Transformation Technique Began with Portraits.
When Iruka hung three portraits on the blackboard, Kiyo immediately perked up.
The first was a standard Ninja Academy portrait, with flat features and flat hair, resembling no one at all. The second was a cat, seriously fat. The third was an adult ninja from the Konoha Military Police Force, with a scar at the corner of his eye and a fan crest on his shoulder.
Kiyo pointed at the cat. "I can do this one."
Morita Yu said, "First learn how not to look like yourself."
Naruto stared at the Military Police portrait, his gaze obviously drifting toward Sasuke and Che. Sasuke expressionlessly took out his workbook. Che, meanwhile, looked at the fan crest in the portrait, his left wrist still wrapped in the cool cloth Nao had given him, hidden beneath his sleeve cuff.
Mizuki had come again today.
He was not standing beside the podium. Instead, he leaned against the doorway with a stack of forms in hand. His smile was the same as yesterday—thin, polite, like the edge of paper. When Iruka saw him, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Teacher Mizuki will be observing and taking notes today," Iruka said.
The moment the word "observing" fell, several children straightened in their seats. Naruto did too, though awkwardly, as if he feared any movement would be recorded.
They were not allowed to form hand seals right away for the Transformation Technique. Iruka first had everyone write down the portraits' distinguishing features: eyes, hair, clothing, height, voice, and walking habits. When Kiyo reached the cat section, he solemnly wrote, "Has a belly." Rina saw it and reminded him that cats also had ears.
"The belly is more important," Kiyo said.
Morita Yu replied, "You understand your own kind well."
When Naruto wrote about