Chapter 4 – A New Day in the Village of Konoha
Mornings in Konoha were always lively. Merchants shouted while offering their goods, children ran toward the Academy, and shinobi passed by with serious faces. However, this morning, one figure caught the attention of many.
Kazuki Akihiro.
He walked leisurely down the village's main street, head slightly lifted, like someone who had finally found his place. People whispered, some still looking at him with suspicion, but quite a few gazed in wonder.
> Villager 1: "Isn't that the troublemaker kid?"
Villager 2: "Yeah, but I heard last night he defeated Mizuki… that Academy teacher who betrayed us."
Villager 3: "Seriously?! That's the kid? No way!"
Akihiro gave a faint smile, though in his heart he muttered.
Kazuki (in his heart):
So this is how it feels… to slowly be acknowledged. Even if not everyone believes it, at least now some are starting to see my existence.
.....
Not long after, a cheerful voice was heard.
Sakura: "Akihirooo! Wait up a second!"
Ino: "Hey! Don't run off, I've got business with you!"
Hinata: (running timidly while looking down, face red) "A-Akihiro-kun…"
Akihiro turned. The three girls were running toward him, making several villagers stop and whisper louder. The situation made him look like the center of attention.
Kazuki: (tapping his forehead lightly)
"Hahh… looks like my new problems have just begun."
...
Sakura immediately came closer and stared at him sharply.
Sakura: "Hey, you really made that weird technique last night, right? That… Rasengan, wasn't it?!"
Akira: (smiling teasingly)
"If I answer yes, will you be impressed by me?"
Sakura: (blushing then huffing)
"D-Don't get cocky! I was just curious, that's all!"
On the other side, Ino looked at Akihiro with an arrogant attitude, but her cheeks were clearly red.
Ino: "Hmph, I don't believe it! But if it's true, prove it to me. I won't let Sakura get ahead of me!"
Kazuki: (winking)
"So you also want me to show you my power, Ino-chan? Wow, wow, you two really pay a lot of attention to me."
Ino: (clenching her fists) "Don't just call me chan like that!"
Ino: (blushing) "I—I didn't mean—Ugh, you idiot!"
Meanwhile, Hinata only lowered her head, her fingers touching each other.
Hinata: (softly, almost inaudible)
"I-I… actually already believed from the start… that Akihiro-kun is a very kind person…"
Akihiro stopped for a moment, gazing at her with a warm smile.
Kazuki:
"Thank you, Hinata. Your words… mean more than you think."
Hinata turned completely red, nearly fainting on the spot. Sakura and Ino both pouted.
Sakura & Ino (together): "Hey! Don't go choosing like that!!"
The people who saw the scene chuckled quietly. Some whispered, "That boy has a strange charm, doesn't he?"
.....
Conversation with Iruka-sensei
In the afternoon, Iruka called Akihiro to the Academy. The room was empty, with only a simple wooden desk and a blackboard filled with practice notes.
Iruka: (smiling warmly)
"Akihiro, I want to talk. About last night."
Kazuki: (sitting casually)
"If it's about last night, it's not a big deal, sensei."
Iruka shook his head.
Iruka: "Not that. I want to say… I'm proud of you. You're different from the other kids, but that's not a bad thing. You've shown maturity that I didn't even have at your age."
Kazuki fell silent for a moment. Behind his smile, there was pain when recalling his past life in the original world—his beloved wife, who had died on their wedding day.
Kazuki (in his heart):
Maturity, huh? If I really were a 12-year-old, maybe I'd be glad to hear that. But I'm… a grown man trapped in the body of the main character in this story. How could I ever tell them that?
However, he still responded lightly.
Kazuki:
"Then, let's just say I really am different, sensei. And I'll make that difference the reason why I'll protect this village."
Iruka smiled with relief. But in his eyes, there was a slight doubt—like a great mystery he had yet to uncover about Akihiro.
.....
Life Moments in Konoha
In the following days, Akihiro lived his routine at the Academy. But his life was never ordinary.
During every taijutsu practice, he deliberately held himself back so as not to stand out too much, but sometimes he slipped and left everyone dumbfounded.
During small missions cleaning the village, he found practical methods that made all the work finish ten times faster. His teachers were baffled, while the other kids were amazed (or jealous).
Hinata often secretly followed him from afar, while Sakura and Ino constantly argued about who was closer to him.
However, behind it all, Akihiro still carried loneliness. His nights were always haunted by the image of a woman—his wife—smiling gently in her wedding dress.
Akira (in his heart):
If only you were still here… maybe we'd often joke together, enjoy nights together and watch the fireworks you'd always wanted before. But… that will never happen…
.....
One night, as Akihiro was walking home along a small path at the edge of the village, he saw a faint glow shimmering in the air. That glow… was the same as the hourglass that had brought him into this world.
Kazuki: (frowning)
"Again…? But I'm not ready to leave this place."
However, this time the glow did not swallow him. It only swirled, forming a strange symbol on the ground—like a seal.
Akihiro approached, crouching to see more clearly.
Suddenly, a mysterious voice echoed in his head.
Mysterious Voice:
"Kazuki Akihiro… Time does not wait for you. Destiny awaits."
Akihiro froze, eyes widening.
The night wind blew strongly, leaves scattering.
Kazuki (in his heart):
Is this… a sign that my journey in this world won't last much longer?
He clenched his fists.
Kazuki:
"If destiny calls me, then I will answer. But before that… I still have promises here. I won't leave without leaving something meaningful behind."
The glow slowly faded, leaving the silence of the night.
Akihiro stood, staring at the starry sky.
In his eyes, there was determination—and also worry.
Kazuki:
"Whatever awaits me… I swear, I will not lose anyone ever again."
TO BE CONTINUED...