(??? POV)
After the opening ceremony ended, all of us were taken inside the academy for our first lesson.
Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from today.
The academy had only just opened, so I assumed there would be a lot of basic introductions and explanations before the actual training began.
And I was right.
Our instructor introduced himself and explained the rules of the academy.
We were told about the importance of discipline, teamwork and following orders. There was also a brief explanation of what being a shinobi actually meant.
I already knew most of it, but I still listened carefully.
'Knowing something from an anime and actually living in a world where people die because of it are two very different things.'
The lesson continued for quite some time before we were finally dismissed.
I walked out of the academy gates while eating a piece of candy I had bought earlier.
It had been a pretty boring day.
No training.
No interesting techniques.
Just introductions.
I was about to head back toward the orphanage when I noticed something familiar.
A girl was running out of the academy gates.
Biwako.
I recognized her immediately.
She would eventually become Hiruzen Sarutobi's wife.
'Well, that's definitely someone I didn't expect to meet this early.'
She was running a little too quickly and wasn't paying attention to where she was going.
Her foot caught on something.
"Ah!"
She fell forward.
Before I could react, Madara suddenly appeared beside her.
He had apparently been touring the village with Hashirama and had witnessed the whole thing.
"Are you alright?"
Biwako looked up at him.
The moment she saw his face, however, her expression changed.
She became frightened.
Madara froze.
'Oh no.'
Hashirama quickly walked over and crouched beside the girl.
"It's alright. He won't hurt you."
He smiled gently before picking up a small white flower from nearby and offering it to her.
"Here."
Biwako hesitantly accepted it.
She bowed quickly.
"Thank you."
Then she ran away.
Madara watched her disappear with a depressed expression.
"Do I really look that scary?"
Hashirama immediately tried to console him.
"Haha, no, no. You know she was just a child and—"
"Yeah, chew~ chew~."
Both of them turned toward me.
I was still eating my candy.
I looked Madara up and down.
"Have you looked in the mirror? I'd be scared of you too."
Madara's eye twitched.
Hashirama looked at me in surprise.
"Oh, you're the Karma from this morning."
I smiled.
"Yo, nice to see you again—"
I paused dramatically.
"—old man."
Hashirama's face fell.
He immediately crouched down and started drawing circles on the ground.
"I am not an old man…"
I ignored him.
Instead, I walked over to Madara and patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry. Not everyone can be as handsome as me."
Madara stared at me.
Then he began scrutinizing my face.
I slowly took a step backward.
'Why is this guy staring at me like that?'
I placed both hands against my chest.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not into men."
Madara went completely silent.
Hashirama suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! Did you hear what he said, Madara?"
Madara's forehead twitched.
"What are you laughing at, old man? You aren't any better."
Hashirama stopped laughing.
I pointed toward him.
"Although you're already married to such a beautiful woman like Mito-sama, you still dare to have an affair with this spiky old dude."
Both of them stared at me.
A tick mark appeared on their foreheads.
"We aren't having an affair!"
They shouted at the same time.
I blinked.
Then smiled.
"See? You two even speak in sync."
"YOU!"
Their voices echoed through the street.
I couldn't help laughing.
I was having way too much fun.
But I wasn't done yet.
I wiped the corner of my eye as if I were crying.
"I pity Mito-sama. Such a beautiful and young woman left her home to be with her husband, but he's cheating on her."
Both of them immediately became concerned.
"Hey, hey! Are you alright, kid?"
I lowered my head.
My shoulders shook.
Then I suddenly stood straight.
"Hah! What a great performance. I really am talented."
Silence.
Hashirama stared at me.
Madara stared at me.
I could practically feel Madara's anger rising.
'Okay… maybe I went a little too far.'
I quickly put my index fingers against my cheeks and tilted my head.
"Teehee."
Madara took a deep breath.
Then another.
Somehow, it worked.
Hashirama sighed.
"You really had us fooled, brat."
He shook his head.
"How should I put this… you're quite different from how you were this morning."
"Hahaha, well, there were a lot of people present at that time."
I shrugged.
"And honestly, it was a lot more fun to play with you guys."
Madara crossed his arms.
"But aren't you scared, brat?"
"Hmm?"
I tilted my head.
"Why?"
"Most of the world fears us because of our strength."
He glanced at Hashirama.
"Especially me, since Hashirama is a little naive."
"Hey!"
I ignored Hashirama and looked at Madara.
He continued.
"People know what we're capable of. They know how strong we are."
I took another bite of my candy.
"That's a good reason."
I paused.
"But those people are just cowards."
Madara raised an eyebrow.
"They fear you because they cannot believe that a human can reach your level of strength."
I smiled.
"And that's why those people will remain weak."
Madara stared at me.
"It's not the same for me."
I looked directly into his eyes.
"I don't fear you one bit."
I took another step forward.
"Because I'm going to be stronger than you."
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then I smiled.
'Well… that definitely got their attention.'