As soon as he finished speaking, a group of children excitedly rushed toward the Ninja Academy like a torrent.
Kaito and the others were among them.
Looking at the excited children around him, Kaito couldn't bear to interrupt their joy.
It was peacetime now, and the pass rate at the Ninja Academy wasn't very high—completely different from wartime.
Back then, to replenish the ranks, as long as someone could extract chakra and wanted to be a ninja, they were accepted!
Such ninjas were often called cannon fodder on the battlefield.
But now, it was much harder to even enter the Academy.
A large number of applicants were eliminated during the entrance test. In the original story, even Might Guy was almost rejected during the entrance exam! That showed how tough it really was.
He also remembered that in the original work, Naruto's class only had about 30 students.
From this massive crowd, only one out of every 20 or 30 children might be accepted!
But these things had nothing to do with Kaito. No matter how hard the entrance test was, it wouldn't be a problem for him.
If he went all out, he could easily beat all the kids here. Even Iruka wouldn't be a match.
That was the kind of confidence that came with true strength.
Soon, the entrance test began.
Iruka took out a scroll and started calling names. Those whose names were called would begin the test.
The test was straightforward. The first part tested physical strength—students had to run a set number of laps around the Academy playground within a certain time limit.
After all, chakra came from combining physical and spiritual energy. The stronger the body, the easier it was to extract chakra.
Second, there was a shuriken and kunai throwing test. You passed if you scored at least 30 points.
That part was simpler—just hit the targets from ten meters away.
Only those who passed both could be admitted into the Ninja Academy. Both parts were essential.
There was one exception: if you could extract chakra, you were admitted directly—no other tests needed.
Chakra was the key to becoming a ninja. A six-year-old who could refine chakra was seen as a prodigy. The Academy couldn't afford to reject such talent.
This was where the gap between the wealthy and the poor became clear.
Children from well-off families had access to nutrition, training, and private tutors. Many of them could refine chakra before turning five.
On the other hand, kids from poor families had none of that. They couldn't even get basic training manuals without enrolling in the Academy.
Just then, a cry of surprise pulled Kaito out of his thoughts.
Uchiha Sasuke stood beside Iruka, his young face filled with pride.
There were visible chakra fluctuations coming from him—it was clear he had already learned to extract chakra.
Iruka took the opportunity to announce, "Uchiha Sasuke, passed! Report to the Academy tomorrow!"
Sasuke tried to keep his expression calm, but the pride still showed on his face.
His success was like the spark before an explosion. Whether intentional or not, the next candidates were all children from prominent clans.
Hinata, Ino, Shikamaru…
One by one, they stepped forward and passed easily by extracting chakra.
The examiners were efficient, and all the children were tested in just one day.
Some rejoiced, while others were disappointed. That was life.
Kaito also passed, but compared to the kids who had demonstrated chakra refinement, his performance seemed average.
He had intentionally only passed the first two tests and barely made it through the overall evaluation.
He did it on purpose. Unlike Ino and the others, he didn't have a prestigious clan backing him. Even if he had talent, he had to act modest.
He was just a commoner. If he acted like a prodigy, Sarutobi Hiruzen might not say anything—but Danzo? That man was unpredictable.
Kaito didn't want to draw the attention of someone as dangerous as Danzo. Right now, he couldn't protect himself if he was targeted.
What he didn't know was that his behavior hadn't gone unnoticed—watched carefully from the trees by silent observers.
Outside the Academy...
Uchiha Itachi's eyes gleamed with thought. "That boy... Did he just hide his strength?"
——
By the time he returned home, night had quietly fallen.
Kaito took out a large piece of meat from the kitchen, cut it into chunks with practiced ease, and tossed it into a pot to boil.
While the meat was cooking, he entered his personal training space.
He created 15 shadow clones, each focused on their own specialized training. Meanwhile, Kaito himself was practicing the Rasengan he had just mastered.
With his right hand open, the chakra within him surged. A spiraling airflow of chakra appeared, swirling clockwise in his palm. At its center, a trembling chakra sphere began to take shape.
The moment it solidified, the surrounding airflow dissipated in an instant.
"So this is the Rasengan…" Kaito muttered, staring at the spinning sphere.
Boom!
He slammed the Rasengan into the trunk of a nearby tree. A loud explosion rang out. The center of the trunk collapsed instantly, and a large chunk was obliterated by the chakra's violent rotation.
"No wonder it's considered on par with the Chidori," Kaito whispered.
The rest of the night passed in Rasengan training.
——
Lying on the tatami, Kaito—who had closed his eyes—suddenly opened them. A sharp glint flickered in his gaze.
That was fast!
Two hours later, Kaito had eaten the meat, returned to his mat, and fallen asleep.
The next morning, after washing up and eating a quick breakfast, Kaito stood outside his house.
He was waiting for Ino so they could walk to the Academy together.
He had no reason to before, but now he did—so he wasn't going to miss the chance. As for Yamanaka Inoichi, who doted heavily on his daughter? Ha!
They were neighbors and classmates—what was strange about walking to school together?
Not long after, Ino stepped out of her house. Her cheeks were a little flushed, and she looked sleepy.
"Ino!" Kaito waved.
Ino brightened up slightly when she saw him. "Kaito! Good morning!"