Ch. 3: Into the Frying Pan
Now what is a man to do, who now identifies himself as the five year old Arashi, no last name, who has written a small test which tested little children's aptitude, their language skills, and their basic psychological profile: which, for little children in this world, was either a wallflower, an arrogant bully, a pompous ignorant self-indulgent prick, an uninterested lazy runt, overachiever, result-less hardworker or a genius.
Even the questions felt like a personality quiz on internet, which told you which animal you are. And yet, he had to answer these blatantly leading questions and evaluation tests carefully, because being labelled as a genius or overachiever was a surefire way to die painfully during times of war.
He had no desire to graduate from the academy early, a label like genius was worthless in the long run, and merely ego-boosting in the short run. Meanwhile, slow and deliberate growth would build a strong foundation and base, without the overreaching obstacles, which a genius will eminently face.
As the tests followed, he saw that there was always a rank difference between the hierarchy structure.
Pre-Academy children and civilian requests were handled by Genin, Academy Students were handled by Chunin, capable Genin were supervised and taught by Jonin, while the reserve Genin forces should have a Tokubetsu Jonin as their Squad Leader. And Jounin and Kage level forces would have their own hierarchy as well.
But for now, he was content in watching the laid-back older Genins do the grunt work, and be done with the basic medical exam to root out the weeds like the disabled, weak or ill children succumbing to genetic, terminal, and severe ailments, or undiagnosed diseases which would affect field work.
When Arashi was done with his tests, he kept a watch, expecting something from his blood tests or the Chunin performing the diagnosing jutsu to reveal any anomaly, usually associated with isekai protagonists, but alas, Normal is the New Oddity.
There was no hushed whisper, no shock and awe from the medical tests, nor any surprising result from the final medical reports, which concluded he was a perfectly healthy boy with above average chakra levels, which suggests either or both of his parents were Shinobi of at least Chunin level calibre.
There was no new Kekkai Genkai or something like that revealed, and seeing his shocked face, the doctor couldn't help but snort. "What did you expect brat? A super cool ninja power, or strong clan power?"
Seeing his thoughts so easily revealed, Arashi couldn't help but blush, and he tried to hide his face from the middle-aged kind Iryo-nin.
Seeing him like that, made the Iryo-nin smile kindly. "Every orphan hopes to have super cool parents, and get cool powers when they become a ninja. Quite a lot of them, have the same hope like you do. But remember kid, there is no supercool power that becomes apparent during these tests. There is no difference between an Uchiha's Blood and Senju's blood, and that of a civilian's blood, which will become clearly apparent during these tests. This was a simple tests to see if you are fit and healthy for academy training, nothing more."
Nodding at him, Arashi got down from the bed, and took the medical reports he was offered, which gave him a clean chit to attend training, while the report suggested a nutritional diet to support his intensive training years.
It said a lot about this world, when he was handed the Academy ID card and license to buy and carry training weapons along with a Student Orphan Card for first time purchase of tools, accessories and weapons, at the same time giving him a cheque of 5000 Ryo, as monthly stipend for Orphan Academy Students as well as keys to the apartment which was the dormitory for the orphans during their academy years.
Being physically fit to attend the Academy meant that children were allowed to carry dangerous weapons, as well as live on their own, somewhat self-reliant to sustain themselves.
He also got a Academy Induction Handbook which had general guidelines, rules and laws to be obeyed, information about discounts and expected rates of weapons and tools, maps of civilian and Shinobi sector to purchase various things needed for the academy, general advisory guidelines for training and living on your own, information about the classes and general schedule to be expected and finally the expected standards of a graduate Academy Student.
All in all, Arashi could say one thing, with absolute certainty: Naruto must never have bothered to read this at all!
Whatever the case may be, the Handbook was a god-given gift to Arashi. It had clear and concise information of the village, its boundaries, the various locations, the Academy Rooms and Training grounds, the expected materials to be purchased for the training purposes, and finally the general do's and don'ts as a Shinobi-in-training.
He reached the doors of the academy, when he was guided by the matron along with a few other students who were deemed fit for the academy training, while a clearly large group of children were being coaxed back, as they were the clear rejected group defined by their sobbing faces and gloomy looks. There were about 16 children including Arashi who were excited and smiling who were surely cleared for training, and appeared cheerful.
These 16 students were informed to take their belongings from the Orphanage, and be escorted to their new homes, where they were going to be independent and alone from now.
It was late afternoon after a last lunch meal at the orphanage, where the 16 children were sent off to their new accommodation, that Arashi placed a small bag filled with four pairs of second-hand uniform like clothes, a few sets of toiletries and a list of Must-haves which he was going to purchase, that he found himself sleeping down in the new apartment, which was merely a room with attached bathroom.
He was tired from the day, and despite his hunger for food, information, power and answers, all he could do was close his eyes and wait for the day to pass, and perhaps wake up from this dream, and back into his old life.
But for all his uncertain and muddled thoughts, Arashi couldn't help but be excited to venture into this world and carve a name for himself, all the while enjoying the journey to get to the top of this Darwinian world.