After breakfast, we six-year-olds gathered in front of the gate and started waiting for the person that supposed to take us to the academy. A few minutes later she came. She was a tall, lean woman with brown hair and matching brown eyes. She was wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt with a knee-length black skirt. She came in front of us and loudly cleared her throat.

Everyone stopped doing what they were doing and started waiting. The woman smiled, “Some of you, meaning trouble makers, knows me.” A few kids smiled awkwardly at that. The woman looked at every ‘troublemaker’ and continued, “My name is Rena and I will be in charge of taking you to the academy for today. Make sure to memorize the way because I won’t be helping you out after this.” She paused for a moment. “Is there any question?” I raised my hand. Rena looked at me, surprise evident on her face. After a second she cleared her throat, “Arata. You can ask.”

I nodded, “Isn’t it dangerous for us kids to go to the academy without any adult supervision?”

Rena snorted. “You won’t be going without supervision, it just that no one will be helping you find your way.”

“Why don’t you help us?”

The talker was a boy with dark brown hair and bright green eyes. ‘What was his name? Yes, Kotatsu.’ Rena gave him such a look that both Kotatsu and other kids close to him started to sweat. Rena gave the same look rest of us too but less intense. “You can only talk if I give permission. Is that understood?” She asked with a raised voice.

“Yes!” Most of us answered her question. Some of the kids didn’t answer and Kotatsu said no.

It seemed like Rena too noticed but didn’t really say anything. Instead, she turned to Kotatsu and answered. “We won’t help you because you are no longer normal kids. An academy student is between a kid and an adult. That’s why we will protect you but won’t be holding your hands while doing so.” She made another sweep with her eyes and asked, “Is there any other question?” She continued without giving us any chance to raise questions. “No? Good. Move now, we are going to be late. And let me remind you again, do your best to memorize the way to the academy.”

We were out of the orphanage in a minute and started following Rena to the academy. I made my way to Rena to ask a question I had. When she noticed me, she turned to me slightly and raised a brow. I moved a little faster to get in line with her and asked, “Rena-san. Can I ask a question?”

Rena sighed. “What is it, kid? Are you trying to make up for all those years you didn’t talk?” I chuckled. She then made a come gesture with her left hand towards me.

I asked, “Rena-san. I heard some kids move to their own houses when they start the academy. It seems they are getting a salary per month too.”

Rena nodded. “True but they are not getting a salary. They are getting a pittance.” I tried to interject and ask my question but Rena motioned me to wait. “I understand your question. If you want to be sponsored by the village you should do well in the academy. If you manage to skip a class you would get the best chance but not really necessary. Did this answer your question?”

I nodded. ‘I don’t want to skip a year. As I remember, Sakura was perfect at theory classes but bad at practical. She didn’t skip a year, so it’s safe to do well in theory classes.’

While I was thinking, Rena stopped and turned back to the kids. So I stopped with her and took a step to get myself in her line of sight. Rena made a sweep with her eyes, looking at every kid one by one and probably counting to see if everyone is here. She nodded once, pointed at the big gates nearby, and said, “We are here. Inside, you will do whatever your instructors say and be on your best behavior. Remember. You have two years to show your instructors that you can be ninjas or you will be moved to a regular school.” She stopped, seemingly waiting for something. She sighed exaggeratedly and yelled. “Now scram!” Words came with some kind of weight. I felt it trying to get in my brain and do something but it failed so I was left looking at Rena curiously while others started running towards the gate. It was bad but I managed to throw myself beside Rena before getting trampled. Rena looked at me oddly and said “Follow your friends.” I nodded and started walking towards the gates behind the other kids.

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I made my way to the front yard where kids were waiting. Some of them were still looking behind to see if Rena was coming. I glanced behind, she wasn’t. I walked towards the front of the group to see what they were waiting for. There was a shinobi with a scar on his nose. ‘I doubt there is more than one academy teacher with a scar like that. He must be Iruka.’ I walked in front of him and cleared my throat so he can notice me. He looked at me questioningly. I smiled and asked. “Mister Shinobi, what are we waiting for?”

Iruka chuckled. “Call me Iruka-sensei and we are waiting for the Hokage.” He smiled at my frown and continued, “He will give you a speech. He should be here soon.”

I nodded. “Thank you Iruka-sensei.” Iruka nodded and got back to watching other kids.

***

We waited for a few minutes for Hokage. He didn’t come with a group of guards as I expected of a politician. He was alone. He was very old with liver marks dotting his face but he seemingly had all the confidence in the world for himself. It was so great you could feel it. ‘Wait, how can you feel confidence?’ After a second it was gone but if other kids’ faces were anything to go by, they were still feeling it. They were looking at him like they were looking at a deity.

Hokage waited for a second and started talking. He talked about the will of fire, about the hardship of shinobi about becoming upstanding citizens, and about friendship and family. After a few minutes, kids were still gawking at him but I was frowning. ‘How is he doing it?’ While thinking, I notice him looking at me. I turned to him and waved. Hokage smirked and got down from the platform. Then Iruka-sensei came and ushered us to classrooms.

I was in classroom 101 with some of the other kids from the orphanage. The class was the same as it was in the anime. I sat on the back beside the window and started to think about the odd things that happened. ‘With Rena, everyone was afraid and with Hokage, everyone was awed. I didn’t feel what Rena did but felt the Hokage whatever he did albeit shortly. Why? Ha! Skills.’

Skills

Gamer’s Mind Passive

· Allows user to calmly and logically think things through.

· Allows for a peaceful state of mind.

· Immune to psychological status and effects.

Gamer’s Body Passive

· Allows user to have a body according to their status.

· Sleep recovers HP and CP.

· Sleep can remove injuries.

‘Yes! Gamer’s mind. Take this Sharingan, you won’t be doing anything to my mind. Wait, does that mean I can go against Itachi?’ I snorted. “Of course not.”

“Hey, Arata.”

I turned to see a girl with blond hair and dark brown eyes. She was close to my face, so I leaned back and asked, “What is it?”

She beamed when I talked. “Hey, Arata, why didn’t you talk before?”

I smirked. “Special training.”

She looked awed. ‘Ha! Kids.’ She came even closer and said, “Hey, hey, can you teach me too. I want to stop talking but I can’t! Come on, teach me!”

“Sorry, I can’t teach you. I have my own training to care about.” I said sighing, then added. “My training only works for kids under six anyway.”

“Aw, too bad.” She held my hand and pulled. I felt myself going towards her. ‘Damn, she is strong.’ “Don’t sit there all the way back. Come forward. We can hear sensei better there.”

I took away my hand with some hardship and said, “No, I am good here.” That made her pout. ‘Cute!’ I leaned towards her and pinched her cheeks. After that, she raised her nose and with a hmph, went back to where she came.

After a few minutes, Iruka came inside the class and told everyone to sit down.

‘It’s time I start learning to be a ninja.’