3 Volume I: Beginning Chapter 3: Friends

Three months have passed since I joined the academy and most of the time I would be sleeping in the class because of what they were teaching I already know. If there is something I don't know, thanks to me being the nephew of one of the smartest people in this village, I was able to study it without much problem.

As with any school, students are taught a core curriculum of reading, writing, mathematics, science, geography, etc. These lessons are typically framed in a ninja context and are learned at all to facilitate later instruction in tactics and strategy. Students learn the Shinobi Rules, how to strengthen their minds and bodies and receive special lectures from veteran shinobi. They are taken through the handling of ninja weapons and tools, like shuriken and kunai, learning how to throw and wield them through target practice, as well as being instructed on the basics of trap-setting. Academy students are also taught about chakra and how to use it, hand seals. Shinobi classes can be broken into the basic levels:-

Taijutsu classes serve as the Ninja Academy's equivalent of physical education. In taijutsu class, students are engaged in physical activities to help train their bodies and develop their stamina. Sparring is common. But the sparring is done twice a month only, with the experience of both Batman, and Deathstroke and my personal experience from the army having the taijutsu class covered. Thanks to that, all of my sparring with other kids ends fast. The same with Itachi, he has been defeating other students he has faced off against everyone and when we face off against each other we win alternatively.

Ninjutsu classes provide the bulk of what potential ninjas learn at the Academy. Students are taught about chakra, how to manipulate it and use hand seals, and ultimately how to use techniques such as the Transformation Technique and the Clone Technique. This one had my partial attention because I needed to understand the basics from here. Even if I ask my uncle to explain it to me he will say it's troublesome and just extend it as much time as he has.

Genjutsu classes are focused less on how to create illusions and more on how they function. Students are taught how to determine if they are trapped within a genjutsu, and then how to release themselves from it. During this time I was wide awake, as I wanted to learn genjutsu very well. Even though no one will be able to put me in a genjutsu, it will be a good card in my arsenal.

Girls had to attend kunoichi classes, where they are taught about other cultures and how skills such as flower arranging will help them to blend in during an infiltration mission.

Today is another day at the academy, and if the timing is right then there will be sparring today. As I was walking to the academy I heard a voice calling out to me, so I turned around to see Hana with her three ninja dogs running toward me. At the academy, I've made some friends, Itachi, Izumi and Hana. I didn't want to make more friends than these three and the other kids always avoid me like a plague as I come off rude to them, all because it's fun to mess with some of the kids.

As she reached me she said, "I thought you would be late, what happened?"

"Nothing."

"Really. Usually, you come to the academy at the last minute so you going this early means there's something special, so what is it?"

"It's nothing."

"Mmm, I'll believe you for now."

Then we made some small talk until we reached the academy. There we met up with Itachi and Izumi and went to our class. On our way, Itachi and I were silent and Hana and Izumi just went on talking about some girl stuff.

As we reached the class I went and sat down at the back where I usually sit, Itachi sat two rows in front of me and Izumi and Hana sat down at the other part of the seating arrangement.

A couple of minutes later the teacher came and started his class on basic maths and history. After that it was Taijutsu class and looking at the roasters, I found out that if I win in every round from the first match and Itachi wins every round we will be meeting in the final round. So I looked at him and remembered what he told me in the last sparring section 'I think he said that next time he'll use ninjutsu. So let's see the famed fire ball jutsu of the Uchiha clan.'

The first match I had was with a Hyuga kid and I just kicked him out of the bounds ending the match in an instant. Like this, I just advanced forward and in the final round, I was up against Itachi as he has been doing the same thing as me, finishing his matches as fast as possible.

As we got in our stance the teacher said "Okay, this is the final match. I want a clean fight between you two alright."

Instead of voicing our reply we just nodded as confirmation, seeing that the teacher said "Do the Seal of Confrontation."

After we did that he said, "Start!"

And we both jumped backwards, Itachi thinking that I'll be going in for the knockout as usual and me knowing that if push comes to shove I have to make him use the fire-style ninjutsu.

Seeing the distance between us, Itachi's eyes twitched and he came forward to confront me in hand-to-hand combat, so I obliged and started close-quarter combat.

He was using the Uchiha interceptor style taijutsu and I was using the martial arts known to Batman to evade most of his attacks and counter-attack at some point.

As we were reaching a stalemate he jumped back and started to do the hand seals to unleash the fireball jutsu. Understanding that I started to move erratically so that I could make him lose his aim. But as a genius of Uchiha, he calculated my path and shot the fireball jutsu there, and with its heat and force, I was thrown out of bounds. (//AN: Some of you may think 'What is this, with all those experiences he was defeated by six years old?' Well before you comment, please read on.//)

As I got out of bounds the teacher said "Match ends! Bokuto Nara is out of bounds, Itachi Uchiha wins!"

And his fangirls started to cheer for him, the teacher said after the voices died down "Now do the Seal of Reconciliation." Hearing that I stood up and dusted off myself and walked into the ring to do the Seal of Reconciliation. As we did that I said to him "Good match."

"Good match." He replied to me with a small smile.

After that teacher told us that the classes had ended and it was time to go home.

As we were reaching the turning point where Itachi and Izumi will divert, Itachi told me "You should use your shadow technique next time."

Sighing, I told him "I only know the shadow paralysis jutsu, nothing more."

"That's enough to immobilise me, and you know that."

"Yeah, yeah, how troublesome." 'But I don't want to. And I didn't even use the experience of my past life plus my wishes, I just don't wanna win in every march.'

"See you at the academy then," Itachi said.

"Yeah. See you at the academy." After saying that he and Izumi went to the Uchiha clan.

A couple of minutes later Hana also went to her clan. So as I was alone I started to think 'I can't use all the shadow techniques now, haven't asked uncle about the jutsu other than the shadow paralysis one. Alright, as tomorrow and the day after tomorrow there's no academy, I will ask him to teach me about the chakra nature and the shadow technique from the clan. And if he doesn't agree, I would threaten him that I would rat him out about the adult books he hid from my aunt. That will work.'

Next chapter