"To hell with it! I'll go straight to the Ninja Academy and apply!" Satoru thought resolutely.
"If there's a neck, a yoke will be found. And if anyone dares get in my way, I'll just make them acknowledge my strength!"
Without wasting a second, he strode confidently toward the Academy.
He had lived in the Hidden Leaf Village for over half a year now and naturally knew its streets well, including the locations of major buildings.
The main street was the liveliest and most prosperous place in Konoha. Countless shops and stores lined it, offering not only shinobi necessities but everything peaceful civilians might need.
Being here, the transmigrator sometimes caught himself thinking he was still in his old world.
"Incredible. Who would've thought I'd walk freely through the streets of the 'Naruto' world. It's breathtaking," he mused with a touch of wistful sadness.
"I wonder when the famous Ichiraku Ramen will open?"
The world-renowned eatery didn't exist yet, but the transmigrator figured it was just a few years away.
Upon arriving in this world, he had first seen the Hokage Rock. Carved on it were the faces of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju; the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju; and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Fourth Hokage's face wasn't there yet.
Lately, the village lacked any tense pre-war atmosphere. This suggested the Third Shinobi World War hadn't started.
The Ninja Academy wasn't on the main street, but the path led through it. Satoru had important business, so he didn't dawdle.
Quickly passing the bustling street, he soon reached the main gates of the Konoha Ninja Academy.
A large sprawling tree grew at the entrance, and on one of its thick branches hung simple wooden swings.
"These must be the swings Naruto loved sitting on in the future," Satoru guessed with a warm smile.
He was about to enter the Academy grounds when a voice called out.
"Hey, who are you?" An elderly man emerged from a small building like a guard post.
"Kid, what are you doing here?" the old man asked, but upon seeing the tiny Satoru, he immediately lost all suspicion.
"Hello, grandpa," Satoru greeted politely.
"I've come to enroll in the Ninja Academy. I need to submit admission documents."
He stated his purpose plainly.
"You?" the old man asked in surprise.
"Where are your parents, child? You need a guardian to enroll. Besides, classes have already started. Even if accepted, it'd be as a new student in an existing class."
The stranger answered the boy's questions sincerely and in detail.
Satoru shook his head:
"I'm an orphan. I have no guardian. How do I become a student in your class?"
Hearing the boy was an orphan, the old man fell silent for a moment, clearly moved.
"That's not for me to decide," he finally said with a sigh.
"You need to talk to the teacher in charge of enrollment."
The old man was kind. Saying this, he let the transmigrator onto the Academy grounds. The boy figured the grandpa had pitied him upon learning of his orphanhood.
The Earth native didn't seek the so-called "enrollment teacher." Instead, he headed straight for the Ninja Academy principal. He assumed that back then, the Academy wasn't as bureaucratized as in the future and lacked numerous departments.
The Ninja Academy principal was likely a shinobi himself. He looked thirty or forty, appearing very kind and good-natured.
"Hm? What's this kid doing here?" the principal looked at Satoru in surprise.
"Classes are ongoing. How'd you sneak out of lessons?"
His voice was stern, unlike what his appearance suggested.
"Hello, Principal," Satoru bowed respectfully.
"I'm not a student here. I've come to enroll as a new student in an existing class."
"As a new student?" the principal repeated.
"Where are your parents? How old are you?"
He bombarded Satoru with questions.
"Yes, exactly. I have no parents. I'm three and a half," the orphan answered directly.
"An orphan, huh. Three and a half."
The principal shook his head thoughtfully.
"You're too young. Even if you really want to enroll, your age is too tender. Come back at five."
With that, the principal waved, signaling the conversation was over and the boy should leave.
But Satoru didn't budge.
"Principal, though I'm only three and a half, I'm absolutely sure I have genin-level strength. If you won't accept me, please let me appeal to the Third Hokage-sama and recommend me to him. Tell him I can handle genin duties."
Hearing such mature, serious words from such a tiny child, the principal couldn't help laughing.
"Kid, this isn't a place for jokes. This is the Ninja Academy. We train real shinobi here. Being a shinobi is very tough and responsible work.
"Since you're an orphan, I could talk to the Third Hokage-sama about placing you in a civilian school. You'll study, grow up, and do something else not related to the ninja arts. That's a good option too," the principal suggested, clearly trying to dissuade him.
Satoru shook his head firmly:
"This is the ninja era. If I choose another profession, I'm afraid it wouldn't be the best decision, right?"
Seeing the principal hesitate and struggle, Satoru began persuasively and eloquently laying out his thoughts:
"After the First and Second Shinobi World Wars, contradictions between great nations weren't resolved. Small nations cling to life by a thread, balancing on survival's edge. I think within the next decade, the Third Shinobi World War will erupt. In such times, if you don't become a ninja and protect your village, what's the point of just living an ordinary, unremarkable life?"
The young genius's words shocked the principal. He couldn't believe a three-year-old could analyze the current political situation so deeply.
"Kid, who told you all this?" the principal asked suspiciously, assuming someone had coached Satoru.
"Principal, I figured it out myself," the System bearer replied firmly.
"Please, give me a chance. I have ideas and strength. Make an exception and let me enroll!"
Noticing the principal seemed to soften and his words had impact, Satoru decided to back them with action.
He quickly formed hand seals and shouted:
"Ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Technique!"
A muffled pop sounded, smoke puffed, and another identical tiny Satoru appeared beside him.
"What?! Shadow Clone Technique?!" This time, the principal was truly stunned. If the previous words could be attributed to coaching, how to explain this?
Shadow Clone Technique was B-rank ninjutsu! A child performing it at three and a half would surely reach elite jonin level, if not Hokage, in the future!
"My child! Forgive my rudeness," the principal apologized embarrassedly.
"This must be reported to the Third Hokage-sama immediately."
"Perfect!" Satoru sighed in relief. He had feared the principal wouldn't bother talking to the Hokage.
In truth, he didn't particularly want to study here. Enrolling was just a way to complete the System's Quest. Becoming a genin would grant the promised reward—elite jonin-level chakra reserves.
Afterward, the principal asked another teacher to relay a message. Soon, that teacher returned and whispered something to the principal.
The principal nodded and smiled:
"Good. The Third Hokage-sama approved your enrollment request. But there's one condition."
"What condition?" Satoru tensed.
"We'll arrange a duel. You must fight the strongest Ninja Academy student. Only victory lets you enroll as a new student," the principal explained.
"No problem. I'm ready anytime," Satoru replied with absolute confidence. He knew the Third Hokage was giving him a chance.
"But only one chance," the principal warned.
"Your opponent is about to graduate. He's already ten. So the duel won't be entirely fair."
"It's not clear who it'll be unfair for," Satoru smirked inwardly.
He had plenty of trump cards. No matter the opponent, he planned to win.
"What's my opponent's name?"
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan