Third Person POV
The sun rose slowly over Konoha, painting the horizon in shades of soft gold and pale pink. A gentle breeze carried the coolness of dawn, brushing against leaves heavy with dew. The village was quiet, peaceful in that fragile way it only was before shinobi and civilians alike began their daily battles.
Inside the Ino clan compound, Akira lay beneath a thick woolen blanket, a serene smile resting on his face. The blanket rustled lightly as the cold but gentle morning breeze slipped through the slightly open window and kissed his skin.
His eyelids fluttered.
And he woke.
-
Akira POV
The first thing I noticed was the light.
It was brighter than it should have been.
I blinked once… twice.
Then I turned my head toward the clock.
6:00 AM.
I froze.
Usually, I wake up at 4 to start my daily workout and training. But today, somehow, I woke up at 6.
I wasn't mad.
Just… surprised.
Strangely, I didn't feel sluggish either.
Once the drowsiness faded and I stood up, my mind felt clearer than ever. Fresher. Sharper.
As if something had been washed away during the night.
Without wasting time, I moved toward the backyard.
The moment I stepped outside,
I stopped. Everything felt different.
Clearer. More beautiful.
The leaves rustling in the wind sounded like a melodious song. The sun, bright yet warm, felt more lovable than anything. The trees, the sky, the very air itself—everything seemed alive in a way I had never noticed before.
For a brief second, I just stood there.
Listening. Feeling. Observing.
But when I checked my chakra flow, my muscles, my senses,
Nothing had changed.
No spike in power.
No breakthrough.
No mutation.
Just… clarity.
I frowned slightly.
Ignoring the sudden poetic awakening of nature, I sensed a presence rapidly flickering toward me.
Fast, Controlled.
It was either ANBU or ROOT.
Within seconds, a familiar figure appeared before me.
White fox mask.
White hair peeking out.
Short sword resting on his back.
Kakashi.
He stood casually as ever.
I waited.
He stepped forward slightly and said, "Akira, Minato-sensei said your test for early graduation will be held at 10 AM morning, so be ready."
I nodded. "Good. The earlier, the better. And Kakashi… you do know that your mask does not hide your identity in any kind or way. In fact, in some ways, it even attracts more attention."
He tilted his head lazily. "Well, what can I say? My fame surpasses even that of a certain genin."
He subtly pointed toward two future monster genin with earth-destroying power.
I frowned.
"Don't break the fourth wall. They do not like it unless it was Deadpool who did that. I don't know why, but they just love it when he does it."
Suddenly—
A swirling red-and-black portal ripped open in midair.
From it, a red figure with a black circular mask and exaggerated white ninja-style eye lenses peeked out.
"Did someone summon me by praising me?"
My brain short-circuited.
"WHAT THE FUC—"
--
With a sharp gasp, I jolted upright.
My breathing was rugged. Sweat formed along my temples.
I looked around.
The sun had just begun to rise.
4:00 AM.
The room was normal.
The air was normal.
Reality was normal.
I sighed deeply and rubbed my face.
'Almost had a heart-cancer attack.'
Deadpool in Konoha.
No.
Never again.
I stood up, the same disciplined energy flowing through me as every other day. I made my bed neatly and headed straight toward the forest for my workout.
For the past two years, my training had constantly evolved, adapting, refining, intensifying. But the core remained the same:
Speed.
Reaction time.
Taijutsu practice.
Precision in hand seals.
Jutsu repetition and chakra control.
And most importantly,
Battle simulations with Nano.
The forest echoed with the sounds of movement, feet against bark, fists cutting through air, controlled chakra bursts, silent footwork.
Time blurred.
When the final simulation ended, I checked the sky.
6:00 AM.
That meant Aunt Inoki would wake up in about thirty minutes. And Uncle Inoichi shortly after.
I returned home and started heating water.
Once it was warm enough, I went into the bathroom for my daily routine, brushing, bathing, and everything else, precisely at 6:30.
As I stepped out, Aunt Inoichi had just woken up, though she remained lying on the bed.
I quickly dressed and began preparing breakfast.
After about fifteen minutes, Aunt Inoki emerged from the bedroom.
"Good morning, Aunt," I greeted. "Shall I heat the water?"
"Good morning, Akira," she replied softly. "Yes… and can you make something saltier or sour?"
"Absolutely. Just do your thing, and the water will be ready."
She nodded faintly before heading for her bath.
About thirty minutes later, Uncle Inoichi woke up.
And as usual,
He got drenched in water and was thrown out of the bathroom with the same weary, drowsy look.
I handed him a towel.
"Uncle, you do realize that you are a shinobi, right? And yet you do the same thing repeatedly every day."
He dried his hair and smiled.
"Akira, I repeat the same thing because these small things mean much more than just mistakes. These small things are what we both enjoy. Sometimes, these small things are what keep everything together."
His eyes softened briefly.
"Anyway, last night ANBU came looking for you. You were sleeping, so he left a message about your exam. It will be held after class."
I nodded. "It's fine. I was also going to tell Itachi. It will just make it easier. But if the teacher announces it in class, it will be annoying."
Uncle Inoichi smirked slightly. "Well, you did ask for it. Now suffer."
After breakfast and light banter, I prepared to leave.
Today, I walked toward the academy with far more ease.
And without concealing my presence.
As I walked toward the academy, something twisted inside my chest.
Regret?
…No.
It wasn't that simple.
It was something I couldn't properly put into words, an amalgamation of emotions. Sadness at leaving behind a carefree life. Relief at finally stepping closer to my goal. A faint happiness at moving forward. And somewhere beneath all of it… a quiet ache.
Even though I had been reincarnated… in my past life, I was still only seventeen.
If someone from my previous world saw what I had become, how I trained, how I thought, how I planned revenge like it was homework, they would have locked my ass in therapy without hesitation.
But it is what it is.
As I continued my internal monologue, the academy building slowly came into view. Children ran around laughing. Some argued. Some showed off mediocre jutsu like it was the pinnacle of shinobi art.
There were many faces.
Faces I never bothered to memorize.
But one face stepped forward with unmistakable intent.
Inuzuka Hana.
The tomboy of the class.
Her steps were swift, almost predatory, as she moved directly in front of me, blocking my path.
"Where are you going, Ghost?" she asked, her tone fiery and challenging.
I looked at her calmly.
"I am going to the academy. Now move out of my way."
I stepped to the side,
—but she cut me off again.
"What if I don't—"
Before she could finish, I flickered.
Within a second, I was already inside the classroom, seated casually at my bench.
From outside, I could faintly hear her screaming something incoherent.
I ignored it.
I had arrived early. There was nothing to do.
So I began running battle simulations with Nano—specifically scenarios against a chunin-level opponent. Reaction timing. Feints. Chakra efficiency. Psychological pressure.
By the time I ended the third simulation, the classroom had begun filling up.
Itachi entered.
Izumi followed.
They sat beside me and immediately started chatting.
"…I'm telling you, dango from the Ezzui shop is clearly better."
"No, Yuzuka's dango has better texture and sweetness balance—"
I slowly opened one eye.
Since when did Itachi start debating nonsense like this?
Their casual argument escalated into a full debate.
Just as Funeno-sensei entered.
The classroom gradually quieted down.
Except for two dango enthusiasts.
Funeno-sensei's eye twitched slightly before he snapped, ordering them to be quiet. After restoring order, he began taking attendance.
At the end of it, he cleared his throat.
"Everyone, your classmate Akira has applied for early graduation. The exam is being personally selected by Lord Hokage."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then,
"Um… who is Akira?"
That one uncertain voice ignited chaos.
"I didn't know you could graduate on your third day?"
"Who does he think he is?"
"Lord Hokage is personally seeing his exam? Who is he?!"
Questions. Murmurs. Accusations.
And beneath it all,
A growing, shared irritation.
An arrogant classmate trying to graduate early.
In the entire room, only three people knew exactly who Akira was.
Itachi.
Izumi.
And Hana.
All three were blank.
As if their brains had short-circuited.
After a few moments, Itachi was the first to recover. His voice carried a slight edge.
"Is it true?"
His head was slightly lowered. His bangs hid his eyes.
I looked at him.
For a brief second, I considered how to answer.
Then I chose bluntness.
"Yes. The academy has nothing to teach me. Instead of wasting time, I can gain much-needed experience by graduating early."
My answer landed harshly.
Itachi was silent for a moment before asking quietly,
"Is spending time with your friends and classmates a waste of time for you?"
This time, I did not answer immediately.
Because this question… required thought.
As Funeno-sensei continued teaching about chakra natures in the background, I stared ahead.
Then I replied.
"No, it's not… but sometimes… a man must make a decision. Either for the best or for the worst."
My voice was calm.
"I have made mine. Now the only thing left is to walk it through and see whether it was for the best or the worst."
Silence followed.
I turned slightly to look at Itachi.
His eyes were distant.
Calculating.
Emotionless.
Which was… concerning.
I spoke again, softer this time.
"Itachi, there are times when a boy must become a man to protect whatever he has. But to do that… one must kill himself."
A faint pause.
"Kill his past. Kill his self. Kill the boy—and be reborn as a man."
The classroom noise faded into the background.
"History has had many great people. Either a man or woman. Either a ninja or king. Either an orphan or a beggar. Everyone believes, not in this world or some higher power, but in themselves, just enough to last a little longer. To keep struggling in this cruel world…"
My eyes hardened slightly.
"…where a single life is worth less than a shoe."
I didn't give him a direct answer.
Because even I couldn't fully explain what I wanted.
Even if a part of me wished to remain here,
I couldn't.
That fire.
That world burning heat, That memory of loss.
It still scorched my heart and soul.
And the longer I stayed here doing nothing,
The more it felt like betrayal.
Time passed smoothly after the announcement.
Whispers still circulated around the classroom. Curious glances. Speculation. Envy.
Yet none dared to confront me.
Except for a certain tomboy.
Which I handled by simply flickering away every time she tried to corner me.
Eventually, the day came to an end. Students left one by one, their chatter gradually fading, until only five remained,
Me.
Itachi.
Izumi.
Hana.
And Funeno-sensei.
The air felt heavier now. Anticipation lingered like static.
After a short while, an ANBU appeared silently at the entrance.
"Akira. Come to Academy Training Ground 3 for the selection."
And without another word, he flickered away.
I didn't hesitate.
The moment he disappeared, I flickered after him.
We moved across rooftops in synchronized bursts of speed. I kept pace effortlessly, matching the ANBU step for step.
Behind us, I sensed Itachi and Funeno-sensei following at a respectable speed.
Further back—
Izumi and Hana were running toward the training ground, far slower but clearly determined.
With one final leap, both the ANBU and I landed at Training Ground 3 at the same moment.
Without waiting, I stepped into the hall inside the training ground.
The instant I entered, I felt them.
Three distinct presences.
Minato.
Old Monkey.
Danzo.
Each radiated a different kind of pressure.
I gave a brief nod to Minato before speaking.
"Lord Hokage, I am ready. So where is my opponent?"
Minato studied me carefully.
"Akira… are you sure?"
His voice carried neither doubt nor approval—only weight.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
My answer was firm. Rigid. Unwavering.
Seeing my determination, he exhaled softly.
"Then let us begin with your exam. As per our agreement, you will be facing a chunin. You must defeat him within 10 minutes. There are no rules or restrictions. You may fight as you would in a real battle."
His gaze sharpened.
"The winner will be decided by incapability to move or admitting defeat. Am I clear?"
"Yes."
At that moment, Itachi and Funeno-sensei arrived. Both looked surprised, astonished even, at how quickly I had reached.
"So," I asked calmly, "who will be my opponent?"
Footsteps echoed across the hall.
A man stepped forward.
Around 5'5" in height.
Clean-shaven.
A cigarette hanging casually from his mouth.
Black eyes steady and observant.
His posture was firm and grounded.
In his hands were two metallic blades with jagged edges, uniquely shaped to fit around his knuckles.
Some might take a second to recognize him.
But once you saw those blades, There was no doubt.
He spoke casually.
"Hello. I am Asuma Sarutobi, a chunin… and your opponent."
Asuma Sarutobi.
So this was Minato's choice.
Did he approve this personally?
Even I could tell, Asuma was chunin only in title.
His strength had already surpassed that rank. He was on the verge of jonin, at least elite chunin level. It seems he does not want me to graduate… yet he is holding back just enough to make it look fair. If he doesn't want me to graduate, he could have just said so.
Instead, he made the trial harder.
But does it matter?
I have been training with Nano and the Chakra since I was four.
My combat experience surpasses ten years.
With Nano's assistance, I can instantly execute any jutsu I have mastered.
I have mastered all five chakra natures.
Created my own kekkei genkai.
Modified countless secret jutsu to fit my fighting style.
Created countless techniques—the strongest reaching S-rank.
None of them knew.
But they shall know soon enough.
If I cannot defeat a young Asuma after two years of training with something as broken as Nano—
Then I might as well commit suicide and rip my balls off, because I do not deserve this chance.
As my dreadful internal monologue ended, I studied Asuma again.
Strangely,
He did not reek of arrogance. He wasn't indulgent.
All those fanfics portraying him as some arrogant young master who makes the MC kowtow and later watches kurenai getting fucked by MC—
Were they all lies?
Surely not… right?
Before we could begin,
"Wait! Fucking wait!"
A loud, snobby, extremely irritating voice echoed through the hall, followed by what sounded like a dog's howl that resembled more of a fox whining.
Izumi and Hana burst inside, panting and sweating after running the entire way.
I glanced at Minato to see if he would reprimand them.
He didn't.
His focus remained entirely on me.
Once they settled down, Funeno-sensei stepped forward.
"Seal of Confrontation."
Asuma and I formed the seal and shook hands.
"I am Akira," I said calmly. "Future genin. Your opponent. Let's make this quick."
I didn't give him time to reply.
I leaped back three meters in one smooth motion and settled into my stance.
Across from me, Asuma shifted into his fighting posture, blades angled forward.
The air between us tightened.
Funeno-sensei inhaled deeply.
Then—
"Fight."