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"Why didn't you show up last night, you liar—achoo!"
Sarutobi Kei looked pale as a sheet. He didn't even finish his sentence before sneezing.
Early September had just slipped into autumn.
The night before, he'd stubbornly waited until midnight in nothing but a short-sleeved shirt before finally leaving. Now he'd caught a cold.
Hitomi hesitated, her big eyes shimmering as if she wanted to ask—
Ken… why didn't you come?
After another sneeze, Sarutobi Kei didn't hold back.
"You're a coward. A disgrace. You've shamed the entire Uchiha clan!"
Faced with the insult, Ken said nothing. He simply tilted his head at a forty-five-degree angle, gazing out the window with a distant, unfocused look.
"When I was very young, my parents died in the Third Great Ninja War," he said quietly. "They didn't get to raise me, but… I'm still grateful. They were heroes. They protected the village."
"After they passed, I lived with my grandmother. Last night, just as I was about to head out to meet you… her asthma flared up. I rushed to get the neighbors and had her taken to the hospital."
"She's my only family. I was afraid of losing her… so I stayed there all night."
Ken turned back, his eyes full of apology.
"Kei… I really couldn't make it. I'm sorry."
In reality, he'd completely forgotten about the challenge. He'd thought Kei was joking. Who knew the guy would seriously go wait at Hokage Rock at ten at night?
So Ken made it all up on the spot, dead serious, without the slightest guilt.
You challenge me out of nowhere—why should I show up?
"Ken… you were taking your grandma to the hospital?" Hitomi's eyes reddened. She suddenly felt sorry for him, her heart softening.
That explanation completely shut Kei down.
Sure, he disliked the Uchiha, but he wasn't unreasonable. Otherwise, he could've just brought a few clan members yesterday and beaten Ken up.
And being young and simple-minded, he didn't question it.
Right now, he felt nothing but guilt.
Thinking back to how aggressive he'd been, he practically wanted to crawl into a hole.
"As for our match…" he started, then covered his mouth.
He thought to himself, He's in a bad state right now. Even if I win, it wouldn't feel right.
I'll wait until his grandma recovers. Then we'll settle it fair and square!
I'm going to become Hokage someday. I have to be honorable. I can't take advantage of someone like this!
Having made up his mind, Kei forced a smile.
"Konoha Hospital has a lot of great medical ninja. Your grandma will be fine."
"Why don't we go visit her this afternoon?"
He looked at Ken expectantly, clearly trying to make up for his guilt.
Ken almost laughed.
My dear Kei… you're really overstepping here.
He shook his head.
"My grandma prefers quiet. She doesn't like visitors."
No way he was going.
He didn't even know where the hospital was.
If he took them there, the whole lie would fall apart.
Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
One lie always needed more lies to cover it.
A never-ending cycle…
"Alright," Kei said, not pushing further. Patients needed rest, after all.
…
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed.
Ken's Sage Body energy had increased by over 30,000 points.
At this rate, it would take about five more months to reach Level 2.
At only six years old, he had plenty of time.
By the time he grew up, he might even awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
And with his Sage Body, the side effects would be greatly reduced—
maybe even completely gone.
Over the past two months, Itachi Uchiha had dropped by from time to time to chat and share things.
Their friendship was steadily growing stronger.
In the classroom—
The morning theory lesson was as dull as ever.
A glance around showed plenty of students nodding off.
The chubby kid from the Akimichi clan was sneaking snacks, thinking he was subtle. Unfortunately for him, their homeroom teacher, Daikoku Funeno, saw everything and rolled his eyes.
Ken, on the other hand, found the class interesting.
It covered customs, cultures, and knowledge from different countries—
things the anime had never really explored in detail.
He listened with genuine interest.
Beside him, Hitomi took notes diligently, occasionally resting her chin in her hand as she stole glances at him.
Ken is so focused… such a good student. I wish I could concentrate like that.
And… he's really handsome.
A faint blush spread across her delicate face.
Then her gaze shifted to Kei, who was fast asleep. She frowned slightly and let out a soft, disapproving huff.
"Ring ring ring!"
Class was over.
Kei stretched, feeling refreshed, then gulped down some water before cautiously asking Ken,
"Uh… how's your grandma doing?"
"I'm not trying to challenge you or anything! We're classmates—I'm just concerned about her."
Even as he said it, his face turned red with embarrassment.
He didn't believe it himself.
Ken paused, then turned to look at him, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.
How could he not see through him?
This guy… is he seriously that dense?
If you want to challenge me, just say it.
If you don't say it—
how am I supposed to refuse you?
"Not that fast," Ken replied with a smile.
Hitomi, perceptive for her age, caught on and immediately said, "Kei, you can't do that!"
Flustered, Kei's face flushed bright red.
"I really am worried about his grandma!" he insisted, then glanced at Ken as if it didn't matter. "Besides… beating an Uchiha like him would be easy."
Ken sighed.
"If you want a fight, there are plenty of Uchiha in school. Why insist on me? Can't you pick someone else?"
Kei stared straight at him.
"I don't know why, but I just don't like your face. Makes me want to beat you up."
Ken: "…Alright. You win."
At that moment, Daikoku Funeno knocked on the blackboard and addressed the class.
"To assess your progress over the past month, we'll be holding a taijutsu sparring session this afternoon. Your performance will count toward your final grade. No absences."
"Give it your all and fight for victory!"
Kei's eyes lit up instantly.
This is it.
"....."