Gacha Senju: Lucky Perks, Lucky Ladies

Chapter 2: The Path of a Shinobi Begins

Kiyoshi awoke to a surge of energy coursing through his body, his chakra humming with newfound vitality. The Chakra Affinity Booster was already working wonders. He flexed his small fingers, marveling at the sheer power simmering beneath the surface.

"Man," he muttered, stretching, "being a cheat character is kinda nice."

It had been about a week since he transmigrated into this world. He has already adapted to his new body.

He didn't remember how he died in his past life. No dramatic last words, no heroic sacrifice—just a sharp impact against his head, then darkness. And now, here he was, Kiyoshi Senju, a supposed descendant of one of the most powerful clans in the Shinobi World.

Over the past week, he'd pieced together a few crucial details.

First, this was the post-war period. The Second Great Ninja War had ended almost a year ago, leaving the world in a fragile peace. The war had forged legends:

The Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade— whose feats had shaken the battlefield.

Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of Konoha, whose blade struck fear into enemy ranks.

Hanzo of the Salamander, a man so powerful he defeated the Sannin in a three-on-one battle.

But wars didn't just create legends. They buried them too.

Like his parents.

Yes. He was an orphan in this life as well. Maybe this was fate, or maybe the universe just had a cruel sense of humor. Either way, it didn't matter. He had a new life, and this time, he would make sure he controlled his own destiny.

During this week, he had also tested his Gacha System.

His first pull had given him the Chakra Affinity Booster, which was, so far, his best prize.

His second and third pulls? Standard ninja gear and a plain black cloak—useful, but not game-breaking.

The fourth? An eavesdropping device, which was basically a ninja-grade bug.

"So… it's not broken-level OP. But it's still something." He'd just have to be careful about his gacha pulls. The rewards weren't unlimited, and there was no guarantee he'd get something useful every time.

Despite the war being over, Kiyoshi had noticed something unsettling. Konoha may have won, but it had paid a price.

The war had consumed too many of the truly skilled ninjas. The village's talent pool had diluted, leaving gaps that would definitely make the higher ups do something about it.

He had to be ready.

And today was the first step.

The Graduation Exam.

---

The Academy Exam

At the Academy, tension filled the air. Some kids fidgeted nervously, while others tried to act cool.

Kiyoshi? He was completely relaxed.

In his past life, he had seen countless shonen protagonists struggle through their weak phase before finally growing stronger. He was skipping all that nonsense.

The instructor, a no-nonsense chunin with a scar over his left eye, stepped forward.

"The exam consists of three parts," he announced. "Basic Ninjutsu, Taijutsu Sparring, and a Strategy Assessment."

Some kids gulped. Others clenched their fists with determination.

Kiyoshi? He already knew all these ( clan benefits ) and because of the surge of chakra he got in the past week, ensures that he will easily pass all these tests.

Basic Ninjutsu Test

One by one, students demonstrated the Clone Jutsu, Substitution, and Transformation. Some barely passed, while others, like Mikoto Uchiha, performed flawlessly.

When Kiyoshi's turn arrived, he stepped forward, hands in a casual ram seal.

Poof!

Three solid clones appeared, standing at attention.

The instructor's eyebrows shot up. "...A perfect Three-Clone Technique?"

A few students gawked. The requirement was one clone, and even then, most struggled with the quality. Kiyoshi's clones looked exactly like him. No flickering, no fading.

Mikoto, watching from the side, tilted her head slightly. He's better than expected.

Kiyoshi just smiled .

Sparring Match

For the sparring portion, Kiyoshi was paired against a loudmouthed kid who probably thought he was the next Raikage.

"Hope you're ready, Senju!" the boy sneered, cracking his knuckles. "'Cause I ain't goin' easy on ya!"

Kiyoshi sighed. They never learn.

The match started.

The kid charged, throwing a wild punch.

Kiyoshi sidestepped. Stuck out his foot.

Thud!

The kid tripped, landed face-first in the dirt.

Before he could recover, Kiyoshi casually placed a foot on his back, pinning him with almost no effort.

The instructor blinked. "Uh… Winner, Kiyoshi Senju."

The crowd murmured. The match had lasted less than five seconds.

Mikoto smirked. Not bad…

Kiyoshi dusted off his clothes, ignoring his opponent's groan of humiliation.

Well, that was ... something.

The next morning, students gathered in the Academy hall for their team placements.

Kiyoshi leaned against a wall, arms crossed. He had no real expectations—most Jonin were strong, but nowhere near Hokage level. Still, getting a competent team would make things easier.

The instructor read through the list.

"Team 11—Kiyoshi Senju, Mikoto Uchiha, and Ryota Kurogane."

Kiyoshi turned to see his teammates.

Mikoto Uchiha—raven-haired, red-eyed, sharp as a kunai. Future mother of Itachi, but right now? Just an ambitious young kunoichi with something to prove.

Ryota Kurogane—a tall boy with dark hair and a smirk that screamed overconfident swordsman. A katana rested on his back, hinting at Kenjutsu proficiency.

Kiyoshi frowned slightly. Kurogane? That name doesn't ring any bells… Which means he's either an unknown talent or… something else.

A voice cut through his thoughts.

"Alright, listen up."

Their Jonin instructor had arrived.

Kenshiro Inazuma stood tall, sharp green eyes scanning them critically. His presence was… unsettling.

I don't remember this guy from Naruto.

Which meant one thing—he didn't survive long enough to make an impact.

Kenshiro : "Follow me."

Later ...

Kiyoshi stood alongside his new teammates in an open training field behind the Academy. Mikoto Uchiha stood with her arms crossed, her crimson eyes sharp and calculating. Ryota Kurogane, the swordsman, had one hand resting on the hilt of his katana, his expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

Their Jonin instructor, Kenshiro Inazuma, stood before them with an unreadable expression. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with piercing green eyes and dark brown hair tied back. His flak jacket looked slightly worn, a sign of experience rather than neglect.

Kenshiro let his gaze linger on each of them before he finally spoke.

"So… these are the kids I have to train, huh?"

His tone wasn't condescending, but there was a certain weight behind his words.

"I am Kenshiro Inazuma, your Jonin instructor. From today onward, you are no longer Academy students. You are shinobi of Konoha," he said, arms crossed. "And if you think that means you're ready for real missions, you're dead wrong."

Kiyoshi listened attentively. The man had a serious, no-nonsense aura—nothing like the easygoing Kakashi or the warm guidance of Iruka.

Ryota frowned. "What's that supposed to mean? We already passed the Academy. We graduated."

Kenshiro's gaze flicked to him. "You passed a school exam designed to keep you alive. That's not the same as being ready for the real world. Out there, no one is going to grade you. They'll just kill you."

Ryota opened his mouth to argue but shut it when he saw Mikoto nodding slightly, her expression unreadable.

Kiyoshi remained quiet, processing the information. He's not wrong. The Naruto world was unforgiving, and even if he had some advantages, taking things lightly wasn't an option.

"You three were put on a team because the higher-ups believe your strengths complement each other," Kenshiro continued. "Whether that's true or not… we'll find out soon enough." His voice darkened slightly. "But let me make one thing clear—if I don't think you have what it takes, I will fail this team."

That made Ryota tense up. "Wait—fail us? Just like that?"

Kenshiro's expression didn't waver. "There are no second chances in this line of work. If you don't meet my expectations, you'll be sent back to the Academy or reassigned to another profession. A shinobi isn't just a job—it's a life-or-death responsibility."

A brief silence settled over the group. Mikoto remained still, her gaze thoughtful. Ryota clenched his jaw, clearly not a fan of the idea.

Kiyoshi finally spoke up, his voice calm. "So what do we have to do?"

Kenshiro glanced at him, as if reassessing him for a moment. Then, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"A survival exercise. You'll learn the details tomorrow."

Ryota scoffed. "Let me guess—a bell test? Every Jonin does that."

Kenshiro chuckled, but there was something cold in his amusement. "No. I don't do bells. My test is a real survival challenge. No gimmicks. No tricks. Just survival."

That caught their attention. Even Mikoto's posture stiffened slightly.

Kiyoshi felt a hint of unease, but he pushed it down. This isn't some game. He's serious.

"Meet me at Training Ground Four at sunrise," Kenshiro continued. "Eat if you want—but I don't recommend it."

Ryota rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on. That's such a cliché line."

Kenshiro smirked, his eyes gleaming with something almost dangerous. "Maybe. But tomorrow, you'll understand why."

With that, he turned and disappeared in a flicker of speed.

The moment he was gone, Ryota groaned. "Great. We got stuck with the hardass sensei."

Mikoto shook her head. "He's not wrong, though. The Academy didn't prepare us for actual combat. The real test starts now."

Kiyoshi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… I guess we'll just have to be ready for whatever he throws at us."

Ryota gave him a sideways glance. "You don't sound worried."

Kiyoshi smiled a little, but it wasn't cocky—just determined. "I am. But worrying won't help. Preparing will."

Mikoto looked at him for a moment, then nodded approvingly.

"Well," Ryota muttered, adjusting the strap of his katana, "guess we'll see who survives tomorrow."

Kiyoshi exhaled slowly, looking up at the darkening sky.

Yeah… tomorrow's going to be interesting.