When morning classes ended, it was time for lunch.
Namikaze Minato turned around just in time to see Yakushi Nonou pulling two bento boxes from her bag. She opened one and handed Natsuki a pair of chopsticks.
Suddenly, Minato felt a little out of place.
"Minato, want to eat with us?"
Natsuki extended the invitation without hesitation.
Namikaze Minato didn't think twice and agreed.
He sat across from them and opened his own bento.
"If you'd like, feel free to try some," Minato offered with a smile.
"Did you make this yourself?"
Natsuki asked, genuinely curious.
In the original story, Namikaze Minato's parents were never mentioned. And in a world like this, "never mentioned" usually meant "dead."
Minato was most likely an orphan.
"Yeah."
Minato nodded.
"It's good."
Natsuki said appreciatively after trying a piece of fried shrimp.
In the original work, it had been noted that Minato was skilled at cooking.
A thought suddenly occurred to him.
Would cooking trigger a new character template?
A chef didn't have much combat power, sure. But satisfying the desire for good food had its own value.
If you had to live in this world, you might as well enjoy some of its pleasures.
Besides, in the multiverse, plenty of chefs possessed terrifying strength.
A chef who doesn't want to fight isn't a real chef.
The three of them chatted as they ate.
Then Minato smiled mysteriously. "Do you know which upperclassmen in the academy are the really strong ones?"
Natsuki shook his head.
Although he was a transmigrator, the original timeline had been messy. He only had a rough idea of the current era and knew a few famous characters.
As for which specific class they were in? No clue.
"Before class today, I checked the notice boards for every grade. I found seven exceptional geniuses."
Minato didn't hold back and began listing names.
Second-years: Akimichi Choza, Nara Shikaku, and Yamanaka Inoichi.
The future heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans—and the fathers of Akimichi Choji, Nara Shikamaru, and Yamanaka Ino.
Third-year: Nawaki.
Natsuki had already met him.
He absolutely deserved to be called a genius. In the original story, he'd been killed by an explosive tag the moment he set foot on the battlefield—but anyone whom Orochimaru personally valued couldn't possibly lack talent.
Fifth-year: Uchiha Mikoto.
The future wife of the Uchiha clan head. Mother of two infamous sons: Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke.
Sixth-years: Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi.
Biological brothers.
Hyuga Hiashi was the father of Hyuga Hinata and the future head of the Hyuga clan.
Hyuga Hizashi was the father of Hyuga Neji.
"Ninja battles are information battles."
Natsuki smiled after hearing the list. "Minato, it sounds like you're already preparing to become Hokage."
"I just took a walk around because I had nothing better to do."
Minato shook his head modestly. "Besides, becoming Hokage isn't easy. Maybe you have a better shot than I do."
Natsuki paused.
His first reaction was: Me? Competing with Minato? You're kidding, right?
But then he thought about his cheat...
Actually, fighting Sukuna might not be out of the question someday.
"Why do you say that?" Natsuki asked.
"Intuition."
Minato explained.
Ever since meeting Natsuki, there had been something steady and composed about him. Even when the topic of Hokage came up, he didn't seem fazed at all.
Yet during his self-introduction, Natsuki had clearly stated his dream was to become Hokage.
That kind of calm confidence suggested he already had a plan.
If Natsuki knew what Minato was thinking, he could only say the kid was overthinking it.
His goal hadn't changed. He just wanted to survive.
But... becoming Hokage wouldn't be bad either.
After all, he had a cheat now.
Why limit myself?
Lunch ended, and the afternoon session began.
The afternoon wasn't a theory class—it was practical training.
Not combat, exactly. Today's lesson was the most fundamental ninja skill: how to extract chakra.
Natsuki and Yakushi Nonou had already learned this. A Root ninja had taught them during the talent assessment.
Normally speaking, extracting chakra in one day meant extraordinary aptitude. Doing it in three days meant you were a genius.
It had taken Natsuki an entire month. Solidly mediocre.
Yakushi Nonou was different—she'd managed it in two days.
Natsuki had also discovered that his innate chakra reserves were... small.
Chakra could be increased through training, but he understood there were limits. Effort could only take you so far.
True geniuses were born with massive reserves—like Uzumaki Naruto.
It all came down to bloodline. The closer your ancestry was to Otsutsuki Kaguya or the Sage of Six Paths, the more chakra you possessed.
Natsuki's lineage wasn't particularly notable.
Barring any miracles, his absolute ceiling would be Chunin-level.
Fortunately, he didn't have to bear that pressure anymore.
Leave the heavy lifting to the system.
Time passed slowly, and the first day at the Ninja Academy came to a close.
"Want to walk back together?"
Minato turned around and asked.
"I've got something to take care of. You go ahead."
Natsuki shook his head.
"Alright then. See you tomorrow."
Minato didn't press further. He stood and left the classroom.
Once he was gone, Natsuki turned to Nonou.
"We're going to the Hokage Building."
"The Hokage Building?"
Nonou tilted her head, confusion written across her small face.
"Don't you want to become a medical ninja?"
Natsuki reached out and patted her head. "I'm planning to hire a teacher for you."
"Eh?"
Nonou made a small, surprised sound.
Natsuki had been thinking about it. Paying someone directly just to teach him how to make anesthetics would seem strange.
Better to spend a little more and hire a proper tutor.
In the original story, Yuhi Kurenai had once been hired by the Kurama clan to teach Kurama Yakumo. Hiring private instructors was an established practice.
"Will it be expensive?"
Nonou hesitated before asking.
"Good teachers are always expensive."
Natsuki changed the subject. "But at our current level, we don't need anyone that skilled. A Genin will do for now."
Hearing this, Nonou immediately pulled out a small wallet.
"I have enough to hire a Genin."
Natsuki stood up. "Keep it. You can pay me back later."
His parents had left him a decent inheritance.
And since they had died in service to Konoha, there had also been a generous pension.
Besides money, they'd left behind five ninjutsu scrolls.
The E-Rank Academy Three Basic Jutsu, the D-Rank Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique, and the C-Rank Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique.
Both his parents had been Chunin—they hadn't known many techniques.
Nonou opened her mouth as if to argue, then closed it. Finally, she nodded.
The two left the Ninja Academy and made their way to the Hokage Building.
Even past working hours, ninjas were still coming and going.
They headed upstairs and entered the Mission Hall—the place where ninjas accepted and posted assignments.
"I want to post a mission."
Natsuki walked up to a young female ninja and got straight to the point.
"What kind of mission?"
The kunoichi glanced between them, clearly surprised. This was her first time seeing children this young posting a request.
"I want to hire a medical ninja to be my tutor. How do I set that up?"
"What level of medical ninja? For how long? Do you need to request someone specific?"
She fired off three questions in rapid succession.
"A Genin is fine."
Natsuki thought for a moment. "Let's start with six months. No specific person required."
"D-Rank mission. Six thousand ryo."
The kunoichi said after a moment's consideration.
Ninja missions were ranked D through S.
D-Rank was the lowest and safest tier, with rewards ranging from five hundred to ten thousand ryo.
Nonou instinctively glanced at Natsuki.
The price felt steep for a couple of orphans with no income.
"Alright."
Natsuki nodded without hesitation.
"Come back tomorrow."
The kunoichi said after registering his request.
"Thank you."
Natsuki turned, and the two of them left the Hokage Building.
"Um..."
Nonou stopped walking and looked at him.
"I'm not hiring the teacher just for you. I want to learn too."
Natsuki knew what she was trying to say, so he explained before she could ask.
"Thank you."
Nonou said, her voice serious. "I'll pay you back. I promise."
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