The wind always felt different to Kaito.
It didn't just blow. It whispered. Sometimes it carried voices — one in particular. A woman's voice. Soft. Sad.
"Kaito… run…"
He didn't know who she was.
All he knew was that she only came in dreams, just before it rained.
He stood on the rooftop of the orphanage, watching the sky. The morning sun peeked through the clouds, turning them gold and gray. The village below was starting to wake up. Merchants pushed their carts down narrow alleys. Early-rising shinobi jogged past in blur-red uniforms. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked.
But up here, it was quiet.
Peaceful.
Kaito liked it that way.
He glanced down at his right forearm. A thin red line ran from wrist to elbow — a kunai scrape from yesterday's sparring. It was bleeding again, but not badly. He didn't feel pain the way others did. He didn't really feel… much at all.
Still, it looked bad.
"You're bleeding."
The voice was soft. He turned.
Hinata Hyuga stood beside him. He hadn't heard her approach.
She held a small roll of bandages in one hand. Her eyes — pale lavender, like moonlight through water — didn't quite meet his. She looked down quickly, cheeks pink.
"You should cover it," she said.
"It's fine."
"It'll get infected," she replied, almost in a whisper.
She stepped forward, unrolling the bandage carefully, and began wrapping it around his arm. Her hands trembled slightly, but she worked gently, precise.
"You don't talk much," she said.
"Neither do you."
That made her smile — just barely.
"I don't think you're scary," she added after a pause. "Even if everyone else says you are."
Kaito looked at her. "People say that?"
She nodded. "They say weird chakra things happen around you. That birds follow you. That… you're cursed."
He didn't respond. She lowered her head.
"I don't think they're right," she said. "I think… you're just alone."
Kaito blinked.
"…Thank you."
She smiled again — this time, a little wider — and turned to leave.
After she was gone, Kaito sat for a moment longer, staring at the clouds.
Then he stood, dusted himself off, and walked to the edge of the rooftop. The Academy building stood a few rooftops over, already crowded with students in the courtyard below. He could hear Kiba's loud voice, Naruto's excited yelling, and Sakura's endless sighs.
He didn't want to go through the front gate.
He jumped.
The wind caught under him, slowing his fall just enough to land without sound. His sandals touched down on a quiet patch of grass just behind the school wall. No one noticed.
That was how he preferred it.
Inside the Academy, Iruka-sensei stood at the front of the classroom, clipboard in hand. He was smiling, but there was a slight tension behind it. He scanned the students sitting in neat rows — some whispering nervously, others leaning back in confidence.
"All right, class," Iruka said, raising his voice. "Today is the graduation exam. If you pass, you become genin — real ninja. If not… well, there's always next year."
A few students laughed. Naruto grinned like he already won. Sasuke stared out the window, uninterested. Kaito sat in the far back corner, silent, hood up. No one looked his way.
The first half of the test was written. Kaito finished in ten minutes.
The second part was jutsu.
Outside, in the practice field, one by one the students performed the Clone Jutsu. Most did well enough. A few failed — Naruto couldn't even form one properly.
When Kaito stepped forward, the room went still.
"Your turn, Kaito," Iruka said cautiously.
Kaito said nothing. He raised his hands. Inhaled.
A swirl of wind gathered at his feet.
In a flash — three perfect clones appeared beside him, each shimmering slightly with a faint misty aura.
Iruka's eyes widened.
"Mist-enhanced clones," Mizuki muttered beside him. "He fused it without a scroll…"
Iruka nodded slowly. "Pass."
Kaito said nothing. He turned and walked away.
Behind him, Mizuki leaned in. "He's not normal."
Iruka frowned. "No. But… maybe that's not a bad thing."
Later that day, while the students waited outside for team assignments, whispers flew.
"He made three clones… without even trying."
"I heard he talks to birds."
"Don't look at him too long — he'll curse you."
Kaito leaned against the wall, pretending not to hear.
Hinata stood nearby, glancing his way. Kiba glared at him. Naruto sat on a swing by himself.
Then, Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared.
The Third Hokage. Old. Wise. Watching everything with tired, sharp eyes.
He leaned down to Iruka, who held the team lists.
"Change Team 8," Hiruzen said quietly.
Iruka blinked. "Sir?"
"Place Hyuga Hinata on Team 14."
"What about Kiba and Shino?"
"They'll adjust. The boy needs balance."
Iruka hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, Lord Hokage."
When the teams were announced, confusion rippled through the crowd.
"Team 14: Kaito. Hinata. Rei Inuzuka."
Kiba growled. "What?! That was my team!"
A new boy stepped forward — Rei Inuzuka. Wild hair. Brash grin. A large white dog at his side.
"This is gonna be fun," Rei said, eyeing Kaito. "What's up, fog-boy?"
Kaito said nothing.
Hinata stepped closer, standing between them.
A man appeared behind them, silent as a shadow.
Tall. Long black coat. A sword across his back. Sharp gray eyes that missed nothing.
"I am Takeshi," the man said. "Your jonin instructor."
Kaito looked up.
Takeshi was already watching him.
High above, on a distant rooftop, two masked figures crouched in the shadows.
"Team 14 has been formed," said one.
The other nodded. "Project Skyfall… is in motion."
Lightning flashed in the far-off clouds.
And in the wind, only Kaito could hear it:
"Run."