Time skip 2 years later
How I had longed for this day since my arrival. Life has been great here so far my parents took excellent care of me but today was special.
Today, I turned three, and Father had promised that I could finally begin training for the academy.
With my thoughts in order, I climbed out of bed and walked out to greet my parents.
"Hey, Mom! Hey, Dad! Good morning!"
"Shinji, you're up already? Good!" Mom said as she walked over and scooped me into her arms. She smothered me with hugs and kisses. "Happy birthday, baby! Oh, how you're growing so fast. You're three already." She smiled warmly. "Are you sure you want to start training on your birthday?"
I tried not to laugh, but between her hugs and kisses, I was getting tickled. Through giggles, I replied, "Yes, Mom! I can't wait to train with Father."
She finally put me down, gave me one last kiss on the forehead, and headed back to the kitchen to finish cooking.
"Happy birthday, son," Dad said, ruffling my hair.
"Father, can we train after breakfast?" I asked eagerly.
"Yes," he replied. "I can train you for a little while, but I'm needed at the police compound later. We'll continue when I return." He paused, then smiled. "In the meantime, I'll leave you with a task. If you complete it, I'll teach you a jutsu for your birthday."
"I'll master it, Father. Don't worry!"
We sat down together and enjoyed breakfast. Once we were finished, Dad stood and said, "Alright, Shinji. Come with me to the backyard."
I followed him outside, where he motioned for me to sit.
"Listen carefully," he said. "You're about to begin your training to become a shinobi. Being a shinobi isn't just about flashy jutsu, you must train both your body and your mind if you want to succeed."
"I understand, Father," I said seriously. "I want to be strong enough to protect you and Mom."
Fugaku smiled at his son's innocence. For a brief moment, he considered telling Shinji about the ongoing war but dismissed the thought just as quickly. He had seen how even small truths could burden a child.
Kakashi… Only six years old and already a Chunin. Talented, but far too serious for someone so young.
"Alright," he said at last. "We'll start with basic exercises. Run back and forth across the yard ten times. It's fifteen yards each way, so you should feel it by the end. Rest when you need to, then move on to push-ups, planks, and sit-ups."
He looked at me. "Do you need me to demonstrate any of these?"
"No, Father. I know how to do them."
"Good." He gestured for me to follow. "Come here. I'll show you your task."
He walked over to a nearby bush and plucked a leaf from one of its branches.
"Watch closely," he said.
He placed the leaf against his forehead, where it stuck in place held there by chakra alone.
"You'll need to focus your chakra into a single point on your forehead," he explained. "That focus is what keeps the leaf in place. Now get started. I have to go, but I'll be back later."
"Okay, Father! I'll finish before you return!"
I immediately began running. It felt incredible to move freely again, even if my body wasn't as fast or strong as I remembered. By the tenth lap, I was exhausted just as Father had predicted.
After resting, I moved on to push-ups. I didn't aim for a specific number, but muscle memory from my past life helped guide me. I was still a child, so I only did a fraction of what I once could.
By the end of the day, I had managed sixty push-ups, seventy-five sit-ups, and a total of four minutes of planking. Completely worn out, I went inside to get some water.
"Hey, Shinji! All done with training?" Mom asked. "How was it?"
"It was good," I said honestly. "I'm pretty tired, though. I just came in for water. After that, I'm going to practice sticking the leaf to my forehead. Isn't that cool?"
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Mom said. "Just remember take it seriously, and don't get discouraged if it takes time. That leaf exercise isn't easy. I remember practicing it back in the academy."
"Okay. Thanks, Mom."
After resting, I went back outside and began practicing. At first, controlling my chakra was difficult, but the more I focused, the more natural it felt. Little by little, I improved.
After a few hours, I finally managed to keep the leaf in place for thirty seconds.
As the sky darkened, I knew Father would be home soon. I headed inside to rest, eager to show him my progress.
About an hour later, the door opened.
"Shinji, I'm home!" Dad called. "I hope you haven't been slacking."
I rushed out of my room. "No, Father! I trained all day. Come see!"
I grabbed his sleeve and pulled him toward the backyard. Taking the leaf from my pocket, I focused and held it firmly in place.
Thirty-seven seconds passed before it fell.
"Well done," Father said, clearly impressed. "That's excellent progress for your first day. You've earned your reward."
My eyes lit up.
"I'll show you the jutsu now," he continued, "but we'll begin practicing it tomorrow along with your exercises."
"Okay, Father."
He formed a few hand signs and said clearly,
"Transformation Jutsu!"