"Actually, starting next month, you won't be getting any money at all."
Silence.
Kazeo froze.
"W-What?!" he blurted out, his usual calm demeanor cracking for the first time.
His mind raced, trying to process the words, but they didn't make sense. His money—gone?
Kazeo's hands clenched into fists. His money wasn't just some pocket change—it was his. He had earned it, every single ryo.
Hiruzen's expression became kind, the warmth of a grandfather, but his words carried the weight of authority. "Don't worry, Kazeo," he reassured. "I'm not taking your money away permanently. You'll get it all back once you become a Genin. And every month, I'll send you an account of how much your book earns."
Kazeo's shoulders tensed. That… was better than outright losing it. But still.
"But why?" His voice was quieter this time.
Kazeo's fingers twitched at his sides. He wanted to argue but Hiruzen had already anticipated it.
The Hokage said exhaling a soft puff of smoke from his pipe. "A child managing that amount of wealth in the village. If people found out, they'd try to take advantage of you... You could be robbed, deceived or worse."
Kazeo frowned. "But the money is in a scroll. No one will know."
Hiruzen chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not just about the money, child. It's about keeping you safe. Even the scroll—do you really think no one would be tempted if they knew what was inside? Money can be dangerous. More than kunai, more than jutsu. People do foolish things for wealth, Kazeo."
His eyes, warm and kind, held a silent weight.
"The money in your scroll is already more than enough for daily spending. You earned it, and I made sure of that. But beyond this? It's too much and too soon. If you ever need more after this ends, just ask. I promise."
Kazeo stared at him, heart pounding.
His mind scrambled for a counter argument. Any argument.
But nothing came.
He knew Hiruzen wasn't lying. The logic made sense. If word got out, things could get dangerous. But it still stung.
Because deep down, it wasn't just about the money.
It was about control—and Hiruzen had just reminded him that again, despite everything, he was still a child in this world.
His throat felt tight as he forced the words out.
"...Okay, Hokage-sama," The words tasted bitter on his tongue.
His voice was quiet, his tone of reluctant acceptance.
'It isn't like I had a choice.' He muttered, voice tinged with defeat.
Hiruzen studied him for a moment and gave a small nod, watching him carefully.
After a few more minutes of conversation, Kazeo left. His footsteps felt heavier than before.
----------
( Hiruzen's POV )
The office door clicked shut, and Hiruzen let out a slow breath.
"He took that better than I expected."
No tantrum. No outburst. Just… quiet acceptance.
And that worried him more.
A normal six-year-old would have cried, whined, argued. But Kazeo? He had thought about it. Tried to counter it.
The boy really was far too mature for his age.
He turned toward the window, watching the village below.
This decision wasn't just about money.
It was about keeping him safe—from human greed, and most of all... It will motivate him to become a genin faster.
Then Hiruzen's gaze darkened for a moment
His fingers tightened on the desk due to a report he read a day ago.
'Danzo is taking interest in him for some reason.'
His heart heavy with the weight of a thousand past mistakes. He wouldn't fail another child.
"I need to handle this before Danzo tries something."
--------
Three Months Later – The Academy
Theory exams had been completed a week ago. Kazeo had placed sixth—a deliberate choice as he didn't want to be in spotlight. He had left some questions blank, written a few wrong answers. He had aimed for fourth place, but even that had been too optimistic.
'These kids are too damn intelligent for their age.'
One month later -
Academy life had started shifting. Taijutsu training was now a daily morning routine. The Leaf Concentration exercise had been introduced.
Kazeo had also completed the basic Earth Chakra training mentioned in his scroll. Now, he trained both Wind and Earth alternately to maximize efficiency.
After two weeks -
Academy also introduced taijutsu sparring and Shuriken Throwing.
Today was Kazeo's first match in taijutsu against someone after his practice of taijutsu katas.
--------
The sun cast long shadows over the Academy's training field. Students gathered in a rough circle around the sparring ring, eager for the next match. Kazeo adjusted his stance, rolling his shoulders as his first opponent stepped forward.
Hyūga Kaito.
The boy's white eyes gleamed with quiet confidence, his stance relaxed yet firm. Kazeo exhaled, shaking off the nerves. He had seen how the Hyūga fought. 'I just need to keep my distance. Avoid his palms.'
"Begin!"
Kaito moved first.
Fast.
Kazeo's eyes widened—a flicker of white, a shift in the air—and then, a palm was already at his ribs. His muscles screamed as he twisted, the strike grazing him by a hair's breadth —Kaito's second strike was already incoming. A palm aimed at his abdomen.
Kazeo managed to block with his forearm, but the shockwave of chakra rippled through his muscles. A dull numbness spread through his limb.
'Tch! So, this is how gentle fist feels. '
Kazeo gritted his teeth. His strength meant nothing against the Gentle Fist.
Another strike. Another block. But the moment he retaliated—
Kaito's hand twisted, his fingers striking near Kazeo's shoulder.
His arm went limp.
A sharp gasp escaped his lips. 'My chakra flow… it was disrupted.'
Kaito didn't stop. His next strike slammed into Kazeo's chest, sending him skidding backward.
"Winner, Hyūga Kaito!"
Kazeo staggered back, his chest rising and falling with deep, frustrated breaths. He wasn't out of stamina. He wasn't exhausted.
He was just… outclassed.
Kaito stood a few steps away, watching him with narrowed eyes. Then, he spoke, his voice carrying that same arrogance the Hyūga always had.
"Hmph. I thought you were strong when you hit Okabe-sensei that day. But now? Feels like that was just luck." He crossed his arms. "I wanted to fight you since then… so I trained. A lot. But you—" he frowned, shaking his head, "you're just weak."
Kazeo didn't say anything. He barely even looked at Kaito.
But inside—his mind churned, searching, analyzing. 'Where did I go wrong? What could I have done differently?'
Yet, no matter how much he thought… he found no answer.
--------
Two days later -
It was second fight of Kazeo with an Uchiha prodigy.
The instructor stepped forward.
"Kazeo vs Ishikawa. Begin!"
Kazeo exploded forward, his muscles coiling like springs as he threw a lightning-fast punch aimed at Ishikawa's face.
A miss.
Ishikawa's body barely shifted, yet Kazeo's fist sliced through air, missing by a hair's breadth. A slight tilt of the Uchiha's head was all it took.
Too controlled.
Kazeo didn't hesitate—his other hand snapped forward, followed by a sharp low kick aimed at Ishikawa's knee.
Blocked.
A palm strike slammed into Kazeo's shoulder, knocking him off-balance. He stumbled back, gritting his teeth.
Ishikawa let out a chuckle. "You're fast. Strong, even. But predictable."
Kazeo's eyes narrowed.
The Uchiha wasn't just fast—he was reading him. Not with the Sharingan, but through sheer skill and technique.
The Uchiha Intercepting Fist.
A style designed to counter opponents before they could even finish an attack. Every time Kazeo moved, Ishikawa was already one step ahead.
But Kazeo wasn't done.
He charged again, feinting a right hook before twisting mid-air to launch a devastating spinning kick—his strongest move.
Ishikawa sighed. "Slow."
Kazeo's kick never landed.
Ishikawa twisted his body, catching Kazeo's ankle mid-air, and yanked hard.
Slam!
Kazeo hit the ground, hard, his breath leaving him in a sharp gasp.
Damn it!
Ishikawa crouched beside him, his voice dripping with condescension.
"You really thought brute strength would work? Against an Uchiha?" He shook his head, clicking his tongue. "This is why non-clan kids struggle. Academy taijutsu is garbage."
Kazeo clenched his fists. His fingers curled into the dirt beneath him, his breath still coming just a little too fast, a little too unsteady.
He didn't liked how calm this Uchiha kid was. How effortlessly he controlled the fight. How his voice oozed superiority.
But the worst part?
He knew the Uchiha was right.
Academy taijutsu wasn't enough. It was rigid, basic, lacking depth. Against refined clan styles like Uchiha's, it felt like he was fighting with blunt weapons against a sharpened sword.
The instructor's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Winner: Uchiha Ishikawa!"
The crowd clapped, some cheering for Ishikawa's flawless victory.
After two more weeks -
The spars continued. Kazeo managed to win against the average students, but when it came to the clan prodigies—
Uchiha Ishikawa – First place.
Hyūga Kaito – Second place.
Senju Rin – swapping between third and fifth.
Kazeo – swapping between fifth and eighth.
It was clear.
Their techniques were superior. Their combat experience, their instincts—they had been raised for this.
Kazeo had worked hard. But hard work alone wasn't enough.
---
Kazeo sat alone by the training grounds, his fists resting on his knees, his jaw locked in frustration.
His pink muscle training had given him a stronger body. His stamina was better. He had studied the Academy Taijutsu katas .
But—
Kaito's Gentle Fist and Byakugan neutralized his strength.
Ishikawa's counters left no openings.
Even Senju Rin had clan techniques that had brute force and endurance which gave her an advantage.
The Academy Taijutsu he had learned?
It was garbage compared to their techniques.
'I thought I was stronger than these kids atleast.'
His fingers dug into the dirt.
His body was stronger. His training was efficient. Yet, these kids had generations of refined techniques backing them.
His thoughts drifted.
He exhaled slowly, rubbing his chin. If he kept following the same Academy training routine, he would never bridge the gap.
'I need something else. A different angle.'
He tightens his fists, dust slips from his hands.
"Should I ask for Taijutsu techniques as first-year academic exam reward ?"
(To be continued....)