The next day at the Academy felt… different.
I wasn't sure what exactly I expected. Maybe some whispers? Some curious looks? But what I got was an actual full-blown public reaction.
Apparently, news travels fast when you're now the Second Hokage's personal disciple—and also, apparently, dating his granddaughter.
I blame Tsunade for both.
Oh, there was also a rumor about me being a monster-level genius who created several A-rank jutsu before hitting the age of 10, but that was probably done by Tobirama to hype me up and give the clans a reason for accepting me as his student.
You see, me being Tobirama's student was a big deal. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen and his cronies were technically only his guards who were trained by him.
As for why I got to become his student? Simple—we're quite alike. Creator-type shinobi. Tobirama probably thought me similar to himself, so he took me in.
Anyway, that's for later. For now… what was I talking about? Ah, yes. The Academy.
I walked into class, and Tsunade was already there, sitting at our usual spot near the back window. The moment she saw me, she stood up, waved, and shouted—
"Inaba~! Over here! I saved your seat, dear!"
...What the fuck.
And that was it. That single moment changed everything. Well, not exactly changed—but yeah, intensified.
Dozens of heads turned.
People whispered. Some gasped. Some openly stared at me like they'd caught me red-handed in some scandal.
Jiraiya looked like he'd just swallowed a live scorpion.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, then smirked—or at least, that's what I would like to think that smile was—and gave me a subtle thumbs-up.
I sighed and dragged myself over.
Tsunade grabbed my arm the moment I sat down, like a barnacle clinging to a shipwreck. "We're official now, so there's no need to be subtle anymore."
"You were never subtle to begin with. And why would you confirm the rumors?"
"Isn't it better to just tell them? Not that it matters to me, but doing this would definitely stop them from speculating and exaggerating further."
"...You're insane. But yeah, I can see how that might work. Still, I'm angry..."
She gave me a sunny grin and leaned her head on my shoulder. "Then what if I kiss you to please you?"
"Don't even think about it."
I stared blankly at the chalkboard, silently praying the teacher would arrive and save me.
Spoiler alert: he didn't. Not before the interrogation started.
"Is it true?" A boy from the Inuzuka clan leaned over the desk. "You're dating Tsunade-sama and training under Lord Second?"
"...Yes?"
"How?!"
"…What do you mean how?"
He didn't continue and looked like he was having an existential crisis.
Other questions started flying in too. How long have you been dating? Did Lord Second really accept you as a student? Are you from a secret clan? Did you blackmail Tsunade? Are you secretly a Senju and Uchiha descendant who got kicked out?
No. No. No. Definitely not. And what the hell, why would that even be a theory?
By lunch break, the entire class knew.
And not just the class—the whole damn Academy.
Even the older students were glancing at me in the halls like I was some kind of rare beast that had wandered into their enclosure.
Inaba Shinkurou, the "civilian pretty genius boy who used to freak out when girls talked to him," was suddenly big news.
This was according to them, though. I definitely did not get flustered while talking to girls. This was propaganda against me. Maybe that bastard Jiraiya started it.
I always was quite a bit of center of attention before. My looks weren't exactly average—not that I cared much. Sharp jawline, black hair, symmetrical face. That kind of shit just happened. It wasn't something I worked for. Good genetics, I guess.
But back then, people thought I was just a flustered, talented civilian—and "civilian" was pretty much a slur among clan kids at this stage. There were no cases of powerful civilian-born shinobi yet.
As for the flustered part—the moment I froze around a few overly enthusiastic fangirls last semester, my rep had tanked.
Apparently, looking like a prince and being a genius but panicking like a squirrel wasn't "cool" enough.
But now?
Now I was the prodigy who caught the eye of the Hokage and his granddaughter.
Overnight status shift.
They didn't see me as just a civilian anymore.
They saw me as… well, something else. I don't know.
"Oi," Jiraiya called out at one point, walking over with his usual overconfidence. "So it's true, huh?"
I looked up.
"That you're dating Tsunade."
"…Yes."
He paused, then grinned in that forced way people do when they're pissed off but trying to hide it. "Well, good for you, man. I guess she just felt sorry for you. Besides, she's a flatboard."
Tsunade stood up.
He backed up half a step immediately.
"You want to repeat that?" she asked, cracking her knuckles.
"I was just joking!" he said, waving his hands. "Sheesh. Can't even tease your classmates anymore?"
"No you can't. Next time you say that to me, I'll break all your bones," Tsunade said casually, sitting back down.
Jiraiya muttered something about 'violent women' and retreated.
"Do you enjoy terrifying people?" I asked.
"Only the ones who deserve it."
"...Well, he did kinda deserve it."
She beamed. "Exactly."
Orochimaru came by a bit later, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
"I heard you impressed Lord Second by showing several self-created jutsu?"
"Uh, yeah," I said, scratching my neck.
Orochimaru nodded. "I'm surprised, though. Not many people our age could create even one jutsu, let alone an A-rank or multiple in your case."
"I just… had an idea. And I had a lot of free time."
He chuckled. "That's a dangerous mindset. I like it."
"…Is that a compliment?"
"Take it however you want."
Then he nodded at Tsunade. "Congratulations to you too. On your relationship."
She tilted her head. "You're not going mad like the others?"
"Why would I be? You always were pretty close. Makes sense you'd eventually notice each other romantically."
That was… unexpectedly wholesome.
Orochimaru always gave off serial killer vibes, but he had moments like this—where he just felt like a surprisingly normal person.
"Thanks," I said.
After that, classes resumed, but the attention never really died down.
People still whispered when I answered a question. They stared when I performed chakra exercises. I saw a group of girls in the corner pass a note, then all glance at me and giggle.
I sighed and tried to pretend I didn't notice.
Tsunade noticed.
She leaned over and whispered in my ear, "I'll break their legs if they try anything."
"Please don't," I whispered back.
"Fine. Maybe just a dislocated arm."
"…You are terrifying."
She grinned and linked her pinky with mine.
I sighed, accepting my fate. Isekai FBI, it's truly not my fault. It's clearly the loli herself.
And then class ended.
On the way out, a Hyuga student from the year above stopped me in the hall.
"Inaba Shinkurou," he said stiffly. "I look forward to sparring with you."
"Uhm, okay?"
He turned and left without another word.
"What the hell was that?" I asked.
"Status duel," Tsunade said casually. "Get used to it. Everyone's gonna want to test you now. Though I don't think anyone can defeat you in the Academy, so pretty good option to increase your reputation."
"…I didn't ask for this."
She shrugged. "Too late. You've already made a name for yourself."
I rubbed my temple. "And whose fault do you think that is?"
Well, half mine too—but I'd ignore that.
_______
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