The Academy classroom buzzed with conversation long before the instructor arrived.
Children from nearly every major clan filled the room, many meeting each other for the first time.
Some proudly wore their clan crests, while others nervously looked around, unsure where to sit.
Obito leaned toward Shizuku.
“Where should we sit?” She glanced around the room.
“Anywhere.” “…That’s not helpful.” Without another word, she walked toward a seat near one of the windows.
It gave her a clear view of both the classroom door and the courtyard outside.
Obito sighed before taking the seat beside her.
Not long after, another familiar face sat beside him.
“Mind if I sit here?” Yachi asked.
Obito blinked before responding.
“Sure.” Across the room, Kakashi quietly chose a desk by himself.
No one approached him.
His cold expression was enough to make most people stay away.
A few seats away, Asuma was already introducing himself to Kurenai and Haruto.
“You think they’ll teach us ninjutsu today?” Haruto laughed.
“I’d settle for throwing a real shuriken.” The classroom door slid open.
The room immediately fell silent.
A middle-aged chunin entered carrying a stack of papers.
He set them on his desk before smiling at the class.
“Good morning.
My name is Daichi.
For the next several years, I’ll be your primary Academy instructor.” His eyes swept across the room.
“Congratulations on passing the entrance examination.
Today marks the beginning of your lives as future shinobi.” Several students sat a little straighter.
Daichi nodded approvingly.
“But before we begin…
I’d like everyone to introduce themselves.” He pointed toward the first row.
“We’ll start from the front.” One after another, the children stood.
“My name is Haruto.
I want to earn enough money to retire and live comfortably by the age of 25.” Next came Asuma.
“I’m Asuma Sarutobi.” He grinned confidently.
“I want to surpass my father.” Kurenai stood after him.
“Kurenai Yuhi.
I want to become a skilled kunoichi.” The introductions continued around the room.
“Kaito Hyūga.” “Ayame Hyūga.” “Sora Yamanaka.” “Ren Nara.” “Daichi Akimichi.” “Riku Inuzuka.” “Shin Aburame.” “Kenta Shimura.” “Tochi Sarutobi.” Most gave only their names and a simple goal.
Eventually, Kakashi stood.
“Kakashi Hatake.” …
…
He sat back down.
Daichi blinked.
“…Anything else?” “No.” Several students looked at each other.
“…Very well.” The room moved on.
When Obito’s turn arrived, he rose to his feet.
“I’m Obito Uchiha.” He hesitated for a moment, then said in a slightly dull voice.
“And one day…
I’m going to become Hokage.” A few children laughed.
Riku crossed his arms.
“You?” Obito pointed at him.
“Yeah, me.” Daichi chuckled.
“Ambition is a good thing.
But being too ambitious can be a bad thing, Uchiha.” Finally, Shizuku stood.
“My name is Shizuku Uchiha.” Silence.
She remained standing.
Daichi waited.
“…Is there anything else you’d like to share?” “No.” She sat back down.
The room was quiet for a second before a few students exchanged confused looks.
Obito rubbed the back of his neck.
“That’s exactly what I expected…” Once the introductions were finished, Daichi walked to the blackboard.
“Now then.
Let’s talk about what you’ll actually be learning.” Several students leaned forward.
“You won’t begin learning ninjutsu immediately.” A few groans echoed through the room.
Daichi smiled.
“I expected that reaction.
A shinobi’s job involves far more than fighting.” He wrote a list across the board.
Academy Curriculum: Chakra Theory, Taijutsu, Shurikenjutsu, Physical Conditioning, Survival Skills, Trap Setting, Trap Detection, Tracking, Basic Camouflage, Mission Reports, Village Laws, Teamwork, Basic First Aid.
Obito raised his hand.
“We have to learn paperwork?” The classroom laughed.
Daichi nodded.
“Every mission completed by a shinobi requires a written report.
If you can’t explain what happened during a mission, your superiors can’t make informed decisions.” Haruto looked surprised.
“I thought ninja only fought.” Daichi shook his head.
“Sometimes gathering information is more important than defeating an enemy.” He tapped the words Trap Detection with the chalk.
“Many shinobi never see the trap that kills them.
The same goes for tracking.
If you lose your target…
the mission may already be a failure.” Shizuku silently read through the list.
It wasn’t exactly what she had expected.
But it made sense to teach these.
Daichi erased the board before drawing three simple symbols.
“The next topic is the history of our village.” He pointed to the first symbol.
“Long ago, the Warring States Period divided the land.
Children your age were sent to battle.” The room grew quieter.
“The endless fighting finally ended when two great clans chose cooperation over war.” He wrote two names beneath the symbol.
Senju.
Uchiha.
“Their alliance led to the founding of Konohagakure.” He continued the lesson, explaining how the village grew and how the title of Hokage came to represent the person entrusted with protecting everyone within it.
Finally, he gestured toward the portrait hanging at the front of the classroom.
“Our current Hokage is Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He has dedicated his life to protecting this village and everyone who calls it home.” The children looked toward the portrait.
Shizuku did as well.
The lesson was accurate.
Mostly.
Some parts had been simplified.
Others omitted entirely.
No mention was made of why Madara had eventually left the village.
Or how the relationship between the Senju and the Uchiha had deteriorated over the years.
The winners always write history, she thought.
She kept the observation to herself.
As the morning drew to a close, Daichi clapped his hands.
“One final announcement.” The room immediately quieted.
“At the end of this week…
you’ll participate in your first sparring matches.” Excited whispers spread through the classroom.
“Really?” “So soon?” “I hope I fight someone around my level.” Riku grinned across the room.
“I’m going to win.” Obito smiled for what felt like the first genuine time in days.
“I will beat you this time!” Kakashi didn’t react.
Shizuku simply wondered who she’d be paired against.
Daichi raised a hand, settling the room.
“Remember.
This isn’t about winning.
It’s about learning.
If I see anyone trying to seriously injure a classmate…
you will face punishment, severe punishment.” The bell rang moments later.
“Class dismissed.” As students began to leave, Obito caught up to Yachi near the door.
“So…
what did you think?” She smiled.
“I think this is going to be fun.” “Me too,” Obito admitted with a smile.
Shizuku watched them for only a moment before quietly leaving the classroom.
The Academy had finally begun.
And with it, the future she remembered continued to drift farther from the path she had assumed it would follow.