After passing through the academy gates, across a large practice yard and part of the training grounds, the classroom for First-Year Class A came into view.
By the time Uchiha Kaien and Namikaze Minato walked in together, several students were already present.
The most eye-catching among them were a trio and a pair of brothers with white eyes.
A pineapple-haired kid, a chubby boy, and a blonde—that combo told Kaien all he needed to know. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
Three clans that had been united since the Warring States Period.
Individually, they were considered mid-tier among the ninja clans, but together, their combined weight was comparable to the Sarutobi clan—one of Konoha's more powerful families.
Still, standing above them were the true giants of Konoha: the Uchiha, Senju, and Hyuga.
Those were the old bloodlines—ancient clans with profound legacies. Even though the Senju had fallen into decline, Uzumaki Mito, the current jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, was still around.
And that made her Konoha's true powerhouse.
Even the current Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wouldn't dare go against her will.
Back when Senju Tobirama fell on the battlefield and passed the position of Hokage to Hiruzen, the Uchiha and Senju nearly came to blows competing for control of the seat.
There were still plenty of old-timers from the Warring States Era among those two clans. If it came down to pedigree and legacy, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't even be in the conversation.
But it was Uzumaki Mito who overruled everyone and supported Hiruzen for the Third Hokage. Without her, Tobirama's last wishes alone wouldn't have been enough to convince anyone.
Hiruzen was still in his twenties at the time, and many veterans of the Warring States were still active. Compared to them, he hadn't really done anything impressive.
Mito, though—she was the strongest of all the surviving old guard from that era.
Even without the Nine-Tails, the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques alone made her nearly unbeatable.
Seriously, did anyone really think the woman who married Senju Hashirama was going to be weak?
She could still suppress the Nine-Tails completely in her old age. There was no doubt how terrifying she must have been in her prime.
...
Then there were the two Hyuga brothers, nearly identical in appearance.
They had to be Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi.
Their foreheads were still smooth and unmarked—no sign of the cursed seal that came later.
As Uchiha Kaien took in the rest of the class, the students inside were also eyeing Kaien and Namikaze Minato.
Black hair and blond—an interesting combo.
Black hair wasn't rare in Konoha, but black hair and black eyes paired with such refined features? That stood out.
Most of the other ninja clan kids instantly thought of the Uchiha.
The Uchiha were known for their pride.
Even though Kaien didn't act overtly arrogant, everyone could feel the subtle disdain in his gaze—especially the way he scanned the room the moment he walked in. That confidence all but confirmed it—definitely an Uchiha.
But the blond beside him drew some curiosity. Another ninja clan kid, maybe? Walking with an Uchiha? That raised eyebrows.
Nara Shikaku let out a big yawn and slumped back over his desk, looking completely uninterested.
What a drag... Uchiha or not, someone with that kind of face is bound to attract trouble. Hopefully no idiot tries to mess with him. Still, he does give off a good first impression...
After a round of quiet glances, most students turned back to chatting with their friends. Shikaku, meanwhile, sneakily grabbed a potato chip while chubby Akimichi Chōza wasn't looking.
"Hey! Shikaku, you stole my chips again!"
"Calm down. How can you call it stealing when I just helped myself? How about I lend you some pocket change to buy more?"
"Deal!"
Chōza instantly perked up at the offer of free snacks.
"Don't forget the soda."
"You're so lazy, Shikaku," sighed the other blond in the room, clearly a childhood friend of the duo.
Minato, meanwhile, looked around, eyes bright with curiosity.
"Everyone's so unique!"
Kaien didn't say anything, but he found it amusing. He already knew the personalities of these clan kids from watching the anime in his past life. Now, seeing it all firsthand was oddly entertaining.
"That trio over there—they're the Ino-Shika-Cho. Go on, Minato, guess which one's the 'Cho.'"
Kaien's expression turned mischievous, clearly waiting to see if Minato guessed wrong.
"But seriously," came a quiet voice from just behind them, "I'm in the classroom too. And no one even noticed me. My outfit's pretty distinct, don't you think?"
The voice belonged to Aburame Shibi. It had that eerie, barely-there quality that made people subconsciously overlook him.
"That's the specialty of the Aburame clan, right? Making people overlook their presence? Creepy but effective trait."
Kaien turned and gave him a warm smile.
"Next time, I promise I'll spot you right away."
Shibi blinked, slightly taken aback—but clearly pleased.
[Affection from Aburame Shibi +1]
"I'll be looking forward to it, Uchiha."
Minato, again, looked amazed.
Ninja clan kids are so full of surprises...
...
"Brother, that Uchiha in our class... looks like a girl. Are we really still going to compete over which clan has the strongest dojutsu?"
"Of course. If we can't even beat a girl, wouldn't that be even more embarrassing?"
"...Good point."
...
As more students filtered into the classroom, a man wearing a jonin vest entered.
He walked with steady, deliberate steps toward the podium, silencing the room with his presence alone.
It helped that Yamakawa Taiga had a nasty scar running across his face—definitely enough to scare a bunch of kids into shutting up.
"I'll be your homeroom teacher from today onward. Name's Yamakawa Taiga."
"I'll be teaching both your theory and practical combat lessons."
"Now, let's get started with introductions. Tell us your name, your dream, your likes—whatever helps us get to know each other better."
Silence.
"No one wants to go first? Then I'll just pick someone."
Kaien felt a wave of déjà vu wash over him.
Is every school the same? No one ever wants to go first, then the teacher starts calling people out...
"You. Yes, you. Start us off."
With Taiga's scarred face and stern tone, the kid he pointed at didn't dare say no and obediently began his self-introduction.
After the first one, the rest followed. Lazy drawls, food philosophies, declarations about the superiority of the Byakugan, and determined introductions from those used to being overlooked—each student showed a little of who they were.
Eventually, it was Minato's turn.
He stood up from his seat, gaze steady.
"Hi everyone. I'm Namikaze Minato. My dream is to become Hokage!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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