As a transmigator, Chiba Shiraishi felt he should possess the basic qualities of one.
Staying calm and integrating into a new world as quickly as possible—that was his most important task at the moment.
Even though this world had many unscientific elements, like seeing people on the street zip up to the top of an eight or nine-meter building like fleas in a couple of bounds, or breathing fire from their mouths, or subtly summoning water… these fantastical, surreal scenes had left Shiraishi dumbfounded more than once.
What kind of magical world was this?
Superheroes?
Crucially, there wasn't just one superhero; in this village called Konoha, countless similar 'superheroes' existed.
Only then did Shiraishi understand that these 'superhuman' individuals were known as 'ninjas'.
They utilized a special energy called chakra; their astonishing leaping ability and mastery of various miraculous ninjutsu all depended on chakra.
After a few days of adaptation, Shiraishi finally realized he had arrived in an extraordinary world.
He also gained a very detailed understanding of his current identity.
He was an orphan in Konoha Village, having grown up in the Konoha Orphanage for the past few years. It wasn't until he turned six recently and was found to have the aptitude to become a ninja that he left the orphanage and moved out to live alone.
The time Shiraishi occupied this body was precisely the day he left the orphanage.
This made Shiraishi inwardly complain endlessly: What kind of trash orphanage was this? He was only six and already kicked out?
It was probably to let him fend for himself.
According to information from the orphanage, his parents had died on the battlefield not long after he was born. It was said that both of them were under twenty when they sacrificed themselves, and their remains could not be fully recovered; only their cold names were carved on the memorial stone.
Therefore, as the descendant of a hero, the village elders provided him with many conveniences in life. After Shiraishi became independent from the orphanage, his Ninja Academy tuition was waived entirely, he received a certain amount of living expenses each month, and he inherited all of his parents' assets.
From this perspective alone, Shiraishi felt that Konoha Village had a bit of humanity.
However, everything must be considered from a comprehensive perspective. In the past few days, Shiraishi had heard gossip on the streets of Konoha Village more than once.
The result led him to a terrifying conclusion.
As long as one was a formal ninja, regardless of age, they had to follow the village elders' arrangements and go to the battlefield to fight the enemy.
According to some of Shiraishi's observations, since it was currently the Second Great Ninja War, Konoha Village sent a large number of children under ten years old to the battlefield every year.
Ten years old?
Many were even under ten?
Go to the battlefield?
You can't joke like that!
It actually required children under ten to go to war?
It was even said that some six or seven-year-olds, due to their exceptional talent, graduated early from the Ninja Academy and were sent directly to the battlefield... Confusion and bewilderment immediately filled Shiraishi's heart.
How desperate was Konoha Village's front line that it had to send children under twelve into battle?
Had they gone mad?
This Konoha Village... could it be a terrorist organization?
Had he actually entered a terrorist organization?
Thinking of this possibility, Shiraishi looked at the Ninja Academy admission notice in his hand, a complex expression in his eyes, and sat on the ground with a somewhat dejected face.
It's over, I've definitely joined a terrorist organization!
Once I enter the Ninja Academy, not only will I be taught various terrifying killing techniques, but I'll probably also be brainwashed and become a killing tool for the village's upper echelons... Looking at the beautiful village bathed in sunlight, Shiraishi felt a chill run down his spine.
Escape?
Where to?
The strength displayed by those ninjas was just the tip of the iceberg; they could crush him like an ant. Shiraishi didn't think he could escape from this terrorist organization right now.
After a fierce internal struggle, Shiraishi decided to take things one step at a time, and when the right opportunity arose, he absolutely had to escape from this village.
◎
Konoha Year 30, April.
Ninja Academy.
Not long after leaving the orphanage, Shiraishi had to attend the Ninja Academy; it was his only way out.
Shiraishi also accepted his current dangerous situation. Konoha Village was a terrorist organization, and before he had enough power, he absolutely couldn't alert the enemy or arouse suspicion.
One wrong step could lead to suspicion from those around him, being doubted, and then secretly dealt with.
Therefore, Shiraishi couldn't help but become wary of the seemingly simple and harmless villagers around him.
He increasingly felt that the kind smiles on the faces of these honest villagers were cunning smiles, fox-like smiles, devilish smiles, and he himself was as innocent and harmless as a rabbit.
Every one of their faces was filled with the idea of devouring him, their teeth stained with blood and sin.
This was Shiraishi's rational analysis of his current situation.
Shiraishi blended into the crowd and entered the Ninja Academy. It was eight o'clock in the morning. Some children, like Shiraishi, came alone, while others were accompanied by their parents.
The scene was very lively, as if it were a market fair.
Shiraishi didn't choose to stand silently by himself, giving off an aura that was out of place with the environment.
Such an action would be absolutely foolish.
He couldn't draw attention to himself; he had to be ordinary, unremarkable, and absolutely not do anything that would make him stand out.
Before officially entering their classes, Shiraishi and the other new students had to attend an opening ceremony.
The so-called opening ceremony was set up in an extremely simple manner: a section of the Ninja Academy's training ground was cordoned off, where hundreds of new students were lined up by height to face the adults' long-winded and tedious speeches.
The person giving the speech on stage was a middle-aged man wearing a Hokage robe, whose warm smile was very infectious.
Shiraishi knew that this middle-aged man in the Hokage robe was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The current leader of the terrorist organization, Konoha Village.
A terrifying man who inherited the will of the previous two terrorist organization leaders, the First and Second Hokage.
Involuntarily, Shiraishi affixed a 'highly dangerous' label to the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's harmless and kind face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech, in Shiraishi's opinion, was very dull and boring.
It was nothing more than a sales pitch.
Something about the Will of Fire being great.
Konoha Village being a beacon of light.
We are all one family.
Then, from a historical perspective, he elaborated on the great achievements of the previous Hokage, praising them to the skies, which resonated with everyone present.
Except for Shiraishi.
But to avoid drawing attention, Shiraishi also showed excited and adoring eyes, as if genuinely thrilled by the achievements of the previous Hokage.
This is called political correctness!