The first rays of the morning sun spilled over the rooftops of Konoha, bathing the village in a soft golden hue. Perched on the edge of his window, Shin watched in quiet awe as the sky slowly shifted from amber to blue. A calm breeze rustled the leaves outside, and for a brief moment, the world felt still.
One month had passed in the blink of an eye. Days blurred into one another as he and Akio trained relentlessly—sparring under the sun, racing through the woods, perfecting their chakra control. In that time, they had grown stronger, not just in skill but in bond. What began as a rivalry born of curiosity had settled into a genuine camaraderie, forged through sweat, bruises, and mutual respect.
Now, Shin stood shoulder to shoulder with Akio and his uncle Kazuma in front of a massive, iron-gated entrance that towered before them like the mouth of a fortress. A sea of eager faces stretched across the training grounds—over fifteen hundred students packed tightly, murmuring, stretching, some trying to show off, others trembling with nervous energy. Shin and Akio exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by the sheer number of participants.
Sensing their surprise, Kazuma crossed his arms and spoke in a calm tone, "Don't be overwhelmed. Most of them have never held a kunai, let alone trained seriously. Only clan kids and a few civilians have had proper instruction. In the end, only the top 250 will make it past the entrance exam." His voice was steady, but it carried the weight of truth. The competition was about to begin, and the real challenge had just appeared before them.
Shin's eyes wandered through the buzzing crowd, scanning the mix of nervous and excited faces. Amidst the sea of black and brown hair, a bright flash of yellow caught his attention. There, standing a few rows ahead, was a boy with spiky blond hair and a calm yet sharp presence—Minato Namikaze. The future Fourth Hokage.
Shin's lips curled into a quiet smile, his heart strangely steady. So this is where it all begins for him too, Shin thought. Watching Minato stand with such quiet confidence sparked something within him. I may not be from this world originally, but I won't fall behind. No matter what, I'll give it my all. With renewed determination burning in his chest, Shin straightened his back, eyes focused—ready for whatever came next.
Just as Shin was still soaking in the moment, a tall man stepped out from the massive gate, his presence immediately drawing the attention of the crowd. Dressed in a standard Konoha flak jacket, the man radiated authority—a seasoned chunin, no doubt. His sharp eyes swept over the gathered students before his voice rang out loud and clear, cutting through the morning chatter.
"Everyone, form a line and gather around! We're starting the entrance procedures now!"
The murmurs died down as the crowd quickly shuffled into formation, the weight of the moment settling in. Shin exchanged a glance with Akio, both tightening their expressions. This was it—the first step into the world of shinobi.
The chunin stood tall, hands behind his back as he addressed the crowd. "I am Nara Buko, and I'll be overseeing the first part of your entrance assessment," he said, his tone calm but firm. Without wasting a second, he continued, "All of you will be divided into groups of 100. Each group will run laps around the academy grounds. You will not stop until I say. Understood?"
A ripple of murmurs passed through the crowd as tension rose. Another chunin stepped forward and began dividing the children. Shin and Akio were placed in different groups and exchanged a quick nod and a wave.
"Good luck," Akio said.
"Don't hold back," Shin replied with a grin.
As Shin looked around his own group, his eyes locked for a brief moment with a familiar yellow head—Minato Namikaze. Their gazes met just for a second, but the intent was unmistakable. Both shared the same fire, the unspoken challenge to outdo the other. Then, with a sharp blow of the whistle, the test began.
As the whistle echoed across the training ground, the test began in earnest. A few children, full of youthful excitement or desperation, sprinted ahead at full speed. But the more experienced ones—children from clans and those with shinobi parents—paced themselves, jogging steadily with calm expressions. Shin settled into a rhythm, breathing evenly, his mind focused.
The first four laps passed quickly, but the fifth began to take its toll. One by one, children collapsed or slowed to a crawl, unable to push through the growing burn in their legs.
After the fifth lap, Nara Buko's voice rang out, sharp and clear, "If you couldn't complete five laps, you're eliminated." Around seventy participants dropped out, groaning or gasping for air.
Buko then added, "Those who can still run, continue. There is no limit. Stop when you're done."
About ten more decided to preserve their strength and sat down. Shin kept going. Lap after lap, the crowd thinned, feet dragged, and spirits waned—but Shin endured, pushing past the ache. Slowly, the only two still running were Shin and Minato. They were neck-and-neck at the thirtieth lap, sweat dripping from their chins, their eyes locked in quiet challenge.
Finally, Nara Buko raised a hand. "You two. Stop. Join the others. You've passed," he said, a hint of approval in his voice. The two boys nodded, stepping off the track as the next test loomed ahead.
Once the runners had settled and caught their breath, Nara Buko stepped forward again and addressed the group. "Now, from each group, those of you who have unlocked your chakra—step forward."
From Shin's group of thirty, only sixteen moved ahead, including Shin and Minato. A Hyuga clan ninja with the distinctive pale eyes of the Byakugan stepped out from the academy gate, his expression calm and unreadable. He activated his Byakugan with a faint pulsing sound, veins bulging around his temples as he began inspecting each child's chakra network.
When it was Shin's turn, the Hyuga's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Such dense chakra for someone this young... impressive, he thought, before quickly regaining his stoic expression and moving on.
Then he reached Minato. His eyes widened ever so slightly again, this time with more visible astonishment. Minato's chakra wasn't just dense—it was bright, refined, and just a bit more potent than Shin's. Though not by a vast margin, it was enough to make the Hyuga elder pause for a breath.
Inwardly, he could only think one word: Monsters.
After the chakra assessment concluded, all the students were called back to regroup in the center of the training grounds. The sun had risen higher now, casting a golden glow over the sea of young hopefuls. Nara Buko stepped forward once more, holding a scroll in hand. With a clear, commanding voice, he began reading out names—one after the other—of those who had passed the first stage.
Cheers and sighs of relief echoed through the crowd as name after name was announced. In total, around 300 students made the cut. As Shin's name was called, followed soon by Akio's, the two friends found each other in the crowd and shared a wide grin before slapping a loud, proud high five.
"Told you we'd make it," Akio said with a grin.
"Yeah," Shin replied, eyes gleaming with determination.
The successful candidates were then instructed to move toward a large wooden stage at the front of the academy grounds. The air buzzed with tension and excitement as the chosen stood before the stage, waiting for what would come next.
Just as the murmurs of the crowd began to rise, a sudden silence washed over the grounds as a gentle swirl of wind passed through. Then, without warning, an old man appeared atop the stage—calmly, as if he had been there all along. He stood tall despite his age, with wise, sharp eyes that seemed to see through everything. A long brown robe draped over his frame, and a familiar Kage hat sat atop his head. In the corner of his mouth rested a wooden pipe, gently smoking as he surveyed the sea of young faces before him.
It was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage himself.
His presence alone demanded respect, a quiet strength radiating from him. The students straightened up instinctively, the weight of the moment sinking in. Shin's heart pounded as he looked at the man who ruled over the entire village—the symbol of the Will of Fire.
As Hiruzen's steady gaze swept over the crowd, a small smile tugged at his lips.
"Welcome," he said, voice deep yet warm, "to the first step of your journey as shinobi of the Hidden Leaf."
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