Twelve-year-old Hyuk Haruno stood at the back of the classroom, his arms crossed and eyes half-lidded as Iruka-sensei continued the day's lesson. The room was noisy with the excitement of newly graduated Genin, everyone chatting about their upcoming team placements. Hyuk wasn't interested. He stared out the window, letting the chatter fade into a dull hum.
He had no use for these children.
"...and lastly, Hyuk Haruno," Iruka's voice cut through the noise, drawing reluctant attention from Hyuk.
He didn't bother standing as Iruka introduced him to the class, and it wasn't like anyone was surprised. Hyuk had made it clear early on that he preferred to keep his distance. Even his cousin, Sakura, could barely get more than a few sentences out of him at any given time. It wasn't that he was shy or awkward—no, his cold, calculating demeanor pushed others away. He liked it that way.
While Sakura was known for her cheerfulness, Hyuk was the opposite. His pink hair, a striking Haruno family trait, only emphasized the contrast. Where Sakura was eager to learn and connect with her peers, Hyuk saw no point in it. His talents in ninjutsu and genjutsu far outpaced most of his classmates, and he had no desire to pretend otherwise.
"Hey, isn't he supposed to be a genius or something?" one of the students whispered from the front of the room. Hyuk caught the comment but didn't react.
"Yeah, but he's always so cold. Like another Sasuke," someone else added.
Hyuk's lips curled into a barely noticeable smirk. Sasuke. He didn't care for the comparison, but there was no denying that he and the last Uchiha had similar reputations. Both were considered prodigies, both were distant, and both carried an air of mystery that made others uncomfortable. But there was a difference. Sasuke craved revenge. Hyuk… Hyuk had something else on his mind, something no one else knew.
Iruka moved on to announce the teams, and Hyuk tuned back in only when he heard his own name.
"Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha... and Hyuk Haruno."
A murmur spread through the room. Team 7? The class's most unpredictable ninja, the top kunoichi, the last Uchiha, and the distant prodigy—all in one team. Hyuk didn't react outwardly, but inside, his thoughts were racing. Sasuke and Naruto?
Naruto, the loudmouthed orphan, had always annoyed him with his reckless enthusiasm. Sasuke, however, intrigued him, though not in the way people might expect. Hyuk didn't care for Sasuke's revenge-driven ambition, but he respected power, and Sasuke had plenty of it.
As for Sakura, Hyuk gave a slight glance her way. His cousin had always tried to close the gap between them, but to no avail. She was naive and focused on trivial things like making friends or, worse, romance. He had no time for such distractions, no matter how often she invited him to hang out or train together.
When Iruka dismissed the class, Naruto immediately jumped up, grinning from ear to ear. "Team 7's gonna be the best!" he yelled, pumping his fist in the air. His voice grated on Hyuk's nerves.
"Shut up, Naruto," Sasuke muttered, standing up and walking toward the door without looking back. Hyuk followed him at a distance, his cold eyes never leaving the back of Sasuke's head.
As they made their way to the training grounds, Sakura jogged up beside Hyuk. "Can you believe we're on the same team?" she asked with a bright smile, clearly trying to bridge the gap between them once again.
Hyuk didn't respond at first, his gaze fixed ahead. "Don't slow me down," he said finally, his voice flat.
Sakura's smile faltered for a moment before she forced it back. "Right… Of course."
Naruto was already at the training grounds when they arrived, bouncing with excitement as if he were ready to fight immediately. Hyuk, in contrast, stayed near the edge of the clearing, arms still crossed, watching silently as Iruka's words about teamwork floated in one ear and out the other. Teamwork. How quaint.
As far as Hyuk was concerned, he didn't need anyone. He would surpass them all on his own.
Iruka finally dismissed them, and Hyuk turned to leave without a word, eager to resume his solo training. But before he could disappear into the trees, Sasuke called out to him, his voice as cold as Hyuk's own. "You think you're better than everyone, don't you?"
Hyuk paused, glancing back at Sasuke. For a moment, their gazes locked, two distant souls who recognized the ambition and darkness within each other. Hyuk's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I know I am," Hyuk replied, before walking away, leaving the others behind.
In that moment, one thing was clear—despite being placed on Team 7, Hyuk Haruno was still alone. Just the way he preferred it.
Or so he told himself.