Nawaki scanned the room. He was in the academy infirmary, lying on a bed. Beside him sat Aizen, his hands resting on Nawaki's injured shoulder. A soft green light emanated from Aizen's palms.
"Healing jutsu?" Nawaki gasped, recognizing the familiar technique. He looked at Aizen with a mix of confusion and disbelief. "Why are you treating me? I was the one who challenged you!"
In Nawaki's mind, Aizen should want him dead. After all, his aggressive behavior today was a blatant insult.
And Nawaki wasn't entirely wrong. Aizen fantasized about pulverizing him. But… he didn't dare.
Eliminating Nawaki would unleash the fury of the Hokage, the Senju clan, and even Tsunade. Aizen wouldn't see another sunrise.
Therefore…
"Why? Does a comrade need a reason to help another?" Aizen offered a gentle smile, radiating warmth that seemed to fill the room. (Inner monologue: 'If I wasn't terrified of your connections, I would've drowned you back there!')
Minato, observing from the side, silently approved. What he admired most about Aizen was his unwavering loyalty, a quality akin to the "Will of Fire."
Uchiha Fugaku, however, couldn't help but scoff. A man burdened with schemes and dark desires, he found Aizen's saintly act repulsive. (Inner monologue: 'Just toss him in the infirmary – that's all he deserves!')
Earlier, when Aizen pulled Nawaki from the water, Fugaku envisioned simply dumping him at the medical bay and leaving him to the doctors. Secretly, he even hoped Nawaki wouldn't make it.
But as fate would have it, the infirmary was vacant. So, Aizen, against his will, performed basic healing on Nawaki.
Now, both Minato and Fugaku had a deeply ingrained image of Aizen as a paragon of virtue.
"You…" Nawaki stammered, shame flooding his eyes. He'd bullied his classmates and dared to challenge this kind and selfless comrade, even resorting to threats. Guilt gnawed at him.
"Aizen, I apologize," Nawaki began, voice thick with remorse. "This is all our fault. We caused you so much trouble… I…" Tears welled up in his eyes, choking his words. He buried his head in his chest, overcome with shame.
Aizen stared at him, momentarily speechless.
Nawaki's apology surprised Aizen. It seemed these "Will of Fire" devotees were remarkably naive. Aizen simply aimed to avoid antagonizing the Senju clan while subtly bolstering his carefully crafted image. He hadn't anticipated this unexpected satisfaction.
"Don't worry about it, Nawaki-san," Aizen continued his act. "We're all comrades from the same village. A minor misunderstanding like this won't faze me."
"Exactly, Nawaki! We're fellow shinobi," echoed Namikaze Minato, radiating his signature sunshine smile. As a firm believer in the Will of Fire, he naturally took pleasure in the peaceful resolution of this student conflict.
Only Uchiha Fugaku scoffed and averted his gaze from Nawaki. Apparently, the Uchiha prodigy remained unimpressed by the Senju heir.
Unfazed by Fugaku's attitude, Nawaki met Aizen and Minato's eyes, brimming with emotion. "Thank you both, especially you, Aizen!" he said with a voice thick with gratitude.
With Aizen's treatment, Nawaki's injuries healed rapidly. After additional medication and bandages, he was fully mobile again.
The doctor, who'd been out of town, soon returned. He commended Aizen's treatment before thoroughly examining Nawaki. Confirming no lingering issues, he declared Nawaki and the others free to leave the infirmary.
Later, Aizen, Nawaki, and the others found themselves engrossed in a training ground discussion about their goals. These young prodigies – Aizen, Minato, Nawaki, and Fugaku – were all exceptional talents. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, each sharing unique insights and experiences. This camaraderie was a welcome change for Nawaki, burdened by the expectations of the Senju clan and lacking peers to truly connect with.
"So many talented ninjas my age exist in the village!" This was Nawaki's most heartfelt realization during their conversation.
After a long time, it was not until the sunset and it was approaching evening that Aizen and the others reluctantly stopped talking under the urging of hunger.
"Hey everyone," Minato announced with a cheerful wave, "how about we celebrate with some Ichiraku ramen? My treat!"
"Sounds good, Minato!"
"Well, if it's coming from you, Minato, I won't refuse!"
Their camaraderie deepened, the four walking out of the academy with newfound respect for each other, their shoulders brushing in a friendly way.
Little did they know, their entire afternoon interaction had been meticulously recorded by a mysterious crystal ball…
Meanwhile, in the heart of Konohagakure, within the Hokage's office, a middle-aged ninja sat behind a desk. Dressed in the iconic Hokage robes and hat, a pipe jutting from his lips, he silently watched Aizen and the others depart through the crystal ball.
"Energetic youngsters," Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled, a hint of amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes. He puffed on his pipe and deactivated the crystal ball, a satisfied smile lingering on his face.