The girl next to him wore a dark, slightly oversized dress that accentuated her slender frame. She rested her chin in her hand, her short black hair falling casually around her ears, and stared wearily at the rising sun outside the window.
*Honestly, Lady Tsunade said she'd take care of me... but then she got so drunk she caused a scene until the middle of the night. In the end, who was taking care of whom?*
The black-haired girl stifled a yawn, looking utterly exhausted. A memory of a blonde figure stumbling through the house the previous night flashed through her mind, and she sighed internally.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
A gentle, clear voice broke through her stupor.
The girl turned her head at the sound. Her eyes were still a little glazed as she processed the request. She glanced at Shinichi, then at the empty chair beside her, her expression flat.
"Um, whatever," she mumbled, nodding lazily.
"My name is Shinichi Higashino. What's yours?"
"Shizune," she responded weakly, her voice so soft it seemed to evaporate into the air. She lifted her eyelids slightly to get a better look at him.
This unremarkable boy had a surprisingly pleasant smile—warm and steady, like the morning sunlight. But for Shizune, that warmth quickly dissipated, overshadowed by the grim reality awaiting her at home.
The thought of her guardian waking up with a hangover and the chaos she would have to clean up made Shizune's temples throb. The classroom, the chatter, and even her new deskmate felt distant and unreal compared to her looming domestic duties.
*Shizune?*
*That's right. I remember now. Shizune and Kakashi are the same age.*
*This is a fortunate development.*
Shinichi's lips curled into a faint, satisfied smile as he turned his attention to the podium, waiting for the teacher. His mind, however, was already racing with calculations regarding the unexpected utility of his new deskmate.
A few minutes later, the teacher had yet to arrive. Suddenly, the classroom door was thrown open with a bang, and a figure rushed in, bringing with him a gust of dry wind.
The newcomer had dark skin and a build noticeably more robust than the other children. He was drenched in sweat, his chest heaving as if he had run a marathon to get there.
He took a few deep breaths, his eyes darting out from under thick eyebrows as he scanned the room. Spotting the single empty seat remaining at the three-person desk by the window, he strode over without hesitation.
"Thank goodness, I made it!"
He collapsed into the chair next to Shinichi, letting out a long sigh of relief. Then, he muttered with a shake of his head, "Honestly, Master Chen has absolutely no concept of time. It's the first day, for crying out loud..."
He seemed to realize mid-sentence that he had ignored his neighbor. He turned abruptly, flashing a blindingly bright grin full of white teeth.
"My name is Takashi Ishizuka, but just call me Takashi! What's your name?"
*Takashi?*
A specific connection sparked in Shinichi's mind, though his face remained a mask of polite friendliness.
"I'm Shinichi Higashino. You can call me Shinichi."
As he spoke, he glanced at Takashi's muscular physique and recalled the casual mention of a 'Master Chen.' Forming a hypothesis, Shinichi ventured a guess.
"Takashi, judging by your build... you specialize in Taijutsu, don't you?"
"Not really!" Takashi waved his hand dismissively, his smile carrying a hint of frank self-deprecation, though his eyes sparkled with intensity. "Rather than saying I'm good at it, it's more accurate to say that's all I know. I only got in by passing the Taijutsu entrance exam. My master always says people who can't use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu can't be real ninjas. He told me to give up, but I'm determined to prove him wrong. Even if you only have Taijutsu, you can still become an excellent shinobi."
*What do you think, Shinichi?*
"Of course. Taijutsu is a remarkable path. It is capable of creating miracles."
Shinichi's tone was sincere, devoid of any falsehood. He knew for a fact that Taijutsu could bend the laws of reality—Might Guy would eventually prove that to the world.
"Hahahaha! Well said! A miracle! Yes, exactly!"
Hearing the validation, Takashi's grin widened, his delight palpable. "Speaking of which, Shinichi, are you interested in Taijutsu too? You've got a sturdy frame. How about we spar sometime? Master Chen always says real combat is the best teacher!"
*It really is him.*
*Only knows Taijutsu... Master Chen...*
Combining the pieces of information, Shinichi realized that this burly, dark-skinned boy was likely the disciple mentioned only in passing within the anime canon—the student of the legendary Chen who died during the Third Great Ninja War due to his inability to use Ninjutsu. (TN: Legendary Chen is actually canon. I thought it was chinese bullshit again)
The thought was fleeting. Outwardly, Shinichi simply nodded.
"I'm certainly interested. I look forward to learning from you."
Shizune, who had been trying to fade into the background on the far right, seemed disturbed by the sudden surge of testosterone-fueled enthusiasm beside her. She glanced at the two boys chatting happily, pursed her lips in barely audible annoyance, and buried her chin back into her arms, radiating an aura of weary introversion.
At the front of the room, the homeroom teacher finally appeared, and the class gradually quieted down.
The teacher began the routine orientation speech: school rules, curriculum structure, the Will of Fire.
Shinichi sat upright, his gaze fixed respectfully on the podium. To any observer, he was the picture of an attentive student. But inside, his mind was a whirlwind of strategic planning.
He pondered how to leverage his proximity to his two deskmates. Or more accurately, how to connect with the titans standing behind them.
Takashi Ishizuka was the gateway to Chen—the strongest Taijutsu user in Konoha before Guy, known as the Dragon God of Konoha. If Shinichi could gain access to Chen's tutelage, even for a short time, it would be invaluable for solidifying his physical foundation and broadening his understanding of the martial arts. It would also help shape his "Taijutsu Expert" persona.
Shizune was the key to Tsunade—one of the Legendary Sannin, the slug princess, and the undisputed greatest medical ninja in history. Chakra control, medical ninjutsu, Monstrous Strength, and the prestige of the Senju clan... she was a treasure trove of potential traits.
Takashi and Shizune were not just classmates; they were keys to power.
*As I thought... this seating arrangement is perfect.*
Shinichi's attention drifted back to the podium. While the other children looked around with expressions of excitement, anxiety, or boredom, a deep sea of calm calculation lay hidden within Shinichi's clear eyes.
---
Soon, the morning session ended amidst the droning of the teacher and the restless energy of the freshmen. It was lunchtime.
Students poured out of the classrooms, converging in the corridors and flooding the path to the playground. The air filled with the chaotic noise of laughter and shouting.
Shinichi walked slowly with the current, his gaze sweeping over faces that were either completely unknown or vaguely familiar from his knowledge of the future.
It was amidst this flow of people that he saw them clearly for the first time—the "familiar faces" that had previously only existed as 2D images in his memory.
Kurenai Yuhi. Asuma Sarutobi. Might Guy. Obito Uchiha. Rin Nohara.
These names, destined to shine or burn in the ninja world, were currently just ordinary children lost in the crowd. Shinichi's gaze swept over them indifferently, not lingering for even a second.
Even Obito Uchiha, the boy who would one day turn the world upside down, did not attract his attention in the slightest.
At this moment, Shinichi had eyes for only one person.
As if drawn by an invisible magnet, his gaze pierced through the noisy crowd and locked precisely onto a silver-haired figure standing alone.
*Kakashi.*