I had expected my entrance into the Academy to be uneventful. A simple walk into a classroom filled with other kids my age, a dull lecture, maybe a few introductory exercises… nothing out of the ordinary.
Instead, I was informed that I wouldn't be placed with the new students.
Apparently, my performance during the entrance tests had been impressive enough that the instructors saw no need to have me start from the very beginning. Instead, they had placed me with the second-year students, children who already had a year of training ahead of me.
I wasn't surprised. I had prepared for this as it was a possibility. But that didn't mean I wasn't a little irritated. I wasn't here to be a genius or anything who quickly climbs the ranks.
I was here to acquire as much knowledge as I can to ensure I don't lag behind much considering my civilian status.
Now, I had to deal with higher expectations right from the start.
Tsk.
…
The Academy was designed to take children through six years of training, from the ages of five to eleven. Upon graduation, students would officially become Genin, low-ranking ninja assigned to a three-man team under a Jonin instructor.
From there, they would undergo missions and additional training until they were deemed worthy of taking the Chunin Exams.
The first two years were primarily academic, focused on building a foundation—reading, writing, basic history, and most importantly, chakra theory. Physical conditioning was light, mostly stamina training and basic movement drills.
By the third year, students would begin weapon training, taijutsu sparring, and more practical applications of their chakra. By the fourth year, their training intensified, incorporating teamwork drills and tactical exercises.
The fifth and sixth years were the true test, weeding out those unfit for active duty since the three foundational techniques of Shinobi are taught.
Clone Technique. Transformation Technique and Substitution technique.
Now that I had been placed with the second years, I knew I couldn't afford to take things easy. If I wanted to keep up, I had to ensure that my efforts matched or exceeded those around me.
Afterall, they already had a headstart while I was still depending on Hoshino for books.
…
Walking into my new classroom was a strange experience. It was one thing to know I'd be in an unfamiliar setting, but another to actually step into a room full of strangers.
"I guess this is a new life after all." I muttered to myself as I scanned through the classroom.
The students were a mix of clan heirs and civilian-born children, but even among the latter, many had family members who were or had been shinobi.
That meant I was at a disadvantage in terms of both theoretical and practical experience, though I doubted anyone here had put in as much structured effort into training as I had.
All of the faces were unfamiliar, though I recognized a few surnames. An Aburame sat in the corner, silent and reserved. A Nara lounged at his desk, already looking bored. There was a Yamanaka girl chatting animatedly with an Akimichi boy, and a Hyūga seated stiffly at the front, his posture perfect.
Then there were the civilians, those who had no bloodline advantages to fall back on. Unlike the clan heirs, they weren't exuding quiet confidence. Some looked uncertain, a few looked determined. Others… had that look of kids who thought this was all fun and games.
That was the biggest difference between us. I wasn't here to play ninja.
I had more in common with them than the others, though I doubted any of them had spent their time training as aggressively as I had.
The instructor, a lean, sharp-eyed man named Matsuda-sensei, motioned for me to step forward.
"Introduce yourself to the class," he instructed.
I sighed internally before stepping forward.
"My name is Haruki Murakami," I began, keeping my tone even. "I was raised in the village orphanage and recently joined the Academy. I like reading, training, and challenging myself. I dislike people who waste my time."
I paused, considering my next words carefully.
"As for my dream… I have none."
That earned a few confused glances. A few students muttered among themselves.
Matsuda-sensei raised an eyebrow. "None?"
I shook my head. "Dreams are unreliable. I have a goal, not a dream. And that goal is to become strong enough that no one can stop me from achieving whatever dreams I dream up."
The reaction was immediate.
The Nara kid smirked slightly, clearly entertained. Tch.
The Hyūga frowned, his expression unreadable but clearly disapproving. I don't blame him considering his clan's dynamics.
The Yamanaka girl whispered something to the Akimichi, who only shrugged.
The civilians had mixed expressions, some thoughtful, others unimpressed.
A boy sitting near the back scoffed. "Edgy much?"
Good. Let them react however they want. I wasn't here to impress anyone.
Matsuda-sensei studied me for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Take a seat."
And that…I did.
…
The first lecture of the day was a review of chakra fundamentals. At first, I thought it was for my benefit, but as Matsuda-sensei continued, I realized he was simply reinforcing past lessons for everyone.
Matsuda-sensei drew a diagram on the board, explaining how chakra was formed by mixing physical and spiritual energy. He covered the concept of hand seals, the five elemental affinities, and the importance of control.
Most of this was already familiar to me.
However, it was useful to hear it structured this way. The Academy's curriculum wasn't as basic as I had assumed, there were layers to how they built their teachings, ensuring that even those with no prior knowledge could keep up.
After the lecture, we moved on to basic taijutsu drills.
I was partnered with a clanless boy named Daichi, who, for some reason, seemed eager to prove himself.
Fucking kids I tell ya.
He lunged at me recklessly, his movements aggressive but unrefined. I didn't even have to strain myself too much to dodge his punches, and using minimal effort to redirect his attacks without attacking.
By the end of the exercise, he was panting. I wasn't.
And I hadn't even made a single attack.
Some of the clan kids were watching now, clearly taking note.
As expected.
It seemed my training had paid off.
…
Reuniting with Friends
Once classes ended for the day, I met up with my friends near the Academy's entrance.
Hmm? Did I just call them friends? Gah.
Aiko was the first to greet me, arms crossed, an unimpressed expression on her face. "So, you ditched us for the second years, huh?"
Kazu grinned. "Did you get beaten up yet?"
Renji smirked. "Bet they don't like your attitude."
I sighed. "You're all idiots."
Aiko rolled her eyes. "Tch. Figures."
"So?" Kazu pressed. "How was it?"
I shrugged. "Manageable. The material isn't difficult, and the students are competent but not overwhelming."
Aiko snorted. "Figures. You're annoyingly prepared."
What do you know? When you fail to prepare, you're preparing yourself to fail. It's that simple.
Renji raised an eyebrow. "What did they make you do?"
I gave them a brief rundown—introductions, chakra theory, taijutsu drills.
Aiko seemed mildly interested in the chakra lesson, while Kazu fixated on my sparring session. "So, you didn't lose once?"
I shook my head.
Kazu clicked his tongue and pouted. "Boring."
Aiko rolled her eyes at him. "Unlike you, Murakami actually trains. You should try it sometime."
"Look who's talking." Kazu glanced disdainfully at her and huffed. "Training is fine. But pranks are more fun."
I sighed. "You're going to fail out of the Academy at this rate."
Kazu grinned. "Not if I cheat my way through it."
Renji chuckled. "At least he's honest about it."
As we made our way back to the orphanage, I listened to their stories about their own first day.
Aiko had already gotten into an argument with one of her instructors over a "stupidly inefficient" explanation of chakra.
Kazu had pulled a prank on a classmate and nearly gotten caught.
Renji had managed to sleep through half of his lesson and still answer a question correctly.
Same idiots. Different setting.
And just like that, our new lives as Academy students had begun.
…
The first week at the Academy was a mix of observation, adaptation, and controlled exertion.
I had no intention of standing out too much, but at the same time, I couldn't afford to blend in completely. If I wanted to gain something from this experience, I needed to strike a balance, strong enough to command respect, but not so exceptional that I attracted unwanted attention.
The days were structured clearly.
Mornings were reserved for academic lessons which included history, arithmetic, and chakra theory, while afternoons were spent on physical training, taijutsu drills, and basic chakra control.
While we weren't introduced to weapons or ninjutsu yet, I made sure to make the most of what we did have.
I quickly established a routine.
Academics was mind-numbing but necessary
The first challenge was sitting through the morning lessons without letting my boredom show.
History was simple. We covered major events like the formation of the Hidden Villages and the importance of the Hokage. The lectures were basic, meant to give children a general understanding rather than any deep insight.
Arithmetic was straightforward. Counting, basic multiplication, and problem-solving exercises. Some kids struggled, while others, particularly those from clans, found it easier. I had no trouble, though I quickly realized that excelling in this area wasn't particularly valuable in a school where fighting ability mattered most.
Then came chakra theory.
This was the only subject that interested me. Matsuda-sensei explained the fundamentals—how chakra was formed, how it flowed through the body, and how controlling it was essential for all shinobi techniques.
The exercise of the day was the leaf concentration test—a simple method where we had to keep a leaf stuck to our forehead using only chakra control.
It was easy for me. Too easy.
Some of my classmates struggled, either using too little chakra, causing the leaf to fall, or using too much, making it twitch uncontrollably.
I completed the exercise effortlessly, making sure not to be the first to succeed. Instead, I glanced around, waiting for a few others to get it before I subtly adjusted my timing.
Ren Hyūga, however, noticed me.
His white, pupil-less eyes locked onto mine for a second, and he gave a slight smirk.
A rival already? Hah. As if I cared.
But I made a mental note of him anyway.
The afternoons were spent on conditioning.
The Academy focused on building endurance, flexibility, and coordination before we were allowed to move on to real combat training.
Our days started with laps around the training field. While some of the other kids huffed and wheezed, I maintained a steady pace, careful not to look completely unfazed but never allowing myself to fall behind.
The exercises continued with agility drills which included hurdles, balance exercises, and reaction tests. Again, simple. My body was already stronger than most of my classmates', thanks to my personal training. But I had to be careful.
I made sure to finish in the top group, but not at the very front. Let the clan kids and geniuses take that position.
Then came taijutsu drills and sparring.
Even though we were still young, the Academy made sure to drill the basics into us. The first few rounds were nothing more than light exchanges, meant to teach control and form rather than full-on fighting.
I was paired against different classmates throughout the week. Some were too hesitant, their movements slow and uncertain. Others were too aggressive, throwing their weight into every attack without thinking.
Then there were the ones who knew what they were doing.
A few students had clear natural talent or early training. Some had sharp footwork, others had strong reflexes. There were even a few whose punches carried surprising force for their age like the chubby Akimichi kid.
I took note of them.
Not just their strengths, but their weaknesses. The ones who telegraphed their movements. The ones who lacked stamina. The ones who relied too much on brute force.
I made sure my own sparring remained controlled. Solid, but nothing extraordinary. Just another student learning like the rest.
For now.
I made a mental note of my classmates' strengths and weaknesses. Knowing my competition was just as important as training myself.
The last part of the days focused on chakra control.
Since we weren't learning jutsu yet, the exercises were basic—holding a leaf in place, channeling chakra through our limbs for better balance, and attempting to stand on one foot while maintaining steady chakra flow.
These might have been difficult for others, but for me, they were second nature.
I made sure to match the speed of the better students. Not too fast, not too slow. Just good enough to blend in.
The instructors took note of my steady progress but didn't seem overly impressed.
That was good.
I didn't want their attention. Not yet. No. Not at all.
By the end of the first week, I had fully adjusted to the Academy's rhythm.
I knew who to watch, who to avoid, and who might be useful later. I had built a solid foundation without revealing too much about myself.
Now, all I had to do was keep this pace…
At least, until I was ready to take things to the next level.
***
A/N: Alright guys. This is the 10th chapter. Feel free to subscribe to continue reading and don't forget to comment on what you feel I can improve or change.