What followed was a talk about what they expected from us, the opportunities we'd have, and the importance of keeping the clan strong and united. Essentially, it was propaganda.

But then came the interesting part. The leader himself announced he'd be personally involved in our training. He'd teach us a special kata designed to make the most of our clan's unique techniques. They called it the Heavy Fist kata. I found it amusing how it sort of seemed the opposite of the Hyuuga's one, but even the older students seemed surprised.

This wasn't the norm, it appeared. Overhearing a conversation between two older students, I gathered that they were accruing points to access closed-off classes. The idea of the clan limiting access to something so vital for its members' growth struck me as odd. Yet, the leader, whom I found out was named Chouja, explained the situation.

Apparently, access was restricted due to the excessive strain the kata placed on the body. Allowing just anyone to practice it without proper foundation could lead to serious consequences. Also, most of the people here wouldn't pursue a ninja career. So, even though access was now "open," it still required instructor approval. He also mentioned that children above eight years old wouldn't be accepted, even if they met the requirements.

As he finished his speech, locking eyes with me, I understood that I was the reason for that change. He was essentially creating a loophole for me to participate in classes without worrying about the clan's politics, saving me time and resources.

Moreover, his role as an instructor hinted at his intention to be more directly involved... It sent a shiver of fear down my spine. Somehow, he knew!

My mind raced, retracing steps, wondering if I'd slipped up somewhere, if someone had spilled the beans. Maybe my grandpa? Or the Doc? But then, a simpler answer dawned on me. I spent most of my days training in my backyard, never considering I might have been watched. A foolish oversight, yet understandable. While the series was about ninjas, they rarely delved into the intricacies of infiltration and espionage, which are the ninja's true expertise.

It appeared the leader was offering support indirectly, giving me the freedom to carve my own path. It might have been the first time I saw the clan as more of a family, evoking a sensation of security.

Even more crucial, with this part of my secret already laid bare, there was no need for restraint. With the leader's backing and protection, there were few things to fear in the near future. With this mindset, after the ceremony concluded, I approached one of the taijutsu instructors, requesting an evaluation for the advanced class.

"I'd like to join the advanced class," I told one of the men sporting a light green armband, designating him as a genin-level instructor.

"First day, huh? No need to rush, you've got years ahead here," he responded.

"I'm sure," I insisted.

He simply nodded without further words, gesturing for me to follow him to a spot marked by a circle on the ground. As we stepped inside, he signaled to the opposite side, assuming a relaxed stance and said,

'Whenever you're ready,' he said.

Without hesitation, I surged toward him, my speed momentarily catching him off-guard. I concentrated chakra into my legs, using my left one as support, and delivered a waist-high kick. The resulting impact produced an unfamiliar sound, distinct from my experiences training on trees – for a second, it looked like he might get lifted off the ground. He quickly regained his balance, grabbing my leg and leveraging it to throw me backward.

Stamina: 25/27.2

Chakra: 11.2/12.6

I got back on my feet, and the scene had completely changed. He was now in full combat mode – legs firmly planted, hands at chest level, a serious expression on his face. Sensing that he was about to say something, I charged at him again. I channeled less chakra into my legs and focused more on my fists. Closing the distance as much as possible, I compensated for the discrepancy in reach while maintaining momentum.

A clear moment of insight tells me exactly where to hit. Getting in close, I feint with my right leg, making him defend against what looks like a similar move. Swiftly shifting my weight, I land a punch on his right side at kidney height.

"Ugh," he grunts.

And then comes that familiar sound in my mind:

Ding! New sub-skill available!

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Reacting quickly, I created some distance as a sense of danger creeps in. I raised my arms, infusing them with was much chakra as possible. A strong impact propelled me back several meters, out of the circle, and a health bar flashed into my vision.

Health: 9/10 (-1)

The instructor appears surprised and slightly embarrassed by his reaction. This last blow, if landed, could have caused serious harm to a child. On the other hand, I couldn't help but smile. It's the first time I've felt so alive in a long while. The sensation of chakra coursing through my body, the speed, the moment of impact... It was... intoxicating.

Returning to my place within the circle, I prepare to launch another assault when the instructor signals for us to stop.

"Enough," he says.

"That's sufficient. Your body has enough strength and vigor to continue, but pushing further could be harmful. I can't guarantee I won't accidentally hurt you if I go all out. Your technique still needs improvement, but your strikes are heavy," he concludes, letting a smile slip through at my disappointed reaction.

"However, there are others here who can assist you, don't worry. I can offer insights on taijutsu and form, although your chakra control is quite impressive."

"Come along, let's update your records," he suggests, turning toward the interior of the complex.

We proceeded in silence, granting me the opportunity to access the notification:

New sub-skill available!

Chakra Reinforcement: A sub-skill of chakra manipulation. Enables the augmentation of one's physique at the expense of chakra reserves. Overuse may result in muscular damage. Lv 1

A sub-skill is a skill with applications and parameters similar to an existing skill. Attaching a sub-skill significantly increases the difficulty of advancing the main one. There is no limit to the number of sub-skills. A sub-skill cannot have a higher level than the main. If the skill is removed, the sub-skill will also revert to level 1. A sub-skill cannot be removed on its own.

Y/N?

I understood the implications. I remembered that on the first day's explanation, there was mention of the possibility of grouping different skills. Like everything here, there are pros and cons. Increasing my chakra manipulation ability hasn't been too difficult, and I even received recognition for it. However, the word "significantly" was concerning...

Additionally, I was already capable of reinforcing my body with chakra, but it took using it in combat for the option to appear, which might indicate how to acquire others.

The point here was to decide if it would fit into the build I wanted to create. In this case, the decision was obvious. I accepted the annexation and once again forced my chakra to accumulate in my fist. It was noticeably easier; the chakra moved a little faster and required less concentration... I smiled.

Arriving at the counter where my mother had previously registered me, the instructor pressed a bell and waited. He took this moment to introduce himself, as Otto, a 29-year-old genin. I asked if he had no intentions of advancing in his career, and he simply said he was content. He earned enough to provide comfort for his family as an instructor.

It wasn't actually a bad life, if you didn't know what would come in the next years. It was almost like retirement. It seemed strange that someone so young could retire, but then I thought of the children in the hospital...

In any case, the ninja promotion exams were cruel and challenging even in the original world. I didn't want to imagine how bad they would be here.

The same woman who welcomed me earlier returned after talking with Otto, and she retrieved a folder. Inside were some documents with information about me, including a sheet labeled "permissions." She then informed me that there was no need to alter the file because I had already been granted permission for the advanced class, several of them, in fact. The leader's own seal had been used.

Confirmation that my suspicion held true— the main branch of the family was indeed aware of my situation. Otto's contemplative expression suggested a similar deduction, and after a few moments of scrutiny, he motioned for me to walk alongside him.

"Who are you, kid?" he asked.

"Akio Akimichi," I replied, feeling somewhat awkward.

He came to a halt, pivoting to face me directly.

"Kid, listen... try to stay out of trouble. Your life here is already going to be difficult because of what happened today. Most of these kids take years to get where you are. Understand, I'm not saying you should hide who you are, but try to make some friends along the way," he said.

"I... met some geniuses in my time, some were incredible people, others not so much. Yet, they all shared one commonality—aloneness... Unhappiness even. It was as if they, even unintentionally, kept others away. Don't let the same happen to you; don't be in such a hurry to grow up," he concluded.

I nodded, and he seemed to perceive my lie as his reaction turned briefly to sadness.

I understood what he was trying to say, and I was grateful for it. People had a habit of placing high expectations on those they saw as saviors. Such individuals often crumbled under the pressure or were compelled to sacrifice themselves for this vision. Examples came to mind—Itachi, Minato, Kakashi, even Orochimaru...

Unfortunately, I couldn't afford that luxury; I knew what the next years would bring.

The village was in a fragile state following the Kyuubi disaster, and it was becoming increasingly rare to encounter Uchihas patrolling the streets, indicating that the situation was reaching a critical point. I didn't know how the massacre would unfold in this reality; the way it happened in the original story always seemed contrived to me. Nevertheless, even if I could, I had no intention of interfering—after all, the fewer Sharingans around, the better...

We returned to the courtyard, and Otto offered to spend the rest of the afternoon correcting my form and showing me important details that I hadn't noticed before: the proper way to position my legs for a guard, the correct way to pivot the supporting foot during a kick, and how to use arm movements to obstruct an opponent's vision...

Ding! Taijutsu +1

Overall, it was an incredibly productive day. It highlighted the significance of a dedicated teacher in expediting my development and affirmed that I needed to pursue one of my initial ideas: finding Might Guy and persuading him to accept me as his student.

New Quest Available: Reach level 5 in Taijutsu before finding Might Guy. Reward: Increased chance of being accepted as a student, +10 XP. Y/N?

So be it.