Akihiro and Aiko were in a ramen shop. Since arriving in this world, he had to get used to the cuisine of the shinobi world, which was vastly different from his home. Although it seemed strange at first, he soon realized that ramen had a unique fvor that made it addictive. He understood why Naruto loved it so much.

  As he slurped a steaming bowl, Akihiro looked around. The shop was filled with civilians and ninjas, all chatting and enjoying their food in a warm atmosphere.

  —What do you think of the ramen? —Aiko asked, taking a sip from his own bowl.

  —It’s amazing, as always —Akihiro replied, not going into detail.

  —I’m gd you like it. This pce is one of my favorites —Aiko said, smiling.

  Akihiro couldn’t help but notice a special sparkle in Aiko’s eyes as he talked about the shop. Aiko continued to describe the ramen and the differences between the types he had tried. Akihiro listened with his mind on autopilot for over ten minutes, struggling not to let boredom take over.

  —And what do you think about it? —Aiko asked.

  Akihiro felt trapped in the moment when he heard Aiko's simple question, as if time had stopped. He looked at Aiko, whose eyes were full of enthusiasm as he spoke about the different kinds of ramen.

  —Uh... —he stammered, searching for the right words—. Honestly, I think it’s great that there’s so much variety —he responded.

  Aiko raised an eyebrow and stared at him. —Variety... Yes, you’re right —Aiko commented, thoughtful.

  —I got off easy —murmured Akihiro, feeling a slight relief.

  —Do you have a favorite dish? —Aiko asked.

  Akihiro thought for a moment, recalling foods that didn’t exist here: burgers, hot dogs... Dishes that, unfortunately, were not part of this shinobi world.

  —I like street food, but I don’t have any favorites.

  The conversation continued for a little over an hour before they parted ways and headed home.

  Time passed again, and with it, the years flew by. Three years went by quickly, and Akihiro was now 12 years old.

  In those years, many things had happened, both good and bad, but none worth mentioning. However, tensions between nations had increased, as expected, and the fmes of war were more alive than ever.

  During this time, Akihiro found himself alone in the cssroom, facing three instructors who observed him closely. All of them wore the typical ninja uniform of Kusa. To the right was a man with a scar over his eye; in the center stood a woman with ptinum hair; and to the left was a man with bck hair and a bored expression.

  —Your name is Akihiro Takeshi, right? —asked the man with the bored expression.

  —Yes! —he replied firmly.

  —Good. As you know, the graduation test consists of performing two fundamental jutsus: the Transformation Jutsu and the Cloning Jutsu. If you can’t do these jutsus, forget about being a ninja —the same instructor commented.

  Akihiro nodded in understanding.

  —Are you ready? —asked the instructor with the scar over his eye.

  —Yes! —he replied again, affirmatively.

  —Perform the Transformation Jutsu. Become me —ordered the instructor with the ptinum hair.

  Akihiro nodded and formed the hand signs while channeling his chakra. In an instant, his body transformed, and a replica of the instructor appeared before them. After a while, the jutsu faded, and Akihiro returned to his original form.

  —Average transformation time, acceptable replication grade, duration below average —commented the bored instructor while examining Akihiro —Approved.

  —Good, now for the next jutsu: the Cloning Jutsu —added the instructor with the scar.

  Akihiro formed the hand signs again, and a replica of himself appeared beside him. The replica sted only five minutes before disappearing.

  —Jutsu execution time below average, acceptable replication grade, duration above average —commented the instructor with the scar —Approved.

  Hearing the results, Akihiro couldn’t help but feel happy. The ptinum-haired instructor stood up.

  —Congratutions, Akihiro Takeshi. From now on, you are a Genin of Kusa —the instructor said, extending a forehead protector. Akihiro took it and put it on immediately.

  —You may leave —commented the bored instructor.

  Akihiro nodded and exited the cssroom, returning to his cssroom. Seeing the protector on his forehead, his cssmates congratuted him. The boys who didn’t graduate looked at him with envy but still congratuted him.

  —Congratutions —a voice sounded from behind him. Turning around, he found Aiko, already wearing his own forehead protector—. I’m gd you graduated. Maybe, if you’re lucky, we’ll be on the same team.

  Akihiro nodded. —Yeah, although considering the number of graduates this year, it’s likely we’ll be on separate teams —he commented. Although he didn’t have the exact number of graduates, there were more than ten people in his css who graduated, resulting in more than three teams.

  Aiko knew this, so he didn’t have much hope either. In the best case, considering their friendship, they might be put on the same team, but it wasn’t guaranteed.

  —Even if we’re not on the same team, we’re still ninjas of Kusa. Once we become Chunin, we can form our own team —Aiko said.

  Akihiro nodded. When you’re a Genin, you’re under the command of a Chunin or a Jounin, but once you become a Chunin, you can form your own team or lead a group of Genins. For now, his goal was to become a Chunin; that way, he would have a bit more freedom to act. Forming a team with Aiko wouldn’t be a bad idea, as his genius could help him avoid many problems.

  They continued talking for a while until the teacher returned.

  —For the graduates, your teams will be decided tomorrow. To the others, I wish you luck next year —he announced before leaving.

  Akihiro said goodbye to his friends and returned home, happy. When he arrived, his mother saw the forehead protector, and although she was equally happy and worried, she organized a small celebration for his graduation as a Genin.