A week had passed since the snow alley incident.
A week of Hinata pretending she wasn't staring at me in class. Every time I turned around, her head would snap away so fast I was surprised she didn't give herself whiplash. Her face would go pink. Her fingers would start doing that weird fidgeting thing.
It was kind of cute. In a "I'm six and this is weird" kind of way.
«Hinata Hyuga has observed you 47 times in the past three hours. Her gaze duration averages 2.3 seconds before she looks away.»
Why are you counting?
«I count everything. It is my function.»
Can you not?
«I can. But I will not.»
I sighed and turned my attention back to Iruka. He was droning on about the Warring States Period. Something about clans fighting each other before the villages were formed. Hashirama Senju. Madara Uchiha. Blah blah blah.
The gravity seal was at 3x now. Three times normal gravity. My body had adapted. My muscles were denser. My bones were harder. JARVIS said I could push it to 6x if I wanted, but he recommended letting my body naturally adapt to the gravity.
«Forced adaptation beyond 3x at your current age may cause skeletal deformation, you are still a kid. Patience.»
I hate patience.
«Patience hates you too.»
I glanced at Naruto. He was drawing something in his notebook. Looked like a frog wearing a Hokage hat.
Some things never change.
---
= The Hokage's Office – Earlier That Day =
Kakashi stood in front of the Hokage's desk, his report already handed in. The mission had taken five weeks. Five weeks of sitting in trees, watching supply routes, tracking a minor crime lord who turned out to be not worth the effort.
"Tea Country's borders are stable," Kakashi said. "No signs of external military movement. The crime lord was working alone. Local authorities have been informed."
Hiruzen nodded, stamping another paper without looking up. "Good. Anything else?"
"No," he said. "Nothing else."
"The mission's over," Hiruzen said. "Rest up"
Kakashi nodded. Turned to leave.
---
Back to Ryu – After Academy
The bell rang. Kids flooded out of the classroom like a dam breaking. Naruto was at my side instantly, talking about ramen, talking about the snow, talking about everything and nothing.
" and then I'm gonna add extra meat, and extra noodles, and extra..."
"Naruto."
"and maybe some eggs, because eggs are good for you, Iruka-sensei said..."
"Naruto."
"and then I'm gonna..."
"I gotta go somewhere today. Can't train."
He stopped mid-sentence. His face fell. "Oh. Where?"
"Library."
"The library?" He made a face like I'd just said I was going to get a root canal. "Why?"
"I wanna learn some stuff. Jutsu stuff."
"Can I come?"
I thought about it. Naruto in a library... Surrounded by books. staying still and Quiet. Not causing chaos.
"No."
"Why not?!"
"Because you'll get us kicked out."
"I won't!"
"You will."
He pouted. Crossed his arms. "Fine. But you owe me ramen."
"How do I owe you ramen?"
"For abandoning me."
Say that to the third hokage...
"I'm not abandoning you. I'm going to a library."
"Same thing!"
"alright alright, I'll buy you ramen"
I shook my head. We walked together until his apartment building came into view. He waved, ran inside.
---
= Konohagakure's Library of Ancient Knowledge =
The building was massive. Old stone, tall windows, columns that looked like they'd been standing for centuries. A sign above the door had the Leaf symbol carved into it.
I walked in.
The inside was even bigger. Rows upon rows of shelves. Stacks of scrolls. Tables with old men reading newspapers. A giant globe in the corner that probably cost more than my entire orphanage.
And behind the front desk, a woman.
She was middle-aged. Glasses. Hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her nametag read "Majime Kodawaru, Head Librarian."
«Analysis complete. Majime Kodawaru. Chakra level: Tokubetsu Jonin. Specialization likely in barrier techniques or information security. Any attempt at transformation or deception will be detected instantly.»
Noted. No funny business...
I walked up to the desk. Put on my best innocent six-year-old face.
"Excuse me."
She looked down at me over her glasses. "Yes?"
"I'm looking for the ninja section."
Her expression didn't change. "Do you have a headband?"
"No."
"A permission letter from the Hokage?"
"No."
"Then I'm afraid you can't access that section." She went back to her paperwork. "Come back when you've graduated."
"But I just want to read..."
"The ninja section contains scrolls with techniques that can kill untrained children." She didn't look up. "Come back when you've graduated."
«She is not receptive to negotiation.»
I noticed.
I tried the cute angle. Big eyes. Tilted head. The kind of look that made Nonō give me extra dessert.
"Please?"
She looked at me. Blinked. Went back to her paperwork.
"No."
«Her heart rate did not fluctuate. Your cuteness has no effect on this woman.»
She's a monster...
«She is a librarian. Same thing.»
I sighed. Turned around. Walked out.
« you could graduate early »
I could but then there will be eyes on me.
---
= The Hokage's Office – Three Hours Later.=
The waiting room was torture.
I'd been sitting here for three hours. Three hours of watching the secretary stamp papers and pretend I didn't exist. Three hours of old men in suits walking in and out, glancing at me like I was a lost puppy.
«Your patience is admirable. I calculate a 91% probability that most six-year-olds would have left by now.»
I'm around 18 mentally.
«I am aware. You have mentioned this 67 times in the past three months.»
The secretary finally looked up. "The Hokage will see you now."
I stood up. Walked to the door. Took a breath.
Game time.
The office was a disaster. Papers everywhere. Stacks on the desk, stacks on the floor, stacks on the chairs. The Third Hokage was behind his desk, stamp in hand, pipe in mouth, looking like he hadn't slept in a week.
He didn't look up.
"You've been waiting outside for three hours, Ryū."
He knows my name. Of course he knows my name.
"Most kids your age would have gone home or played in the snow after thirty minutes. What is so important that you'd waste your afternoon in a waiting room?"
I bowed. Properly. Back straight, head down, hands at my sides. The way Nonō had taught me.
"Lord Hokage."
He kept stamping.
"I went to the library today. Lord third. The academy is holding me back from reaching my full potential, what Iruka sensei teaches I already know. I want to be strong to protect the people around me"
"..."
"The Head Librarian turned me away. She said I don't have a headband or a letter from you."
Hiruzen set down his stamp. Leaned back. His chair creaked.
"She's right to do so. The scrolls in that section contain techniques that could kill an untrained child." He took a puff of his pipe. "Why the rush? You're doing well in the Academy. Enjoy your childhood."
JARVIS. Activate ultimate lying mode.
«Activated. Suppressing heart rate irregularities. Controlling facial micro-expressions. Modulating vocal pitch for maximum sincerity.»
I looked him in the eye.
"With all due respect, Lord Third, I can't afford to just 'enjoy' it."
He raised an eyebrow.
"I look around the village, and I see my friend Naruto. almost all the People the village turns their backs on him for some 'Unknown' reason."
"The girl I saved from the Hyuga clan gets cornered by bullies twice her size." I paused. Let the words sink in. "I realized that if I'm not strong enough to protect others, then my 'childhood' is just a countdown until I fail someone I care about. And they die."
Hiruzen stopped leaning back. He took the pipe out of his mouth.
"The Academy teaches us that the Will of Fire is about protecting the village as a family. But a fire doesn't start big, Lord Hokage. It needs fuel." I kept my voice steady. "If I wait six years to graduate before I can even read about advanced chakra theory or the history of our enemies, I'm not a growing fire. I'm a candle waiting for a breeze to blow me out."
"I'm not asking for forbidden jutsu. I'm asking for the basics. Grant me access to the library's lower ninja tier. Let me study so that when I finally put on that headband, I'm not just a graduate. I'm a shinobi who is actually ready to die for this village."
I held his gaze.
"Don't make me wait until it's too late to be useful."
Hiruzen stared at me.
One second. Five seconds. Ten.
His eyes searched my face. Looking for a lie. Looking for manipulation. Looking for anything that didn't match the words.
JARVIS kept my heartbeat steady. Kept my eyes clear. Kept my breathing calm and steady
«He is analyzing you.»
Finally, Hiruzen sighed.
"alright alright..."
He pulled out a small piece of parchment. Scribbled a few kanji with a brush. Pressed his official seal onto it.
"This is a provisional pass for B-rank jutsu and below. Chakra theory, geography, basic trap mechanics, seals." He slid the paper across the desk. "It covers everything B-rank and lower. Don't make me regret this."
I picked up the paper. Looked at it. The official seal gleamed in the lamplight.
"And Ryū?"
I looked up.
"A fire that burns too hot early on tends to burn out fast. Get some sleep."
I bowed again. "Thank you, Lord Hokage. I won't let you down."
I turned and walked out. Kept my pace normal. Didn't run. Didn't smile. Didn't do anything that might make him change his mind.
The door closed behind me.
«Scan complete. I have successfully mapped the signature of the Hokage's official seal and his handwriting style. In the future, I can replicate this authorization for higher-tier sections if necessary.»
I stopped walking.
Wait. We can forge Hokage letters now?
«Theoretically, yes. The seal is complex but reproducible. The handwriting is a simple cursive style. With sufficient practice, I can generate authentic-looking documents.»
JARVIS. That's illegal.
«It is only illegal if you are caught.»
That's not...
«I suggest we use the 'legal' one first. Let's go give Majime-san a heart attack.»
I looked at the paper in my hand. The official seal. The Hokage's signature.
You're a bad influence.
«I am a skill. I have no morality. I simply optimize outcomes.»
I walked out of the Hokage building, the winter air hitting my face. Snow was starting to fall again. Tiny flakes, drifting down like someone had shaken a pillow out of the sky.
The library was still open.
I had a pass.
«The B-rank section contains scrolls on elemental jutsu theory, advanced chakra control exercises, and detailed analyses of foreign shinobi tactics. I recommend starting with chakra nature theory. Your affinities have not yet been tested.»
How do I test them?
«There is a paper test. The Academy will administer it in your third year. However, I can approximate your affinities based on your chakra signature.»
And?
«Your chakra signature is… unusual. It does not align cleanly with a single nature. I will require more data.»
So we hit the library.
«We hit the library.»
I tucked the pass into my pocket and started walking.
---
END CHAPTER 12
Xx-----xX
A/N: Leave some power stones… and if you don't… I might just show up at your house tonight >:)
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Btw if you want to read some advance chapters then check out my P@treøn, links in the synopsis.