Chapter 2: New Life

At dawn, the radiance of the sun shone upon the earth, warm and pleasant, making everything feel invigorated and bursting with vitality.

"I'm leaving!" A crisp, childish voice echoed from a small courtyard within Konoha. It was a boy of six or seven years old, full of energy, beginning his brand new day. 

Minato Namikaze woke up early and set off for the Ninja Academy in Konoha. At the moment, he didn't feel the slightest bit of fatigue from the intense training he had undergone the previous night. Instead, his body seemed even lighter than before, a change that even surprised himself.

According to the human body's structure, a seven-year-old like him had a very limited ability to mold chakra, and naturally, his recovery ability was relatively limited. Even though he considered his current chakra reserves to be vast among his peers, he couldn't fathom how his recovery could be so rapid.

Perplexed, he thought, "It seems I'll have to ask Sensei Shindō at the Ninja Academy!"

The Sensei Shindō he mentioned was his teacher at the Ninja Academy, a Chunin named Kunio Shindō.

For a first-year student like Minato, the world of ninjas still held many unknowns. The knowledge of a Chunin like Sensei Shindō was quite profound. 

Sensei Shindō himself was exceptionally knowledgeable, being considered a scholar, and it was said that even the Third Hokage held him in high regard.

Of course, this referred to Sensei Shindō's knowledge, not his strength.

The Third Hokage was undoubtedly the strongest and most knowledgeable person in Konoha, even being called the "Professor of Ninjutsu." It was said that the number of ninjutsu techniques he had mastered was unimaginable, and his strength was immense, commanding respect even from the leaders of the other great ninja nations.

It was precisely because of the existence of such a powerful figure that Konoha and the Land of Fire enjoyed peace.

Rumor had it that the Third Hokage had three students, who were also said to be extremely formidable. However, to Minato, such great figures still seemed distant.

Nevertheless, since he had set his sights on becoming the Hokage, he would strive to surpass his predecessors. 

This was something he would never waver on!

On the morning streets of Konoha, there were already many pedestrians coming and going, and the shopkeepers on both sides of the street had also risen early. For civilians, there was nothing more comfortable than enjoying this peace.

Feeling all of this, Minato couldn't help but break into a smile.

"Minato." Suddenly, a light and melodious voice called out. Minato stopped and turned around slightly. 

What came into his view was an exquisite face – a girl around the same age as Minato. She had long black hair and dark pupils, exuding a graceful aura.

"Good morning, Mikoto!" Minato greeted her with a warm smile. The girl before him was from the Uchiha clan, a classmate of his.

In Konoha, the Uchiha surname represented strength, which often led children from the Uchiha clan to be somewhat arrogant. However, this quality was not reflected in Mikoto Uchiha.

She was an exceptionally kind girl, and because of Minato's friendly nature, he had a good rapport with his classmates, naturally including Mikoto as one of his friends.

"Good morning," Mikoto smiled back at him. Minato noticed a bag in Mikoto's hand.

"Have you had breakfast?" Mikoto asked, then took out a rice ball from the bag and held it out to Minato. "Here, my mother taught me how to make rice balls yesterday. I thought I'd share them with everyone during the lunch break, but would you mind trying one first? I'm not sure if they taste good."

As she spoke, Mikoto suddenly became a bit shy, clearly lacking confidence in the rice balls she had made for the first time. 

In response, Minato reassured her with a smile, "If it's from Mikoto, it'll definitely be fine!"

Slightly taken aback by his unwavering confidence, Mikoto's initial unease gradually dissipated as she looked into his blue eyes and steadfast expression.

Minato's smile seemed to have a special power to make people trust him.

"Mm!" Mikoto nodded with a smile.

Minato smiled back, "Then let's share it with everyone during the lunch break. Rice balls made by Mikoto will surely taste even better when shared with everyone."

"Oh." Mikoto responded, putting the rice ball back into the bag, and then walked towards the Ninja Academy with Minato.

They were in the same first-year class. When they arrived at the classroom, it was still empty, as children of their age would often be reluctant to get up early. Moreover, they had come a bit too early.

Minato and Mikoto returned to their seats. The latter was looking forward to sharing the rice balls she had made with her classmates, while the former took out a ninja handbook from his desk drawer and began flipping through it.

After a short while, a young man wearing a Konoha ninja forehead protector entered the room. His appearance wasn't particularly handsome, but he had a scholarly air that gave the impression of an academic rather than a ninja.

"Good morning, Sensei Shindō," Minato and Mikoto both stood up and bowed respectfully. Honoring one's teachers was a fundamental virtue, even more so in the ninja world. Many renowned ninjas were trained by exceptional teachers.

The Third Hokage's teacher was the First Hokage who founded Konoha during the turbulent era and the Second Hokage who established the Ninja Academy system. It was no wonder the Third Hokage became so formidable, having been taught by such great masters.

"Morning, Minato, Mikoto," Kunio Shindō smiled back, naturally fond of these two well-behaved and talented students.

After exchanging greetings, Mikoto sat down, while Minato approached Sensei Shindō and bowed again.

"Minato, is there something you need?" Sensei Shindō asked.

Minato nodded politely, "Sensei Shindō, do you have a moment? I have some questions I'd like to ask you."

"Of course, as a teacher, it's my duty to resolve any doubts my students may have," Shindō smiled. Minato was the first student to actively seek his guidance, which made Shindō appreciate him even more compared to the playful children in the class.

Minato then explained the abnormalities he experienced after his training, without mentioning the specific training content, only saying that he had engaged in some regular practice.

Based on his estimation, the content of his training had already exceeded the scope of what was taught at the Ninja Academy, and he didn't want to draw unnecessary attention, which could lead to potential troubles.

After listening, Shindō first praised Minato for his diligence and hard work – it was rare for a child of his age to dedicate time to training.

He then performed a simple examination of Minato's body but found no abnormalities. Subsequently, he said, "You don't need to worry too much about this. Although molding chakra does require a gradual process, occasional rapid growth is not unheard of and isn't harmful. Just remember to balance your training with rest, as you're still in a growing phase."

Hearing this, Minato nodded, his concerns alleviated.

He then bowed again to express his gratitude, "Thank you, Sensei Shindō."

"You're such a polite child," Shindō chuckled, well aware of Minato's respectful nature. He treated everyone in the class with kindness, regardless of who they were.

Afterward, as Minato was about to return to his seat, Shindō added, "We'll be having a new student transfer to our class today, so be sure to get along well."

Mikoto, who had overheard these words in the classroom, also responded affirmatively.

Given their friendly dispositions, it was hard to imagine anyone having trouble getting along with them.

(End of Chapter)