The bell for class rang. Sato Takeru entered the classroom without lifting his head, slapped the curriculum down on his desk, and commanded:
"Ryoto... stand up!"
Ryoto, who had been lying on his desk, rose to his feet.
"Go to the back of the classroom and stand there."
"O-o-oh..."
Moving to the back, Ryoto lowered his head and peacefully fell asleep. Sato Takeru's eye twitched. Some of the boys simply couldn't fathom it: how did he even manage to sleep while standing? And did he not sleep at all during the night, to be sleeping so soundly during the day?
In truth, sleeping while standing is quite a feat. In sleep, a person cannot precisely control their body; the muscles are temporarily managed by the subconscious. Yet, he could stand there, without swaying or stumbling. In a way, it was incredible, almost unnatural. Sato Takeru couldn't tell if the boy was pretending or genuinely asleep.
Sato Takeru understood some things, but not everything. Though he wasn't an exceptional shinobi, he had been through the war and had seen his share of powerful ninja. One could only say, "Now that's power." It was similar to the "invisible chair"—a simple training trick. Classes were dreadfully boring, and one needed something to occupy the time. However, the "invisible chair" trains the leg muscles, whereas Ryoto was regulating his nerves, keeping a portion of his muscles active, much like a fish that occasionally flicks its fins in its sleep.
This was a deep control exercise that Ryoto was conducting, based on the talent for fine bodily control he had inherited from Smarty. The inspiration came when Ryoto discovered Smarty's ability to sleep standing up. Many animals are capable of this, but not dogs. But if Smarty could do it, then so could he. As for the advantages, here was one: in the event of an attack, he could bolt and flee in an instant. This was a key survival trait for many animals, allowing them to escape predators.
Hatake Kakashi would occasionally glance sideways at the sleeping Ryoto. The longer he looked, the more he felt that something was amiss, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "This guy... he can't possibly be training even in his sleep, can he!? Well, if he's sleeping, I won't hold back."
While Sato Takeru lectured, Kakashi kept one eye on the teacher and the other on his hand under the desk, where a leaf lay in his palm as he silently practiced the nature transformation of Wind.
Sitting next to him, Hyūga Kiyoshi noticed Kakashi's antics. He had been idly surveying his surroundings with his Byakugan out of boredom when the veins on his temples bulged, and he nudged Sarutobi Asuma with his elbow. The jab was a bit painful, and Asuma was about to flare up, but following Kiyoshi's gaze, he looked at Kakashi. He immediately understood what Kakashi was doing.
"So, that's how this guy is having fun, is it." The rivalry among boys was always simple: to see who was stronger, and who could call the shots. "My father is the Hokage; I can't bring him shame."
Asuma exchanged a look with Kiyoshi, after which, sitting between them, he reached out and covered Kakashi's palm. Kakashi looked up at Asuma in confusion. Asuma smiled. They simultaneously tensed their hands and, maintaining impassive faces, began an arm-wrestling match under the desk.
Guess why these three sat together. Because the other boys didn't want to sit with this arrogant trio, and the academy had its own excellent seating arrangement.
Two rows away, Uchiha Obito and Might Guy, drenched in sweat, looked at the teacher with hope in their eyes. "Teacher, could you please speak a little slower? I'm a bit lost..." they thought.
In the morning, regular lessons; after lunch, basic shinobi physical training. The day passed peacefully.
As usual, after classes, it was time for extra lessons with the Hatake. Seeing Ryoto leave the classroom, Kakashi was the first to dart out the door. Ryoto walked in the middle, his gaze warding off the girls approaching from all sides. Noticing Ryoto leaving, Nohara Rin immediately jumped up and followed him out of the classroom.
Yūhi Kurenai watched the scene and sighed. Asuma glanced sideways at Kurenai. "She's... quite pretty." But he had to go home for special training with his father, so he couldn't linger. Thus, he cast one more look her way.
Obito stared at Rin's back. He stood up, then sat down again. Sat down, and stood up again. Might Guy, watching his friend's strange behavior, was completely baffled. With shouts of youth, dust, diligence, and struggle, he ran out of the classroom to the sports ground to start with a fifty-lap run. What is youth? It's when you just run.
"Obito! Are you going to play dodgeball?"
"I am, I am! I'm playing!"
A crowd of children poured onto the field with joyous cries, and the air filled with laughter.
…
Outside, Kakashi walked ahead, occasionally looking back to make sure Ryoto hadn't fallen behind. Ryoto walked in the middle with a detached air, while Rin cautiously trotted behind them. "They're staring at me from the front, and from the back too. What is this... Am I a piece of dog crap that I attract so much attention?! Look at these two... such children." Ryoto looked up at the sky with a sense of longing, watching the sparrows flitting on the wires.
And then...
"Same as always today?" asked the White Fang. "Wound me, and you can go home early."
Looking at this man who was seriously competing with a child, Ryoto waved his hands and said:
"Sensei, if you want to beat me up, just say so."
Looking surprised at the perceptive Ryoto, the White Fang smiled gently.
"Well then, let's start with combat training. After all, only through personal experience can one understand one's mistakes."
Ryoto sighed, stripped off his outer shirt in one smooth motion, and said:
"Let's do it."
"Ryoto, when you say things like that, could you please not take your clothes off? People might get the wrong idea," said the White Fang.
Kakashi looked innocently from his father to Ryoto. "What wrong idea?"
Ryoto looked at the White Fang. "Mister, tone down your old-man vibes, you're reeking of vulgarity."
"You little brat, you're the one who should tone down your old-man vibes!" Sweat beaded on the White Fang's forehead. He pressed a hand to his brow and said:
"Let's go! Let's go! We're starting!"
Ryoto was beaten up again. He was used to it, though.
At dinner, Ryoto, his face bruised, devoured the delicious dishes at the Hatake household, stuffing his stomach. He may have lost the fight, but not his appetite. Kakashi, his face buried in his bowl, was also eating with all his might.
"Look at these two growing boys... It's delicious, isn't it? Bought with money earned by risking life and limb." The White Fang sipped his sake and wondered if he should lower the quality of the meals.
And once again, he was kept until ten o'clock at night.
On the lantern-lit street, the occasional bark of a dog could be heard. Nohara Rin, leaning against her windowsill, watched Ryoto walk by. This time, she was bolder and didn't peek furtively. As soon as Ryoto passed, she turned and dove onto her bed. Hugging her pillow, she began to roll around on it.
Tomorrow was a day off, and she had arranged with Kurenai to go to the hospital to visit Kurama Miyoko, so... "Ryoto-kun was so handsome today, too!" Rin covered her flaming face with her hands.
…
On the weekend, his mother dragged Ryoto to the dojo, and a fun day of family games began. An idyllic scene: a loving mother and a wailing son. Inuzuka Rin was a good mother. She was especially skilled at delivering the "iron fist of love." Smarty, Zato, Masao, the Tamago trio and her brothers, and Kage—all howled with glee. The entire dojo echoed with youthful cries and was flooded with tears. The passing members of the Inuzuka Clan, young and old, looked on with sympathy. But the training of the little "dog king" by the old "dog king" was so thrilling.
…
Time flowed by so imperceptibly. Everything was changing, and yet it felt as if nothing had changed at all.
Day one...
"Ryoto! Stand up! To the back..."
"O-o-oh..."
Ryoto stood at the back of the class and lowered his head.
Day two...
"Ryoto! Stand up!"
"O-o-oh..."
Ryoto stood at the back and lowered his head.
Day three...
"Ryoto!"
"O-o-oh..."
Ryoto stood, head bowed.
Day four...
"Ryo-o-oh...!"
"O-o-oh..."
Ryoto stood, head bowed.
Day five... Slapping the curriculum on the desk, Sato Takeru stared at Ryoto. His eye was twitching, and his head was buzzing. The classmates watched the two stubborn figures in silence, beads of sweat trickling down their foreheads.
Ryoto, who had been lying on his desk, rose as if nothing was wrong and stood at the back of the classroom. His desk-mates, Miyoko and Mai, who had come to class, habitually cleared a path for him with expressions of reverent awe.
The silent understanding between men requires no words. When feelings reach the right point, everything happens on its own. Sato Takeru took a deep breath and, turning around, began the lesson. Getting angry at Ryoto was a losing battle. He was like an impenetrable piece of meat—tough and taciturn. Sato Takeru understood Ryoto, and Ryoto understood Sato Takeru. Sato Takeru was a good man, which meant he was a safe target for this behavior.
"Ryoto-kun is so bad... and I like it so much..." a girl whispered.
Obito, sitting nearby, heard this and snorted with a look of displeasure.
…
In the blink of an eye, three months flew by. July had arrived. The first semester was coming to an end, and summer was beginning.
The moonlight was like water. Nohara Rin, leaning against her windowsill, watched Ryoto pass by, and her fluttering heart secretly made a decision.
I! WILL! CON! FESS!
Summer, after all, is a time for making beautiful memories.
A night breeze swept through the room, rustling the thin curtains, swept through the young girl's heart, and turned a page of the popular romance novel lying on her desk.
It seemed as though a new chapter was about to begin. The girl's eyes were full of anticipation.