Academy Classroom
Kushina's fierce gaze narrowed on the seat in front of Indra's desk,she walked to the seat and asked.
"Is this seat taken?" she asked.
Mikoto shook her head, and without hesitation Kushina slid into the seat, claiming it like territory. Minato stiffened so much he barely dared breathe, while Noboru's expression turned uneasy.
"What happened to you two?" Indra asked, raising a brow at his new friends. Minato's face was steadily paling, Noboru's no better.
"Yo… she's not a demon. She won't eat you," Indra whispered dryly, just as—
BAM!
The teacher slammed a book on the desk, straightening the entire class.
"Introductions can wait. Now—we begin this class!"
He scrawled something quickly on the board. "The first subject is… mathematics!"
A chorus of groans rippled through the room. Only Minato looked quietly excited, while Indra sat indifferent, leaning lazily in his seat.
"I'll write a complex problem," Daiki said, chalk scratching sharply, "and I'll pick the most arrogant brat here. Let's see if your arrogance matches your skill."
Students in the middle row shifted uncomfortably, shrinking into their seats. The chalk tapped against the board:
12 × 10
Gasps broke out. "A hard problem… indeed."
"The one who gets picked is dead meat…"
Minato had already started working the math out in his head.
Daiki's eyes narrowed, then flicked to the back. "Then—it's you. Uchiha Indra, come solve this."
Laughter erupted around the room.
"Hah! Dead meat!"
"No way he'll get it!"
Minato glared at the noise. "They're disturbing my calculations…"
"You need calculations for this?" Indra muttered. He pushed himself up with an easy smirk. "Child's play."
Kushina crossed her arms, thinking: The answer is 120. No way he gets it right. People in Konoha barely study arithmetic.
Indra strode to the board, grabbed the chalk, and in quick, bold strokes wrote:
120
The class roared with laughter.
"He got it wrong!"
"Easiest problem ever and he failed!"
Daiki glanced at the answer, then nodded. "Correct. You can sit down."
The laughter died instantly. Silence swallowed the classroom.
"…He got it right?"
"No way…"
Kushina raised a brow, lips parting like she wanted to say something—but she shut them quickly and forced her expression back to neutral.
Indra passed her on the way back, leaning close enough to whisper: "Easy as a walk in the park."
He dropped into his seat. Minato was still staring at the board, lips moving. "…He's right. It is 120."
Noboru leaned toward Indra, wide-eyed. "Do the Uchiha have secret classes where you learn everything?"
Indra gave a small shake of his head. "No, man. We don't."
"Then… you taught yourself?"
"I've got an older brother. He taught me," Indra answered simply.
"Your brother must be at least a chunin!" Noboru said with admiration.
Indra gave an awkward laugh, unsure of his brother's rank. "…Maybe."
"Well, I don't have an older brother. Guess that's a plus point you've got."
Indra's expression softened. "…I love my brother very much."
Kushina, seated ahead, listened quietly, her sharp eyes catching every word.
Meanwhile, the girl beside her turned with a polite smile. "Kushina Uzumaki, right?"
"Yes?" Kushina asked.
"My name is Mikoto Uchiha."
And just like that, their own conversation began.
Indra, meanwhile, slumped back as Daiki moved on to division. His eyelids drooped. Within minutes—he was asleep.
"Hey, wake up," Minato hissed, shaking him. "I covered for you three times already, but the subject's changed."
Indra groggily blinked awake, muttering, "What now…"
"History."
The boy perked up, rubbing his eyes. History, huh? His frown deepened as Daiki began lecturing.
"Now—everyone knows who the Third Hokage is, right? A true genius shinobi, called the Professor. He embodies peace, and should be your idol!"
The students nodded reverently. Indra's eyes glazed over. This isn't history… it's propaganda.
Then a name caught his ear like a trigger.
"Madara Uchiha."
Indra's head snapped up.
"Madara was the co-founder of our village, alongside the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju. But—he wanted to destroy Konoha. So, the First Hokage killed him."
Indra's brow twitched. He muttered low, just enough for Minato to hear: "Hol' up… wait a minute."
Minato blinked at him. "What's wrong?"
"Something ain't right," Indra replied, voice slipping into an odd accent.
Minato leaned closer. "What do you mean?"
Indra didn't answer right away. His dark eyes stayed fixed on the board.
"You—! Stand up!"
Immediately, Minato shot to his feet, grimacing as the teacher's sharp tone filled the room. Indra glanced sideways at him, curious, as Daiki fired the first question.
"Who was Hashirama Senju?"
"The First Hokage!" Minato replied quickly.
"And who was Madara Uchiha?"
Minato hesitated only a moment. "He was a shinobi… who wanted to destroy the Leaf Village!"
"What happened to him?!"
"He was killed!"
Indra's lips twitched. He lived…
"Sit down," Daiki ordered, satisfied.
---
When the final subject wrapped up, Daiki clapped his hands. "Everyone, outside! We'll be practicing shuriken throwing!"
The civilian-born students cheered, buzzing with excitement as the class lined up and filed out row by row.
As the first row moved, Minato leaned toward Indra. "So, what was it you were telling me before?"
Indra smirked, letting suspense build. "I was telling… that I like throwing shuriken."
Minato blinked at him, deadpan. "…Seriously?"
"Dead serious," Indra said with a straight face.
Minato sighed, dragging a hand down his face as their row began to move.
---
Outside, the afternoon sun beat down, its heat sticking to the back of every student. The dirt training field shimmered faintly, dust rising beneath their sandals.
"Today's a hot one," Noboru muttered, fanning himself.
Indra and Minato nodded. Indra tilted his head. "You thrown shuriken before, Noboru?"
"Sometimes… but I'm not very good at it."
"Oh." Minato gave him an encouraging smile.
"And you, Minato?" Indra asked.
"I've got some experience," Minato said modestly.
"No need to ask you," Noboru added, glancing at Indra. "You probably live and breathe shuriken practice."
Indra smirked. "Maybe."
---
The line moved steadily as each student stepped forward to test their skill.
"Kushina Uzumaki!" Daiki called.
Kushina stepped forward confidently, picked up the weapons, and launched them. Steel clinked and thudded into the targets.
"Six out of ten. Pass."
"Minato Namikaze!"
Minato's weapons flew—some landing, some just missing.
"Five out of ten. Pass."
"Noboru Hayashi!"
Noboru gritted his teeth, focused hard… and managed only three solid hits.
"Three out of ten. Fail."
Noboru sighed, shoulders slumping as Minato patted his back.
"Uchiha Mikoto!"
Her throws were clean and precise, cutting through the air.
"Seven out of ten. Great!"
"Uchiha Indra!"
Indra stepped forward. He picked up the shuriken and kunai, fingers curling around them with casual familiarity. Muscle memory surged through him—like second nature.
The kunai sliced the air with a whistle. Thud, thud, thud! Every single weapon struck its target dead-center.
"Ten out of ten. Excellent!"
Gasps erupted. "Wow! Indra is sooo cool!" a group of students squealed, forming a fan club instantly.
Indra raised a brow at them but said nothing, stepping back to join Minato and Noboru.
"So… what's your secret?" Minato asked, leaning in.
"Secret?" Indra smirked. "It's just simple throwing technique."
"Yeah, simple," Minato said, eyes narrowing. "All bullseyes."
Noboru sniffed the air as he smirked,"Smells like bullshit,"
Indra threw his head back and laughed heartily.
The training wrapped up soon after, and with the day's lessons finished, the academy released them. Indra walked away under the fading sun.