"Ino? You were waiting for us?"When the group finally returned to class, Ino was standing anxiously at the doorway, hands fidgeting.
"Tōma's fine," Shikamaru said dryly. "The rest of us? Not so much."
"It's nothing serious," Tōma added. "You did great, Ino. Iruka-sensei got there in time."
Hearing that, Ino finally let out the breath she'd been holding.
But she still didn't understand why everyone except Tōma looked like they'd been mugged by a wild boar.
That confusion didn't last long.
News, after all, spreads through the Academy faster than lightning through a chakra nerve.
Good deeds? They travel slow.Chaos? Rumors? They sprint.
By noon, everyone at the Academy knew:A first-year student had singlehandedly crushed a group of fourth-years.
They even gave him a title:
The First-Year Demon King.
Ino learned the details soon enough.So that's why Tōma returned spotless while the others looked like they fell down a mountain.
He wasn't just a test-taking prodigy—He was a combat monster.
The moment Tōma sat down, half the class swarmed him with questions.Ino puffed her cheeks in irritation.Of course they were crowding.Of course she couldn't get in.
But then she remembered how aloof Tōma usually was with strangers…Her mood sweetened instantly.
Go ahead and stare, she thought, chin lifted proudly.He won't give you the time of day anyway. Hmph!
Tōma simply resigned himself to fate.He'd barely survived the hype from midterms, and now this.
Troublesome… just like Shikamaru keeps saying.
Even worse—When he showed up at the training grounds after school, even Rock Lee, the poster child for oblivious enthusiasm, had heard the rumors.
"Tōma! You're amazing! Everyone is talking about yesterday!"
"It wasn't that impressive," Tōma sighed. "If you'd been there, you could've done the same."
Lee blinked."You're really a first-year?"
"Yes."Tōma gave him the flattest stare he could manage.
Lee's eyes widened like twin suns."So young… yet so hardworking… Tōma! Spar with me!"
"Gladly. I still haven't hit today's training quota."
And with identical burning spirit, they plunged into another round of combat drills.
The Hokage's Office, Next Morning
The Third Hokage sat behind his desk, reading Iruka's incident report.
He frowned at Naruto's treatment.He'd made many mistakes… but hiding the child's identity—that hesitation still haunted him.And in that hesitation, Danzō had acted.
There was no fixing the past now.
He read on.
So Tōma hadn't appeared immediately—likely because his shadow clone had popped at a distance.
Then came the part the Hokage already saw through his telescope technique…but the written details still surprised him.
"Tōma forced the older students to apologize, hm?"
A small smile tugged his lips.
Naruto had found bonds.And Tōma, too, was weaving himself into the village's future.
"A first-year Demon King… hoho…"
The Hokage chuckled, then grew serious.Tōma's growth curve was already beyond normal.He couldn't let the boy stagnate, but also couldn't simply push him into early graduation.He needed classmates—people he could trust.
The Third rose, staring at the stone faces of the Hokage Monument.
The Fourth's face blurred for a moment in his mind…then shifted into Naruto's…and finally into Tōma's.
"Minato… what would you think of this?"
He made his decision.
That was when the door opened, and a bandaged figure stepped in.
Danzō.
"Hiruzen. You know what that thing did. I warned you—you should have given the fox-child to Root. He never should've been allowed into the Academy."
"Enough," the Hokage said sharply. "Naruto was not at fault."
Danzō didn't miss a beat.He never did.
"If I can't have the fox, then Root needs new talent. And that prodigy—Fujimoto Tōma—belongs under my guidance. Hiruzen, you are wasting him."
The Hokage's expression darkened.
"No. Absolutely not."
Danzō's voice dropped to a harsh whisper.
"You'll ruin him. The Academy can't contain talent like that."
"And Root would?" Hiruzen countered."I know what happens to children you take."
Danzō's face didn't change, but the air twisted with cold tension.
"Hmph."
He left wordlessly.
Only when the door closed did the Hokage sag back into his chair, suddenly older.
He tapped the desk twice.
A masked ANBU appeared immediately.
Fujimoto Household, Evening
Sana had heard the rumors too.Her coworkers had teased her nonstop.
Your son beat up a whole group of upper-years!Your boy's incredible!What a prodigy!
But she—unlike them—wasn't celebrating.
Her son getting into fights?That was not good.
So when Tōma came home, she sat him down for a full interrogation.
He explained everything.The bullying.Naruto.Why he stepped in.
Only after hearing the whole truth did Sana finally relax.
"So you defended a classmate," she confirmed.
"Yes."
"Then you did the right thing."She nodded firmly."But… the boy you helped—Uzumaki Naruto?"
"He's my desk partner," Tōma said simply.
Sana hesitated.
"Are you two… friends?"
"More or less."
"Mm…"
Tōma caught the look."Mom, he's not what the rumors say. He's a good person."
"I don't think he's a monster," Sana admitted. "But being close to him will bring trouble. Many villagers dislike that child. I just don't want you tangled in it."
Tōma exhaled softly in relief.Unlike others, she wasn't blinded by hate—just worried.
"Don't worry," he said. "Naruto is someone I trust."
Sana studied him, then nodded.
"All right. But try not to play together in the village. People talk."
"That's fine," Tōma said.He only ever met Naruto at school or at the boy's lonely, quiet apartment anyway.
"Good."Then her eyes lit."Oh! Try this on."
She hurried into the next room and returned with a pale yellow turtleneck sweater.
Tōma froze as she handed it to him.
"This is your gift for the midterm exams."
He slowly pulled it over his head.It fit perfectly.Warm. Soft.Made with time he hadn't realized she carved out for him.
Sana beamed with pride.
"My knitting still has its charm, hm? Look at you—so handsome! Ahh, if only we had the budget for more clothes! I'd dress you up and let you walk through the village—girls would faint!"
Tōma looked away, embarrassed, but didn't take off the sweater.