Boring.
Utterly boring and a complete waste of time.
That was the only way the young Uchiha heir could describe his days at the academy.
For someone born into a prestigious and powerful clan like the Uchiha, where training began as early as the age of three, the academy's curriculum seemed laughably elementary.
Most children from clans began their ninja training at that age, preparing them far better for both the academy and their future lives as shinobi. Izuna Uchiha was no exception.
By the time he stepped through the academy's gates, he had already mastered the basics of chakra control, throwing shuriken, and hand-to-hand combat.
What the teachers presented as foundational lessons were, to him, repetitive and dull. Even when there was something he did not already know, it took him only a moment or two of explanation to understand.
Yet, he was forced to sit through multiple, lengthy reiterations because the majority of the students — especially those from civilian families — struggled to grasp what was, to him, obvious.
This was especially apparent when it came to chakra manipulation, weapon techniques, and combat drills. The gap between children of shinobi clans and civilian-born students was stark, and even among the clan children, differences emerged.
Some were simply more talented than others, learning faster and more efficiently.
Such children were known as prodigies, and Izuna was already considered one of the most promising at the academy. But to understand why, we must go back to the beginning.
The First Day at the Academy
The grand doors of the Konoha Ninja Academy swung open, revealing a vast hall filled with rows of young, eager faces. The soft morning sun cast a warm, golden glow as the new academy students took their places.
At the front of the hall stood the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in his ceremonial robes and iconic hat bearing the kanji for "Fire." His gaze was kind but commanding.
It was the most important day in the young life of Izuna Uchiha. Even with his naturally calm demeanor, a trait that often made him seem older than his years, he could not entirely hide the anticipation gleaming in his dark eyes.
Normally, when angry or displeased, Izuna didn't shout or make a scene. Instead, he became quieter, his expression growing colder and more unreadable—a silence far more ominous than any loud outburst.
But today, there was a shift; excitement softened his otherwise stoic facade.
This day was special.
He had fought for it, trained relentlessly for nearly a year to be here. If he had not pushed himself so hard, he would have had to wait until he was five years old to enter the academy.
But his outstanding performance during the entrance exams had granted him the privilege of starting a year early, at the tender age of four.
After preparing for the big day, Izuna set off with his mother, who accompanied him to the academy gates.
There, he noticed a large gathering of children and, standing before them, the Third Hokage himself, flanked by a few men Izuna did not recognize.
It became clear that the Hokage was about to give a speech.
Indeed, the Third Hokage began with a warm and steady voice:
"Welcome, young shinobi," he said, his tone both kind and commanding.
"Today marks the beginning of your journey as protectors of this village, as students of the Leaf. You have taken your first step on a long and challenging path, one that demands not just strength and skill, but heart, wisdom, and most importantly, the Will of Fire..."
There was more to the speech, but Izuna soon found his attention wandering.
The words were familiar, echoing the many books he had read, most of them likely authored or inspired by the Hokage himself.
The speeches always ended the same way, with a certain poetic mantra:
When the tree leaves dance,
One shall find flames.
The fire's shadow will illuminate the village,
And once again, tree leaves shall bud anew.
Every book seemed to conclude with that same phrase.
Izuna did not know why, but something about the Third Hokage unsettled him. Perhaps it was because Hiruzen Sarutobi was, above all, a politician — and politicians were scheming and manipulative by nature.
Or maybe it was because Sarutobi was a student of the Senju clan, and the Uchiha and Senju were old enemies, despite the village's founding and their supposed peace.
Old enmity died hard.
Or perhaps it was the knowledge that the Third had been a student of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, a man notorious for his distrust of the Uchiha. Whatever the reason, Izuna could not shake the feeling of unease.
Lost in thought, his dark eyes gazing ahead but not truly seeing, Izuna was startled back to reality by the thunderous applause that signaled the end of the speech. The bell rang, marking the beginning of classes.
He said a quick goodbye to his mother and made his way to the assigned classroom. Upon entering, he noticed that several children had already arrived, though the teacher was not yet present.
Seeking a seat, he chose one near the window, in the middle of the room — a spot that offered a clear view outside. He sat quietly, gazing out, waiting.
Minutes later, their teacher arrived, introducing himself as Akito Satoru. He asked each student to stand and introduce themselves.
One by one, the children spoke.
The first, a boy from the front row, stood and said, "Hello, my name is Aizen..."
And so it went, each child standing, stating their name, age, and something about themselves.
When it was Izuna's turn, he rose slowly, his movements measured and deliberate.
"Hello, my name is Izuna Uchiha. I am four years old. My goal is to achieve my ambitions one day," he said simply.
He did not elaborate on what those ambitions were, and no one pressed him to do so.
After the introductions were complete, the first lesson of the day began: history.
At first, Izuna listened attentively, but within minutes, he realized he already knew most of what was being taught. The rest was simple enough to understand with minimal effort.
As the days went by, the initial excitement faded. The pattern became clear: the majority of the lessons were review for him, and the rare moments when he encountered new information, he grasped it quickly. Yet, the teachers repeated the material over and over for the sake of the other students, especially the civilians, who struggled to keep up.
The only thing Izuna truly looked forward to was combat training, but that would not begin until three months into the academy. The teachers needed to teach the civilians the academy's standard Taijutsu forms first.
After a month, realizing he was learning little in class, Izuna began using shadow clones to attend in his place — a technique his father had taught him, though how he had mastered such an advanced jutsu was a story for another day.
While his clone sat through the tedious lessons, the real Izuna continued his intense training in the forest, sharpening his skills and preparing for the future.
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Hi, sorry for the late update, but I've been sick for the last few days. I don't know what's going on in my country right now, but this month I have either a cold or a virus. It seems like it will never end. But I digress. This is the promised chapter, a little late but at least it's better than ever, right?