Chapter 9

 Hitoshi walked through the door with a firm step, determined to settle the Mikoto matter once and for all. He had to make sure she was all right and find out if something had happened the night before or yesterday. Maybe they were just his ideas, but there was something about that absence that made him more uneasy than he wanted to admit.

Just like the day before, the classroom was already occupied by the same early arriving classmates. But Mikoto was not there. She frowned and walked to her seat, dropping her body with restrained impatience. Her gaze was fixed on the door, as if with enough determination she could make it appear.

Under the table, her feet shifted anxiously, as her fingers drummed on the surface of the desk, keeping pace with her restlessness. "What if he doesn't come again, what does this mean...?"

She tried to calm herself. "Maybe he caught a cold... Take it easy, Hitoshi." But the discomfort persisted, coiling in his stomach like a mute warning.

A few seconds later, a pair of violet eyes met his. Kushina. Her presence was not what he expected, but still, he felt a slight relief and let out a discreet sigh.

The girl hurried up the stairs and sat down beside him, giving him a smile that contrasted with her somber expression.

"Good morning, Fukui-san. I hope you slept well."

Kushina's enthusiasm dampened a bit as she noticed his countenance. Hitoshi looked like someone who had just received terrible news.

"I slept a little restlessly, but it was an acceptable rest. How about you, Kushina-san, did you sleep well?"

The question caught her off guard. She looked down with a slight blush, as if she wasn't used to that kind of consideration.

"Fukui-san...? Are you calling me by my name already?"

Her cheeks took on a reddish hue, and Hitoshi gave her a puzzled look until he suddenly understood.

"The stupid rules of interaction in this culture..."

He had completely forgotten the formality of the use of surnames. Perhaps because Mikoto's reaction to it had made it clear to him that it wasn't something he cared too much about.

He put a hand to the back of his neck, trying to smooth over the awkwardness.

"Well, I thought after what happened yesterday we could call each other that already."

Kushina looked away, still blushing, but slowly regained her composure and smiled sheepishly at him.

"It's okay... Hitoshi-san."

Her voice wavered slightly as she pronounced his name, as if it still took some getting used to. But after a breath, she nodded more confidently.

"Yes, I did sleep well last night."

Kushina smiled, but the truth was that rather than having slept well, she had simply fallen asleep. Exhaustion overcame her as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Yesterday had been a strange day, not only because of his entrance to the ninja academy, but because of something else. He had finally gotten to see his sister's younger brother.

Nawaki Senju.

He remembered his name well. Always surrounded by friends, always smiling. He seemed to move in a world so different from her own that, try as she might to approach him, she couldn't find the right moment to speak to him. She didn't want to interrupt him in the middle of their conversations or draw too much attention to herself, but in the end, she was left wanting to introduce herself.

Even with that small regret, she set out alone on her way to the Senju compound. She had considered going with Nawaki, but the boy already had plans with his friends.

And so, once again, she found herself walking alone through the streets of Konoha.

Stares and whispers followed her around every corner, as if they were a shadow that never left her. She had done nothing to deserve those whispers, but there they were, relentless, judging her without her being able to do anything about it.

"Maybe in time I can trade those looks for other looks..."

A naive thought, but it was the only thing she had to cling to a hope.

However, as soon as she stepped through the gates of the Senju compound, everything changed.

There the atmosphere was different. Unlike the streets of Konoha, where she was watched with distrust, inside the complex she was greeted with kindness. Some smiled at her, others wished her good afternoon, and although she couldn't help but wonder if it was just out of politeness, that change made her feel relieved.

Every warm word, every kind gesture, helped her dispel the dark thoughts that had invaded her earlier. As she went along, her step became lighter, and without realizing it, a small smile appeared on her face.

When she got home, she went straight to the kitchen. His last meal had been with Fukui in the afternoon, and his stomach reminded him that it had been too long since then.

But as she entered, the first thing she saw was Tsunade awkwardly hiding a small bottle of sake. The teenager tried to disguise her discomfort with her nonchalant attitude, but Kushina knew her all too well.

"Oh, but look who we have here." Tsunade smiled mischievously as she stood up. "The future prodigy of the Uzumaki clan, the next genius of the ninja academy. My little sister, Kushina."

Kushina frowned, but couldn't help but laugh when her sister caught her in a hug and ruffled her hair mercilessly.

"Don't say such things, sister! That I even believe them later." She pulled away from his grasp with a grimace. "Besides, I'm hungry. I'm going to see if there's anything to eat."

"The maids made lunch. You can check around...but that can wait. First tell me how your day was."

Kushina sighed, knowing she had no escape. She walked her sister into the living room, looking for a way to start.

"How to explain...?"

Tsunade watched her with interest, waiting.

"My introduction wasn't exactly the best." She laughed with some discomfort.

"So what did you do?"

"Well... I interrupted the teacher and called out my name."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

"That earned me a few chuckles and a lot of murmurs."

The Senju's expression hardened. "Kushina... you know we've taught you to stay calm and think before you act."

She lowered her head with a guilty smile. "I know, but the mutterings of the others were annoying. They got on my nerves and I reacted without thinking. It's not like I was a total mess either. After I said my goal, everyone went quiet."

Tsunade immediately tensed up. "Please tell me you mentioned something meaningful."

Kushina avoided her gaze, feigning interest in the table.

"Kushina..."

"...I said I want to be the first female Hokage."

The silence stretched for a moment before Tsunade let out a sigh. It could have been so much worse.

"When I said it, a lot of people were quiet and looked at me differently. I say it was helpful."

Tsunade watched her silently. "Maybe that will relieve some of the pressure on you..."

The young Uzumaki tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"Tell me something, do you really want to be Hokage?"

Kushina hesitated. She lowered her gaze and played with her fingers.

"It's complicated."

She was silent for a moment before continuing.

"I remember seeing the Uzukage a few times. People loved him very much. When they saw him, they would cheer him like he was a hero. Even my mother... my mother used to tell me he was a wonderful person."

His voice grew fainter at the mention of his mother. For an instant, his eyes reflected sadness. But he pulled himself together quickly.

"I think that's why I said I want to be Hokage. Maybe because I want to be like him. Like my Uzukage."

Tsunade looked at her for a few seconds before letting out another sigh. The Land of the Whirlpool was very different from Konoha. There were things she'd rather not remember about that place.

"It's okay, Kushina-chan. You didn't do anything wrong." Her voice was softer this time. "But next time measure your words better. There are those who might take advantage of them."

The redhead nodded.

"And what happened next?"

"The teacher assigned me an empty seat and the class began. Even though I was somewhat far away, people were still staring at me. The murmurs were the worst."

"I believe you. And who did you get to sit with?"

Kushina was silent for a few seconds.

"...I sat with a civilian."

Tsunade's gesture paused. Her eyes reflected curiosity.

"A civilian?"

"Yeah, he's a jerk...but I think he's nice."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow curiously.

"Tell me what this interesting 'idiot' is called."

He had always been intrigued by civilians, if only because he considered them easy tools to mold and discard. He had shied away from them over the years, but not because he despised them, but because he knew how vulnerable they were. They could be brave, cunning even, but without the necessary power, they were just pawns in a game they didn't fully understand. Her team was made up of homegrown civilians, yes, but they had at least proven they had what it took to stay on top.

Kushina smiled before responding.

"Fukui Hitoshi, sister. That's the boy's name."

Tsunade was silent for a moment, searching her memory. Nawaki had mentioned several fellow students at the academy to her, but that name didn't ring a bell at all. He was probably an average civilian or even someone not worth remembering. He posed no danger in his eyes.

"I have to admit, the kid is kind of awesome..."

Kushina stopped dead in her tracks, feeling the heat rise to her face. She hastened to correct herself.

"Just a little bit!"

Tsunade didn't react to her awkwardness, but she did pay more attention to him.

"Why do you think that?"

It was a simple question, but Kushina seemed to hesitate. She lowered her gaze for a moment before answering.

"Well, once we had our lunch break..."

Her voice lowered a little, as if reliving the scene in her mind.

"Some boys approached us with the intention of bothering us."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow with interest.

"An Inuzuka was the first. You could tell he wanted to provoke Fukui-san. He called him useless... and he called me Tomato."

Tsunade's brow immediately furrowed.

"The boy couldn't continue because he stepped back when he saw that Fukui-san had appeared in front of him. And then he said, in a serious and forceful tone, that anyone who wanted to bother me would have to step over him."

Kushina smiled without realizing it. She laughed softly before continuing.

"Because of that, the guys backed off. I have to admit I was a little furious, but I tried to hide it as best I could. However, after having lunch with him and getting to know him a little better, I realized that he's a good person. Maybe he's not someone who talks too much, but he's quiet."

The smile on her face faded when she noticed Tsunade's serious expression.

The older woman sighed and stroked his cheek gently.

"Remember to measure your words, Kushina. People might use them against you when you least expect it."

Kushina nodded, though she couldn't help but feel some confusion.

"Grandma is waiting in her room for you to tell her about your day. She's pretty excited to hear from you. I even heard she'd be skipping the daily tutoring for today."

Kushina's eyes instantly lit up.

"Really? That's great!"

She jumped in place excitedly before quickly waving goodbye to her sister.

Tsunade watched her walk away, but her mind was still occupied with another matter.

Fukui Hitoshi.

If Kushina had spoken to him, that meant that sooner or later the eyes of others would be on him as well. If he was an unimportant civilian, he would soon find out. And if he had more value than he appeared, then....

"Hopefully I can live past the age of 16. Good luck, kid."

With a slight but calculating smile, Tsunade turned and walked out of the kitchen.

With a smile, Kushina tried to continue talking to Hitoshi, but noticed something strange. The boy's body contracted slightly, as if a shiver suddenly ran through him. His back, which normally remained relaxed, was tense, and his hands, resting on the table, seemed to cling tighter to the pencil.

The redhead frowned, worry settling in her chest. He didn't understand what was wrong, but something had definitely affected him. Following the direction of her gaze, he turned to see what had set him off like that.

It was then that he saw her.

A black-haired girl walked through the door with a firm, controlled stride. Her expression was impenetrable, cold as the edge of a freshly sharpened katana. There was something about her that immediately made the air in the room change. The bustle of the class diminished, as if the mere presence of the heiress of the Uchiha clan was enough to impose silence.

All the children looked at her with attention. Some with admiration, some with respect, a few with a hint of fear. But the girl didn't seem to notice any of that. Her gaze did not waver, her posture did not waver. She simply advanced gracefully to her seat, ascended the stairs with the grace of someone accustomed to being watched and sat down without making the slightest noise.

Kushina, intrigued by everyone's reaction, couldn't help but ask.

"Hey, Hitoshi-san, who is she?"

She got no answer.

Puzzled, she looked at the boy again and noticed that he was tapping the table lightly with his pencil. He wasn't doing it erratically, but with a particular rhythm, almost as if he was following a non-existent melody. From the outside, anyone would think he was simply distracted, absorbed in his own thoughts, but Kushina noticed the small details that gave him away.

His shoulders stiffened. His jaw clenched. The slight tremor in his fingertips.

Something about him was different.

She reached up with the intention of touching his arm and snapping him out of his reverie, but just then, her ear caught something.

Another sound.

It was subtle, so faint that it was almost lost in the chaotic atmosphere of the classroom, but there it was. A second rhythmic pattern, responding to Hitoshi's.

Surprise coursed through Kushina's body like lightning. Her eyes widened in disbelief as her instinct compelled her to search for the source of the sound.

She scanned the room quickly, ruling out possible sources one by one. Her heart was pounding with excitement and bewilderment - who else was setting that rhythm?

Until his gaze returned to the redhead.

And he saw it.

The slightest of movements in her foot.

Barely perceptible, but there it was. A subtle brush of the toe of her sandal against the ground, a gesture so small that anyone would overlook it. But Kushina wasn't just anyone. And now that she had figured out the pattern, everything clicked.

Every time Hitoshi tapped his pencil, the Uchiha stopped. Then, when he went silent, she would wiggle her toe.

"They're communicating."

Kushina felt a shiver run down her spine.

The idea seemed immense to her, almost forbidding. She hadn't expected the quiet, seemingly calm boy to be so focused on someone.... And yet, there they were, having a silent dialogue, so fast and precise it seemed rehearsed.

"What were they saying to each other?"

For an instant, he felt tempted to intervene, to ask them directly. But as she looked at Hitoshi, she knew it wasn't worth trying. He was completely immersed in that silent exchange, oblivious to everything else.

Not even the teacher could bring him out of it.

With a somewhat worried look, Kushina decided not to interrupt.

Hitoshi felt it before he saw it. It was a dense, imposing presence, transforming the air around him. When Mikoto entered the classroom, he knew immediately that something had happened. His bearing was the same as always: noble, unwavering, a figure that commanded respect without the need for words. But that was precisely the sign. Hitoshi had seen her in different facets-serene, calculating, even joking when no one else was looking-but today her aura was different. She had strengthened, hardened to the point of seeming untouchable. And when she passed him by without so much as a glance, certainty stabbed into his chest like an icy needle.

Each footstep on the stairs echoed firmly, marked, as if each step was an anchor holding her to reality. There was no hesitation, no hesitation, but Hitoshi knew her well enough to understand that, inside, her mind was a whirlwind impossible to contain. He had spent too much time observing her, learning her rhythms, her silences, her ways of hiding what she felt. To anyone else, Mikoto Uchiha was a marble wall, impenetrable. To him, she was an enigma he had learned to decipher.

He sat with the same grace as always, his posture impeccable, as if the weight of the conversation he carried within him did not exist. But then, Hitoshi's fingers picked up the pencil and began tapping the table with a particular rhythm, a pattern only she could recognize. A message.

Hitoshi sent message after message, sending a code as fast as her thoughts.

"Please tell me what happened. I've been worried about you...was it the late night escapades?"

Silence.

The emptiness stretched like a chasm between them. Hitoshi tried again, this time with greater urgency. Her blows came in succession with more intensity, almost on the verge of breaking the discretion they had both maintained for so long. It couldn't be that she simply ignored him.

And then, she heard it.

A faint, minimal, almost imperceptible sound. A subtle tap of her foot against the floor. To anyone else, barely an involuntary movement. To him, the key missing piece of the puzzle.

"I can't talk to you anymore. My clan elders and my parents forbade it."

The blood in his veins turned to ice.

Hitoshi felt his breathing grow heavy, his chest compressing as if something invisible was squeezing him from within. He couldn't have misheard. It couldn't be a mistake. He wanted to deny it, but his hands were already sending out the only possible question.

"Why?"

The classroom was still going on as usual, the murmur of students, some shouting greetings to their classmates, the sound of passing leaves... and yet, for him, it had all vanished.

The answer came with a brutality he had not expected.

"Because of your weakness."

Every muscle in his body tensed.

It was not surprise. It wasn't anger. It was something deeper. Something that had been brewing inside her for a long time and was now bursting out in a thousand directions. His disguise...the facade of someone expendable, someone not worth looking twice at...had worked too well. So much so, that it was now being used as a weapon against him.

 That disguise was necessary because of the corruption in the village, where no one was valued beyond their position of power. If it weren't for that damned corruption, overweening ambition and, above all, ego, none of that would have had to happen.

But this wasn't just about him.

"I don't accept it."

The thought flared in his mind before he could formulate a response. His fingers tightened their grip on the pencil, his strokes becoming firmer, charged with a determination he hadn't felt in a long time.

"Is there anything I can do to change that? I'll do anything... Mikoto, I don't want to lose our friendship."

Every thump against the table was a plea in disguise. Her heart was pounding furiously, her mind was searching for alternatives, solutions, any loophole to slip through and reverse the situation. But the answer was even worse than he imagined.

"No. Nothing. They were clear. If I insist on seeing you, they'll make me marry one of the elders' grandchildren."

The pencil lay motionless in her hand.

The air became unbearably heavy.

It wasn't just him.

It wasn't just his image.

They had gone after her.

They had attacked the one thing they could still take from her: her future.

His mind filled with possibilities, each one darker than the last. This couldn't be just about him. Something else had happened. Something that had put her in the crosshairs. And yet, there she was, sitting there with her perfection intact, pretending that nothing was affecting her. Pretending that this conversation was not the sentence of their relationship.

Hitoshi felt anger. Not towards Mikoto. Not towards himself. But towards all those who had made this decision for her.

No. He was not going to accept it.

The pencil tapped the table with a new cadence.

"All right."

In that instant, however fleeting, Mikoto wobbled. A millimeter, maybe less. A gesture no one else would notice. But for Hitoshi, it was all she needed.

She was still clinging to this.

She didn't want to lose him.

If she couldn't fight, he would do it for both of them.

With every blow, with every pause between the codes they exchanged, her resolve was sealed deeper and deeper inside her.

"I won't let them separate us. They can kill me if they want to, but I'm not going to lose you. We can't see each other or talk like we used to, but I'll find a way. Just tell me...are you with me on this?"

Time stood still.

The voices faded away.

The classroom, the people, everything else ceased to exist.

Only the two of them were left, trapped in a world where clan rules had no place.

Mikoto didn't respond right away. And when she did, it was with the same subtlety with which it had all begun.

A light tap of her foot against the ground.

"Always."

Hitoshi closed her eyes for a brief moment, feeling the tension in her body slowly dissipate. She could not allow the elders to break her. She could not allow the clan to decide what was best for her.

This academy was to train them to be shinobi. Good. She really would be.

Stealthy. Accurate. Invisible.

I wouldn't let anyone notice anything. It would be hard, but it would be worth it.

He released the pencil calmly and averted his gaze to the redhead at his side. His first step had to be to secure an ally.

"You were saying, Kushina-san?"

Kushina looked at him curiously, her eyes studying him as if she noticed something different about him.

"Who's the red-haired girl?"

Hitoshi smiled, hiding all that was burning inside him.

"Uchiha Mikoto. Heiress of her clan and the best ninja of our grade. Maybe she's your rival... if you want to be the Yondaime, you'll have to surpass her."

Kushina watched Mikoto, her gaze alight with a new fire.

"It will be seen. I'm confident in my abilities."

The conviction in her voice made the atmosphere become lighter, warmer.

Hitoshi leaned back in his seat, his mind already working on the next steps.

The game had begun.