The sun was barely rising, the sky still painted in soft shades of orange and pink, but Naruto was already outside my door, knocking with a loud bang.
I groaned, the sound too early for anyone to be this energetic. I had just barely fallen asleep after my usual morning routine of training and meditation. Still, I dragged myself out of bed and opened the door, squinting against the bright light.
"C'mon, Oliver! We're gonna be late!" Naruto's voice rang out, his blue eyes practically sparkling with excitement.
"Late for what?" I muttered, rubbing my eyes and blinking at him.
"School!" he yelled, nearly bouncing on his feet. "It's the first day! We're gonna be ninjas today, dattebayo!"
I blinked again, suddenly aware of the calendar on my wall. The Academy. Today was the day. The day I would officially begin my training as a shinobi.
I had assumed I'd be in a different class than Naruto—after all, he was one year younger than me and had at least some basic ninja training under his belt, even if it was just the bare minimum. Me? I had nothing but the memories of two lives, and the knowledge that I'd need to be strong in this world, but no formal foundation in ninjutsu.
"I'm not ready for this," I muttered under my breath, already feeling the weight of the upcoming day press down on me.
But Naruto was already running down the hall, shouting over his shoulder, "Come on, you slowpoke!"
Sighing, I grabbed my uniform and followed him. At least I could use the next few hours to try and absorb as much as I could.
A New Beginning at the academy
The academy was bustling when we arrived. Dozens of children and teenagers filled the grounds, chattering excitedly. It was all new to me, the way the air was thick with anticipation, the sense of community despite the rigid structure of a ninja village. I walked alongside Naruto, who was waving to anyone who passed by as if they were already friends.
As we entered the classroom, I was greeted with a mixture of curious glances and quiet whispers. It didn't help that I was the new kid in town, but I didn't expect the cold reception to sting as much as it did.
There was a rustling sound in the front of the room as the door slid open, and a man with short brown hair and glasses stepped inside. His presence commanded attention without the need for shouting, his warm but serious demeanor already making an impression.
"Alright, everyone, settle down. My name is Iruka Umino, and I'll be your instructor for this year," he began, his voice steady and calm. "Today, we'll begin with the basics. I'm sure you've all learned a little about chakra control before, but now we'll go deeper."
I listened intently. Chakra control was something I was vaguely familiar with, but I hadn't had much of a chance to practice it yet. I knew it was the key to being able to perform jutsu, so mastering it would be a priority.
Iruka continued, "The first thing you need to know is how to focus and harness your chakra. Chakra is the energy that flows through every living being. It's the source of all your abilities as a shinobi, and the better you can control it, the better you'll be as a ninja."
He motioned for everyone to take a seat and began demonstrating a simple exercise. "Now, to control chakra, you need to focus it in your hands. Try to concentrate, and I want you to visualize the chakra flowing through your body, like a river moving through your veins."
I closed my eyes, following his instructions. At first, nothing happened. But as I focused harder, I felt a faint warmth building in my palms. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Iruka's voice broke through my concentration. "Good. You'll all need a lot of practice to perfect it, but for now, try to feel the flow of chakra. Once you can do that, we'll move on to the next exercise."
The First Two Weeks
The first two weeks at the academy were a blur. Iruka's lessons focused primarily on chakra control and the basics of ninjutsu. Every day, we practiced simple exercises: focusing chakra into our feet to walk up trees, applying it to climb walls, and using our chakra to perform basic jutsu.
I learned quickly that the world of ninjas wasn't going to be kind to someone who didn't have the basics down. I had the mental sharpness from Patrick Jane, but my body was still far behind. I couldn't keep up with the others when it came to raw physical ability.
Despite that, I pushed myself every day.
After a week of training, I was able to complete two of the basic three jutsu—the Transformation Technique and the Clone Technique. The transformation was simple enough; I just had to concentrate and mold my chakra to mimic someone else's appearance. The clone technique was trickier. I could create a basic clone, but they would vanish after the slightest contact, proving I still had a long way to go before mastering them.
But despite my progress, I quickly realized something unsettling.
I was the weakest in the class.
At first, I didn't understand why everyone avoided me. Sure, I wasn't the most social person, but I wasn't that bad. But the other students rarely spoke to me. They didn't pick fights with me, but they didn't seem to want anything to do with me either.
I even caught whispers behind my back, hushed voices trying to keep their opinions quiet, but I could hear them—new kid, no family, no clan, just a random orphan from who knows where.
Then it hit me.
The reason they were avoiding me wasn't because I was weak. It was because of Naruto.
Naruto, the class clown, the loudmouth, the kid everyone either pitied or hated. It didn't matter that we were in the same class now, or that he was so desperate for friends. He still carried the burden of being the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, and his reputation had already colored how people saw him—and, by extension, anyone associated with him.
It stung. But I understood.
It wasn't just that I was the new guy. It was that my proximity to Naruto had already made me an outcast in the eyes of many.
Still, I didn't mind. I had no intention of letting their whispers hold me back. I would make my own path.
I didn't need their acceptance. I just needed to keep training.
Two weeks had passed, and despite my weakness, I was determined. I had a long road ahead of me, and I was ready to walk it, no matter what.