Tatsumi's formal ninja training began at the academy. The first-year curriculum was simple: basic theory and chakra refinement, the foundation of all ninjutsu. The first week, teachers taught chakra extraction techniques.
Tatsumi had mastered this at four, thanks to his system, but his chakra level was only 2—decent for his age, boosted slightly by his Uchiha bloodline. Still, it paled compared to Nawaki's, whose chakra reserves were several times larger due to his Senju heritage.
Uchihas weren't known for chakra quantity, unlike the Senju. Tatsumi envied the First Hokage's legendary reserves, rivaled only by Naruto with half the Nine-Tails' power. Calling him a human Tailed Beast is an understatement.
But with his system, Tatsumi could boost his chakra attribute with points. No one ever complained about having too much chakra—he didn't want to end up like Kakashi, collapsing after a few ninjutsu like a salted fish.
In his previous life, Tatsumi wasn't athletic, more brains than brawn. But in the Naruto world, as a ninja, he pushed himself relentlessly. To stay motivated, he imagined powerful enemies crushing him if he slacked off. This drove his training, making his taijutsu the strongest among his peers, though he hid his full potential. A ninja always needed a trump card.
His greatest asset was his mental energy. A five-year-old with the mind of a twenty-something adult gave him exceptional spiritual strength. Combined with his Uchiha bloodline's natural genjutsu talent, he excelled in illusions even without a Sharingan. If Shisui's my future son, his dad's genjutsu can't be half-bad, right? Though the thought felt weird.
Tatsumi trained daily: running, frog jumps, jump rope, push-ups, stake-hitting, sit-ups—simple exercises that reliably earned points.
A year passed. Tatsumi aced his first year, advancing to second year as the top student. Now, at six, he lay on his desk, reviewing his system panel:
System Interface:
- Host: Uchiha Tatsumi
- Land of Fire
- Age: 6
- Overall Strength Index: Invincible Among Academy Students
- Chakra: Level 3 (0/2000)
- Taijutsu: Level 5 (0/6000)
- Shuriken: Level 4 (0/4000)
- Hand Signs: Level 3 (0/2000)
- Ninjutsu: Level 3 (0/2000)
- Genjutsu: Level 4 (0/4000)
- Wind Attribute: Level 2 (0/1000)
- Fire Attribute: Level 3 (0/2000)
- Lightning Attribute: Level 2 (0/1000)
- Water Attribute: Level 0 (0/100)
- Earth Attribute: Level 0 (0/100)
- Yang Attribute: Level 0 (0/100)
- Yin Attribute: Level 0 (0/100)
- Remaining Ninja Points: 600
His taijutsu had reached Genin level, a huge leap. His shurikenjutsu and genjutsu were his highest attributes, reflecting his Uchiha talent. He'd begun investing in ninjutsu and his natural wind, fire, and lightning attributes, learning basic techniques.
These points came from "sparring" with classmates. The Uchiha trio now avoided him like the plague. I'm practically their childhood trauma, Tatsumi thought, feeling a pang of guilt.
In his mind, a devil and angel debated:
"Give me a chance!"
"I didn't have a choice before, but now I want to be a good person!"
"Go tell the system, see if it lets you."
"That's just asking me to die!"
"Sorry, I was forced into this."
"Who cares?"
"Tatsumi, you seem down…" Mikoto said during a break, noticing him slumped over his desk, not reading or heading to the rooftop as usual.
"I'm on the verge of becoming a cross-dressing boss. Just leave me alone," Tatsumi mumbled.
"Huh?" Mikoto didn't understand.
Tatsumi waved her off, signaling he needed space. As his desk mate, Mikoto grew more concerned, leaning closer. Tatsumi instinctively patted her head with a "head-pat kill."
"Seriously, Tatsumi," Mikoto pouted, letting him ruffle her hair.
"What's wrong? Are you upset?" she asked.
"How about a quick spar during break?" a cheerful voice interrupted. Minato, sitting nearby, grinned warmly.
"Hey, Minato. What's up?" Tatsumi lifted his head.
"Wanna spar?" Minato pressed.
"Nah," Tatsumi declined. Beating Minato now yielded no points.
Minato wasn't discouraged. "Oh, I heard our outdoor training won't be with Nishimura-sensei. It's a young Jonin—the Third Hokage's disciple!"
"The Third's disciple?" Tatsumi paused, then realized: The Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. The pervy sage, the gambling princess, and the creepy scientist.
"Yep! They just returned from a mission and are free, so the Hokage assigned them to teach us," Minato said, acting like a ninja gossip.
Is the Hokage preparing for the Second Ninja War? Scouting talent early? Tatsumi squinted, pondering. Unlike Minato, a civilian with only the Three Basic Techniques, Tatsumi had access to Uchiha scrolls, giving him a head start in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. He could dominate the future Fourth Hokage—for now.
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