Just as Itsuki and Tanako finished introducing themselves, the classroom door slid open again.
A large, broad-shouldered man walked in — his figure so muscular it almost didn't fit the image of a ninja.
Yet the moment he stepped into the room, an oppressive aura swept through the air like a storm.
The noisy classroom fell silent instantly.
He strode to the front of the class, scanning the rows of students with sharp, predatory eyes.
Then his gaze locked onto Arata's group.
"Team Eleven. Outside."
His tone was short, deep, and unquestionable.
Without waiting for a response, the man turned and left the room.
Itsuki and Tanako exchanged nervous looks.
"Our teacher looks… terrifying," Itsuki muttered.
Tanako nodded timidly. "We're doomed."
Arata, however, remained calm.
That aura… heavy killing intent. This guy must've come from the Anbu or something similar.
To Arata, that wasn't a bad thing.
Anyone who'd survived the Anbu was guaranteed to be strong — and disciplined.
"Let's go," he said quietly. "If we don't follow, we'll lose him."
The three of them hurried out.
Back inside the classroom, Naruto exhaled in relief.
"Phew! That guy was scary. Poor Arata — his teacher looks like bad news."
Sakura nodded, still shaken. "Seriously, who was that? He looked like he wanted to kill someone!"
Sasuke, on the other hand, frowned thoughtfully.
"That man's chakra… it's similar to his."
He didn't say the name, but everyone knew who he meant — Uchiha Itachi.
That kind of aura only came from someone who had seen death many times.
Outside, Arata and his teammates followed the man in silence through the village and out toward one of Konoha's many training grounds.
Each step felt heavier than the last — not from distance, but from pressure.
Itsuki and Tanako were visibly trembling.
The man hadn't said a word since leaving the classroom, and his silence was somehow scarier than yelling.
When they finally arrived, he turned to face them.
The vast open field stretched behind him — a small clearing surrounded by trees, far from the academy's bustle.
"Line up."
The three obeyed immediately.
Then it hit — a crushing weight, invisible but suffocating.
Itsuki and Tanako froze, their bodies trembling.
Even their chakra felt like it was being pressed down by an enormous hand.
Arata recognized the sensation instantly.
Killing intent. No — pressure. A test.
The man was releasing his will — raw, refined chakra pressure aimed directly at them.
Most genin would have collapsed under it.
But Arata… didn't flinch.
He felt his head spin for a second, his mind flickering under the invisible force — but he stood firm, eyes steady.
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Hoh… interesting kid."
His voice carried a note of amusement.
The killing aura dissipated.
Itsuki and Tanako gasped for air, pale and shaking, almost fainting.
But Arata's expression barely changed.
To anyone watching, it looked like he hadn't been affected at all.
Even the instructor seemed surprised.
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest.
"Hahaha… didn't expect that. Thought I was getting a batch of rookies, but you're something else, kid."
He took a closer look at Arata, the smile fading into curiosity.
Even some chūnin would've buckled under that level of pressure.
Arata met his gaze calmly.
"Sensei, I don't think it's appropriate to use that kind of killing aura on academy graduates."
His tone was respectful — but firm.
The man blinked, then smirked. "Heh. Fair point."
He waved a hand dismissively. "Guess you're right. Old habits die hard. If you'd said that to me a few years ago, I'd probably have smacked you."
He chuckled again, scratching the back of his neck.
"You're Arata, right? Looks like your academy reports didn't do you justice. You're not ordinary at all."
With his killing aura gone, the air finally lightened.
Itsuki and Tanako slowly regained color in their faces, though they still looked terrified.
To them, both their teacher and Arata were frightening in their own ways.
They hadn't realized the brunt of the pressure had been aimed almost entirely at Arata.
The little they'd felt had nearly broken them — but Arata had stood through the full storm.
So that's what power feels like, Itsuki thought, glancing at him with new respect.
The man crossed his arms and spoke again.
"Alright. Let's start properly. Name's Kimoto Tōichi. Call me Tōichi-sensei."
He gave a small grin.
"That was your first little test. You all passed — especially you, Arata."
Arata nodded silently.
"Now," Tōichi continued, "introduce yourselves."
Itsuki immediately raised his hand, full of energy again.
"Sensei! My name's Yamada Itsuki! My favorite food's grilled meat, my least favorite's green peppers! My dream is to become the world's strongest ninja — and the greatest Hokage in Konoha!"
Arata almost smiled.
So even outside the protagonist group, kids still dream of becoming Hokage…
Tōichi laughed. "Big dream, kid. You'll have to work harder than everyone else if you want to reach it. The strong aren't rare in this world."
His voice, now gentle and calm, had completely lost the earlier intimidation.
Tanako hesitated, her voice trembling slightly.
"M-My name is Motoya Tanako… I'm twelve years old."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Her golden hair swayed softly in the breeze, making her look even more delicate — and beautiful.
Even Arata, usually indifferent, found himself momentarily stunned.
So pretty… and yet, someone like her never appeared in the story. Which probably means… she dies later.
He frowned slightly.
I wonder if my existence can change that.
When it was his turn, Arata spoke plainly.
"My name is Arata. My goal is to become a competent shinobi."
A simple answer.
Not lofty, not dramatic. Just honest.
Because in truth, he didn't have a dream — not before the system appeared, and not after.