3 Months of Growth
As the minutes ticked by, the classroom slowly filled with students.
Hayashi, sitting at the back, noticed the other members of the Konoha 12 walking in.
It wasn't surprising to see them in the same class. After all, this class was known for having a high concentration of clan children.
But not everyone had the chance to join this particular class, and Hayashi was curious about the criteria for admission.
Konoha was a big village with many kids around the same age. While many were eager to become ninjas, not everyone shared the same ambition.
In fact, out of every hundred kids who enrolled, maybe only eighty would make it through the process.
What really mattered was the unique energy that came from balancing spiritual and physical forces - the chakra. Mastering Chakra Extraction took time, effort, and dedication. It wasn't something you could learn overnight.
During enrollment, the school tested students to see who had the natural talent to refine chakra. Those who didn't quite make the cut got professional training from the teachers to help them catch up.
Hayashi assumed that nearly half of the students in the classroom were yet to extract chakra, given the large number of civilians present.
As the classroom filled up, Iruka, the class teacher, took the stage. He introduced himself and got everyone organized for the entrance ceremony.
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The Third Hokage stepped forward, smiling gently as the evening light faded.
"My young shinobis, the future of Konoha," he began.
"We all have a spark within us, a spark that has driven our village forward through the toughest times. It's the Will of Fire, the flame that has guided us to where we are today."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"As long as the wind whispers through the leaves, our fire will burn bright, shining a light on our village and beyond. But remember, it's not just a flame - it's fueled by our passion, heart, and spirit."
He looked at them seriously.
"The shadows of our fire reach far and wide, into the darkest corners where evil lurks. But don't be afraid, because where there's shadow, there's always light. As shinobi of Konoha, it's our duty to be that light, to stand against the darkness and protect what we hold dear."
He took a step forward.
"Just like a fire nurtures new growth, it will nurture you, my young shinobis. You're the new buds on our village's branches, ready to bloom and flourish under the watchful gaze of Konoha's Will of Fire. Embrace it, cherish it - it's what makes us who we are."
"Let our flames burn bright, for as long as the leaves rustle, our fire will never fade. Together, we'll uphold Konoha's legacy for generations to come."
With that, the Third Hokage's speech came to an end.
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As the Third Hokage spoke, Hayashi couldn't help but notice how over-the-top his peers were reacting. While the speech was inspiring, he just couldn't fully get on board with the sentiment.
Hayashi's understanding of human psychology told him that the world of Naruto was far from perfect. It was a world where dark politics reigned, and even the strongest alliances could turn sour.
Take the Third Hokage, for example. He had lost the trust of his closest ally, and was now at odds with Danzo, who harbored ambitions to take the Hokage position for himself.
Together, they would secretly plot the tragic downfall of the Uchiha clan, one of the strongest clans in the ninja world. This event would unfold in the coming year.
Hayashi knew that peaceful times were a double-edged sword. On one hand, they allowed for growth and development in a safe environment. On the other hand, they hindered the advancement of geniuses who could have achieved greatness at a young age.
And while Danzo's influence was huge, those without a special bloodline limit had less to fear, even if they still couldn't let their guard down.
With the Template System activated, Hayashi had already mapped out a plan for the next six years, aiming for significant growth.
Through daily experience accumulation at a rate of 0.02%, he calculated he'd gain 7.3% in a year and a substantial 43.8% in six years.
If he could unlock nearly half of this progress, he'd surpass his peers by a wide margin.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, a glint appeared in Hayashi's eyes.
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This morning was free from classes, dedicated to distributing books instead. After collecting his books, he followed his classmates out of the classroom.
He politely declined his classmates' invitations, eager to get home and practice his sword skills. As he left the school grounds, he could see the disappointment on their faces, but his mind was already focused on his training ahead.
As soon as he got home, he quickly changed into his training clothes. With a bamboo sword in hand, he headed to the training area, ready to start his daily routine. His focus narrowed to the swinging sword as he began his practice.
A thousand strokes might not seem like a lot, but maintaining proper posture and movement was crucial. Any mistakes wouldn't count, so precision and accuracy were important in every move.
Plus, the bamboo sword was heavy for a six-year-old, and he needed to take short breaks to rest his arms, struggling to wield it with skill.
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His intuition had been right
19 days later, the daily task had changed. Now, he had to swing the sword 2000 times. The number of tasks had doubled, but Hayashi didn't find it overwhelming.
The number of tasks had doubled, yet this did not overly burden him.
In those 19 days, he had made progress on unlocking Hawkeye's template, reaching 1.32%.
As the unlocking progressed, the scenes in the spiritual realm changed. They no longer showed Hawkeye's early encounters with naive peers, but instead depicted battles against skilled young swordsmen.
Thanks to the insights and knowledge gained from the spiritual realm, Hayashi's sword skills had rapidly improved. In just two months, he had gone from a novice to an extremely skilled swordsman.
Each swing of the sword during the daily tasks felt natural and effortless. He didn't need to think about it; each strike met the highest standards.
At first, the tasks took him two to three hours to complete, but as he got better, the time it took decreased. Eventually, he could finish without needing a break, completing them in just an hour.
Even with the doubled workload, he could finish the task of swinging the sword for five seconds each time in a little over two hours.
As he watched the senior students duel on the playground through the window, he noticed his observation skills had become sharper. He could pinpoint their weaknesses and flaws with ease, and even found himself mentally preparing strategies to overcome them.
