A year had passed since Akari had come to live in the world of Naruto. Currently, he was sitting in a meditative pose, naked, in the middle of a dark room, leaves plastered across his body in a seemingly random fashion. Yet, if one were to look at the four-year-old closely, scrutinized by any dōjutsu they would have realized each leaf covered a tenketsu points.
"Ahhh~" a sigh escaped his lips as the leaves fell to the ground in a rustle. Before placing any garments on his stark naked body the boy began stretching to relax the stiff bones and muscles from his prolonged training. Lasting over a hour and a half. Obliterating his past goal of an hour.
Finished stretching, Akari looked at himself to observe his changes.
'My reserves should be about more than that of a 2nd year academy student and some mediocre 3rd years.'
His chakra flowed smoothly throughout his body undisturbed. Unlike what would commonly be seen for an orphaned four-year-old.
For the last year, Akari solely focused on increasing his chakra reserves , control, and his body's flexibility with the use of discipled stretching. He planned to start shurikenjutsu with the rest of his classmates once he joined the academy as to have some genuine performance and learning, in an attempt to prevent boredom and complacency in the coming 4 years.
He had an extra year and some months until the Konoha 12 would join the academy. Although he would be younger than his class due to his late birthday, it was the optimal time to join classes alongside the main cast.
After today's training, he planned to talk to a branch elder about the following year's enrollment. This was the main reason for his stay in the clan. Until he had a steady source of income and the tree-walking or, in Akari's case, wall-walking exercise to an acceptable proficiency, did he plan to abandon the Hyūga Clan.
Staying within the compound had more negatives than the positives. For one, the extreme domineering control the main family exerted over its branch members, was already enough to motivate Akari to leave. However, their additional stubbornness, naivety, and hubris to stick to tradition; and, their lack of diversity in fighting styles drove him over the edge.
So enrollment and income had to be successfully obtained before he had any confidence in living independent in the streets of Konohagakure.
'I should be able to get a head start in stealth training if I lived on the streets for a few months, as well' Akari added.
Placing a worn robe over his body, he left to talk to the branch elder for enrollment.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
Akari sensed a strong chakra presence near the door as it creaked open.
A elderly man, with dulled eyes, and a head full of grey stood at the entrance.
Akari had not interacted with anyone over the last year unless politely asking for groceries on Konoha's main road. Acting, he pulled what he deemed a mature, young child impression from his stockpile of experience in reading fictions and anime in his past life.
"Ojīsan, is this where I can join the academy?" Skipping niceties, Akari spoke of the main issue at hand.
A look of annoyance crossed the old man's face as he stared back at Akari. Leaving the door open, he walked back to the desk situated in the middle of the hall and called uninterested.
"Name and age."
"Akari, 4." He replied, glad the old man was not interested in speaking unnecessarily.
Shuffling through the papers messily thrown across the desk, the elder Hyūga quickly compiled a stack of papers as he swiftly jotted down a few notes.
"First day and orientation are the 1st of August as listed on the paper. These paper include your identification and copy of admission. Show up, don't be late, and don't tarnish our clan name. You are not like our hope. Keep your head down and graduate." Passing the papers over, Akari was waved away as the old man continued to sort and write disorderly.
Akari took the papers with a nod and left unhindered.
Returning home to stash the paper away, Akari once again turned around and left his house. This time to actual leave the confines of the Hyūga compound in search of a job.
His personal funds were running low, and as to not become reliant on the village and clan's welfare, Akari planned to work. The location was already confirmed, the matter of convincing its owner was the only thing that remained.
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Strolling down Konoha's Main Street once more, Akari glanced at all the shops and stores en route to his destination.
Ramen Ichiraku
The famous restaurant all Naruto fans wished to eat at, and Akari planned to work there part time, up until he joined the academy.
The pressing issue was regarding his identity. Once he decided to permanently leave the clan next year, he wished for his identity as a Hyūga to not be disclosed. However two glaring features announced his identity as such. His Byakugan and the curse seal on his forehead. Nevertheless, Akari planned for this.
Taking inspiration from his favorite lazy-silver haired man himself, Akari walked up to a small, wooden, discrete stand on the road, where a smiling middle-aged woman was selling cheap fabric. He glanced at all the options until his eyes fell upon an obsidian colored cloth piece placed alongside an array of assortments.
Satisfied with its thickness and color, Akari payed the 250¥ for a small rectangular portion. It would act as a blindfold and mask to cover up his obvious features.
Later, when he developed proper fūninjutsu skills, he would inscribe a seal on the inside of the blindfold to prevent his clansmen from seeing the Byakugan. Despite this, the aura of the cursed seal could not be hidden from Hyūga main family members.
With the blindfold taking up two-thirds of his face, leaving only his mouth exposed, coupled with his worn clothes gave the impression of a homeless, blind child.
'This should do'
Akari focused on the sensation of warmth and pull each person in the crowded street gave off. He could faintly 'see' and sense the flames of each person. Easily distinguishing civilians from shinobi.
He stumbled around the street until he became accustomed to his new sense of 'sight' to walk without bumping into other pedestrians.
'Byakugan' he called lightly in his mind.
He still had a destination to reach and although thrilled to be a chakra sensor, he could not recognize or see buildings through chakra alone. In a sense, another form a training became clear to Akari.
'The eye strain is going to be hell for a while'
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Akari pulled open the curtains to the store, inhaling the fresh aroma of dough, rich meat, and vegetables.
Acting once more today, he called shyly.
"Ojisan, can I have Miso Ramen?"
Teuchi looked at his new customer in surprise. The ruffled clothes and hair, his blindfold wrapped around his head suggesting blindness, reminded Teuchi of another sad-looking, yellow haired boy that would sadly look into his store. He had even given the boy free meals, when he would hear the loud growl his stomach would make.
"Oh course! First meal is always on the house!" Teuchi smiled brightly, adding that last part quickly as he saw the young child reach into his pocket to pay.
"Ah?! N-no, I can pay!" Akari asserted. He hated acting shy. If it was not for the threat of being deemed a genius, he would use his typical vocabulary and confidence to directly ask Teuchi for a job.
"Nope! I don't need your money," still smiling, "I only hope you enjoy your meal, and leave a good review."
Seeing his plan work, Akari got up from his seat, grabbed the broom leaning on a close wall and started sweeping.
Meal in hand, Teuchi returned from the kitchen only to see the Akari sweeping his dining room.
"You-young man! There's no need for labor please sit." Teuchi grabbed the broom from Akari's hands.
"No! I'll work for what I owe." Shaking his head profusely.
"Ahh~ what's your name child?" Teuchi asked in defeat.
"Akari!" Poking his chest out in confidence.
"Akari-kun, you've done a good job already, my place has never looked so clean!" He replied jovially, "so take a break to enjoy the food while it's hot!"
"C-can I work for you then?" He hurriedly added, "I'll work for cheap and only ask for a meal after cleaning!"
Teuchi looked up in thought. He already had his eight-year-old daughter around to help.
'In this way, I can focus on teaching her my recipes while Akari-kun cleans up'
Slowly nodding his head, Teuchi finally agreed to Akari's proposal.
He jumped up and down, excited to stop acting like a innocent child, as well as securing a source of revenue.
"I won't let you down." He nodded seriously towards his new boss.
Teuchi laughed at the sudden change in demeanor, "Of course, of course! Now eat, I can't have my new employee starving on his first day." Holding his stomach, his other hand lightly pushed Akari to his seat, where a steaming bowl of ramen was situated.
'Ah' he smiled, 'this life won't be that bad'
He took his seat and slowly enjoyed his Miso.