Chapter 3: 3: Self-Introduction
After a while, an ordinary-looking young man entered the classroom. Upon entering, he glanced at the approximately forty students and nodded with satisfaction.
Under the students' unified gaze, he calmly walked to the front of the podium and began introducing himself:
"First of all, congratulations on passing the test and becoming students of the shinobi academy. I am Fujimura Taiga, your head teacher until you graduate. I am twenty-three years old and hold the rank of chunin in the village. My hobbies include walking and keeping a journal. My dream is to educate exceptional students."
Shiraishi knew that this was the self-introduction session, but that was alright.
The students in the front row quickly introduced themselves, sharing their various hobbies and dreams, which proved to be quite interesting.
However, as Shiraishi thought about the uncertain future these children faced, a sigh escaped his heart. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a little down when he realized that he, too, was just a child in this moment.
Before worrying about others, he needed to ensure his own survival. This was the harsh reality of the Ninja era.
Even Konoha, known as the foremost of the Five Nina Villages, was in such a state. It was difficult to imagine the situation in other villages.
And within Konoha Village, with its fixed mindset, it seemed impossible to bring about any change.
After almost three decades of training, the Will of Fire had become deeply ingrained in the village.
Was the Will of Fire truly a legacy from the First Hokage? Perhaps it was initially appropriate, but times were always changing.
Shiraishi wanted to say something to the senior officials of Konoha: "Gentlemen, the times have changed."
The Will of Fire was no longer suitable for this era. He estimated that once he uttered those words, he would vanish from this world.
"I'm Ayane Hyuga. I don't have anything I dislike at the moment. I enjoy taking hot springs. My future dream is to become a great Ninja."
A graceful and quiet girl, resembling Yamato Nadeko, stood up beside Shiraishi, introducing herself to the class with a smile.
The others applauded enthusiastically, and she quietly resumed her seat.
When it was Shiraishi's turn, he naturally stood up from his seat.
"Hello everyone, I'm Chiba Shiraishi. My hobby is reading, and my future dream is to become a doctor."
In his previous life, Shiraishi was a highly qualified senior physician. He possessed extensive medical knowledge, was familiar with various medical instruments, and had substantial surgical experience.
Based on his prior knowledge, he knew that shinobis were also categorized into various types, including the auxiliary role of medical nin.
Shiraishi was confident that he could excel in this field if he aimed to become a medical nin. However, in order to avoid drawing unnecessary attention, he needed to behave more inconspicuously.
Moreover, Shiraishi was genuinely curious about the medical ninja profession.
The academy offered a specialized training course for medical ninja, but very few students opted for it. Compared to the colorful world of ninjutsu, studying medicine was considered boring and monotonous. Typically, only one out of ten students pursued medical ninjutsu, which was a relatively high ratio.
In fact, during the academy, more than 95% of the students had no interest in medical ninjutsu.
They were young and couldn't comprehend why such boring courses were included in the academy's curriculum.
Shiraishi's introduction was ordinary, and he blended in with the rest of the class, avoiding unnecessary attention.
"My name is Uchiha Ruri. I have no interest in any of you weaklings, and I don't intend to share my dreams and interests. Don't bother me with anything, and don't expect me to help you. Let's pretend you're my classmates for the sake of convenience."
Adjusting the hair near her ear, the girl on the other side stood up and introduced herself in a cold and arrogant tone, her eyes filled with icy disdain.
Her arrogant demeanor offended most of the class.
"What's with the attitude? It's detestable to act so arrogantly just because you're cute..."
"Nobody would want to befriend someone as antisocial as you."
"The Uchiha girl is really annoying."
...
Whispers filled the classroom, expressing dissatisfaction and hostility towards Ruri.
With a slight snort, Ruri maintained her arrogant posture as she took her seat. Even though she had become the class's public enemy, she seemed determined to remain aloof.
Having such a standout classmate seemed like a hassle, and Shiraishi hoped it wouldn't draw too much attention. He scratched his head in distress.
...
Two months had passed.
Shiraishi gradually accepted the helpless fact that he was in the lair of an extremely dangerous terrorist organization.
Fortunately, his "heretic" was well concealed. No one noticed anything amiss. Moreover, he utilized the advantages of being in mthe academy to grow stronger.
In addition to the "Will of Fire" book, which he viewed as a type of MLM book, the academy provided practical knowledge as well.
Shiraishi had already mastered shuriken throwing, chakra control and utilization, and more.
However, his performance in practical classes was not outstanding. He achieved a moderately satisfactory grade, neither excelling nor falling behind, blending in with the rest of the class.
As a result, Shiraishi was well-liked. Both male and female classmates treated him with normalcy.
Though engaging in ninja games with these people seemed childish, he had to participate to avoid standing out. It was a way to relax after training.
But this meant that Shiraishi had to stay up late at night, poring over medical books borrowed from the academy library.
As a former doctor in his past life, he understood the immense importance of medicine.
Despite the supernatural abilities possessed by the shinobis in this world, they were still flesh and blood. And flesh and blood could get sick and injured. The medical ninja profession was far from superfluous and useless.
Becoming a medical shinobi would provide Shiraishi with a means to protect himself in the future. It would allow him to blend into Konoha and seize the right opportunity to escape.
But before that, he needed to use Konoha's resources to make himself stronger. He also had to tap into Konoha's intelligence network to gain a deeper understanding of the ninja world.
Thus, Shiraishi believed he would remain in Konoha for at least ten years. Only after acquiring the ability to protect himself would he consider leaving.
During the day, he learned at the academy. From 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, he engaged in various training sessions.
Afterward, he returned home and immersed himself in medical books until midnight.
Living at such a pace left Shiraishi exhausted, yet he remained excited and filled with a thirst for exploration.