Naruto: The Sarutobi Who Can't Spark

Raijin, Satoru, and Kaide watched as the final participants completed their laps, each finishing with varying degrees of exhaustion. Just as the last student stumbled through, one of the instructors – not the scarred one, stepped forward with a clipboard.

"Your next examination begins immediately," he announced, his voice carrying across all the children. "A written assessment. You have two hours to complete it."

The ten successful candidates were led through the Academy's polished hallways into a large classroom.

Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating rows of empty desks.

Each student was directed to a seat, carefully spaced apart to prevent any communication or cheating.

"Before we start the written test. We want to inform you that, those who would be selected for the academy will be provided a message containing their class and entrance ceremony's date."

He paused and continued, "And those who don't receive any message… try next year. That's all."

"You may all now, begin!"

The test papers were distributed as quickly as he completed his words. The questions, however, were more intriguing than Raijin had expected. Rather than technical questions about ninja arts or village history, they faced philosophical ones:

How would you contribute to the peace and prosperity of Konoha?

How would you handle a situation where the task ahead seems impossible?

What motivates you to keep going when things get tough?

How do you handle disagreements within a group or team?

How do you approach self-improvement?

Raijin suppressed a smile as he began writing. The questions were designed not to test knowledge but to evaluate the character and mindset of the children. He carefully crafted responses that would align with the Academy's values while maintaining enough authenticity for them to be believable.

…

When academy prospects were finally dismissed, Satoru waited by the Academy's front gates, scanning the crowd for his newly made friends.

Among the dispersing crowd, Kaide spotted Satoru's distinctive silhouette within the crowd. His heart clenched with anxiety, and before their eyes could meet, he slipped away into a narrow side street like a shadow, hurrying toward his waiting parents.

It wasn't that Kaide didn't want friends, but he never had an easy flow of natural conversation with anyone, unlike his parents. The mere thought of prolonged social interaction spun his mind with possibilities, each more devastating than the last. What if they found his stuttering annoying? What if his interests were too strange, his mannerisms too awkward? What if their initial friendliness turned to mockery once they truly knew him?

These fears manifested as a physical weight in his chest, tightening in his throat that made even simple greetings feel like climbing a mountain. The bursts of anxiety, the racing heartbeat, the sweating palms – it was all too overwhelming and too exhausting to endure.

Over the years, Kaide had discovered that fleeing (while not a solution) offered immediate relief from this anxiety. It became his reflexive response.

…

"Raijin!" Satoru's voice carried across the yard as he spotted his newfound friend. "How was the test?"

Raijin approached with a casual stride. "Pretty good. You?"

"Well..." Satoru's expression cycled through several emotions in rapid succession. "I got stuck on one question, but I think I managed okay in the end."

Satoru's shoulders slumped slightly. "Guess, Kaide went home already."

Seeing his new friend, Raijin made an impulsive decision. "Want to grab some ramen? My treat – consider it a prize for that impressive sprint at the end."

"Ah..." Satoru's face contorted in mock seriousness. "Sorry, I'm..."

Raijin raised an eyebrow, interrupting him. "Oh? Well, I'll have to enjoy celebrating your performance without you..."

"Wait!" Satoru said. "I suppose... one bowl wouldn't hurt." His cheeks flushed slightly as he muttered the words.

…

As they parted ways, Raijin bought some high-power batteries on the way to replenish his dwindling stock. Even though there were many batteries at home already, the weight of the new batteries was reassuring.

Despite witnessing his near-death experience from previous electrical exposure, Raijin promised never to exceed his limits again without using a Shadow Clone.

Speaking of which, he had yet to learn the Shadow Clone technique from the elders. The promise Elders made to him never left his mind.

***

Inside the Sarutobi Clan Library, Raijin was running his finger in each line from the scroll of rank-D jutsus, after skimming repeatedly for approximately 20 minutes. He gave a long sigh. 'So, the only suitable non-elemental jutsu from the library is this one?'

Body Flicker: a movement technique where a user can move short to long distances at an almost untraceable speed.

Raijin said wryly, "The only downside is that I can't use it during combat. I might need more practice in this jutsu to perform it in combats instantly like Shisui Uchiha."

"However, traveling short and long distances would be faster – A great fleeing jutsu."

Two days after the Entrance examination, Raijin stood in long rows of students who had passed. Though the number of students was similar to the applicants, he suspected very few failed.

Parents stood proudly behind rows of children, many wiping away tears as they watched their little ones take their first steps toward becoming shinobi.

"I am in 1-A. What class are you in?" Satoru asked Raijin with a hopeful expression.

Raijin also received information about passing the exam and his assigned class at the Academy. When he saw the letter in this world, it struck him as amusing.

It wasn't just a note but a whole letter with a proper salutation and subject. The format was the same as the formal writing he had learned in his past life.

"I'm the same as you," Raijin replied and smirked. "Didn't I tell you we would be in the same class?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?" Satoru asked, impressed by Raijin's deduction.

"Just a hunch," Raijin said diagonally at the rows of students. Glancing at a nervous kid, he said, "Well, I guess Kaide is in another class."

"You might be wrong. I'll ask him after this standing-in-the-heat." Satoru said with determination.

"Attention!" The instructor with the scar on his cheek roared at the students.

The ground hummed with whispered conversations and nervous giggles.

"QUIET!" The scarred instructor said transmitting a loud voice to everyone on the ground. The children fell into immediate silence, except for a few stifled snickers from the back row.

"That's better," he said, clearing his throat.

Buzzing noise halted instantly, while the scarred instructor continued, "Congratulations on passing the entrance exams. From today onwards you all are academy students. Academy will help you hone your abilities to be a full-fledged ninja. Now, stand straight and show proper respect. Lord Third Hokage will be here any moment."

The children shuffled into neater lines, though some still couldn't help bouncing on their toes. A few tried to crane their necks to peek at the entrance where the Hokage would appear.

"Stop fidgeting," whispered a female instructor, adjusting her glasses as she helped straighten another crooked line of students. "Remember, you are representing not just yourselves, but your families and the future of our village."

"Attention!" One of the instructors said with a robust voice, carrying across the kids. The students snapped to attention with varying degrees of success – some looking more like startled deer than future shinobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with a weathered face, his robes fluttering gently in the breeze. As he walked toward the podium, even the most restless children fell silent, awed by the presence of their village's leader.

He took his place at the podium, surveying the gathered students. His weathered face broke into a gentle smile as he cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Welcome, young ones, to the Konoha Ninja Academy." his voice carried across the ground with surprising strength.

"Today marks the beginning of your journey as shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village. Each of you carries the Will of Fire – the unwavering spirit to protect our village and all those we love. The path ahead will not be easy. You will face challenges that will test your mind, body, and spirit. There will be days when you question whether you can continue. But remember, every great shinobi standing behind me today once stood where you are now, filled with the same dreams and uncertainties."

He pointed towards the instructors behind him. "In this academy, you will learn more than just jutsu and combat skills. You will learn the true meaning of teamwork, dedication, and sacrifice. These lessons will serve you not just as a ninja, but throughout your entire lives."

Hiruzen's voice softened. "Look around you. These classmates will become your comrades, your teammates, and in many cases, your lifelong friends. The bonds you forge here will become the foundation of our village's future."

As he spoke these words, several children exchanged glances, some shy, others curious.

"I stand before you not just as your Hokage, but as someone who once walked these very halls. I learned from the Second Hokage themselves, and now it brings me great joy to welcome a new generation into our ranks."

Drawing himself up to his full height, Hiruzen concluded with words that he thought would echo in many young minds for years to come, "May you grow strong, learn well, and always remember that the greatest strength of a Hidden Leaf shinobi lies not in the Jutsu they master, but in their heart and their unwavering dedication to protecting what they hold dear."

The ceremony concluded with thunderous applause and a mixture of excited chatter and nervous whispers from the new students.

…

"Kaide!?" Satoru called him from across the dispersion of students.

As Kaide traced back to the voice, he saw a fair white-skinned kid with messy white hair and bright blue eyes that had an ethereal glow. The white-haired boy was waving to him with two hands in the air.

He snapped back and tried to run amok with the crowd, but alas, the boy with blue eyes and another boy with brown eyes caught up to him.

"Uh…He-Hello." Kaide's voice wavered, his fingers fidgeting.

Satoru practically rushed forward, his words tumbling out in speed. "What class are you in, Kaide?"

"Um... 1-B."

The transformation on Satoru's face was instant – his excited smile shattered.

From where he stood, Raijin observed the exchange with quiet amusement. 'Definitely attachment issues,' he thought, watching Satoru's dramatically crestfallen expression.

An awkward silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant sounds of other students leaving the academy grounds.

Finally, Kaide shifted his weight, clearly eager to escape.

Raijin stepped in smoothly, offering a friendly wave and smile, "See you next time in the academy."

He waved his hand, "Bye."

Kaide managed a quick nod before fleeing the ground, leaving Satoru still staring into the air, his blue eyes wide with disbelief. Raijin broke his friend's trance with a firm slap on the back – perhaps a bit harder than necessary – causing Hol to stumble forward.

"Let's go," Raijin said, not bothering to hide his exasperation.

"I thought we would be studying in the same class side by side." Satoru finally muttered in the air. While Raijin heard his muttering, he thought it'd be better to ignore it.

Raijin, while annoyed, tried his best to cheer up his friend. "Satoru, what's your plan for today?"

"Uh…I will train on the ground near the orphanage…" Satoru's voice carried a new weight of melancholy.

"Huh, what's the matter?"

"I moved out into a new room leaving the orphanage now that I'm an academy student. Academy had allotted me my new room." The words came out hesitantly, revealing the real source of his anxiety.

Raijin shifted his words, "I'm free. Let's do something fun."

Like a switch had been flipped, Satoru's eyes lit up. "Oh yes, why don't we both train." Satoru regained his usual enthusiasm.

'I swear, he is bipolar.' Raijin thought to himself before speaking aloud. "Train?... What do you have in mind?"

"Let's climb the mountain near the forest," Satoru said, his voice filled with excitement.

Both walked to the forest's edge, where the mountain loomed. Satoru turned to Raijin with a challenging grin. "I bet you can only run!"

…

Later, as they caught their breath after climbing, Satoru studied his friend with newfound respect. "Raijin, you're strong. Do you train daily?"

"Yes, I do…" Raijin smiled and continued, "…from early morning up to late night."

"Wow, I could never train continuously for such a long time"

"Me neither, I take breaks in between and some meals in breaks," Raijin explained what he meant.

"Why don't we train together tomorrow after classes? Just once." Satoru asked hoping for a positive answer.

Raijin went silent and made a serious expression thinking.

"If you don't want to–" Satoru began, but Raijin cut him off.

"You sure you can handle the intensive training?" Raijin asked. "My training involves studying as well."

Satoru's eyes widened as he pondered the connection between studying and training.

Before he could respond, Raijin continued, "Let's go to the library tomorrow after class. Now that we're academy students, we should have access to it."