Chương 18: Ancient Teachings, Ancient Teacher.

I woke up in the early morning grog. The sun was still rearing its head in the sky while I sighed in resignation. This world had nothing fun to do, especially since I had less money than I did in the orphanage after buying that chakra paper. I started with my usual morning exercise. When I train, I always increase the chakra in my circulation exercise. With the effort I exert during the workout, chakra seeps deeper into the muscles and bones, not just the usual surface-level body enhancement.

I was already planning my next steps now that I knew my chakra nature. Eventually, I wanted to integrate my lightning nature into my chakra circulation. But that meant relearning the entire process, and I had a strong feeling it was going to be painful. After the workout, I took a shower and changed from my "Poor Kid Uniform 1" into "Poor Kid Uniform 2." I walked toward the Academy at a slow pace, enjoying the fresh early morning air and the noise of the village waking up for another busy day.

Man, I was lucky to be in Konoha. Imagine me stuck in the Hidden Rain Village. Winter clothes don't suit me. After a short walk, I reached the Academy and headed into the Advanced Class classroom. The classroom was huge, bright, and way too cheerful for a place dedicated to mental suffering. Rows of desks, a chalkboard the size of a small country, and walls lined with posters about the "Will of Fire." Every kid was already there. I muttered, "Wow, some early birds we have here."

I chuckled and started looking for a seat. Every time I looked at one, the kids next to it would stretch their arms like mother hens guarding their eggs. I sighed and walked to the back of the class, eventually sitting down alone. Luckily, the Advanced Class wasn't too packed, so I was still close to the front. I stretched my legs, trying to relax But of course, the Nara girl was already sitting next to me.

She had this way of moving and existing in absolute silence while still judging everyone harder than I ever could. Respect. One of these days, I was going to have to ask her why she is always glued to my side like a cursed seal, but that could wait. Today was the first official day at the Academy, and I was already miserable enough about going back to school. With kids, no less. The Uchiha kid sat in the front row, giving me the classic Uchiha death stare.

The Yamanaka girl was being a social butterfly while also taking neat notes, even though class hadn't started yet. I had to admit, she was pretty impressive at multitasking. Stolen story; please report. There are few things more soul-crushing than school. One of them is realizing that your very first class is History. I was already mentally debating if faking my death would be a valid excuse to skip it. Then the instructor shuffled in. And I do mean shuffled.

The man looked like he was at least a hundred and ten, give or take a few centuries. Wrinkled like an old scroll, hunched over, and with a voice that sounded like gravel being ground through a blender. He wore a chunin vest like it was the only thing keeping him upright. Judging by the color, I'm pretty sure it was gifted to him by the First Hokage and hadn't been washed since.

"Alright, alright… settle down, brats… I'm Chunin Ryusaku, your instructor for Shinobi History. Been teaching history since before your parents were born!" Silence fell across the room. Not respectful silence. Just stunned realization of how soul crushing this will be. He blinked slowly and continued, "Today, we begin with the foundation of the Hidden Leaf. Once upon a time… back in my day... the First Hokage and the Uchiha clan blah blah blah…" And that's when I tuned out. Not because I'm a bad student. No.

I'm just allergic to long-winded speeches about things I already know delivered in a voice that sounds like it's trying to pass a kidney stone. Half the class began drooping like they were hit by a genjutsu. Heads hit desks. Eyes glazed over. I swear one kid actually started drooling. I glanced to my right. The Nara girl had her chin propped up, eyes focused, answering every single question like she was born to be the great knowledgeable sage.

"Who founded the Hidden Leaf?"

"The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, with the assistance of Uchiha Madara," she muttered without looking up.

"Who was the Second Hokage?"

"Tobirama Senju."

"What did he invent?" She sighed.

"A lot. Shadow Clones, Flying Thunder God, the concept of bureaucracy. Do you want them in order or alphabetically respected teacher?" The old man blinked at her like she'd just read the date on his birth certificate. Meanwhile, in the front row, Uchiha Kaen slowly raised his hand.

"Sir," he said, polite but emotionally charged, "why are the Uchiha only mentioned in passing while the Senju get full pages in the textbook?" Oh no. Ryusaku scratched his ear like he hadn't heard, maybe he actually hadn't or maybe he was stalling for time to remember where he was.

"The Uchiha… yes, yes, they were there. Did… something. Started somethings. Lot of fire. You know how they are…" Kaen's eye twitched. The Yamanaka girl smiled like she'd just seen the juiciest drama unfolding in her favorite gossip scroll. Looking at his face and body language I muttered, "He's gonna explode." The Nara girl replied in a tone so natural you would think I was talking to her and not to myself "He already did." And right on cue, Kaen stood.

"With all due respect, the Uchiha clan was one of the founding pillars of this village," he said, practically vibrating with righteous fury.

"Our legacy has been minimized in official documentation, and I find that deeply insulting." Ryusaku scratched his head.

"Eh? Did you say something, boy?" I sighed again and again looking at a crazy and burning alive with passion Uchiha kids trying to verbally spar with a senile and almost dead history instructor. I buried my face in my hands. Great. Nothing like indoctrination, conflict and weird kids all around to kick off our shinobi careers.