Chapter 16: I wanna be a great thief

Words : 1626 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 16 - I wanna be a great thief Ren sat comfortably at the last bench, positioned in the middle row, where he could observe the entire classroom while avoiding unnecessary attention. The room itself was spacious and well-lit, featuring high ceilings, a large blackboard at the front, and a podium for the teacher. The desks were arranged in neat rows, designed to allow the instructor to monitor every student with ease. The Elite Class seating followed a tiered layout, divided in the middle by stairs that led up and down. Each bench seated three students, and Ren found himself flanked by two interesting individuals. To his left sat Hitoshi Aburame, the quiet and composed, known for their stoic nature and mastery over insects. The boy had barely spoken a word since entering the classroom, his dark glasses concealing any hint of expression. To his right, someone slid into the seat beside him. "Hey, thief." "Hey, speedo." Ren's lips twitched as he heard what the boy had called him. Before he could react, the boy continued, "The name's Eiji Nakamura. Don't call me 'thief' here—that's my side profession. Well, side for now, since after becoming a shinobi, it'll be my main one. Yours too." Ren was speechless. He wanted to refute the absurd claim, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized... Eiji wasn't entirely wrong. In a way, shinobi were glorified thieves—spying, stealing, assassinating—all for the benefit of their village. Just as Ren was about to nod in reluctant agreement, his instincts screamed danger. He tried to move, but— THWACK! A sharp chop landed on his head. "Ow—!" Beside him, Eiji also yelped in pain, having been struck at the same time. Both boys jumped up onto the desk, turning around to see— Utakata-sensei, standing behind them, his hand raised. For the first time, Ren saw an actual change in their instructor's expression. The corner of Utakata's lips twitched slightly. That was when it hit them—he must have heard everything Eiji said. In a flat but pointed voice, Utakata spoke. "Good reaction, but when sensing danger, counter and create distance from the enemy." The entire class watched silently as Utakata lowered his hand and walked to the front of the room. "Now stop making a ruckus and sit down." Ren shot Eiji a look, to which Eiji simply stuck out his tongue while rubbing his head. Ren sighed, then turned to glance at Hitoshi Aburame—the boy hadn't reacted at all. Still sitting there as still as before. Another sigh. Now at the front of the class, Utakata faced the students. "My name is Utakata Ito, and I will be your instructor for your time in the Academy. Most of you have already met me at the test, and those who haven't have seen me now." His voice remained calm and firm, carrying an undeniable authority. "There is no need for introductions—I already know all of you. Instead, I will explain how your first year in the Academy will go." His sharp gaze scanned the room. "Any questions?" A brief silence— "NO!" the class responded in unison. Utakata-sensei wasted no time in making his expectations clear. "You are the Elite Class of this batch, but that doesn't mean most of you are safe. If you rank last or if your performance is unsatisfactory, you will be forced down a class and shifted to Class 1." The room immediately tensed as the students absorbed his words. "Your curriculum is also larger and more demanding than the other classes, so be prepared." Utakata continued, outlining the subjects they would be studying. Theory Subject included Ninja History – Understanding past wars, tactics, and shinobi legacies. Ethics – The morality of a shinobi, including mission conduct and loyalty to Konoha. Report Writing & Reading – Writing and analyzing mission reports, a key skill for any shinobi. Mathematics & General Knowledge – Basic calculations, strategic planning, and survival skills. "I will teach these subjects, but not for long. You are expected to learn them on your own. Chakra Theory would be the only theoretical subject I would be personally teaching in detail." "Practical Training will include Chakra Circulation & Control – Starting with basic chakra circulation before moving to fine control techniques. Taijutsu – Beginning with stretches and basic drills to condition the body for the Academy taijutsu style. For those of you who want a schedule for physical training meet me after class. "Sparring was originally scheduled for second-year students, but this class would start in the first year after one week. Shurikenjutsu and basic weapon training would begin next week." "Collect your study material after class is over. Any questions." As he finished, some students looked slightly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information. The response was disorderly as some tried to ask questions at once. Utakata flared his chakra slightly. A sudden wave of controlled pressure filled the room, causing several students to flinch. "Any questions?" he repeated, his voice sharp. This time, the response was loud and clear. "NO, SENSEI!" Ren grinned slightly, watching as some students straightened their backs instinctively. "Yeah, this guy isn't messing around." As Utakata-sensei continued speaking, Ren's mind was already drifting elsewhere. "As I guessed, the Academy will be a waste of time—except for the sparring sessions, I suppose." Most of the theory lessons would be too basic for him, and while some of the practical training could be useful, he had already surpassed the fundamentals on his own. "Maybe I should bring up the topic of the Shadow Clone Jutsu at dinner today." He had been holding off on asking Juichi, but if he could get access to it early, his training speed would increase drastically. "I hope he agrees. If I can get my hands on that jutsu, I'll be able to train far more efficiently." For now, though, he needed to find something useful to do while in the Academy—something that wouldn't make him waste his time. Just as he finished thinking, the bell rang. Students immediately stirred in their seats, some perking up at the sound. But their excitement was short-lived. Utakata, ever calm and serious, simply continued speaking. "Don't get excited. All your classes will be taken by me until the second year. If necessary, I will call in another instructor for later years." A few students visibly deflated upon hearing this. Ren, meanwhile, was more amused than anything. "Guess there's no escaping him." Utakata pulled down a large chart of the Elemental Nations and turned back to the class. "Alright. We'll begin with the history of the Elemental Nations today. Since you don't have your study materials yet, focus on the board." With that, he started the lesson. As the lesson dragged on, Ren shifted his attention to observing his classmates, using [Observe Panel] to gauge their levels. Most of them were the same students who had been allowed to skip the third test yesterday, except for two or three who must have been from the group that hadn't unlocked their chakra earlier or had taken the third test. The average level in the class was around 7, with no one below Level 6. The highest level as expected was Itachi Uchiha, sitting calmly at the front. Level 28. That was a whole 12 levels above Ren. But Ren knew better than to take this at face value. Just like his own capabilities were higher than what his level suggested, Itachi's real abilities were likely much greater. "He's at a solid Chūnin level already." For a six-year-old, that was nothing short of monstrous. Ren wasn't intimidated, but it was a good reality check. "If I want to stay ahead in the long run, I can't afford to slack off." The class continued for another hour before the next bell rang. Utakata rolled up the map he had pulled down and, without warning, called out a name. "Shio Nara." The room fell into silence. Utakata pulled a small stone from his pocket and, without hesitation, flicked it toward the last bench. The stone smacked into the head of a black-haired boy, who stirred awake lazily. With a tired sigh, the boy muttered, "Yes?" Utakata didn't waste time. "Names of the first five Kage." Without missing a beat, the boy answered, "Hokage: Hashirama-sama. Raikage: A-sama. Tsuchikage: Ishikawa-sama. Mizukage: Byakuren-sama. Kazekage: Reto-sama." Utakata nodded. "Correct. Keep standing. Don't let me catch you next time." Utakata continued calling on students, mostly those who had been sleeping. One by one, students stood up, some answering correctly, others getting stones thrown at their foreheads. Ren's neighbor, Eiji, was also called out. Unlike the Nara, he failed to answer, rubbing his forehead in frustration after taking a stone to the head. "Serves you right for calling me 'speedo.'" Ren thought, amused. After cycling through enough victims, Utakata finally spoke. "You are dismissed for today. Since this is your first day, you're free to go. From tomorrow, be present here at 9 sharp." Before anyone could react Utakata flickered out of the room. Just as Ren was about to leave, he heard a familiar voice call out to him. "Hey, speedo! Wanna go eat something?" Ren's eyebrow twitched. Turning to Eiji, he smirked. "Sure, thief. Let's get some dango." Then, with a perfectly innocent smile, he added, "The one who reaches last pays." Eiji froze for a second, his expression shifting as he realized— He was slower. His eye twitched. "Tch, frickin' speedo." Without another word, he took off running at full speed. Ren chuckled to himself before following behind.

Chapter 16: I wanna be a great thief

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