Chapter 1: First Day, First Chaos

"And as future shinobi, discipline and attention to detail will be your greatest allies—"

Iruka-sensei's words faded into a gentle hum, indistinct as the background drone of a sleepy summer afternoon. Tama Akimichi slouched comfortably at the back of the classroom, chin resting in his hand, eyes twinkling mischievously. Lectures were dull. Life, however, was not—and Tama was determined to remind everyone of that crucial fact.

He leaned forward slightly, eyes darting to the small pink eraser sitting on Naruto's desk. With a barely suppressed giggle, Tama reached out discreetly, fingertips brushing lightly over it.

Naruto yawned widely, stretched, and then moved to erase the crooked doodles scrawled across his page.

The eraser instantly swelled to the size of a watermelon, toppling off the desk and hitting the floor with a hefty thud. Naruto shrieked, toppling backward from his seat. "What the heck?!"

The classroom erupted in laughter and chaos. Children pointed and giggled while Naruto stared at his giant eraser in horror, scrambling away as if it were some monstrous creature. Iruka-sensei sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead.

"Tama Akimichi," he said wearily, eyes fixed knowingly at the innocent-looking boy. "Care to explain?"

Tama blinked slowly, giving his best wide-eyed look of confusion. "Sensei, I think Naruto needs better supplies. Clearly, that eraser wasn't regulation-sized."

Another wave of laughter filled the classroom, even Shikamaru's usually bored face cracked into a half-smile. Naruto jabbed a finger toward Tama, face flushed. "That was you again, wasn't it?!"

Tama shrugged, a cherubic smile on his lips. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Naruto sputtered indignantly, but before he could retort, Iruka raised his hand for silence. "Alright, everyone calm down! Tama, Naruto, settle it later. Let's get back on track."

From his seat by the window, Sasuke Uchiha watched Tama silently, a flicker of curiosity—and annoyance—in his dark eyes.

---

By the time snack break came around, the Academy courtyard buzzed with excited chatter. Tama sat beneath his favorite tree, munching happily on rice balls next to Shikamaru and Ino.

"You're going to drive Iruka-sensei crazy," Shikamaru sighed, stretching lazily. Despite his words, his voice carried clear amusement.

Ino giggled, nudging Tama playfully. "I think Naruto nearly fainted! That poor eraser never stood a chance."

Tama grinned brightly. "Life is too short to waste on boring lectures. I'm just keeping things interesting."

His friends laughed, unaware of the quiet ache hidden behind his joyful smile. Inside, Tama felt a soft pang—a gentle reminder of what it had been like not to laugh, not to feel alive. But that was a feeling from another lifetime, another world. Today, here and now, laughter was his anthem.

---

During shuriken practice later, Tama stood poised, three small blades nestled lightly in his fingers. Mizuki watched closely, skeptical and slightly wary.

With a swift flick of his wrist, Tama sent the shuriken spinning toward the distant target. Mid-flight, he snapped his fingers dramatically—and the shuriken tripled in size, embedding themselves deeply with satisfying thunks directly in the bullseye.

A ripple of amazement passed through the students. Iruka-sensei clapped appreciatively, while Mizuki's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Impressive, Tama," Iruka praised, stepping forward to examine the targets. "Creative application of your ability."

Mizuki cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yes, well—just remember, Tama, flashiness isn't everything."

Tama bowed exaggeratedly, clearly enjoying the mixed reactions around him. He felt no shame in making his abilities known—this life, after all, was meant to be extraordinary.

As the students continued their practice, Tama took the opportunity to walk over to Naruto, nudging him playfully with an elbow. "No hard feelings about the eraser, right?"

Naruto grumbled but couldn't suppress a reluctant grin. "Just warn me next time, alright? You almost gave me a heart attack!"

"Where's the fun in that?" Tama teased, laughing lightly as they headed back toward the training grounds.

---

As class ended, the students poured out in groups. Tama and Naruto were among the last to leave. Naruto was still talking about how Kiba couldn't hit a stationary log if it were three feet in front of him.

"You coming over?" Naruto asked suddenly. "I got instant miso ramen. The good kind."

Tama tilted his head. "Good kind as in… edible or legally distinct from food?"

Naruto grinned. "Both."

Tama considered. "You had me at edible."

They took the shortcut through a narrow alley near the post office, hopping a fence that clearly wasn't meant to be climbed. Naruto kicked a bottle cap ahead of them the whole way. It felt easy between them—like they'd always been friends.

---

Naruto's apartment was cramped, cluttered, and warm. The floor was a battlefield of socks and scrolls, but Tama didn't mind. He liked the chaos.

Naruto tossed him a bowl and tore open two ramen packets. "You want the spicy or the spicier?"

Tama caught the bowl and flopped down onto the couch. "Whichever one won't kill me."

Naruto shrugged. "Spicier it is."

As Naruto fumbled with the stove, Tama strolled over and tapped the pot, quietly adjusting its heat retention. The water boiled almost instantly.

"Whoa," Naruto said. "How'd you do that?"

Tama smirked. "Science. And cheating."

They ate with their feet on the table and crumbs everywhere. Naruto talked with his mouth full, and Tama listened, chiming in only to correct the details of Naruto's wildly inaccurate retelling of their earlier spar.

"You didn't dodge the shuriken, Naruto. It missed because you sneezed."

"Same thing."

---

Later, they sat on the roof under the darkening sky. The village lights flickered on one by one below them, warm and sleepy.

Tama leaned back, arms behind his head. Naruto chewed the end of a fishcake skewer.

"You ever think about what kind of ninja you want to be?" Tama asked.

Naruto shrugged. "I wanna be Hokage. That way everyone has to notice me. Not just because I mess things up. But 'cause I'm someone good."

"You already are," Tama said.

Naruto looked away. "Not really."

"I don't lie to people who feed me."

Naruto snorted. "You lie to Iruka-sensei all the time."

"Different relationship."

They sat in silence a while longer. The sky was huge, and the stars were just starting to push through the dark.

"You scared about anything?" Naruto asked.

Tama watched a cloud drift by. "I was scared once. In a different life. But not anymore. I figure, if we're gonna die someday, might as well live ridiculously until then."

Naruto glanced at him sideways. "What do you mean, different life?"

Tama just smiled. "You wouldn't believe me."

"Try me."

"Nope. You didn't give me enough fishcake for that story."

Naruto groaned. "Fine. Next time I'll make extra."

They leaned back, staring at the sky, the quiet between them as easy as breathing.

"Hey," Naruto said after a while. "I'm glad you came over."

Tama didn't look at him, just stretched out more comfortably.

"Yeah," he said. "Me too."