(A/N): Hey everyone! I've been really tired after overtime lately, so I took some time to stock up on a few extra chapters during my limited free time. That way, I can keep the updates coming regularly for a while. Thanks for sticking around!
Konoha Year 32, December 2nd
Konoha Ninja School
Sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, scattering dust motes across the polished floors. I slid into my usual seat near the rear window, pencil in hand, scanning the room. From here, I could see everything—the way Minato's pencil barely paused as he copied notes, the whispered jokes between Tsume and Nawaki, and Kushina's meticulous handwriting spilling over her lines.
Six months had passed since I regained my memories, and having reincarnated directly into my six-year-old self, I had skipped the early childhood I didn't want to relive. The difference was obvious—I wasn't average anymore. My mind absorbed every word, diagram, and subtle cue with astonishing speed, yet I could joke, tease, and interact naturally. Sitting at the back didn't isolate me—it was perfect for playful observation, teasing, and occasionally interfering when it was fun.
The teacher clapped his hands. "Ninja history—clans and their contributions! Revision only!"
Groans echoed. I leaned slightly toward Kushina, who had already fallen behind a page or two while copying a diagram.
"You're going too fast," I whispered, nudging her elbow. "Try this method; it'll save time."
Her eyes sparkled. "Thanks… but you're kind of showing off, aren't you?"
"I prefer the term 'helpful genius,'" I said, smirking.
Mikoto glanced over, amused. "You're good at this… patient, but not boring."
Kushina's blush deepened. "Yeah… and a little arrogant too."
I leaned back, letting the sunlight hit my face. "Arrogance is optional. Efficiency isn't."
Minato, ever calm, quietly chuckled. "Some things never change."
Nawaki whispered something to Tsume and glanced at me. "You're way too popular already. How do you even manage it?"
"Simple," I said, grinning. "Pay attention, stay approachable, don't act perfect—people like someone they can laugh with and learn from."
The rest of the morning blurred by in a haze of note-taking, playful nudges, and subtle jokes. I leaned toward Kushina a few times to correct a diagram or show a shortcut, doing it casually so it felt like a suggestion rather than a lesson. I even teased Minato about his perfect handwriting once, making him flush and suppress a laugh. Tsume caught my look and rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a tiny smile—she always enjoyed the subtle teasing.
At lunch, the six of us—Kushina, Mikoto, Minato, Tsume, Nawaki, and me—gathered under the sprawling tree outside. The breeze stirred leaves while laughter bubbled up around us.
"You're going to make me study even harder, aren't you?" Kushina poked me playfully.
"Only if you let me," I said, flicking a small leaf at her.
Nawaki shook his head, smirking. "Good luck catching up to me, Kushina."
"I'm fast," she shot back,. "You'll see!"
Tsume smirked, nudging Nawaki. "You two are impossible."
"Exactly," I added, leaning back against the tree. "But admit it, Tsume—you love seeing me stir up trouble."
Her blush came fast, but the corners of her mouth twitched. "Maybe…"
I leaned toward Mikoto next, lowering my voice. "And you, Princess of the Uchiha clan… enjoying the chaos too?"
Her faint smile said it all. "You're terrible."
I shrugged innocently. "Hey, terrible is my charm."
Kushina rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her grin. "You really are impossible!"
I flicked another leaf at her, feigning deep thought. "Hmm… so that's two out of three girls who are apparently entertained by my genius and charm. Not bad odds."
Tsume snorted. "You're counting now?"
"Strategically," I said. "Everything's about strategy."
The afternoon passed in the usual chaos of tactical theory, basic jutsu knowledge, and clan history. I stayed sharp, playful, and observant. Kushina traced subtle patterns in the dirt, Mikoto quietly guided her, and Tsume kept glancing my way with a mixture of amusement and calculation. Every subtle movement told me more than they realized—they were all enjoying my attention, just in slightly different ways.
By the time the bell rang, the rest of the group dashed ahead, leaving just me, Mikoto, and Kushina strolling together. The streets were quiet, sun dipping low, painting everything in soft gold.
Kushina wandered a little ahead, fingers tracing patterns in the air. I caught up and nudged her lightly. "Hey, watch where you're going, or someone might… abduct a genius like me while you're distracted."
She blinked, caught off guard, and huffed. "Ryo! I'm not distracted!"
"Sure, sure," I teased. "That's exactly what someone plotting to control their chakra without thinking would say."
Her cheeks pinked, and I grinned. "You're thinking about Grandma Mito's exercises again, aren't you?"
She froze mid-step. "W-what? Nooo…"
Mikoto laughed softly, eyes twinkling. "Ryo, don't push it too much."
I leaned slightly closer to her, just enough for the playful nudge to register. "Relax, I'm just making observations. Like a scientist… or a very handsome genius."
Kushina rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her grin. "You're impossible."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, flicking a leaf at her. "But admit it—you like impossible. Just a little."
Her blush deepened, and she fought back a laugh. Mikoto shook her head, smiling knowingly.
I slowed, letting Kushina catch up. "Alright, deal," I said, leaning in conspiratorially. "You're already practicing Mito-sama's exercises, but I can show you one tiny trick—just a small adjustment that makes chakra flows easier to notice. Only one."
Kushina perked up. "Really? You'd… show me?"
I grinned and winked. "Only because I'm generous. And someone has to keep up with my level of genius. Don't worry, Mikoto—I'm not giving away all my secrets… yet."
Mikoto rolled her eyes but laughed softly. "You're terrible."
"Terrible is my charm," I said, twirling a finger in the air. "And judging by that blush, I'm clearly winning points with Kushina already."
She punched my shoulder lightly, laughing. "You really are impossible!"
I let the words hang in the air, watching her grin, Mikoto's amused eyes, and thinking… yeah. This was exactly the kind of afternoon I liked. Playful teasing, subtle flirting, quiet camaraderie, and sparks between us to keep things interesting.
As we walked, I started thinking about my little "challenges" for the girls—teasing, joking, seeing who would fluster me first. Kushina was stubborn and curious enough to make the next few months… very, very fun.
(A/N): Ah, it feels so good to be back! Did you all miss me while I was gone? I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I had a lot of fun adding all the little interactions and playful moments. I can't wait to share what happens next. Hope this chapter brought a little fun to your day. See you all in the next chapter!