Enrollment

Ever since Kakashi had successfully learned to extract chakra, aside from training himself, Hatake Sakumo had spent most of his time at home teaching Kakashi how to circulate chakra more effectively, as well as the basics of taijutsu and swordsmanship.

The insights countless predecessors had gathered through innumerable life-and-death battles were undoubtedly immense nourishment, watering Kakashi like a young sapling. Gifted to begin with, he was like a sponge soaking up water, expanding rapidly as his strength improved by the day.

Though he had no cheat ability, as a transmigrator, he had been born with immense spiritual power. Combined with an adult's self-discipline and ability to learn from experience, by the age of four, he already possessed the strength of a Genin, according to White Fang.

White Fang had come from humble beginnings, and his swordsmanship had originally descended from a samurai school in the Iron Country. During the Warring States Period, a remarkably gifted samurai had taught it to an ancestor of the Hatake Clan. It had thus been passed down through the generations, until Hatake Sakumo finally surpassed his predecessors. Through numerous desperate battles, White Fang repeatedly broke past his own limits, displaying the ultimate dance of attack. Combined with Nintaijutsu, Hatake Style Swordsmanship shone brilliantly across the Shinobi World.

So-called Nintaijutsu involved using chakra to constantly stimulate and temper every organ and joint in the body, making one's attacks faster and more agile. It enhanced not only movement speed, but reaction speed as well.

The peaceful years drifted by. The mottled bloodstains and sweat marks on the bandages discarded every week bore witness to Kakashi's growth. Now five years old, Kakashi would be enrolling in the Ninja Academy this year.

For the past three years, Kakashi had devoted nearly all his time to training. White Fang had only managed to drag him around the village a few times, citing the need to balance work and rest.

It had to be said that Konoha really was not very large at the time.

In the handful of times he had gone out, he had run into several recognizable characters from the original story. The one with whom he would have the deepest bond was probably the moving Konoha NPC duo, the Watermelon Rind father and son. At the time, Might Guy was still just a little boy. The first time he met Kakashi was while he was walking on his hands.

Used to being mocked and excluded by children his own age, Might Guy stared at the white-haired child watching him, never expecting that the scene he had imagined would fail to arrive.

"Hey, kid over there. How old are you?" Kakashi had asked that year, his hands in his pockets, fearless as he looked down at the little Watermelon Rind.

"Huh?! You mean me?" Might Guy pushed off with both hands and flipped upright, asking with a hint of excitement.

"Yeah, unless there are other thick eyebrows around here." Having discovered the joy of teasing a little boy, Kakashi forgot that he was one himself at the moment.

"I'm five. What about you? You look about the same age as me." Since he rarely interacted normally with children his age, Guy seemed rather excited.

"Then we're the same age. You'll be attending the Ninja Academy, right? If so, I'm looking forward to fighting you." After saying that, Kakashi turned and walked toward Hatake Sakumo, who had stopped ahead to wait for him. "My name is Hatake Kakashi. Please take care of me."

"Ah, okay! Okay! My name is Might Guy! Please take care of me too!" An excited voice came from behind him. Beneath his mask, the corners of Kakashi's mouth curled upward slightly.

"That's why I told you, it's not that I don't interact with people my age. I just haven't met anyone who interests me," Kakashi said.

Delighted to see this, Hatake Sakumo happily patted Kakashi on the head.

"That child isn't simple. He may not be at your level yet, but he'll become an excellent opponent in the future. Don't get arrogant, Kakashi." He silently looked back at Might Guy, who was grinning foolishly, his gaze lingering on the bandage-wrapped fists.

I know better than anyone what that Watermelon Rind will be capable of in the future. He'll be the brightest meteor. The instant he streaks across the sky, the entire screen will go blank... As Kakashi silently thought this, he recalled his plans.

His relationship with Guy still had to develop as usual, perhaps even more deeply. Since he had already decided not to take the Sharingan, if he wanted to advance further within the Kage-level tier, the Eight Gates would be one of the easiest options to obtain. As for the fact that opening the Gate of Death meant certain death—if someone wanted to nuke you flat, would you choose to ignite your own nuke? The answer was obvious.

After rapidly mastering chakra tree-climbing and water-walking, Kakashi's advanced chakra control training became adhesion under Orochimaru's guidance.

As the name implied, it meant releasing chakra from the body and attaching it to an object. This was already somewhat similar to the domain of medical ninjutsu.

Though only five years old, Kakashi possessed far more chakra than a Genin, though not by an overwhelming amount. Each time he tried to attach chakra to a strip of paper, he had to control it with great care. Too little chakra and the paper would not stand upright; too much, or an uneven distribution, and the paper would easily tear.

His daily training schedule was packed full, and before he knew it, time had reached Konoha Year 42.

Today was the start of a new enrollment season for the Ninja Academy.

Following Hatake Sakumo to the entrance of the Ninja Academy, Kakashi found the place packed with people. Younger versions of many characters from the original story appeared before his eyes one after another.

When the staff emerged from the school and posted the admission list on the wall, Kakashi watched the Might Guy father-and-son duo put on another passionate performance. He then entered the school alongside the rest of the newly enrolled students.

This was the first time Kakashi had seen the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The Professor of Ninjutsu was still in the latter part of his prime. Though not a tall man, he gave off an unshakable presence like a mountain.

"...Where the leaves dance, fire burns without end. The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout. You are those new leaves. I believe that one day, you too will become towering trees, sheltering the people of this village!" With the standard rhetoric of the Will of Fire serving as the conclusion, the long and dull opening ceremony came to an end. Kakashi officially began his brief Ninja Academy life.

After entering the classroom, Kakashi called out to Guy, who had come in behind him, and gestured for him to sit with him near the back-left side of the room.

The seats were by the window, making it convenient to look at the scenery outside.

Feeling that he had successfully entered the school as promised, Guy happily walked over to Kakashi.

"Yo! Kakashi-kun, I came as promised! Please guide me from now on!" He raised his signature thumbs-up.

"Sure, Guy."

"Hey, you thick-browed guy over there, quit kidding around, will you? Kakashi is Hatake Sakumo-sama's son, a genius. How could he possibly treat a dead last like you as his opponent? Hahaha!" An unnamed student who had just been stopped by Kakashi's gaze from sitting beside him watched Guy and Kakashi seemingly acknowledge each other, and spoke with some bitterness.

"Guy will prove through his actions that he is the opponent I have chosen." Kakashi came to Guy's defense without even raising his head, silently reading the textbook in front of him.

The students from Jonin families who had not paid attention to this matter before generally knew that a famous person had joined their class: the son of Hatake Sakumo, the Hokage's current advisor, deputy commander of ANBU, and the man known as the strongest beneath the Hokage. Kakashi had been called a genius since childhood, and last year, he had even been accepted as a disciple by Orochimaru of the Sannin. How could someone acknowledged by him be that ridiculous thick-browed Watermelon Rind?

This Ninja Academy class had quite a few students who would achieve something in the future.

There were the Third Hokage's youngest son, Asuma Sarutobi; Kurenai Yuhi of the Yuhi Clan, who excelled at genjutsu; Ibiki Morino, future head of the Interrogation Department; swordsmanship expert Tonbo Tobitake; Uchiha Tekka; and others.

Of course, there were also Rin Nohara, who would die in the Three-Tails incident, and Obito Uchiha, the Ten-Tails' jinchuriki.

These children of powerful clans or bloodline ninja clans had received elite education since childhood. Having heard their elders praise Kakashi countless times at home, they were unconvinced, but none of them rashly stepped forward to challenge him now. After all, strength was the foundation of all words, and there would be plenty of chances ahead to compete with Kakashi. (P.S. Can't I change it already...? teary-eyed.)