"No…"
Uchiha Hayashi woke up suddenly, still groggy and disoriented. He sat up, blinking a few times before quickly checking his clothes.
"Whew…" He let out a relieved sigh. "Just pajamas, not… women's clothes. What the hell was that dream?"
He rubbed his face, muttering to himself. "Stupid system."
The alarm hadn't gone off yet, so he thought he had more time to sleep. And honestly, Hayashi loved a second round of sleep.
Just as he was about to flop back onto his pillow, realization struck him.
"Crap!"
He had forgotten to set his alarm the night before. Panic surged through him as he scrambled to check the clock.
8:20 AM.
He froze, horror spreading across his face. Registration!
Hayashi jumped out of bed and pulled on his black Uchiha-style trench coat. With lightning speed, he ran to the bathroom, splashed some water on his face, and ran his fingers through his hair.
After all—he could bleed, he could even lose a fight, but there was no way he would let his hairstyle get messed up.
Snatching up the half-eaten piece of bread from yesterday, he bolted toward the Ninja Academy.
"I'm heading out!" he shouted at the framed photo on his desk before slamming the door shut behind him.
In the courtyard, Hayashi's crisp, childish voice carried out, the voice of a five-year-old boy starting a new day.
The morning sun painted the village in golden light, and the air was filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers. Birds chirped, and shopkeepers had already begun setting up their stalls. Life in Konoha moved peacefully, without a care.
Despite last night's training leaving him exhausted, Hayashi didn't feel the least bit tired. Instead, his body felt lighter and stronger. Even he was surprised at the change.
So this is the system's doing…
At this time, the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen—was in his prime. A contemporary of his father's close friend, Uchiha Kagami, Hiruzen was known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu." His mastery of countless techniques made him one of the most respected shinobi in the world.
Rumors said that even the Kage of the other great nations were wary of his strength. Some called him the "Strongest Hokage."
Of course, such titles were often exaggerated. After all, wasn't Hanzo of the Salamander called a "demigod"?
Still, the strength of the Third Hokage kept the Land of Fire safe and peaceful. It had been almost a decade since the last great shinobi war.
But wars always came sooner than expected.
Not that any of that mattered to Uchiha Hayashi. Right now, his greatest concern wasn't peace, or war, or politics.
It was points.
Points are everything. Oh, foolish system, give me more!
By the time Hayashi reached the Academy, the courtyard was already crowded with families and children. He spotted the man at the registration desk tidying his papers.
His stomach dropped.
Damn, I'm too late… Am I really not going to become a ninja now?
Just then, a familiar voice called out.
"Hayashi!"
He stopped in his tracks and turned.
A delicate face entered his view. A girl around his age, with long black hair and eyes as dark as night, walked toward him. She wore the same Uchiha-style coat, carrying herself with quiet grace.
"Hayashi, you're late again!" she said, pouting ever so slightly.
"Good morning, Mikoto," Hayashi greeted, scratching the back of his head with an awkward smile.
"I was… uh… searching for the direction of my life."
"Huh?" Uchiha Mikoto tilted her head, her expression puzzled.
Yeah, way too complicated for a five-year-old to say. Hayashi quickly realized how ridiculous it sounded. Maybe next time he should just claim he was helping an old lady cross the street.
Before he could think of something better, Mikoto held out a paper to him.
"Here, this is your registration form. I noticed you weren't here, so I filled it out for you."
Hayashi's eyes widened. "Mikoto, you're a lifesaver!"
Her kindness never failed to amaze him. Unlike many of their clansmen, who carried an air of arrogance, Mikoto was genuinely kindhearted. Perhaps that was why Hayashi had grown close to her.
Both of them were orphans, though the Uchiha clan provided well for children without parents. Even so, Hayashi often felt ostracized by others in subtle ways. But not by Mikoto.
When others teased or bullied him, she always stood up for him.
Hayashi sighed softly to himself. Mikoto's such a gentle person. Too bad she ends up having kids like Sasuke and Itachi… must be Fugaku's fault.
His lips curved into a sly grin. Maybe I should just kill Fugaku someday. For the sake of peace, of course.
"Hayashi?" Mikoto tilted her head again, smiling warmly at him.
"Have you eaten breakfast?" she asked, then reached into her bag and pulled out a neatly wrapped rice ball.
"I made this earlier today… Do you want to try it? It probably won't taste very good." Her voice lowered at the end, a trace of shyness slipping through.
Hayashi looked at the rice ball in her hands. To anyone else, it might seem ordinary. But to him, it felt like a treasure, afterall he was hungry.
"If it's made by Mikoto, it has to be delicious," he said with a grin.
Her cheeks pinkened slightly at his words, but seeing the sincerity in his eyes, her nervousness melted into a soft smile, she gave him the adorable smile of a 5 year old.
"Okay, then," she said.
Hayashi took the rice ball, bit into it, and nearly teared up.
"It's… actually really good."
I could cry. Since coming to Konoha, I've never had anything this good.
Wanting to return the gesture, he fished into his bag and pulled out his own breakfast.
"I'll share mine with you too."
He proudly held out a half-eaten piece of stale bread.
"…Um, no thanks. I already ate," Mikoto said, holding back a laugh.
"Oh." Hayashi scratched his cheek in embarrassment before finishing the rest of his rice ball.
Afterward, the two of them walked side by side toward the Academy gates. The entrance exam was about to begin.
Hayashi clenched his fists, determination burning in his chest.
This was the start of his path as a ninja.
__
I'll remove any romance between the main character and any potential female lead, unless she becomes an adult.
MC is mentally an adult!