The second day dawned clear and bright.
Shorai had already read every first-year textbook cover to cover—fully versed in the material before class even began. He met Naruto outside his apartment, dragging him from bed with a knock.
"C'mon, we're gonna be late!"
Naruto burst out, ramen-stained and grinning. "I was just about to leave! Let's go, Shorai!"
All the way to the Academy, Naruto chattered endlessly. Shorai responded with quiet "uh-huhs," or echoed Naruto's last word like a rhythm—keeping pace without breaking stride.
They arrived ten minutes early. The classroom was already filling.
Shorai nodded at Sasuke. "Morning."
Sasuke gave a slight tilt of his head in return.
Iruka entered soon after. "Today—training grounds. Follow me."
The class filed out, buzzing with anticipation. On the field, Iruka began assessing their physical baseline—running form, stamina, balance—scribbling notes on each student.
"From now on, we'll train here four to five times a week. Physical conditioning first."
Then came the taijutsu instructor—a chūnin with a calm voice and sharp eyes.
"I'll be guiding your taijutsu lessons," he said. "Some of you may have clan styles. That's fine. Practice what you know. But learn the Academy's basics too. If you see something useful, take it. Ask questions if you need help."
Shorai's pulse quickened. This was it—the real hand-to-hand foundation of Konoha's shinobi.
They started with theory: balance, center of gravity, stance. Then the first three katas—basic attack and defense forms. Shorai focused completely, drilling each movement until it felt natural. He didn't notice time slipping by.
After midday, they returned to the classroom.
Iruka opened with a simple question: "What is chakra?"
A few clan students raised their hands—including Shorai.
"Shorai, yes?"
"According to the Second Hokage's research," he said, "Chakra is a special force generated from the physical energy in every cell and the spiritual energy of the soul. The combination of these two forms the energy we use for ninjutsu, genjutsu, and other techniques."
"Nice way to put it, Shorai!" Iruka nodded, his interest deepened. "That's right."
He then explained chakra's dual nature—physical and spiritual—how it flows through the body, and that every shinobi has it. The class moved on to sensing exercises: sitting still, breathing, trying to feel the subtle hum beneath the skin.
Later, they moved to a large, open room—the chakra training hall.
"For those already familiar with chakra, start with the leaf exercise," Iruka instructed. "Focus a steady stream to your forehead. Too little—falls off. Too much—pushes it away."
The class struggled. Naruto groaned, barely able to stay still.
"Focus, Naruto!" Iruka snapped.
The class erupted in laughter. Shorai only smiled.
The next day brought shurikenjutsu.
Sasuke stepped up first—calm, precise. Each throw struck near the center. The girls cheered. Naruto scowled.
"Show-off…"
Next came Naruto. He glared at Sasuke, then hurled his shuriken without form or focus.
Thwip. Thwip. Thwip.
They missed wildly. The class burst into laughter.
"What are you doing, Naruto? Are you making fun of this?" Iruka snapped.
Then Iruka called, "Shorai! You're next."
All eyes turned.
Time to make it interesting.
Shorai focused inward—on the dormant power sealed within. The Reality Stone pulsed, unseen. A faint gust kicked up dust beneath his feet, masking the surge.
I can throw… as well as Sasuke.
He stepped forward, took three shuriken, and in quick succession—thwip, thwip, thwip—launched them.
Each struck closer to the bullseye. Not perfect—but close. The class fell silent.
Iruka stared. An orphan with this skill? Talent? Or did Tetsuo train him in secret? He wrote: "High accuracy. Natural aptitude or prior training?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed—just for a moment. He's good.
Shorai deactivated the Stone. The precision vanished instantly.
He blinked at the targets—shuriken embedded in clean arcs.
So this is reality-warping with knowledge… Incredible. And the results stay.
He clenched his fists, a sudden clarity washing over him—like doors in his mind had burst open.
"Good aim, Shorai!" Iruka said. "Next—Shikamaru!"
Shorai walked back, face neutral, hiding his satisfaction. Whispers followed—awe, jealousy.
Naruto pounced. "How'd you do that?! When'd you train?!"
Two weeks passed.
The class settled into rhythms. Small groups formed. Sasuke—aloof, confident, skilled. Naruto—loud, clumsy, relentless. Hinata—quiet, observant, flinching at every fall. Shikamaru and Chōji—unlikely friends, one lazy, the other always eating. Sakura and Ino—bright and eager, the other bold and stylish, but rivalry simmering beneath. Kiba—boisterous. Shino—calm, silent.
Shorai stood apart—warm but reserved, sometimes adorned with seriousness. Always ready to answer Iruka's questions. Always asking ones no one else thought of.
After another productive day at the Academy, Shorai noticed his physique becoming leaner, more defined.
"What a shame I don't have a training partner…" he sighed, sitting in his room that evening.
Then, a thought struck. Wait… what if I create one?
He stood. Determination flared.
Activating the Reality Stone, he focused on complete invisibility—undetectable by chakra, sight, or sound. A distortion shimmered in the air, then a translucent energy wrapped around him like a second skin.
He slipped out the window, moved silently to the forest outskirts, and found a secluded clearing, before revealing himself.
"Alright," he murmured. "Let's test this."
First, he conjured a sentry—a silent, autonomous construct tuned to detect chakra, life signs, distant spying techniques, and movement within a one-kilometer radius. He pressed his hand to a nearby tree; its trunk pulsed with a faint crimson aura.
"Good. Now… a sparring partner."
With a ripple of red-tinged light, a perfect clone of himself materialized—motionless, blank-eyed. The tree's glow remained unchanged.
"Excellent." A grin spread. "Now… let's dance."
He commanded the clone to attack.
At first, his movements were stiff. But as the fight intensified, something shifted.
When the clone lunged with a sudden left-right-left-right combo, Shorai's body reacted—blocking, redirecting, countering with blinding speed.
He froze. "What…?"
The clone stopped. Shorai stared at his hands, heart pounding. This reflex… this awareness—it's not just the Stone. It's me.
Just like with the books—knowledge absorbed instantly, movements learned in seconds.
The lightning in my veins… is it awakening something? Swift Release?
He took a stance. "Again."
Five minutes later, he collapsed—mentally drained, body trembling.
"Enough for tonight." He exhaled, using the Stone to stabilize his mind and body.
He deactivated the sentry, reactivated invisibility, and returned home.
Climbing through the window, he thought: Next week—sparring class. I need to be good enough to hold my own. A draw. Nothing more. Becoming a "prodigy" without a clan? That might get the Third's attention.
The Stone pulsed—reacting to his ambition.
"Shit!" He fought to suppress it as energy flared beyond his control, trying to escape the room.
Before it was too late, he managed to deactivate the Stone—then collapsed onto the floor, unconscious.
But deep within, a part of his kekkei genkai had begun to awaken.