Ding… ding… ding!
The school bell rang out across the campus as the day came to an end.
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, little children with oversized backpacks trickled out of the academy gates, rushing into the arms of waiting parents.
Might Guy tugged at his sweat-soaked green jumpsuit, ignoring the strange looks from other parents and students as he scanned the crowd by the school gates.
Training, cooking, picking his daughter up from school…
This new "househusband" life was awkward enough. But what weighed heavier on his mind was something Kakashi had said that morning.
Kakashi had told him everything about Konome Taketori.
That she might be from Kirigakure. That her purpose here was unknown.
That her constant "chance encounters" with him were deliberate, part of some calculated scheme.
That she might be after the secret of the Eight Gates.
Compared to a mysterious girl he had known for less than two days, it was only natural for Guy to believe in his childhood friend, the comrade he had trusted all his life.
Fairy tales were lies.
On the road home after a long day, you didn't stumble upon a silver-haired, blind heiress with a tragic past who then gave you a happy ending.
That kind of ridiculous plot only existed in novels.
Guy's tears poured like waterfalls.
And under the Third Hokage's orders, he had officially become Konome's guardian.
"Guardian" in this case meant…
To secretly monitor her every move.
To report to the Hokage at all times.
And if she ever did anything that endangered the village, to arrest her with his own hands in the name of Konoha.
It was ranked an A-class mission. Reward: 200,000 ryō.
Not even half of the money brick Konome had casually thrown his way.
Yet, inheriting the Will of Fire, Guy had resolutely turned his back on easy wealth to take on the mission.
To keep the Eight Gates scroll safe, he even handed it over to Kakashi for temporary safekeeping.
"See you tomorrow, Konome!"
"Woof woof!"
"See you."
The cheerful voices of children pulled Guy out of his heavy thoughts.
He looked up.
There she was.
The blind girl with the pink backpack walked out through the gates, several companions trailing after her.
Kiba Inuzuka with Akamaru perched on his head, Shikamaru Nara with his pineapple hair, Chōji Akimichi with his round body, and one particular blond boy with sparkling eyes dogging her every step.
The group laughed and talked easily, yet it was clear Konome walked at the center, as their leader.
Guy froze.
Hadn't she just transferred in today?
And already she had so many friends?
He had spent years in the academy and only managed to befriend Kakashi. Somehow, watching Konome surrounded by companions left him feeling like a shut-in glaring enviously at a social butterfly.
Across the dispersing crowd, Konome also spotted the odd green "kappa" waiting for her.
"I'll head out first!"
Shikamaru and the others waved goodbye to her. Watching Konome leave with Guy, Naruto split from the group and went his own way.
The remaining trio walked home together with Akamaru.
Bathed in the sunset glow, their shadows stretched long on the road.
As they strolled, their topic naturally shifted back to Konome.
"What do you guys think of her?" Shikamaru asked suddenly.
"She's strong in battle, but her personality's really kind. Way gentler than Ino or Sakura. And the best part she likes potato chips too!" Chōji was first to answer, clearly impressed.
The other girls at school usually turned their noses up at his snacks, obsessed with figure management. But Konome had eaten happily today, even promising to bring snacks tomorrow to share. That alone had won him over completely.
"And you, Kiba?" Shikamaru turned his gaze.
Kiba rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "She's not bad… but she feels kind of strange."
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed. Kiba had the sharpest senses of the three. His words carried weight.
"What kind of strange?"
"It's… hard to describe. She doesn't smell like a person."
Akamaru barked twice on his head, backing him up.
"Doesn't smell like a person?"
"Yeah." Kiba's expression firmed as he explained.
"Our clan has sharp noses. From someone's scent, we can learn a lot of things. But Konome… she doesn't have one. It's like she's a rock in clothes. Or air. No color, no scent. But somehow, being around her feels… comfortable."
Shikamaru frowned deeper. He knew exactly what Kiba meant.
Every human body constantly released subtle scents through metabolism. It was impossible to hide.
And yet Konome had none?
Was she… not human?
He shook his head quickly, pushing the absurd thought away.
Still, her insane feat of catching a Great Fireball barehanded lingered in his mind. It made even wild speculation seem less outlandish.
But in truth, she wasn't unreadable to the point of inhumanity. After sparring, she had grown closer to them.
Contrary to her ruthless power in battle, she was gentle in daily life.
She shared their interests food, pets, fishing. She offered unique insights that startled even Shikamaru, making him feel she always had the right words to turn weaknesses into strengths.
Strong, mysterious, beautiful, gentle, wise.
Those qualities together made her shine with a charisma beyond ordinary.
And it wasn't just them. He could feel it the envious stares when they spoke with her.
In a single day:
Akamaru, usually wary, had let her pet his belly.
Chōji had been willing to share his most treasured potato chips.
Naruto had begun diligently filling his notebook in every class.
Even Shikamaru, cautious at first, couldn't help but feel drawn to her.
Even one light laugh from her could lift their moods, filling them with warmth.
Shikamaru remembered a quote from a book:
"When you feel completely at ease talking with someone, it doesn't mean they are your soulmate. It may simply mean they are operating at such a high level of intelligence and empathy that they can catch everything you throw their way and reflect it back perfectly.
The cruel truth is it's because they are exceptional, not because you are a perfect match."
Konome's presence seemed to prove the truth of those words.
But he shook it off.
His father had already tasked him with befriending her, and he had succeeded. He was just a child. Whatever secrets she held, they weren't his to unravel.
"Troublesome…"
With that thought, Shikamaru's laziness took over. He cleared his mind and decided to just go home for some barbecue.
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