Life at the Academy was pointless.At least, that's how Uchiha Jinzō saw it.
He'd already memorized everything the teachers droned on about. The "Will of Fire" speeches? Straight into the mental trash bin. As far as he was concerned, real combat experience mattered more than any classroom lecture.
The noisy chatter of his classmates dragged him out of a nap. He lifted his head, the last light of the setting sun painting his face orange. Standing nearby with a thundercloud expression was Inoue Satoru.
Jinzō promptly ignored him.
Minato Namikaze—who'd been about to poke him awake—awkwardly pulled his hand back. No need. Jinzō always woke up when it suited him.
"Barbecue tonight," Minato said with a sunny grin. "You coming, Jinzō?"
Kushina Uzumaki's head instantly perked up beside him, her eyes sharp as kunai. The two of them were still at that oblivious crush stage, which only meant one thing for Jinzō: free front-row seats to their awkward romance.
No thanks. He wasn't in the mood for dog food.
But… "You paying?"
Minato scratched his cheek, looking embarrassed. He came from a civilian family; treating friends wasn't exactly something he could afford.
"I'll pay!" Kushina slammed her hand on the desk like it was a challenge.
She'd already decided Jinzō was one of her "little brothers" (news to him), and clearly wasn't backing down now.
By the time the words left her mouth, Jinzō's chair was empty.
"Eh?!" Kushina blinked. "Where'd he—"
"Oi, what are you waiting for?" Jinzō's voice called cheerfully from the classroom door. He waved. "Barbecue doesn't eat itself!"
Minato: "…"Kushina: "…"
How was he that fast?!
"Wait." Another voice cut in. Hinata Kiyoshi strode over, face stiff. "I'm coming too."
He'd been itching to figure out why Minato was getting so strong lately, and tonight looked like the perfect chance.
"I didn't invite you," Kushina said flatly, crossing her arms. She wasn't about to let some Hyūga tag along for free food. Nobody in class ever bothered with Kiyoshi except Minato and Jinzō anyway.
Kiyoshi just smirked and waved dismissively. "Don't worry. I'll cover it."
Hyūga money. Problem solved.
"Now that's what I call a local tyrant," Jinzō said, giving Kiyoshi a friendly clap on the shoulder. Kiyoshi almost flinched into a Gentle Fist strike—when did this guy get so close?!
He narrowed his eyes. This Uchiha brat was definitely hiding something.
Meanwhile, Inoue Satoru watched his students march out without sparing him a glance. His hands trembled. Am I even cut out to be a teacher…?
The barbecue shop smelled like heaven. To Kiyoshi, it smelled like financial ruin.
Plate after plate stacked up into a miniature mountain. His wallet wept.
"I'm sorry, Wallet," Kiyoshi mourned silently. "This is where we part ways."
And to make it worse, Jinzō and Kushina had devolved into a full-on chopstick duel over the sizzling meat. Their eyes locked, sparks flying.
A strong enemy.
Their chopsticks clashed like swordfighters on the battlefield, each strike stealing another piece of meat.
Minato, caught in the crossfire, apologized to Kiyoshi with a sheepish look before quickly snatching a piece for himself. His training lately had boosted his appetite, but there was no competing with those two maniacs.
Kiyoshi's deposits vanished one grilled slice at a time. His hand trembled. His rice bowl mocked him.
Finally, enough was enough. His Byakugan flared. "White Eyes—open!"
Chopsticks blurred in his hands, reinforced with Gentle Fist precision. If the battlefield was the dining table, then so be it.
"Foul!" Kushina yelled, cheeks stuffed full. "Who the hell uses clan techniques over barbecue?!"
Kiyoshi ignored her. He hadn't spent this much money to go hungry.
By the end, he was hollowed out—physically, mentally, financially. Only Minato's shy offer of pocket money kept him from collapsing on the spot. He refused, of course. Pride demanded it.
Jinzō just leaned back, lazily picking his teeth with a smug grin. "Thanks for the meal, Hyūga."
When they finally left, the once-bustling street was eerily quiet.
"Not many people out," Jinzō muttered, frowning.
"Because of the war," Kiyoshi said grimly. "The clans say Earth and Wind are moving against the Fire Country. The village's shinobi are all on edge."
Even Minato's usual brightness dimmed. "People are scared."
Kushina's lips pressed tight. Of them all, she was the only one who'd already lost her home to war.
The air grew heavy.
"Then we'd better hurry up and get stronger," Jinzō said lightly, though his eyes sharpened. "By the time we graduate, we'll probably be on the battlefield."
They followed him into the forest, further from the safety of the village.
"Why so far out?" Minato asked.
Jinzō grinned. "Secret base. Just for us."
Kushina and Minato traded a silent glance. They'd both sensed the hidden Anbu trailing Kushina, watching from the trees. Neither said a word.
The "secret base" turned out to be a half-broken training ground deep in the woods. Jinzō stood tall on a tree stump, hands clasped behind his back like some smug sensei.
"From today," he declared, "I'll teach you four techniques."
"Taijutsu?" Kiyoshi scoffed. "That's it?"
"Not impressed?" Jinzō's smirk widened. "Want a demo?"
Kiyoshi was already in stance before the words finished. He rushed forward, Gentle Fist blazing.
Jinzō vanished. No—he was suddenly in his face, smiling like an asshole. "First technique: Shave."
Kiyoshi's strikes blurred into afterimages, but Jinzō swayed just out of reach, light as paper on the wind. "Second technique: Paper Art."
Frustration made Kiyoshi reckless. His blows hammered into Jinzō's pressure points, each strike aimed to shut down his chakra. Jinzō didn't even flinch. He winked.
"My body's harder than steel. Third technique: Iron Body."
Kiyoshi hissed, stepping back, the backs of his hands swollen and red.
Jinzō casually raised a finger, then flicked it toward a branch. A hole punched straight through the wood.
"Fourth technique: Finger Gun."
He let the silence stretch, smirking down at the stunned group.
"These are the Four Styles I'll teach you."