Before the Ninja Academy, a large group of parents gathered to bring their children for enrollment.
Most of them were civilians.
Real ninja usually had their own family inheritance. For example, Uchiha Sasuke had already mastered the clan's Great Fireball Technique before even entering the academy.
You should know that even during the graduation exam, Sasuke used this C-rank ninjutsu, which made many civilian genin extremely jealous.
In the Hokage world, ninjutsu was actually a very rare strategic resource.
In Naruto's previous life, many people believed ninja mainly fought in close combat. But in reality, only true masters could fight like that.
Also, the anime often focused on Hatake Kakashi, the "Copy Ninja of Konoha," who knew thousands of ninjutsu.
This gave many people the false impression that ninjutsu was common and not very valuable.
But in recent years, Naruto had learned about the real ninja world from Might Guy.
Most civilian genin who mastered one or two C-rank ninjutsu were already considered elite.
Many genin could only apply to learn new ninjutsu after becoming chunin and earning achievements through missions.
That was why ANBU, although extremely dangerous, was still a popular position among many chunin. Since they worked directly under the Hokage, their conditions were far better than those of ordinary chunin.
Because of this, the Ninja Academy, founded by the Second Hokage, only taught the most basic things—chakra control, body movement techniques, physical training, and throwing weapons.
Most of the time, academy students were like students studying theory in school.
They learned complicated subjects such as ninja ranks, types of genjutsu, calculating throwing angles, and making traps.
These topics were complex and confusing.
However, such knowledge was usually taught inside ninja clans. That was why famous families often didn't care much about the Ninja Academy.
In many cases, they simply sent one or two less important children to attend the school.
For example, branch family members like Hyuga Neji.
Because of this, most students were actually children from civilian families who dreamed of becoming ninja, or children of low-ranking ninja.
Very few were second-generation elite ninja.
Since they lacked resources, the Hokage would assign jonin mentors to guide them after graduation. For civilians, this was one of the rare opportunities to rise in status.
Even though they would later be marked as the Hokage's subordinates, civilians didn't resist it. For them, ninja existed to follow the Hokage's orders.
Because of this, since the academy was founded, people had rarely seen such a luxurious lineup of students.
Uchiha SasukeHyuga HinataNara ShikamaruAkimichi ChojiYamanaka InoInuzuka KibaAburame Shino
The heirs of Konoha's major clans had all appeared in the same exam hall.
Everyone looked at them and began whispering.
"Isn't that one of the famous clans? Did he really come to the Ninja Academy?"
"No way! That boy with the pineapple hairstyle is the son of the Nara clan leader! My mother saw him when she went to buy medicine."
"Isn't that Hyuga Hinata? The princess of the Hyuga clan! Why would they send someone from the main family here? Isn't she supposed to stay in the clan?"
"Who knows? Maybe even the main family has to go to the battlefield."
"Hey, I heard the Hyuga family actually has another daughter too…"
Just as the parents were shocked by this powerful lineup,
several girls suddenly began shouting excitedly.
"Look! Sasuke is so handsome! The second son of the Uchiha clan! He looks so cool!"
"I declare that Sasuke belongs to me! I'll chase him for the next six years!"
"Hah! You're so ugly and you still want Sasuke? I prefer that chubby boy from the Akimichi clan."
"Shut up! You like fat boys!"
Among the crowd of civilians,
a girl with a wide forehead stood quietly beside her parents.
It was Haruno Sakura.
At this time, her parents were ordinary ninja, and she didn't stand out at all. Because of her large forehead, other girls often ignored her.
Ino, who was standing with her friends, noticed Sakura and waved at her. Since her family's flower shop was close to Sakura's house, she often helped and protected her.
"Come here, little Sakura! Look! Sasuke is so handsome! He even came without his parents!"
Ino called her over.
Sakura's eyes immediately lit up, and she ran toward Ino.
Nearby, Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"Why did I even come to this school? I don't want to be a ninja."
Choji kept eating chips and replied:
"My dad said the Hokage asked us to come."
After hearing that, Shikamaru looked even more hopeless.
"What a drag… I knew it."
Kiba, sitting nearby, glanced at Shikamaru with disdain.
"I knew you were going to complain again."
Shikamaru was too lazy to argue with those two.
At that moment,
a sudden commotion spread through the crowd.
People moved aside as if something dangerous was approaching.
"1! 2! 3! This is youth! After the exam, we'll run ten more laps around Konoha!"
A man in a green jumpsuit shouted loudly.
The boy in front of him, who looked just like the Fourth Hokage when he was young, sighed helplessly.
"Teacher Guy… I'm just taking the entrance exam. You really don't need to follow me…"
"No! This is the youthful spirit of my first student!"
Naruto: "..."