For almost a week I mostly stayed at home, worked out, and attended Master Shuzo's fuinjutsu lessons every day. It was the usual routine whenever I had my summer break, but this week felt different. Master Shuzo was noticeably more lenient and patient with me, as if he was giving me space to grieve without piling on his usual strict demands. He never said anything about Daiken's death, but I could tell that was why he held back.
Still, I felt stuck in limbo. What would happen now with my training? Would I just go back to the normal classes like everyone else, or would someone else step in to supervise me the way Daiken was intended to do? I didn't have to wonder for long.
One evening, I was sitting at my tiny table, halfway through dinner, when I heard a knock at the door. I moved slowly to answer it, mind wandering. I'd seen Genta that morning, so it wasn't him. Shizuru hadn't come by once since Daiken's funeral, probably buried under her own training. She was never close to Daiken anyway, so I didn't expect her to come pay respects, but part of me thought she might check on me. She didn't. Maybe that was for the best.
I grumbled under my breath at the thought that it might be yet another poor idiot trying to rob the "orphan kid's flat." I swung the door open, ready to deliver a sarcastic line. Instead, my eyes went wide. The Third Hokage himself was standing there, dressed in his layered robes and the old Kage hat resting on his head. His face looked tired but calm, with a small, patient smile tugging at his lips.
My mind stuttered. Why was he here? What did he want from me? Did the Hokage really have time to visit a nobody like me? I just stared at him like an idiot for what felt like a full minute. Hiruzen looked mildly amused by my shock, the faintest smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Then he cleared his throat, snapping me out of it.
I scrambled to make my voice work. "Lord Hokage! It's… it's an honor to meet you, sir. Please, come in. My place is humble but, uh… please."
Hiruzen's eyes twinkled with a glimmer of warmth as he stepped inside. "Sorry to intrude."
I thought to myself, It's not like you asked permission first. But technically this is his house, it's village property after all.
He walked in slowly, his gaze drifting from corner to corner. I watched him take in every piece of cheap furniture, every rickety shelf stacked with things I had "borrowed" over the years. Mismatched food plates, cups with the Academy's mark still half-scrubbed off, a random pile of old stationery, and at least three teapots I definitely did not buy. His eyes narrowed slightly when he spotted it all. He didn't say a word, but the corners of his mouth twitched like he was trying not to laugh or scold me right there.
Then he looked at the table, raising an eyebrow at the ridiculous amount of food spread out for just me. "Do you have guests tonight, Noa?"
I shook my head, rubbing my neck. "No, sir. It's just my dinner."
He studied me for a moment, then tilted his head back and looked up at the ceiling. His eyes traced the mural I had carved and painted up there, a swirl of animals, people, and abstract shapes, like a piece of my thoughts and feelings frozen in colors and scratches. He actually chuckled. "I didn't expect you to be an artist, Noa."
I gave him a sheepish grin, scratching my head. "It's a hobby. It keeps me calm."
He nodded thoughtfully. "I am glad it does. It also shows you understand how to train your chakra precision and control without making it feel like a chore. Using a hobby like this to build shinobi skills is clever. It keeps the mind sharp and the training from growing dull."
I was surprised he read that much into it with one glance. But then again, he was the Hokage. If only he could see everything else this clearly, maybe half the problems in the village wouldn't exist.
Hiruzen's eyes returned to mine, a flicker of sadness crossing his face. "I am sorry the first time we speak like this is during your time of mourning."
The ache in my chest thudded again. My shoulders slumped without me meaning to. "Yeah… it's unfortunate what happened to Daiken-sensei."
Hiruzen's tone dropped lower, heavier. "I meant every word I said at the funeral. He was a good and valuable Konoha shinobi. He will be avenged."
I narrowed my eyes, my voice coming out flatter than I meant. "May I ask who killed him?"
Hiruzen sighed, lines deepening at the corners of his eyes. "We do not know yet. They covered their tracks well. But we are following what few leads we have."
I looked down at the floor, disappointment souring my tongue. Another mess, another question mark. One more thing Konoha's watchful eye somehow didn't catch until it was too late.
Hiruzen drew in a slow breath and spoke again, softer this time. "Noa, we had planned your specialized training for the coming year. Daiken was to be the one overseeing it. Now, without him, and with tensions as they are, every shinobi we have is needed elsewhere. There is no one else I trust enough to take on that task right now. So, you will continue with the third-year class at the Academy."
I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up a hand, his gaze steady but kind. "During this year, I will see to it that you receive new lightning ninjutsu techniques that suit your style. You are already capable enough to graduate, but I believe it would be unwise to send you into the field just yet. You're strong, Noa. Very strong. But you are still young. Give yourself another year to grow."
I could feel the tiny spark inside me light up. Hiruzen was known as the Professor for a reason, if anyone knew lightning ninjutsu beyond the library scrolls, it was him. He caught the flash in my eyes and smiled, probably thinking I was just another kid excited about flashy jutsu. To be fair, he wasn't wrong.
He looked around my little flat again, letting out a small sigh. "I wanted to check on you personally. Make sure Daiken's loss didn't crush your resolve. I can see that you are grieving, but you still have your drive. Good. Hold onto that, Noa. You will need it."
An ANBU flickered into view by the door, his voice rough and businesslike. "It is time, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen's shoulders sagged just a bit, that old tired weight settling back on him. "I wish we had more time, Noa. But duty calls."
He rested a surprisingly light hand on my shoulder. "Keep working hard. The village looks forward to your growth, and we will do our best to nurture you." His eyes flicked back to the table and my pile of food. "At least my short visit made sure your dinner didn't get cold." He chuckled, the sound small but real.
He stepped out the door but paused just long enough to look back with a faint grin. "I will see to it that your village-provided stipend is increased. It will help with your generous meals."
My eyes widened in genuine delight as he and the ANBU vanished into the night.
I sat back down at the table, my mind was still spinning, but I dug into my food anyway, grinning like an idiot. More money meant I could finally stop patching up these same tattered clothes every other week. Maybe I'd even buy a halfway decent shirt that didn't scream "Konoha's cheapest orphan."
I let out a quiet laugh, wiping the back of my hand across my mouth. If I was going to do this right, I needed to get better and stronger in more ways than one. It was time to learn kenjutsu, and if Sena's parents were so interested in me, maybe they'd help. Just enough to benefit without giving up anything in return. I pictured Sumire's cold smile and shivered, then snorted.
Trying to trick someone like her wouldn't be easy. But then again, when have I ever liked easy? I'd keep pushing, step by step. For me. Because staying still was never an option.