The Ninja Academy was a whirlwind of new sensations. The noisy classrooms, the scent of chalk and sweat, the constant chatter of children who, unlike me, hadn't woken up in a living nightmare. I was placed in the same class as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura – Class 7, though at this age, it was merely an arbitrary grouping. I chose a seat near the back, observing, always observing.
Iruka Sensei was exactly as I remembered him: warm, earnest, with a genuine passion for teaching. He seemed relieved to have a quiet, attentive student like me, especially after dealing with Naruto's antics. My answers to his questions were always precise, my notes meticulously taken. I was the model student, a perfect cover for the anomaly festering beneath the surface.
Mizuki Sensei, however, was a different story. His eyes, though seemingly friendly, held a calculating glint that made the hairs on my neck stand up. He often watched me, his smile never quite reaching his eyes. I kept my guard up, answering his questions with feigned hesitation, making sure my knowledge didn't seem too perfect. I needed to appear competent, not suspicious.
The Academy was also an unexpected training ground for the Evolution System. While others learned to throw shuriken or tie knots, I was conducting mental drills. During lectures, I'd mentally access my Status, tracking my minute improvements. During breaks, while other kids practiced their swings, I'd slip away to a secluded corner of the yard.
My focus was still on the Sharingan. The "Self-Preservation" mission demanded it. I practiced the activation, not with physical danger, but with intense mental focus. I'd pick a target – a distant leaf, a crack in the wall – and try to feel the chakra gather behind my eyes, pushing that subtle, magnetic force until the familiar ping! resonated in my skull.
One-Tomoe Sharingan Activated. Stability improved (0.2%). Chakra drain: Moderate.
The headaches were still there, but less severe. The activation time was lengthening, from mere seconds to almost a minute if I pushed it. The crimson tint was still too prominent for public use, but I was gaining a modicum of control. I learned to activate it for a split-second, just enough to sharpen my perception, then immediately deactivate it before the red glow became noticeable. It was like blinking, but with a sudden, intense clarity. This was my hidden weapon, my secret edge.
I also began subtly training my Taijutsu. During physical exercises, I'd intentionally perform slightly above average, but never flawlessly. In the privacy of the orphanage backyard at night, I'd run through the forms I remembered, feeling the burn in my muscles.
Skill Progress: Taijutsu (E -> E+)
It was slow, excruciatingly slow, but every increment on my Status screen was a confirmation that I was moving forward, one step at a time. The Evolution Points were accruing from my Academy life as well. The "Adaptation" mission was ticking along, rewarding me with small amounts of EP for successful integration and avoidance of suspicion.
My observations of Sasuke were constant. He was a quiet, brooding shadow, already detached from his classmates. He rarely smiled, his eyes holding a profound emptiness that resonated deeply within me. I remembered his path, his consuming hatred, his eventual descent. My mission to save him felt heavier than ever.
One afternoon, during a shuriken practice session, Sasuke's aim was perfect. Every shuriken hit the bullseye. I, on the other hand, deliberately missed by a hair's breadth. As I retrieved my weapon, I found myself near him. He was reloading his pouch, his expression typically stoic.
"Good aim," I murmured, my voice intentionally soft, almost a casual observation.
He paused, his head turning slightly. His dark eyes met mine for a fleeting moment. There was no recognition, no curiosity, just that familiar emptiness. Then, without a word, he turned back to the target.
I didn't press. It was too early. Any overt attempt to befriend him would seem odd, especially from another Uchiha who had supposedly survived. The village was already wary of him, of us. I needed to build trust subtly, from the ground up, not force it. My strategy was clear: become a constant, quiet presence, a reliable peer, someone he could unconsciously rely on without feeling threatened or pitied.
The Academy was my new training ground, a serpent's nest where I had to learn to move like a ghost. Every interaction, every lesson, every moment was a test. My life was a constant balance act: appear normal, train constantly, and keep my secrets hidden. The shadow of Itachi still loomed large, but now, the future of Sasuke, and perhaps the world, rested on the silent evolution of the forgotten Uchiha.
Uchiha Namekaze has successfully integrated into the Ninja Academy and is making slow but steady progress with his hidden training. His observations of Sasuke are intensifying his resolve.
What challenges do you foresee for Namekaze as he continues his Academy life, especially as more advanced training begins and the bond between Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura starts to form? How will he navigate these social dynamics while maintaining his secret?
End of chapter 6