Chapitre 54: The First Day of Year Two
The sun had barely risen over Konoha, but the academy grounds were already bustling with energy. Students filled the courtyard, some eager to start their second year, others dreading the return of their strict schedules and demanding teachers. Haruto Takeda, however, walked into the academy with a quiet sense of determination. Today marked the start of his second year, and while he had kept himself somewhat under the radar in his first year, this time he had decided to hold back less.
He had spent months refining his abilities—physically, mentally, and strategically. With the Tier 2 Cognitive Enhancement, everything felt different now. The world seemed to move slower, but Haruto knew that was just his enhanced perception at work. He could think faster, analyze situations more efficiently, and react with precision. The gap between his mind and body had shrunk, though it still existed, something he was constantly working on.
Today, Haruto would stand closer to the front of the class, just enough to be noticed, but not enough to shock anyone. He didn't want to draw too much attention too early. No, this was about taking his position among the stronger students without revealing everything. A delicate balance.
As he walked into the classroom, Haruto scanned the room. His classmates were settling in, some talking excitedly about their summer break, others quietly preparing themselves for the day ahead. Haruto moved to a seat near the front, but not the very first row. He didn't want to seem too eager.
He could already feel the difference. Everything felt slower, not because the others were moving sluggishly, but because his mind was processing everything with remarkable clarity. Haruto knew he was simply perceiving things faster. When the adrenaline kicked in, it was like slipping into a hyper-focused state—every movement, every sound, was heightened. It was interesting, to say the least.
The familiar voice of their teacher, Rika Toriyama, echoed through the room as she entered. Haruto straightened up, his attention shifting to the front as she took her place at the head of the class.
"Welcome back, everyone," Rika said, her voice as steady and commanding as ever. "This year will be even more challenging, and I expect nothing less than your best."
Haruto nodded slightly, already anticipating the increased difficulty. He knew that this year would be crucial in his development, and he was ready to push himself harder than ever before. But something else caught his attention as Rika continued.
"Before we dive into the day's lessons, we have a new student joining us this year," Rika announced, gesturing toward the door.
The class murmured in curiosity as the door slid open, and a boy with vivid red hair stepped into the room. Haruto's eyes narrowed slightly. An Uzumaki. He recognized the distinctive features almost immediately—the red hair and the presence of a strong chakra. It wasn't every day an Uzumaki from the Land of Whirlpools transferred to Konoha. In fact, it was odd, considering the Land of Whirlpools had been destroyed years ago.
What's an Uzumaki doing here? Haruto's thoughts raced as the boy stepped forward.
"This is Daichi Uzumaki," Rika said, introducing the boy to the class. "He's from the Land of Whirlpools and will be joining us for the remainder of the academy training."
Haruto's mind immediately began to turn. From the Land of Whirlpools? That didn't make sense. The Land of Whirlpools had been destroyed years ago, and the Uzumaki Clan had scattered across the world. Haruto knew this from what little he had gleaned from books and, of course, from his knowledge of the anime. The Uzumaki survivors were few and far between.
But Daichi… Haruto couldn't recall seeing or hearing about him in the anime. If he wasn't in the anime, Haruto thought to himself, then maybe… he didn't make it? It was an unsettling thought, but a realistic one. The Third Great Ninja War was on the horizon. The chances of this boy surviving the turmoil of that time weren't great.
Haruto mentally shrugged, deciding not to read too much into it. If Daichi didn't make it in the original story, there wasn't much he could do. Maybe the boy had perished during the war, like many others would. Either way, it wasn't his concern right now. Haruto filed the information away and chose to focus on the present.
Daichi took a seat toward the back of the room, his eyes scanning the other students with a polite but curious expression. Haruto simply nodded in return and let it go. There was no point in worrying about the future that hadn't come yet.
The lesson soon began, and Haruto allowed himself to settle into the flow of the class. His attention drifted back to his own progress. Everything still felt slower, but that was because his mind was now far ahead of the others. Haruto smiled slightly, this year would be different—he would push himself further but still stay careful. No need to attract unwanted attention just yet.
But Daichi's presence would make things more interesting. Very interesting.
As the class went on, Haruto found his focus sharpening, ready for whatever challenges this new year would bring.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone