Naruto: The legend of Kiba

Chapter 7: The Academy

On the following day, Kiba went to the academy with dark circles under his eyes. He had spent all night planning, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't find a way to open the fourth gate at his age.

He was too young to even open the third gate. His body simply couldn't handle the powerful chakra of the fourth gate. Forcing it open could have devastating effects on his future physical growth. The Eight Gates technique was a forbidden jutsu that inflicted severe damage on the user. The more gates opened, the greater the damage. Opening the Gate of Death, the final gate, meant certain death.

His young body limited his progress with the Eight Gates. Kiba sighed helplessly. He couldn't speed up time to accelerate his body's growth. However, he wasn't discouraged. He could spend this time improving his basic physical strength and tempering his body. Maybe in a year, he would be stronger and able to open the fourth gate.

After all, the Eight Gates technique relied on physical strength rather than age. If his body was strong enough, age wouldn't matter.

As Kiba walked to the academy, he was surrounded by blank stares and looks of disgust. He was used to it and didn't care much. He thought, "It seems like nothing has happened on the street, and the matter has been concealed."

Soon, Kiba arrived at the academy.

The Ninja Academy had no traditional classes, only grades. Grades were based on the time of admission, and all students of the same grade were taught in a large classroom. Kiba was seven years old, had been in the academy for two years, and was in the second grade. Most of his classmates were seven or eight years old. He was ranked forty-seventh out of fifty students, making him one of the lowest-ranked.

He was part of the group with poor grades but wasn't embarrassed. The lowest-ranked student had more presence than him. In fact, the lowest-ranked student often had more attention than the top-ranked. When parents asked about their child's grades, they would inquire, "Who is first?" Then, "Who is second?" and finally, "Who is last?" The third from the bottom was often ignored.

Being the fourth from the bottom, Kiba was almost invisible. Combined with his status as the son of a traitor, he was often ignored by his peers.

However, Kiba enjoyed being left alone. He sat in the back row near the door, where he could sleep undisturbed. Physical training left him exhausted every day, and he had to catch up on sleep during classes to recover his energy for further training.

At the academy, they taught the Three Basic Jutsus, shuriken techniques, and basic taijutsu. One of these would be selected for the graduation exam. Regular exams and grades were evaluated by Chunin instructors based on student performance.

Due to his exhaustion from taijutsu training, Kiba's performance in shuriken techniques, the Three Basic Jutsus, and taijutsu was mediocre. In the eyes of the Chunin instructors, he ranked last.

The top student in the second grade was Uchiha Hirohiko, a genius expected to graduate at the age of seven. Whether in taijutsu, the Three Basic Jutsus, or swordsmanship, he was almost at graduation level. Once he reached that level, he could graduate.

Kakashi had surpassed this level and graduated at five, becoming a legend at the academy. Uchiha Hirohiko was now the academy's most promising genius, likely to graduate early. Early graduation meant being valued by the village and considered a key training candidate.

Even though the Uchiha clan had a complicated position in Konoha, the village's senior management valued talent. Recognizing talent helped motivate other ninjas and enhance their loyalty to Konoha.

Kiba, focused on the practice of the Eight Gates technique and developing the Eight-Gate mode, was oblivious to his surroundings. He knew Uchiha Hirohiko was the top student but didn't know what he looked like.

He didn't care about early graduation. At that time, he was more concerned about the amount of chakra in his body. But now that he had developed his life gate mode, he was paying attention to early graduation.

Being recognized as a talented ninja meant he wouldn't be treated as expendable in future wars. As a key training candidate, he might even be protected. Moreover, being recognized for his ninjutsu talent would make it easier to learn advanced techniques.

So, he decided to try.

Kiba supported the table with one hand, took out an extra-large Konoha steamed bun, and silently gnawed on it. Recently, his appetite had increased significantly. This large steamed bun, which could fill an adult's stomach, wasn't enough for him. He needed at least three to feel full.

For an orphan living on Konoha's subsistence allowances, food had become a significant expense. Money was tight.

As Kiba gnawed on the steamed bun, a piercing scream echoed in the classroom. Female students who had arrived early began screaming and flocked to the door, shouting in excitement, "Wow! Hirohiko is here!" "So handsome!" "Hirohiko, can I sit next to you today?"

A boy in a short-sleeved shirt walked into the classroom. He had sharp eyebrows, clear eyes, and striking features. Although young, he was destined to be a handsome man who would captivate many girls in the future.

This must be Hirohiko Uchiha.

Ignoring the screams of the fangirls, Uchiha Hirohiko walked straight to his seat in the front row with a cold expression. His stoic demeanor only made the girls scream louder, their eyes filled with admiration.

"No, I can't! My heart..." "Ah! So handsome!"

The screams irritated Kiba as he gnawed on the steamed bun, frowning slightly. This Uchiha Hirohiko, the genius the academy had high hopes for, was still a famous Uchiha clan member. Why did he look so sad?

Kiba noticed the word "sadness" on Uchiha Hirohiko's cold face.

Just as Kiba was wondering, the eyes of all the boys in the class lit up with excitement. The jealousy they had towards Uchiha Hirohiko turned into eager anticipation. Suddenly, all the boys rushed to the door.