8 Chapter 08 - First Day in Ninja Academy 03.
[Chapter Size: 1500 Words.]
Third Person POV
Ninja Academy, Konoha, Year 32.
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As the class proceeded, Minato tried to concentrate on the lessons, ignoring the glances and whispers of his classmates around him. He knew it would be difficult to be accepted as a civilian among so many aspiring ninjas from renowned clans, but he was determined to ignore this initial reaction and prove his own worth over time, as he is the protagonist of this story.
"Let's start our lesson with the history of Konoha and the will of fire passed on by the first Hokage!" Professor Fuuma began.
Minato had to look up, while most of the children seemed excited about this, he knew this was the beginning of the brainwashing they did to children, yet Minato put on a neutral face and began to listen to the professor start to tell the Hokage-chosen version of Konoha's creation.
"This isn't right..." Minato heard a voice beside him and found Mikoto Uchiha murmuring as she listened to the professor.
"Well, at least they didn't remove the Uchiha clan from the founding clans..." Minato commented, and Mikoto looked at him in surprise.
"Do you know the real history of the founding of Konoha?" She raised an eyebrow at Minato.
"It's not like I was really there, but I know a lot of the history, for example, Uchiha Madara was the one who named Konoha in a room with Mito Uzumaki, Hashirama Senju, and Tobirama Senju." Minato whispered to her.
"Really?" She asked in surprise and looked at Minato with some astonishment still.
"Yes, the creation of Konoha was mainly a union between the Senju and Uchiha clans, not like the professor is saying over there, he's including other clans like Sarutobi just to invent some privilege with the Hokage. And this stuff about the third Hokage being the strongest is nonsense, even Tobirama can beat him easily." Minato whispered.
Mikoto began to laugh softly at this.
"Hey, can you stop gossiping during class? Pay attention!" Next to Minato, Tsuna seemed dissatisfied hearing the whispers of Minato and the other Uchiha girl.
"TSUNA, don't disrupt the class!" The teacher shouted with Tsuna's little outburst.
"Sorry..." She had to admit and turned her face to Minato.
"See what you did?!" She said dissatisfied.
"I didn't cause you to yell beside me, you have to be discreet. You'll be a ninja, remember that..." Minato spoke, scratching his head.
But Tsuna had veins on her forehead, thinking she would hit this blue-eyed boy at the first opportunity.
"Now that we've talked about the will of fire, let's move on to our first practical lesson, I want to know how many of you have not released chakra before coming to take the test." The teacher asked, and only Minato raised his hand, since he was the only one who hadn't trained his chakra for not being in any clan.
This earned some laughs and mockery from his classmates, but Minato didn't care, he wouldn't lie about it.
As the laughter and mockery continued, Professor Fuuma looked directly at Minato, his eyes sharp, but not devoid of a certain understanding. "Well, you shouldn't laugh at your classmate, although he is a civilian, he has more chakra for his age than most of you, only losing to Tsuna Senju in this class." This immediately silenced all his classmates. The teacher turned his attention to Minato. "Minato, it's important to be honest about your abilities. That's the first step to overcoming them." He said with a tone of approval, and Minato nodded.
The teacher then turned to the rest of the class again, changing the subject. "Today, we'll do chakra concentration exercises. I'll form pairs, and each of you will try to keep a leaf on your forehead using only chakra. This will not only help with chakra control but also concentration and focus."
A buzz of excitement passed through the room as the children prepared for the challenge. The teacher began calling names, forming pairs. Minato was paired with Tsuna, the girl who had been annoyed with him earlier. She looked at him with a frustrated expression, but there was a spark of determination in her eyes.
"Don't think I'll go easy just because you're a civilian," she whispered to him.
Minato just smiled, his calm and confident expression contrasting with Tsuna's fierce determination. "I wouldn't expect any less from a ninja in training," he said, acknowledging her strength and seriousness.
Sitting opposite each other, the air was charged with focused tension. A thin leaf rested on each of their foreheads, fluttering gently with every movement. Professor Fuuma, with a serene and authoritative voice, instructed: "Focus on your chakra. Imagine it as a stream of energy flowing from the center of your being to your forehead, holding the leaf in place."
Minato closed his eyes, trying to follow the instructions. Internally, he sought the calm and focus needed, but the chakra within him seemed like a wild animal, restless and untamable. The leaf, like a boat on a stormy sea, repeatedly fell from his forehead. He could feel the frustration bubbling within him, but refused to let it show.
On the other side, Tsuna, with her eyes firmly closed, displayed intense concentration. She seemed naturally more skilled, yet still, the leaf on her forehead danced dangerously. Noting Minato's struggle, she murmured, surprisingly offering guidance: "You need to relax more, Minato. Don't force the chakra, guide it as if you were conducting a gentle melody."
Grateful for the unexpected advice, Minato nodded slightly. He took a deep breath, trying to dissipate the tension in his muscles and mind. Visualizing his chakra as a calm river, he tried again. This time, when he opened his eyes, the leaf trembled but remained in place, sustained by a more stable and controlled flow of chakra.
Around, the room was divided between those who laughed with each fallen leaf and those who, like Mikoto, held the leaf firmly in place, demonstrating the skill of future ninjas. She cast an approving glance at Minato, acknowledging his progress.
"Great work," Professor Fuuma praised, walking among the pairs. "Chakra control is fundamental for a ninja. Today is just the beginning. With practice and patience, you will become masters of it, and it will reflect in your skills."
Tsuna, with an eyebrow raised, asked Minato: "You're good, haven't you done this exercise before?"
Minato shook his head, a humble smile on his lips. "No, I've never released my chakra before coming here to take the tests. It's the first time I'm trying, but it's still very difficult..." He admitted, his voice carrying a mix of frustration and determination.
They continued, each attempt bringing them closer to mastery, one step at a time on their journey to become capable and controlled ninjas.
As he focused intensely on his chakra exercise, Minato noticed a shadow approaching. Looking up, he saw Mikoto Uchiha walking toward him, her expression serious but her eyes curious. She had a natural elegance and a presence that didn't go unnoticed, even among the other talented children. What set her apart was the depth in her gaze — she observed the world around her with an intensity that suggested an understanding beyond her age.
"You are brave, Minato Namikaze. Most here don't believe in you, but I like people who have bold ambitions," Mikoto said, her voice calm and somewhat respectful, breaking the barrier of silence that had formed around them. Her recognition was not just words; there was a genuine weight behind them, as if she truly saw potential in the civilian boy before her.
Tsuna, in turn, did not take well to Mikoto's approach. "What do you want, Uchiha?" she asked, crossing her arms defensively. Her posture displayed a mix of irritation and challenge, a clear demonstration of her Senju pride.
"I'm talking to the boy, Senju," Mikoto responded without hesitation, facing Tsuna's challenging gaze with an unflappable calm.
"He's my partner. Go take care of your own," Tsuna retorted, the rivalry between the Senju and Uchiha clans transpiring even in this childish interaction.
"He's my first friend, so it's okay to talk to him!" Mikoto replied, sitting down next to Minato with a naturalness that indicated she was not easily intimidated.
Minato, sitting between the two, felt as if he were in the eye of a small hurricane. He knew the stories and rivalries between the Uchihas and the Senjus, legends and realities that intertwined in the foundation of Konoha. But seeing these tensions manifest in his classmates was a completely new experience. It was intriguing, confusing, and a bit intimidating.
The civilian boy looked from Tsuna to Mikoto, trying to understand the complicated dynamics unfolding before him. He knew that each of them, in their own way, was strong, determined, and carried the weight of their respective clans on their shoulders. And now, here they were, interacting with him, a boy without a clan, without the same legacy, but with dreams as big as theirs.
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