Morning mist clung to the damp earth. Inoue Satoru adjusted his hair before entering his office, where he found Ensan Meimei, a teacher he'd worked with since first grade.
Meimei, with her flax-colored hair neatly braided into a ponytail, possessed a figure that even her flak jacket couldn't entirely conceal. She was reviewing materials for her new class. Academy teachers typically taught a class from first grade through graduation, then started anew with a younger group.
Inoue, adjusting his own clothes, flashed what he considered a charming smile. "Ensan-sensei, are you free for dinner tonight?"
"No," Meimei replied without looking up, her gaze fixed on her lesson plans.
Inoue slumped back to his desk, dejected. This was the teachers' prep time before class.
After finishing her preparations, Meimei picked up a few notebooks and asked Inoue about Jin. "Inoue-sensei, I heard that Uchiha Jin was transferred back to your class?"
Inoue immediately perked up. "Yes. I remember he was in your class last year." Meimei had also taught Jin for a year.
Thinking back to Jin's perpetual slumber in class, Meimei grimaced. He was a bigger problem than Kushina. At least Kushina paid attention.
Jin's sparring evaluation was still zero, not because Inoue had intentionally given it, but because Jin had slept through the entire day! How was he supposed to score that?
Seeing Inoue's troubled expression, Meimei sympathized. "That child is a real handful. He sleeps in class and constantly tries to ask me out for dinner." She sighed. She was aware of her attractiveness, but a minor constantly asking her out was disconcerting. Was it her fault, or the child's? And his gaze… was exactly the same as Inoue's! He was only twelve! Were kids maturing this quickly now? What was she doing at twelve? Oh, right… she'd been harboring a crush on a Hyuga boy. Never mind. Early maturation was a tradition in the Academy.
But Jin was still a source of constant frustration. He'd showered her with flowers and invitations. She felt like he only came to class to see her. While it wasn't quite harassment, it was still bothersome.
"What?! That brat dared to harass Meimei-sensei?!" Inoue's eyes widened. He couldn't believe Jin had the same… tastes… as him! He'd dared to harass his goddess!
"He's just a child. It's not a big deal," Meimei said indifferently. "But Inoue-sensei, I think you should keep an eye on him. He tends to skip class."
Meimei recalled last year. Jin had an attendance rate of only 50%, especially after she'd rejected his advances. He was nowhere to be seen.
"What?!" Inoue's expression turned serious. Jin skipping class would be a black mark on his teaching record, though it wouldn't affect his future career. But it would make him question his teaching abilities.
He rushed out of the office and to the classroom. Everyone was present except one student.
Sure enough. "Uchiha Jin!"
…
Uchiha Jin was, indeed, skipping class. He yawned as he walked down the street. He could practically recite the Academy textbooks from memory. "I know the curriculum better than Inoue."
It was a pity that his favorite teacher wasn't the voluptuous Meimei. It considerably dampened his enthusiasm for school.
Despite Konoha's prosperity, the streets were sparsely populated. Jin glanced at passersby, their thin clothes pulled tight against the chill, their faces etched with worry. Most of the open shops were restaurants. The few people hurrying along the streets were mostly grim-faced ninjas.
The war hadn't officially begun, but its shadow loomed over the village.
Jin spotted Might Dai unloading goods for a merchant. His back was bent under the weight of five or six bags. There was no sign of his teammates.
Jin chuckled. Might Dai wasn't at his peak yet, but he should be capable of opening at least the Six Gates. Yet here he was, doing manual labor.
He approached Dai. "Yo, Ojisan! We meet again."
Dai's face turned pale with terror at the sight of Jin. "Uchiha!" He jumped back, a clear sign of trauma from the previous night's encounter. "Be careful!"
This annoyed the merchant waiting for his goods. "Excuse me! Excuse me!" Dai apologized hastily.
Jin raised an eyebrow. The merchant only glanced at Jin's Uchiha emblem before stepping back. The Uchiha name still held considerable weight in Konoha.
"Wait a minute," Dai whispered, then worked at breakneck speed, quickly unloading the goods. He bowed and apologized to the merchant until the man was satisfied and let him leave.
Jin leaned against a lamppost, watching with amusement.
The ninja world was a twisted place. The true power lay with the daimyo, ordinary people, while ninjas were merely their blades, albeit sometimes unruly ones. The daimyo and merchant class both feared and despised ninjas.
It wasn't that ordinary people shouldn't be in power; it was that these specific people in power were incompetent and arrogant. In a normal world, they would've been overthrown long ago.
"Hahaha, young man, sorry to keep you waiting," Dai said, wiping his hands on his pants. He still didn't know why this Uchiha boy was looking for him.
"Ojisan, have you practiced the jutsu I gave you?" Jin asked, his face a mask of childish anticipation. He might not be powerful, but his acting was superb.
"Yes! It was easier than I expected!" Dai laughed heartily. It was possibly only the second jutsu he'd ever mastered.
But why haven't you reached the entry level yet? Jin thought, maintaining his smile. Minato and Kushina had mastered the first level in one night. Why was Dai so slow?
"Is there anything you don't understand? I can explain it," Jin offered.
"Ah, you've also practiced it? Wasn't it supposed to prevent the use of normal ninjutsu?" Dai was taken aback. The scroll clearly stated that newly initiated users couldn't use normal ninjutsu. That's why he'd chosen to learn it, given his lack of talent. But… an Uchiha… unable to use ninjutsu…?
"You're Uchiha Jin?!" Dai exclaimed, pointing at Jin, his eyes wide.
"I see you're not completely dense, Ojisan," Jin said, unsurprised. His reputation had spread wildly. Why did everyone hate the Uchiha so much? He was the only one who couldn't use ninjutsu, yet everyone knew about it. He couldn't comprehend it.
"Hahaha," Dai laughed nervously. Was that a compliment or an insult?
"So, Ojisan, ask any questions you have. Since this jutsu is from the Uchiha, if you can't complete it, I'll just tell people you stole…" Jin didn't finish his sentence. Dai covered his mouth, his face sweating profusely as he looked around nervously. Then he released Jin and whispered, "That wasn't… my mission payment, was it?"
"That's right, but only I know about it. I reported it as a monetary payment to the Hokage's office," Jin said shamelessly, revealing his deception.
Dai's face turned deathly pale, his body swaying. He'd been framed by someone in his own village. Could no one in the village be trusted?
"Now, I'll give you two options. Complete the jutsu tonight, or…" Jin let out a cold humph, watching Dai's changing expression. Bullying honest people was too much fun.
"Sir, please have mercy! My wife is pregnant!" Dai quickly knelt down, pleading.
Jin scratched his cheek, realizing he'd gone too far. He pulled Dai back up, now nervously scanning his surroundings. Fortunately, no one seemed to have noticed. He relaxed slightly. "First, listen to my conditions. Complete the jutsu tonight, or…"
"Defeat me."
Dai scratched his head, utterly bewildered. But it wasn't anything outrageous, so he breathed a sigh of relief. "Is that it?" He seemed unconvinced.
"That's it," Jin assured him.
Honest people are terrifying. He wouldn't mess with them again.
Dai frowned for a moment, then suddenly understood, giving Jin a thumbs-up. "So, young man, you were trying to motivate me! I'm so moved!" Tears welled up in his eyes.
He'd managed to pull it off.
Jin wiped nonexistent sweat from his brow. He'd gotten a little carried away. "That's right."
"Young man, rest assured, I will complete this jutsu!" Dai patted Jin on the shoulder, full of confidence. He'd dedicate ten, twenty years if necessary.
"If you can't do it, I will tell everyone."
"Uh… eh?!" Dai stared at Jin in horror, realizing that Jin's every statement sent shivers down his spine.
"If you think the jutsu will take too long, you only have one other choice." Jin patted… Dai's back (he couldn't reach his shoulder).
"But…" Dai hesitated. He was bullying a child!
Seeing Dai's hesitation, Jin grinned. "Don't underestimate me. I'm very strong." He'd come here to witness the legendary…
Eight Gates Formation… in action.