Uchiha Izumi

"If you don't mind, you can sit next to me."

Seeing Hyuga Gen looking a little awkward, Uchiha Izumi said with a smile.

Hyuga Gen felt as if he'd heard the voice of an angel. Then he saw her gentle, sincere smile, and he felt himself falling in love.

Today was the first official day of classes at the Ninja Academy. When he walked into the classroom, he found that almost everyone had arrived. He casually looked for a seat and was about to sit down.

Just then, someone beside him said the seat was taken. He tried twice more, only to be told both times that the seats were occupied. That was when he caught on.

He thought he was fairly handsome, but perhaps his Byakugan made people uncomfortable.

That was understandable. The Byakugan made a stern, even somewhat eerie and frightening first impression. It was only natural that children wouldn't like it. Still, they'd understand someday just how great a Kekkei Genkai was.

Of course, Hyuga Gen wasn't going to argue with anyone over it. It was only human nature, and they hadn't done anything wrong.

That left him in an awkward situation: no one wanted him sitting next to them. Just then, he suddenly heard someone invite him over. How could he not be overjoyed?

"Thank you!"

Hyuga Gen sat down and thanked her. He already knew they were in the same class, but he hadn't expected to sit beside her, too. What a lovely surprise.

That little exchange gave Hyuga Gen a real sense of Uchiha Izumi's kindness and gentleness. No wonder she was considered one of the most beautiful girls in Naruto—though now he thought they could drop the "one of."

It was a shame how fate played its tricks. Why hadn't Uchiha Itachi cherished and protected such a kind, wonderful girl? He'd slaughtered his clan, even killing his own parents for the greater good. Was that the difference between a god and an ordinary person?

"Is something the matter?"

Noticing Hyuga Gen staring at her, Uchiha Izumi asked with a puzzled look.

"Thank you so much. My name is Hyuga Gen. Could you tell me yours?"

Hyuga Gen had already guessed her name, but she probably didn't know him, so it was a good opportunity for them to get acquainted.

"Don't mention it. It's only natural for classmates to help each other. My name is Uchiha Izumi. It's nice to meet you."

Looking at her bright, round eyes and her sincere, pure smile, Hyuga Gen froze. For a moment, he could almost hear his own heart beating.

Luckily, the teacher arrived and caught her attention, so she didn't see how flustered he was.

"Get a grip. You're letting a little girl wrap you around her finger."

Hyuga Gen mocked himself inwardly. He felt like he'd wasted the more than twenty years of his previous life.

Though, he really had wasted them. He was nearly thirty and still single, without even a girlfriend.

But even so, he'd seen plenty of beautiful women. He knew what the world was like. So what was this feeling in his heart?

"Am I a lolicon?"

Hyuga Gen wondered. That didn't seem right. He'd never felt this way about Hyuga Natsu, even though he thought Natsu was cute and pretty.

Suddenly, an image flashed through his mind.

At night, a movie played on the screen in the classroom. A beautiful girl in the row ahead turned around, clenched both hands into fists, raised her thumbs, and smiled sweetly. "You're amazing!"

Yes, that moment had left him dazed, and the image had stayed tucked away in the depths of his mind.

"Hyuga Gen? Is Hyuga Gen here?" the teacher asked again and again.

"Here!"

Hyuga Gen quickly stood up and answered.

The teacher gave him a long look, then made a mark in a little notebook. Had he just been marked down? Hyuga Gen had a bad feeling about it.

Hyuga Gen gratefully glanced at the girl beside him, Uchiha Izumi. She'd just saved him by reminding him. Izumi merely smiled and gave a slight shake of her head.

"Uchiha Itachi?"

"Here."

Uchiha Itachi answered crisply.

Hyuga Gen followed the voice and only then noticed Uchiha Itachi sitting to Uchiha Izumi's right, with just an aisle between them.

"Wow, that boy is so handsome~"

Hearing the girls around him whispering, Hyuga Gen felt a little envious, too. Uchiha Itachi and his damn charm.

Being in the same class as Uchiha Itachi was unlucky, because he outshone you in every way, leaving you no chance to stand out. At the same time, it was lucky, because as a classmate and friend, he was incredibly dependable.

Before long, roll call was over. Then the teacher had everyone introduce themselves, and they all got to know one another.

Aside from Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi, Hyuga Gen didn't recognize anyone else in the class. That was no surprise; in the Naruto anime from his previous life, they were all background characters who never even got names on screen.

If Uchiha Izumi hadn't interacted with Itachi and appeared in the anime, Hyuga Gen wouldn't have recognized her either. Still, he did spot quite a few familiar surnames: Sarutobi, Inuzuka...

"All right, that's all for today. You can head home. We'll start classes properly tomorrow, so I hope nobody will be late."

"Oh, and Hyuga Gen, stay behind. Clean the classroom before you go home," the homeroom teacher said, looking at him.

Well, I really did offend the teacher. He's already giving me a hard time. Oh well, I shouldn't have zoned out. It's only fair.

"All right, Teacher. Understood," Hyuga Gen replied, a little glumly.

The homeroom teacher paused at his answer, then nodded and left the classroom.

The room grew a little livelier. Some classmates packed their things, others headed straight for the door, and groups of three or five left together.

"Hyuga Gen, would you like some help?" Uchiha Izumi asked, standing up.

"Sure. It'd be wonderful to have your help. Sorry for the trouble," Hyuga Gen said, looking delighted.

That was close. Good thing I reacted quickly. It was such a great chance to be alone with her; he'd almost turned her down.

"I'll help, too," Uchiha Itachi suddenly said, as if he'd overheard them talking.

Hyuga Gen was already surprised that Uchiha Izumi wanted to stay and help. He hadn't expected Uchiha Itachi to stay, too.

Is this what they call the protagonist's halo? No way. If you stay, you'll ruin my chance to flirt with her.

"Itachi, don't you need to go home and take care of Sasuke?" Hyuga Gen said aloud, while inwardly thinking, Go home and take care of Sasuke already, you doting big brother.

"How do you know I have a younger brother named Sasuke?"

"Itachi? Do you two know each other?" Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Itachi asked in confusion at the same time. After speaking, they glanced at each other, then looked back at Hyuga Gen.

"Uh—I knew, of course. After meeting you yesterday, I went home and mentioned it to my grandfather. He told me," Hyuga Gen said, making up an excuse. He'd answered Uchiha Izumi's question, too.

"It's fine. I can go home after we finish cleaning. It won't take long." Uchiha Itachi seemed a little puzzled, but didn't ask anything else.

And so the three classmates got to work. Watching Itachi clean as if he were putting on a Taijutsu performance, Hyuga Gen finally understood what he meant by "It won't take long."

Before long, the classroom was spotless. Hyuga Gen had cleaned less than a third as much as Uchiha Itachi.

Even more embarrassing, the places Hyuga Gen cleaned weren't as clean as Itachi's. Itachi even had to go over them again.

"Itachi, you're amazing," Uchiha Izumi said, looking at Uchiha Itachi with shining eyes.

Hyuga Gen couldn't help giving Uchiha Itachi a thumbs-up, too. But when he saw Uchiha Izumi's admiring gaze, he felt a little sour inside.

"Itachi, Izumi, thanks for your help today. Come on, I'll treat you to a meal."

"No, I have to go home and take care of Sasuke, so I'll pass," Uchiha Itachi said quickly.

"Come on, don't fuss. It won't take long. We'll be quick." As he spoke, Hyuga Gen grabbed Uchiha Itachi and headed outside.

"Izumi, you're coming, too."

They hadn't taken more than two steps when Hyuga Gen turned around with a smile and said it. Before Uchiha Izumi could answer, he continued pulling Uchiha Itachi outside.

Watching the two of them ahead of her, Uchiha Izumi couldn't help smiling sweetly.