As I quietly watched the trees outside sway in rhythm with the wind, a soft footstep approached behind me. I didn't turn. I didn't need to. I already knew it was Itachi.
"How are you, Akira?" he asked gently, concern carefully laced into his voice, though he masked it with calmness.
"Good enough," I replied, my tone flat, neither pleased nor cold. Just… me. He took the seat beside mine, and as he did, the murmurs in the classroom shifted like ripples in a still pond.
The girls who had surrounded him earlier began whispering among themselves.
"Who's that guy? When did he even get here?"
"I didn't even notice him… his presence is so low. Is he an introvert?"
"Ahh… but he's handsome, though. Just… his eyes look kind of dull."
"Well, if he knows Itachi, I might simp for him too," one of them murmured, intrigued.
"No way! I'm taking both of them!" another girl giggled, her voice playful and teasing.
A hushed, mischievous argument broke out among them, drawing a few amused glances.
I ignored them. Itachi did too, for now.
I broke the silence. "Congratulations on becoming a big brother. Tell Aunt Mikoto congratulations from me… even if it's late."
Itachi's face lit up slightly, his voice warm. "Thank you. And congratulations to you too, for becoming a big brother… of two."
I gave a simple nod, not adding anything else. The silence returned. Not uncomfortable, just familiar. Then Itachi's voice cut through it again, softer this time.
"Akira, I know the past two years haven't been easy. I thought… giving you space would help. But I'm your friend. You're my first real friend. I'll always be here if you ever need me."
I didn't respond with words. I just nodded again, but deeper this time. A small, subtle nod of acknowledgment.
Before we could continue, the group of girls returned, now crowding both our seats, pestering us with questions. I ignored them completely, letting Itachi handle it. He had become used to attention. I hadn't, and didn't care to be.
Soon, a chunin entered the classroom. He walked with firm steps, clapped his hands once sharply to get everyone's attention, and moved to the podium.
"Everyone, take your seats. Class is starting."
The students shuffled into place. A girl with long black hair and a beauty mark under her right eye sat beside Itachi. At first, I was cautious… until I recognized her, Izumi Uchiha. So this is how early they met? In the original story, they weren't close yet at this point. A butterfly effect… another ripple caused by my presence.
The chunin teacher spoke, his voice deep and measured. "Good morning, students. I'm Daikoku Funeno, your class teacher. I'm a chunin. I enjoy teaching and eating seafood. I dislike spicy food. My goal is to teach you all to the best of my ability."
He paused briefly, eyes scanning us. "Now, I want each of you to introduce yourselves the same way. Name, likes, dislikes, and your goal."
He pointed to the first student in the right-most row, and the introductions began.
One liked fighting, another liked flowers. Some disliked bugs, others hated spicy food, or the idea of war. There were dreamers with goals of becoming Hokage or bringing world peace, and simpler ones who just wanted a dango shop or a home near the Hokage Tower.
Then it was Izumi's turn. She stood up, her voice soft but confident."Hello, everyone. My name is Izumi Uchiha. I like sweet dango and all kinds of sweets. I dislike war and unnecessary fighting. My goal is to live a good and fulfilling life."
It was calm. Honest. It suited her.
Then Itachi stood. His tone was composed, his presence strong."My name is Itachi Uchiha. I like training and spending time with my friends and family. I dislike war… and losing those close to me. My goal is to become strong enough to protect everyone I care about."
The teacher nodded, clearly impressed by the maturity in his answer.
Then came my turn.
I stood, face neutral, voice even. "My name is Akira Nara. I like training. I dislike people who are late. My goal…" I hesitated for just a moment, "…is to live my life without burdens."
I just said what I could think of. I cannot let others know of my goals this early. I am fairly certain Minato is keeping his eyes on me and constantly watching, even if he does not mean any harm, I must not let my goal till it's too late to stop.
Since I was the last to speak, the teacher naturally moved on and began explaining the curriculum and syllabus for the year. I didn't bother listening. I let his voice fade into the background as I slipped into my mindscape.
"Nano," I commanded mentally, "run a three-hour simulation. Environment: dense forest. Enemies: 30 Chūnin and 10 Jōnin, first wave from Kumogakure, second from Iwagakure. They do not know my location."
Instantly, the world around me changed. In this inner battlefield, I trained endlessly. Over the past year, I had simulated hundreds of scenarios, assassinations, ambushes, tactical retreats, and coordinated attacks. Nano's advanced AI and predictive learning allowed me to mimic the feel of war itself. It wasn't just raw combat. It was experience, grueling, sharpened experience.
In these hours, I became a silent reaper, weaving through shadows and tree trunks, dispatching shinobi with lethal efficiency. Shadow Bind and Mind Transfer were my main tools, used not for interrogation or restraint, but for precise kills. I moved with the swiftness granted by Minato's physiology and the unnatural flexibility of Orochimaru, covering terrain like wind itself.
I had also recently evolved my Wind Severance Jutsu. It was now near-silent, reduced in range, yes, but concentrated in power and quiet. I shaped a blade of pure air, invisible to the eye, razor-thin, layered over my hand like an aura. A pseudo-ki sword, made entirely from compressed, sharpened wind. Its lethality made up for its close range. Similar to the Ki blade from the Nano Machine Manhwa.
Studying the Nara clan techniques opened an entire realm of combat potential. I began experimenting, refining yin chakra to manipulate not just my own shadow but fragments of it, like shards of darkness shaped into miniature versions of myself. I eventually developed something new:
Secret Technique: Mutual Shadow Bind.
Sure, the name might be plain, but the technique itself was anything but. It started as a simple concept: split my shadow and send the parts through other shadows, using them as a medium to reach the enemy. But splitting my real shadow was nearly impossible. So instead, I began molding yin chakra into tiny, independent shadow constructs, shards that could burrow into nearby shadows like leeches. From there, I could activate shadow binding jutsu from the shards of shadow itself.
Then I pushed it further.
I embedded small chakra cores into those shadow shards, turning them into traps. Upon reaching their position, they would explode in a burst of shadow energy, non-lethal for high-level shinobi, but devastating against low-level enemies and perfect for disruption or decoys.
I even managed to integrate a form of substitution, switching places with a pre-planted shadow, giving the illusion of teleportation. An elite shinobi might see through it, but in the chaos of battle, a single second is enough.
By the time the real-world lecture ended, I had finished a full simulated three-hour skirmish, bloodless but mentally exhausting. Dozens of shinobi fell in silence. I didn't wait for the crowd or dismissal.
I used Body Flicker and vanished from the classroom.
I reappeared outside the school compound and made my way toward Uncle Inoichi's house. It was time for lunch.
As I made my way toward the Yamanaka compound, I sensed two familiar chakra signatures closing in behind me, one closer, the other slightly farther away. I stopped, waiting for them to catch up. Within seconds, Itachi came into view, composed yet slightly winded. Izumi followed shortly after, panting and catching her breath.
After taking a moment to calm themselves, Itachi stepped forward. "Akira, why don't you join us for lunch today?" he asked, his voice steady, but something in his eyes told me he had a motive.
I shook my head, replying flatly, "No. Aunt Inoki has already made lunch for me at home. I can't join you."
Just as I turned to leave, Itachi added, "Then how about Izumi and I join you instead? I think Uncle Inoichi would be happy to have us over."
I paused.
I knew exactly what he was trying to do, but I also knew I couldn't shut him down completely. And maybe… maybe Uncle Inoichi would appreciate me bringing someone over. If nothing else, it would put him more at ease about me.
"…Fine," I said after a moment. "Come along."
Together, the three of us walked to the Yamanaka house. As soon as I stepped inside, I called out, "Aunt Inoki, I'm home."
She stepped into the hallway, and her expression brightened the moment she saw Itachi and Izumi walking in behind me. Practically glowing with excitement, she called for Uncle Inoichi, who came rushing down the corridor.
I wasn't sure why, but the look on his face when he saw me with company was like watching a man trying very hard not to burst into a proud grin.
Ignoring him, I walked over to Aunt Inoki and said, "Aunt, Itachi and Izumi wanted to join us for lunch, so I invited them. They brought their lunchboxes."
Aunt Inoki beamed. "That's wonderful!"
We all settled around the dining table. Once seated, Aunt Inoki was the first to break the ice.
"Itachi, thank you for…" she glanced at me briefly before finishing, "…helping him make friends."
I kept my eyes on my lunch, unmoved by her words.
Itachi smiled and answered, "Aunt, it's nothing. It's my duty as his friend to be there for him."
He turned slightly and gestured toward Izumi. "This is Izumi, my friend, and also our classmate."
Izumi bowed slightly and said politely, "Nice to meet you."
Aunt Inoki smiled warmly. "No need to be so formal, dear." Then her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So, how was your first interaction with Akira? How did you two meet?"
I almost choked on my food.
We hadn't met at all today, at least not in the way she was imagining. And I knew what was coming next if I didn't handle this carefully. After living under her roof for over a year, I'd learned one thing very clearly: Aunt Inoki, like Aunt Yoshino, could be terrifying when she wanted to be, especially if she found out I'd been ignoring people or deliberately isolating myself.
The question made Izumi pause, a slight flush rising to her cheeks as she looked down and said hesitantly, "We haven't met. Itachi introduced me to him. I did try to talk to him... but he ignored me."
My chopsticks froze mid-air.
I stared at my plate, unwilling, no, afraid, to meet Aunt Inoki's gaze.
There was a beat of silence. Then came her calm but chilling voice.
"Is that so…?"
Another pause.
"It seems I haven't taught him well enough after all."
Damn.
I knew that tone. That was the calm before the storm, the kind that led to a two-hour-long lecture filled with examples, scolding, occasional guilt-tripping, and just the right amount of emotional pressure to make me question my entire life.
I sprang up from my seat. "I'm… thirsty. I'll get some water."
Glancing at the others, I asked quickly, "Anyone else want some?"
They all shook their heads, clearly aware I was trying to escape. I didn't wait for a follow-up and practically disappeared into the kitchen.
Third Person POV
As Akira left the room, Aunt Inoki sighed, folding her arms thoughtfully. She turned toward Izumi and Itachi with a softer expression now.
"Izumi," she began, "Akira's a kind boy… truly. But life hasn't been fair to him. He's gone through things that made him shut his heart out to the world. He doesn't avoid people out of arrogance. He just… doesn't know how to trust easily anymore."
She gave Izumi a gentle smile, and her eyes settled on Itachi.
Itachi nodded slowly. "I understand. At first, I thought it was best to give him space, to let him breathe and clear his mind. But as time passed, and he kept ignoring me too, I realized… he hadn't healed. Not even a little."
He looked down briefly, his voice quiet but full of conviction.
"Now I know I have to help him. I want to bring him back into the light, back to the person he used to be. Cheerful, focused, and strong in more than just power."
Inoki's smile deepened, touched with both sadness and pride. Inoichi, who had remained quiet till now, placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder with a small nod.
"You're a good friend," he said simply.
Akira POV
After drinking some water and buying myself a little time, I returned to the dining room. The atmosphere had calmed, a quiet warmth settling into the room. They didn't mention the earlier conversation.
I sat back down and resumed eating, watching the conversation shift between casual stories and light teasing. Now and then, I was pulled in, asked to comment on something, to agree or disagree, or to answer a question.
I replied when needed. Short, sharp, controlled.
Inside, I was already counting minutes.
Just finish lunch. Smile where needed. Speak where required. And then… get back to the Academy.
After finishing lunch and checking up on Aunt Inoki's health one last time, we made our way back to the Academy. The walk was uneventful, save for the occasional glances I caught Itachi throwing in my direction. He probably wanted to talk more, but thankfully, Izumi's chatter kept him occupied.
Once inside the classroom, I did what had become second nature: I lowered my presence and quietly slid back into my seat. As always, Itachi and Izumi followed, chatting as they sat beside me.
It was during their conversation that an obnoxiously loud voice cut through the classroom.
"Heeeey, you're Itachi and Izumi, right?" she boomed.
The girl had wild black hair, pointed canine-like teeth, and two sharp red triangular marks under her eyes. A small ninken, clearly a pup-in-training, trotted by her side.
Inuzuka Hana, I recalled. Sister of Kiba. And unfortunately… a loudmouth.
Their conversation picked up quickly, Hana's tone full of brash confidence. Of course, as fate would have it, the topic veered toward me.
"That guy over there," she said, jabbing a thumb in my direction without even whispering. "What's his deal? He's like a ghost. You sure he's even alive? He didn't say a single word the entire morning."
Then the real sting.
"Maybe he thinks he's too good to talk to normal people."
I almost retorted right there. Almost.
It would've been so easy to dismantle her with a cold response, but I kept my composure. I tuned her out and started doing what I often did when I needed to block the world:
Counting the digits of Pi.
3.141592653589793...
A few more murmurs and chuckles followed until the door opened and Daikoku-sensei entered. The room immediately quieted.
"Alright, everyone," he announced, his firm voice cutting through the tension. "Today, we'll be conducting a physical test to measure your current fitness level. This will mark your baseline, and by the end of the year, you're expected to improve by a satisfactory margin. If not, you won't be allowed to graduate to the next year. Understood?"
A sea of nods followed, some hesitant, some confident.
We were led outside to the training grounds. A wide, 200-meter obstacle course stretched out in front of us, barriers, ropes, wooden ramps, and climbing frames. To the side, rows of wooden training dummies stood in a staggered formation, along with a compact sparring ring.
The students were divided into groups of ten.
The first few groups, mostly from civilian backgrounds, took the course. Most struggled, tripping over hurdles or slowing at the climbing ropes. Times ranged from over a minute to 30 seconds, with visible exhaustion.
Then came the clan kids, four Hyūga from branch families, two Inuzuka, including Hana, two Sarutobi, and two from the Hayate clan. Tsume was the fastest among them, completing the course in an impressive 12 seconds. She let out a proud howl, raising her arms triumphantly.
Then it was our group's turn.
I stepped forward, muscles loose but coiled, breathing calmly. I wasn't going to hold back too much; I needed to maintain the illusion of gifted talent without sparking unwanted attention from the higher-ups. Danzo was no longer an immediate threat with Minato as Hokage, but overexposure was never wise.
Itachi stood to my right, calm and focused.
Izumi was to my left, looking determined.
As soon as the signal was given, we launched.
I surged forward.
Every step was clean, precise, and efficient. My body moved in perfect coordination, honed through simulations and enhanced drills. I darted over ramps, flipped through ropes, and vaulted walls. I didn't waste even a tenth of a second.
I reached the finish line at 5.08 seconds.
Seconds later, Itachi followed at 6.45 seconds, sweat glistening but composed.
Izumi came next at 14 seconds, clearly fit and trained beyond her age.
Gasps echoed around the field.
Stunned murmurs. Whispers of disbelief.
"That kid… how?"
"He's faster than Hana!"
Hana grit her teeth but said nothing. For once.
Only Itachi remained calm. He knew.
He expected this.
Next came the shuriken throwing test. Ten wooden shuriken. Ten targets at varying distances.
I, Itachi, and two of the Hyūga hit bullseye on all ten.
Ten for ten. Precise. Clean.
Then came the final segment sparring.
Daikoku-sensei clapped his hands. "Next, we'll begin the sparring rounds. You will fight one-on-one. No ninjutsu. Taijutsu only. First to land five clean hits, or force the opponent to the ground, wins. Anyone using ninjutsu or injuring their opponent intentionally will be disqualified."
He scanned the crowd, then called out, "Akira Nara vs. Hana Inuzuka."
A spark lit in her eyes.
She bared her teeth with a wild grin. "Finally! Let's see if that ghost can fight."
I exhaled slowly and walked toward the ring, stepping into the circle.
Fine, I thought.
If she wants a ghost... I'll scare the shit out of her.
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Chapter Length-3000 words
Mc-
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