A boy in the front row shot up and replied, “Ninjutsu! We’ll learn how to protect Konoha and destroy its enemies!”

Masaki smirked at the boy’s goggles. ‘Thinking you’re cool with those goggles? You’re not the main character.’

The teacher waved the boy down. “Not quite. The academy teaches not only ninjutsu but also other important knowledge. shinobis need more than fighting skills; they need theory and discipline.”

He paused, holding a pointer in his hand as he walked across the podium. “I’ll be teaching your shinobi theory class. I hope all of you will study hard, graduate successfully, and become helpful to Konoha.”

He glanced at the clock—it was already eleven, and the morning had been filled with registration, exams, and introductions.

“All right, welcome again to the academy! It’s nearly lunchtime, so we’ll see you all this afternoon,” he concluded.

While students were expected to have lunch at school, it was optional on the first day. Outside the school gates, Masaki said goodbye to Shisui and his mother, Sayuri, and waved to Iruka’s mother. Deciding to pick up a few things before heading home, Masaki stopped by a vegetable shop, thinking he’d buy some fresh greens to balance out the heavy meals Ayame had been making.

With his vegetables in hand, he walked home, planning out the rest of the day. Class would resume at two, so he had time to relax a bit. Lost in thought, Masaki also found himself planning for the future. Next month, Shisui would turn six, and he himself wouldn’t be far behind. If his memories were correct, Shisui graduated from the academy in just one year.

‘And soon… the war will come.’ A storm was brewing in the shinobi world, one that had been quietly building since the last Great shinobi War. As Masaki looked up at the sky, he felt the weight of limited time pressing down on him.

In the Hokage’s office, a shinobi handed the Third Hokage a list of the new students entering the academy. “Here’s the list of new students who started today, Hokage-sama,” the man said respectfully.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, exhaled a puff of smoke from his pipe and took the list, nodding. “Thank you.”

“There are 624 new students this year,” the man added, standing straight and attentive.

“Good,” Hiruzen replied with a nod. At over fifty, he was starting to feel the weight of his long years as Hokage. Still, watching a new generation enter the academy gave him a sense of comfort—they were the future he had spent so many years protecting.

Opening the roster, his gaze quickly fell on the name ‘Masaki Uchiha’ at the top of the list—one of the students noted for strong shinobi potential. “Uchiha…”

The man said nothing, wisely avoiding any comments on the sensitive subject of the Uchiha clan. “Thank you. You’re dismissed,” Hiruzen said, waving him off. Alone, he glanced back at the list, his face gradually obscured by smoke as he drifted into thought.

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Back home, Ayame greeted Masaki with a warm smile. “Welcome back, Masaki-kun!”

“I picked up some vegetables for lunch,” Masaki replied, showing her the fresh produce he’d bought.

Ayame, who spent her days trying out new recipes, took the groceries happily. She enjoyed a quiet life, free from the distractions of making new friends in the clan. This gave her plenty of time to cook for Masaki, always coming up with new dishes to keep things interesting.

After handing over the food, Masaki headed upstairs to work on his chakra. ‘Ayame-baa-san needs something to keep her busy,’ he thought, ‘and cooking is just right for her.’

After a quick lunch of salad and grilled chicken, Masaki returned to school. The afternoon brought the first official shinobi training session: lessons in kunai and shuriken throwing.

For most of the kids in his class, this wasn’t anything new. Many of them had already practiced with shinobi tools at home, and the teacher, aware of this, kept the instructions brief before letting them practice on their own.

The training took place on a large practice field, providing plenty of space. Masaki took a solid wooden kunai and shuriken, weighing them in his hands. ‘Can these simple tools really kill in a world like this?’ he wondered, thinking back on how in the show, hardly anyone ever died from these weapons alone.

Yet, he knew better than to underestimate the tools. Shisui and Itachi’s shuriken skills had always been a sight to behold. ‘If I can reach their level, these skills will definitely come in handy.’

He looped his index finger through the ring at the end of the kunai, spinning it for a moment, familiarizing himself with the weapon. This wasn’t his first time holding shinobi tools, and he found himself instinctively comfortable with them. ‘Maybe it’s thanks to my talent?’

Blocking out the noise around him, Masaki focused on the target ahead. With a swift throw, the shuriken flew through the air, hitting the target with a solid twang. Although no one noticed, his shuriken had struck the bullseye.

The day’s lessons were basic, and by the end of the afternoon, Masaki felt somewhat underwhelmed. ‘If I’m going to get stronger, I cannot depend on this clas alone.’

After school, Masaki and Shisui parted ways. Shisui went home to train, while Masaki decided to visit the weapon shop. He’d been using Shisui’s practice swords during their morning sessions, but after today’s training, he figured it was time to get his own gear.

Following Iruka’s recommendation, he made his way to a small weapon shop nearby. The store was quiet, and the owner sat by the entrance, casually sharpening a kunai with skillful hands.

“Hello, sir,” Masaki greeted politely.

The man looked up, surprised to see such a young customer. “Well, hello there, kid.”

“I’d like to buy a pack of kunai, a pack of shuriken, and a small sword,” Masaki said confidently.

The shop owner looked him over, noting his height. “You’re from the shinobi academy, huh?”

“Yes,” Masaki replied, nodding. “We started shinobi tool training today, and I wanted to get some of my own to practice with.”

The owner nodded, seeming pleased with the answer.

In Konoha, shinobi tools aren’t tightly regulated, so Masaki was able to buy everything he needed quickly. The kunai, shuriken, and small sword cost nearly 1,000 ryo, which stung a bit, especially since a good barbecue meal only cost around 200 ryo. Still, with his new tools in hand, he returned home, arriving just after five in the evening.

Ayame had dinner ready, setting a warm, freshly made soup on the table just as Masaki walked in. She always took care to make sure he had everything he needed, though she couldn’t help but fuss over him a little. As they started eating, Ayame gently asked him all the usual questions about his first day. “Did you get along with everyone?” she asked with a kind smile. “Are you settling in alright?”