"I know you're all very competitive, but I don't want to see any of you get hurt. If it doesn't work out, you can always stop being a ninja and live as an ordinary person."
Kushina's eyes flickered, and she couldn't help but blurt out her thoughts.
Hearing that, Shigure froze for a moment.
An ordinary person?
That idea had never even crossed his mind.
Even when he didn't possess a Kekkei Genkai or couldn't use ninjutsu like everyone else—just a so-called loser—he never gave up.
In his previous life, he was just an average person who died in an accident. Now, he had a second chance in the world of Naruto—a world he knew all too well. There was no way he would settle for living an ordinary life again.
Especially not after awakening this Kekkei Genkai.
"I won't get hurt," Shigure said calmly, yet firmly, after taking a deep breath.
Kushina felt a twinge of guilt at his words.
Was she being too harsh?
But Shigure lacked any talent in ninjutsu—maybe he really wasn't suited to be a ninja.
Even so, part of her heart regretted her thoughts. If Shigure ever did give up on being a ninja, she swore she would always protect him.
Moments later, the Chunin instructor entered the classroom, said a few words, and led all the students outside to the training field.
Then, the Chunin began reading from a long-prepared list.
Pairs of students stepped up and began sparring.
The shuriken and kunai used were dulled training tools. While this reduced the chance of fatal injury, bleeding was still a real risk.
This was a ninja academy, after all—and the ninja world was harsh.
Even though Konoha's system was more lenient compared to the brutal Blood Mist policies of Kirigakure, it was impossible to raise children like delicate greenhouse flowers.
There were already a few notable names in class.
Kushina, of course. And then the undisputed genius—Namikaze Minato. Also, there was Uchiha Mikoto, future mother of Itachi and Sasuke.
They were only seven or eight years old now.
Even at that age, Minato was unmatched. Not just top of Shigure's class—he was ahead of every student in the academy.
When Minato stepped onto the stage, a chorus of cheers erupted from the girls. His popularity was undeniable.
Handsome, talented, powerful—Minato Namikaze received the same adoration in this world that Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha would later enjoy.
Shigure, in fact, bore a striking resemblance to Itachi—save for his light silver hair.
When they first started school, Shigure had been just as popular as Minato. But his poor ninjutsu aptitude eventually left him in the dust, and slowly, the admiration faded.
Minato easily defeated his opponent with just three moves, and the cheers rang out again.
Kushina glanced at Shigure and frowned, feeling the unfairness burn in her chest.
In terms of effort and determination, Shigure was no less than Minato.
But the difference in their ninjutsu talent had created an enormous gap.
Just as she sighed, the Chunin instructor shouted while holding the list:
"Next—Shigure and Uchiha Izumi. Step onto the stage!"
Kushina froze. "Wait, why is he up against an Uchiha?! And Uchiha Izumi, of all people?!"
If Minato was the number one genius, Izumi was undoubtedly number two.
Even against Minato, Uchiha Izumi could hold his own for several rounds. He was easily the strongest besides Minato.
The Chunin must have done this on purpose.
"This has to be a mistake! Shigure, don't go up there—just forfeit! That guy, Uchiha Izumi, he'll—" Kushina's voice cracked in panic.
"No need."
Shigure cut her off with a gentle pat on her shoulder, offering her a calm, reassuring gaze. "Don't worry. I won't get hurt."
There was a quiet force behind his words that made her stop in her tracks.
Without another word, Shigure turned and walked toward the stage with composed steps.
Of course, he knew the Chunin instructor had done this deliberately.
This instructor never treated him—an outsider from another village—with any respect.
In Konoha, outsiders were often distrusted and treated like potential enemies. That kind of hate didn't just vanish.
Shigure's treatment in the village wasn't much better than Naruto's in the original story. Not every teacher was like Iruka.
And now, with his ninjutsu talent declining, the Chunin had started trying every trick to push Shigure out of the academy.
But the school had its own system. Unless Shigure requested to leave, even a Chunin couldn't expel him directly.
"Shigure, are you really going to fight? You'll regret it if you get hurt."
The Chunin spoke with feigned concern.
He knew the more pressure he applied, the less likely Shigure would back down. When the time came, Uchiha Izumi would crush him—and maybe then, Shigure would finally quit.
Shigure said nothing.
He just stared—calm and emotionless.
That gaze made the instructor's heart skip a beat.
So indifferent. So composed. No seven-year-old should look like that.
"No need to wait. Let's begin," Shigure said, turning to face Uchiha Izumi.
Kushina, standing in the crowd, was stunned. She didn't expect Shigure to insist on fighting.
"This is so messed up... The way they treat Shigure is worse than anything I've seen."
Her tiny fists clenched. She wanted to run onto the field—but all she could do was watch, worried.
She hoped he would surrender before things got too serious.
On the field, Uchiha Izumi looked at Shigure with cold arrogance.
When he realized Shigure wasn't backing down, his expression twisted in disdain.
A loser who couldn't even use ninjutsu thought he could challenge him?
If he had the nerve to fight, Izumi would teach him a lesson—and remind him that next time, he should just forfeit when facing an Uchiha.
"Fine. Let's begin!" the Chunin barked.
Though he still felt uneasy about Shigure's strange composure, he brushed the thought aside and gave the signal.
The moment the match began, Izumi flipped his hands and hurled two full sets of shuriken without hesitation.
Whoosh—!
Eight shuriken sliced through the air, turning into blurs of black steel. Four aimed directly for Shigure's vital points, and the other four blocked every escape route.