The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway even before Ren reached the kitchen.
They were light, familiar steps—almost too rhythmic for someone who should still have been half-asleep. When he crossed the doorway, he found Sasuke already seated at the table, chin resting on his hand, eyes fixed on the nearly untouched plate in front of him.
The soft morning light streamed through the window, reflecting off the wooden floor and illuminating the two of them in almost the same way. At first glance, anyone would say they were identical—the same black hair, the same dark eyes. But to those who truly knew them, the differences were clear: Sasuke looked tense, closed in on himself; Ren was more alert, absorbing every detail around him.
"You woke up late," Sasuke commented, without looking away from his plate.
Ren pulled out the chair beside him and sat down, stretching slightly.
"You're the one who woke up too early."
Sasuke let out a short, almost irritated snort.
"I didn't have a choice. Mom's been pacing the hallway since before sunrise."
As if summoned by the mention, Mikoto appeared in the kitchen carrying a tray. Her smile was calm, but there was something attentive in her gaze—the kind of quiet concern only a mother would have on her children's first big day.
"You both woke up at the right time," she said as she placed more food on the table. "There's no need to rush today."
Ren noticed the effort behind that calm. Mikoto was trying to act as if this were just another ordinary morning, but he knew her too well not to see through it.
Fugaku was already seated at the table, serious as always, reading in silence. His presence filled the room in a nearly solemn way. He only lifted his eyes from the book when the two of them settled in.
"Eat," he said, his voice firm. "I don't want anyone distracted on the very first day."
Sasuke picked up his chopsticks without enthusiasm, stirring the rice.
"It's just the Academy."
Fugaku didn't raise his voice, but the authority in his tone made Sasuke look up.
"It isn't," he replied. "It's the beginning."
Ren chewed slowly, his stomach tighter from anticipation than hunger. It wasn't fear, exactly—it was the feeling of crossing an invisible line. Until yesterday, everything had been training at home, guidance from his father, quiet observation. Today would be different. Today, there would be people, rules, evaluations.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Sasuke pushing his food around without really eating.
"Nervous?" Ren asked softly.
Sasuke made a nearly imperceptible sound, somewhere between a grunt and a sigh, his eyes still on the plate.
"A little."
Ren raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You never admit that."
Sasuke shrugged.
"Today, I couldn't pretend."
Ren let out a small smile. It was rare to hear Sasuke say something like that without irony.
Mikoto watched them in silence, leaning against the counter. There was pride in her gaze, mixed with that inevitable trace of worry.
"You're going together, alright?" she said at last.
Ren and Sasuke exchanged a quick, almost automatic look.
"Okay," they replied at nearly the same time.
Fugaku closed the book calmly and set it on the table.
"The route is simple," he said.
"Trust what you've learned."
There was no overt emotion in his words, but Ren knew—that was Fugaku's way of saying he believed in them.
After they finished breakfast, Sasuke stood up first.
"Let's go."
Ren followed him. Before they left, Mikoto called out to them.
"Ren. Sasuke."
They both stopped at the door.
"No matter what happens today… remember that you can always come back home."
Something tightened in Ren's chest. He simply nodded.
They stepped outside side by side.
The morning air was cool, carrying the scent of the village waking up. They walked in silence—a comfortable, old silence, built since childhood. It wasn't awkward. It was familiar.
"Do you think it'll be boring?" Ren asked, breaking the quiet.
"Maybe," Sasuke replied. "But it won't be useless."
Ren nodded in agreement.
The Academy gradually came into view ahead of them, imposing in a simple way. The building wasn't grand, but there was something about it that made Ren slow his pace without realizing it.
Children gathered at the entrance—some laughing too loudly, others clinging to their parents, eyes wide and alert.
The noise was unlike anything Ren was used to. It wasn't the silence of training. Nor the controlled environment of home.
It was chaotic. Alive.
Sasuke stopped for a moment beside him, observing the movement with almost critical attention.
"There are a lot of people," he commented.
"Yeah," Ren replied. "More than I imagined."
They went in together.
The hallway was full of echoing voices, hurried footsteps, nervous calls. Ren felt the urge to memorize everything—the layout of the rooms, the position of the windows, the way some students moved with confidence while others hesitated at every step.
The classroom assigned to them was almost full when they entered.
Ren sat near the window instinctively. He liked having a broad view of his surroundings, being able to see what was coming before it reached him. Sasuke sat a few rows ahead, posture rigid, eyes scanning the room as if evaluating every face.
Ren noticed. Sasuke was doing the same thing he was—just in a different way. More closed off, more direct, as if admitting curiosity were a weakness.
A boy with his hair tied back yawned exaggeratedly before dropping into the seat beside Ren.
"So tired…"
"I'm Ren."
"Shikamaru."
Shikamaru rested his head on his hand and stared forward, as if he already knew the day would be long.
"You seem way too awake for this hour," he said.
Ren gave a short smile.
"Maybe it's nerves."
Shikamaru made a sound somewhere between a chuckle and a sigh.
"That'll pass. Or not."
Before they could continue, the door opened again.
Sakura entered, her pink hair standing out in the room. Her eyes swept across the desks and stopped on Sasuke with almost automatic speed.
"It's him…"
Ren saw the change in her expression: hesitation turning into focus, as if the rest of the room had disappeared.
Moments later, Ino came in right behind her—blonde, confident posture. Unlike Sakura, she took in everything first—the room, the students, the teacher who hadn't arrived yet—until her eyes met Ren's for a brief moment.
She smiled, as if she'd already decided something.
Ren looked away almost immediately, feeling his face warm in a strange way. It wasn't embarrassment, exactly—it was the feeling of being noticed without having done anything.
The chatter died down when Iruka entered.
He didn't need to shout. He didn't need to slam his hand on the desk. His presence alone was enough for the room to understand that this wasn't a backyard or a street anymore.
"Good morning," Iruka said. "Welcome to the Academy."
As he explained the basic rules, Ren paid attention to every detail—not just the words, but the way Iruka moved, the way he looked at the students as if trying to understand each of them in silence.
When the names began to be called, Ren felt an unexpected tension in his chest.
"Ren Uchiha."
"Here."
The answer came out firm—firmer than he expected. He heard a few low, quick whispers and chose to ignore them.
"Sasuke Uchiha."
"Here."
Sasuke's voice was direct and cold. Even so, Ren noticed eyes turning toward him—curiosity, admiration, and even a hint of discomfort.
During the break, the room filled with noise again. Ren took a deep breath, trying not to get lost in the chaos.
Sakura approached Sasuke with careful steps, as if she'd rehearsed it.
"Hi, Sasuke!"
"Hi."
"Do you want to sit with me?"
"No."
The short answer wasn't cruel—just dry. Sakura stood there for a second, unsure where to look, then nodded and walked away, her face red with frustration and stubborn resolve.
Beside Ren, Ino appeared with the same confidence as before, clearly unconcerned with who might be watching.
"Hi! You're Ren, right?"
"I am."
Ino tilted her head slightly, as if assessing him.
"You seem… different."
Ren frowned.
"Different how?"
She shrugged, the smile still there.
"I don't know yet. But I'll sit near you sometimes."
Before Ren could respond, Ino walked away as if it were a simple promise.
Shikamaru glanced at Ren from the side, wearing the expression of someone who wanted no part in it.
"Socializing is a pain," he muttered.
Ren sighed, but didn't complain.
"But it's not that bad."
The day went on with basic lessons and simple exercises, but for Ren, nothing felt truly simple. Every instruction was a piece of what he would need to master. Every demonstration made it clear that everyone started from the same point—but not everyone would end up in the same place.
When the final bell rang, Ren felt relief and, at the same time, a strange urge to return the next day. As if the Academy had opened a door he didn't yet know how to name.
Sasuke was waiting outside, arms crossed.
"Ready?"
Ren nodded.
They walked back together.
"It wasn't that bad," Ren said.
Sasuke took a moment before answering.
"No."
The first day was over.
And it was only the beginning.
(Early access chapters: see the bio.)