Chapter 4: Can You Teach Me Konoha Ninjutsu?
"Uchiha Seiji… you're part of the Uchiha clan, right? Haven't you already learned ninjutsu?"
Rin Nohara asked curiously.
Even if Seiji came from the Land of Lightning, he still bore the surname "Uchiha." The Uchiha were one of the great clans of Konoha, holding full authority over the village's Police Force. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them nobility.
"Not every Uchiha gets to learn ninjutsu so easily,"
Obito chimed in as he quickly rushed over, having seen Rin talking to Seiji the moment class ended.
"To prevent misuse or overambition, any ninjutsu learning must be approved by senior clan members responsible for management."
He spoke with confidence.
Otherwise, wouldn't everyone just pick the most powerful jutsu from the start?
"I see…"
Rin nodded, her short hair swaying slightly, strands of black falling gently over the purple markings on her cheeks. As someone from a civilian background, she didn't know much about clan customs.
"So, Rin… could you teach me?"
Seiji asked, his deep black eyes fixed intently on hers. Reflected in those pupils was Rin's image—dressed more warmly now that autumn was nearing.
To Seiji, Rin was useful. Asking for her help would allow him to grow stronger, faster.
After all, Rin was a medical prodigy. The fact that she, as only a Chūnin, had mastered the Mystical Palm Technique already spoke volumes. That jutsu was ranked A-rank—just a step below the most difficult, S-rank techniques.
And medical ninjutsu were notoriously hard to learn, requiring meticulous chakra control. A minor mistake could have life-threatening consequences.
The fact that Rin had mastered it, especially so soon after the Second Great Ninja War when the medical training system was still being refined, meant she'd undoubtedly caught the attention of Konoha's Medical Corps.
Had she not died young, she might have become as renowned as Tsunade or Sakura.
"Sure, I can teach you,"
Rin replied after a moment of thought.
"But at the academy, we only learn some basic E-rank ninjutsu. That's all I can help you with for now."
"Even that's a huge help. Thank you, Rin,"
Seiji smiled warmly.
"No problem. We're classmates after all,"
Rin replied with a cheerful shake of her head.
Off to the side, Obito looked as though he'd just shot himself in the foot.
He regretted telling Rin all of that.
If he'd known she'd offer to teach Seiji, he wouldn't have said a word!
"Rin, you should teach me too!"
Obito quickly pleaded. He didn't want to be left out while Rin helped Seiji.
But the school bell rang before Rin could answer, and Obito had to rush back to his seat.
As the lesson resumed, Obito spun his pen around his fingers, clearly distracted.
"Heh, once Rin starts training me too, I'll make that smug Kakashi eat his words!"
He began daydreaming—casting glances at both Kakashi and Rin now and then.
Meanwhile, Seiji stayed focused on his book.
These foundational lessons were invaluable.
Within the Uchiha clan, Seiji was still very much an outsider.
Whether someone would be assigned to train him—or to what extent—remained a mystery.
He didn't hold out hope that some powerful Uchiha elder would suddenly take him under their wing.
He knew exactly where he stood—just a mixed-blood orphan the clan picked up.
If he drew attention, it was more out of caution than care.
And since he had only awakened a single Sharingan eye, some might even see him as "imported trash" from the Land of Lightning.
Rin wasn't a random choice. She was strategically selected.
There were other geniuses in the class—like Hatake Kakashi.
Seiji glanced toward the front of the room.
There sat a white-haired boy in a black mask: Kakashi Hatake.
But Kakashi wouldn't be nearly as easy to approach as Rin.
Soon, the White Fang's death would turn Kakashi cold and emotionless. He'd then request early graduation.
The idea of shinobi being emotionless tools would manifest fully in Kakashi.
Seiji exhaled softly and resumed studying.
No matter what, improving his personal strength was the only path forward.
---
By the end of the day, Seiji was already getting used to life at the academy.
The curriculum was broadly divided into five categories:
Theory, Physical Training, History, Field Tactics, and Practical Combat.
Theory included ninjutsu, hand seals, and some basic physics and math.
Physical Training involved exercise and basic taijutsu.
History covered notable figures from Konoha and the ninja world.
Field Tactics included espionage, assassination, codes, and stealth—girls even received specialized kunoichi training.
Practical Combat involved sparring between students.
But one key component was sorely missing:
Ethics and Philosophy.
At its core, the academy existed to produce ninja—not well-rounded thinkers.
A clear sign of this flaw was the role of the Daimyō.
In a world where individuals could level mountains, political power still rested in the hands of ordinary people.
Even Naruto, as the Seventh Hokage in Boruto, was restrained by the Daimyō's authority. When the village's funding was cut, he had to accept it in silence.
"I'm thinking too far ahead,"
Seiji muttered to himself as he looked around the empty classroom.
He was the last one there.
Opening a translucent interface visible only to himself, he studied his progress.
So far, no one else could see this Status Panel—a secret tool only he possessed.
Today's lectures had mostly focused on history and culture, probably because of his arrival.
---
[Trait: Reading Absorption (White)]
Condition: Read 10 articles and complete detailed notes
Progress: 50%
Effect: Increases reading speed and comprehension by 10%
Note: Can be upgraded.
---
[Trait: Foundational Memory (White)]
Condition: Memorize 5 selected biographies of famous shinobi
Progress: 40%
Effect: Slightly improves short-term memory and retention (5% boost)
Note: Can be upgraded.
---
"This'll make the written courses a lot easier,"
Seiji thought.
These "white" traits were probably the lowest tier—easy to acquire.
Yet each one was marked as "Can be upgraded."
If he met the right conditions, they could evolve.
And traits like "Reading Absorption" and "Foundational Memory" were perfect for aspiring medical ninja.
After all, mastering medical ninjutsu required memorizing massive volumes of knowledge.
Just then, a voice called out from the door.
"Seiji-kun."
Startled, Seiji closed the panel and began packing his things.
"You're still here?"
Rin peeked in from outside, her eyes wide with curiosity.
---