Past and Present

March, Konoha Year 57.

Today is a perfect day for a spring outing.

But at this moment, on this fine day, the bulletin board outside the Konoha Ninja Academy was bustling with people, countless parents and prospective students searching for something.

Shi Jian, all alone, squeezed and twisted through the crowded throng, and finally, with his small body, managed to stand in front of the notice board.

Ignoring the crowded throng, his gaze quickly fell on the civil service exam section, scanning it row by row from top to bottom. Finally, when it landed in the middle of the list, his gaze paused for a moment, as if he had finally found what he was looking for, and the tension he had been feeling finally eased.

Today marks the release of the new student admission list for the Konoha Ninja Academy.

Although he was very confident in his achievements, as an ordinary transmigrator... he was still a little worried.

That's right, Shi Jian, surname Shi, given name Jian. Although he was indeed a villager in his previous life, he was not a local.

Of course, in this world, as an ordinary commoner, he probably wouldn't have a surname.

Unlike other transmigrators, he did not have Uchiha blood, nor was he a child of the Hyuga branch family, nor was he a child of any ninja clan in Konoha. He was just an ordinary commoner.

He could even be said to have come from another village.

His mother was from outside the village. After her husband passed away, she couldn't survive outside, so she dragged her sick body and her newborn child to Konoha to seek refuge.

Logically speaking, it is extremely difficult for someone from another village to join a major ninja village like Konoha, let alone an adult. However, it is said that his great-grandfather had done a great favor for Konoha, and his mother was an ordinary commoner. Therefore, he was able to join Konoha very smoothly in the end.

As for what great favor... Shi Jian didn't know. Anyway, after his family came to Konoha, they received a lot of care from the village, which allowed his mother, a single mother raising a child, to successfully live there.

Therefore, the extent of that kindness is self-evident.

He guessed it was probably a favor left over from the early days of Konoha's founding.

Unfortunately, his mother came to Konoha alone with only one child, without bringing much with her. In addition, his mother passed away from exhaustion when he was four years old. Therefore, he has never found out how great her kindness was.

In summary, he is a time traveler, an orphan, an ordinary person, six years old this year, and in the same year as Naruto and Sasuke, the future chosen ones who will save the ninja world.

Logically speaking, as an ordinary person with no talent or resources, being a ninja is not a good choice. It might be better to find a way to make money and become a billionaire like the people next door. But since I've come to this world, how can I not be a ninja for once?

So when the Ninja Academy started recruiting, he applied and it seems he was successfully admitted.

All that's left is to submit the documents and wait for the start of school on April 1st, when he will officially become a first-year student at the Konoha Ninja Academy.

He has also made plans for his future, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

After studying hard for six years at school, he graduated and became a formal ninja. Then, he took on some mischievous missions to avoid the Chunin Exams that year, like Naruto and Sasuke. A few years later, he applied for the Chunin Exams again and successfully became a Chunin. Immediately after that, he applied to return to the Ninja Academy to become a teacher who spreads the Will of Fire.

After that, save up some more money and buy a house. Of course, it would be great if I could buy land on Hokage Rock.

Finally, get married, have children, and try your best to live!

This is perhaps the kind of happy life that an ordinary Konoha ninja can lead.

However, as expected, an unexpected event occurred.

The day before the ninja academy's acceptance list was announced, which was last night, his cheat code finally arrived.

At that moment, on the bustling street, a child with short black hair was walking along, talking to himself as he spoke to the air in front of him.

To outsiders, it looked like a madman talking to thin air, but in Shi Jian's eyes, it was as if he were making a video call with his past life.

On the other side of the screen, there are three figures: one with long black hair, wearing a black tight-fitting combat suit with red layered armor on the outside, and slightly red eyes that are sharp, as if he is examining whether the scene in front of him is an illusion. He does not look like an easy person to get along with.

Another man also had long, waist-length black hair, wore the same black tight-fitting combat suit and armor, and had a curious look in his eyes. He seemed to be a very amiable person.

The last one was also a man. Although he was still wearing the same black tight-fitting combat suit, he had short silver hair and blue layered armor. His eyes were full of scrutiny and contemplation, which seemed a little out of place with the two men in the previous couple's matching outfits.

Although decades had passed, Shi Jian recognized the three people at a glance.

From left to right: Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, and Tobirama Senju.

The three giants of Konoha in its early days!

This is the cheat code he obtained last night, which allows him to connect to the past Konoha.

Last night... while sorting through his mother's belongings, he unexpectedly found something that looked like an eyeball carved from jade. He was wondering what it was and why his mother would leave such a thing, especially since it looked so precious.

But he quickly stopped caring, put it in his mouth, and planned to bite it to see what it was made of. He even thought about whether he should sell it and make some money to see if he could buy a house and move out of that cramped apartment.

Out of curiosity, some chakra was channeled into it, and this window was formed.

"It really does look like Konoha! I didn't expect that bead to be so magical. I just put a little chakra into it, and it actually allowed me to connect with the future. Hey, little guy... Oh, right, little Shijian, hello, future Konoha child, I am Hashirama Senju. Can you see me?"

After hearing what Hashirama Senju said, Shijian also collected his thoughts, looked up, and saw Hashirama Senju, who was occupying the entire window, with his face very close to him, and was even waving to him, but before he could say anything...

There was a loud thud, as if someone had punched the First Hokage on the head. "Calm down, bro. We can't be sure yet. Maybe this is just a clever hoax? And if it were real, how could the guy on the other side not recognize you?"

Seeing the First Hokage clutching his head, looking utterly aggrieved, Shi Jian's lips twitched involuntarily, but he still nodded, acknowledging Tobirama Senju's words, "I do know you, Hashirama Senju, the founder of Konoha, and also..."

However, before he could finish speaking, Hashirama Senju leaned in again, as if trying to climb out of a window, and said with a grin, "So I really was remembered? By the way, has Madara become Hokage yet?"