And shortly afterward, Daichi and Hana silently stopped trying to discourage the friendship altogether. Not because they fully understood the consequences.
But because deep down neither of them wanted to be the people teaching their son to look away from loneliness. Back in the present, sitting inside the Hokage's office, Daichi slowly exhaled through his nose.
"…Honestly Lord Hokage," he admitted quietly, "…I don't think Rei even understands why the village treats Naruto differently."
Hiruzen observed him silently for a mont.Then unexpectedly, the old Hokage smiled. Small. Tired. But genuine.
"…Perhaps," he said softly, "that is exactly why children can sotis succeed where adults fail."
-----
Six months later.
"Mom."
"No."
"…You haven't even heard what I was going to say."
"I already know." Hana continued adjusting Rei's clothes with the terrifying precision only mothers seed capable of achieving. "And the answer is still no."
Rei sighed deeply. Today was his first day at the Academy. Officially.
And sohow, despite ntally preparing for the shinobi military education system for months now, the thing currently exhausting him the most was not the Academy itself.
It was his parents.
Specifically the fact that both Daichi and Hana had collectively decided to escort him there personally like he was so noble prince being sent toward diplomatic negotiations instead of a child attending school.
"I know the route," Rei tried again. "I have literally walked through half the village already."
"And?" Hana replied instantly.
"And I can go alone."
"No."
"…Mom."
"No."
"…This is unnecessary."
"You're our son attending his first day at the Academy," Hana replied while smoothing out invisible wrinkles from his clothes. "It is absolutely necessary."
Rei slowly looked toward his father for support. Big mistakeDaichi looked emotionally compromised already.
"My son is growing up so fast…" the chunin muttered while dramatically wiping away imaginary tears. "Soon he'll beco a very great shinobi and forget his old man…"
He didn't add the tag great shinobi out of nowhere. For the last 6 months he had seen his son go from nothing to actually go toe to toe against him. After 5 grueling months of constant practice and dedication to understanding jutsus, he was finally able to control all of the abilities that he had gained a year prior.
Both of his parents abilities were now in fluent control and execution. In fact, in order to prove to himself of how far he had co, he had asked Daichi to take him away from Konoha for a "field trip". Though he didn't understand why Rei was adamant of doing this experint, he relented.
They both went much further from the Konoha to the slight horror of Daichi. Rei had this paranoia of being spied upon and he made sure that he wouldn't give anyone any chance to even peep his way, into his private affairs.
There, Rei and Daichi fought for the first ti. And Rei was able to go toe to toe against Daichi. In fact, Rei was able to overpower him by so degree until Daichi showed his battle experience. The sheer cold way Daichi had handled him by the end and pinned him down, gave Rei goosebumps.
He might have inherited the techniques and the ways, but he couldn't inherit the ruthlessness and strategic mind of Daichi. After all, no matter what, Rei didn't have any military background from his previous life nor was he a genius like Itachi or Kakashi.
"You don't need to brood on this. I have completed more than 50 C class missions. It would be absurd if you were able to defeat . Soone who just practiced at ho." Daichi said, and for the first ti Rei ca to the realization that his father might be very jolly and absent minded at tis in ho.
But sure as hell when push cos to shove, he stepped up. Besides, according to his father, he would soon be promoted to Jonin class. Thus it could be seen how experienced his father.
He wanted to train more like this, away from the eyes of everyone, but sadly he knew that he couldn't. This outing was only possible because Daichi took special permission to take Rei outside, because according to laws, no child without graduation wasn't allowed to go out of the village.
It was done to prevent any death of young buds. Thus he had to return and also made sure that there were no bruises or else his father might have to go through so kind of review. But at that mont, Daichi was very proud of his son.
He knew that his son would easily be the top of the class and before they could bask in his glory, Rei had already dropped the bombshell. His results would just be above average and would never show his full power. This dismayed not only Daichi, but also Hana.
They couldn't understand why, but Rei just said he didn't care who was top of the class as long as he graduated. This boggled their minds, but Rei didn't care. Their concerns ant nothing to him when there was a person called Danzo hidden among the higher ups.
Honestly, Rei had forgotten how absurd the Naruto world actually was sotis. Children entered military academies while adults acted like this was sohow normal societal behavior.
Still… despite his complaints, he allowed himself to be dragged outside toward the Academy anyway. Mostly because resisting both Hana and Daichi simultaneously was an unwinnable battle.
As they walked through the village, Rei quietly observed everything around him.
It had been soti now since arriving in this world. Long enough that Konoha no longer felt entirely fictional. The buildings, streets, voices, slls… they all felt real now in a way ani never could properly capture.
And honestly? That realization still hit him occasionally.
Because sowhere ahead inside that Academy building sat children who would one day beco monsters by normal standards. Legendary shinobi. Walking disasters.
Life was strange. Eventually the Academy building ca into view. Rei stared at it quietly for a mont.
The beginning of canon.
Or at least… sothing close to canon now.
Because his existence alone already changed things slightly. Naruto had a friend earlier than expected. Tiny change perhaps. But butterfly effects in this world might beco catastrophic eventually. All he hoped that he would have the power to die peacefully and have enough strength to battle against that cursed family of aliens.
Ti. He hoped ti was in his side as he would prepare for what was to co.
The mont they reached the entrance, Hana imdiately crouched slightly in front of Rei and fixed his forehead protector-less collar again despite it already being perfectly fine.
"…Mom."
"Hold still."
"…You already fixed that three tis."
"And I'll fix it a fourth ti if necessary."
anwhile Daichi looked around proudly like he personally owned the Academy building.
"My son is finally becoming a shinobi…"
"…Dad I'm entering school."
"Future shinobi." Daichi said, and then lowered his mouth to his ears and said, ".. these younglings don't even know how easily you could graduate if you showed your full colors now." Rei only rolled his eyes.
Soon he entered the classroom.
The classroom itself was already partially filled. And imdiately Rei recognized several familiar faces. A black-haired boy sitting quietly near the window with an expression that practically scread leave alone.
Sasuke Uchiha.
Honestly… seeing Sasuke in person this young felt slightly surreal. Mostly because the future emotionally unstable avenger currently looked like an annoyed child forced to attend extra tutoring. He probably would have liked to spend more ti with his brother rather than do this.
Kid, one day, or at least for quite a length of your ti, you would even hate yourself for spending so much ti with your brother. Your good tis are asured.
Nearby sat a pink-haired girl nervously organizing her supplies every few seconds.
Sakura Haruno.
A blonde girl with sharp eyes chatted confidently with another student nearby.
Ino Yamanaka.
And there were others too. Familiar faces. Familiar nas. Children who would one day beco central figures of war(s), tragedies, victories and disasters. So of them Rei was going to do anything to stop them from happening.
Right now though?
One kid in the back was actively trying to eat paper. Rei imdiately lost so respect for the future Kiba. Yeah, it was Kiba who was trying to eat paper. As he was watching this, a loud familiar voice suddenly exploded across the classroom.
"REI!"
And imdiately several students turned toward the door.
Naruto Uzumaki practically lit up after spotting him. The blond boy imdiately waved both hands dramatically like he hadn't seen Rei in years instead of two days ago.
"You're in this class too?!" Naruto grinned widely before rushing over without waiting for permission. "Aweso! I knew you were smart enough to get in here!"
"…Naruto," Rei greeted calmly while ntally preparing himself for the incoming chaos.
Naruto imdiately dropped into the empty seat beside him without hesitation.
"I thought maybe they'd put us in different classes or sothing!" Naruto continued excitedly. "Now this class is definitely gonna be the best one, believe it!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers