Chapter 2 – The Secret of the Chain of Fate
The night wind in Konoha's forest blew gently, carrying the scent of wet soil after the afternoon rain. Under the moonlight, Kazuki Akihiro stood while holding the secret scroll.
Mizuki smiled crookedly, his eyes full of deceit.
Mizuki:
"Akihiro, with that scroll, you can master forbidden jutsu. You will be acknowledged by everyone. No one will look down on you anymore."
Kazuki (snorting, staring sharply at him):
"Your words are so sweet… But I know you just want to trap me."
Mizuki fell silent. He didn't expect the 12-year-old boy, who was usually foolish and naive, could speak so sharply.
Mizuki (frowning):
"Hmph, so you've gotten smarter now. But don't pretend you don't want this, Akihiro! You want people to stop hating you, right? You want them to acknowledge your existence too!"
.....
At that moment, hurried footsteps came from behind the trees. Iruka appeared with an anxious face.
Iruka:
"Akihiro! Put down that scroll, quickly! You're being deceived!"
Mizuki (laughing slyly):
"Hahaha! Too late, Iruka! I'll reveal everything! This child… is not just an ordinary boy! He is the vessel of the monster that killed hundreds of people! He is… the Kyūbi no Kitsune!"
Those words cut through the night.
Akihiro just stood still. No surprise, no tears. He only smiled faintly.
Kazuki:
"So you finally said it, Mizuki… the secret I've known for a long time."
Both Iruka and Mizuki were shocked.
Iruka:
"W-What do you mean, Akihiro?"
Akihiro looked at Iruka with eyes full of calm.
Kazuki:
"I know I'm not an ordinary person. I know this village hates me for something that wasn't even my fault. But listen carefully, Iruka-sensei…"
He gripped the scroll tightly.
Kazuki:
"A fox may be inside my body, but I am the one who decides who I truly am. Not them. Not sensei, not Mizuki. And not the past."
.....
Mizuki was silent for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Mizuki:
"HAHAHA! What nonsense is that?! You think words can change reality? You are nothing but a monster that happens to look like a human!"
Kazuki (smirking):
"Wrong. I am a human… who just happens to have a monster inside this body. The only difference is that it's really, really big."
....
Iruka was stunned to hear that answer. On the face of the child he had always considered a troublemaker, there was now a gaze of maturity that was… strange.
A gaze more fitting for a grown man.
Iruka felt his chest tighten. Something touched his heart.
Iruka (in his heart):
"Akihiro… Those words just now… did they really come out of a 12-year-old boy?"
.....
Mizuki went berserk, then threw a giant shuriken toward Akihiro.
Iruka:
"RENJIROOOO!!!"
But with calm reflexes, Kazuki raised his hand. Blue chakra burst out, forming a swirling light.
Kazuki:
"In that case… I'll show you something more real than mere words!"
In an instant, the swirl turned into a small Rasengan—though not perfect yet, it was enough to make the ground shake as he struck the shuriken.
BRAAAK!!!
Dust scattered, throwing Mizuki backward.
Mizuki (shocked and terrified):
"That's… not an Academy student's jutsu! How is this possible?!"
Kazuki (staring coldly):
"I'm not just an Academy student. I am… Kazuki Akihiro."
.....
As the dust settled, Iruka looked at Akihiro with teary eyes.
Iruka:
"Akihiro… You've grown stronger than I thought. I… I misjudged you all this time."
For the first time, there was warmth in Iruka's voice.
Akihiro smiled faintly, his heart trembling.
"This… might be the first time someone has truly acknowledged me in this world."
.....
But before the atmosphere could turn warm, suddenly voices were heard from afar.
Sakura:
"Eh? What's happening here?"
Hinata (hiding behind a tree, blushing):
"A-Akihiro-kun…"
Ino (squinting suspiciously):
"Tsk, that boy again?"
The three Academy girls happened to pass by during their night training. They directly witnessed how Akihiro protected Iruka from Mizuki's attack.
Sakura (shocked):
"Wait, don't tell me… Akihiro, who usually fails… just now performed such an incredible jutsu?!"
Ino (snorting but her cheeks red):
"Hmph, stupid idiot… but, why does he look so cool?"
Hinata (in her heart) (blushing, lowering her head):
"I-I knew it… Kazuki-kun is different…"
.....
Akira could only remain silent. He knew what all this meant—this was the beginning of his H****.
But he still maintained his dignity.
Kazuki (smiling faintly):
"You all saw, didn't you? Then… don't underestimate me anymore."
.....
But just as he was about to close the secret scroll, a strange light appeared from within. Golden sand particles swirled, just like the mysterious hourglass that had brought him into this world.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"Wait… why is this light appearing again? Does this mean… my journey here is already over?"
His body began to be enveloped by the light.
Iruka:
"Akihiro?! What's happening to you?!"
Sakura:
"Hey! Don't tell me he's about to—"
Hinata (worried):
"Kazuki-kun!!!"
The light grew brighter. Kazuki looked at them one last time, then whispered softly…
Kazuki:
"If this is truly my fate… I will still protect you all. Whether in this world… or another."
And… the light swallowed his body again.
TO BE CONTINUED....