"Shit! How can it be so complicated?"
With a loud snort, Hitoshi dropped to the ground. His eyes were still fixed on the target. Of the ten kunais he had thrown, only seven had hit the center. While that would be an acceptable achievement to many, to him it was insufficient. In this world, perfection was not an option, it was a necessity.
Frustrated, he muttered to himself:
"I have to keep improving. I can't stagnate."
Without getting up yet, he moved his hand to his thigh to pull out another kunai. However, as soon as he touched it, the calluses on his fingers opened again, letting small drops of blood escape. His face contracted in pain, but it was nothing new to him. At this moment, the physical pain felt almost insignificant.
After getting up with clear fatigue, he went to his backpack, from where he took out some ointment and a bandage. As he carefully covered the wound to avoid infection, he couldn't help but look at his hands again: marks of exertion, scars from a life he never chose.
He took up position in front of the target, this time with renewed determination. He threw the kunais, one after the other, with calculated precision. But when he saw the results, he simply sighed. There was no progress.
Hitoshi walked slowly to the target to retrieve his weapons, picking them up one by one as his mind wandered.
"It's been five and a half years since I came to this place... and I still don't have anything interesting. Just with effort and dedication I won't be able to get far."
Hitoshi was not of this world. Before waking up here, he had been an ordinary college student, with a life that others might consider ideal: a loving family, an understanding girlfriend and a future full of promise. But one day, without warning, he opened his eyes in a completely different place, in the arms of an unknown doctor.
It was terrible, he remembered. The shock of losing everything from one moment to the next, she could have sworn she cried for days.
He had not chosen this life, nor had he received anything that would facilitate his adaptation. In the stories he used to read, those who were transported to other worlds usually received special abilities or "golden fingers" that allowed them to stand out. But Hitoshi didn't get any of that. He was just a civilian born of civilians, with no innate talent or magical tools.
Fukui Hitoshi, that was his name, but now it seemed more like a burden than an identity.
To make his situation worse, his parents in this world had died when he was only four years old. They were killed by bandits while traveling to the capital. Although he never really grew fond of them, the idea of being left all alone at such a young age had always seemed unfair to him.
All he had now was the inheritance they left behind and a small stipend from the Hokage for being an orphan, a gesture he considered more of a temporary relief than a real support.
As he carefully cleaned his kunais, Hitoshi could not help but reflect on his place in this world. He would have preferred a simple life, like that of any civilian who doesn't get involved in the constant conflicts. But something in him told him that this choice would be his worst mistake.
In this world, civilians were destined to be victims. Only the strong could aspire to true freedom.
Aware of this, Hitoshi had decided to take control of his life. If he had no supernatural advantages, then he would take advantage of what he did possess: his knowledge and intelligence.
"Even if effort and dedication in this world won't buy me a golden palace, I won't accept failure either. Whoever brought me here will have to try harder. I'm not the kind of person who gives up easily."
He calmly sat on the ground and closed his eyes, placing leaves on his face as he tried to concentrate. He combined basic chakra control exercises with meditation, seeking to sharpen his focus and overcome the limitations that were holding him back.
With a light blizzard, Hitoshi opened his eyes. After some time the leaves he had placed on his face fell gently to the ground, as he felt the chakra flowing inside him: lively, but exhausted. With no responsibilities such as working or studying, he could devote the whole day to training.
In another life, children of the same physical age would be playing, enjoying their childhood. But Hitoshi was not a child. Though his body gave him away, his mind retained the eighteen years of a youth he had left behind. "You can't compare a five-almost-six-year-old mentality with an eighteen-year-old one," he thought as he sighed, wiping the dust off his clothes and beginning to gather his things.
Aware that this world was full of dangers and that even a civilian like him could be spied on, he had learned to be cautious. That's why he preferred to train in remote places, hidden deep in the forest.
Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he set off for home. The sun was already setting behind Konoha's horizon, tinting the sky with warm tones. Although he was barely a child in the eyes of others, no adult seemed to care about him. In a world where survival was a constant battle, seeing a child alone was not unusual.
Passing a small stall, he bought vegetables and meat. He needed to replenish his supplies. The quiet streets of Konoha were perfect for his walks: free of noise, pollution or chaos.
For a moment, he let his mind wander. "This world also has its beauty," he thought, as his eyes rested on the Hokage tower, a symbol of leadership and power. His gaze ascended to the mountain where the faces of the first three Hokages were carved in stone: Hashirama, Tobirama and Hiruzen. They inspired grandeur, but to Hitoshi they were only a reminder of the history that was about to overflow.
He sighed and continued on his way. "It's too early in the timeline. Even Kakashi probably isn't even in plans to exist," he reflected bitterly. He kicked a small stone in his path. He knew that, with his presence in this world, fate would no longer follow the course he knew. A simple butterfly flutter could cause a tornado, and he was much more than a flutter.
He finally arrived home. Opening the door with some effort, he was greeted by the usual silence. His home, cold and lonely, offered no comfort, but at least it gave him a respite from outside threats. He kicked off his sandals at the entrance and noticed a letter on the floor. Knowing what it was about, she calmly picked it up and set the bags of supplies on the table.
After arranging the food in their places, he went to the small living room. There, with a kunai in hand, he cut open the envelope and read the contents of the letter. When he finished, he let out a relieved sigh. He had finally been accepted into the ninja academy. A weary smile crept across his face, as his eyes shone with a new determination. After so much effort and time, he finally had a clear goal.
The next day, Hitoshi woke up early. He had several things in mind for that day, but the most important was to attend the ninja academy. After a quick shower and a hearty breakfast, he grabbed his backpack and set off for his destination.
Konoha offered him, as always, a warm and peaceful climate. At that hour, the streets were practically empty, which made his journey, although somewhat long, surprisingly relaxing.
When the academy appeared in his field of vision, Hitoshi paused for a moment to observe it. It was an imposing building, designed to house hundreds, perhaps a thousand students. Behind it, a large area for physical training stretched out, something Hitoshi was inwardly grateful for. At least during this time, he would receive quality training.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he took his first step into the academy. With renewed confidence, he made his way to the courtyard, where a speech by the Hokage was scheduled. However, noticing that it was still quite a while before the start, he sat down on a nearby bench and pulled a first aid book from his backpack. Hitoshi was not someone who could stand to waste time doing nothing.
As the minutes passed, the place began to fill up. His eyes occasionally strayed from his reading to observe the arrivals. He recognized members of prominent clans such as the Uchiha, Hyuga, Aburame and Senju. Among them, the Senju stood out for their slightly more outgoing attitude, were it not for them, the place would feel a bit dreary with the presence of the more closed off clans. Later with the presence of civilians and more sociable clans, such as the Yamanaka and Akimichi, the atmosphere became somewhat warmer.
As the crowd grew, Hitoshi closed his book and joined the others. The crowd made him uncomfortable. The sight of fathers and sons sharing laughter and pride was something that, though he tried to ignore, did not fail to affect. A feeling of silent envy came over him.
"How can they be so happy to send their children to what will probably be certain death?" he thought coolly, observing the proud expressions on the faces of the adults. He knew that many of the children present, both civilian and ninja clan, would die in their first year, turned into cannon fodder. Yet parents were sending them off with smiles and words of encouragement. "It's a different culture. I'll have to leave my old ways behind and accept this reality at some point."
Before he could delve any deeper into his thoughts, a hush fell over the place. Hitoshi looked up and saw the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, approaching the stage. The children greeted him with exclamations of admiration, greeting him enthusiastically. Some parents laughed at the excitement of the little ones.
Hitoshi shook his head, unimpressed. However, his attention soon turned entirely to Hiruzen. At that moment, more than a charismatic leader, Hiruzen was to Hitoshi a key man symbolizing the system that defined this society. Aware of this, he listened attentively, letting the Hokage's words offer him a window into the world he was about to face.
"Welcome, young ninja. Today you take the first step on a path that will make you the protectors of Konoha, in whom this village places its hope and its future. I want you to understand something fundamental: Konoha is not just a place, it is its people. It is every life that dwells under the symbol of the Leaf. And you, as part of this great family, have a sacred duty: to protect it at any cost."
"The peace and security we enjoy are not free. They are the result of the effort, sacrifice and, in some cases, the very lives of those who came before you. Now, that legacy rests in your hands. Their lives, though precious, are not theirs alone. They belong to Konoha. Every step you take, every decision you make, will be for the good of our village."
"This is not a burden, but an honor. The Will of Fire burns in each of you, connecting with the heroes of the past and ensuring that Konoha continues to prosper. As long as that flame lives in your hearts, our village will never fall. You are the sword and shield of Konoha. Live, fight and, if necessary, give your all for this land. For, together, we are stronger than any threat. And as long as we are united, Konoha will be eternal."
With those final words, both children and adults applauded. Hitoshi did too, although he was surprised by Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech. It was clearly an indoctrinating message. That "Will of Fire" was as corrupt as he could imagine.
"Why would he give his life for a village that would turn its back on him at his first mistake?" he reflected coolly. A tongue as sharp as the Hokage's was not surprising to him; after all, he had trained one of the most manipulative and corrupt people in this world.
"With the right words, even the most useless could be king."
After congratulations and the closing of the event, the students were led to the classrooms. Hitoshi looked at his acceptance letter again and headed to his new classroom. He wasn't expecting much from the atmosphere; he wanted it to be quiet, but he knew the chances of avoiding bullies were almost nil.
Thanks to the directions, he managed to be among the first to arrive at the classroom. Although there were some people present, he did not pay attention to them right away. He walked towards the stairs and opted for the most cliché seat: in the last row, next to the window. But he knew that, although typical, it was also comfortable and discreet.
Leaving his backpack behind the seat, he finally began to observe his new companions. The first thing he noticed was the presence of two Hyugas. One wore a headscarf, while the other did not. What caught her attention the most was that there was a boy from the main branch and another from the junior high together. Although they did not speak, their closeness reflected a strong bond, perhaps friendship or brotherhood.
A little higher up, he saw three young men. One was eating nonchalantly while the other two were playing shogi on a small board.
"The Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Curious. Seems like there will always be one in every generation."
Finally, his eyes fell on a girl also sitting in the back row, but in the opposite corner. Her black hair and eyes made it clear that she was an Uchiha.
By now, the atmosphere seemed varied. Adjusting to his surroundings, Hitoshi picked up his book again and began to read while waiting for the teacher to arrive. Gradually, more students filled the classroom. Some were civilians, but most belonged to clans, which made clear the importance given to these families in the ninja structure.
"Lucky? I'm not sure. Perhaps there is favoritism towards the children of clans. Perhaps the skill gap between them and civilians is unbridgeable. It will all depend on the sensei and how he handles the teaching."
When the classroom was full, the door opened to reveal a grown man. The room immediately fell silent as the new teacher made his entrance.
He was a young Chunin, with brown hair and eyes, who seemed full of energy. His gaze swept the classroom quickly, stopping at certain points. Although he was aware of the large number of students coming from important clans, his attitude denoted confidence.
"He's young, but he seems excited about his work. I guess he's worth paying attention to," Hitoshi thought.
The teacher smiled warmly before speaking:
"Good morning, students. My name is Oda Takeo. I have been a Chunin for a few years now, and I recently discovered that what motivates me most in life is teaching. Teaching the new generations of shinobi."
His smile remained firm as some students nodded or returned a slight smile. There were no major reactions, but Takeo seemed pleased with the reception.
"Today is your first day, so we'll spend it introducing ourselves. For the next five years, the people around you will be your friends and, later, your comrades-in-arms. Together you will work to protect this village. That's why it's important to get to know each other well from the beginning."
He took a folder with the names of the students and continued:
"Let's start with introductions. Please state your name, something you like or dislike, and a dream you have. We will start with... Aburame Shibi."
Hitoshi listened carefully as the others introduced themselves. He wanted to possibly identify who the people around him were. The first introduction gave him interesting clues.
"It looks like I can begin to establish a timeline. I'm in the generation of the parents of the Konoha eleven. That must be Shikaku Nara... that Inoichi Yamanaka... and that Choza Akimichi," he concluded, looking at the trio he had noticed earlier.
His eyes moved to the black-haired Uchiha. "That must be Mikoto Uchiha." He then looked at a blond with slightly tanned skin. "Minato Namikaze, the Yondaime Hokage."
With these names in mind, Hitoshi confirmed their location in history. "It seems that the existence of the Konoha eleven is impossible now. The butterfly effect will have changed too many things. A pity."
He sighed as he closed his eyes for a moment, adjusting his thoughts and rethinking his plans. Just as he opened his eyes again, he heard his name:
"Fukui Hitoshi, introduce yourself."