Going to School

At five years old, Nichigetsu was significantly taller than his peers. After half a year of training, his mastery of the Gentle Fist had become quite proficient, and his ability to strike pressure points grew increasingly precise; he had already worn out three wooden training dummies.

Although the Caged Bird seal prevented Nichigetsu from using his Byakugan for extended periods, his tireless training had pushed its effective range to 700 meters. Furthermore, after activating his eyes for five seconds, he could now launch Gentle Fist attacks without needing the Byakugan's visual assistance.

His shurikenjutsu had improved to the point where he could launch nine kunai simultaneously to strike nine different targets. He had not neglected the Three Body Technique or his hand seals either; he could perform three seals per second, though Nichigetsu was still not satisfied with that speed. It was worth noting that, thanks to his Senju lineage, his chakra reserves had increased significantly, allowing him to maintain his Byakugan for ten minutes now. He had already begun weighted tree-climbing exercises, and his water-walking training had progressed to the river stage. Nichigetsu was quite pleased with his progress over the last six months.

Aside from when Hizashi and his brother returned from missions to visit him, Nichigetsu was essentially on his own. During his downtime, he had explored every corner of Konoha. In these wartime years, the streets were not particularly crowded, and while patrols led by the red-eyed Uchiha Clan members were a frequent sight, the village remained largely peaceful and tranquil.

One day, while Nichigetsu was eating at Mizuki's home, Hizashi came to find him.

"Brother Hizashi, is there something you need?"

"Nichigetsu, the Ninja Academy is about to open. The Hokage has issued a notice that all children who have reached the age of five may enroll. I came to let you know."

"Isn't it supposed to be at age six?" Nichigetsu asked, scratching his head.

"The Great Ninja War is intensifying, and Konoha has suffered heavy casualties. The Third Hokage decided to let children start school early to prevent a shortage of talent after the war," Hizashi explained.

"I see. I will go and sign up. Thank you, Brother Hizashi," Nichigetsu replied.

"Do your best. Hizashi and I are heading to the front lines soon, so take care of yourself," Hizashi said with a nod.

After Hizashi left, Nichigetsu considered the matter of schooling: My current strength is definitely at the genin level; there is nothing for me to learn at the Ninja Academy. However, there are people I want to see there—Minato, Kushina, and I wonder if the Ino-Shika-Cho trio has graduated yet. Little brats like Kakashi, Obito, and Guy are probably just born, but I'd love to get to know all these characters. Besides, there is one benefit to the academy: graduating makes you a genin, which is the official path to becoming a Konoha ninja. I might as well go; who knows what good things might be there? With that, Nichigetsu made up his mind.

Two days later, Nichigetsu arrived at the Ninja Academy to register. The enrollment area was packed with people; it seemed everyone understood that in these chaotic times, becoming a ninja provided a layer of security, and those who became strong held much higher status than ordinary people.

The applicants were all children, unaccompanied by their parents. This was a school requirement—a test of the children's independence. If they couldn't even handle registration, how could they become ninjas? Nichigetsu suddenly recalled his past life's university enrollment, where parents, grandparents, and the whole extended family would tag along. Heh.

Nichigetsu followed the procedures and quickly finished the registration, physical exam, and aptitude tests. These were mainly to see if one had the qualifications to be a ninja, which were a piece of cake for him. Moreover, the Hyuga Clan received preferential treatment in this regard; essentially, if you had the Byakugan, you passed. That afternoon, the list of successful applicants was posted, and Nichigetsu waited for the start of the term.

Walking home, Nichigetsu looked at the shops along the road and thought: I'll open a clinic later, or maybe a restaurant—Sichuan cuisine! Sigh, Ichiraku Ramen won't open for many years. I'll be thirteen or fourteen by then, right? Actually, I really want a bowl of Lanzhou pulled noodles... Thinking about it made his stomach growl.

Nichigetsu noticed a newly opened BBQ restaurant by the street, with the words "BBQ Q" written on a brand-new sign. Nichigetsu felt a little excited: This place wasn't here a few months ago, right? "BBQ Q"? Could it be the BBQ place Choji Akimichi loves the most? Heh! I might as well try it.

Nichigetsu walked into the restaurant, and business was indeed booming. Smoke and fire rose from the grills at every table, and the aroma of grilled meat filled the air. After waiting a while, he finally got an empty table. He ordered a portion of meat and couldn't wait to start grilling. Slices of meat covered the rack, and the glowing red charcoal underneath released intense heat. The well-marbled meat began to ooze golden oil, making an enticing "sizzle" sound. The fragrance was intoxicating.

Nichigetsu picked up a piece of tender, slightly yellowish meat with his chopsticks, dipped it in the sauce, and chewed. "Mmm! Delicious!" he nodded. The meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Paired with the slightly spicy, sweet, and savory sauce, it was perfectly balanced—oily but not greasy, smooth and chewy with a hint of crispness. It was incredibly flavorful. Nichigetsu kept eating, feeling very happy, and thought: This BBQ is really good, though the calorie count is high. Hmm, maybe opening a teppanyaki place in the future would be a good choice.

Just then, three thirteen or fourteen-year-old boys walked in.

"The mission is finally over! BBQ, I want BBQ! Tsk tsk!" The chubby boy with reddish-brown hair and small eyes shouted excitedly, smacking his lips as if drooling. A kanji for "food" was printed on his stomach.

Beside him, a boy with a ponytail and silver earrings rubbed his forehead helplessly, saying lazily, "So many people, what a drag!"

Behind them, another boy with pale blonde hair tied in a ponytail shook his head and said, "Sigh, it looks like there are no seats left. We'll have to wait a while." The three looked at the dozen people waiting for tables at the entrance.

"Choza, why don't we go eat something else?" the blonde boy asked.

"No! I won't give up on BBQ! Gulp!" Choza smelled the meat and shook his head like a rattle, swallowing hard.

"Sigh! We have to wait so long, what a drag!" the black-haired boy complained. He scanned the tables and said to Choza, "Choza, I have a way to get BBQ immediately, but it'll cost a bit more. Are you willing?"

"No problem, Shikaku, tell me!" Choza said eagerly, his small eyes fixed only on the glistening meat.

"Look, there's only one kid at that table. Let's go share it with him and treat him to this meal. That should work," Shikaku said, pointing to a nearby table.

"Right! That's a great idea! BBQ, here I come!" Choza nodded and dragged the other two over.

The three arrived at Nichigetsu's table. He had only eaten a few pieces when he looked up to see the three boys standing before him. Nichigetsu was stunned: What a coincidence. I'm eating BBQ and I run into the famous Ino-Shika-Cho trio. The fathers of Choji, Shikamaru, and Ino. Nichigetsu had always liked them; Shikaku's wit, Choza's kindness, and Inoichi's warmth and competence had left a good impression on him.

"Is there something you need?" Nichigetsu asked calmly.

"Hello, are you alone at this table? Could the three of us share it with you? We'll treat you to this meal," Inoichi said. Choza looked expectant, while Shikaku remained his usual laid-back self.

"Sure, let's all eat together," Nichigetsu gestured for them to sit.

"Great, great! BBQ! Let's start!" Choza sat down without hesitation, and Shikaku and Inoichi sat opposite them. Nichigetsu immediately called the waiter to add more orders.

"Ten servings of BBQ, no, fifteen!" Choza poked the menu excitedly, while Shikaku looked on helplessly.

"BBQ! BBQ! Itadakimasu!" The meat arrived quickly, and Choza's eyes were already burning with intensity. His chopsticks danced, setting up a "dragon formation" on the grill. He kept adding new slices to one side while snatching the cooked ones from the other. Choza's chopsticks moved in a blur; the meat disappeared at a visible rate, and he added new pieces as he ate, wasting no time.

Truly, like father, like son. Choji Akimichi's BBQ-machine nature is inherited from his dad. These three are just like their children, Nichigetsu mused. Shikaku and Inoichi felt a bit embarrassed by Choza's lack of manners, but Nichigetsu didn't mind. Seeing the meat running low, he ordered another round. The four of them began to get acquainted.

"Hello, you're from the Hyuga Clan, right? What's your name? I'm Shikaku Nara, this is Inoichi Yamanaka, and that one is Choza Akimichi," Shikaku introduced them.

"I'm Nichigetsu Hyuga, from the Branch Family. I'm five years old and just started at the Ninja Academy. Nice to meet you," Nichigetsu said with a smile.

"We've already graduated and are now a team of chunin," Inoichi added.

They started chatting. Choza loved to eat, and Nichigetsu was a foodie too, so they began discussing various delicacies. Choza was very curious about the Kung Pao chicken Nichigetsu mentioned, and Nichigetsu generously invited him to his home to taste his cooking sometime. Because of his gluttony and size, Choza didn't have many friends, but Nichigetsu didn't mind at all, which made Choza very happy.

Shikaku was a shogi master. Nichigetsu didn't know Japanese shogi, but he was quite good at Chinese chess, international chess, and Go. He planned to make a chess set and play a few games with Shikaku. Both were intelligent and found they had much to talk about.

Inoichi loved flowers and plants; gardening was his favorite hobby. Nichigetsu explained the techniques of grafting and greenhouse cultivation he knew. Inoichi was so excited he almost dragged Nichigetsu home to discuss it further. Inoichi was a gentleman with a gentle personality, and since Nichigetsu had been a doctor in his past life, they were quite compatible.

Before long, they became good friends, talking about everything and feeling like they had met too late. After finishing the meal, Nichigetsu didn't let them pay for him; the four of them split the bill, though Choza definitely got the best deal. Then, they walked through the streets, chatting and laughing.

"I'm going to open a flower shop in the future," Inoichi said, pointing to the street.

"Well, I'm going to open a clinic and put the Konoha Hospital out of business. When people visit patients, they'll buy flowers from your shop and put them by the beds in my clinic! Heh!" Nichigetsu nodded, then turned to Choza: "And I'm going to open a restaurant, Choza, you'd better visit often!"

Choza replied with a hiccup: "Ugh! Once I digest this BBQ, I'll visit! Ugh! Kung Pao chicken, Mapo tofu, boiled fish. Ugh!"

Shikaku shook his head helplessly: "Hey, hey, Choza, you're so full and you're still thinking about food? What a drag."

"Hahahaha..." The four of them burst into laughter.