Chương 4: First Meeting

"Quiet!" Iruka's voice cut across the room. The classroom settled — slowly at first, then all at once — as every kid straightened up and turned to face the front. First day. Nobody wanted to start on the wrong foot. Nobody except one.

"Hahaha—" The laughter kept going. Iruka's eye twitched. A blond kid in the second row hadn't even registered that the room had gone silent. He was grinning at nothing in particular, completely oblivious, like the concept of embarrassment had simply never occurred to him. This one's going to be a problem.

"Hey." Iruka nodded toward him.

"You."

"Ha — what, you guys actually got scared by that?" The kid pointed at Iruka and laughed harder.

"By him?" A dull ache bloomed behind Iruka's sternum. First day. Five minutes in.

"Hey. Kid. Find a seat."" Kid?" The boy finally glanced up, still grinning, zero remorse in his eyes.

"This whole Academy thing isn't even that impressive, you know." Iruka felt a vein pulse in his temple.

"I'm just saying, you guys are all being way too—"" Get out." The words came out louder than intended. Iruka pointed at the door, his composure fraying at the edges.

"Out. Now. Go stand in the hall." The classroom went dead silent. The blond kid blinked. Then he shrugged — actually shrugged — and sauntered out the door, hands in his pockets, affecting the most unconvincing look of indifference Iruka had ever seen on a child. The door slid shut. Iruka turned back to face thirty pairs of very wide eyes. Some of them looked scared. A few were trying not to laugh. Most were just watching him. Great start, Iruka. He exhaled slowly. Rearranged his face into something warmer.

"My name is Iruka Umino." He smiled, and this time he meant it — mostly.

"I'll be your teacher from here on out. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you." The tension in the room softened.

"First things first — let's learn each other's names." He let his gaze move across the room.

"Who wants to come up and introduce themselves? Name, interests, whatever you want to share. Any volunteers?" The class exchanged glances. Whispers. Nobody moved.

"Even just your name is fine," Iruka added.

"And maybe something you like. Or a goal." Silence.

"Nobody?"

"I'll do it!" The hand shot up before he'd even finished the sentence. Iruka turned. A brown-haired boy with red fang markings on his cheeks was already on his feet, waving his arm, a small white dog tucked under his other arm like it was the most natural thing in the world. Shin, sitting nearby, watched him with a quiet smile. He knew Kiba too well to be surprised.

"Brave," Iruka said, and meant it.

"Go ahead." Kiba bounded up to the front, Akamaru shifting in his grip. He planted his feet on the platform and looked out at the class. And froze. Every face in the room was looking at him. Oh.

"I — my name is, uh—" He cleared his throat.

"Kiba Inuzuka. And this is Akamaru."

"Woof!" Kiba's voice had come out smaller than he intended. He could feel the heat creeping up the back of his neck. He glanced around the room, looking for something to anchor to — and found Shin's eyes. Shin wasn't laughing. He was just watching, that faint smile still on his face. Is he laughing at me? Something snapped into place. Kiba squared his shoulders. He didn't know where the words came from. He didn't stop to think.

"I don't care about all that stuff," he announced, loud enough now that nobody could miss it.

"I'm here to learn to be a shinobi. And I am going to be one — a great one. That's all you need to know." Iruka's warm smile went rigid. How many of them are like this? Murmuring rippled through the class. Kiba strutted back to his seat and dropped into it, turning to Shin with a look of pure smugness. Shin said nothing.

"... Right," Iruka said.

"Anyone else?" With the ice broken, others trickled up one by one.

"I'm Naoki Irie..."

"Nozuru Aihara..."

"My name is Shino Aburame." The boy who stepped up wore dark glasses and spoke without inflection, like he was reading off a report.

"I enjoy spending time with friends. I dislike being alone. My hobby is raising insects." Insects. The class stared. Then, collectively, they shuddered.

"He's from the Aburame clan..." someone whispered.

"That explains the bugs." Shin filed the information away without comment. Right. Bug users.

"I'm Shikamaru Nara." The next kid looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. His hair was tied up in a loose topknot and his eyes had the half-lidded quality of someone fighting a nap.

"I like sleeping. I dislike troublesome things. Hobbies... also sleeping." A beat.

"My name is Choji Akimichi." This one was on the rounder side, and clearly aware of it.

"I like eating. I dislike people calling me fat — I'm just built bigger than most people. And I like trying new food with friends." Someone in the back whispered "tubby." Choji's expression flickered through three emotions in quick succession — annoyance, hurt, and then a kind of weary resignation. He walked back to his seat without another word. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The next boy up was dark-haired, pale, with a small clan crest stitched onto the back of his collar. The moment he reached the front of the room, half the class seemed to wake up. A ripple of excitement moved through the girls' section.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha," he said. Clipped. Flat. Like he was stating facts for a report.

"I like training. I dislike sweet things. My goal is to join the Military Police — and be useful to my father." He stepped down before anyone could respond. Behind him, the girls dissolved into hushed chaos.

"He's so cool —""We're in the same class as Sasuke Uchiha, oh my—""Hmph." Kiba crossed his arms. He had no patience for this.

"Show-off." Uchiha, Shin thought, watching the boy return to his seat. One of Konoha's great clans. A flash of gold, and a blond girl was already on her way to the front, practically sprinting.

"My name is Ino Yamanaka!" She stood tall, like the stage belonged to her.

"I'm good at flower arrangement — my family runs a flower shop. I dislike self-important people, and raw fish. And my goal is to become an amazing kunoichi." She scanned the room as she spoke. Her eyes landed on Sasuke. He was staring out the window. Her expression creased, just slightly. The girl who followed her was the opposite in every way. Pink hair. Cheeks flushed crimson. She looked like she might dissolve into the floor.

"I — I'm Sakura Haruno." Her voice barely made it past the first row.

"I like... being with friends. With Ino and — and my friends. I don't particularly dislike anything... except spicy food, maybe." She was back in her seat before Iruka could say a word.

"Sakura, you were so nervous," Ino said.

"Why?"

"S-sorry."

"You don't have to apologize for that —""Sorry."

"..." One by one, the class trickled through their introductions. Shin watched them go. When it was his turn, he stood, walked to the front, and looked out at the room.

"I'm Shin Takami," he said.

"I like days like this. Quiet ones. There's nothing I particularly dislike, and nothing I want beyond more of the same." He walked back down. In the third row, Ino watched him go. Her brow furrowed, and she looked faintly troubled — though she couldn't have said why.

"He's cute," someone murmured near the back.

"Have we ever seen him around before?" Shin didn't spend much time with kids his age. Most of them had never crossed paths with him. That was how he preferred it.

"Stealing my spotlight again," Kiba muttered under his breath, arms crossed. Only one student remained. A girl who had sat perfectly still through the entire exercise, not once raising her hand.

"Ah — this young lady." Iruka looked toward her gently.

"It's your turn." The girl stood. She had pale, almost colorless eyes, and short dark hair. She moved to the front with her head down, each step deliberate.

"I..." She stopped.

"My name is..."

"What's she saying?"

"Can't hear her."

"Her voice is so quiet." Her chin dropped lower.

"It's all right," Iruka said, keeping his voice easy.

"Take your time. Just speak up a little."

"I... my name is Hinata Hyuga..." Her voice didn't carry.

"She's from the Hyuga clan," Ino murmured to Sakura.

"See her eyes? That coloring only runs in the Hyuga."

"Oh." Sakura looked.

"I didn't know. She's so... shy. Even more than me."

"Hm." Ino tilted her head.

"High bar." Sakura made a face. On the other side of the room, Sasuke glanced over. He watched Hinata for a moment, something thoughtful moving behind his eyes. Iruka waited. Then, very gently, he stepped in.

"This is Hinata Hyuga. She's looking forward to getting to know everyone here." Hinata's shoulders dropped with quiet relief. She walked back to her seat. Iruka surveyed the room. Thirty students — all accounted for. Almost. He'd forgotten about the one in the hall. He crossed to the window and looked out. The blond boy was leaning against the wall, arms folded, staring at the sky. Affecting maximum indifference. But his hands were clenched in the fabric of his jacket. Iruka slid the door open.

"You can come back in." The boy blinked.

"... Yeah. Okay." He fell into step behind Iruka. The classroom tracked him the moment he crossed the threshold — thirty faces turning, assessing. Some laughing. Some just watching, waiting for something to go wrong. The boy felt it. Shin could see it in his jaw, the slight tension around his eyes. The way his hands had stilled at his sides.

"No more disruptions, all right?" Iruka said lightly. The boy said nothing.

"Go ahead. Introduce yourself." The blond kid stood in front of the class. He looked out at all of them — the stares, the smirks, the whispers behind hands. Then he slammed his palm down on the lectern. The crack of it made half the room jump.

"Listen up!" His voice filled the room.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki!"

"And I'm going to be Hokage!" I want everyone here to acknowledge me. The echo of it hung in the air.

"Hey, Shin. Let's go." Kiba's voice carried through the door before he knocked — not that he ever bothered to knock. He was already waiting on the road outside, Akamaru tucked under his arm, doing absolutely nothing to hide his impatience. Shin came out a minute later.

"You couldn't have been any slower," Kiba said.

"We're not going to be late."

"That's not the point."

"Then what's the point?" Kiba opened his mouth. Closed it.

"You were sleeping in, weren't you."

"I finished my morning practice." Shin fell into step beside him, unhurried." Sure you did." Kiba glared. Then, when Shin didn't react, he gave up the glare and settled for a muttered "whatever" instead. They walked.

"You ready for today?" Shin asked, eventually.

"Chakra stuff?" Kiba scoffed.

"I've had that down for ages. Our whole family's been drilling it into me since before I could read." He glanced sideways, sensing an opportunity.

"What about you? You get it yet?

'Cause if you need someone to show you—""I'm fine."

"You sure? Because I'm just saying, I'm right here, and I wouldn't mind—""I'm fine, Kiba."

"Right, right. I get it." He waved a hand.

"Too proud to ask. I understand." Shin looked at him.

"Don't worry," Kiba continued, voice taking on a tone of exaggerated magnanimity.

"I know you probably want to ask but can't bring yourself to say it. It's understandable. Wanting to learn from someone this talented takes courage, right, Akamaru?"

"Woof!" Shin walked faster.

"—Hey! Wait, Shin — slow down, I'm not done—" Kiba jogged to catch up, Akamaru bouncing with each step. By the time they reached the Academy gates, Kiba was slightly out of breath, which he was trying very hard to hide. They made it before the bell. The classroom was already half-full.

Shin and Kiba moved through it in a string of greetings — classmates they knew from the neighborhood, kids who'd crossed paths with Kiba at the training grounds, a few who just seemed to have decided they liked Shin on no particular basis. Shin didn't mind it. He returned each greeting evenly and found his seat.

"Morning, Shin." He turned. Shino had materialized in the next seat, completely unannounced, dark glasses reflecting the morning light.

"... Shino." Shin paused.

"Don't appear like that."

"I was here first," Shino said, without inflection.

"You appeared. I simply didn't announce myself." Shin considered arguing the point. Decided against it.

"Hey, hey!" Naruto materialized from the opposite direction, adjusting the strap of his goggles with both hands, looking pleased with himself.

"You're later than me. You know what that means."

"It means we're both early," Shin said.

"That is not — okay, technically, yes, but — still." Naruto pulled a stool over and dropped onto the edge of Shin's desk, uninvited.

"You're gonna be a shinobi. You can't be all relaxed about time management."

"The goggles are nice," Shin said. Naruto's entire face lit up.

"Right?! Okay, so, these aren't just normal goggles — see, the strap has a—" He launched into an explanation with the focused energy of someone who had been waiting for someone to ask. Shin listened with half his attention, which was more than Naruto seemed to need.

"Good morning, Shin." Ino appeared in the aisle, already smiling, blond pigtail swinging. She waved at him, then pivoted to the rest of the room — "Good morning, Sasuke!" — and waited. Sasuke turned.

"Hmph." Ino's smile stayed in place through what was clearly some effort of will. Sakura trailed in behind her, already looking apologetic for something that hadn't happened yet. They took their seats. The bell rang. Iruka walked in, green flak jacket, familiar face. He didn't wait for them to settle.

"Outdoor session today," he announced.

"We're going to get acquainted with kunai and shuriken." The room ignited. Chatter broke out immediately — excitement, questions, the particular energy of kids who had been waiting for this since before they knew what a shinobi was. Shin noticed, in his peripheral vision, that Kiba was not reacting. Kiba was sitting very still. Not talking to anyone. His posture was casual, but the corner of his mouth was doing something that wasn't quite a smile. So that's how it is.

"Everyone head outside," Iruka said.

"We're moving to the practice field." The walk over was noisy. Shin drifted toward the back of the group.

"Probably waiting to show off," said a voice at his shoulder. He didn't startle — he was used to it.

"Shino. I noticed you this time."

"No you didn't."

"... No, I didn't." Shin glanced at him.

"What do you mean, 'show off'?"

"Kiba," Shino said simply.

"He's from the Inuzuka clan. They start weapons training early. Most of the students here have civilian families — they've never touched a kunai. For Kiba, this will be basic." He adjusted his glasses.

"He knows it." Shin looked ahead. Kiba was still walking at the same measured pace, doing an extremely poor impression of someone who wasn't paying attention. People are different everywhere you go.

"Shino," he said, a moment later.

"You know already too."

"My father taught me." Shin nodded. Naruto appeared at his elbow, seemingly from nowhere.

"Hey, Shin. Do you know how to use them? Kunai, shuriken, all that?"

"No."

"Oh yeah?" Naruto's face split into a grin of pure relief.

"Same. I don't either." He seemed genuinely delighted by this.

"... That doesn't seem like cause for celebration."

"No, no, I get it — it's just, good to know." He waved a hand.

"Anyway. It can't be that complicated, right? You're smart, you'll pick it up fast."

"And you?" Naruto scratched his head.

"I'll figure it out." Shin looked at him.

"I'll figure it out," Naruto said again, more firmly.

"If you want to learn," Ino said, dropping back to walk alongside them, Sakura half a step behind, "you can ask me, Shin. My family deals in it." She smiled at him — easy, confident.

"Thank you," Shin said.

"Maybe sometime."

"What about me?" Naruto leaned over.

"Can I ask you too?" Ino's smile cooled by several degrees.

"Shino knows already. Ask him." Shino, from two feet away: "..." Shin: "..." Sakura, diplomatically: "..." Naruto: "... Why does this keep happening to me?" He stared at the middle distance, genuinely perplexed, like a man confronting one of the universe's deeper mysteries.