Indra left the training ground, wiping the sweat from his forehead. As he approached his house, he noticed a familiar figure waiting by the entrance — a girl holding a small purse in her hands.
"Mikoto?" Indra blinked in surprise.
The girl bowed her head politely. "Uchiha Indra. I came to return the purse you left at Ichiraku Ramen."
Instinctively, Indra patted his pockets, relief washing over him. "Ah… thank you. Were you waiting long? It's already dusk."
Mikoto shook her head gently. "No, I just arrived."
"Still, have a glass of water before you leave." Indra smiled as he accepted the purse from her hand. He opened the door, and to his surprise, Mikoto followed him inside.
The house was modest but neat, a faint fragrance of flowers lingering in the air.
Indra poured a glass of water and handed it to her. Mikoto sat down, sipping quietly, while he washed his hands and took out a small basket of vegetables.
"Where do you live, Mikoto?" he asked, chopping the vegetables into neat cubes.
"House 112," she answered softly.
"With your parents?"
Her voice lowered. "No… I'm an orphan."
Indra froze for a moment before continuing to stir the sizzling vegetables. "…Wanna eat?"
"There's no need—" Mikoto's cheeks tinted pink.
"Don't worry," Indra smirked. "I don't cook poison."
"…Okay." Mikoto finally gave a small nod, watching him with curious eyes.
After a while, the two sat side by side, bowls of steaming vegetables between them.
"So, Uchiha Mikoto—"
"Just Mikoto," she interrupted quickly.
Indra paused, then grinned. "Then call me Indra. So, Mikoto… is the food to your taste?"
Mikoto gave a faint smile. "Good food."
"Glad you like it!" Indra beamed, his mood lighter than before.
---
Later, after Mikoto left, silence filled the house once more. Indra lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His chest ached at the absence of Renji. No matter how many times he blinked, his eyes still stung.
Eventually, sleep took him.
---
The next morning, Indra prepared a simple bento before heading to the academy. On the way, he spotted a familiar figure.
"Noboru!" he called.
The boy turned, waving as Indra jogged up to him. "How are you, Indra?"
"Good. You?"
"Same as always."
The two chatted idly until they arrived at the academy, where Minato was already seated at their usual desk.
"Morning," Minato greeted as they sat. His sharp gaze lingered on Indra. "You don't look like you slept much."
Noboru glanced over and gasped dramatically. "Holy crap, he looks like a ghost!"
Indra waved it off. "Just… didn't sleep well."
At that moment, Daiki-sensei slid open the door, and the class fell silent.
"Take out your textbooks," Daiki instructed. "Today's chemistry."
Indra barely lasted ten minutes before his eyelids grew heavy. Eventually, his head drooped onto the desk, slipping into sleep.
Daiki's eyes flicked toward him but said nothing. He knew Indra's brother had gone to war — and Indra, despite his age, was still the most talented student in class.
"Alright! Listen up, everyone!" Daiki clapped his hands. Minato nudged Indra awake just as the lesson ended.
"Today we'll be doing some taijutsu sparring!" Cheers erupted from the civilian students.
"Oh, finally!" Noboru practically bounced from his seat. Minato remained calm, but his eyes glimmered with excitement.
Indra arched a brow at their reactions. "Why are you two getting so worked up?"
"Don't you know?" Noboru leaned in, grinning. "The only way civilians can really get better at taijutsu… is through actual sparring!"
Indra frowned. "…Really?"
"Of course!" Noboru said, puffing out his chest with absolute confidence.
Minato then spoke interrupting Indra"yeah, even in my Namikaze clan...the young ones aren't taught Taijutsu, they have to learn it outside first"
"Oh..." Indra exclaimed in shock as he spoke"better stay outta my way then, haha!" Indra said as he continued"anyways! Wanna learn Taijutsu with me after academy?"
"Taijutsu! With the legendary Uchiha!" Noboru scoffed but spoke in admiration"that's an Explandid idea, gentleman"
Indra and Minato chuckled seeing noboru's behaviour as Minato added "We would be strong enough to defeat, the fat person over there"
"Fat person?" Indra's eyes narrowed into the middle row as he noticed a fatter person then the akimichi.
'is he a civilian?'
Indra's thought affirmed with noboru's words "well, apparently he has a big appetite and his father is also a jonin, so he has greater Taijutsu then us"
Noboru added a bit envious as he spoke"but we shouldn't be envious, we got Indra training us after all!"
"From what I heard from my clan, and ordinary Uchiha who's a jonin is stronger then others in the same rank"
"Like dominant?" Noboru asked as Minato nodded.
Their third row started moving as they moved along going outside.
In the training field of the academy, many students circled a platform as there were two civilian ninja there.
The rules were simple, civilians first then clan kids.
The civilians ran forward like a bull only to be dodged and pushed outside the platform
"Hizashzi fin wins!"
Indra's eyes narrowed as he spoke"is this Taijutsu?"
Noboru nodded as he spoke"this is kind of a...adrenaline Taijutsu"
"A Taijutsu that activates on the instinct?" Indra asked as Minato replied"somewhat, well Noboru is right. That's how we fight"
'not gonna lie...even Naruto is better than them' Naruto thought as he saw two kids pinching eachothers cheeks as their other hands are on their chest.
'the hell is this?'
Then a while after, "Hikaraki Haruto Vs Namikaze Minato"
Minato stepped forward as haruto dashed towards him, his footsteps echoing as Minato dodged him.
His massive figure made him easy to hit—but once hit, it was not easy to doge any attacks.
Or perhaps caught. Minato dashed forward and slides between his leg as he suddenly covered his nose and jumped out the ring.
Rainbow water coming out of his mouth "uhh..." Noboru spoke as he took out a book.
"Not going between him," he wrote something down as Indra glanced at the book and spoke"what're you writing?"
"This guy...must have a bomb between his legs..."
"Maybe he didn't change his clothes for a month..." Suddenly, Noboru and Indra both felt the need to vomit as they holded it back
"Maybe think twice before saying that" Noboru spoke as Indra nodded"agreed!"
Minato approached them wobbling as the surrounding students instantly backed away, Indra took out an handkerchief as he gave it to Minato.
Minato carefully wiped his face and spoke"the utter...utter smell.." Minato fell to his knees as his brows furrowed into a frown as he trembled uncontrollably.
"Next! Hikaraki haruto Vs Hayashi Noboru!"
Noboru's eyes flared to Indra as he spoke"please avenge me Indra!"
Saying the Noboru stepped onto the ring as he performed hand signs.
The moment the match began a invisible pressure appeared on his shoulder as he shuddered seeing a massive bull charging towards him.
"I'd rather die than give up!" Noboru dashed forward as his fist were raised high, he hit haruto's head.
Thud.
Haruto's expression twisted as he grabbed Noboru by the shirt and threw him out of the platform.
"Sigh...Hikaraki Haruto wins!"
"Next Match! Hikaraki Haruto Vs Uchiha Indra!"
...