Chapter 3

As time passed, more and more students filled the classroom. Some sat quietly, reading their books as instructed by the blackboard, while others played around, full of energy. The once-silent room was now buzzing with excitement, a cheerful atmosphere spreading among the children.

The more Zixu thought about these innocent kids—knowing that one day their hands would be stained with blood, some even dying on the battlefield—the more disgusted he felt toward this twisted ninja system.

Crack~

His anger didn't last long. A tall man stepped into the room, a textbook in hand. The lively chatter instantly died down.

He cleared his throat, unfazed by the sudden silence, and walked to the podium. With a steady voice, he introduced himself:

"First of all, congratulations to everyone on becoming a student of the Ninja Academy. This proves that each of you has the talent to become a ninja. Being a ninja is an honor, but it also comes with responsibilities..."

"I'm Gouda Takeshi, 25 years old, a Chunin, and your homeroom teacher. My hobby is exercising, and my dream is to train a future Hokage. I have high hopes for you all, and I hope my dream can come true in this classroom."

"Now, let's do introductions."

A girl with a ponytail was the first to step forward.

"My name is Uchiha Gen. I like balls, I hate crows, and my dream is to become a ninja who surpasses my sister."

Since Zixu and his friends were sitting at the back, their turn came last. During the wait, Zixu observed the students, collecting useful information about the major clans in Konoha.

The Uchiha clan possessed the legendary Sharingan, while the Hyuga clan wielded the Byakugan and specialized in the Gentle Fist style. Though Zixu had heard rumors of the Uchiha's eventual downfall, it was clear that no such massacre had taken place in this era.

"My name is Yuanye. I like birds and hate insects. My dream is to become the strongest person."

One after another, students finished their introductions. Finally, it was Zixu's group's turn.

Aburame Hatsuizumi stepped forward first, adjusting her pale red glasses.

"Hello, my... my name is Aburame Hatsuizumi. I'm a member of the Aburame clan. My hobby is collecting insects, I hate birds, and my dream is to breed the strongest insects!"

At first, she spoke softly, her voice barely audible, but when she mentioned her hobby and dream, her tone grew firm. Behind her glasses, her eyes practically sparkled with determination.

Once she finished, Zixu walked up to the podium with a calm stride. His voice was smooth and confident.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Uzumaki Zixu. My hobby is reading, I don't dislike anything, and my dream is world peace."

The system required him to change the ninja world to earn points, and those points were crucial for his future strength. Books were his key to knowledge—knowledge that would help him pinpoint the flaws in this broken world and correct them.

Unlike the others, he wasn't blindly influenced by the so-called "Will of Fire." He had the perspective of an outsider, allowing him to see problems more clearly. Once he identified the root cause, he could formulate a plan to reshape the system.

Besides, his hobby of "reading" was harmless and practical. It would give him unrestricted access to Konoha's records and prevent him from being thrown onto the battlefield too soon. Although, with his Uzumaki heritage, avoiding combat entirely would be impossible.

As for "world peace," that was his ultimate goal. Who wouldn't want to live in an era where war wasn't constantly looming?

Zixu's introduction didn't spark much interest. Most of the students paid him little attention.

Then, Hyuga Chinano spoke. Unlike the others, she remained seated, her voice as cold as ice.

"My name is Hyuga Chinano. I don't like anything, but I hate a lot of things. My dream is… to kill that person."

Her tone was sharp, filled with disgust. In her pure white eyes, the flames of hatred burned fiercely.

Whispers filled the room.

"The Hyuga girls are usually so elegant, but why does she sound so scary…?"

"She doesn't seem easy to get along with. I think I'll stay away from her."

"Well, she is from a prestigious clan…"

"But Uchiha Gen is from a big family too, and she's not acting all arrogant."

Their murmurs were cut short when Gouda Takeshi slapped the blackboard, commanding attention.

"Enough. Today was just about getting to know each other. I hope all of you can get along and make good friends."

"Now, let's start with some cultural lessons. Open The Inheritance of the Will of Fire…"

The day's lessons flew by. The only thing they talked about was how great the "Will of Fire" was and how the First Hokage's philosophy was absolute. The other students quickly grew bored. They had heard these speeches countless times from their elders.

They didn't enroll in the Ninja Academy to listen to lectures. They came to learn flashy jutsu and powerful techniques.

But Zixu, on the other hand, listened intently.

Each Hokage had his own interpretation of the Will of Fire.

The Will of Fire established by the First Hokage was: To ensure that Konoha is passed down from generation to generation, always protecting the next generation.

The Second Hokage's Will of Fire was: To fight only for those who follow you and to protect the village by any means necessary.

The Will of Fire of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was: Everyone must be willing to sacrifice for the village, even if it means their own life.

As for the Fourth Hokage, who died young, there were few records about him in the books. However, since he sacrificed himself to protect the village during the Nine-Tails' attack, his Will of Fire was most likely: Risking his life to protect what he holds dear.

Looking at how the Will of Fire had evolved over time, Sarutobi Hiruzen's interpretation seemed more extreme. The First Hokage's vision was noble, but he never created a long-term strategy to ensure its proper execution. He simply proposed an ideal that he hoped everyone would follow.

As a result, the Will of Fire became open to misinterpretation—easily twisted to justify nearly any action in its name.

By the time Zixu got home, he collapsed onto his bed, exhausted. Mentally drained, he groaned as he thought about listening to Gouda Takeshi lecture about the Will of Fire all day. Sorting through the truth behind it all made his head feel like it was going to explode.

"I almost forgot something important."

He turned over, sat up in bed, and reached into his coat pocket, pulling out the small discus.

"System, display my physical condition."

The moment he called out to it in his mind, a line of text appeared before him.

[Host: Uzumaki Zixu]

[Number of Bound Templates: 1]

[Character Template: Kaido of the Beasts]

[Template Fusion Level]

Physical Constitution: 5% (Unlocked: Advanced Ability—Enhanced Physique)

Devil Fruit Ability: Not Fused (Advanced abilities locked)

Haki: Not Fused (Advanced abilities locked)

"Five percent? How do I increase the fusion rate?"

[The host can improve fusion through training or by using reward points to enhance abilities.]

[Points can be earned by altering the course of events in the ninja world. These points can be used to unlock template abilities, extract new templates and items, or further enhance fusion. Use them wisely.]

[The host can also earn points by completing system-assigned missions. Would you like to generate a task?]

"Yes, generate a task."

[Since this is the host's first mission, a free random selection has been conducted.]

[Mission Selection Complete. Please choose one of the following tasks:]

[Assassinate the Hokage: Successfully kill Sarutobi Hiruzen.]

[First Appearance: Become the top student among your class in the Ninja Academy.]

[Initial Organization (Faction Mission): Establish an organization with at least three members.]

The first mission was obviously impossible. Right now, he was just a kid with no ninjutsu. His target was none other than the Third Hokage, The Professor of Ninjutsu. Assassinating him was like throwing an egg at a rock. Besides, several enemy villages had already tried and failed to take him out—meaning his security was airtight.

Zixu wasn't willing to take on the second mission either. Becoming the strongest among his peers would be far too eye-catching. As an orphan of the Uzumaki clan, if he suddenly outperformed the heirs of Konoha's most prestigious clans, it would be like publicly humiliating them.

The village would tighten its grip on him, forcing him into Konoha's service, and their surveillance of him would only increase. If his ultimate goal was to escape from this military state, he needed to act like a spy—keeping his presence as unremarkable as possible.

"That leaves only one option..."

[Mission Accepted: Initial Organization Establishment]

[Task Details: Form an organization before the end of the semester with at least three loyal members who align with its philosophy.]

[Mission Rewards: Unlock faction system, 10,000 reward points, 3 random item draws.]

"10,000 points? That's a lot. System, how many points do I need to increase my fusion level?"

[500 points are required for each 1% increase in fusion.]

[Current Points: 0]

"Hiss~"

Zixu sucked in a breath. This isn't even counting the points I'll need for other upgrades or draws.

Having grasped the system's mechanics a little better, he put those thoughts aside for now and focused on himself.

He went to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and lightly pressed it against his arm. At first, there was no pain. He applied more pressure, but still, nothing. Finally, when the blade began to bend, a faint drop of blood surfaced on his palm.

"Damn... that's tough."

He had never experienced anything like this before, so naturally, he had to test it out. Through further experimentation, he also noticed slight improvements in his dynamic vision and reflexes.

Just as he was analyzing these changes, his stomach let out a loud growl.

"Damn, I'm starving."

He clutched his empty stomach and rummaged through the cupboards, but aside from a few leftover carrots he had bought earlier, there was nothing edible.

Looking out the window, he saw the night sky twinkling with stars.

"It got late so fast..."

Going out now would only make him look suspicious. He decided to endure the hunger for the night and eat in the morning.

"I'll just sleep through it. Tomorrow, I'll eat until I'm full."

With that thought, he rolled onto his bed, convincing himself that a feast awaited him in the morning. Eventually, after tossing and turning, he drifted into sleep.

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