In the summer of Konoha's fifteenth year, two or three years had passed since the end of the First Ninja World War. The five great ninja villages were still recovering, quietly rebuilding their strength.
Though the brutal war had officially ended, news of shinobi dying on missions still occasionally reached the village. The air around Konoha remained heavy—taut with tension and tinged with sorrow.
Yet, within the Konoha Ninja Academy, that somber atmosphere didn't seem to exist. The school was lively, filled with the energy and noise of young students, untouched by the shadow of war.
Watching the children from his office window, the young Third Hokage smiled faintly before turning back to the mountain of paperwork on his desk.
Signs pointed to the war truly being over. The five villages had exhausted too much and needed time to recover. There likely wouldn't be another major war for at least a decade.
Now, the real problems lay within—issues rooted in the village's founding, going back to the Warring States era. The aging elders of the Senju, the proud Uchiha, and other powerful clans each presented their own challenges.
As Hokage, he still had much to handle.
But there was one thing to be hopeful about—the next generation was already taking root. It was almost time to choose a successor, someone to pass on the Will of Fire.
The Third flicked his cigarette holder into the ashtray. His gaze turned thoughtful.
What sort of talents are growing in the academy now?
---
Crack...
In a classroom not far away, the teacher was speaking animatedly, but his sharp ears picked up a faint, suspicious noise.
His eyes darted to a plump girl near the back of the room—clearly from the Akimichi clan. Snacks were practically their trademark.
But when she noticed the teacher's piercing stare, the chubby girl blinked in confusion. Her innocent expression said she had no idea what he was looking at her for.
Crunch.
There it was again. The sound echoed louder this time.
No doubt about it—someone was definitely eating in class. But it wasn't the Akimichi girl.
The teacher narrowed his gaze, scanning the students. Their faces were all calm, completely ordinary. No one looked guilty or bold enough to sneak food in front of a veteran elite chuunin. Especially not on the very first day of class.
Who was it?!
He couldn't let this slide. It would be an insult to his authority.
Still lecturing on the ideals of the ninja academy, his eyes flicked from face to face, sharp as a hawk's. The sound persisted, stabbing at his ears. A vein twitched on his forehead, his voice growing tense and bitter with each passing second.
This little brat… Whoever you are… You're mocking me!
Crack.
Just then, a soft, innocent voice broke the tension.
"What are you eating?"
A girl whispered the question to the student beside her, assuming the teacher wouldn't hear.
But no such luck. The chuunin's ears were sharp, and he caught every word. With a sharp glance, he locked his eyes on the two girls sitting side by side.
One of the girls had striking white eyes and snow-pale skin, as delicate as porcelain. She looked like a doll—elegant, serene, and almost too perfect to be real.
The other girl, on the other hand… well, it was hard to tell if she was a boy or a girl just by looking at her.
That is, until she opened her mouth.
"What are you eating? You've got those smug eyes—can't you see for yourself?"
Her voice was sweet and melodic, like a lark's song, but she spoke with a calm boldness. No embarrassment, no guilt. Just blunt honesty.
Too arrogant!
This brat!
She's not taking me seriously at all!
The teacher's gaze locked onto the masked girl who had spoken. By now, the entire class had turned to look at her too.
She wore a pure white robe with a hood that shadowed most of her face. Long black hair peeked out from beneath it, and her entire body was wrapped tightly in white—right down to the fox-like mask she wore, etched with simplistic, insect-like patterns.
The outfit seemed familiar. It had to be from one of the village clans.
But it was no wonder the teacher hadn't noticed her before. Behind that mask, other than her pale eyes, there was no way to tell what she was doing—let alone if she'd eaten anything. Her hands had barely moved.
Still… got you now.
The teacher narrowed his eyes and inhaled sharply.
At that moment, the obedient-looking girl with white eyes—clearly a Hyūga—turned and addressed her desk mate, curiosity piqued.
Crack.
Without any visible movement, the masked girl bit down again on some unknown snack.
A faint, bizarre aroma drifted through the air, catching the Hyūga girl's attention. She leaned in instinctively to investigate.
Then—suddenly—she froze, eyes wide.
A second later, her shrill scream echoed through the classroom.
And before anyone could react, she collapsed backward in her seat and passed out cold.
The class stared in stunned silence.
Every eye turned toward the masked girl, who simply raised her hands in an exaggerated gesture of innocence.
"I didn't do anything," she said lightly. "She fainted on her own."
The teacher's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You. What's your name?"
"Aburame Maki."
Aburame, he thought grimly. Of course. And she scared a Hyūga into unconsciousness… just by chewing.
At that age, she'd already begun practicing her clan's secret arts. The teacher shivered. He didn't want to imagine what the Hyūga girl had seen with her Byakugan.
"You," he asked, tense, "what exactly were you eating?"
Maki tilted her head. "Would you like some, teacher?" she offered sweetly.
She held out her hand. It was completely covered with squirming, glossy black beetles.
The teacher flinched. So did half the class.
It wasn't hunger they felt—it was pure revulsion.
Several of the girls turned green and covered their mouths to keep from gagging.
No one had ever heard of the Aburame clan eating the bugs they raised. Not seriously, anyway.
What a strange kid.
"…No, thank you," the teacher said through clenched teeth.
"Oh." Maki sounded genuinely disappointed as she withdrew her hand. "They're tasty. Crunchy and crisp."
She began to count off on her fingers. "I've got original flavor, milk, spiced, cocoa, and candied fruit."
As she spoke, the Hyūga girl slowly regained consciousness. The moment she realized where she was, she scrambled away from Maki like she'd been sitting next to a plague.
Her eyes welled up, but she fought back tears.
The teacher pinched the bridge of his nose, his patience wearing thin.
"You know you're not allowed to eat during class, right?"
Maki glanced sideways at her desk mate, then shrugged.
"Well, since it's the first day, I suppose you didn't know the rules," the teacher continued, trying to stay calm.
"I did know," Maki replied, without missing a beat.
A thick vein twitched on the teacher's forehead.
"…Out. Hallway. Now."
"Okay."
She didn't look the least bit remorseful. She practically skipped to the classroom door, her red wooden clogs tapping cheerfully on the floor. The white wrappings on her feet peeked from beneath her robes, and she kept munching as she stepped into the hallway.
The teacher stood at the front of the room, rubbing his temple and taking slow, deep breaths.
I can already tell this year is going to be trouble.
"Alright, everyone," he said wearily. "Let's start with introductions."