Kushina's eyes followed Indra as he ate his noodles.
Slurp!
He continued, seemingly unfazed, though her unwavering gaze didn't go unnoticed.
Noboru leaned toward Minato and whispered, "I think… we'll need to add some extra ryo."
"I think so too… look at that glare."
Both spoke in unison after a pause: "Terrifying…"
Meanwhile, Mikoto, who had noticed Kushina's generosity earlier, wasn't convinced it was because he was eating a lot. She leaned forward slightly, studying her friend's face.
'Is she… does she like Indra?' Mikoto wondered.
Indra, however, felt uneasy. He suppressed the urge to look back, staring instead at his now-empty bowl.
"Teuchi-san, bill please!" he called, unable to shake the feeling of eyes burning into his back. Because of that, he hadn't eaten much.
Kushina still looked at him blankly. At that moment, Indra finally turned, his eyes narrowing slightly before he smiled — a genuine one.
"You alright, Kushina?" he asked gently.
Her blank expression didn't change. Nervously, Indra reached out and pinched her cheek. His heart pounded — afraid of her wrath. Kushina's eyes widened slightly as she realized his hand was brushing against her face.
"Uh… I—you—" Indra stammered, choking on his words. Swallowing hard, he muttered, "Kushina, I—I—nevermind. I'll stay quiet."
The awkward silence was shattered by Noboru bursting out in laughter.
"Haha! Look at this loving couple!" he teased.
…
The joke earned him a swollen lump on his face as his head was pressed against Minato's chest.
"Sniff… Minato, it hurts…" Noboru whimpered, his words broken by ragged breaths.
'Poor guy,' Minato thought, patting his back gently. "Everything's gonna be alright."
Kushina glanced at Indra once more. Their eyes met—before Teuchi's voice cut through.
"Here's the bill for the four of you!" he said, handing slips to Kushina, Mikoto, Minato, and Noboru.
"What about mine?" Indra asked, pointing to himself.
Teuchi shook his head with a smile. "After so long, you still think I'd take your money? It's on the house."
Indra bowed slightly with a warm smile. "Then I won't reject this kindness. Thank you, Teuchi-san."
"Haha, don't worry, Indra. Just come around more often, alright?" Teuchi chuckled.
"I will," Indra replied with an affirmed nod.
The group quickly paid their bills and strolled through Konoha's bustling streets—completely unaware of what was beginning to unfold in Indra's destiny
*
*
Hokage's Office
The faint scent of ink lingered in the air, clinging to the walls like an invisible mist, while the soft ruffling of papers filled the quiet room every minute or so.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, glanced over a report with calm yet sharp eyes, either affirming the contents with a subtle nod or rejecting them with a firm stroke of his brush. The steady rhythm of his work broke when a sound echoed against the wooden door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Hiruzen raised a brow, pipe still resting in one hand. "Come inside."
The door slid open with a low creak, and Daiki stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Hokage-sama."
"Hm. Tell me what happened," Hiruzen ordered, Daiki straightened and began recounting the events in detail. When he finished, the Hokage's eyes narrowed.
"…A tie? You gave him a draw?" Hiruzen asked, his voice carrying the subtle weight of a strategist, like a shogi player with a single pawn cornering the opponent's queen into a stalemate.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Daiki replied carefully. "At the time, after reviewing his abilities, I realized he wasn't going at full force. His movements appeared stiff and sluggish… but every step, every strike, seemed deliberate and precise."
Hiruzen exhaled slowly, the faint smoke of his pipe trailing upward. "Still, did he injure any of the students?"
Daiki paused, then shook his head.
The Hokage's gaze sharpened. "Did you notice anything unusual about his style? Perhaps a strange pattern, as though he could predict what was coming?"
Daiki froze, then his eyes widened. "Yes… yes, now that you mention it. He avoided attacks with unsettling ease, almost like he was reading their patterns in advance… and he even countered some of them."
"His battle insight is great," Hiruzen muttered, more to himself than to Daiki. With a flick of his hand, he dismissed the chunin.
Daiki bowed deeply before exiting the office.
Hiruzen leaned back, drawing a long breath from his pipe. Smoke curled upward, shrouding his face in a thin haze.
'How do I control this youngster?' he wondered silently. 'He could become a powerful figure within the Uchiha clan. If that happens… the balance of power will shift.'
His lips curved into a grim line.
'But if I drag him under my control… if I bring him to my side… the Uchiha clan will surely fall.'
The thought lingered as his mind weighed the measures of summoning Indra.
——
"See you tomorrow!" Indra waved a casual hand toward his friends before heading into the direction of the Uchiha district. The sky was dim; the hour hovered between night and dawn.
"My training schedule's a mess," he muttered to himself. "I'll treat this as a rest day."
The memory of his earlier time with friends brought a soft smile to his face. They're really pure-hearted.
Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted Mikoto walking not far behind him. He sighed, though the corners of his lips lifted a little more.
But the moment he crossed into the Uchiha compound, his mood shifted instantly.
Within the clan grounds, only members could truly sense the atmosphere that pulsed beneath the silence. Indra's eyes narrowed as he studied every household he passed.
The shinobi were here. Many of them.
He pressed a hand against his temple hiding his eyes as his Sharingan activated, three tomoe spinning to life in each eye. The crimson glow sharpened his senses as he scanned his surroundings.
Inside the homes, he caught glimpses of joy. Shinobi wore rare smiles, families looked lighter than usual, and laughter carried faintly on the night air.
So… the war has ended.
But that relief only planted a darker thought in his mind.
If one war has ended, then the next isn't far behind. The Third Great Ninja War will begin sooner or later…
Still, for now, training was his true focus.
At his home, Indra slid his key into the lock. The door clicked softly, opening into a quiet welcome.
He stepped inside, removed his sandals, and made his way to the bathroom to wash away the fatigue clinging to his body.
Later, standing in the kitchen, he opened the cabinet and rummaged through its contents.
"Rice? Hah, I've eaten so much of that… Definitely not in the mood."
"Beef? Ugh, I've had too much beef curry lately."
His eyes finally landed on a packet of noodles. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Renji's favorite… maybe I'll try it."
He set the pot on the stove, pouring in more water than usual. The broth quickly began to resemble soup. Indra's gaze flicked toward a sack of rice sitting nearby.
"It's essential, looks like…"
Before long, the noodles simmered gently on low heat while the rice cooked alongside.
After finishing his meal, Indra stretched out on his futon and let exhaustion claim him.
——
The Next Morning – Academy
The sun rose over Konoha, bathing the village in gold as the Academy buzzed with activity.
Inside the classroom, Daiki stood before the students, chalk tapping against the board as the lesson stretched on. Half the period had passed when he finally set the chalk down and faced the door as he turned around to the kids behind him.
"That concludes the subject for today," he announced, his voice carrying clearly across the room. "And today… some lucky students will be chosen by none other than the Legendary Sannin!"
Gasps and whispers immediately erupted through the rows.
Outside, Jiraiya smirked knowingly. "Heh. I'll fetch the talented ones…"
Orochimaru stood silent, his golden eyes unreadable, while Tsunade folded her arms with a snort. "Yeah, your prophecy and all that. I already have someone in mind."
"Oh yeah? Who?" Jiraiya asked with a raised brow.
"You'll know soon," Tsunade replied, unwilling to reveal her choice.
Jiraiya only shrugged and leaned against the wall. ' might be kushina's he wondered
Back inside the classroom, the students were practically shaking with excitement.
"No way! The Legendary Sannin?!" one boy shouted, his voice filled with awe.
"They're supposed to be incredibly strong! Super strong!" another exclaimed.
"Being chosen as a student of them… it would make me into a great ninja for sure!" a girl declared with shining eyes.
The chatter grew into roars as the entire class erupted with anticipation.
"Silence!" Daiki's sharp command cut through the noise. Instantly, every student straightened, their eager eyes glued to the front.
"Then let's welcome them—the three Legendary Sannin of Konoha!"
The door slid open with a slow, dramatic sound.
...
By Far, this is my favourite episode–i mean chapter.
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