The principal's office smelled like old paper and chalk.
Naruto fidgeted in his seat, feet swinging, arms crossed like he was preparing for a full-blown interrogation.
Ren sat beside him, still. Calm. Eyes on the wall.
Iruka stood near the desk, pinching the bridge of his nose like he was holding back a headache.
"First fight of the year," he muttered. "Didn't even make it to the classroom."
Naruto scoffed. "They started it."
"You finished it."
Ren didn't say anything.
Not yet.
The silence thickened for a beat. Then the sliding door opened.
A familiar tapping sound echoed in — soft steps, the clink of a cane.
The Third Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Naruto straightened like a board. Ren simply looked up.
Hiruzen entered without ceremony, robes flowing, pipe resting in his hand but unlit.
"Well," the old man said gently, "what a first day."
Naruto opened his mouth.
Ren subtly elbowed him.
He closed it.
Hiruzen chuckled, stepping behind the desk. "Relax, boys. I'm not here to yell. Iruka's already done that."
Iruka gave a dramatic sigh in the corner.
The Hokage's eyes softened as he looked at the twins.
"You're not normal children. I know that. The village knows that. But if you let the hate control you, it wins. Understand?"
Naruto blinked. "Not really."
Hiruzen chuckled again. "Didn't think so."
Ren just nodded.
The old man's gaze lingered on him.
Still. Quiet. Watching everything.
After a pause, Ren raised his hand slightly.
"Excuse me."
Hiruzen tilted his head. "Yes?"
"Our allowance… for this month. It's already gone. Or almost."
The Hokage blinked, surprised.
Ren's voice was calm. Measured. Not begging — just stating a fact.
"Make it double this time," he added.
Behind him, Naruto lit up like a lantern. "YEAH! Double! We totally deserve it, right?!"
Ren didn't even turn around.
Hiruzen stared at him for a long second… then smiled.
"You're a bold one," he said softly. "And smart."
Naruto fist-pumped behind Ren like they'd just pulled off a great heist.
Iruka muttered something about this being a mistake.
But Hiruzen reached into a drawer, pulled out two small scrolls, and slid them forward.
"Don't waste it on fireworks this time."
Naruto laughed nervously.
Ren bowed slightly. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
The boys left together, Naruto bouncing ahead, waving the scroll like a trophy.
Hiruzen watched them go.
His fingers tapped the edge of the desk, thoughtful.
"That one," he murmured to Iruka, "Ren… He's quiet. But he sees everything. A sharp mind in a quiet storm."
Iruka crossed his arms. "And the other one?"
Hiruzen chuckled.
"A hurricane in human form."
He looked out the window at the fading light.
"But together… they might just change this village."