After getting handed the test paper, Akihiko looked through it and saw that it was a 60-question test. Though he looked at it and saw that the questions were easy. It asked who the founding clans of the village were and things like what were all basic chakra natures.

‘This…is easy’ Akihiko thought before he began writing. He didn’t even stop writing before 20 minutes passed and his paper was completely filled out. Raising his hand, he called out to the teacher. ​​

“Sensei, I’m done.” Akihiko said getting surprised looks from not just the teacher but everyone else.

“Are you sure, Akihiko-kun? You didn’t guess did you, this is a test and you need a good grade to be able to make it to the next year” The teacher said as Akihiko nodded.

*sigh* “Very well, bring it here, I will grade it.”

After that, Akihiko gave it to the teacher as he watched his paper being graded. The next second, his teacher’s eyes widened in shock and said “F-full points! Not only that but each of the answeres are extremely detailed!”

Akihiko had a small smirk before it faded and he asked “Sensei, since I’m done, can I go home early?”

“Huh, err the test was supposed to take at least 2 hours but as you finished in 20 minutes, I will make an exception and release you from class early. You can go now, Akihiko-kun.” The teacher said as Akihiko nodded.

—–

Now Akihiko could be seen walking in the shopping district as he was lost in thought. ‘I have some free time, I guess I should use this time for training.’ He thought.

But he had to scrap that whole idea as he heard a shout from behind him,

“Hey Aki”

Turning around, Akihiko found 2 figures. They were Shikamaru, Choji.

“Huh? What are you guys doing here? Isn’t it supposed to be class time” Akihiko said as he raised his eyebrow.

“The same could be said for you, Akihiko” Shikamaru said earning a chuckle from Akihiko.

“Unfortunately, unlike you, my teacher released me early because I was the only one in class that finished my test in 5 minutes.” Akihiko said.

“Whatever, we saw you and thought we’d come say hi.” Shikamaru said.

Suddenly, Choji shouted “Aki, let’s go around Konoha together.”

“Alright.” Akihiko said with a smile.

—–

They spent the next few hours touring around Konoha with Shikamaru and Choji. Although he was mentally older, he had spent the last 3 years in a child’s body as well as being treated as a child so he had gotten a childish side to him throughout the years.

—–

The sky was dark as Akihiko was about to tell the duo that he was going to leave. Suddenly, Shikamaru pointed at something.

“Hey, look”

Looking at the direction of where Shikamaru pointed, Akihiko saw a girl their age with short platinum blonde hair,who Akihiko remembered as Ino Yamanaka, holding a flower. In front of her was a boy with raven black hair who Akihiko instantly knew, Sasuke Uchiha.

They watched as Sasuke politely rejected, leaving the girl to face the ground as tears started to come out of her eyes.

‘Still leaving a girl crying is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.’ He thought as he heard a bell.

*ding*

[Mission]

[Comfort Ino]

[Reward: Cookie Baking Mastery]

[Punishment: None]

…

…

Akihiko was brought out of his thought by Shikamaru’s voice.

“Man, what a drag.”

The girl also heard him and she turned towards him. She was going to talk and judging from her expression, she was probably going to get mad thinking they were going to make fun of her.

But before she could, Akihiko sighed and pressed his index finger with her lips indicating her to shush and with the other hand, he took the flower out of her hands getting a confused look from the girl. He gently put the flower behind her ear as he looked at the girl straight in the eye.

“You shouldn’t cry from something like that. Besides, you would be more cute if you smiled.”

Akihiko said before walking away while waving his hands to Shikamaru and Choji.

“Guys, I’m going back to the orphanage”

Shikamaru and Choji was left on the scene with a blank stare towards where Akihiko left.

‘Did he just flirt in front of us’

—–

[The next day]

Early in the morning, a young boy ran around the village. This was of course Akihiko who was trying to condition his body.

He was currently deep in thought as he ran.

‘I’m the top student in my class right now and I’m leagues ahead. I heard the teachers are thinking to transfer me to a more advanced class.’

‘I don’t need anything else other than to try and learn a more advanced taijutsu style as my taijutsu is basic taijutsu for all ninjas. I should find a suitable taijutsu teacher’ He thought.

But suddenly just as he was deep in thought, he was interrupted by a loud shout.

“YOUTH”

Turning around he saw a man of about the age of 22-23 with a bowl cut and bushy eyebrows as he sported a green spandex. The man then sped up and was soon running beside him.

“WELL, HELLO THERE MY FELLOW YOUTHFUL RESIDENT!!! I AM MOVED TO SEE SUCH A YOUNG BOY LIKE YOURSELF EMBRACE THE FOUNTAINS OF YOUTH.”

Akihiko was suddenly alarmed by the man and tripped on a rock.

“Ah!”

—–

“SORRY MY MOST YOUTHFUL FRIEND, I DIDN’T MEAN TO STARTLE YOU!!” The man said to Akihiko as he helped him up.

“No, it was my bad mister, I was deep in thought” Akihiko said as he realized the man’s identity.

“Oh, what would have you so deep in thought that you couldn’t focus?”

The man said intrigued.

“Well mister, I’m a civilian but I’m currently the top of my class. Though I only know the basic academy taijutsu style, I mastered it to an appropriate level. I was thinking of learning more advanced taijutsu style.” Akihiko said.

“OH MY GOODNESS!!! HOW YOUTHFUL!!!” The man said as he suddenly burst into tears. “I CAN’T BELIEVE OF HOW YOUTHFUL YOU ARE!!!”

“Uh, thanks I guess? My name’s Akihiko, mister.” Akihiko said pretending not to know the man.

“HAHA, IT’S NICE TO MEET YOU AKIHIKO-KUN! I AM THE HANDSOME AND SUBLIME GREEN BEAST OF KONOHA! MAITO GAI!!!” The man introduced himself as he suddenly gave a thumbs up pose as his teeth sparkled.

“IT’S YOUR LUCKY DAY YOUNG AKIHIKO, FOR I AM KONOHA’S TAIJUTSU EXPERT!” Maito Gai said.

“Ok…” Akihiko deadpanned.

“WH-WHAT’S WITH THAT LOOK?! I MEAN IT!” Gai said as he looked at the deadpanning face of Akihiko.

“YOUNG AKIHIKO, DO YOU WISH TO LEARN TAIJUTSU UNDER ME?!” Gai suddenly asked.

“Gai-san, do you know any ninjutsu?” Akihiko asked as he was curious.

“AHHHHH!!!!” Gai slumped down in defeat.

“Ah,I’m sorry young Akihiko but I’m bad at ninjutsu. I can only teach you taijutsu.” Gai said in a low voice.

“AH, that’s okay, Gai-san. That’s all I need anyway; I was just curious since you seem strong. What is your ninja rank if you don’t mind me asking?”

Just like that Gai seemed to once again burn with passion and said:

“AH, YOUNG AKIHIKO, LET ME TELL YOU MY TALE. I WAS ONCE TOLD THAT I COULDN’T BECOME A NINJA BECAUSE OF MY POOR TALENT IN NINJUTSU AND GENJUTSU” Gai started off in tears.

“BUT THEN THROUGH HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION, I MADE UP FOR IT WITH PURELY MY TAIJUTSU. NOT ONLY DID I BECOME A CHUNIN AND THEN EVENTUALLY BECOME A JONIN!!!” Gai yelled out before he turned to Akihiko and gave him a smile and a thumbs up.

“Ugh, Right so can we start now then?” Akihiko asked.

“VERY WELL, YOUNG AKIHIKO. LET ME TAKE YOU TO THE TRAINING GROUNDS.”

—–

“Alright, young Akihiko, this is training grounds 3. It used to be the training ground of my genin team but since they all become chunin, the team was disbanded.” Gai said.

“Alright, Gai-san” Akihiko said.

“Tell me, young Akihiko, when are you free. We can schedule when we could train and I might be away on missions as well” Gai told Akihiko who nodded because he knew that the higher the rank of the ninja the more dangerous the mission was.

“I’m free in the afternoon, Gai-san” Akihiko said as Gai nodded.

“Alright, I don’t have any missions right now so I’ll meet you here for the next week until I get a mission and help you with your taijutsu.” Gai said.

“Yes thank you, Gai-san!” Akihiko said.

The next week, Akihiko went and learned taijutsu from Maito Gai.

—–

(End-)

This is it for chapter 5.

I hope you have a nice day.