Chapter 6 — Life in the Academy
Monday
The first day.
I arrived in class earlier than anyone else. Half an hour before roll call. Everything was quiet. I sat in the last row by the window, watching sunlight slide across the floor.
Then the others arrived. Noise, shouting, laughter. Some bragged loudly, others stood silently, looking around. Many from clans — I recognized the surnames. Uchiha, Hyūga, Yamanaka, Aburame, Akimichi.
No one approached me. I was used to that.
The sensei entered — a man in his forties with a sharp gaze and straight back. Behind him walked his assistant, younger, with a serious face.
"Welcome to the Academy," the sensei said. "From today on, you're not just children. You are shinobi-in-training. And here, effort matters more than your family name."
Many of the clan kids exchanged glances. They didn't believe it.
Roll call. When they reached my name, the assistant raised an eyebrow.
"Raigatsu Kiyemi…" He glanced to the end of the list. "No clan?"
"Yes, sensei," I replied calmly.
"Group A," was all he said.
History and Theory
The first lesson — the history of Konoha. The founding of the village. The First Great War. The Academy.
The sensei spoke clearly and simply. I listened. The others — not so much. Some yawned. Some didn't understand the point.
"The Academy was created so shinobi would serve the village, not just their clan," the sensei said. "This is important."
A soft chuckle rippled through the class. The Uchiha exchanged glances. I said nothing. Just noted it: remember.
Physical Training
After lunch — running, stretching, push-ups.
By the fifth lap, someone fell behind. By the eighth — Kurenai, soaked in sweat, gritted her teeth and kept going. Asuma was struggling but didn't stop.
I ran steadily. Breathed deeply. My body obeyed. I knew how to control it. Beside me — only one matched my rhythm. Hatake Kakashi. He didn't look at anyone. Just like me.
Tuesday — Chakra and Control
The morning started with meditation. Some couldn't even sit still.
I listened to my breathing. Felt the chakra inside.
Then came theory. What chakra is, its sources, how circulation works. I'd known it since I was four.
Then — the leaf-on-the-forehead exercise.
Most dropped the leaf after a few seconds. Saya Uchiha grew frustrated. Obito scoffed. Kakashi got it on the second try. I held it on the first. The leaf didn't even twitch.
The assistant whispered to the teacher:
"Amazing. Was her chakra this stable from birth?"
Wednesday — Throwing Practice
Targets stood in a row: ten wooden boards at different heights.
First up — the Uchiha. Three of them. One hit center, another was close. Obito only grazed the edge. He stepped back with a scowl.
Then — Hyūga Nari. Precise, almost flawless. He cast a smug glance around the class.
"As expected," he said. "Greatness is in the blood."
"Raigatsu Kiyemi," the sensei called.
I stepped forward. Ten kunai. One target — one throw.
One after another — bullseyes. Sharp. Fast. No hesitation.
Silence followed the last throw.
"All ten…" someone whispered. "She's not even from a clan…"
The sensei didn't smile. He just made a note.
"10 out of 10. Perfect."
Thursday — Taijutsu
First practical drills. Not a fight. Just basics. Stance. Balance. Kicks. Blocks.
I saw how many overestimated themselves. Sloppy. Unstable. Kakashi moved fast and controlled. Rin — soft and precise. Hyūga — methodical. Obito — clumsy but aggressive.
I was paired with Hyūga Nari. He looked at me from head to toe with mild contempt.
"This won't take more than a minute," he muttered.
"Let's see," I said.
"Begin," the teacher said.
We exchanged blows. One. Two. I read the rhythm. On the third step — a trap. I dodged it. Light tap to his shoulder.
"Stop," said the teacher. "Good. Controlled. Both sides showed restraint. Excellent form."
Nari frowned.
"Unexpected," he muttered and stepped away.
Friday — Assessment
Morning — written mini-exam. I finished in fifteen minutes. Clean. No mistakes.
Then — the three basic jutsu. Henge. Kawarimi. Bunshin.
Student after student. Mistakes. Laughter. Tension.
"Raigatsu Kiyemi," they called.
I stepped forward. Performed all three. Smooth. No hesitation.
The assistant leaned in to whisper:
"She's already at genin level, at least."
In the Hokage Tower
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched through the crystal orb.
Through the smoke of his pipe, he observed me — how I stood, how I controlled chakra, how I moved.
He said nothing. Then quietly added:
"She's a genius, without a doubt. We must find a chance to test her Will of Fire."