuli was both surprised and grateful for Hanabi's little cleverness.
I can't thank you enough! You used up all my points, for crying out loud?
The system's points were hard to come by. Every single one had to be earned through a mission, and so far, only one mission had appeared: spare the Akatsuki.
Hanabi's willingness to spend so many points on Susanoo's appearance showed just how high her standards were for herself, and how deeply she understood and anticipated the technique.
Liuli could imagine that the customized Susanoo would suit Hanabi's personality and fighting style even better, letting her fight with greater ease and unleash even more power.
It would be a huge boost to Hanabi's strength, and a bold investment in her future.
Liuli was happy for Hanabi, and looked forward to seeing what her customized Susanoo would look like.
Liuli opened the System Chat Group.
Uchiha Ruri: "Hanabi, could you at least tell me before you use my points? I'm the original, after all!"
The message popped up on the Communicator like a mischievous marble, brimming with teasing curiosity.
The three of them were in a crowded place, surrounded by throngs of people. Their chatter and vendors' cries came together in a lively city symphony.
Hanabi glanced at the Communicator, a sly smile curling her lips. Pretending to play dumb, she said, "Original, I'm just an ordinary Shadow Clone. You're not going to blame a Shadow Clone for using them like this, are you? Points? I, Hanabi, don't know anything about any points!"
Her voice was playful, like a little fox up to mischief.
The two companions beside her covered their mouths, unable to stop giggling. They seemed to be enjoying the little prank.
On the other end of the Communicator, Liuli rolled her eyes. She knew Hanabi's personality well. The girl was always playing harmless little jokes on her.
So Liuli fired back without hesitation. "Hanabi, quit it! I'm the original. Do you think I don't know what you're up to? Tell me, what did you spend the points on?"
Hanabi laughed. "Original, you really are clever! But the points are a secret. I can't just tell you."
"A secret? What secret can't you tell me? At least let me know before the three of you change your Susanoo's appearance!" Liuli's curiosity was piqued. She didn't want her own Shadow Clones getting one over on her.
Hanabi smiled smugly. "It's a secret between me, Teacher Gojo, and Rin. I can't just tell you! By the way, original, my Susanoo looks unbelievably cool after the change!"
Oh, really?! Her Shadow Clone was actually trying to bargain with her now!
Liuli was annoyed. The girl had some nerve trying to negotiate with her!
But she knew Hanabi well. If she didn't satisfy her curiosity, Hanabi wouldn't let it go. So she said helplessly, "Fine, keep your secret. Where are you now? Have you reached the Land of Rivers?"
Hanabi smiled triumphantly. "Then buy me my favorite dessert, Original-sama! Once I get my dessert, I'll tell you what the points were used for."
Liuli couldn't help laughing at the absurdity. Little Hanabi was trying to haggle with her! Still, she knew it was just one of Hanabi's playful antics. So she said helplessly, "All right, you've behaved yourself. I haven't wasted all that care I've shown you. You can spend another two hundred points to buy some of the Hokage's currency."
Hanabi immediately cheered, like a child who'd just received a favorite toy.
"Wonderful, original! You really are the best. I knew you loved Hanabi most."
Uchiha Ruri: "All right, don't go spending points recklessly. You can use these two hundred, but check with me before you spend any more."
Hanabi: "Sure thing, original."
After the conversation, Liuli had her Teacher Qualification Certificate, giving her a legitimate job in Konoha. Her home, of course, was the Uchiha Residence.
Not long afterward, Liuli arrived at Sasuke's classroom. It was her turn to teach, and she stood in the doorway, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
She was a little nervous about teaching for the first time. A teenager teaching children only a few years younger than herself—by the standards of her past life, it was completely absurd.
Then she pushed open the door and walked in. The classroom was already full of students. When they saw Liuli, they looked curious and excited.
"Whoa, is this a new teacher? I've never seen her before!" one student asked, eyes wide as he studied Liuli at the front of the room.
His voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet classroom it carried clearly, drawing the attention of the students around him.
"Holy crap! What a beautiful teacher! Is she new?" another student cried. His gaze stayed fixed on Liuli, as if her beauty and poise had completely captivated him.
"Teacher, look at me! I'm a good student. I never skip class!" A mischievous boy raised his hand and called out to Liuli with a grin. His voice was full of teasing, but the hope in his eyes was real.
"She's so beautiful..." some of the girls whispered, their eyes full of admiration and envy.
Liuli's arrival seemed to bring a splash of color to the ordinary classroom, dazzling everyone.
Standing at the podium, Liuli smiled at the enthusiastic students.
She wasn't embarrassed or uneasy about their surprise and chatter. If anything, she felt it was a rare chance to connect with them.
She knew that as their new teacher, she had to win them over with her charm and ability.
She gave a light cough and said in a gentle but firm voice, "Hello, everyone. I'm your new teacher, Uchiha Ruri. I'm very happy to be your teacher. I hope we can learn and improve together in the days ahead."
Standing at the podium, Liuli slowly swept her gaze across the classroom, searching for a familiar face.
After all, she wasn't just here as a new teacher. She was also here as a member of Konoha—and at home, she had Sasuke to look after.
Suddenly, her gaze settled on a seat by the window. A handsome boy sat there.
His short black hair made him look sharp and energetic. A carefree smile played across his face, as if he was excited by all the commotion Liuli's arrival had caused!
Look how happy you all are! That's my sister!
Liuli felt a warmth settle in her heart, and smiled as she nodded at Sasuke. Sasuke noticed her gaze and nodded back.
"I'm a new teacher, so why don't we all introduce ourselves?" Liuli said warmly. Her gaze swept across the classroom before finally settling on Naruto.
Look who it was: one of the other main characters, little Naruto!
As soon as Naruto heard that, he jumped up excitedly, waving his arms as he shouted, "Me! Me!"
His face brimmed with energy and enthusiasm, as if an endless well of strength surged within him.
Liuli looked at Naruto, admiration flashing in her eyes.
She knew this lively, lovable boy had a brave and steadfast heart. He always brought joy and energy to those around him.
Naruto walked up to the podium, took a deep breath, straightened his back, and announced, "Hello, everyone! My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm an ordinary student from Konoha."
His voice was full of confidence and enthusiasm, as if he wanted to tell everyone that he might be ordinary, but he was anything but.
"I like ramen, especially Ichiraku Ramen. It's the best food in the world!" When Naruto mentioned ramen, his face filled with bliss, as if he could already smell the rich broth and taste the delicious noodles.
The students couldn't help laughing. Some of them even joined Naruto in reminiscing about the delicious ramen.
"But," Naruto continued, his expression turning serious, "my dream is to become Hokage and protect Konoha and everyone in it!"
His voice rang out with determination and resolve.
The classroom fell silent. Some of the students applauded Naruto's courage and dream, but others laughed at him.
They thought Naruto's idea was too naïve. The position of Hokage was so far out of reach—how could an ordinary student ever attain it?
"Haha, Naruto, you're daydreaming again!" a boy shouted, prompting the others to chime in.
Hearing their jeers, Naruto felt a pang of disappointment, but he didn't give up.
He clenched his fists, stared resolutely at those mocking him, and shouted, "Even if you think I'm just dreaming, I'll keep working hard until I make my dream come true!"
Liuli looked at Naruto, filled with admiration. Though the boy was still young, he already had the unwavering belief and perseverance needed to become Hokage. She believed that if he kept working hard, he would achieve his dream one day.
"Very good, Naruto." Liuli stepped over and gently patted his shoulder, her gesture full of encouragement and approval. "Your dream is a great one. I believe you can achieve it."
A glimmer of surprise flashed in Naruto's eyes. He looked up at Liuli's determined gaze, warmth swelling in his heart.
This new teacher hadn't mocked his dream. Instead, she had shown him great faith and encouragement, making him feel warm and touched.
"But remember, dreams don't come true overnight." Liuli's voice turned serious. "If you want to become Hokage, you'll have to work hard, sweat, and keep training to improve your strength. Only then will you be able to protect Konoha and everyone in it."
Naruto nodded vigorously. He knew that achieving his dream would take hard work and sweat.
He was already prepared. No matter how many hardships and challenges he faced, he would keep going until his dream came true.
"Later, I'll take you to try some ramen unique to the Otsutsuki Clan."
Liuli said with a smile, a sly glint in her eyes.
Naruto's excitement surged. Ramen from the Otsutsuki Clan? It had to be something special! He couldn't wait to try it.
After that, Liuli gently patted Naruto on the head, her touch tender and kind, like a mother stroking her child.
"Mm, just as I thought. The main character's head feels great to pat!" Liuli thought to herself, a satisfied smile on her face.
Naruto blushed a little under Liuli's touch.
But he didn't pull away. He let her pat his head, enjoying this rare warmth and affection.
In that moment, Naruto would remember Liuli, his new teacher. She believed he could become Hokage and gave him endless encouragement and support.
More importantly, she made him feel a kind of care and warmth he had never known before.
"Thank you, Teacher!" Naruto bowed deeply, his voice full of gratitude and respect. "I'll remember what you said and keep working hard!"
Liuli looked at Naruto's determined eyes and earnest expression, feeling deeply comforted and proud.
Just daring to declare that dream in front of the class already put him ahead of others his age.
Next, Liuli turned to Sasuke.
She knew Sasuke was reserved and not very good at expressing his feelings, but she believed he had dreams and goals of his own.
"Sasuke, why don't you introduce yourself, too?" Liuli said with a smile.
Sasuke looked up at Liuli, then slowly walked to the podium. His gaze swept across the classroom before coming to rest on Naruto.
His eyes held complicated emotions: recognition of Naruto, and expectations for himself.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I'm a student from Konoha." Sasuke's voice was low and strong, as if some unseen power flowed through it. "I like training in ninjutsu. My dream is to become stronger and protect my family! And that person!"
Though brief, his words were full of determination and conviction.
After hearing Sasuke's introduction, the students applauded. They knew Sasuke was a very talented ninja, and that his future would be bright.
"He's so handsome! No wonder everyone likes Sasuke!" the girls exclaimed.
"Tch, what's so great about that? I'm more handsome than he is. Hell, I'm way more handsome!"
"Do you really have to make such a fuss? I could look just as good!"
The boys were a little jealous.
"Thank you for introducing yourself, Sasuke. Who's next?" Uchiha Ruri asked with a gentle smile.
"Me! My turn! For fuck's sake, don't rush, Teacher—get out of the way!" One boy after another eagerly volunteered!
Before you continue