"Really? I didn't notice."
Of course, Shimizu Kamikawa wasn't about to tell her it was because of cultivating the technique, which had dramatically enhanced both his physique and spiritual energy far beyond that of ordinary people.
If he cultivated chakra like a normal ninja—
At just six years old, even if he couldn't reach Kakashi's full chakra level, reaching half of it would be easy.
And if he entered Sage Mode, his chakra would increase by at least tenfold.
That was only because of his young age and low mastery of the technique. In the future, it will grow exponentially.
(P.S.: One "Kakashi unit" = the chakra level of a single Kamui-using Kakashi.)
"Of course there is! You used to be a bit shorter than me, but now you're already taller."
Izumi spoke in an exaggerated tone. At that moment, Kamikawa finally noticed what she had been holding—it was two lunch boxes.
Sensing his gaze, Izumi's face flushed again. She tightened her grip on the lunch bag and turned her head away slightly, acting a bit tsundere.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I just happened to make an extra lunch this morning. It's not like I was worried you wouldn't have anything to eat."
"Then thanks."
Kamikawa felt a small warmth in his heart. He really had forgotten to prepare lunch, and the school didn't provide meals.
"Mm."
Izumi nodded firmly, a bright smile appearing on her face.
"Come on, then… let's go to the classroom together."
Before long, the two arrived at the classroom.
As Kamikawa pushed open the door, he saw that it was nearly full.
Their arrival didn't cause much of a stir, since most people's attention had already been drawn to Uchiha Itachi, who had arrived earlier.
From time to time, one could hear girls whispering excitedly:
"Wow, Uchiha Itachi is so cool…"
"Yeah, and I heard he's the son of the Uchiha clan head…"
Girls in the Naruto world matured early. Just like in the original story—Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura, who were once close friends, fell out over Sasuke.
Hearing the chatter around him, Kamikawa couldn't help but twitch his lips.
These people are way too infatuated…
Standing beside him, Izumi misunderstood his reaction as admiration for Itachi and quickly tried to comfort him:
"Um… I think you're more handsome than Itachi, Kamikawa-kun."
Recalling how Kamikawa had rushed in to save her a month ago, Izumi's face turned slightly red.
"Let's find a seat first."
Kamikawa thought to himself, that's not how you comfort someone…
"They're here…"
At that moment, Itachi also noticed Kamikawa and Izumi. He hesitated, wondering whether to go greet them, but ultimately decided against it.
He wasn't good at expressing emotions, and they weren't close enough to chat casually.
Soon, the teacher arrived—a slightly chubby chūnin with a mustache.
Without much preamble, he wrote his name on the blackboard, introduced himself briefly, and then had the students introduce themselves one by one.
For a while, the entire classroom was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
After everyone had finished, the teacher arranged for the distribution of textbooks.
Konoha Modern History, The Will of Fire, Detailed Chakra Extraction, The Three Basic Techniques, Fundamentals of Taijutsu Training, From Beginner to Master: Ninja Tool Throwing… along with general subjects like geography and mathematics.
These textbooks would accompany each student throughout their six years at the Academy—unless they graduated early.
As a seasoned Naruto fan, Kamikawa casually flipped open Konoha Modern History.
After just one glance, his mouth twitched violently.
The First Hokage ending the Warring States era and founding the village? Barely mentioned.
The Second Hokage ending the First Great Ninja War? Just a passing note.
The Uchiha and Senju founded Konoha together? Not mentioned at all.
Only the recent sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage got a page—and that was clearly added last minute.
The rest?
All about how the "strongest Hokage of all time," the Third Hokage, was so महान—"Professor of Ninjutsu," "The Hero," how he turned the tide in the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars and led Konoha to victory.
It was shameless exaggeration to the extreme.
And yet, despite how ridiculous it was, the effect was surprisingly effective.
Most of the civilian students were completely awestruck, practically worshipping him.
Especially Uchiha Itachi.
Even though he had been exposed to ninja knowledge from a young age, he was completely absorbed in The Will of Fire and Konoha Modern History. His eyes practically shone as he read—especially the former.
It was from this moment that Itachi began to view everything through the lens of so-called "Hokage thinking."
And gradually, he developed a rebellious attitude toward his own clan.
When it came to the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha,
he always believed it was the Uchiha's arrogance that was beyond saving,
while ignoring what Konoha's leadership had done to them.
Though later, after experiencing more, he came to understand many things and even expressed regret to Sasuke before his death—
By then, it was far too late.
The Uchiha clan had already been nearly wiped out.
Kamikawa could only think:
Toxic textbooks really do ruin people.
If he hadn't been a transmigrator, he might've believed that old man's nonsense too.
As for The Will of Fire, after skimming through it, Kamikawa casually tossed it aside.
Compared to that distorted history, he was far more interested in practical knowledge like Detailed Chakra Extraction, The Three Basic Techniques, Taijutsu Fundamentals, and Ninja Tool Throwing.
Soon, it was noon.
Kamikawa and Izumi went up to the rooftop together for lunch.
After eating—and wiping everything clean without a shred of shame—Kamikawa turned to this "wealthy young lady" of the Uchiha clan and asked for ninjutsu.
"Ninjutsu?"
Izumi set down her lunchbox, looking confused.
"Didn't the teacher explain the Three Basic Techniques this morning?"
"Too simple."
Kamikawa activated his technique and briefly scanned the surroundings. After confirming no one was watching, he casually made an outrageous statement—and proceeded to demonstrate all three techniques for Izumi.
Since cultivating the Tiangang Art, low-level techniques like these were almost effortless for him.
Even without relying on the technique, he could perform them using ordinary chakra.
What surprised him even more was this:
After performing the Three Basic Techniques once using normal chakra, when he switched to Sage Mode through the technique and replicated the chakra pathways—
he could cast them without hand seals.
This realization excited him greatly.
Does this mean that in the future, I can be like the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara—just clap my hands and unleash anything I want?
Hashirama: "Madara, do you still need hand seals?"
Madara smirks: "No. Hashirama… don't tell me you still use them?"
Hashirama shakes his head: "Isn't it just clap your hands and call it out?"
Who even uses hand seals anymore?
Kisame, Zabuza, Kakashi: silently crying in the corner.