Today the ninja academy began. He wondered what role he should play: the best or the mediocre one? The others wouldn't bring him any benefits; they would only put him in danger.
After thinking it over, he decided on the latter. He would only draw attention to himself if he needed to. His grandmother, Chiyo, accompanied him to the gates, with that mixture of pride and concern he had noticed. He discovered that apparently both his grandmother and his mother were Chinese. His mother reached the rank of Chinin, and his grandmother a Jonin, especially since, from what she said, she was an expert in Genjutsu, something that suited him well due to his greater amount of spiritual energy. He already had ideas of how he would use it. A few days before entering the academy, he asked her to train him. She agreed, but only once he entered the academy, and like a good grandson, he agreed without insisting.
Once at the gate, his grandmother bent down and spoke to him:
"Remember, you don't have to..." "Don't stand out too much," he whispered before letting him in.
Inside, the instructors began the tests. First, physical endurance: running several laps around the courtyard. Then, coordination: jumping, balance, and throwing wooden kunai. Finally, the most anticipated test: chakra control. The children had to keep a sheet of paper stuck to their foreheads.
[He assumed these tests were to categorize them and, based on these results, place them in one class or another. This way, more effort would be allocated to one class than the others. Better teachers, better classmates. This led him to decide not to hide too much; he needed to be in at least the top two classes because, as he said, a phrase from his past life, "the environment shapes people."]
Laughter and frustration filled the room. Many barely managed to keep the sheet of paper on for a few seconds before it fell. Renji, on the other hand, did it calmly. The sheet remained fixed, stable, without apparent effort. He didn't try to stand out, but he didn't fail either. His silent precision caught the attention of some instructors, although he feigned indifference.
[He assumed these tests were to categorize them and, based on this, he placed them in one class or another.] After the tests were finished, the instructors gathered; he assumed it was to categorize them. After a few minutes, the children were seated in rows of desks. Renji took his seat unhurriedly, and as he did so, he noticed a girl with a serious expression, dark hair, and deep eyes sitting next to him. She belonged to the Uchiha clan. She barely glanced at him, as if assessing his presence. Renji didn't say anything either. The silence between them wasn't awkward, but calculated. Two children who, for different reasons, already understood that the Academy wasn't a place for games, but for survival. Renji thought that this girl could be useful to him in the future; after all, the Sharingan was one of the most important Dejujutsu in the series. For now, it was enough to simply observe. Time passed quickly after that first day. Classes at the Academy were repeated with discipline: theory on the history of the villages, physical training, and basic chakra exercises. For most of the children, it was exhausting; for Renji, it was routine. He didn't need to push himself too hard, just maintain a consistent level that would place him in the top classes without raising suspicion.
In the afternoons, his grandmother Chiyo kept her promise. She taught him a basic fighting style, focused on fluid and defensive movements, more useful for survival than for standing out.
"Brute strength doesn't always win," she would repeat to Renji. He understood; in his past life, he wasn't the most athletic, but neither was he the least athletic. Back then, strength was nothing if you didn't know how to apply it well. Looking at him now, he seemed to have been quite arrogant in his other life, even if it wasn't noticeable. But putting that aside, precision and control were more valuable than speed without direction.
Furthermore, she passed on a Class D genjutsu to him. It was simple: a brief illusion that confused the opponent, making them see a false movement or a nonexistent object. For other children, that would be just a minor trick; for Renji, it was a perfect tool. His spiritual energy allowed him to maintain the illusion more stably than most, and he was already thinking about how to combine it with his chakra control to deceive even the most experienced shinobi.
He thought about how to improve this genjutsu. The only thing that came to mind without having to steal an eye was sound. In his memories, he had a woman with pink or red hair—he couldn't quite distinguish it—but anyway, she used a flute, so he thought about doing something similar.
But first, he asked his grandmother if something external, like sound, could help maintain a genjutsu more stable. "I've never tried it, but in theory, it's possible. You have very interesting ideas, Renji." That confirmed that it was possible, but his grandmother didn't know how to do it, which disappointed him a little. He would have to recreate it himself.
Renji thought about how to improve that basic genjutsu. The only thing that came to mind, without having to steal an eye, was sound. In his memories, there was a woman with pink hair—or...
Perhaps red—he couldn't quite make it out—that used a flute to sustain illusions. If she could do it with an instrument, why not try something simpler?
How about whistling?
Before launching into it, he asked his grandmother, "Could something external, like a sound, help maintain a genjutsu more stabilized?" Chiyo looked at him curiously. "I've never tried it, but in theory, it's possible. You have some very interesting ideas, Renji."
That confirmed it. His grandmother didn't know how to do it, which disappointed him a little, but also motivated him: he would have to recreate it himself.
That very night, he began to experiment. A short, high-pitched whistle, while releasing chakra. The illusion lasted barely an instant longer. A long, low whistle, and the chakra seemed to flow more stably. He discovered that rhythm was the key: if he maintained a constant sequence, his mind focused better, and the illusion didn't break so quickly.
Chiyo watched him silently until she commented, "Sound distracts the enemy and, at the same time, helps you maintain your concentration. If you perfect this, your genjutsu will be harder to repel." Renji made a mental note of it. Not the best he could do, but it was a start. Each whistle was a thread that kept the illusion going for one more second. Even whistling had its own style. After the first few weeks, small matches began, mostly to practice the stances taught and gain experience. The first match was against a strong-built boy, taller than him. The boy lunged forward with a punch. I simply moved to the side and struck him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. I didn't use chakra; it seemed like too much. The instructor stopped the match. It wasn't a spectacular victory, but it was enough to demonstrate control. Days later, it was his turn to face Aiko Uchiha. The atmosphere changed. The other children fell silent, attentive. The Uchiha clan commanded respect even at the Academy.
Renji and Aiko silently exchanged glances before the fight began. They both made their signatures, and the supervisor signaled the start of the match.
Aiko launched the first attack: a swift advance with a direct strike to the torso. Renji dodged it by turning with barely a half step, without wasting any energy. He responded with an attempted low sweep, but Aiko precisely retreated, maintaining her distance.
They sized each other up in silence. There were no shouts or exaggerated gestures, only controlled breathing and calculated stares.
Aiko changed her rhythm. She launched a two-punch combination: one high, one low. Renji blocked the first with his forearm and dodged the second with a sideways turn. He used the momentum to try and touch her shoulder, but Aiko reacted quickly, catching his wrist and pushing him back.
The audience of children roared. It wasn't common to see such precision in a beginner's match.
Renji didn't get frustrated. On the contrary, Aiko analyzed him. She had discipline, reflexes, and a calmness beyond her years. She was like him.
The instructor let them continue for a few more seconds. Renji attempted a surprise attack, advancing with a direct blow. Aiko blocked it and spun, trying to unbalance him. Renji withstood it, keeping his foot firmly planted, and they stood face to face, staring at each other without moving.
The silence was heavy. The instructor raised his hand.
"Enough. Perform the Seal of Reconciliation." They both performed the seal and left the arena.
After a fight like that, the others seemed utterly mediocre
NOTA:This work is a fanfic inspired by the Naruto universe, created by Masashi Kishimoto. The characters, locations, and original concepts belong to their respective authors and copyright holders. This story is not for commercial purposes; it is created solely for entertainment and as a tribute to the original work. The author of this fanfic does not claim intellectual property rights over Naruto or its derivatives.