It was the summer of Konoha Year 15. Two or three years had passed since the First Shinobi World War ended, and the Five Great Villages were all recuperating and building up their strength.
The cruel Shinobi World War seemed to have ceased, though occasionally one would hear of a Shinobi dying on an outward bound mission.
Unlike the previous years, a tense and sorrowful atmosphere no longer constantly hung over the Village.
At this time, the Konoha Ninja Academy was always full of vitality, seemingly unaffected by the war.
Lord Third Hokage, still very young, contentedly withdrew his gaze from the energetic children in the school and looked at the mountain of documents piled before him.
All signs indicated that the war was about to end completely. The Five Great Villages were all too exhausted to bear the costs of a major war and needed to catch their breath. There should be no new conflicts within the next ten years.
Currently, what he had to deal with, and what gave him a headache, were the internal problems of the Village since its establishment in the Warring States Period.
Firstly, there were the Senju elders, secondly, the Uchiha, and thirdly, the various Shinobi Clans.
As Hokage-sama, he still had many things to do.
However, he was relieved that Konoha's new generation of sprouts was growing. It was time to choose disciples to pass on the Will of Fire.
Puffing on his pipe, the Sandaime's eyes were deep and distant.
What kind of sprouts would the Ninja Academy produce?
"Crunch…"
The teacher on the podium was speaking voluminously, but his ears twitched, detecting a subtle, unusual sound in the classroom.
Almost immediately, the teacher's gaze fell upon a chubby little girl in the class.
This child was from the Akimichi Clan, so snacks were certainly her hallmark.
However, as if noticing the teacher's stern gaze, the chubby little girl displayed a bewildered expression, as if completely unaware.
She didn't know why the teacher was looking at her.
Just then, another grating crunch sounded.
That's right, someone was definitely secretly eating, but it wouldn't be this confused-looking chubby little girl.
The teacher cast a suspicious glance at the many children in the class, each of whom had a normal expression.
None of them looked like the type bold enough to secretly eat in front of a seasoned elite Chunin on the first day of school.
Who was it?!
These children shouldn't be able to hide from his ears and eyes.
But since it was their first meeting, he really didn't know the details of these children.
However, not finding them would greatly damage the teacher's authority.
While talking about some of the Ninja Academy's ideals and goals, his eagle-like eyes kept a close watch on the many children.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but the intermittent crunching sounds tormented the elite Chunin's eardrums. Unbeknownst to him, bulging veins had appeared on his forehead, and even his tone of voice became fierce.
This child!
This child!!
They completely disregard me!
Too arrogant!
"Crunch…"
Just then, a soft, sweet little girl's voice quietly sounded.
"What are you eating?"
She was asking another girl, her deskmate, believing her voice was too low for the teacher to hear.
But as a seasoned Chunin, how could such a small action escape his notice? With a swish, the teacher fixed his gaze on the two girls involved.
One of the girls had a pair of striking Byakugan, and her skin was fair, making her look as delicate and well-behaved as a porcelain doll.
As for the other girl, to be honest, it was difficult to tell from her appearance whether she was male or female.
If it weren't for her speaking.
"Eating what? Don't you have the Byakugan? See for yourself."
Her voice was very pleasant, as melodious as a skylark and poised. Her volume was not low at all; rather, she had no awareness of having made a mistake, or perhaps no guilt.
Too arrogant!
These children nowadays!
They completely disregard him!
The teacher stared intently at the speaking girl.
At this moment, the entire class looked at this girl.
She wore a pure white, immaculate outfit: a hooded pure white robe, with a few strands of dark hair showing from beneath the raised hood. Her entire body was tightly wrapped, and she even wore a white, fox-like mask on her face. The mask had a simple, insect-like family crest drawn on it.
This outfit looked somewhat familiar.
Like a certain clan in the Village.
However, it was no wonder he hadn't noticed before. With the mask covering her face, besides the Byakugan, who knew what she was eating?
Rather, with no unusual movements from her hands, what exactly was she eating, and was she even eating anything? It was too difficult to detect.
But, I've got you!
The teacher took a deep breath.
At this moment, the well-behaved Byakugan little girl obediently formed a hand seal and, with a clear shout, activated her Byakugan and looked at the masked girl.
"Crunch."
Without any visible movement, the girl beneath the mask bit into another piece of this unknown snack.
A faint, deep aroma, almost imperceptible, enticed the Byakugan little girl, who looked over with an unbearable itch in her heart.
First, her whole body stiffened abruptly, and then, in the next second, the Byakugan little girl's miserable scream echoed through the classroom.
In a short while, the Byakugan little girl suddenly fell backward, her mind short-circuited as she completely fainted.
The incident happened so suddenly that everyone in the class looked with strange eyes at the culprit.
The masked little girl, however, merely spread her hands helplessly, indicating her innocence.
"I didn't do anything."
"She fainted on her own."
The teacher's eyes had narrowed by now, and he said to the masked little girl, "Child, your name."
"Yume Miji."
As expected, she was from the Aburame Clan. To scare a Byakugan Clan member unconscious, had she already begun practicing her clan's secret techniques at this age?
Thinking of the scene the Byakugan little girl might have witnessed, the teacher couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle.
Although he hadn't seen it, he could imagine the terrifying appearance of the Aburame Clan members inside their bodies.
"You! What were you secretly eating just now?"
"Want some, teacher?" M姬 was quite generous. As she spoke, she extended her hand, and her chubby little hand was already covered with dense, black little beetles.
Seeing this, not only the teacher but the entire class felt their teeth itch.
Not from craving, but from disgust.
Some of the little girls couldn't help but cover their mouths and dry heave.
No, he had never heard rumors of the Aburame Clan eating the insects they raised.
She really was a strange child.
"No need."
The teacher said through clenched teeth.
He didn't want to eat this at all.
"Oh~" The girl's tone was still regretful after taking back the insects.
"They're very delicious, crunchy."
"I don't just have original flavor, but also milk flavor, five-spice flavor, cocoa flavor, and candied fruit flavor."
At this moment, the girl who had briefly lost consciousness and fainted got up and, as if avoiding a plague, tried to stay as far away as possible from her deskmate, looking pitiful and on the verge of tears, barely holding it in.
"You! Do you know you can't secretly eat during class?!"
Glancing at the frightened Byakugan little girl, the teacher said, suppressing his anger. Considering it was the first day of class, not knowing the rules was understandable.
"Mm! I know."
The masked little girl said quite decisively.
Hearing this, the veins on the teacher's forehead throbbed.
"Get out!!!"
"Stand in the hallway!!!"
"Mm."
Showing no signs of remorse or fear, she walked with somewhat joyful steps, the red-strapped wooden clogs beneath her small feet, encased in pure white tabi socks, clattering. The crunching sound continued from her mouth as she went to stand outside the classroom door.
The teacher stood on the podium, repeatedly taking deep breaths, a headache forming.
At this moment, he seemed to foresee a teaching career full of endless troubles.
"Now, everyone, let's do a simple self-introduction."
This is my first time writing a book. Please guide me in the future.