The squabble with Inuzuka Ryo died the moment the teacher entered. Seeing everyone on time, Yamanaka Kiyoshi nodded, pleased—his first homeroom, day one of becoming a gold-star educator.
"Alright, class is starting." He cleared his throat. "Open your Will of Fire textbooks."
"'Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will never die out. The fire…'"
Reiji readied his "daily reflection" notebook—until a paper ball thunked against his desk. Minato shrugged helplessly and tilted his head to the side; Ryo was grinning and pounding a fist.
After school, let's have a match!
Reiji chuckled silently—and, without hesitation, triggered the Duel Arena.
Ryo blinked and vanished. In the real classroom, two boys suddenly sat very straight and very blank. Minato sighed and turned back to Kiyoshi's lecture.
"Where is this?!" Ryo stumbled in panic.
"Calm down," Reiji rubbed an ear. "You're too loud."
"Is this your genjutsu?" Ryo squinted, then bared his teeth. "Tch. So you awakened illusions early. I won't lose—the Hokage will be me!"
"Heh." A Headpat emoji popped above Reiji—pure mockery. "Keep dreaming. The Hokage will be me. This is my domain. Fight as you like—even if you 'die' here, there are no consequences. Now entertain me."
He drew a wooden kunai and formed the seal of confrontation.
"Don't underestimate me!" Ryo matched it—with steel.
Back in class, Kiyoshi walked to Reiji's desk. "Sarutobi Reiji, stand up and repeat what I just said." No reaction. Kiyoshi's brow twitched; he slapped the desk. Reiji glanced up blankly, turned a page, and kept "reading."
"…?" Kiyoshi looked to Ryo—same vacant stare, worse. A cold shiver climbed his spine. Did I bore them so badly they lost the will to live?
Namikaze Minato leaned in, whispering, "Sensei, they're dueling."
"Dueling?" Kiyoshi began—then both boys snapped back. Ryo clutched his throat, yelped, and toppled.
"Ahhh! My neck! I'm dying!" And fainted.
"Good grief!" Kiyoshi knelt, checked vitals—just shock. He exhaled—then fixed Reiji with a look. "You. My office. After class."
"Yes, Sensei," Reiji said.
When the bell rang, Reiji followed Kiyoshi to the staff room.
"Alright," Kiyoshi folded his arms. "Tell me—what kind of genjutsu was that?" Cautious but impressed, he meant to understand before reporting it.
"It's not a genjutsu," Reiji said seriously. "It's… a special ability."
"Oh?" Kiyoshi's brows rose. "Show me. Use it on me."
"Duel Arena—activate."
In a blink, the office dissolved into endless sky and stone.
"Genjutsu Release!" Kiyoshi snapped—nothing happened. He walked forward, curiosity bright in his eyes. "So this is your ability?"
Reiji nodded. "I woke up with it. You can train here freely—even if you 'die,' there's no harm."
"I see…" Kiyoshi murmured—then calmly drew a real kunai. "Let's hope you're telling the truth," he said kindly, and—smiling gently—stabbed himself through the heart.
Reiji froze mid-sentence. "Sensei… you'll auto-exit after six hours," he managed.
Kiyoshi writhed, then the world rippled—and they were back in the office. He clutched his chest, face pale with remembered pain; Reiji stood, speechless and a little moved.
"Why?" Reiji asked softly. "I could've… demonstrated."
"You're my student," Kiyoshi said between breaths. "Even on day one—if there's risk, it's mine. Besides, I believe you wouldn't lie to your teacher."
"…Alright."
"Go on back to class," Kiyoshi smiled thinly. "I'm going to see the Hokage."
"Yes, Sensei."
Reiji left. Kiyoshi sat a moment, exhaled. "What a genius that boy is…" He straightened his flak jacket and headed for the Hokage's office.
The door slid open first. Shimura Danzō stepped out, a thin smile already waiting.