The next morning.
Konoha Ninja Academy, First-Year Elite Class.
Iruka Umino had not yet arrived, and the whispers within the classroom were as turbulent as a mountain gale.
"Hey, did you hear? Kazama-sensei was hospitalized."
"I heard his sternum was shattered and he broke several ribs."
"Hiss... that's terrifying."
Sakura and Ino, leading a small contingent of Kazama-sensei's female fans, sat huddled together, chirping away as they traded the latest gossip.
Sasuke and Hinata sat in their respective seats, their expressions equally solemn, though for very different reasons. The boys, however, were less relaxed.
Kiba Inuzuka chewed on the end of his pen, staring at a problem in his notebook with a frustrated scowl. "Shikamaru, did you get this one wrong?"
"I just copied Ino's homework. Yawn..."
Shikamaru let out a long, weary sigh, leaning back in his chair with an air of lethargy that made him look more like a retired old man than a young student. His relaxation lasted only a heartbeat.
"Choji! Get your potato-chip hands off my notebook!"
"Sorry, Shikamaru. But hey..." Choji looked over at Naruto, who was sitting unusually quiet in his seat. "Why isn't Naruto over here trying to copy?"
Shikamaru shook his head. "He said his homework is already done."
"I heard that blind girl was assigned to our class!" one of the boys blurted out.
"No way! Are we going to get killed? I bet she has a monstrous temper!"
"A total she-beast..."
Bang!
Naruto slammed his hand onto his desk and stood up abruptly. The entire room fell silent as eyes turned toward him.
"Naruto, what's your problem?" a tall boy snapped. He had thought it was the teacher and was annoyed to find it was just Naruto.
Naruto stood tall, his eyes burning with conviction. "I won't let you talk about Hinami like that!"
He was certain now; the girl who fought Kazama-sensei was the same Hinami he had met at Ichiraku Ramen. She was kind, mysterious, and beautiful—anything but a "she-beast." He would not allow anyone to slander his friend.
"Oh? You looking for a fight?" The tall boy stood up, flanked by several others, surrounding Naruto.
Just as a physical confrontation seemed inevitable, a student near the door hissed, "Teacher's coming!"
The words acted like a starting pistol. Everyone scrambled back to their seats in a blur of motion. Within seconds, the rowdy classroom became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Tap... tap... tap...
The rhythmic sound of a cane striking the floorboards echoed down the hallway. Naruto, sitting perfectly upright, felt his heart begin to beat in sync with those footsteps.
It was a strange, inexplicable feeling—the same feeling that had driven him to actually finish his "boring" homework the night before.
The door slid open. Iruka Umino walked in first. Behind him, the silver-haired girl followed slowly, her pink teddy bear backpack bobbing slightly as she walked.
"She's so pretty..."
"Wait, she's actually kind of cute!"
The silence broke into a low hum of surprised whispers. Based on the rumors of her hospitalizing a Jonin, they had expected a muscular, mountain-sized brute. The reality was a complete shock.
Hinami ignored the murmurs. As she looked at the rows of famous "runts" staring at her with wide eyes, a peculiar sensation washed over her.
Iruka led her to the podium. "Quiet!"
The room fell still once more. Iruka nodded, offering Hinami a smile that was perhaps a little too eager to be friendly. He had heard the details of Yue's injuries and, knowing he couldn't survive a kick like that himself, decided that "polite" was the only way to go.
"Students, we have a new classmate joining us today. Let's give her a warm welcome."
Clap, clap, clap...
"Ahem... Hinami, why don't you introduce yourself to the class?"
"Certainly, Sensei," Hinami replied dutifully.
Her voice was clear and light, like the ringing of a wind chime. Combined with her delicate, non-threatening features, she made an immediate and powerful impression.
Iruka felt a wave of relief. Such a gentle girl... Yesterday must have been a misunderstanding. Kazama must have done something truly awful to provoke her!
Hinami turned to the class, her lips curling into a soft smile.
"My name is Zhuri Hinami. I specialize in Taijutsu, I love peace, and I dislike anything—or anyone—that disturbs my tranquility. I like eating tomato stir-fried eggs. My dream is to defeat a powerful opponent and live a quiet, happy life. I look forward to working with all of you."
Clap, clap, clap!
Iruka led the applause so vigorously his head bobbed. He was practically moved to tears. For a man who dealt with "problem children" daily, Hinami's introduction—aside from a food dish he'd never heard of—seemed miraculously normal.
"She seems easy to get along with," Choji whispered while clapping.
"Yeah, she's cute," Kiba agreed.
Shikamaru, however, remained silent. He felt a strange, nagging sense of "wrongness" from the new girl. It was like watching a lion walk past you with a friendly expression. If you looked closely enough, you could see the predatory yellow eyes watching you right back.
It was chilling. Shikamaru shivered, feeling as though he had glimpsed something hidden deep within the shadows.
"Alright, Hinami, you can sit..."
Before Iruka could finish, Hinami stepped off the podium and marched straight toward the blonde boy in the back right of the room.
"Sensei, is this spot alright?" She smiled and nodded to a beaming Naruto, tapping the empty chair beside him with her cane.
"Uh... yes, that's fine." Iruka hesitated for a split second before yielding to her initiative.
Wait... that 'gentle' vibe was a lie! Forgive me, Kazama-sensei, I shouldn't have doubted you!
Hinami ignored the teacher. Her "gentle" persona was a tool to integrate with these heirs, not a performance for the staff.
"Naruto-kun, we're desk-mates now. Please look after me."
"H-Hinami! Welcome! I mean, please look after me too!"
Looking at the blushing Naruto, Hinami's smile grew even more tender. Her dead, pale eyes were fixed intently on the seal on his abdomen. Extremely faint traces of red chakra leaked from the seal like thin veins of blood.
Inside her own body, Hinami's deep blue chakra throbbed within her heart. Her own meridians felt like hungry leeches, twitching with a desire to burst forth and consume.
Gulp.
She couldn't help but swallow.
Nine-Tails. If I could just take a few 'bites,' my chakra reserves would hit Kage-level instantly. What an unbearable temptation.