Chapter 9: Entering the Academy

[Shinji's Perspective]

After dealing with the Rabbit, I made sure it understood one crucial rule—I was not to be messed with. Turns out, this Shikigami had quite the mischievous streak, constantly pulling pranks and making my life difficult. But after a long 'discussion' (which mostly involved me getting endlessly swarmed by fluff), I managed to establish some boundaries.

With my team now consisting of Shiro, Kuro, and the Rabbit, my training resumed as usual. Only now, I had to come up with new strategies to incorporate the Rabbit's unique abilities.

Months passed, and my body continued to develop beyond that of a normal six-year-old. My muscles became denser, my endurance higher, and I was slightly taller than I should be at this age. But it wasn't just me—Shiro and Kuro were growing too. No longer the size of normal dogs, they had begun approaching wolf-like proportions, and something told me they weren't done yet.

I had also unlocked another ability—Shadow Sink. This technique allowed me to drag my enemies into the depths of my shadow, pulling them into an abyss from which escape was nearly impossible. A truly terrifying ability, one I intended to use sparingly.

Then, just after I turned six years old, Jiraiya finally returned from his mission. The moment he stepped out of the Hokage's office, I was already waiting for him.

"Welcome back, Sensei. You missed my birthday. If you didn't even get me a gift, I'm burning your research," I said, crossing my arms.

Jiraiya froze, eyes darting around nervously. "Now, now, Shinji, no need for such extreme measures! I have something great for you, but first… how much of the training regimen have you completed?"

I smirked. "Oh, I can finish the physical exercises without breaking a sweat now. My chakra control? I can climb trees, walk on walls, and even stand upside down on the ceiling. Want to see?"

Without waiting for an answer, I jumped onto the nearest wall, casually walking up before flipping onto the ceiling of a nearby balcony. I grinned down at him, waiting for his reaction.

Jiraiya blinked in surprise. "Not bad. Your physical growth is progressing even faster than I expected, but your chakra control still needs work. I was hoping for water walking by now."

I hopped back down, shrugging. "Well, I am training two different energies at the same time, you know."

He nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I suppose balancing both chakra and cursed energy would slow things down. You've got twice the workload of a normal shinobi." Then, he smirked. "Well, enough about training. Now it's time to celebrate. And tomorrow? You'll get your birthday gift during training."

Curious but excited, I followed him through the village.

We arrived at one of the finest restaurants in Konoha—a high-end place, with spacious dining halls, private rooms, and a menu that looked dangerously expensive.

'Oh, this is gonna be good.'

The moment we sat down, I ordered as much food as I could physically eat. If Sensei wanted to treat me, I was going to make him regret it.

Jiraiya watched as the plates piled up, raising an eyebrow. "You sure you can eat all that, Shinji?"

I grabbed my chopsticks. "Sensei, what do you take me for? Of course I can."

And I did. Plate after plate disappeared, leaving the surrounding diners astonished. Soon, people even started cheering me on, turning this into some kind of challenge.

By the time I was done, I leaned back, patting my stomach in satisfaction. Then, I glanced at the bill and grinned, ready to see Jiraiya's reaction.

That's when the waiter simply bowed to Jiraiya and walked away.

I froze. "Wait… what?"

Jiraiya laughed. "The owner owes me a favour. I can eat here whenever I want for free."

I stared at him, utterly betrayed.

Jiraiya just patted my head smugly as we left. "Nice try, brat. You'll have to try harder if you want to empty my wallet."

I sighed. So much effort for nothing.

As we walked through the village, suddenly, a green blur appeared in front of us.

"Morning, Lord Jiraiya! Finally back from your mission?" said Might Guy, beaming with enthusiasm.

Jiraiya waved him off lazily. "Just celebrating my student's birthday. He's finally six years old and ready to enter the Academy."

Guy turned to me, his smile widening. "So you're Shinji! The new student of Lord Jiraiya that everyone's talking about! I can already see it—your flames of youth burn brightly! Say, why don't we test them with a race across Konoha? What do you say, Lord Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya grinned. "Actually, Guy, you should race with Shinji. I have some… important writing to finish after all my research outside the village."

I shot him a look of pure betrayal, but before I could protest, he vanished in a puff of smoke.

Guy clapped my shoulder. "Shinji! Are you ready to ignite the flames of youth?!"

I sighed. "If I accept, will you train me in taijutsu once a week?"

His grin widened. "Of course!"

"Then let's go."

And just like that, I was sprinting for my life.

By the time the race ended, I was collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat. Meanwhile, Guy wasn't even winded, standing over me with his usual enthusiastic grin.

"Shinji! What do you know about taijutsu?"

Still gasping for air, I answered, "It's a method of using chakra to enhance physical abilities. Different styles emphasize different strengths—like the Senju's raw power or the Raikage's speed-focused Lightning Cloak."

Guy nodded approvingly. "A good answer! But taijutsu is more than just power—it's about pushing your limits, adapting to any fight, and training until you exceed what should be possible! Your first lesson? Training begins when you're already exhausted."

And so began my personal hell.

[A Few Months Later]

A year had passed since I transmigrated into this world. Now, I stood before the Academy gates, Jiraiya beside me, as children around us eagerly entered, excited for their first step toward becoming shinobi.

Jiraiya looked down at me, his usual carefree demeanour replaced with rare seriousness. "You ready, Shinji? Until now, you've only learned how to be strong and take care of yourself. But from now on, you'll learn what it truly means to be a ninja—the responsibilities, the choices, and the sacrifices. Are you ready for that?"

I looked up at him, my expression unwavering. "Yes, Jiraiya-sensei. I'm ready."

With that, I took my first step into the Academy.