章節 2: Chapter 2 - Ninja Academy
"Knock, knock, knock." I've been in this world for about a week, and I've learned a lot, although this world is still very different compared to my previous one. This is the first week in my time living here where someone has come knocking on my door.
As I move towards the door the door, I can sense an immense presence behind it. Whoever lurks behind this door isn't to be underestimated, as in my time here, my instinct has never flared up to this degree the anticipation excited me. And slowly, as I open the door, an older man is visible; he is the man the people of this world call Lord Third, the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf.
His gaze was fixed on me, and there was an undeniable authority about him. I leaned against the door frame, and my posture was relaxed but alert. "Old man, what do you want?" I said in a relaxed tone.
Raising an eyebrow at to my casual address, a smile appears on Hiruzen's face. "It's not often I get such a direct greeting," he began, "I came to see you, Ryota. I see you applied for admission to the Ninja Academy a few weeks ago."
"Yeah, so what?" I replied, dismissing the previous actions of the prior owner of this body.
"Ryota, do you understand the requirements for joining the Academy?" Hiruzen asks with a pause, "First, one must have love for the village and its people. What's the point in training a ninja with nothing but selfish motives, after all? The second one must be unyielding in chasing their goals and training. After all, a ninja who doesn't work hard will just die in battle. I wouldn't wish that on my people, but lastly, one must be healthy in mind and body. This is what I worry about with you, Ryota." Hiruzen says with a sigh, "You possess not even a drop of chakra given this I, and the professors of the academy, don't believe you meet the requirements for admission into the academy."
I shrugged, my expression unfazed by Hiruzen's concerns. "All that about love for the village and hard work, I get it," I said, leaning against the doorframe. "But tell me, old man, hasn't there ever been a ninja in the Hidden Leaf who made a name for themselves just using taijutsu? Someone who didn't rely on chakra as much?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Indeed, there have been a few exceptional individuals who excelled in taijutsu," he admitted. "But even in the most extreme of cases, they all possessed chakra to augment their abilities. You're proposing something unprecedented."
I crossed my arms. "So, what you're saying is, without chakra, I don't stand a chance?" I asked, my tone laced with a hint of mockery. "Seems to me like everyone's too caught up in this chakra business. I thought that there's more to being a ninja than just throwing around fancy jutsu, but it seems like I was wrong."
He seemed pleased, probably impressed by my "determination," which was more so annoyance at Hiruzen's claims, "If you are willing to face the challenges, I might consider allowing you to enroll in the Academy. It would be an experiment of sorts. If you can swim in this world without chakra, then you'll have proven your point. If not, then you can figure out a new path for yourself without regrets."
I let out a brief, unimpressed chuckle. "An experiment, huh? Alright, but let's not drag this out; we've talked for long enough."
Hiruzen nodded, seemingly understanding my desire to cut the conversation short. "Very well, Ryota. We shall see how you fare. The Academy will be an interesting experience for you. Your peers have begun the academy recently, so you'll have to catch up. I wish you luck."
I waved him off, already turning to head back inside. "Yeah, we'll see. Do me a favor and close the door for me, old man." And with that, I was already thinking ahead to the headaches the future holds for me.
***
The next day came all too soon. Reluctantly, I dragged myself out of bed. It seemed as if I now had responsibilities as part of the academy. I dressed myself in a black shirt and sweatpants and slowly made my way to the academy. As I approached a field and the red doors leading to the interior of the academy, anticipation mixed with a hint of self-interest within me. At the very least, this new life would be interesting.
Soon, I walked through the halls and into the administrative area and asked, "I am looking for my class. It is supposed to be with some guy named Iruka," I stated plainly.
The young lady behind the desk glanced up, her eyes flicking to the clock. "You're two hours late," she remarked, her tone carrying a mix of reprimand and surprise. "This kind of disrespect won't be tolerated, young man. Continual tardiness can have serious consequences here."
I shrugged, meeting her stern look with a detached expression. I had never understood school, even in my old world. "Got it. But let's skip the lecture. I'm here now."
"What's your name?" she then asks.
"Ryota Tekken."
Her lips thinned, clearly unimpressed with my attitude, but she nodded reluctantly. "Ok, stay here. I'll inform Iruka-sensei of your arrival," she said and departed.
She returned quickly, and by her side was a young kid. This guy is Iruka, my sensei? Maybe he was more experienced than I am giving him credit for. They wouldn't let just anyone teach the future generation right. Soon, the guy stood right in front of me with a ponytail and bits of hair in front of his tanned face. He wore regular chunnin attire.
"Ryota?" he asked, sizing me up with a glance.
"That's me," I replied.
Iruka sighed, a mix of patience and subtle reprimand in his voice. "You're two hours late. This isn't how we operate in the Academy. Time management and respect are crucial here."
I raised an eyebrow, "I understand it won't happen again."
"Let's hope so. Follow me, we've got a lot to cover and little time," Iruka said, turning away from me. "And Ryota, the Academy might be an adjustment, but it's a place where even the unorthodox can find their way. I truly wish you the best on your journey to becoming a ninja."
Iruka's line caught me off guard. At this point, I could tell he wasn't dangerous or strong, at least to the level of the Hokage or the hidden ninja I have sensed throughout Konoha. I doubt he'd even be considered a talented ninja, but it seemed like he was truly a kind person as I didn't sense any deceit in his words, which may be harder to find than a powerhouse in this world.
Stepping into the classroom with its three rows and columns of seats, the class went silent with Iruka's presence, and he scanned the room as if taking a count of the students before addressing the class.
"Apologies for the delay, everyone," Iruka began, his tone warm. "We have a new classmate joining us today." He gestured towards me, "Would you like to introduce yourself to the class?"
I stepped forward, my eyes briefly scanning the classroom. The diverse personalities were evident, some exuding nobility, others an overwhelming presence. In the middle are recognizable figures from renowned clans: Ino and Shikamaru, with Choji seated behind them and a pink-haired girl sitting right in front. Near the window, a Uchiha, known for their unique eyes, was seated, and behind him, the so-called 'demon child,' Naruto, whose reputation had reached my ears and caused my senses to tingle. I could almost feel something from him; there was definitely a presence behind him, but I couldn't put my hand on it. Maybe there was something true about the rumors pertaining to him. On the opposite side of the class, Hinata Hyuga, the heir to her famed clan, sat quietly.
"My name is Ryota Tekken," I said, my voice relaxed; these were my "peers," so I had to put on a show, "I am new here. Im not good at speeches, so let's keep it simple. I'm here to learn, just like you. But I am looking forward to learning more about this places and making friends."
"Ok Ryota, you can take any of the free seats you see," Iruka says, tapping me on the back, and I weigh my options. Naruto seems interesting but annoying. Uchiha's have a reputation for being stuck up, and Ino and that pink-haired girl seemed to be preoccupied with the Uchiha. Shikamaru is sitting next to Ino, but I could see myself getting along with him; his bored demeanor mirrored my own indifference towards these formalities. The Hyuga girl would be alright. The quiet Hinata seamlessly blended in and was composed. I strolled to the left side of the class. I offered a brief nod to Hinata, acknowledging her presence without unnecessary fanfare, and did the same with Shikamaru as I took my seat in the desk beside him, behind Hinata.
"Now, let's proceed with class," Iruka said, and Iruka's voice faded into the background, a monotonous hum that filled the room. My eyes half-closed, I listened to Iruka's words but not with much focus after all the concepts discussed weren't new to me. Some stuff never changes no matter which world you're in, especially Math, Science, English, and Reading. My historical knowledge wasn't horrible either, given it's the first thing I studied once I landed myself here, and I understood the basic concepts of Chakra.
"Ryota, I see you've been sleeping well. Before class ends, would you mind telling me about who the first Hokage was and what his unique abilities were?" hearing Iruka refer to me, I got up and prepared my response.
"Of course, the first Hokage is Hashirama Senju; he is also known as the god of shinobi and is known for his wood-style jutsu. He sought for peace in the shinobi world and founded Konoha along with Madara Uchiha. He is also one of the pioneers of the shinobi organizational system." There was a brief pause as I finished before I leaned back into my seat again.
Impressed by the precision of my answer, Iruka nodded approvingly. "Correct, Ryota. It's good to see you're well-versed in our history," he said, a hint of surprise in his voice before looking at the clock. "Alright, everyone, class is over for today. I'll be taking my leave." As Iruka exits, most of the class gets up from their seats and begins to converse.
Hinata, the shy girl in front of me, approached me hesitantly. Her demeanor was timid. "Um, Ryota," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "That was really impressive... your answer about the First Hokage. I hope to make friends here too…"
I glanced at her, my expression unchanged, but a nod acknowledged her compliment. "Thanks," I replied succinctly, not dwelling on the praise. "I like your eyes."
She blushed slightly, a look of surprise crossing her face, likely not used to such direct remarks. "Um, yes... thank you," Hinata murmured, her voice soft.
"I heard Hyuga eyes hold special abilities. Do they require chakra to use?" I ask, filled with curiosity; any advantage I could get in this world I'd take.
Hinata's blush deepened a mix of embarrassment from misconstruing Ryota's question and surprise evident in her demeanor. "Thank you," she said, her voice still low. "Yes, the Byakugan... our eyes... they do require chakra to use. They give us a nearly 360-degree field of vision and the ability to see chakra networks." Her response, though hesitant, carried a hint of pride in her clan's abilities.
After hearing Hinata's explanation about the Byakugan, a look of contemplation struck my face. "Ahh, I see. That's a bummer," I said, more to myself than to her. The thought of stealing such eyes had crossed my mind, albeit briefly, given the strategic advantage such eyes could offer. However, I wonder if this world is even capable of such transplants.
My reaction confused Hinata, perhaps not expecting such a strange response. I didn't dwell on it and turned away, heading towards Shikamaru. While the Hyuga's eyes were intriguing, they were not within my grasp. I'll slowly gain her trust at the least, which will give me of political power as minuscule as it would be, and there was more to be gained from the aid of the Hokage's son.
Approaching Shikamaru, I leaned against a nearby desk, casually observing the class. "This academy stuff seems a bit tedious, doesn't it?" I remarked, aiming to strike a chord with his apparent disinterest in mundane activities. "Seems like you've got a knack for seeing beyond the usual shinobi drills. Ever think about tactics and strategies beyond what they teach here?"
Shikamaru glanced up, his eyes reflecting a spark of interest. While he was usually reserved, I seemed to have piqued his curiosity. "Maybe," he responded cautiously, his tone suggesting a guarded intrigue. "But why ask me?"
I shrugged indifferently seems like he had slightly caught on to my intentions. "You just seem like someone who'd have interesting thoughts on the matter. And frankly, conventional methods don't appeal to me much," I respond, thinking about my past.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued. "Strategy, huh? Thats stuff is a drag. But it is more interesting than practice," he admitted, a hint of a smirk appearing. "I guess chess is alright. It's all about strategy. You play?"
He's smart; there is no point in lying to him I may just end up exposing myself in the future, I replied negatively. "Chess, I guess I played before, but I'm speaking in general, anything that's about outthinking the opponent. That's where the real challenge is. It's not just about physical strength, and just because you fare well in one won't mean you will fare well in the other."
"Not just physical strength, huh? That's rare thinking here," he mused, his eyes showing a glint of respect. "Most here just want to show off their jutsu,"
I responded with a smile, remaining silent.
He nodded slowly, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "A world where everyone thought like that like that would definitely be interesting," Shikamaru says as Ino begins to tug on him.
As Shikamaru and I were discussing, Ino, with her typical assertiveness, came over and tugged at Shikamaru's sleeve. "Shikamaru, let's go," she said, her tone a mix of impatience and command. "Our parents are waiting outside."
Shikamaru sighed, the moment of strategic contemplation broken. "Yeah, alright," he replied, standing up with a resigned look.
Ino glanced at me briefly, her curiosity evident. "You're the new kid, right? Ryota?" she asked, a hint of courage in her voice. "Well, see you around."
I nodded in response, watching as she pulled Shikamaru away, a clear leader even among her peers.
"Well, it's time for me to begin training."
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