Theory Classes: The Melancholy Prince

After class, Uchiha Hara flipped through his books.

The Ninja Academy distributed all the textbooks from first through fifth grade at once. That was why many prodigies could skip grades or even graduate early.

The Ninja Academy's curriculum was divided into two types: theory classes and practical classes. Theory was generally taught in the morning, while practical training took place in the afternoon.

The theory courses included:

First Grade:

· Ninja Code and Village Regulations: Learn the basic discipline of ninja, the rules and history of the Hidden Leaf Village, and receive an initial indoctrination in the "Will of Fire."

· Literacy and Basic Arithmetic: Master reading, writing, and basic calculations, laying the foundation for reading scrolls and carrying out missions.

· Chakra Overview: Understand the concept of chakra (physical energy + spiritual energy) and learn the most basic methods of sensing and refining it.

Second Grade:

· Geography and Customs of the Land of Fire: Learn basic information about one's own country and its neighboring nations.

· Basic Tactical Symbols and Codes: Learn simple tactical hand signals and communication codes.

Third Grade:

· Overview of Chakra Nature Transformation: Introduce the five basic natures—fire, water, wind, lightning, and earth—and teach simple methods of testing one's affinity (chakra test paper).

· Basic Herbalism and Poison Identification: Learn to identify common herbs and poisons, and master the most basic first-aid bandaging techniques.

Fourth Grade:

· Mission System and Rank Classification: Gain a detailed understanding of the contents and differences between D-Rank and S-Rank Missions.

· <Intermediate Tactical Theory and Intelligence Analysis>: Learn to formulate simple battle plans and extract key information from intelligence.

Fifth Grade:

· <Ninja Professional Ethics and Psychological Preparation>: Learn to handle conflicts between missions and emotions, and cope with battlefield stress.

· <Overview of the Hidden Villages and Identification of Kekkei Genkai/Secret Ninja Arts>: Learn intelligence on potential opponents and broaden one's knowledge.

Five grades, eleven books.

From the perspective of Uchiha Hara, who had received nine years of compulsory education and attended both high school and university, only four of those eleven books posed even a slight challenge: Basic Tactical Symbols and Codes, Overview of Chakra Nature Transformation, Basic Herbalism and Poison Identification, and <Intermediate Tactical Theory and Intelligence Analysis>. As for the other seven, one read-through was basically enough.

No wonder those prodigies graduated after only a year of school. Staying at the academy really was a waste of time.

Unless they were there to chase female classmates. Yes, Minato Namikaze, that meant you.

As for the chemistry and physics knowledge that appeared in the Chunin Ninja Exams of later generations, perhaps those subjects only existed in future Ninja Academies. In any case, Uchiha Hara did not see them here.

So the question was, after finishing these eleven books, what kind of educational level would a ninja have?

The answer was third or fourth grade in elementary school!

That was right. In Uchiha Hara's judgment, students who graduated from the Ninja Academy were roughly equivalent to third- or fourth-grade elementary school students, whether in terms of knowledge or moral standards.

Students at that age had no real worldview of their own, nor any independent judgment. They were basically at the stage where they echoed whatever others said and did whatever adults told them to do.

If they graduated at that stage and began carrying out missions, then in the future, those children would become people who knew nothing except completing missions and killing.

Students produced by this educational model could not be expected to ponder life and the world or discuss war and peace. It would be hard enough to make them write an essay.

No wonder the Ninja World had no proper thinkers. The rare one who wrote novels only wrote porn.

With this level of education, producing someone capable of writing porn was already pretty impressive!

"Hm?" Uchiha Hara, who had been reading, suddenly heard his own name.

When he shifted his attention over, he realized that several female classmates had gathered together and were discussing who was the most handsome boy in class.

"Of course it's Kakashi! Even with that mask on, he feels so cool!"

"Asuma is handsome too, and he looks really strong!"

"I think... Uchiha Hara is actually quite good-looking too," a soft voice said, pointing toward Uchiha Hara in the corner.

"Yeah, yeah! I've wanted to say it for ages. Hara has this sort of melancholy prince vibe!"

Several gazes immediately focused on him.

Uchiha Hara's heart tightened. He felt as if the intelligence bureau at the village entrance had locked onto him.

He had no idea what to do in this situation, so he continued reading as though he had not heard a thing.

In truth, though, he had pricked up his ears, wanting to hear how the other girls would evaluate him.

Unfortunately, perhaps because Rin Nohara was among the girls, the moment someone praised Uchiha Hara, Obito sprang up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

He shouted, "Don't let him fool you! What melancholy prince? He's been sickly and frail since childhood! And he's the weakest dead last of our Uchiha clan this year! He came in last in the clan test last time!"

His voice was so loud that it nearly spread through half the classroom.

In an instant, even more gazes—curious, sympathetic, or gleeful—fell upon Uchiha Hara.

Uchiha Hara cooperatively lowered his head and slightly hunched his shoulders, creating the impression of embarrassment and inferiority after having his shortcomings exposed in public.

Yet inwardly, he sneered. Obito, Obito, I'll gladly accept that assist.

Just then, a crisp voice tinged with displeasure rang out:

"Uchiha Obito! How could you say that about your classmate!"

Everyone looked over to see Kurenai Yuhi standing up. Her little face was slightly flushed with anger as she glared at Obito. "We're all classmates. We should be helping each other! It's not Hara's fault that he's in poor health! If he isn't well, then we should take even better care of him!"

"Yeah, yeah!" Another girl stood up. "And what did Hara fool us about? Didn't he say during his introduction that he was dead last?"

"How did this happen?!" Obito clearly did not understand that looks were justice. Instead, his smear campaign only made the girls like Uchiha Hara even more.

And "melancholy prince" had originally just been a private nickname among the girls, but after Obito shouted it like that, even the class next door had heard it.

Kurenai Yuhi even walked directly to Uchiha Hara's desk, and her voice became much gentler. "Hara, don't be sad. If... if you don't mind... you can come to me whenever there's something you don't understand in your studies, or if you need help with anything."

Well, Uchiha Hara had still underestimated how proactive girls in the Ninja World could be. There was no need for him to scheme at all—Kurenai Yuhi had taken the initiative herself.

Looking at the sincere, bright red eyes of the girl before him and listening to her defend him, Uchiha Hara's heart stirred.

He raised his head. There was no need to fake the surprise, gratitude, and slight sense of being flattered in his heart; he only needed to let them show.

He said softly, "Th-thank you... Kurenai Yuhi."

Kurenai Yuhi waved her hand. "No need to call me so formally. Just call me Kurenai!"

What she really wanted was to go all the way and have him call her Kurenai-chan, but she was afraid of being too forward and scaring Uchiha Hara away.

"Then, thank you, Kurenai!" Uchiha Hara's voice became much more decisive.

Kurenai Yuhi nodded excitedly, then clenched her little fist. Success!