"Huff… huff…"
The corridor that had been silent moments ago now echoed with frantic footsteps.
"My lord, please wait! The guards have been sent to search for him — please, you must wait!"
The guard's voice strained as he ran after the man ahead of him.
The feudal lord stopped abruptly and turned, fury and terror warring openly across his face.
"How could you be so careless!?"
He roared.
"You had one task — one — to keep watch over a child! How does he disappear from a guarded hospital room!?"
The guard faltered under the weight of the accusation, unable to answer.
The feudal lord turned away sharply and resumed his search, his robes swaying with the force of his stride. Servants and medics flattened themselves against the walls as he passed, their whispers dying in their throats.
Moments earlier, he had been speaking with Tsunade.
Discussing medicines.
Diet.
Methods to ease the boy's pain.
Small, fragile hopes.
And when he returned to the room—
Empty.
Bed undisturbed except for the faint impression of a small body.
Curtains stirring in the evening breeze.
Window open.
Gone.
The image replayed in his mind like a nightmare refusing to end.
A week ago, he died to the world.
A day ago, he arrived in Konoha under ANBU protection.
And now…
The horror tightened around his chest.
If the rogue shinobi had found him again—
If the leak in the capital had reached even here—
If Konoha, the village he had chosen over his own guards, failed—
His steps faltered for the first time.
Not from exhaustion.
From fear.
For a boy who had already lost his parents… and now might be lost again under his watch.
Behind him, the guard spoke more softly, desperation replacing formality.
"My lord… the ANBU have been notified. The village gates are being monitored. No one has reported a breach."
No breach.
That... left only one possibility.
The child had walked out.
Alone.
In pain.
In a village he had never seen.
The feudal lord's hands trembled at his sides.
"Rin…"
He whispered, the name barely audible in the corridor.
.
.
.
"C'mon, show us your Byakugan."
"And if you're not gonna, then don't look at us."
"Yeah, she looks creepy!"
The children's laughter rang in the late afternoon air, cruel in the careless way only children could manage.
They had formed a loose circle, their shadows stretching long in the fading light. At the center stood a small girl, her pale eyes wide with fear.
"I bet you're actually some kind of monster, aren't you?"
"Right! Byakugan Monster!"
The words struck harder.
Her lips trembled. Her vision blurred. Slowly, she curled inward, knees drawn to her chest as her hands covered her face, trying to block out the world that refused to accept her.
The laughter only grew louder.
Then—
Thwack.
A pebble struck the back of one boy's head.
"Ow!"
He yelped, clutching his scalp as he spun around.
"What the—?"
"Did you throw that!?"
Another demanded.
They all turned.
At the edge of the clearing stood a boy in a hospital uniform.
The thin fabric hung loosely from his frame. His breathing was uneven, chest rising and falling too fast. Sweat traced a line down his temple as his white hairs were damp on his forehead.
Blood trickled from his knuckles.
But it was his expression that froze them.
Fury.
"Leave. Her. Alone."
Each word came out measured, forced through clenched teeth — as if speaking itself required effort.
The boys hesitated.
He looked fragile. Unsteady on his feet.
But his eyes—
Bright blue, almost luminous in the dim light.
"Woah! Is he a freak too?"
One of the boys blurted it out, eyes wide as he caught sight of Rin's unnaturally intense gaze.
For a heartbeat, the world went silent.
Then—
Rin moved.
He sprinted forward, bare feet slamming against packed dirt, breath tearing from his lungs as he launched himself into the air. His knee drove straight into the nearest boy's face with a sickening crack.
The boy hit the ground, clutching his nose as blood spilled between his fingers.
'Fight.'
The word echoed inside Rin's mind.
He landed hard, pain flaring up his legs, vision flickering at the edges.
The other two boys lunged in panic.
Rin's fist was already moving.
He struck the one on the right — a clumsy, desperate punch fueled more by instinct than training — but it connected, snapping the boy's head sideways.
The boy on the left swung.
Rin saw it coming.
'Fight.'
He tried to tilt his head to dodge.
Then the pain hit.
A sharp, blinding spike drove through his skull, as if something inside him had tightened its grip.
Tsunade's earlier chakra infusion — meant to help — now churned violently against the foreign energy within him.
His vision fractured.
His balance faltered.
And he failed to move in time.
The punch landed.
A burst of light exploded behind his eyes as his head snapped to the side.
He staggered.
The world roared.
Heartbeats.
Breathing.
Footsteps.
Every sound crashed into him at once.
'Fight.'
The word did not fade.
Rin straightened.
He clenched his fist as the blood was dripping from them.
He stepped forward and drove his punch into the boy's face with everything he had left.
The impact sent the boy sprawling onto the dirt.
Silence fell.
Broken only by Rin's ragged breathing.
The remaining children stared, stunned by the fact that he was still standing.
He swayed slightly.
Blood trickled from his split lip.
His blue eyes, unfocused for a moment, slowly steadied.
"Just… leave her alone."
His voice was quiet.
Hoarse.
And though the words seemed meant for the girl...
They were just as much meant for himself.
"We'll get you next time!"
The boys scrambled to their feet, panic replacing their earlier bravado. Without another word, they turned and ran, their footsteps fading into the distance.
Silence followed.
Rin remained where he stood, but the world around him refused to stay still.
The ground tilted.
The sky spun.
A dull, crushing pressure built behind his eyes.
His hand rose instinctively, fingers pressing against his eyelids as if he could hold the world in place through sheer force. He forced himself to look up, struggling to remain upright, his legs trembling beneath him.
'Stay up… just a little longer…'
Footsteps hurried toward him.
"Ar—Are you okay?"
The girl's voice trembled, thick with worry.
She reached his side, her small hands hovering near his arm, unsure whether to touch him or give him space.
Rin tried to answer.
His lips parted—but the words never came.
The pressure inside his skull spiked.
His vision fractured into shards of light.
His body swayed once.
Twice.
Then the strength left his legs entirely.
He fell forward.
Face-first into the dirt.
"Ah—!"
The girl gasped, the sound barely louder than a whisper. She dropped to her knees beside him, her hands hovering over his shoulders before gently touching him, as though afraid he might break.
"H-Hey… can you hear me…?"
Her voice softened, fragile with fear, as she leaned closer, searching his face for any sign that he was still conscious.
She was really grateful and also fascinated by the boy.
Someone so weak... yet so brave.
.
.
.
Six Years Later.
Sunlight streamed through the academy windows, casting long rectangles across the classroom floor.
Today was the day.
At the front of the room stood Iruka, his usual warm smile firmly in place.
"From this day forward."
Iruka began, his voice steady yet proud.
"You are no longer mere students of the Academy, but full-fledged shinobi."
A ripple of excitement passed through the room.
"Although,"
He added, raising a finger.
"Among the ranks of shinobi, you are still a mere genin."
A few groans mixed with nervous laughter.
"We will begin by dividing you into three-man teams."
He continued, glancing down at the paper.
"Each monitored by a jonin who will guide and coach you as you become familiar with the missions."
He began announcing the teams.
Names were called.
Then—
"...Next, Squad 7:Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki… and Sasuke Uchiha."
"Huh?!"
Naruto looked up ahead, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.
Iruka ignored him and continued.
"Next, Squad 8:Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka… and Rin Shiranui."
This time, two chairs slammed back at once.
Naruto and Kiba stood simultaneously, pointing accusing fingers toward their respective teammates.
"Sensei! What are you thinking, putting the most excellent shinobi like myself—"
Naruto and Kiba began, puffing out their chest.
"—with that loser?!"
Naruto finished, jabbing a finger toward Sasuke.
"—with that blindfolded-wimp?!"
Kiba barked at the same time, pointing straight at Rin.
The synchronized outbursts caused several students to snort with laughter.
Naruto and Kiba paused, blinking at each other, momentarily united in indignation.
Across the room, Hinata shrank slightly in her seat, her pale eyes flickering toward Rin with quiet concern. Sakura bristled at Naruto's complaint, while Sasuke remained as indifferent as ever, arms crossed and gaze fixed forward.
Iruka let the complaints hang in the air for a moment before speaking again, his tone firm but patient.
"Out of all the students."
He said, glancing around the classroom.
"Rin and Sasuke have the best grades. And you two—"
His gaze landed squarely on Naruto and Kiba.
"—are at the bottom of the class."
The words struck like a blunt weapon.
Naruto froze.
Kiba's mouth hung open.
A wave of muffled snickers rippled through the room.
"The idea is to balance your strengths."
Iruka continued calmly.
"That's how you ended up in the same squads."
Naruto scratched the back of his head, cheeks burning. Kiba looked away, ears reddening beneath his hood.
Then, slowly, they turned their heads.
Their eyes met.
A shared thought sparked.
They pointed at each other.
"Let's swap!"
They declared in perfect unison.
Kiba's reasoning was simple—he wanted the strongest possible teammate.
Naruto's was even simpler—he wanted someone who wouldn't call him dead last and might actually be nice to him, Rin being the only person who hangs out with him made the decision even easier.
The class burst into laughter.
Iruka's eye twitched.
"Cut it out!"
He snapped.
"The squad selection is final. Take your seats!"
Both boys flinched.
With exaggerated sighs and muttered complaints, they dropped back into their chairs.
Naruto slumped over his desk dramatically. Kiba crossed his arms, grumbling under his breath.
Iruka exhaled, the tension slowly leaving his shoulders.
"Haa… Well,"
He said, softening slightly.
"After the recess, your jonin instructor will be introduced."
Iruka gathered his papers and turned toward the door.
"Don't wander off,"
He added over his shoulder.
"And try not to cause any trouble."
The door slid shut behind him.
The moment it did—
The classroom erupted.
.
.
.
Once recess ended, the classroom slowly filled again with the sound of shuffling feet and dragging chairs. One by one, jonin instructors arrived, calling out their teams and leading fresh genin into the hallways.
The room grew quieter with every departure.
Until only two teams remained.
Team 7.
Team 8.
Naruto sprawled across his desk, cheek squished against the wood as he stared dramatically at the door.
"When's he gonna be here? Everyone already left!"
He groaned.
Beside him, Rin mirrored the posture, slumping forward with equal lack of enthusiasm.
"They sure are taking their time."
Rin muttered lazily.
His lips curved faintly.
"How's your trap going?"
He asked.
Naruto jolted upright.
"Huh?! How did you see that?!"
He demanded, whipping around.
Rin sat there in his dark-indigo, high-collared jacket, the long fabric covering his neck.
Matching slim-cut trousers, thick-soled slip-ons.
A thick black cloth was tied around his eyes and forehead, hiding them completely. Above it, his soft white hair flared outward in natural, windswept spikes.
"What do you mean?"
Rin said, straightening slightly. He hooked a finger under the blindfold, stretching it outward before letting it snap softly back into place.
"Don't you know I can see through this?"
Naruto's jaw dropped.
"Really?!"
He gasped.
"I thought you just had really good hearing!"
Rin stared at him.
A long, painful silence.
Inside his head, Rin sighed.
'I've been friends with him for nearly 4 years… and he doesn't even know that?'
He let his head fall back onto the desk with a dull thud.
"Just how dumb can you be?"
He muttered.
Naruto puffed up instantly.
"Hey! I am not dumb!"
From across the room, Sakura rolled her eyes. Sasuke remained by the window, arms crossed, pretending none of this existed.
Kiba snorted in amusement, while Hinata watched quietly, fingers fidgeting together.
Rin suddenly straightened in his seat.
His posture shifted from lazy indifference to sharp alertness, head tilted slightly toward the classroom door.
'That presence… it's familiar.'
Before he could place it, the door slid open.
Naruto's trap activated instantly.
A chalk duster wedged above the frame tumbled down and smacked squarely onto the head of a tall, silver-haired man stepping inside.
A soft poof of chalk dust exploded around him.
Naruto leapt to his feet, pointing dramatically.
"HAHAHA! Gotcha! He fell for it!"
The man stood frozen in the doorway, chalk dust settling across his dark mask and tilted forehead protector.
Sakura clasped her hands behind her back, putting on a saintly expression.
"I'm sorry, sensei."
She said sweetly.
"I tried to stop him, but… he wouldn't listen."
Inside, she was celebrating. The wait had been unbearable.
By the window, Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly.
'This guy… is our instructor?'
He studied the slouched posture, the lazy eye, the utter lack of intimidation—and silently hoped the man belonged to Team 8 instead.
The silver-haired jonin stepped forward, brushing chalk from his shoulder.
Before the man could say anything, a calm voice sounded from the hallway behind him.
"Are you going to move, Kakashi?"
The jonin shifted aside.
A woman stepped into view.
She had long dark hair and striking crimson eyes, her presence composed and elegant. Unlike Kakashi's lazy aura, hers was controlled—watchful.
She entered the classroom.
"I'm Kurenai."
She said, her voice gentle but clear.
"I'll be the jonin instructor for Team 8. Nice to meet you."
Kiba perked up immediately.
"Alright! Finally!"
Hinata lowered her gaze shyly, but relief softened her expression.
Rin remained still.
His head tilted slightly toward Kakashi.
Kakashi Hatake.
The familiarity clicked into place—the same chakra signature he had sensed years ago, faintly remembered through pain and blurred memories.
Naruto blinked between the two jonin.
"Wait—so who's stuck with chalk-face here?!"
A single bead of sweat slid down Kakashi's temple beneath his forehead protector.
'Chalk-face…?'
Behind him, Kurenai let out a soft, unrestrained giggle, covering her mouth as her crimson eyes flicked sideways toward him.
"Well,"
She said lightly.
"You are stuck with him."
Naruto's shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world had just been placed on them.
"Aw, man…"
But Kurenai wasn't finished.
Her smile turned playful.
"But if it makes you feel any better… so are we."
Naruto blinked.
Kiba frowned.
Both boys turned toward her at the same time.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
They paused.
Slowly, they turned their heads toward each other.
"Stop copying me!"
"Stop copying me!"
"Dammit!"
"Dammit!"
A vein throbbed on Kiba's forehead. Naruto's eye twitched.
Kakashi stepped forward before the argument could escalate into a full-blown brawl.
"It means,"
He said lazily, slipping his hands into his pockets.
"That unlike the others… you are not a three-man team."
The room fell quiet.
Kurenai folded her arms, leaning slightly against the desk, clearly enjoying the moment.
Kakashi's visible eye curved into a faint smile.
"You are a six-man team, with two jonin instructors."
.
.
.
.
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