Wearing a pink, kitten-patterned nightgown, the blonde girl lay on her bed, hugging her pillow as she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
She had just…
Threatened Kyusei, hadn't she?
Kaoru stared at the moonlit sky beyond the window, her watery blue eyes wide open. As the scene from earlier replayed in her mind, a deep blush slowly crept across her fair cheeks.
Kyusei…
What was he doing right now?
Just one wall away, what was Kyusei doing?
The red-haired boy was sprawled across his bed in a starfish position, blanket tossed carelessly over him. His chest rose and fell evenly.
He was sleeping like a rock.
—
The moon faded, and dawn bloomed.
Ding—ding—ding!!!
The alarm clock on the bedside table rang out on schedule, its noise sharp and irritating.
Snap.
A hand landed precisely on the switch, ending its duty for the day.
Kyusei rubbed his bleary eyes and yawned deeply.
Last night, the mess with the Cloud ninjas dragged on until late, and then there was the confession with Kaoru on top of that.
He'd slept maybe four or five hours at most. Waking up like this, he felt utterly drained.
But no matter how tired he was, he had to get up today.
There was only one reason—
Today was the graduation and team assignment day at the Ninja Academy.
Strictly speaking, it was just a formality for him.
As a jinchūriki, what kind of team could he possibly be assigned to?
At best, he'd be grouped with kids his age to catch cats around the village, pull weeds, or maybe help an old granny watch her house.
Leaving Konoha for real missions?
That was completely impossible.
Even if it was just for show, he still had to attend. Otherwise, Hiruzen would start nagging him again.
Or worse—send Tsunade over to drag him there personally, beating him half to death in the process.
After a quick wash, Kyusei didn't bother making breakfast and headed straight out.
The moment he opened the door, sunlight poured in, making him squint slightly.
At the same time, a snow-white, delicate hand pushed open the door next to his.
"Hehe, morning."
Seeing Kaoru standing there with faint dark circles under her eyes, Kyusei greeted her casually.
"…Morning."
Kaoru glanced at him, her gaze drifting. Only now did it truly sink in that what happened last night wasn't a dream.
Before she could think further, Kyusei naturally took her hand and led her toward the academy.
Before, Kaoru hadn't thought much of holding hands.
But after last night—after they had clearly become a couple—
That realization made the twelve-year-old girl shy despite herself. Still, she forced down her embarrassment, keeping her usual gentle smile on her face.
But seriously… holding hands was one thing.
Why was he scratching her palm?
It tickled.
Kaoru shot a helpless look at the boy beside her, who wore a perfectly calm expression, and pouted slightly.
Kyusei discreetly observed her reaction. Seeing that she didn't pull away, his courage grew.
Taking advantage of her distraction, his fingers slipped between hers.
Before Kaoru could react, their hands were fully intertwined, fingers locked tightly together.
Still such a child…
Kaoru glanced at the boy whose ears had turned red, her own face warming slightly.
But the corner of her lips curved upward.
When they arrived at the academy and entered the large classroom reserved for graduates, every eye turned toward them.
Or more precisely—
Toward their hands, which still hadn't separated.
Kaoru had wanted to let go, but Kyusei stubbornly refused, so she simply let it be.
"Hehehe, boss!"
"You're finally—"
Kyusei's number-one lackey, Inuzuka Rei, came bounding over with a black ninja dog, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
As he spoke, many of their peers crowded around, all wearing strange, knowing smiles as they looked at Kyusei.
"Scram, all of you. Go find somewhere cooler to loiter."
Kyusei glared at his followers, dragging the outwardly calm—but inwardly flustered—Kaoru to the back row.
Sitting quietly in a corner, Sarutobi Shinnosuke glanced at them without saying a word, remaining seated in silence.
After what happened two years ago, even he wasn't stupid enough to miss it—Kyusei's status was special.
Seeing his father whenever he wanted.
ANBU always nearby.
That wasn't treatment an ordinary person received.
Thinking darker still… maybe even Kaoru—
—
Inside the academy office, a group of shinobi stood around Hiruzen, watching the scene through the crystal ball.
These were the jōnin and chūnin who would soon be taking on new teams.
"That kid's interesting," one of them remarked, watching Kyusei being surrounded like the center of attention.
"The boy and the girl beside him already have arrangements," Hiruzen said calmly, exhaling smoke. "Take a look at the others."
His words made everyone present tense.
Already arranged—before graduation?
To earn the Hokage's personal attention… was he a genius?
"Old man, what about Kaoru?" the tall white-haired man beside Hiruzen scratched his head, clearly uneasy.
If possible, they absolutely had to separate Kyusei and Kaoru!
That brat would definitely corrupt her sooner or later!
"Kaoru will be entrusted to you, Jiraiya," Hiruzen said, glancing at his student.
"And that Ky—Kyusei kid?" Jiraiya asked.
"That one…" Hiruzen replied slowly.
"…will probably be my student."
The office door opened.
A man stepped inside.
The moment he appeared, everyone stared at him in disbelief.
If Konoha had to rank its strength—
The Hokage was unquestionably first.
And second?
This man.
Even the Three Sannin ranked below him.
There was no other reason—
Unparalleled strength.
A perfect mission success rate.
"Mm. I'll leave him to you, Sakumo," Hiruzen said, lowering the brim of his hat.
"You'll take him on alone."
The room exploded in silent shock.
The White Fang of Konoha—personally mentoring a single child?
Just who was this kid?!
The Hokage's illegitimate son?!
In truth, Hiruzen himself hadn't had many good options.
With Kyusei's talent, treating him as nothing more than a Nine-Tails container would be a terrible waste.
But with Kagura's Mind Eye and Adamantine Sealing Chains, Kyusei possessed unmatched sensory abilities and battlefield control, adaptable to any environment.
There was only one thing he lacked—
Close-combat ability.
If that weakness could be filled, then—combined with the evolved applications of Adamantine Sealing Chains he'd inherited from Kushina—
Kyusei's potential could be pushed to its absolute limit.
And in all of Konoha, when it came to taijutsu—
If Hatake Sakumo claimed second, no one dared claim first.
Which meant—
The White Fang of Konoha was the perfect teacher for Uzumaki Kyusei.
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