A New Beginning

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Year 62 (After Konohoa was established).

Yoshino fussed over Rai's clothes, adjusting his collar and straightening out his shirt. "Are you sure you don't need anything? Do you have everything packed? Your books and writing materials?" she asked, checking his backpack. "And don't forget your lunch, did you pack it?"

Rai gave a soft chuckle, amused by his mother's attentiveness. "Yes, Mom, I have everything. You've already checked my bag twice," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement.

Yoshino exhaled gently, her gaze growing distant as she looked at Rai. "Yes, I know, I'm just...You grew up too soon, and your father is not here to see you off. He wouldn't have missed this day for the world, but..." she trailed off, her voice catching in her throat.

Rai could see the sadness in his mother's eyes and felt a pang of guilt. He knew his father's absence was a sore subject for her, but there was nothing he could do about it. Instead, he hugged her tightly and said, "It's okay, Mom. I know Dad would be proud of me, and I know you are, too..

"I should go now, or I'll be late for my first day. I'll catch up with you in the evening," he said with a smile before grabbing his backpack and heading inside the academy.

*

POV Rai:

I walked up to the entrance of the Leaf Shinobi Academy, taking in the sight of the massive building in front of me. I could see other kids milling about, some chatting excitedly while others looked nervous.

The entrance was bustling with activity, with older students hurrying to their classes and instructors calling for the first-year students to gather inside the playground of the academy.

I made my way through the crowd and followed the other first-year students to the playground.

There were around 50 students gathered in the ground, most of them looking confused or scared. Some were talking to what seemed like their friends, trying to calm each other down. I took a spot near the edge of the group.

An instructor came to the playground, dressed in a black and green outfit. He wore a stern expression on his face, as if he was used to dealing with unruly students.

He had high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a strong jawline. His dark hair was pulled back into a neat bun at the nape of his neck. His eyes were a deep brown, and they seemed to bore into each and every one of us as he spoke. His stance was rigid, and I could tell that he wasn't someone to be messed with.

He called out for everyone's attention and instructed us to quiet down and line up.

I followed the instructor's directions and lined up with the other students. As we formed a line, I found myself in the middle of the group. I glanced around at the other students, most of whom were still fidgeting and whispering nervously to their neighbors.

I couldn't help but feel a bit out of place among them. While I was certainly nervous, it did help that I was around 29 years old now if I took into account my age from my previous life.

The instructor cleared his throat and spoke out loud. "Welcome, students, to the Leaf Shinobi Academy," he said in a deep, commanding voice.

"We have gathered out here to wait for the Hokage, who will be arriving shortly," the instructor continued. "He will be here to impart some words of wisdom to our newest students. But before that, let me introduce myself. My name is Hiroshi Nakamura, and I will be your homeroom teacher for the duration of your time here at the academy."

Hiroshi 's voice was stern, but there was a hint of kindness in his tone that made me feel at ease. He then continued, "I expect everyone to be silent and respectful in the presence of the Hokage. Any misbehavior or disobedience will not be tolerated and will result in punishment."

Just then, a voice came from the side, "Now, now, Hiroshi. They are just kids."

*

POV normal:

The voice belonged to an older man with a with a wise and experienced aura. His face bore the lines and wrinkles that come with age, yet his sharp, dark eyes gleamed with intelligence and determination. He was dressed in a red and white robe and a hat with the symbol of the Leaf Village on it. His white, spiky hair was tucked under his hat and his chin was adorned with a distinctive goatee that gave him a distinguished appearance.

It was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. He walked up to the front and stood beside Hiroshi.

Hiroshi bowed respectfully to the Hokage and greeted him, "Lord Hokage, it's an honor to have you here with us today." The Third Hokage gave a small smile and returned the greeting.

Hiruzen then turned his attention to the first-year students, who were gazing at him in awe. He regarded them with a warm and gentle smile before beginning to speak.

"Young shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village, it is a pleasure to be here with you today. You stand at the threshold of a remarkable journey. As you embark on your path to becoming fully-fledged shinobi, you'll encounter trials and tribulations, but you'll also experience great joy and achievement.

During your time here, you will face innumerable challenges and hardships. Your bodies and minds will be pushed to their limits, and at times, you may even question the path you have chosen. However, it is in the face of adversity that we truly discover who we are and what we are capable of achieving. Do not shy away from these obstacles; instead, face them head-on, and let them forge you into the exceptional shinobi that I know you can become.

Remember that you are the future of the Leaf Village. You carry the hopes and dreams of your families, your friends, and all those who have come before you. Your strength, your wisdom, and your commitment will determine the course of our village's future.

As you train and grow, never forget the bonds that connect you to your comrades. In the world of shinobi, teamwork is essential. Your successes and failures will not be yours alone, but shared with those who stand beside you. Cherish and protect each other, for in doing so, you will find strength beyond measure.

Lastly, always strive for greatness, but do not forget the importance of humility and compassion. These qualities are the foundation of a true shinobi's heart.

I have complete faith that each and every one of you possesses the potential to achieve greatness, to leave an indelible mark on our world, and to become beacons of hope for generations to come. So, as you venture forth into this new chapter of your lives, remember the values and principles that define the Hidden Leaf Village. Carry them with you, and you will not only become exceptional shinobi but extraordinary human beings as well."

As Hiruzen concluded his speech, the faces of everyone around Rai were flushed red, and their eyes sparkled with awe and admiration. The powerful words of the Third Hokage had stirred a profound sense of pride and determination within each and every one of them. They stood tall, shoulders squared, and hearts filled with a burning passion to embrace the path that lay before them.

Meanwhile, Rai wore a funny expression on his face as he observed the reactions of those around him. He couldn't help but compare the situation to his previous world, where five-year-olds would have started to fall asleep by now, simply because they wouldn't understand the complexity of such a speech. This contrast between the two worlds amused him and made him realize just how different his current environment was from the one he had known before.

The Hokage noticed the varied reactions among the children and chuckled softly. "Alright, I won't bore you any further," he said with a warm smile. "I'll leave you in the capable hands of your sensei, who will guide you through your training and help you become skilled shinobi. Remember, the journey may be tough, but with hard work and dedication, you can achieve greatness. Good luck!" With that, he nodded to the Hiroshi and made his way out of the training area.

Hiroshi, sensing the anticipation and excitement among the students, motioned for them to gather around. "Alright, everyone," he called out in a firm yet friendly tone. "Please follow me to our classroom." With that, he turned and started to walk towards the building, the eager young students following closely behind.

Upon reaching their destination, Hiroshi stopped in front of a door with the label "Classroom 1-A" inscribed on it. He swung the door open, revealing a spacious room with rows of desks and a chalkboard at the front. Natural sunlight filtered in through the large windows, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

"Welcome to Classroom 1-A," he announced, gesturing for the students to enter. The young shinobi eagerly filed into the room, their eyes taking in every detail of their new learning environment.

Hiroshi looked around at the students, "Alright, everyone, please find a seat and make yourselves comfortable."

The young shinobi quickly scanned the room for an empty desk, excitedly chattering with one another as they found their places and settled in for their first day of class.

Rai's eyes were drawn to a vacant seat near the back of the classroom, right beside the window. He made his way through the room, careful not to bump into anyone, and slid into the seat. The view of the courtyard and the sky beyond provided a calming background, and he thought it would be a perfect spot to observe both the class and the outside world during lessons.

Once all the students had found their seats and settled down, Hiroshi began to distribute their class schedules. He moved from desk to desk, handing each student a neatly printed timetable detailing their lessons and activities for the upcoming weeks. As the students eagerly scanned their schedules, their sensei patiently waited for everyone to become familiar with their new routine.

As Rai looked over his schedule, he noticed that it was exactly as he had expected. There were no shinobi-related subjects listed. Instead, the timetable consisted of mundane subjects like history, science, mathematics, and geography.

The realization hit Rai that he would have to attend the academy despite having already studied all of these subjects and being surrounded by hyperactive children wasn't going to make the experience any less challenging for Rai. Their boundless energy and excitement seemed to be in stark contrast with his more mature mindset.

As Rai wallowed in despair, a voice called out to him from the seat next to him. "Hey, are you alright?" The concern in the voice snapped Rai back to reality, and he turned to see a friendly face looking at him.

The voice belonged to a young boy with spiky black hair and gentle onyx eyes that seemed to be filled with wisdom beyond his years.