The first class of the academic term focused on a fundamental explanation of Chakra. The second class was more technical, requiring the students to familiarize themselves with the twelve common Hand Seals used in standard Ninjutsu. Each session lasted exactly $40$ minutes, and these were the only two classes scheduled for the entire morning.
The afternoon was reserved for two additional classes: one for basic literacy and another for drawing. This light schedule felt almost unbelievable to Minato. Excluding the specific training for Ninjas, the daily routine was nearly identical to a civilian elementary school. In fact, there were actually fewer classes per day than a typical school for ordinary children.
Although the classes were few in number, the actual knowledge being taught was dense and packed with practical substance. The teaching assistant for the Hand Seals course did more than just demonstrate the twelve signs; they explained the specific elemental characteristics of each gesture. For example, they noted that the final seal for Fire Release techniques is almost always the Tiger seal.
The instructor also detailed methods for increasing the speed of one's seals and how Chakra flows through the meridians differently depending on the hand position. Minato reflected on the Chunin Exams from the original history he remembered. While most candidates used elaborate tricks to cheat on the written portion, only Sakura Haruno had answered the questions through pure knowledge—and she had completed them all.
During those same exams, Sasuke Uchiha had been established as the top graduate in terms of overall grades, yet he had been unable to solve a single theoretical question on the paper. From this perspective, it was clear that both the Academy and the Village prioritized a Ninja's practical combat performance over academic theory.
However, Minato felt that theoretical knowledge was far from the useless endeavor it appeared to be in the original series. He considered the Cursed Seal researched by Orochimaru. That particular seal was remarkably similar to the Karma used by the Otsutsuki Clan; it could even be viewed as a primitive, budget version of that divine power.
This led Minato to a deeper question: was the original Otsutsuki Clan actually born with such immense power? He suspected they were not. The descendants of Otsutsuki Hamura on the moon possessed a fairly pure bloodline, yet they only manifested the single trait of the Byakugan rather than god-like status.
Therefore, Minato formed a logical hypothesis. The original members of the Otsutsuki Clan might have once been very similar to humans. They likely evolved into their current state over thousands of years through continuous, obsessive research into the nature of Chakra.
Their primary method of evolution involved planting the Divine Tree to absorb natural energy and refining that energy into pills. This was information he had possessed even before his transmigration into this world. He wondered if humans could take a similar path toward godhood.
For instance, one could theoretically create a medium similar to the Divine Tree that could absorb natural energy from the environment. Then, through a specific refinement process, that energy could be converted into a form of Chakra the human body could safely absorb to complete its evolution. Minato felt the feasibility of this plan was incredibly high.
Later on, he could suggest—or perhaps trick—Orochimaru into conducting research in this specific direction. In fact, Orochimaru was perhaps the easiest person in the Ninja World to satisfy. He simply wanted eternal life, and within the existing Chakra system, that was entirely possible.
Unfortunately, the Sannin was currently blinded by his own frantic desires, his mind filled only with thoughts of possessing the bodies of others. Minato found the logic flawed; how could a body stolen through possession ever be as suitable as a self-cultivated, perfectly cloned vessel?
During the two afternoon classes, Minato essentially tuned out the teacher, his mind filled with complex concepts for future Chakra technology. Finally, the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day.
"Class dismissed!"
As soon as the teacher's voice faded, Minato's figure instantly vanished from his seat. He had already experienced how suffocatingly persistent the girls in the class could be. If he did not leave the room immediately, he would surely be cornered and delayed by their trivialities.
He glanced toward the third-grade floor and saw that Nawaki and the older students were still stuck in their lessons. Since they were still busy, Minato decided to head toward the gates alone. It made sense that the upperclassmen would have a more rigorous schedule than the four classes given to freshmen.
While Minato was walking, he suddenly spotted a familiar, striking figure waiting at the school gate. "Tsunade-sensei? Why are you here?"
"I'm here to pick you up, of course!"
Tsunade chuckled and reached out, lightly flicking Minato's forehead with her finger. "I don't need to tell you how special your status is, right? Not just today, but for the next few years, I or someone else will be coming to get you. I won't stop until I feel your strength is enough to handle certain dangers on your own."
Minato nodded politely, masking his annoyance at the lack of freedom. "I'm sorry for the trouble, Sensei."
"You certainly have a sweet tongue."
Tsunade let out a soft huff of amusement, the corners of her mouth curling up in a rare display of genuine affection. "Nawaki didn't even get this kind of treatment from me back then! Don't you think you should find a way to repay me properly for my time?"
"What would Sensei like to eat tonight?" Minato immediately understood her underlying meaning.
"Hehe, you're quite sensible. Besides stir-fry, is there anything else you can actually make?" Tsunade licked her lips in anticipation. "I've been eating stir-fry for several days now, and I'm ready to try something different."
"How about BBQ?"
"BBQ, huh? I don't really feel much anticipation for that. It's just meat over fire."
"My skills are better than you might think. Do you want to give it a try and see for yourself?"
"Oh?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "Since you're so confident in your cooking, alright then. I'll give you a chance to show off tonight."
The two of them shared a look and then laughed together, appearing to the world like a perfect teacher and student. At the entrance of the teaching building, Yakushi Nono watched the scene from a distance, a faint hint of envy flickering in her eyes.
She quickly suppressed the emotion and began walking alone toward the edge of the Village. Before long, she arrived at a hidden, nondescript underground base. Led by a Ninja wearing an animal mask and the gray vest of the Anbu, she was brought to a cold room in the deepest part of the facility.
"Lord Danzo."
Nono looked cautiously at the man sitting in the center of the room. He radiated an aura of darkness and control that made her skin crawl.
"How is the mission progressing?" Danzo sat perfectly upright by a low table, his eyes fixed on her.
"I have successfully made contact with the target." Recalling Minato's sunny and clean face, Nono felt a sharp pang of guilt. Minato's earlier suspicion had been entirely correct—she had indeed been sent to his side on Danzo's orders.
"The target arrived at the classroom just in time, and by a stroke of coincidence, he sat right next to me. Currently, we are getting along quite well."
"Well done." Danzo nodded slightly, a flicker of cold satisfaction appearing in his eyes. "Tell me, what is your first impression of the boy?"
"He is a very outstanding person, far more so than I am." Nono didn't hesitate to answer. "He seems to be a very gentle and kind person."
"Kind..."
Danzo gave a short, ambiguous chuckle that didn't reach his eyes. "That isn't a trait a Ninja should possess. However, it's just as well. I have observed that child, and he truly lacks the dark traits found in people like us."
"Traits, Lord Danzo?" Nono asked, sounding puzzled.
"Some people are born to bathe in the sunlight; even the deepest shadows cannot obscure their radiance. Minato Namikaze is such a person. Even if the Third Hokage were to groom him as the next successor, I wouldn't be surprised." Danzo's tone became complex as he spoke.
"These types of people are always too naive, especially when they possess great power. To prevent any unintended harm to the Village, that power must be properly constrained and directed."
"And you are the bond that will constrain him. You are both orphans, but because you have lived in the Orphanage since childhood, you can see the reality and the darkness that he cannot. This has given you a more rational mindset than other children. In this regard, we are the same kind of people."
Nono fell silent, her eyes cast downward. Internally, she wanted to scream, "Who is the same kind as you? You're the only one who's dark, you old fossil!"
Of course, she kept the thought buried. As an orphan who relied on the Village, she had no right to express her true self in front of a man like Danzo. She remembered clearly how he had appeared at the Orphanage just days ago, claiming the Village was selecting talented children for special training.
Ultimately, because of her sweet looks and her naturally calm, quiet personality, she had been hand-picked by Danzo and brought into the folds of Root. Danzo had given her only one primary mission.
She was to establish an inseparable, permanent emotional bond with the mission target, Minato Namikaze, no matter what it took.
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