Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened.
"Who spread the rumor? Did I not order this kept confidential?"
A dozen chunin dead did not move him much. In a village this large, even in peacetime, missions claimed lives.
But rumors were different.
Fear took hold.
If this dragged on, the elders' standing would suffer.
So would the economy.
"It was a chunin named Iruka, an intern teacher at the Academy. Yamashiro Aoki was his friend, so Iruka started investigating. He may have shared details with civilians, and they embellished them into today's rumor."
"Iruka?"
Hiruzen remembered him, someone he watched. Iruka's strength was not high, but he had a gift for teaching.
His parents had died in the Nine Tails' rampage.
Hiruzen had met him then, when his own wife, Sarutobi Biwako, had also died.
"Kakashi, speak to Iruka and have him stop. Your handling is enough. And hurry. We must resolve this quickly."
"Yes."
Mizuki sat on a bench at the Academy, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"The Chunin Killer, is it?"
"Interesting."
"From birth until now, I have never drawn this much attention."
"It feels good."
He felt no fear at the whispers. He was excited.
A book dropped into his hand.
Ghoul Bloodline.
"I am no longer ordinary."
"At last, this world will look me in the eye."
He glanced toward the Hokage Tower.
"But catching me will not be easy. Chunin no longer satisfy me. Only jonin can fill my hunger now."
"My strength is already not beneath yours, jonin."
Uchiha Itama walked to the Academy holding Uchiha Izumi's hand.
Her cheeks flushed.
"Itama, can we not hold hands? So many people are watching."
Itama shrugged. "Izumi, you are my future wife. Holding hands is the most natural thing."
"But there are so many people."
"Then you mean it is fine when no one is around?"
"I..."
Her face reddened further.
A few girls saw Izumi and teased her.
"Izumi, this is your little fiancé, right? He is really handsome."
They were Izumi's classmates.
"Yes."
Itama answered without a hint of shyness.
"Yes, and thank you for looking after Izumi in class, ladies."
"Do not worry. We will take good care of her."
One girl laughed. "Since it is our first meeting, should Izumi's little fiancé give us a gift so we can keep a closer eye on her?"
"No need. I trust Izumi."
He paused. "But to thank you for watching over her, lunch is on me today. Order anything you like."
"Really? Great, I want Akimichi barbecue."
"I want dango."
Itama swept a hand. "All of it. No problem."
Only when they entered the Academy did he let go of Izumi's hand.
By then her face was crimson to the ears.
"Izumi, was that really your fiancé?"
"No. Itama was joking."
She shook her head.
"But I saw you two holding hands. You did not seem to mind."
"Itama is just a child."
"So if he were older, you would admit he is your fiancé?"
"I did not say that..."
"Then do you dislike him?"
"No, no. Itama is very nice. He may be young, but he is attentive. He spouts nonsense sometimes, but he is fun and makes people smile. He treats friends and family well."
"Then there it is. You only worry about age. Age is nothing. You are only three years apart. When you are grown, it will not matter."
"If you did not like him, how could you list so many of his good points, as if you are afraid we will think you dislike him?"
Izumi froze.
Itama's face rose in her mind.
She had always treated him as a younger brother, no matter how often he joked about marrying her.
But now, after hearing this, she was not so sure.
"Good morning, sensei."
"Good morning, students."
Mizuki stood at the lectern, more pleased than ever.
Uchiha Itama lay on his desk and looked out the window.