Naruto: The Sarutobi Who Can't Spark

The Ninja Academy is a military school–an institution dedicated to preparing students for the life of Shinobi.

To Raijin, it resembles a factory relentlessly producing young minds and bodies into efficient ninjas from an early age.

While the Academy stated its purpose was to protect young shinobi by providing necessary skills and proper training before they face any deadly combat, that might cost their own life.

But the reality was often harsher.

In times of war, even the safeguards promised by the Academy crumbled, and children found themselves thrust onto the battlefields long before they were prepared.

'Class 1-A'

Raijin paused at the doorway, examining the simple, traditional lecture hall. This was his classroom—where he would learn from the teacher and, hopefully, grow stronger.

'Feels like I've stepped into a university lecture hall, only to teach small children,' he mused.

Wooden desks were lined up in orderly rows, their surfaces etched with marks and scratches left behind by former students –years of restless energy and maybe boredom.

Rows of desks faced the podium in front of the blackboard, far from the student's desk where the teacher stood. The classroom wasn't specifically designed for large lectures; it was designed to keep students nearby for easier interaction and to allow the teacher to keep an eye on them.

His eyes crossed his new classmates, noting the clear division between clan children and civilians. The clan kids were easy to spot, the Uchiha's crest on the back of their dress and Hyūga's white pale eyes. The civilians fewer in number, clustered together.

From the second-last row, Satoru's enthusiastic waving caught his attention.

Next to him sat a boy Raijin didn't recognize. His presence was marked by distinctive black glasses and a high jacket covering his face as if he wanted to hide himself.

Raijin made his way up the stairs he noticed how the wooden steps creaked under his feet. 'Probably a precaution for prohibiting students from sneaking from the classroom or to the classroom.'

"You're on time by barely a minute," Satoru grinned as Raijin reached their row.

The kid, seated on the corner of the bench with tied black hair and black glasses covering his eyes, stood up. "Hey, I'm Yuuto Aburame. I assume you are Raijin Sarutobi." His voice carried a calm tone and genuine interest.

'Aburame huh… that explains about the black glasses.' Raijin thought, noticing Yuuto's one hand tucked into his sleeve. He replied, "Ah…yes, I'm Raijin–"

"Everyone, settle into your seats, quickly!" A sharp command cut through the students' murmurs in the classroom. Their instructor had arrived precisely at 8:00.

The students scrambled to find their seats, though light whispered conversations continued.

"Is he our class teacher?"

"Thank goodness it's not that scarred instructor from the entrance exam..."

"I hope the class will be fun."

The morning sunlight caught the edge of the instructor's headband as he strode to the podium, his presence commanding attention even before he spoke.

"I assumed our teacher would be the one with the deadly scar," Satoru whispered, leaning slightly toward Raijin and Yuuto.

Raijin nodded in agreement, while Yuuto Aburame adjusted his dark glasses, "Only Chūnin serve as academy instructors. The one with the scar was a Jōnin."

Raijin and Satoru both turned to stare at their bench mate, surprise evident on their faces.

"How'd you know he was Jōnin?" Raijin asked, his voice hushed.

"That instructor was Jōnin?" Satoru's voice rose slightly, earning a sharp look from the instructor in front of them.

Yuuto quietly chuckled at Satoru, "My parents answered when I asked them if he teaches at the academy."

Their whispered conversation ceased as their instructor cleared his throat.

"Welcome to Academy, I am Kaiyo Junpei, and I'll be your class teacher throughout your time here."

There was silence when the instructor completed his second sentence, his tone carrying the practiced authority of someone used to command attention. The class attentively listened to the new instructors who would guide them in the coming years.

"We'll start class with attendance first."

As the attendance was completed, marking all 35 students present, Kaiyo put down the record and spoke, "Out of the 180 students who took the entrance exam, you 35 achieved the highest marks."

Pride tingled his voice. "Each of you is expected to bring honor to Konoha, and as Class 1-A students, you've been granted access to the library's rank-E jutsu scrolls."

He paused, observing the students' varied expressions. Some were visibly excited, others indifferent, some composed, and a few practically bouncing in their seats with enthusiasm.

"I'll begin today's class with introductions," Kaiyo continued, his voice steady. "As mentioned, I'm Kaiyo Junpei, a Chūnin who served in the Third Shinobi World War alongside the Fourth Hokage." A collective gasp followed through this revelation. "I enjoy reading and playing shōgi during my breaks."

With that, the students began to introduce themselves one by one. The class was primarily composed of clan members, but there were a few civilians among them as well, each sharing their name, background, and a brief personal detail.

Raijin concluded there were three each from the Hyūga and Uchiha clans, two each from the Aburame, Fūma, Kohaku, and Kurama clans, and one each from the Inuzuka, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Onikuma, Shimura, Hoki, and Izuno clans. As for himself, he was the sole representative of the Sarutobi Clan.

The most surprising presence was that of a Senju student – a clan many believed had faded. 'The Senju aren't extinct after all,' Raijin mused, studying the quiet, unassuming girl, who carries a weighty legacy.

There were also 11 civilians, including Satoru Takahashi and his boundless enthusiasm.

Kaiyo outlined the curriculum with purpose, and his tone was clear and confident. "You'll be studying various subjects: mathematics, science, geography, history, the art of war and strategy, and finance. These will all be essential to your development as shinobi." He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle. "And, of course, you'll also be learning some cool jutsus."

Many students' eyes brightened at the mention of jutsu, their initial nervousness replaced by excitement.

Civilian students practically bounced in their seats, barely suppressing their excitement. The clan children, on the other hand, remained composed and maintained their 'dignity'. However, Raijin couldn't help but notice a few of them subtly leaning forward, their interest betraying their otherwise stoic expressions.

Even the typically reserved Uchihas in the front row leaned in slightly, their eyes sharpening at the mention of Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu.

Simply mentioning Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu was enough to make the children brim with excitement, and energy rising in each word.

Everyone keenly listened to Kaiyo's words; even the students from prominent clans, usually more composed, were now fully engaged.

Raijin observed the shift in the atmosphere, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. 'Not just anyone can become a teacher after all…' he mused, continuing to listen closely.

After introducing the curriculum and noticing the charged atmosphere, Kaiyo took the students on a tour of the Academy. This was a clever move, helping to ease the initial awkwardness among the children and himself as a new teacher.

The 35 children were led to visit every part of the Academy, from the expansive training ground to the rooftop, where they could see the faces of the four Hokages etched into the mountain stone.

At the training ground, Kaiyo allowed the children to observe the upper-class students practicing their taijutsu katas (forms and stances).

After the tour, Kaiyo dismissed the class for the day, but not before handing out an early assignment: visiting the library.

…

Students streamed out of the academy building, excited chatter filling the air. Yuuto Aburame also bid farewell to Raijin and Satoru before melting into the crowd.

Satoru's attention quickly shifted to the crowd emerging from Class 1-B. His eyes searched the crowd until he spotted Kaide's familiar hunched figure, walking through the pile of students.

"Kaide!", Satoru's voice boomed across the ground as he jumped and waved enthusiastically, his energy drawing several amused glances and raised eyebrows from passing students.

Trapped by the pressing crowd and social obligation, Kaide reluctantly walked towards them.

Raijin noticed his shoulders slightly curved more inward.

"Um... Hello." Kaide said.

"How was today's class?" Satoru asked oblivious to Kaide's posture said with enthusiasm.

"Um…" Kaide fidgeted while his eyes darted between Satoru and Raijin. "It was okay, I guess." His gaze found sudden fascination with a nearby pebble.

Sensing the mounting discomfort, Raijin stepped in smoothly. "We're heading to the library," he offered casually, deliberately keeping his body language relaxed. "Want to join us?"

"I ha-have some works…" Kaide's hand flew to the back of his head, scratching nervously at the phantom itches.

"Ok –" Before Raijin could respond, Satoru burst in with his characteristic optimism. "Then, we'll go to the library next time, then." He declared, his smile unwavering.

The afternoon breeze filled the moment of silence that followed, rustling through nearby trees as Kaide processed Satoru's words.

Finally, a small nod emerged, accompanied by the subtle loosening of his shoulders.

…

Inside the library, piles of books stacked on the towering shelves stretched towards the ceiling.

The numerous books had certainly made Satoru feel dizzy.

Raijin fought back a knowing smile looking at Satoru's expression, whereas his inner voice tinged with amusement. 'I'm one hundred and ten percent certain none of these contain lightning-style jutsu.'

The librarian, an elderly kunoichi with sharp eyes, provided them with access tokens bearing the academy's seal. "You have access to the general section," she explained, her voice soft and elderly. "That includes everything from basic shinobi guides to Konoha's history, plus the E-rank jutsu scrolls."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, making it clear that any attempt to access restricted sections would be... unwise.

"Let's look at rank-E jutsus." Satoru's enthusiasm bubbled over, his eyes lighting up like stars.

They made their way through the stacks, Satoru's fingers trailing across scroll after scroll, each title he read aloud more exciting than the last.

---

Rope Escapement Jutsu

Body Replacement Jutsu

Transformation Jutsu

Disguise Jutsu

Clone Jutsu

---

"I'd say Clone Jutsu is most fundamental for any shinobi," Raijin said watching Satoru struggle with the technical description before him.

It was clear from his friend's furrowed brow that the scroll's contents might as well have been written in another language—terms like chakra, chakra pathways, hand seals and their sequences, and the intricate interplay between physical and spiritual energy danced mockingly across each jutsu scroll, as foreign to Satoru as the distant stars.

The soft thud of Satoru's forehead meeting the wooden table echoed in their corner of the library. "What's the point of studying if I can't understand a single thing?" His voice carried the weight of early defeat, muffled against the desk.

Raijin reached past his dejected friend, his movements deliberate as he selected a different scroll from a pile of shelves. "Start with this one first. It covers the basics." His voice carried the quiet confidence.

"Huh... I just told you I don't understand—" Satoru lifted his head to protest.

"Academy students can take scrolls home to study," Raijin interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. "Fill out the form, and then we'll train until evening."

At the library, in the quiet expanse of the Query Section, Raijin patiently waited as Satoru completed the paperwork, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Still don't understand why I'm taking this scroll..." Satoru muttered, his pencil scratching erratically against the form.

Raijin let the silence linger for a moment before responding, "Trust me" he said. "By the time you're done in the academy, you'll understand exactly why you started with this scroll." The words hung in the air, heavy but with promise.

As they neared Raijin's home, the afternoon sun stretched long, casting shadows across Konoha's familiar streets. It was Satoru's first time visiting someone's home, and the streets seemed to hold a new and lively as he walked beside his friend.