If there was one thing I had learned after weeks in this orphanage, it was that routine was everything.
For a while, my days were dictated by sheer survival, avoiding unnecessary trouble, dealing with the little gremlins who had latched onto me, and making sure I wasn't tricked into babysitting them more than necessary. But slowly, I had started carving out a schedule that actually worked for me.
I mean, part of being an adult was having a routine by which your life flows.
Early mornings were for meditation and chakra control.
Afternoons were for light physical training and handling whatever chores Oba-san threw my way.
Evenings? Evenings were for reading.
At first, the books in the orphanage seemed pointless. I didn't need a shinobi adventure novel when I was already in a shinobi world, and the Fire Country folktales were just glorified propaganda.
All those tales and heroic epics weren't just for entertainment; they were indoctrination tactics. Carefully crafted narratives to breed loyalty, obedience, and pride in a system that needed followers more than thinkers.
I had seen all this before, back on Earth, where propaganda came dressed as patriotism, and history books were edited to favor the victors.
So while the others read and dreamed, he read and remembered: stories were tools, and whoever controlled them controlled the minds that followed.
Over time, I found value in them. Not in the words themselves, but in how they connected to the village and its people.
They showed what the nation cared about, what it feared, and what it hoped for.
When I came to understand this, I started reading them like a student.
They taught me how people were shaped, how loyalty was built, and how heroes were made to keep everyone obedient. In the end, those stories helped me grasp the system that created them.
By the end of the second month, I had read through all of them. Some, like The Will of Fire & Konoha's Ideals, I barely tolerated, but others, like Tales of the Sage of Six Paths, had me thinking about the deeper layers of this world.
Of course, books could only take me so far. If I wanted to truly understand Konoha, I needed to see more of it myself.
That was how I found myself standing at the orphanage gates, flanked by three children who had somehow wormed their way into my daily life—Kazu, Aiko, and Renji.
"I can't believe Hoshino-san actually let us go," Aiko muttered, arms crossed as she eyed the path beyond the gates.
I shrugged. "I've been asking for a while now. Guess she finally gave up."
Kazu snickered. "Or she figured if she didn't let us out, you'd just sneak out anyway."
That… wasn't untrue. But still… "Let's just go before she changes her mind."
First Stop… The Marketplace
The first thing that hit me was the smell.
I had expected the market district to be loud, chaotic, and packed with people. It was all of those things, but I hadn't expected the mix of scents that filled the air.
Fried dumplings, fresh produce, sizzling meat skewers, and the faintest hint of ink and parchment from the nearby stationary shop.
Kazu's eyes locked onto a vendor selling yakitori. "Damn. That looks good."
Renji grinned. "You think we could steal one?"
Aiko smacked the back of his head before I had to. "We're not thieves, idiot."
"Speak for yourself," Renji muttered, rubbing the spot where she hit him.
Ignoring them, I took a moment to take in my surroundings. Konoha wasn't yet a massive city, but it was busy, and despite the looming presence of shinobi walking among civilians, the place felt… safe.
The people weren't afraid. They walked freely, laughing, chatting, bartering.
The orphanage wasn't isolated, but it was definitely a different world from this. Out here, I could see the real heart of Konoha; not the shinobi forces, not the Hokage's administration, but the people who made the village what it was.
Aiko followed my gaze. "What are you thinking about?"
I shook my head. "Nothing."
"Liar."
I shot her a glance. She smirked.
Over the week, I've come to understand that this girl was too observant for her age which was dangerous but I didn't dislike it. She was still a kid and could make for a wonderful minion in the future.
Next Stop…The Hokage Monument
The climb up wasn't exactly easy, especially since we weren't allowed to use the shortcut shinobi took, but once we reached the top, the view was worth it.
I had seen the Hokage Monument before, of course. It was impossible not to, considering how it loomed over the entire village. But standing up here, staring at the massive stone face of the First… it hit differently.
I was reminded of a quote from my past life that went: Don't climb the mountain for the world to see you, climb the mountain for you to see the world.
Renji flopped onto the ground. "Man, I'm beat."
Kazu stretched. "You wouldn't be if you actually ran around more like Murakami instead of stuffing your face all the time."
Renji glared at him. "That's rich coming from you."
I let them bicker as I turned my gaze back to the village below. From here, Konoha looked smaller, more contained, but also… larger than life. This was a village built on the backs of two legends.
One day, I'd be part of that.
Not as Hokage, but as someone who mattered. Someone strong enough to carve out his own place in this world.
As for being Hokage? Hell no. I had no interest in that particular burden, and to reach the stage where I could walk any which way of my choice, I had to accumulate power.
And that started with my routine.
Three Years Later
By the time I was seven, I had refined my schedule into something rigid and unshakable.
Mornings were still for meditation and chakra control. My reserves weren't anything special yet, but my control had improved significantly.
I could balance a couple leaves on my forehead indefinitely, and had even started experimenting with wall and tree walking.
I didn't know how much my chakra was compared to others my age since I wasn't a sensor, but I reckon it was alright.
Afternoons were for physical conditioning. I wasn't old enough for intense strength training, but I ran, did the basic saitama exercises in reps, and kept my endurance up.
Evenings were for reading.
By now, I had exhausted the orphanage's pitiful collection, but Hoshino-san had started lending me books from outside which included shinobi-related topics and general knowledge, others were just stories, but all of them had value.
I wasn't a genius, that much I could ascertain in the fact that it took me three years to indefinitely balance several leaves on my body.
By Indefinitely, I mean my chakra recovery had finally surpassed the rate of chakra loss needed to keep the leaves in place.
Any one would've immediately moved on to the next stage, but i wanted to build a very solid foundation in my chakra control.
I've seen the anime and the sequel and know the importance of that particular skill so there was no way i was going to just skim through it.
I wasn't born with some hidden bloodline or monstrous chakra reserves that could make up for
But I was disciplined.
And discipline?
Discipline could bridge the gap between talent and success.
Present Day.
Even though I had explored most of Konoha by now, I still found myself wandering its streets when I had free time.
Some things had changed, I was taller, stronger, more aware of the world around me, but sadly, some things stayed the same.
Renji was still an idiot. Kazu was still a little demon. Aiko had mellowed out a bit, but only just.
As we walked through the village, I caught sight of a few shinobi moving through the streets, and something in me stirred.
One day, that would be me.
One day, I'd trade these casual strolls for something more.
For now, though…
For now, I had a routine to maintain.
And the first step of that?
Making sure Renji didn't actually try to steal that yakitori this time.
"Renji, I swear to god—"
He bolted.
Sigh. Three Years and counting and I can calmly still say this…
I fucking hate kids.
…
Renji didn't make it far before I caught up to him and snatched the yakitori from him while he instinctively made to protect his head with his hands.
"Hey!" He cried in surprise and anger as I chomped on a good portion of the yakitori before throwing the steak to Aiko and Kazu who just now caught up.
"You thief!"
"Kettle…meet pot." I sneered at him and shifted my gaze to see if the stall owner was on our tail.
You didn't think I was actually going to return the Yakitori…did you?
Hah. Please, I'm not that kind. I myself won't stoop so low as to perform such an action but I sure as hell can take it as a reward for apprehending a thief.
I was merely recovering a stolen item. Hell, I should even be rewarded for this. Ah, I've already had my reward.
"You know Renji, it's about time you stopped stealing with Mura-chi around." Kazu said as he slurped the last bit of the stick before flinging it aside.
"So he can do that in my absence?" I couldn't help but shake my head at this boy's reasoning.
Is that anyway to admonish a wrongdoer?
He wasn't wrong though. The rule of this world was Survival Of the Fittest and the strongest fist always wins.
Kazu smirked, stretching his arms behind his head. "Yeah, 'cause if Mura-chi's around, you don't even get to taste what you steal. At least when he's not here, you get a bite before you lose it."
I sighed. "That's… not how morals work, Kazu."
Renji groaned. "I hate you both."
Aiko chuckled. "Next time, try running faster, Renji."
Renji shot her a glare, then turned back to me. "And you! Since when did you get that fast?"
I smirked, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "Since I started training while you were busy perfecting your getaway routes."
Kazu snorted. "Damn, imagine stealing something and not even getting to taste it. That's gotta be a new level of pathetic."
Renji threw his hands up in frustration. "You guys are the worst."
Seeing as there was no one on our tail, I relaxed slightly while also marvelling at the speeds of Renji, Kazu and Aiko.
It's really as they say, when a human becomes an immortal, even his dogs rise with him.
Now I'm not calling my hateful siblings dogs, but I guess being around me did make them learn a thing or two.
The kids in the orphanage all see my actions as weird and I don't blame them. Seeing someone who's similarly, a child, being so disciplined can be mind boggling for them.
It's probably akin to a normal person and a crack head.
A normal person can never imagine the feeling a crack head gets no matter how euphoric he feels…hmm. This feels like a bad comparison but I suppose we all get the gist.
When the initial little group of seven asked, I immediately said I was having fun and they all immediately became interested. A few minutes into our 'fun' and they were down.
Pitiful.
As I continued, it turned into a competition to some, a waste of time to some and fun to some.
Aiko wouldn't be caught dead sweating like a pig…as she puts it. She very much loved her elegance and wouldn't stoop so low as to exercise, but she stretches in her privacy.
She thinks no one knows but I happened to chance upon her. I guess she could be a wonderfully flexible kunoichi if she ever has the interest.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Aiko suddenly crossed her hands comically and took a few steps back but I only scoffed and looked away.
Did she think I'd react to that? "Why'd you guys even follow me?"
"I don't know about those two but Kana-chan and the others were being secretive so I was stuck with you." Aiko said immediately, much to the dissatisfaction of Kazu and Renji but I had already tuned them out.
I think it's about time I had this talk with Hoshino-san.