As Satoru, Tatsuo, and Hiten walked to the academy cafeteria, the atmosphere was lively. Contestants from the tournament and spectators alike were crowding around the various food stalls. Tatsuo, looked around with interest.
"What are we going to eat?" Tatsuo asked, his eyes scanning the menu boards.
Satoru, without hesitation, replied, "Barbecue."
Hiten, intrigued, nodded in agreement. "Barbecue sounds good."
Tatsuo grinned and shrugged. "I'm trying out the takoyaki."
As they moved through the crowd, Satoru and Hiten struck up a conversation about Keiko and Tsuru. Hiten seemed curious about Satoru's relationship with Keiko, and Satoru decided to share something that would shift the dynamic.
"Keiko kissed me once," Satoru said casually, watching Hiten's reaction.
Hiten's smile faded slightly, his expression turning somber.
It was as if Satoru's words had triggered a memory, one that Hiten would rather not revisit.
Satoru didn't need to know much to realize what it meant—Tsuru, the girl Hiten was so fond of, hadn't returned his feelings.
As they reached the barbecue stall, they ordered and took their seats. The aroma of grilled meat filled the air, making their mouths water. But just as they settled in, Hiten reached for his wallet and froze.
As Hiten looked around for his missing wallet, his expression turned worried. He patted his pockets again, clearly starting to panic.
"I swear, it was right here," he muttered under his breath.
Satoru, having already slipped the wallet into his pocket earlier, glanced at Hiten's distressed face and decided to step in before things got awkward. He casually walked over to the stall and pulled out his own wallet.
When he came back with both their food ingredients, Hiten looked up, surprised.
"You... paid for me?" Hiten asked, his eyebrows raised.
Satoru waved it off with a smile. "Don't worry about it. People should help each other when they're in trouble, right?"
Hiten blinked, taken aback. "You didn't have to do that. I don't even know how I lost my wallet."
"Maybe it slipped out somewhere, who knows," Satoru shrugged, not looking at Hiten directly as he began setting up the barbecue.
"Still," Hiten said, feeling a bit guilty, "I'll find a way to pay you back."
Satoru laughed lightly. "You'll pay me back by eating. That's good enough for now."
As the sizzling sounds of the barbecue filled the air, Tatsuo came back from the takoyaki stall and plopped down next to them. "What did I miss?"
Satoru grinned. "Not much. Hiten here's trying to pay me back for buying him food."
Tatsuo chuckled, taking a bite of his snack. "Hiten, you've got it all wrong. With Satoru, food is the payment. Just make sure he gets enough barbecue."
Satoru nodded sagely, playing along. "See? Tatsuo gets it."
As the barbecue sizzled on the grill, Hiten glanced at Satoru again. He couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was different from his usual interactions.
"You know," Hiten began, his voice quieter than before, "I've never had anyone outside the Uchiha clan help me like that. It's... strange."
Satoru, flipping the meat over the grill, raised an eyebrow. "Strange? How so?"
Hiten hesitated. "I mean, in the Uchiha, we're taught to rely on our own. There's this… pressure. People expect us to be the best. But you're not from any clan, yet you help without a second thought."
Satoru smiled slightly. "Doesn't matter if I'm from a clan or not. People are people. I help when I can." He skewered a piece of meat and handed it to Hiten. "Here, try this."
Hiten took the skewer and chewed thoughtfully, considering Satoru's words. Tatsuo, who had been busy devouring his takoyaki, jumped in, breaking the brief silence.
"Satoru's always been like this," Tatsuo said, his mouth half full. "He helped me a lot too, even when we didn't know each other well. Honestly, I think he enjoys it."
Satoru chuckled. "Maybe I do."
You know," he said, "I don't usually hang out with people outside the Uchiha. I'm starting to think maybe I should."Satoru glanced at him. "Good food, good company—it's all about balance."
Hiten laughed at the simple but meaningful statement.
He looked at both of them, feeling a pang of envy mixed with something else—a strange sense of warmth.
He had always kept his distance from others, especially those outside his clan. But sitting here, eating barbecue with these two, that separation seemed meaningless.
"Do you ever feel pressured by expectations?" Hiten asked suddenly, surprising even himself with the question.
Satoru looked up from the grill. "Expectations? Yeah, sometimes. But they don't control me. I've got my own goals, you know? I'll get there in my own way."
Hiten nodded slowly, understanding but also realizing how different their perspectives were. "I guess… I've always felt like if I don't awaken the Sharingan soon, I'll disappoint my clan. I'm the only one in my family who hasn't got it yet."
Satoru's eyes softened. "You'll get there. But you shouldn't let it define you. There's more to being a shinobi than just one technique or bloodline."
Tatsuo chimed in again, his tone light. "Yeah, dude. I don't have any fancy bloodlines, and look at me! I'm awesome."
Satoru grinned, nodding toward Tatsuo. "Exactly. Strength isn't just about blood—it's about THE GRIND!"
Hiten stared at his plate for a moment, then smiled. "Maybe you're right. Thanks, Satoru."
Satoru gave him a thumbs-up, returning to grilling the meat. "Anytime, man. You're part of the team now."
As they continued eating, the conversations shifted to lighter topics. They joked about the tournament, speculated on who would win.
The tournament's final rounds were a spectacle of skill and strategy, each fight more intense than the last.
The semifinal match that had everyone's attention was Keiko's battle against an Inuzuka clan member. The arena was buzzing with excitement, the crowd on edge as the two fighters prepared to face off.
Satoru leaned forward, watching closely as Keiko unsheathed her wooden sword, now coated with a layer of wind chakra that made it shimmer with sharpness.
She moved with precision, each slash of her blade cutting through the air effortlessly. The Inuzuka kid, fighting alongside his ninken companion, lunged at her with ferocity, his movements wild but powerful. Keiko deflected blow after blow, her sword dancing like a whirlwind around her.
Satoru's voice rang out louder than ever, "Let's go, Keiko! You've got this!" His amplified cheering encouraged others to join in, making her a clear crowd favorite. But as the fight dragged on, the Inuzuka's raw strength began to wear her down.
Despite her efforts, a well-timed fang-over-fang attack shattered her sword in half, leaving her defenseless. The referee called for a stop when she raised her hand, conceding the match.
Though she had lost, Keiko was far from a failure. The audience erupted in applause, clearly impressed by her skill and grace under pressure. Satoru, sitting in the stands, grinned with pride despite the outcome.
On the other side of the tournament, Tsuru won her match with minimal effort, casting her opponent into a genjutsu that left them incapacitated within moments.
As she left the arena, her eyes briefly locked onto Keiko in the stands, a scoff escaping her lips. 'What a waste of talent. I guess she wasn't that good as I thought.' she thought, convinced that Keiko was beneath her.
After the tournament had ended for the day, Keiko found Satoru waiting for her. Her eyes were filled with a mix of disappointment and relief.
"You were amazing out there," Satoru told her, his voice filled with sincerity. "Top four—most people in the top ranks are from clans, but you did it without any of that."
Keiko smiled weakly but gratefully, stepping forward to give him a hug. "Thanks… I guess that's something to be proud of."
"It's more than something," Satoru said, gently pulling away. "You fought better than anyone expected. And trust me, everyone saw that."
The tournament ended with a ceremony, where the participants were given their ninja headbands.
As the Hokage walked up to the stage to give his speech, the new genins stood with pride.
The sun was high, casting a warm glow over the village. The gang had passed their exams, and everyone was finally able to enjoy the much-anticipated vacations.
But for Satoru, a strange summons had arrived. Mitsuki-sensei, his academy teacher, had called him to her house, leaving him puzzled. Why now? What could she possibly want?
Satoru arrived at her doorstep and knocked. The door swung open, revealing Mitsuki-sensei in casual clothes, a cigarette lazily perched between her lips. It was an odd sight. She smiled and waved him inside.
"You know," Satoru remarked, walking past her into the cozy living room, "being a doctor and smoking? Those don't exactly mix well."
Mitsuki laughed, a throaty sound, as she took a drag. "Well, we all have our vices. What's life without a little contradiction, right?"
Satoru gave her a weirded out before asking, "So, why did you call me here?"
Mitsuki's expression shifted slightly as she settled into a chair, putting out her cigarette. "Do you remember how you mentioned it takes about a decade to fully become a medical ninja?"
"Yeah," Satoru nodded, "I figured it was a long road ahead."
"You're half right," she said, leaning forward. "But that's not the full truth. Most medical-nin can perform basic operations and medical ninjutsu halfway through their training."
Satoru's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, seriously? So, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that you've been speeding through your studies. You've already completed half of the theoretical portion."
He blinked, trying to process what she just said. "Halfway? I'm halfway through already?"
Mitsuki leaned back with a grin. "That's right. Which means you can move on to the next phase: learning yin and yang release."
Satoru's excitement was quickly tempered by her next words.
"But," she continued, her tone more serious now, "don't get too excited. It takes five to ten years of rigorous training to fully grasp yin and yang release. Even if you have a natural affinity for it, you're looking at three years, minimum."
Satoru let out a long sigh, already imagining the grueling work ahead. "Three years, huh? Well, it could be worse."
"You're taking this better than I expected," Mitsuki said with a raised eyebrow.
He shrugged. "I've accepted my fate. So… when do we start?"
Without hesitation, Mitsuki stood up and gestured for him to follow her outside to the backyard, where training equipment was already set up.
Satoru started his yin and yang training, focusing on manipulating chakra in ways he hadn't before. The intensity of the exercises became apparent as the hours passed.
During a break, Satoru, drenched in sweat, glanced over at Mitsuki. "Why me? Why not train any of the other students?"
She didn't mince words. "They don't have the talent. Most of them are wasting their time trying to be something they're not. You, on the other hand, are a hidden gem."
Satoru was taken aback by her bluntness. "A hidden gem?"
Mitsuki gave him a small smile. "And you're my favorite student. Don't go getting a big head about it, though."
Satoru chuckled, though he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at her words. He wiped his brow, "I won't. But don't expect me to slow down either."
Mitsuki smirked. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
As Satoru walked home, the evening sky painted with shades of orange and pink, he noticed something was wrong. The usually lively streets near the orphanage were eerily quiet, save for the faint sound of sobbing.
His eyes narrowed as he saw Tatsuo, Dai, and nearly every other child from the orphanage, huddled together, tears streaming down their faces.
Confused and concerned, he approached Dai, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Dai... what happened?"
Dai looked up, his face red and tear-streaked. "Satoru..." His voice cracked, unable to hold back the sobs. "Aunty Hana... she's... she's gone."
Satoru blinked, the words not registering at first. "What do you mean? Gone where?"
Dai wiped his eyes, his voice barely a whisper. "She passed away... Aunty Hana is dead."
Satoru's mind went blank. He couldn't believe it. The woman who had raised them, who had taken care of all of them, was gone? No, it wasn't possible. He needed to see for himself.
Ignoring the cries of his friends, Satoru pushed past them, determined to find her. Tatsuo tried to grab his arm, but Satoru shook him off, his heart pounding in his chest.
His vision blurred as he made his way toward the orphanage courtyard, where a small group of medical-nin stood over a covered figure.
"Satoru, wait—" one of the medical-nin began, but he pushed past them too, his eyes locked on the body that lay beneath the white cloth.
"No... no..." His voice trembled as he approached. "This can't be real."
One of the medical-nin gently placed a hand on his shoulder, their eyes somber. "She's gone, Satoru. There was nothing we could do."
Satoru stared at the white cloth, the weight of the words sinking into his chest like a dagger. His knees gave out as he collapsed beside the body.
Everything in him screamed to deny it, but the truth stared him in the face. Aunty Hana was gone.
Watching her corpse made something within him snap.
A wave of dizziness hit him, and the world began to spin. His body felt cold, and his heart raced uncontrollably. Before he could process anything further, his mind shut down, and everything went dark.
Satoru had passed out.