Chapter 4: First day of Academy

The next morning, Kai stood in front of the academy gates, staring up at the large building where his new life would truly begin. He pulled his hood a little lower, keeping his face partially hidden. The silver-blue-white glow of his dojutsu eyes remained dormant beneath his normal blue ones. He had already resolved to keep them hidden for as long as possible. There was no need to draw unnecessary attention.

("I need to blend in, at least for now. No one can know about my eyes—not until I've assessed the situation. I'll keep them hidden unless absolutely necessary.")

Taking a deep breath, he walked through the gates, moving with the calm, relaxed demeanor he'd adopted. As he entered the classroom, the noisy chatter of students immediately quieted down. All eyes turned toward him, curious about the new arrival.

Iruka, the academy teacher, was standing at the front of the class, writing something on the board. When he noticed Kai, he gave him a welcoming smile. "Ah, you must be the new student. Come on in, introduce yourself."

Kai stepped forward, keeping his posture relaxed but confident. He knew how important first impressions were. "My name is Kai," he said simply, giving a slight nod. "Nice to meet you all."

There were murmurs among the students, whispers of curiosity. He could feel their eyes sizing him up, some skeptical, others intrigued. But he didn't let it faze him. His gaze remained neutral as he scanned the room, taking note of a few familiar faces. Naruto, sitting in the back with his usual boisterous energy; Sasuke, sitting quietly, brooding as usual; and then there was Ino, her bright blonde hair catching his attention as she glanced at him with a curious look.

("These are the people who will shape the future of this world. For now, I'll stay on the sidelines and observe. There's no rush. I need to understand how things work here before making my move.")

Iruka pointed to an empty seat next to Ino. "Kai, why don't you sit over there?"

Kai nodded and made his way to the seat. As he approached, he noticed Ino stiffen slightly, her eyes darting to him before quickly looking away. When he sat down, she shot him a quick glance, her cheeks flushing with a light pink.

("Ino Yamanaka. She's from a clan of mind specialists. Interesting... She's already a bit flustered. I'll need to be careful not to draw too much attention to myself.")

He offered her a small smile, nothing too forward, just enough to seem friendly. "Hey."

Ino blinked, her blush deepening. "H-hi," she stammered, quickly turning her eyes back to the front of the classroom. She tried to act indifferent, but her body language gave her away. Kai could sense her nervousness, and it amused him slightly.

("I didn't expect this reaction. But I guess looking like an Ōtsutsuki, even while trying to seem normal, has its advantages.")

With a slight smirk, Kai leaned back in his seat and shifted his attention to the front of the class, his expression returning to its calm, neutral state. Iruka had already resumed teaching, going over basic chakra control exercises on the board. Kai watched quietly, absorbing the information, though most of it was already familiar to him.

As the class progressed, he continued to scan the room, observing his classmates with a careful eye.

Naruto, loud and full of energy, was barely paying attention. He seemed more focused on some prank he was likely planning. Sasuke, on the other hand, was laser-focused, his eyes sharp and calculating. Kai recognized the same determination in Sasuke that he had felt many times himself—an unyielding drive to become stronger.

("Sasuke... It's clear he's already on his path. I'll need to watch him closely. His ambition is dangerous, but it could also be useful. Naruto... he's a wildcard. Unpredictable, but there's potential in him, too. I have to be careful. This is the time when alliances and rivalries start forming. I can't afford to be careless.")

As the class continued, Kai remained silent, his eyes flickering between his classmates and Iruka. Every movement, every word spoken, was another piece of information to store away. He was already beginning to form a picture of how the academy functioned, how the students interacted, and what role he would need to play in this unfolding story.

Iruka, meanwhile, was explaining the fundamentals of chakra molding. Kai tuned in more intently as Iruka began to demonstrate.

("I need to appear as though I'm learning with them, but I'll also use this time to refine my own chakra control. The infinite chakra inside me is there, but I need to be careful. If anyone senses it, they'll question how a kid could have this much power.")

He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the chakra flow within him. His senses expanded, and for a brief second, he tapped into his dojutsu, using just enough of the Chakra Flow Detection ability from the first tomoe.

Suddenly, he could see the chakra networks of everyone in the room. The bright blue lines pulsed within each student, some stronger than others. Iruka's was the most refined, though not as strong as Kakashi's from the previous day. Naruto's was massive, chaotic, swirling with unrefined energy, while Sasuke's chakra was more controlled, concentrated, but clearly powerful.

("Interesting... I can see where their strengths lie. Naruto's potential is enormous, but he lacks control. Sasuke... he's more focused, but there's something else driving him. A desire for power, perhaps revenge. They'll both be key players, but for now, I'll stay in the background. Watch. Learn.")

Kai opened his eyes and settled back into his seat, letting his chakra perception fade back into the background. His eyes remained normal, blue and unassuming, as he continued to watch the class unfold.

("I've been given a chance to start from the ground up in this world. But I know my end goal: strength, power, and control. I'll enjoy this journey, but I'll never lose sight of what I want—to become the strongest, not just in this village, but in all the dimensions. And when the time is right, everyone will know just who I am.")

For now, he would continue to play the part of the quiet, mysterious new student. But beneath the surface, he was already setting the foundations for something far greater.I