That night, Jokichi packed his things and went home.
On the streets of Konoha, the crowd surged, as bustling as ever.
Jokichi bought some ingredients, returned home, cooked, and ate.
Afterwards, he washed the dishes clean and came to the dojo to sit quietly.
After his food digested a bit, he began to practice swordsmanship.
Shuriken could be practiced in crowded places, but swordsmanship and ninjutsu could not.
This would easily expose his own combat style.
Although they were companions of the same village.
But knowing the darkness of this village, he could not trust the village like the others did.
Moreover, he also had to consider factors like spies leaking intelligence.
Under the lamplight, the glint and flash of cold steel fluttered up and down, and the air was filled with a sharp aura.
Half an hour later.
Jokichi sheathed his sword and slowly exhaled a long breath of stale air.
On the ground, there was another three-meter-long sword mark.
However, compared to last night's, it was slightly shorter.
Mhm! His swordsmanship had slightly improved.
...
The next day.
Jokichi got up as usual and repeated yesterday's routine trajectory.
However, classes had started at the academy.
The first week was history classes about ninjas.
Especially the history since the founding of Konoha. Some famous ninjas who made outstanding contributions to the village were memorialized in the textbooks.
Although this kind of class did not help much in becoming a ninja, it could increase the students' sense of glory and belonging to the village.
After these classes, Jokichi often saw certain overly hot-blooded guys proclaiming that they wanted to become such-and-such a ninja.
In short, they were full of drive.
The second week began teaching the basic theoretical knowledge of ninjas. During this period, there was an outdoor class for physical training every morning and afternoon.
The third week, outdoor classes increased, and indoor classes decreased.
The academy started teaching the use of shuriken.
The fourth week, the fifth week, the sixth week...
The academy's curriculum changed every week, yet it was orderly, and the students' progress was very obvious.
Especially those civilian students who had no basic training, they were visibly improving every day.
The Ninja Academy was established during the Second Hokage's era, more than 40 years ago, and had long since figured out a reasonable teaching model.
It was just that, these were completely useless to Jokichi.
He had already mastered all the ninjutsu and killing skills necessary for a Genin, and his physical fitness had also reached the limit for this age group.
What he lacked was the knowledge and literacy a ninja should possess.
Jokichi did not want to waste time on useless outdoor classes, single-mindedly focusing on making up for his shortcomings.
During class and after class, whether it was an indoor class or an outdoor class, he always held a book and read it.
Some were teaching materials issued by the academy, and some were extracurricular reading borrowed from the library.
To increase efficiency, he got a strand of Sakura's hair through Naruto's prank and forged the item he wanted.
"Top Student Glasses: When the wearer studies, it improves concentration, memory, and comprehension ability. (Put it on, and you are a top student.)"
This was a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.
Wearing them, Jokichi, who already looked gentle, gained a bit more of a scholarly air.
With the Top Student Glasses, the knowledge that previously felt difficult to comprehend and memorize could be understood thoroughly very quickly.
Jokichi became even more addicted to studying, only practicing shuriken and swordsmanship at home or the training ground after school.
He became a famous bookworm at the academy.
Time flowed like water, always slipping away inadvertently.
The time arrived at June.
The scorching sun in the sky was like fire, making people faintly feel the approach of summer.
People gradually wore fewer clothes.
Jokichi was no exception.
A white tank top, army green knee-length shorts, and ninja shoes.
Slightly longer hair compared to before, and gold-rimmed glasses.
Truly elegant and easygoing.
Today, there was another outdoor class.
Jokichi was not interested. Holding a thick-covered book, he hid behind the crowd and read quietly under a large tree.
"Jokichi!"
Iruka's loud roar reached his ears.
Jokichi was stunned for a moment and looked towards the crowd.
He saw everyone in the class staring at him, and Naruto, Ino, and the others were winking at him from the crowd.
However, who could understand these grimace-like expressions!
Jokichi was powerless to complain.
He blinked, looked at his classmates, and asked, "Is something the matter?"
Iruka squeezed out from behind the crowd. Seeing Jokichi sitting under the tree holding a book, he felt somewhat angry inside.
Everyone else in the class daydreamed during indoor classes; only Jokichi daydreamed and slacked off during outdoor classes.
He had talked to Jokichi a few times. Jokichi would immediately admit his mistake, but afterwards, he still went his own way and did whatever he wanted.
Iruka believed that Jokichi could not become a ninja with this attitude and had also brought this matter up to the Third Hokage, hoping to expel Jokichi.
But the Third Hokage always kept a smile and told him that Jokichi would definitely be able to become a ninja who could stand on his own.
Iruka did not know why the Third Hokage was so certain, but he begged to differ.
Although the grades Jokichi usually displayed were not bad, every time there was an outdoor class, he daydreamed and slacked off...
As a ninja, Iruka knew how dangerous this profession was and clearly knew how important strength was to a ninja's career.
He allowed his students to daydream and slack off during indoor classes, but absolutely did not allow anyone to slack off during outdoor classes.
Because that was being irresponsible with their lives.
As a teacher, Iruka did not allow such a thing to happen.
However, since the Third Hokage did not allow Jokichi to be expelled, Iruka had no choice. He could only rack his brains to make Jokichi realize the importance of strength, hoping to change his behavior of daydreaming during outdoor classes.
Today, the academy's curriculum entered the sparring phase.
Iruka prepared to let Jokichi spar with Sasuke, who always ranked first in usual performance, wanting him to clearly see the gap between himself and the class's top student, thereby striving for improvement.
As a result, this guy ran to the side to read a book again.
Do you really want to become a ninja?
The veins on Iruka's forehead throbbed. "Jokichi!"
"Here."
Jokichi hurriedly closed his book and stood up.
Iruka stared intently at him. "Do you know what class this is?"
"Sparring class," Jokichi said truthfully.
Very good, at least he knows what class it is.
Iruka let out a breath and said, "Since that is the case, then you will be paired with Sasuke. Give a demonstration for the whole class first!"
Saying that, Iruka turned to look at Sasuke in the crowd. "Sasuke, step forward."
"Mhm!"
Sasuke nodded, came to the center of the training ground, and then let his gaze fall upon Jokichi.
"You go!" Iruka said.
"Phew..."
Jokichi let out a deep breath, holding the thick-covered book, and walked step by step to stand opposite Sasuke.
Sasuke looked at the book held in Jokichi's hands and raised an eyebrow. "You are going to hold this thing to fight me?"
"Because I do not have a bookmark, and I do not want to fold the page, in order to ensure I can read smoothly later, so..."
Jokichi raised the book in his hand, his index finger inserted between the pages. "Let's finish this quickly, I just reached a part I am interested in."
"Are you that eager to get beaten up?" Sasuke's gaze turned cold.
"Sasuke is so handsome!"
"Sasuke, teach that bookworm a lesson!"
"Sasuke..."
Sasuke's fangirls screamed like lovesick fools, with only Naruto and Ino singing a different tune in dissatisfaction.
Jokichi shook his head gently and did not reply.
It was just that under his glasses, his gaze became sharp.
Although he only wanted to study quietly, he had no masochistic tendencies.