Naruto: The Scourge

Note: Ye Zi(MC's name) will be changed to Yuji on next chapters and some other character names as well.

Humans are social beings, and even children naturally form groups, whether large or small, ranging from seven or eight to just two or three.

Minato was well-known for his good looks and gentle, likable personality, so he was surrounded by many friends.

Ye Zi's gaze swept across the somewhat crowded seats near Minato and then quietly moved away as he headed toward a quieter corner of the classroom.

He never intended to integrate into a group, even when he had once joined a troublesome social group out of necessity. From childhood to adulthood, he had always walked his path alone, so he firmly believed that only he could rely on himself.

Seeing Ye Zi once again ignore him, Minato slowly lowered his arm under the curious gazes of others and scratched his head with an awkward laugh before sitting down. However, in that moment, a fleeting glance filled with deep confusion was cast toward Ye Zi.

The gentle Minato wasn't angry; rather, he was puzzled by Ye Zi's evident antisocial nature.

Once Minato sat down, his peers asked if he was acquainted with Ye Zi. He deflected their questions with vague replies, which only led his friends to think that Ye Zi was being impolite.

Ye Zi chose a seat in the last row on the left side of the classroom, by the window, which was empty. After sitting down, he looked out at the playground. It was summer, with the sunlight glaring and scorching, and the bright light outside seemed almost blinding.

About ten minutes later, the classroom door suddenly swung open, and a one-eyed man with a somewhat fierce appearance walked in. When he shut the door behind him, the previously noisy classroom fell silent.

The one-eyed man noticed the quiet that followed his entrance and subtly nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the room before heading to the podium. His gait appeared slightly unsteady.

The teaching staff after World War II was of exceptional quality, composed of elite ninjas who had retired from the battlefield. These elites had been forced to step back, as anyone who went to war either came back unscathed or suffered lasting injuries that affected their strength—like the one-eyed man, whose left leg's chakra network was now dead. Even with his Chunin level, he would probably be outmatched by a Genin.

The one-eyed man had a strong build, wearing the Leaf Village headband on his forehead, and his hair was wrapped in a blue bandana. His facial features were fierce, with a cross-shaped scar on his right eye adding to his menacing appearance.

"My name is Ze Jianmu, and I will be your teacher from now on. I won't waste time with unnecessary words. If any of you behave in a way that's unworthy, then you better go home early," Ze Jianmu said coldly. His deep voice resonated with each student, and his imposing appearance and demeanor instinctively evoked fear in many.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office...

After finishing the paperwork, Sarutobi suddenly stood up and walked to the window, looking toward the direction of the Leaf Village school. Reflecting on Ze Jianmu's temperament, he muttered to himself, "The time that truly shapes them is three years from now, not now. Don't be too strict."

What Sarutobi didn't know was that Ze Jianmu, upon his arrival, had already given all the children a severe warning. If there were no other options, Sarutobi wouldn't have appointed Ze Jianmu as a teacher.

The classroom was quiet as a mouse, with most students looking down under Ze Jianmu's formidable presence. Only a few, including Ye Zi and Minato, kept their gaze steady.

In moments, Ze Jianmu had taken note of these few children who weren't intimidated by him, then withdrew his oppressive aura. Clapping his hands, his voice softened but still carried a heavy tone.

"Alright, let's go around from left to right and introduce ourselves briefly."

The self-introductions didn't take long, and soon Ze Jianmu began the lesson.

"Chakra is a type of energy formed from the perfect fusion of mental and physical energy, and it is essential for using ninjutsu. The first requirement to become a ninja is to be able to absorb chakra and control it as your own energy."

Ze Jianmu's voice was devoid of any excitement, but it was steady and clear, making it suitable for teaching. He suddenly raised three fingers and spoke in a low voice, "Three years. You have three years to learn how to become a ninja."

He then lowered two of the fingers, and his tone turned stern. "But you only have one year to prove whether you have what it takes to be a ninja. If, within a year, you can't even form chakra, then you might as well go home."

Gulp...

The room fell silent the moment Ze Jianmu stopped speaking. The silence was so deep that even the sound of someone swallowing could be heard clearly.

Ye Zi's heart jumped slightly. If he couldn't form chakra within a year, he would lose all possibility of becoming a ninja. He clenched his fists quietly, and his eyes hardened with determination.

"Becoming a ninja is not that simple," Ze Jianmu said, his eyes darkening as if recalling something, making his voice even heavier.

Half a day passed, and Ye Zi hadn't learned much. However, he now had a general understanding of the system of this world from Ze Jianmu's explanation.

Ninjas were people with special abilities.

Genin, Chunin, Jonin, Hokage...

Ninjas had a clear rank system, and the key to determining rank was chakra capacity and skill in using ninjutsu. Those who were proficient in ninjutsu were naturally gifted, born with exceptional control over chakra.

After returning to his residence, Ye Zi's mind was full of information about ninjas. He had just started learning about the profession and wasn't even a Genin yet. According to Ze Jianmu, he needed three years to have a chance to become a Genin. If he couldn't even form chakra, he would have no connection to the path of a ninja.

Ze Jianmu was a Chunin, and Orochimaru, who had adopted him, was at least a Jonin. If he could form chakra, he could ask Orochimaru for guidance if any problems arose. This would be much faster than Ze Jianmu's teaching. Thinking this, Ye Zi's young face broke into a faint smile.

Meeting Orochimaru wasn't necessarily a bad thing, even if their initial meeting had left him with dissatisfaction.

"Not bad," Ye Zi muttered to himself, staring at his small, open palm, his eyes full of determination.

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