Chapter 2: Chapter Two: Konoha Ninja Academy!

After breakfast, carrying a bento box and a toothpick in his mouth, Fujinaka Genma declined his mother Akie’s offer to escort him and walked to school alone.

The toothpick was a fourth-birthday gift from his father; over the past two years, the original body had grown accustomed to holding it, and he had no intention of abruptly breaking the habit.

Upon entering the school, the crowd gathered in the training yard.

The scene was lively, filled not only with new students but also many parents attending the opening ceremony.

Soon, as the current Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, appeared, the venue fell silent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled warmly, his expression infectious.

Though no longer young, he was still in his prime.

Fujinaka Genma knew this seemingly gentle Third Hokage was, in fact, an extremely formidable figure.

After the late stage of the First Shinobi World War, the Second Hokage, Hashirama Senju, died in battle, and Hiruzen Sarutobi was appointed Hokage under dire circumstances.

He then led Konoha to victory in the Second Shinobi World War and mentored outstanding young ninja like the Legendary Sannin, earning immense prestige.

So.

It was no accident that villagers regarded Hiruzen Sarutobi as the strongest Hokage.

After all, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had been dead for over twenty years, and most who had witnessed his power had perished in the first two wars.

Those who survived had largely become the current power brokers of Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s speech on the Will of Fire was passionate, drawing continuous cheers from the villagers.

Fujinaka Genma outwardly cheered along, but inwardly remained utterly calm.

The Will of Fire’s emphasis on self-sacrifice to protect family, the next generation, and villagers was noble.

Unfortunately, it was mere empty idealism.

It lacked concrete guidelines, actionable principles, or specific standards.

It relied entirely on character and brainwashing.

Yes, I’m talking about the number-one saintly hypocrite of the shinobi world: Danzo.

The Will of Fire originated with the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, whose original intent in founding Konoha was to spare young children from the battlefield and end the wars.

But Hashirama Senju was an idealist.

He created a shinobi-world version of “nuclear peace,” establishing a one-superpower, many-strong-states dynamic.

But after his death and Uchiha Madara’s disappearance, the balance quickly collapsed.

Looking across all Hokage.

The First and Second Hokage died without hesitation for the village—true embodiments of the Will of Fire, absolute role models for their successors.

The Third and Fourth Hokage largely upheld this ideal as well.

As for Konoha’s current elite—Danzo and the two elders—

In their eyes, the Will of Fire was likely merely a tool for controlling others or indulging themselves.

Perhaps they once achieved great feats in their youth.

But in Fujinaka Genma’s view, these three men had either corrupted themselves in power or been eroded by time, their hearts long decayed.

Danzo possessed ideals but lacked the will to act.

He always burned others to light his own way.

With the opening ceremony over, Fujinaka Genma officially began his ninja academy career.

First-year, Class S.

Fujinaka Genma scanned the room and recognized only two familiar faces.

Shichirou Aoba, and the bespectacled Ebisu.

Beyond them, none of the figures he remembered from his past life were present, though he recognized many of the original body’s childhood friends.

Fujinaka Genma sat down between Shichirou Aoba and Ebisu.

They had all played ninja games together before; Fujinaka Genma greeted them and began flipping through the pile of textbooks on the desk.

“Chronicles of Konoha Heroes,” “The Hokage and the Will of Fire,” “Overview of the Shinobi World,” “The Ninja,” “Chakra Fundamentals,” “Use and Maintenance of Ninja Tools,” “Detailed Traps,” “Hand Seals and Techniques,” “Introduction to Genjutsu,” “Detailed Three Body Techniques,” “Disguise and Intelligence,” “Ciphers and Secrecy.”

There were many textbooks, but ignoring the first two, the rest were worth serious study.

From this, it was clear Naruto was truly a bottom-tier student—he graduated knowing nothing.

Sakura Haruno was a true top student—she had learned everything she should have in school.

The teacher hadn’t arrived yet, so Fujinaka Genma picked up “Chronicles of Konoha Heroes” and began reading.

He needed deeper knowledge of the shinobi world and Konoha to blend in seamlessly; books were one way.

By the time the teacher arrived, Fujinaka Genma had already finished reading “Chronicles of Konoha Heroes,” “The Hokage and the Will of Fire,” and “Overview of the Shinobi World.”

His Intelligence stat had quietly increased by 0.3.

It felt satisfying.

“Hey, Genma, are these books really that interesting?”

Shichirou Aoba, watching Fujinaka Genma read with such delight, couldn’t help whispering.

Ebisu, wearing sunglasses, adjusted his glasses. “I heard the teacher will cover all this repeatedly—why waste time self-studying?”

Konoha students really were lacking—they didn’t even preview.

Fujinaka Genma silently scoffed, but aloud said: “I just want to finish learning now, so when the teacher lectures, I can do other things.”

Shichirou Aoba and Ebisu exchanged glances and nodded in unison: “That makes sense!”

Then both began flipping through their books.

Fujinaka Genma smiled slightly, then continued self-studying until the official lesson on “Chakra Fundamentals,” when he finally paid full attention.

That night, in the dormitory.

Just after reviewing his father’s training notes, Fujinaka Genma heard a system prompt.

“After a period of study and training, Itachi have achieved measurable improvement.”

“Level up.”

Another level gained—1 attribute point and 1 skill point to allocate freely.

Fujinaka Genma couldn’t help smiling.

As always: Constitution +1, Talent Skill Iron Bones +1.

He opened his stat list.

Constitution: 18.59

Agility: 8

Intelligence: 9

Charm: 9

Today’s study and training increased Intelligence by 1 and Constitution by 0.1; all other stats unchanged.

Combined with the attribute point increase and the 30% boost from the Talent Skill Iron Bones, his total increase since morning was 4.29.

“Improvements are fast now, but the pace will surely slow later.”

Though thrilled by the surge in Constitution, Fujinaka Genma remained calm.

“Next, I need to establish a training and study plan for my time at the ninja academy, and define my academic goals.”

“Should I remain average, or stand out?”

Performance at the ninja academy determines the level of Konoha’s investment.

That investment typically manifests in the sensei assigned after graduation.

Ordinary graduates receive a chunin as their sensei.

Geniuses like Kakashi are assigned powerful mentors like Minato Namikaze.

The difference is enormous.

Fujinaka Genma felt this was much like graduate school in his past life.

The quality of your mentor could determine your future.

Yet in Konoha, Fujinaka Genma had to consider one more factor.

Danzo.

He controlled the Root and selected talented children for cultivation.

Becoming a direct Root member greatly increased the chance of receiving a cursed seal.

Though it bordered on paranoia, the possibility still existed.

“With this external aid, do I even need to compete for the village’s heavy investment?”