Chương 12: They love me.

Here I was, walking through the quiet streets of Konoha early in the morning, enjoying the subtle breeze and the gentle warmth of the sun on my skin. It felt good to finally leave the orphanage for a reason other than my repeated hospital visits. Walking beside me was the only caretaker brave enough. Or maybe unlucky enough. to accompany me to the Academy entrance exam. After my little incident with the water cup, the caretakers had started looking at me like I had grown an extra head.

They kept their distance as if I were some kind of plague victim. Even this supposedly brave caretaker maintained a clear gap between us. I sighed in frustration, thinking to myself, "So what if I was almost naked, drenched in water, and grinning like a lunatic at a cup on the floor? That doesn't mean I'm dangerous or something." Another sigh escaped my lips as I watched the caretaker ahead of me speed up, taking giant strides as if desperate to finish this chore and be free of me as soon as possible.

However, the caretakers had given me encouragement in their own strange way. Before leaving, they'd packed a small bag with the very few possessions I had. The message was clear: they were confident I'd pass this exam and move into the flat provided by the village for Academy students. Truly heartwarming to see such confidence in my abilities. As I continued walking, I couldn't help but observe the busy morning life of the village. It had been a while since I'd been out in Konoha.

I saw shinobi leaping effortlessly across rooftops, shopkeepers cheerfully arranging their stalls, and groups of villagers strolling around and chatting comfortably. The atmosphere was peaceful and relaxing, calming my nerves slightly. I'd made sure to have a hearty breakfast that morning and avoided any heavy exercise, allowing my body to rest. I'd even forced myself to temporarily stop my chakra circulation technique, ensuring my chakra reserves were at full capacity for whatever tests awaited.

Stopping the circulation had been harder than I'd expected, though; it felt unnatural now, after spending weeks making it second nature. Eventually, we arrived at the Academy, and I paused, momentarily stunned. So many children had gathered outside the gates, hundreds of them. It seemed Konoha was truly desperate for new shinobi after the losses from the Third Ninja War and the Nine-Tails' attack. Apparently, the village had offered substantial incentives for families to enroll their kids, and the results showed.

Among the crowd were clearly some kids from prominent clans, standing confidently as their parents gave words of encouragement. I briefly wished my sensing abilities were advanced enough to gauge my chakra reserves compared to theirs, but my musings were interrupted as the massive gates creaked open. The crowd stirred with excitement, eager parents pushing their hesitant children forward with reassuring words and smiles.

I couldn't help but smile myself and turned around, expecting similar encouragement from my caretaker. Only to find him already sprinting away in the opposite direction, shouting over his shoulder, "Best of luck! We believe in you! You'll make a greaaa, I mean, you'll definitely be a ninja someday!" Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I facepalmed, muttering under my breath, "Wasn't he supposed to wait outside, just in case I failed?"

Shrugging off the feeling of abandonment, I squared my shoulders and moved forward, determined to prove their odd faith in me right. Inside, the Academy was impressive, built in a distinctly traditional Japanese style with bright colors clearly intended to appeal to children. There were spacious training grounds, neatly arranged classrooms, and expansive sparring areas visible even from here. The large, open courtyard was filled with over three hundred noisy kids, their voices blending into a chaotic din.

Suddenly, a powerful voice roared above the chatter, "Quiet, kids!" The words reverberated through the air, carrying a pulse of chakra that rattled me to the bones. A tall man appeared before us. He towered over the mass of six-year-olds, easily over six feet tall, He had broad shoulders, powerful arms, and a ruggedly handsome face framed by dark brown hair neatly tied back. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd confidently, exuding strength and authority without even trying.

He stared down with a confident yet gentle expression. His voice softened slightly, but the chakra-enhanced strength remained.

"Welcome to your Academy entrance exam. Today we will evaluate your basic skills to see if you have the potential to become great shinobi. Konoha has nurtured and protected you, and now it's your turn to give back, to your family, your friends, and your village." He paused, letting his words sink in, and smiled warmly.

"You'll learn from experienced shinobi, becoming strong enough to protect those you love. Plus," he grinned knowingly, "You'll get to do all the awesome things shinobi can do." With that, he began rapidly forming hand seals, his fingers blurring into motion. My eyes widened in fascination as I tracked his movements carefully, committing each sign to memory. When he finished, he slammed his open palm against the ground and shouted, "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Immediately, the earth trembled beneath us, a deep rumble reverberating up from the ground. The kids closest to him stumbled backward in shock as, from beneath his hand, massive slabs of stone and earth erupted upwards, forming a towering barrier within seconds. The noise was deafening, a mix of shifting stone and gasps of awe. The massive wall stood imposing and solid, a clear demonstration of power and precise chakra control. Cheers and gasps echoed through the crowd as kids clapped and shouted with excitement.

I, however, stood utterly transfixed, eyes shining with excitement. Witnessing actual ninjutsu up close was something else entirely. To someone from the good old earth it felt as if magic had unfolded right in front of my eyes. Actually seeing it so clearly, feeling the chakra used, was breathtaking.

"Well, they're impressed easily," drawled a bored voice suddenly from right behind me, dripping with amused sarcasm. I jumped and let out a very dignified, very manly scream. Spinning around, I saw a girl standing behind me. She had dark hair that partially covered her eyes and a face bearing the kind of lazy, uninterested expression I'd usually associate with a tired teenager rather than a kid. She stared at me silently, clearly unimpressed by my startled reaction, and raised a single eyebrow in quiet judgment.

Fantastic. Great first impression. I absolutely nailed it.