Classmate

The girl wore dark clothes that were slightly too large for her, making her look rather frail. Resting her cheek in one hand, she gazed tiredly out the window at the rising sun, her short black hair hanging casually beside her face.

"Honestly, she said she'd take good care of me on Uncle's behalf... But then she got so drunk, dragged things out until the middle of the night, and in the end, who was taking care of whom?"

The black-haired girl yawned, looking exhausted. The ridiculous sight of a certain blond figure from the night before flashed through her mind, and she complained to herself helplessly.

"Hello, classmate. May I sit here?"

A warm, clear voice reached her.

The girl turned at the sound. She still seemed lost in her thoughts, her eyes hazy as if she had only just come back to herself.

She looked at Shinichi, then glanced at the empty seat beside her. Her face showed little expression as she gave a somewhat lethargic nod. "Mm, go ahead."

"My name's Higashino Shinichi. What's yours?"

"Shizune," she replied listlessly, her voice so soft it seemed to float in the air. She lifted her eyelids slightly and looked at Shinichi again.

This unremarkable classmate had an unexpectedly pleasant smile, like the gentle morning sun. But that little bit of warmth soon faded. Her mind was occupied with something else that was bothering her.

Thinking of how that drunken woman would make a mess of the house again when she woke up, leaving Shizune to clean up after her, made her temples ache just imagining it. The classroom and her new deskmate beside her even began to feel a little unreal.

Shizune?

That's right. I remember Shizune was in the same year as Kakashi.

It really is a good thing.

Shinichi's lips curved slightly. He gazed calmly toward the front of the room, waiting for the teacher to arrive, while an unexpected discovery about his new deskmate, Shizune, gave him a new idea.

A few minutes passed, but the teacher still hadn't appeared. The classroom door banged open, and someone rushed inside, bringing in a gust of warm, dry air.

The newcomer had dark skin and a build noticeably sturdier than the other children's. He was drenched in sweat, as if he'd sprinted all the way there.

He panted heavily a few times, then quickly scanned the classroom beneath his thick brows. Spotting the only empty seat, at a three-person desk by the window in the upper-right corner, he strode straight toward it without hesitation.

"Made it just in time!" He dropped into the empty seat beside Shinichi and let out a long breath. Then he grumbled, a little indignantly, "Honestly, Teacher Chen really needs to watch the time. It's only the first day, and already..."

He trailed off, apparently realizing he hadn't greeted his new deskmate. He whipped around, flashed a row of white teeth, and gave him a bright, carefree grin. "I'm Ishizuka Takashi. Just call me Takashi! What's your name?"

Takashi?

A certain joke crossed Shinichi's mind, but he gave nothing away. He returned the friendly smile. "Higashino Shinichi. You can call me Shinichi."

As they spoke, Shinichi studied Ishizuka Takashi's sturdy build and noted his casual mention of Teacher Chen. He had a guess, so he asked as if offhandedly, "Takashi, judging by the way you look, you're good at Taijutsu, right?"

"I wouldn't say that!" Ishizuka Takashi waved a hand. His grin held a touch of candid self-mockery, but his eyes shone brightly. "It's not so much that I'm good at it as that it's all I know. I only got into the Academy after retaking the entrance exam with Taijutsu. My master always says someone who can't use ninjutsu can't be a ninja and tells me to give up. But I'm going to prove him wrong. Even if all I know is Taijutsu, I can still become an excellent ninja."

"What do you think, Shinichi?"

"Of course. Taijutsu itself is a remarkable path. It can even create miracles."

Shinichi spoke with genuine sincerity. Taijutsu really could create miracles, and Might Guy was the best example.

"Ahahahahaha! Well said! Miracles! Yes, that's exactly it!" Ishizuka Takashi's grin widened, and he seemed quite pleased. Then he asked eagerly, "By the way, Shinichi, are you interested in Taijutsu too? You look pretty sturdy. Want to spar sometime? Teacher Chen always says actual combat is the best practice!"

So it really was you!

Only knew Taijutsu. Teacher Chen...

Putting those two important clues together, Shinichi understood. The dark, sturdy boy with the bright smile and slightly reckless air was probably the disciple who had never appeared in the anime, but whom Teacher Chen had described as knowing only Taijutsu and dying in the Third Great Ninja War.

The thought crossed his mind, but he only smiled and nodded. "I'm definitely interested. I hope you'll show me the ropes when we get the chance."

Shizune, who had been sitting quietly at the far right, seemed bothered by the sudden burst of enthusiasm beside her. She silently glanced at the two chatting happily, pursed her lips almost imperceptibly, then tucked her chin back into her arms, radiating a withdrawn air.

At last, the homeroom teacher appeared at the front of the room, and the classroom gradually quieted.

The homeroom teacher began the usual speech, introducing the school rules, class schedule, and so on.

Shinichi sat up straight, his gaze fixed toward the front of the room as if listening attentively, though his thoughts were already racing.

He considered how to get along with his two deskmates—or, more precisely, how to use them to connect with the people behind them.

Chen Baojun, hailed as Konoha's strongest Taijutsu user and known as Konoha's Dragon God. If Shinichi could get in touch with Teacher Chen through Ishizuka Takashi, even a little Guidance would help him shore up his fundamentals, broaden his understanding of Taijutsu, and even build a future image for himself as a Taijutsu specialist. The benefits would be immeasurable.

The other was Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin and hailed as Konoha's strongest medical ninja. Chakra control, Medical Ninjutsu, Chakra Enhanced Strength, even the Senju Clan... She was another invaluable treasure trove.

Ishizuka Takashi and Shizune were the "keys" to unlocking those two treasure troves.

Just as I said before, this really is a good thing!

Shinichi's attention returned to the front of the room. Below the platform, pairs of eyes shone with anticipation, confusion, or excitement. But deep in Shinichi's clear eyes lay a vast sea of calm calculation.

Soon, the morning classes ended amid the homeroom teacher's explanations and the new students' many different thoughts. It was time for the midday break.

Students began streaming out of their classrooms, gathering in the corridors and along the paths leading to the training grounds. Their chatter and playful voices filled the space once more.

Shinichi walked along with the crowd at an unhurried pace, calmly scanning the unfamiliar faces, some of which looked vaguely familiar.

It was there in the lunchtime crowd that he clearly saw, for the first time at school, the "familiar faces" who had previously existed only in his memories.

Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, Might Guy, Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara...

These names would one day shine in the Shinobi World. For now, they were merely ordinary children mixed in with the crowd. Shinichi's gaze passed over them without lingering on any of them for even a second longer.

Even Obito Uchiha, who would one day stir up tremendous waves, didn't draw the slightest extra attention from him.

At that moment, there was only one person in his eyes. As if drawn by an invisible magnet, his gaze pierced through the noisy crowd and locked precisely onto a figure with silver-white hair.

Kakashi!