Early the next morning, Kagami woke up at dawn. Dressed in gray, the fan-shaped crest of the Uchiha clan stood proudly on his back. Perhaps it was the bloodline, but Kagami's features carried a touch of boyish handsomeness.
Following the path etched in his memory, he soon arrived at the Ninja Academy. The classroom was exactly as he remembered it: a stepped lecture hall with three rows of seats. At a glance, Kagami spotted Sasuke, seated at the back of the middle row.
He's early. At this point, Sasuke was still an innocent boy, untouched by the pain of his clan's annihilation, unshackled by hatred. Without that shadow, he wasn't nearly as dazzling as the Sasuke of the future.
In front of Sasuke sat a boy in gray, hands behind his head, two red fang-like stripes painted on his cheeks: Inuzuka Kiba. Strangely, Akamaru was nowhere to be seen, probably hiding under the desk.
These two were the only ones who had arrived before Kagami. He had already come early, yet they had beaten him here. Sasuke, most likely woken by Itachi, was no surprise. As for Kiba, well, Kagami figured his "dream of becoming Hokage" was driving him. When someone finds a goal, diligence naturally follows.
"Ah, Kagami! My brother actually woke me up early just so I wouldn't fall behind you. Seriously, Kagami, how do you manage to be so hardworking? Even when I come early, I'm still slower than you."
Sasuke greeted him warmly the moment their eyes met. Kagami's reputation as a genius had spread through the Uchiha clan; most of his peers knew him, or at least knew of him. Sasuke admired his elder brother, Itachi, the very image of genius, so naturally, he also held Kagami in high regard.
Kagami shrugged helplessly.
"No choice, my father's too strict."
It was, of course, just an excuse. Kagami knew perfectly well why he worked so hard. Others might push themselves out of passion or fleeting motivation, but for him, it was a matter of survival. That was an entirely different concept.
"An Uchiha genius, huh."
Kiba muttered under his breath, giving Kagami only a fleeting glance before losing interest.
That alone told Kagami plenty about the Uchiha's situation. Unlike Sasuke in the original story, who drew admiration from classmates, he himself was not welcomed. Back when Kagami had watched the anime, Sasuke had been idolized by many, especially the girls. Kagami, on the other hand, received none of that attention.
It wasn't that Kagami craved admiration, but the difference was a warning sign. Relations between the Uchiha and Konoha were deteriorating. Families like the Inuzuka, well-rooted in the village, had likely been warned by their elders to keep distance from Uchiha children.
Though the Uchiha-Konoha conflict was classified, any observant clan could see the tension. Likely, only after the massacre would other clan heirs be allowed to freely associate with the Uchiha again.
And Kagami's lack of popularity wasn't due to politics alone. For one, this was the first day of school. Though the Uchiha called him a prodigy, few would recognize that without proof. On top of that, the Uchiha were known for arrogance, which already bred resentment among many villagers. Other boys, proud in their own right, would hardly rush to befriend someone from a clan that looked down on them.
Kagami didn't bother with Kiba. He had no interest in chasing cold shoulders with warm smiles. Every moment from now on had to be used to unravel the fate that awaited him.
He sat beside Sasuke and struck up a casual conversation.
"Sasuke, do you think Itachi has time today?"
"You want my brother to train you again? Sure, we can ask after school. But lately he keeps brushing me off with a 'maybe next time.'"
"Doesn't hurt to try. What if he has time today?"
"You're right. If he agrees to teach us, we'll definitely become the top students in our year!"
And so, the two chatted idly. Slowly, more students trickled in. Some with unfamiliar faces, others Kagami knew all too well: the future Konoha Twelve.
Haruno Sakura entered, sneaking glances at Sasuke, while Yamanaka Ino's eyes kept drifting toward Kagami.
At this age, it wasn't love, just a shallow fondness for good-looking boys. They were still too young to heed their parents' warnings about the Uchiha.
Naturally, both Sasuke and Kagami ignored them. Sasuke simply didn't care, while Kagami had no time for such things. Admiration or not, it couldn't change the fact that on the day of the massacre, Itachi's blade would still fall.
Only strength mattered.
Then came Nara Shikamaru, his face openly spelling out "school is such a drag." Behind him waddled Akimichi Chōji, followed by Aburame Shino and Hyūga Hinata.
Hinata glanced around the classroom much like Sakura and Ino, but when she didn't find who she was looking for, her head dropped in quiet disappointment.
At this point, everyone Kagami recognized had arrived. The rest were just background faces, unimportant to him. Almost the entire future Twelve were here, save for Rock Lee, Neji, and Tenten, who were a year ahead.
But the one Kagami most wanted to see still hadn't arrived.
"Late again, huh? Figures."
Soon, everyone found their seats, and a scarred ninja wearing a forehead protector entered. He clapped the podium for silence.
"Good morning, everyone. I'll be your teacher for the next six years. My name is Iruka. Just call me Iruka-sensei. Now, let's go around the room, introduce yourselves so I can get to know you."
The shy boy in the front right stood up nervously, about to speak, when the door Iruka had closed burst open. A blond boy in an orange jacket stood panting in the doorway.
For the first time, Kagami straightened and watched someone seriously. The rest of the Twelve hadn't moved him much, but this boy demanded attention.
Uzumaki Naruto, the absolute protagonist of the story, son of the Fourth Hokage, host of the Nine-Tails.
Kagami smiled faintly. Late, as always. Back when he had watched Naruto, he had followed the story through Naruto's eyes. Now he found himself inside the tale, standing on the other side. Strange, almost surreal.
Of course, Iruka knew Naruto. He could never forget the Nine-Tails' attack, which had taken his parents' lives before being sealed into this very boy. Until today, Iruka had kept his distance from Naruto, afraid of what he might do if resentment overcame him. But now, he had no choice.
After a long pause, Iruka spoke lightly.
"What's your name?"
Of course, he knew, but he told himself, I'm meeting him for the first time. He is not the Nine-Tails.
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly.
"Heh… I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"
Iruka nodded.
"You're late. But since it's the first day, I'll let it slide. Go on, find a seat."
Kagami studied Iruka carefully. It was clear that Iruka still held resistance toward Naruto. Who wouldn't, after losing both parents to the beast sealed within him?
But six years at the Academy was plenty of time to change one's heart. This teacher, wary though he was now, would one day become one of Naruto's most important bonds. Iruka was, without doubt, an excellent teacher.
Introductions continued. Most children had little to say beyond their names.
When it was Kagami's turn, he stood without hesitation.
"I'm Uchiha Kagami. Pleased to meet you."
Then he sat back down.
But his name drew whispers.
"Uchiha Kagami? Is he that Uchiha prodigy?"
"Prodigy? What's so special about him?"
"Ha, looks ordinary enough to me."
Admiration, doubt, disdain, every kind of reaction rippled through the room.
Naruto, overhearing Sakura and Ino whisper about Kagami, grew curious. He craved attention, so naturally, he was drawn to someone who had it.
"Hey, Sakura, why do you call that Uchiha Kagami a genius?"
Sakura answered as if it were obvious.
"Because he's really talented, of course!"
Naruto tilted his head.
"Talented? How?"
Sakura faltered. Everyone called him a genius, but no one could really explain why.
Besides Kagami, Sasuke overheard the doubts and opened his mouth to retort, only for Kagami to stop him.
"No need."
Sasuke frowned, muttering quietly.
"Kagami, you have to show them what Uchiha genius really means!"
Kagami sighed inwardly, but outwardly, he gave a simple nod.
"I will."
Ah, that Uchiha pride, alive and well in Sasuke too