I Came, I Saw, I Conquered!

Time slipped away as Misaki led the young yet reliable Hayato into the halls of the Ninja Academy. After handing him over to his teacher, she hurried away.

She felt no worry for her child, for in her heart, Hayato was already a little warrior worthy of her trust.

On the other side, since he was still at the academy, it wasn't the right time to claim his rewards directly, so Hayato focused his attention on his surroundings.

He followed the teacher's instructions and walked straight toward the classroom.

As the door creaked open, Hayato scanned the room to find only a few people scattered about. Without hesitation, he headed for the seat in the far upper-right corner.

The classroom seating was arranged in tiers, rising higher toward the back like a university lecture hall.

It wasn't time for class yet, so after taking his seat, Hayato looked out the window, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.

Before long, a crisp female voice came from beside him: "Um, hello."

Hayato turned his head, his gaze falling upon the girl.

She had side-swept bangs and jet-black hair that fell just to her shoulders. Dressed in a long, round-necked shawl paired with a short skirt, she looked exceptionally fresh and refined.

The girl leaned in slightly, asking, "Is the seat next to you taken?"

Hayato shook his head slightly. "No."

Upon hearing this, a joyful smile bloomed on her face, and she sat down beside him. "Hello, my name is Kurenai Yuhi. We'll be desk-mates from now on."

Hearing her introduction, Hayato realized with a start that she was yet another familiar face. He reached out a hand in a friendly gesture. "Hello, I'm Uchiha Hayato. Pleased to meet you."

Kurenai was slightly taken aback, then extended her right hand as well. So his name is Hayato, she thought to herself. What a nice name.

After the brief exchange, Hayato withdrew his hand. He noticed that most of the children had gathered, and the classroom had become quite lively.

Just then, another voice chimed in: "Hey, hey, Kurenai, let's go sit in the front." A boy walked up to her with an eager expression, nudging her elbow as if to pull her away.

"Stop it, Asuma, I think it's fine here." Kurenai waved off his invitation with her right hand and continued chatting with Hayato.

A sense of inexplicable frustration welled up in Asuma's heart, and he glared at Hayato with dissatisfaction. Seeing that Kurenai had no intention of leaving, he simply sat down to her left.

The desk had exactly three seats: Hayato on the far right, Kurenai in the middle, and Asuma on the far left. Seeing Kurenai and Hayato chatting animatedly, Asuma couldn't help but puff out his cheeks and sulk on the sidelines.

A while later, a male teacher wearing a Konoha forehead protector and a chunin flak jacket walked into the room.

He clapped his hands, and the classroom fell silent as everyone's eyes focused on the podium.

The teacher wore a kind smile that felt as warm as spring. "Hello, students. Today is the first day of school, so let's start by getting to know each other. I am your homeroom teacher, Shuichi Sarutobi, and I will be responsible for your education for the next few years."

After Shuichi finished his brief introduction, he encouraged the students to come up to the podium one by one to introduce themselves.

"In your introduction, you can talk about your hobbies and dreams. Let's start with the student closest to the podium and go down the line, alright?"

The boy with thick eyebrows and large eyes who was called upon ran to the podium, looking excited. He patted his chest with his right hand and spoke with confidence.

"My name is Might Guy! I love special training, and as for my dream, I haven't thought of one yet." After he finished, he flashed a row of pearly white teeth that seemed to sparkle.

Following him, the students took turns coming up to introduce themselves.

"My name is Hayate Gekko..."

"My name is Aoba Yamashiro..."

"My name is Genma Shiranui..."

Watching his classmates take the stage, Hayato curled his lips into an interested smile.

Most of the students in this class would go on to become renowned ninjas, including the duo of Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, who would eventually become Konoha's strongest gatekeepers.

Before long, Hayato looked toward the podium at Obito, who was wearing goggles and smiling with immense radiance, his gaze turning profound.

Who would have thought that this sunny boy would eventually become so disillusioned with the world?

Obito adjusted his goggles and spoke earnestly: "I am Obito Uchiha. My hobby is helping those in need, and my dream is to become Hokage!"

After that, a few more people went up. Soon, it was the turn of another person who caught Hayato's interest—Kakashi.

"Hello everyone, I'm Kakashi. As for hobbies, I don't have any. My dream... I haven't thought of one yet either." Kakashi maintained his signature deadpan expression, speaking listlessly. But as he locked eyes with Hayato, a flash of sharpness crossed his gaze.

I never expected that even a gloomy Kakashi like this wouldn't have any hobbies yet, Hayato mused. Though he'll end up obsessed with those little adult novels later.

Time continued to pass, and soon it was the turn of their row. Asuma walked up and stood on the podium. "My name is Asuma Sarutobi. My hobby is playing shogi, my favorite food is sausage, and my dream is to become a ninja who surpasses the Third Hokage!"

After Asuma finished, Shuichi added, "Students, Asuma is the son of the Third Hokage."

As members of the Sarutobi clan, they were certainly aware of Asuma's status.

But Asuma seemed indifferent to the teacher's addition and walked straight back down. Sooner or later, he vowed to himself, I will prove that I am me—Asuma Sarutobi—not just someone's son.

Meanwhile, the civilian students who hadn't known about Asuma's background began to whisper among themselves.

After Asuma, it was Kurenai's turn. She stood up and said with a smile, "My name is Kurenai Yuhi. I don't have any hobbies for now. My dream is to become a powerful kunoichi like Lady Tsunade. Please take care of me!" With that, she trotted back to her seat.

Finally, it was Hayato's turn. He walked to the podium with a calm, unhurried pace, as if every step followed a rhythm of confidence.

He kept his hands casually in his pockets, a faint, nonchalant smile playing on his lips that nonetheless revealed a deep, enigmatic air.

His voice was steady and powerful, as if it could pierce through the noise and reach everyone's heart. "I am Uchiha Hayato. My hobbies are broad, ranging from reading ancient texts to practicing ninjutsu—I dabble in everything. As for my favorite food, udon is a passion I cannot give up; its unique texture and rich broth always leave me wanting more."

When he mentioned his dream, he paused slightly, a flicker of determination and anticipation in his eyes.

He slowly pulled his hands from his pockets, as if performing a sacred ritual.

Then, he spread his arms wide with the posture of a ruler, his voice passionate and filled with strength. "As for my dream: I came, I saw, I conquered! I will use my eyes to witness every corner of the ninja world, use my hands to conquer every challenge, and use my wisdom and courage to write the legend of Uchiha Hayato!"