Konoha Shinobi School
When Rinto arrived at the school gate, there were no children coming and going.
The warm morning sunshine filtered through the green leaves of the treetops, casting dappled light onto the ground, creating a peaceful and leisurely atmosphere.
At the school gate, a middle-aged ninja in a green vest stood straight, scribbling in a small notebook.
Seeing Rinto approach, the middle-aged ninja hesitated briefly before striding toward him.
"Sakuta Rinto?" the ninja asked, frowning slightly as he checked his notes.
Rinto nodded.
The middle-aged ninja snapped his notebook shut and introduced himself briskly. "My name is Nakaguru Daisora. You can call me Daisora-sensei. Now, Rinto-kun, follow me!"
Without further delay, he turned and walked toward the school with quick steps. Rinto sighed and picked up his pace to follow.
As they walked, Daisora flipped open his notebook and read in a serious tone, "Sakuta Rinto, an orphan, born in the Land of Hot Springs. Arrived in Konoha with a caravan a little over half a month ago."
Rinto nodded again.
"I have a general understanding of your situation. Now, I'll explain the school rules."
Daisora cleared his throat before continuing, "The Ninja Academy was founded by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and serves as the foundation for all Konoha shinobi training. Here, you will learn the Will of Fire, the Three Basic Jutsu, and survival skills necessary for rookie ninjas."
He paused for emphasis before continuing, "Since this is your first day, I won't make you copy the Will of Fire. However, remember this: school starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. There are two classes in the morning and one in the afternoon. Subjects include history, theory, and practical training."
As he droned on, Rinto peeked at his notebook. The tiny, densely packed handwriting covered every inch of the page.
Wow… This guy might actually be serious, unlike those who just pretend to care!
Still, Rinto knew he could never get along with such a person.
Suppressing a yawn, he let Daisora's words go in one ear and out the other, following him absentmindedly.
Soon, they crossed the open space in front of the school, passed the famous swing, and entered a three-story building.
"The first floor is for first and sixth graders. The second floor is for second and third graders. The third floor is for fourth and fifth graders."
"Daisora-sensei, what grade am I assigned to?" Rinto asked. He assumed he'd be placed in the first grade, given his new arrival, though he was technically old enough for the second grade.
Daisora's expression turned odd. Instead of answering directly, he asked, "Rinto-kun, do you have any relatives among Konoha's upper echelons?"
"No," Rinto replied honestly.
"Then… did you receive basic ninja education before enrolling?"
Rinto froze.
Did Sarutobi Hiruzen reveal my information to him? No… no way! That would be classified. There's no reason for the higher-ups to tell an ordinary academy teacher.
Shaking off the thought, he forced a self-deprecating smile and shook his head.
Daisora's expression grew even more puzzled. "That's strange. Why would the higher-ups allow a student with no foundational training to skip straight to the second grade?"
Rinto's mood lifted slightly.
Skipping a year meant spending less time in a school filled with little kids. That was definitely good news.
Muttering to himself, Daisora led Rinto up the stairs to the second floor.
Since only a small percentage of students eventually became ninjas, each grade had only one class. Besides the teachers' offices, there were only two large lecture halls per floor.
They soon arrived at the second-floor lecture hall. The classroom was empty, with books, papers, pens, and scrolls scattered across the desks, evidence that students had just left.
Daisora continued rambling about academy rules, his tone as serious as ever. Rinto groaned internally.
"Daisora-sensei, where are the other students?" he interrupted.
Daisora glanced at him, slightly annoyed. "This is a practical training period. The students are at the back playground."
"So… should I join them?" Rinto asked, desperate to escape the endless monologue.
"Yes, but considering you've interrupted me seven times since we entered the school, I will now take five minutes of your time," Daisora declared, flipping through his notes again.
Rinto rolled his eyes and collapsed into a chair, resigned to his fate.
Now he understood why the legendary Monkey King wanted to beat the nagging monk to death. Being lectured endlessly was worse than torture.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Daisora's lips stopped moving, and silence fell.
Rinto shot up, eager to escape. "Daisora-sensei, let's go to the playground. I can't wait to meet my dear classmates!"
Daisora nodded in satisfaction. "Although you talk back, skipped a grade for no reason, and were late on your first day… as long as you get along with your classmates, you're a good kid."
He waved toward the corner of the last row. "For now, that's your seat."
Rinto grinned. "Perfect!"
A seat in the corner was ideal—he could nap without getting noticed and daydream while gazing outside. Truly a place suited for someone just passing time.
After finalizing his seat, Daisora led Rinto out of the building toward the back playground.
There, in an expansive training field, a group of children was divided into two groups, practicing taijutsu under the guidance of two instructors.
Despite their young age, their movements were disciplined. Dodging, blocking, striking—they displayed structured techniques, albeit with a certain stiffness.
The air was filled with the sounds of training—grunts, shouts, and the occasional scolding from instructors dressed in green vests.
Rinto, initially curious, quickly lost interest.
It's so… formal. Where's the intensity? He preferred the raw, brutal taijutsu style of the Cloud Shinobi, with its powerful, no-nonsense strikes.
Nearby, a black-haired boy was pinning a silver-haired kid to the ground. The silver-haired boy, however, wasn't giving up—his fierce struggling showed a fighting spirit far beyond his years.
The black-haired kid held him down with a smirk, his arrogance evident.
Rinto recognized the insignia on the boy's sleeve and chuckled to himself.
"Heh… a brat from the Uchiha clan."
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