Minato nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right. I heard class placements are based on exam results—we should end up together."
"Do your best and leave the rest to fate," Reiji said with a grin. "Let's go."
"Mm."
"Hmph."
A boy wearing a clan crest on his clothes snorted as he passed, throwing them a disdainful glance before walking off. Reiji and Minato exchanged puzzled looks, then shrugged it off.
The class placement lists were posted at the academy gate. By the time they arrived, a crowd of new students had already gathered. Fortunately, the top of the list wasn't blocked, and their names were clearly visible—together.
Reiji scanned the sheet for familiar names, but there weren't many he recognized. The only ones that stood out besides Minato were among the new generation of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, and a few others like Aburame Shihui. No sign of Uzumaki Kushina—she probably hadn't come to the village yet.
So he thought.
"That's great!" Minato said, practically bouncing. "We're in the same class!"
"Mm-hmm."
"Don't be so stiff—smile a little, Reiji!"
"Alright, alright, let's head in," Reiji replied helplessly. This kid's getting clingy… Maybe I should help him find a little girlfriend before he starts getting ideas about me.
Their classroom was on the third floor. When they arrived, seven or eight students were already chatting and laughing. Reiji and Minato greeted a few of them and sat together.
Before the teacher arrived, Reiji leaned toward him. "Minato, wanna have a thrilling, blood-pumping, adrenaline-rushing duel?"
"Eh?" Minato blinked, catching something faintly ominous in Reiji's tone—but he still nodded. "Sure."
He'd always been envious of Reiji's Duel Arena—the ability to spar anytime, anywhere, even train jutsu within it. He'd already figured out that if you didn't fight, you could stay inside for up to six hours—a portable training ground.
As soon as he thought that, his vision blurred—and when it cleared, he was already standing in the Duel Arena.
It was just as vast and real as before. Even on his second visit, Minato couldn't help looking around curiously. He crouched, knocking on the ground. "It really feels real."
"Minato! Ready? I'm coming for you!"
"Come on! This time I won't lose!"
An invisible force locked them in place. The countdown ended—and they charged.
Neither had ninja tools or usable jutsu this time, so it devolved into a flurry of fists and kicks—two stubborn boys brawling in the dirt. Within minutes both faces were swollen, but Reiji, bolstered by his template's physical boost, managed to pin Minato down.
Staring at the lopsidedly bruised Minato beneath him, Reiji burst out laughing. "Pig-head Minato! Guess who won again?"
He tapped one last playful punch—and the duel ended.
Back in the classroom, Minato gasped and clutched his neck, still trembling. "That felt way too real… terrifying." He clenched his fists. "Next time, I'll beat you—even if it takes two hundred times the effort!"
Seeing him so fired up, Reiji swallowed. Truth be told, it had been a close call—Minato had almost kicked him… there. The pain might reset, but the feeling? Too real. Never again.
Still, remembering his last move, Reiji rubbed his chin and eyed Minato slyly. "Hey, Minato… want me to teach you the new jutsu I just developed?"
Minato froze, face instantly red. "I—I'm not learning that!"
"Really?" Reiji's grin widened.
At the critical moment in their fight, he'd used the Seventh Hokage's signature move—transforming into a female version of Minato, catching him completely off guard and securing an instant win.
"I call it… the Sexy Technique."
"Think about it," he continued, suddenly earnest. "In a real fight, even a one-second hesitation could save your life. Clone first, then this—break their focus."
"R-Really?" Minato's expression twisted with embarrassment, but he couldn't deny the logic. "Alright… maybe I'll try it."
"Good! Come to my place tonight, I'll teach you," Reiji said, satisfied.
"Okay." Minato managed a small smile. "You really are a genius, Reiji—to actually invent a jutsu yourself! Though this particular one is… uh…"
By the end, he couldn't finish the sentence.
Reiji chuckled softly. Ah, you poor kid… if you knew your future son was going to invent this very same move, you'd die of shame.
Still, frustration flickered. Even with his Naruto template, Minato was catching up fast. He'd hoped to completely outclass him for at least a month. But this was Minato Namikaze—destined Fourth Hokage. His talent was simply different.
Just then, the classroom door slid open.
A man stepped in, coughed lightly, and drew everyone's attention. "Good morning, everyone. I'll be your homeroom teacher. We'll be together for the next few years."
He smiled warmly. "Let's start with introductions. My name is Yamanaka Kiyoshi. I like flowers and plants, dislike pests, and my dream is to become a great teacher."
He looked to the first row. A boy with a fan crest on his back stood. "I'm Uchiha Ya," he said curtly, then sat.
Yamanaka Kiyoshi blinked, a touch speechless. Of course—the first one had to be an Uchiha.
The next student rose. "I'm Hyūga Tsuki. I like free-spirited sparrows, dislike people who try to catch them… and I don't really have a dream."
…Maybe not that normal after all.
As roll call ended, a paper crane unfolded itself on Reiji's desk—inside, four inked letters bled through the crease: ROOT