Ch-5

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I finished filling out my registration forms and excused myself from the office to head towards my class. The registration process was mundane, like all the registration processes I went through on Earth. The only interesting moment during my hour stay in the registration office was when I discovered that the waiver form basically allowed Konoha to use me as a military asset anytime in the future. The waiver form didn't outright state this, but it did imply that once I joined the Academy, I would be under the direct command of the Hokage and the shinobi forces. If I signed it, it signified that I accepted all the responsibilities headed my way after joining the Academy. If I graduated from the Academy and became a Genin, I would formally become a member of the Konoha Shinobi Forces. If I graduated but failed to become a Genin, I would be on the Reserve Forces and would continue shinobi training until the village deemed that I was unfit for duty. If I failed to graduate the Academy in total, then I would be allowed to leave the Academy and return to civilian duties, but I would be placed in the Civilian Militia for twenty years. I didn't even know Konoha had a civilian militia.

Basically, no matter what my results were at the Academy, I was pretty much doomed to be a soldier or a shinobi for the next few decades.

I still signed the damn piece of paper.

After signing all the forms, the teacher in the office handed me a bag filled with basic school supplies and gently pointed me towards the direction of my classroom. I was assigned to Class 1-A, which was one of the five classes for first-year Academy students. The students were assigned to classes based on their aptitude test score, which I scored fairly high on. Class 1-A was considered the top scoring class, with all the children of shinobi or ex-shinobi assigned to the class. I was nervous, but at the same time thrilled to finally learn shinobi arts.

As I turned into the hallway where my class was located, I saw a lone figure exit classroom 1-A. The figure wore white robes and a hat that had the kanji for "Fire." Without even looking at his facial features, I instantly knew who the person was: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Third Hokage of Konoha. Even from a distance, I managed to make out the features of his face. He looked distinctly younger than his main Naruto series counterpart, as he sported a brown beard instead of an elderly white that I was used to. Excited at the prospect of meeting the Hokage, I stepped forward to introduce myself to the man. However, before I could do so, the man disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

When the smoke cleared, the Hokage had disappeared and in his place stood a shinobi wearing a chunin vest. I swiftly moved out of the hallway and waited a moment before taking a look around the corner. The chunin looked around for a brief moment before walked to the opposite end of the hallway. After he had left, I took an uneasy step forward and made my way to the place where the Hokage had been just a moment before.

A henge... Probably because the Hokage was busy. I scratched the back of my head as I looked down the hall. Not too surprising, but still, a lie they tell the students in order to make a permanent impression on them.

There was no doubt why the village would lie to the students by pretending the Hokage would care enough to visit on their first day at the Academy. It left a mark on the students and made them feel important. Since they were now shinobi in training, the Hokage was their leader and the visit was planned to show that he cared for their wellbeing and training. Most of all, it created loyalty to both the Hokage and the village itself. I was certain that this was done in all the classrooms for first-year students. Konoha was seen as a "benevolent" village in the main series, but it was still a ninja village that sought to gain more power and strength.

I shook my head at the implications. The moral gap between my world and the Naruto world was huge, but I knew I needed to cross that gap. A single bead of sweat rolled down my neck as I reached to open the doors as I took my first steps to numb my moral consciousness from Earth.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I entered an ordinary classroom with nearly three dozen children. All the children were excitedly talking, and I heard many of them talk about the "Hokage" that had just visited them. The only adult in the room was a chunin instructor that stood behind a podium at the front of the room. When I entered, he gave me a tiresome look before looking down at his clipboard. "Hiroyoshi Osato?"

I gave the man the most innocent smile I could form with my mouth as I nodded my head. "Yes, sensei. I'm sorry for being late."

The chunin lazily waved his hand towards an open seat at the back of the classroom, "Don't worry, I was told that you would be a bit late. Go to your seat and we'll begin our first lesson."

I turned my head towards the direction he pointed and saw that my seat was next to a boy with spiky, black hair that was tied up neatly. The boy looked engrossed reading a book and was unaware of his surroundings. Even as I sat down next to him, the boy kept on reading, his attention unfazed by my sudden arrival. I managed to catch a glimpse of the title which simply stated "Shogi Tactics: The Art of Strategy."

Before I could even greet the person next to me, the chunin at the front clapped loudly to grab the class's attention. "Alright, that's enough! We have all the students in the classroom now, so we will begin class! Just because today is your first day and all of you are in the highest class, does not mean I will go easy on you. Understood?"

"Yes, sensei," I chorused along with the rest of the class.

When the chunin began his lecture, the black-haired boy closed his book and placed it on his desk. I half expected him to continue reading, but he seemed unusually engrossed in the teacher's lecture, even though the lecture was more of an introductory speech than an actual lesson. Nevertheless, I also paid close attention to the chunin and jotted down useful notes, but I glanced sideways at my neighbor a few times throughout the lecture.

In a flash, the morning lecture ended and it quickly became lunchtime. As the other students in the class stood up to go to the cafeteria, I seized upon the chance to introduce myself to the person next to me. While the spiky-haired boy seemed reclusive, he looked as though he was vested in his studies and had a mature aura surrounding him. In my mind, he was the perfect person to befriend.

I stuck out my hand and smiled at my neighbor, who was slowly standing up. "My name is Hiro. Nice to meet you!"

He looked at me with his calculating onyx eyes and grunted as he shook my hand, "Shikaku. Nara Shikaku. Can I ask why you something?"

"Sure!"

"Why were looking at me so much during the sensei's lecture?"

"Er..." I was taken aback by his bluntness and his keen observational skills, but I responded quickly, "I saw that you were reading a book on shogi tactics and paying close attention to the lecture. I thought maybe you were studious and interested in learning as I am, so I wanted to ask if you could be my friend and study together?"

Instead of answering immediately, Shikaku inspected me thoroughly and rubbed his chin. In my mind, I was slightly panicking as I knew that Shikaku was Shikamaru's father and if anyone could figure out that something was "off" about me, it would be him. After several long seconds, the Nara let out a tight smile but nodded, "Sure."

I waited for him to say something, but after a few moments, an awkward silence had engulfed the two of us. Instead of trying to force a conversation, I grinned and started moving towards the door, "Let's get lunch together, Shikaku-san!"

Just like his future son, Shikaku sighed deeply and muttered, "Troublesome" as he moved. However, as I was about to step out of the classroom, someone poked me on the shoulder. When I turned around, I came face to face with none other than Mikoto Uchiha, who grinned widely at me. "Hi, Hiro-chan!"

My mind was conflicted when I saw her approach me. On one hand, I didn't mind befriending Mikoto. Based on my earlier conversations with her, she seemed rather lonely and isolated due to her clan heir status and was eager to make friends. On the other hand, I didn't want to potentially piss off the Uchiha Head or Aina. Although I had told myself that I would approach Mikoto on my own at a later date, I should've expected her to approach me directly. Especially since she was in the same class as I was, which was unsurprising due to her status.

"I was waving earlier at you in class, but you seemed really focused on the teacher," Mikoto pouted, "Come on! Let's go eat! I'm starving!"

Despite my reluctance, she grabbed my hand and dragged me away. Shikaku followed behind us, looking more amused than annoyed.

While I still had some reservations about hanging with the Uchiha heiress, I decided that I would stick with Mikoto for the time being. Despite the stern warning from Aina earlier, I didn't want prejudice or assumptions to dictate my course of action. Sure, Aina told me that the Uchiha clan might not like me if I befriended Mikoto, but she didn't speak for the Uchiha clan. And Mikio didn't look particularly angry or annoyed when I spoke with Mikoto either.

For now, I smiled and chatted amicably with Shikaku and Mikoto as the three of us headed towards the dining hall. I would deal with any potential consequences later.