The words "Academy enrollment" echoed in my mind, a siren's call that was both terrifying and irresistible. The Ninja Academy was the very heart of Konoha's power structure, a place where aspiring shinobi were forged. To enter it would be to put myself under the scrutiny of the very people I was trying to hide from. But it was also the only viable path. The Evolution System demanded a strategic approach to power, and that meant training, not in a dusty backyard, but in a formal, structured environment. To help Sasuke, I had to be strong, and the Academy was the starting line.
The next morning, I approached Haruno Chiaki, my heart pounding a rhythm I hoped she couldn't see. She was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for the younger kids.
"Chiaki-san," I began, my voice quiet and careful, "I... I want to join the Academy."
She paused, turning to face me. Her eyes, normally tired and kind, were now filled with a deep, searching gaze. "The Academy, Namekaze? That is a very difficult path for a child. Why do you wish to go there?"
I let a touch of genuine grief color my voice, a tribute to the boy whose life I now lived. "My clan... they were great shinobi. I don't want their name to be forgotten. I want to honor them. I want to be a ninja."
It was a perfect lie, woven from a thread of truth. My motivation was to use their legacy, not honor it, but the sentiment was exactly what a grieving orphan would say. A flicker of sympathy crossed her face. She saw not the ghost of an anomaly, but a brave, heartbroken child.
"I understand," she said softly. "I will speak with the Hokage's office. You will be tested, but with your heritage, they will likely make an exception for late enrollment."
A week later, I found myself standing in a large, bright training room within the Academy building. The air was filled with the scent of polished wood and dust. The man before me had a long scar across the bridge of his nose and kind, dark eyes. This was Iruka Sensei, the very man who would one day save Naruto. Beside him was another instructor—a pale man with a friendly, almost too-wide smile and a glint in his eye that felt dangerously sharp. Mizuki.
"Namekaze," Iruka began, gesturing to the floor. "We will be performing a few basic tests. First, chakra control. Please walk up the wall."
My eyes widened slightly. Tree walking. A fundamental exercise, but one I hadn't practiced. I knew the theory, but my body had never done it.
Warning: New challenge detected. Initiate 'Chakra Control' mission?
Mission Objective: Complete the Chakra Control test. Reward: 10 EP, Minor Chakra Control Boost.
Status: Pending.
I didn't hesitate. I focused, channeling my chakra into the soles of my feet, a painstaking process of visualizing it as a sticky, magnetic force. It felt clumsy, like trying to juggle with an extra hand. My first step on the wall was wobbly, but I held. My second step was better. By the third, I was walking up the wall, albeit slowly and stiffly. It was a far cry from the fluid grace of a seasoned ninja, but it was enough.
Iruka's eyes lit up with surprise and approval. "Impressive! For someone with no formal training, that is exceptional control."
Mizuki, however, just smiled his unnerving smile. "Perhaps a hidden talent. Next, a basic Genjutsu release."
I didn't have any experience with genjutsu, but I knew the release was a matter of disrupting my chakra flow. I followed his instructions, focusing my gaze on a leaf he placed on the floor, and felt the faint, disorienting illusion wash over me. I took a deep breath, and with a focused burst of chakra, I shattered the illusion with a sharp pop! of air. It was a complete fluke, a lucky guess.
Mission Objective Complete: Chakra Control. You have been awarded 10 EP. Current EP: 20.
My mind was a whirlwind of relief and triumph. I'd passed. I'd done it. The final test was simple: a series of basic questions about Konoha history and the Shinobi Code. With the memories of my past life, I aced it with ease.
"Well," Iruka said, a warm grin on his face. "It seems you have the aptitude, Namekaze. You'll be joining the Academy next week."
I kept my face carefully neutral, a mask of humble gratitude. But inside, I felt a spark of pure, unadulterated resolve. I was in. I had entered the serpent's nest. Now, the real game began. My path to power and my goal of reaching Sasuke were no longer a distant dream. I was a ghost who had walked into the light, and I had to be careful not to cast a shadow that would reveal my true nature.
End of chapter 5