3 Two Months of Growth
As time passed, the classroom gradually filled with students.
Hayashi, seated at the back, spotted the other members of the Konoha Twelve.
Unsurprisingly, they had all been assigned to the same class as Naruto and the others. It wasn't unexpected, given that this class boasted a high concentration of clan children. However, not everyone had the opportunity to join this particular class, and Hayashi remained uncertain about the criteria for admission.
Despite Konoha's size and numerous children of the same age, not everyone possessed the desire or qualifications to become a ninja.
Out of a hundred who enrolled, perhaps only eighty would remain. Having fifty pass the examination was already a significant achievement.
The entrance test was still ongoing. Chakra Extraction wasn't a simple task; not everyone could master it quickly. Chakra was the result of the perfect fusion of spiritual and physical energy.
During enrollment, the school tested who possessed the qualifications to refine chakra. Those who did not were provided with professional training by the teachers to meet the requirements.
In this classroom, nearly half of the students were yet to extract chakra. After all, this was the real world, where life wasn't as ideal as in anime. As the classroom filled up, Iruka took the stage. He was the class teacher, ready to begin the day's lesson. He introduced himself before organizing everyone to attend the entrance ceremony.
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As the sun dipped low on the horizon, it cast a warm glow over the gathered students. Stepping forward into the golden light, the Third Hokage addressed the gathered students. With a gentle smile, he began his speech. His voice resonated with authority and conviction, captivating the audience from the first word.
"My esteemed young shinobi, heirs to Konoha's legacy, gather close and listen well. For within each of us burns the sacred flame of the Will of Fire, a flame that has guided our village through the darkest of days and illuminated our path to greatness."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"As long as leaves dance in the wind, our fire shall burn bright, casting its light upon our village and beyond. But remember, it is not a flame that burns alone. It is fueled by our passion, our determination, our unwavering resolve."
Another moment of silence, his gaze steady and intense.
"The shadows of our fire reach far and wide, into the darkest corners where evil lurks. But fear not, for where there is shadow, there is light. It is our duty as shinobi of Konoha to be that light, to stand against the darkness and protect all we hold dear."
He took a step forward, his voice firm and resolute.
"And just as the fire nurtures new growth, so too shall it nurture you, my young comrades. You are the fresh buds upon the branches of our village, ready to bloom and flourish under the watchful gaze of Konoha's Will of Fire. Embrace it, cherish it, for it is the essence of who we are."
With a final, determined gaze, the Third Hokage concluded his speech.
"Let the flames of our Will burn bright, for as long as leaves dance, our fire shall never fade. Together, we shall uphold Konoha's legacy for generations to come."
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Listening to the Third Hokage, Hayashi couldn't help but notice the exaggerated emotions of his peers.
While it was indeed an inspiring speech, he couldn't fully immerse himself in the sentiment.
Setting aside his mature psychological outlook, the world of Naruto was one fraught with dark politics among the three major manga franchises.
The Third Hokage had lost the trust of his closest confidant. He found himself at odds with Danzo, a shadowy figure harboring ambitions for the Hokage position. Together, they would conspire to orchestrate the tragic extermination of the Uchiha clan, renowned as one of the strongest clans in the ninja world. This event would unfold the following year.
Peaceful times proved to be a double-edged sword. While it fostered growth in a protected environment, it also hindered the advancement of geniuses who could have graduated at a young age.
Fortunately, as long as one didn't possess a special bloodline limit, they needn't fear being targeted by Danzo lurking in the shadows.
With the activation of the Template System, he had already devised a plan for the next six years—a plan for substantial growth.
Through the daily accumulation of experience at a rate of 0.02%, he would gain 7.3% in one year and 43.8% in six years.
Unlocking nearly half of this progress would ensure his strength surpassed that of his peers by a significant margin.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, a glint of determination flickered in Hayashi's yellow eyes.
The morning was designated for book distribution, meaning there were no classes to attend.
After receiving his books, he followed his classmates out of the classroom.
Eager to return home and practice swordsmanship, he politely declined the enthusiastic invitations of his peers. Their disappointed expressions lingered as he exited the school premises, his mind already focused on his training ahead.
Upon arriving home, he hastily changed into his training attire. With a bamboo sword in hand, he headed to the training area. There, he was ready to begin his daily routine. Swinging the blade became his focus as he delved into his practice.
While a thousand strokes may not sound like much, maintaining proper posture and movement was crucial. Any incorrect actions would not be counted by the system, emphasizing the need for precision and accuracy in every movement. Furthermore, the weight of the bamboo sword proved challenging for a six-year-old. He needed to take brief breaks for the health of his arms, as he struggled to wield it with proficiency.
Upon completing his task, he would then enter the spiritual realm to gain insights. Afterward, he engaged in further practice to absorb all the experience and knowledge he had acquired.
Normally, time wasn't a concern. However, with the upcoming demands of school, every second mattered. Hayashi had a feeling that the current task of 'swing the sword 1000 times' was just the beginning, and the system wouldn't be so lenient for long.
Indeed, his intuition was correct.
After mastering the art of swinging the sword a thousand times, the system's demands increased. Nineteen days later, marking two months since he obtained the system. The daily task had evolved to 'swing the sword 2000 times'.
The number of tasks had doubled, yet this did not overly burden Hayashi.
In 19 days, the progress of unlocking Hawkeye's template had reached 1.32%.
As the unlocking progressed, the scenes within the spiritual realm began to evolve. No longer were they limited to Hawkeye's early encounters with naive peers; instead, they depicted battles against skilled young swordsmen.
The Hawkeye within the spiritual realm was no longer a novice in the art of kendo, but a prodigious swordsman who had already bested a 16-year-old opponent.
Thanks to the insights and assimilation gained from the spiritual realm, Hayashi's mastery of the sword had rapidly advanced. Within just two months, he had transitioned from a novice to an extraordinarily proficient swordsman.
Each swing of the sword during the daily tasks felt natural and fluid. There was no need for conscious effort; each strike met textbook standards.
Initially taking two to three hours to complete, the time required for the tasks gradually decreased. Eventually, he could finish without needing a break, completing them in just an hour.
Even with the doubled workload, it took him a little over two hours to complete the task of swinging the sword for five seconds each time.
The improvement in his swordsmanship bolstered his confidence, while his comprehension and observation skills sharpened considerably.
This was evident as he watched the senior students practicing duels on the playground through the window. He could keenly discern their weaknesses and flaws, and even subconsciously formulated strategies on how to exploit them and emerge victorious.
