The nascent light of dawn kissed the windows of Renzou's home. After a quick wash, he dressed, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and stepped out. His first full day in this new world was beginning. The streets of Konoha were already alive, people strolling in pairs and small groups, smiles gracing many faces. This is Konoha, he thought, a sense of awe mixed with the unfamiliarity. The most prosperous and powerful village. Rebirth here… it's a stroke of luck, in a way.
Lost in thought as he rounded a corner, the imposing structure of the ninja academy came into view. "Renzou, you're heading to school?" A soft, sweet voice called from behind.
Instinctively, Renzou turned. Standing there was a girl his age, dressed in a black and white ninja-style skirt. Her dark hair cascaded over one shoulder, framing a fair face adorned with a gentle smile. Her deep red eyes, like polished jewels, seemed to swirl with an inner light.
"Oh, Kurenai," Renzou replied, offering a somewhat strained smile. "I was just discharged from the hospital yesterday. I took a day to rest, and now I'm back for class." He remembered from the inherited memories that his late father and Kurenai's father, Yūhi Shinku, had been close friends, their families living side-by-side. He and Kurenai were childhood acquaintances.
"Renzou… please accept my condolences," Kurenai said softly, her expression tinged with sympathy. She understood his grief but didn't want him to succumb to it.
"It's alright, Kurenai. I've… come to terms with it. I think my father wouldn't want me to be down. I'm going to work hard and live up to his expectations. I want to become Hokage!" Renzou declared, his face set with a newfound determination. It was a promise and a way to honor his father's memory.
"Yeah," Kurenai said, her worried expression softening. A pair of dimples appeared as she smiled. She gently took his hand. "Let's hurry to the classroom, or we'll be late."
Pulled along by Kurenai, Renzou couldn't help but smile faintly. They entered the classroom and settled into seats in the back row, waiting for their teacher. Summer sunlight streamed through the windows. Kurenai sat beside him. In front of her, a distinctive "watermelon head" bobbed. The owner, clad entirely in green spandex, with thick eyebrows, could only be one person.
"Renzou! You finally made it to school!" Might Guy exclaimed, turning around, his wide grin revealing a flash of white teeth, his eyes practically sparkling. Suddenly, his expression turned serious. "Uncle Shanzhou protected the village and his comrades with his life! He was a true hero!"
"Ah, yes," Renzou replied, a touch of genuine pride in his voice. "I'm proud of him too."
As they chatted, several other students approached to offer their condolences. Renzou's class was the academy's elite, a mix of young prodigies from prominent clans and a few exceptionally talented commoners. He recognized Might Guy, the future Blue Beast of Konoha; Sarutobi Asuma, the Third Hokage's second son; Uchiha Obito, the future orchestrator of the Fourth Great Ninja War; Nohara Rin, the budding medical-nin; Yūhi Kurenai, the future genjutsu expert; Kamizuki Izumo, Hagane Kotetsu, Shiranui Genma, Ebisu, Gekkō Hayate, Uzuki Yūgao, Mitarashi Anko, and even the recently graduated prodigy, Hatake Kakashi.
This class is a den of hidden talent,Renzou thought, observing the diverse group.
Just then, their Chūnin teacher, Murayama Shigeru, the same one Renzou had spoken to yesterday, entered the classroom. "Quiet down, class. We'll be starting soon. Everyone, back to your seats." Teacher Murayama sighed, rubbing his temples. Being a gold-medal instructor personally appointed by the Third Hokage didn't make managing this gifted yet often unruly class any easier.
The students quickly dispersed, returning to their desks. Renzou focused his attention, pulling out his textbook in preparation for the lesson. The academy's curriculum consisted of theoretical studies in the morning and practical exercises in the afternoon. After six months of initial physical conditioning, the students' bodies were now ready to handle chakra manipulation. Today's lesson: the fundamentals of chakra refinement.
A hush fell over the classroom as the children listened intently to their teacher's explanation. One by one, they closed their eyes, focusing inward, attempting to sense the spiritual and physical energies within them, guiding them to merge in their core to form chakra. Renzou, however, found himself less engaged by the teacher's lecture and the trancelike state of Kurenai beside him. He simply closed his own eyes and began to refine his chakra.
Ring, ring, ring.
The sudden chime of the bell interrupted Renzou's meditation. Before he could fully register the sound, Teacher Murayama announced briskly, "That concludes the morning session. Class dismissed!" With a quick Body Flicker Technique, he vanished from the room.
Renzou's lips twitched slightly. He lowered his head, intending to rest for a moment. Just then, Kurenai nudged his arm. "Renzou, didn't you bring a lunchbox?"
"...Oh," Renzou said, a wave of slight embarrassment washing over him. In his haste this morning, he'd completely forgotten about preparing lunch. Suddenly, two neatly packed bento boxes appeared on his desk.
Kurenai giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "My dad taught me how to make these. I heard from the teacher yesterday that you'd be back today, so I made two portions. I hope it suits your taste. Please, try it."
"Hey, hey," Renzou chuckled, not one to refuse a kind offer. He opened one of the boxes. Stir-fried shrimp, chicken nuggets, and fish steaks lay atop a bed of rice. The colorful arrangement was surprisingly appetizing. "Kurenai, you should enter a cooking competition sometime." He finished his meal in ten minutes, closed the bento box, and handed it back to her with a satisfied sigh.
"As long as you liked it," Kurenai replied with a smile, placing the empty box in her backpack. The lunch break passed quickly with casual chatter and games.
The afternoon's practical session focused on shuriken and kunai throwing, as well as basic ninja code. Being mostly from established ninja families, many students already possessed a decent foundation in these areas, thanks to early training from their clans. Premature chakra training being potentially harmful, the academy waited until this point to introduce it.
"Bang, bang."
"Uchiha Renzou: Shuriken, ten points. Kunai, ten points." Renzou calmly walked back to where Kurenai was standing. His Jōnin father had ensured he had a solid grounding in the basics.
With the practical session concluded, the rest of the afternoon was free time before dismissal. Renzou and Kurenai walked home together. It seemed the academy's teachings thus far were heavily weighted towards theory. Renzou felt his time would be better spent honing his own skills. The academy also covered some basic theory and the Three Body Techniques, but for the clan heirs, it was mostly review. Renzou mused that even now, he suspected Kakashi could easily outclass most of them.
Lost in thought, they arrived at the gate of Kurenai's house. "See you tomorrow, Renzou."
"See you tomorrow, Kurenai."
After saying goodbye, Renzou continued his walk home. Passing the local market, he bought a simple bento for himself. Once home, he quickly ate and then began to contemplate his next steps. Soon, he found himself in his father's study, surrounded by books and scrolls. The sight of the packed shelves had a calming effect on his somewhat anxious mind. The knowledge is here. I just need to figure out where to start. "First things first, let's test my chakra affinity," he decided, pushing aside his scattered thoughts. He picked up a piece of chakra paper from his father's desk, one of several presumably bought for him.
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End of Chapter 2