Shaye Starts School

In Konoha Year 41, the cold wind swept sand and grit against the low rock walls of the Hidden Sand Village. The Second Shinobi World War had brought not the glory of victory, but wounds carved deep into the bone and voids that could never be filled. This year, the crude stone gates of the ninja academy opened especially early, taking in a far more complicated group than usual.

The order was mandatory: all children of school age had to enroll early, filling the village's nearly depleted ninja reserves as quickly as possible. Thus, five-year-old Shaye stood among the children in a gray ninja outfit altered from his father's old clothes, still far too large for him.

He stood out starkly. Not because he was unusual, but because he was excessively small and pale. Amid children his age who, despite their youth, mostly looked rough and sturdy from years of hardship, he seemed as though a gust of wind could knock him over. All around him was a buzzing clamor, mingled with crying and fussing—some of the children were too young to understand why they had to leave home.

Shaliu's large hand rested on his son's thin shoulder, his brows drawn into a knot. Looking at the mixed crowd of children ranging from five to seven or eight years old, he felt even more worried. He knew the academy's current state: too few teachers, crude facilities, and more importantly, an atmosphere of defeat and despair spreading through the village. No one knew how it would affect these young seedlings.

"Listen," Shaliu said, crouching down and lowering his voice. "Things at the academy are very... complicated right now. Protect yourself. Don't cause trouble, and try not to draw attention. Your health comes first, understand?"

Shaye nodded. His clear black-and-white eyes calmly swept over the surroundings. He took his father's words to heart, but he trusted his own observations more. What he saw were faces filled with confusion, unease, or the early sharpness life had ground into them. The air was thick with dust, sweat, and an indescribable tension.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" The harsh sound of metal being struck replaced a bell. A tall, thin Chunin teacher with a sallow face and weary, impatient eyes emerged. He glanced over the chaotic crowd and barked irritably, "Shut up! Line up in two rows by height! Move!"

Like startled lambs, the children shoved and jostled into line. Shaye silently took his place at the very end—he was undoubtedly among the shortest.

Following the group, they entered the largest stone-cavern classroom. It was even dimmer inside, filled with the mingled smells of old wood, dust, and ink. The desks and chairs stood crookedly, many visibly damaged. Blurry marks, seemingly left behind by ninjutsu practice, still remained on the walls.

"Find seats! Quiet!" The Chunin teacher—whom they later learned was called Arai—slammed his hand against the lectern, raising a cloud of dust. He was clearly neither skilled at nor patient enough to deal with so many young children.

"I'm your teacher from now on, Chunin Arai. Don't expect any nice speeches from me!" he said bluntly, his tone stiff. "The war just ended, and the village lost a lot of people! You're not sitting here to play house! You're here to learn useful skills as fast as possible, so you can be put to use sooner! Do you understand?!"

The classroom fell silent. Most of the children had been frightened by his vicious tone, while only a few of the bolder ones nodded blankly.

"Hmph." Teacher Arai snorted and picked up a rough roster. "Roll call now! When I call your name, say 'Here'! And remember the people around you—they'll be your classmates from now on!"

"Black Ant!"

A dark-skinned boy with thick arms sprang to his feet, his voice booming. "Here!" A ripple of snickering rose around him.

"Keli!"

A girl with two messy braids and freckles on her face answered timidly, "...Here..."

"Wenshu!"

A stiff-looking boy in battered glasses adjusted them, then stood up a beat late. "...Here."

"Hushan!"

A boy who looked mischievous at a glance, his eyes constantly darting around, jumped up with a grin. "Here~!"

"Shaye!"

Shaye stood up calmly, his voice quiet but clear. "Here." His gaze swiftly passed over the classmates who had just been called, committing their names and features to memory before quietly sitting down. His calmness seemed somewhat out of place in this setting, and Teacher Arai gave him an extra look.

Roll call continued in an oppressive yet slightly absurd atmosphere. Shaye silently memorized the names and first impressions of the roughly twenty children in the class: some were simple and honest, some timid, some bookish, some mischievous. More were ordinary children like him, carrying confusion and a trace of fear. None bore those familiar names. This was the Hidden Sand Village's truest, most ordinary next generation.

Once roll call was over, Teacher Arai wasted no words and roared, "Everyone, assemble on the training field outside! Physical fitness test! The last ten finishers don't get lunch today!"

The children immediately erupted in uproar, fear instantly overwhelming every other emotion.

The wind and sand were even fiercer on the training field. The so-called test was simple and brutal—run around the small field until you could no longer run.

At the whistle, the children charged out like a herd of driven little beasts, stumbling and staggering. Shaye was swallowed by the crowd almost the instant they started. His lungs felt as if sandpaper were scraping them, and his legs were so heavy they barely obeyed him. Before long, the main group had left him far behind, and he became one of the few trailing at the very back.

The burly boy called Black Ant took the lead. Keli's face turned bright red as she struggled to keep up with the middle of the group. Wenshu fell after only a few steps, even knocking his glasses crooked. Hushan sprinted quickly at first, but before half a lap had passed, he began lazily walking, giggling as he watched those behind him.

Shaye clenched his teeth. He ignored the sympathetic or disdainful looks cast his way by those running past him, as well as Teacher Arai's impatient shouts. He focused all his attention on his breathing and steps, desperately adjusting his rhythm with the limited exercise knowledge he remembered from his previous life.

One step, two steps, three steps... His lungs burned, and darkness repeatedly clouded his vision.

But he did not stop.

He knew his body was weak, but he knew even more that this was the first hurdle he had to face. In this cruel world, in this village where strength was needed, he could not fall from the very beginning.

He ran at the very back, painfully slow, but every step he took was incomparably firm.

Amid the howling wind and sand, the first day at the Hidden Sand Village's ninja academy gave him its first lesson in the most realistic and cruel manner: survival began by exhausting every last shred of strength.

(End of Chapter)