As they chatted and laughed, Hizashi Hyuga seemed to remember something. He looked up at Ruri and said, "Ruri, when you start at the Ninja Academy in a few days, make sure you study hard. You should also make some friends. Don't always keep to yourself. That isn't good for you."
Hizashi Hyuga began his lecture. "You know, teamwork is an important part of a ninja's training, too! Don't always shut yourself in your room to rest. Go out for a walk and play with your friends once in a while!"
Indeed, Ruri Hyuga usually trained alone and never played with the other children. He always seemed so lonely. In Hizashi's eyes, Ruri was constantly absorbed in training instead of playing with children his age.
"I know, I know. I'm not a little kid anymore. I'll definitely make a few friends, so don't worry, Uncle Hizashi!"
Ruri also knew how lonely he must look to others when he never played with the other children.
But Ruri felt that rather than playing with those little brats who dreamed of becoming ninjas, he would be better off spending a little more time training.
And so, the family finished dinner amid laughter and cheerful chatter, and night soon fell. Ruri had not returned to his own home over the past few days, staying at Hizashi's house for several nights instead.
Konoha was very quiet at night, unlike the bustling cities of the real world, where plenty of people still wandered the streets well past midnight.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was time for the new term at the Konoha Ninja Academy to begin.
On the day the Konoha Ninja Academy opened, Ruri rose very early. After washing up and getting dressed, he took a roll of White Bandages and covered the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead!
Once he was ready, Ruri made a little breakfast for Hizashi and the other two and left it on the table. He wrote a short note telling them he had already left for the Ninja Academy, then took his enrollment documents and admission notice with him and headed out the door.
The Konoha Ninja Academy stood not far from the Hokage Office Building, a considerable distance from the Hyuga Clan compound.
Konoha was a vast ninja village. Distinguished clans such as the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga Clan, and the Nara Clan all had their compounds on its outskirts.
Ruri walked from the clan compound to the Ninja Academy in the center of the village, a journey that took quite some effort.
On his way to the Ninja Academy, Ruri watched the shops along both sides of the street gradually open for business. Konoha's morning sunshine was lovely, and the air was wonderfully fresh. Just breathing it in could lift a person's spirits.
The Ninja Academy had been founded by Konoha's Second Hokage during a time of war, to ensure stability and efficiency in both military strength and education.
It had been established specifically to provide all ninjas with the most fundamental training.
After three years of study and completing the Ninja Academy's basic curriculum, students would graduate and advance to Genin. They would be assigned to different teams to train with their teachers and take on missions of various ranks suited to their abilities.
Every year, the academy supplied the village with a large number of talented recruits.
Based on the Naruto manga he had read before, Ruri knew that the Konoha Ninja Academy's curriculum was divided into five main stages: enrollment, fundamentals, exercises, application, and graduation.
As long as students completed these five stages of training at the Ninja Academy, they could successfully become Genin, go out on missions, and become true ninjas.
Throughout the journey from home to the Ninja Academy, Ruri saw many children his age heading there to register.
Ruri saw only one or two who were going to the Ninja Academy alone, like him. Most were accompanied by their parents.
Half an hour soon passed, and Ruri arrived in front of several white buildings with yellow-tiled roofs.
Standing before the buildings, Ruri saw the large words "Konoha Ninja Academy" above him. A banner hung below them, reading, "Welcome to the Ninja Academy Enrollment Ceremony."
The school gates stood wide open, with two reception staff waiting at the entrance. The school grounds were already packed with children who had come to register and their parents.
Ruri walked over to the enrollment desk nearby, straightened his enrollment documents and application form, and handed them over.
After handing in his documents, Ruri looked around to see whether there was anyone he recognized. Unfortunately, he spotted very few familiar faces.
"I wonder if Uchiha Itachi will come to register today!" Ruri murmured.
In the world of Naruto, there were few geniuses like Uchiha Itachi. He was also one of the characters portrayed as perfect throughout the series.
There were several geniuses like Uchiha Itachi, and they all shared certain traits: formidable strength, extraordinary talent, striking looks, and, most importantly, high intelligence.
"It really would be a shame if I didn't get to see that Uchiha today! I really want to meet him in person and see what he actually looks like!" Ruri said as he slowly walked toward the school grounds.
"Welcome, everyone, to today's Ninja Academy Enrollment Ceremony. Please quiet down. Next, we invite our Fourth Hokage to come onstage and give a speech."
Just as Ruri reached the school grounds, a ninja in a green vest standing on the stage pressed both hands downward, signaling for everyone present to be quiet.
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