The Hero Emiya?

Kazan wanted to get his hands on the Shadow Clone Technique and the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, no matter what.

Back in the classroom, Kazan sat at his desk and listened to the lesson.

Life at the Ninja Academy was fairly easy. The kids spent their days laughing and fooling around without a care in the world.

But children in the Naruto World tended to grow up fast. If Kazan hadn't seen it himself, he would never have believed that kids under ten were already competing for each other's attention.

Kazan was fairly popular with the girls in his class.

He didn't have Kakashi's aura of genius, but he was handsome enough.

Asuma and the others thought Kazan ate like a starving dog, but Kurenai Yuhi and some of the other girls saw his appetite as bold and spirited.

The boys were still innocent, though. To attract girls, they either put other boys down to make themselves look better or played pranks to get a girl's attention.

Even getting scolded made them happy, so long as they got to talk to her.

Yes, Obito Uchiha, that meant you!

"Hmph. Kakashi only gets by because he's got a great dad!"

"One day, I'll surpass him!"

Obito made his boast without a shred of shame.

He spoke loudly, mostly so Rin Nohara would hear him.

"Obito!" Rin Nohara, who had been listening intently, suddenly raised her voice. "Don't make jokes about Lord White Fang!"

"..."

She looked angry, and Obito seemed to realize he'd gone too far.

"Oh," he said, then added quietly, "Sorry."

Rin Nohara forgave him, and the two went back to chatting happily.

Kazan watched it all.

No wonder Obito had turned to darkness on the spot after seeing Rin Nohara die.

When you were the Dead Last, and a sweet girl was always there to care for you, look after you, and listen to your complaints...

How could you not fall for her?

If White Fang hadn't taken his own life and Kakashi's personality hadn't changed, even Kakashi might have fallen for her someday.

Before long, school was over.

Many parents stood outside the Ninja Academy, waiting to pick up their children.

Kazan rolled his neck and got to his feet. Nearby, the goofball Might Guy was already looking at him, flashing his trademark bright smile.

"Let's get started, Kazan! Let's burn with the fire of youth!"

I told you, my youth isn't something to burn.

Kazan changed into his training clothes and sprinted around the Ninja Academy track at full speed.

Lap after lap.

He wouldn't stop until his body reached its limit.

He did this almost every day.

"Look, it's those two kids again!"

"Yeah, I heard neither of them can use Ninjutsu. Their grades at the Ninja Academy are awful."

"They can't use Ninjutsu? Why did the Ninja Academy accept them?"

"Who knows? Maybe the Third Hokage is just too kind."

The parents talked among themselves, occasionally telling their children to stay away from the two strange boys.

Going to the Ninja Academy without learning Ninjutsu was like watching a dirty movie with your pants still on.

Just then, two hearty voices rang out together.

Might Duy and his son Might Guy turned toward the parents, each flashing a thumbs-up with one hand on his hip. "Thank you, one and all!!!"

Those two are nuts!

That was what the parents were thinking.

But Might Duy and his son were used to it.

They'd heard things like that countless times.

Unable to use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu and relying only on Taijutsu, Might Duy was known throughout Konoha as the eternal Genin.

Cold looks, laughter, contempt...

Ever since Guy was old enough to remember, they had followed him and his father everywhere.

They treated every doubt and insult as fuel to keep moving forward.

That was what made their youth different.

The parents hurried away as though avoiding a plague, afraid it might rub off on them.

Only then did Might Duy bend down to speak to his son.

"Go on, Guy. Kazan is already five laps ahead of you. That means your youth is a whole five laps behind his!"

"Right! I'll catch up to Kazan! Once I've made up those five laps, I'll challenge Kakashi!"

Guy stepped onto the track at once and sprinted after Kazan.

Might Duy stood with his hands on his hips, his eyes shining.

"Give it your all, Guy. Kazan hasn't let any of that talk bother him."

Might Duy was very fond of Kazan.

He still remembered how his son had once gotten angry when someone mocked him. Guy had gone over to argue and ended up getting beaten badly.

Might Duy had been touched. His son had stood up for him.

"But Guy, true victory isn't as simple as defeating someone strong."

Young Guy had no idea what his father meant by "youth."

All he could see was Kazan, running ahead of him as always.

"I'll pass you, Kazan!"

He urged himself on and ran with everything he had.

Meanwhile.

Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara had finished cleaning the classroom and were about to head home.

They walked along chatting and laughing, but Kurenai stopped at a window with the best view of the track.

Outside, Kazan was running with all his might.

He looked like the hero Emiya, practicing the high jump.

Rin Nohara stopped too and followed Kurenai's gaze.

"Kazan really is determined."

"Mm."

Kurenai gave a quiet hum, her red eyes fixed on him.

Kazan had little talent for Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, so he'd thrown himself into Taijutsu without hesitation.

His determination, and his refusal to give up when things were hard, drew her to him.

"So... that's why you like Kazan?"

"Mm... huh?!"

Kurenai had answered without thinking. She quickly came to her senses and waved both hands.

"No, Rin, what are you talking about? It's nothing like that!"

She denied it fiercely, but Rin Nohara's smile only grew wider. Kurenai lowered her hands in surrender.

Fine. She did like Kazan.

Rin Nohara looked as pleased as if she'd won a battle. "How did you and Kazan meet? I remember you kept looking at him on our first day of school. You already knew him then, didn't you?"

When did we meet?

Kurenai Yuhi's thoughts drifted back.

It had been a snowy day, much like the day Naruto and Hinata first met.

She'd been four, not quite five, and hadn't started at the Ninja Academy yet.

That day, she'd played in the park with the other children as usual until dark, then headed home.

But a vicious dog had appeared on the way. She'd been terrified.

She still remembered it lunging at her. Daughter of Shinku Yuhi or not, she'd frozen where she stood, her legs trembling.

That was when Kazan had appeared beside her like the God of Shinobi from a story.

Bang!

She remembered the sound to this day. It was the loudest punch Kurenai Yuhi had ever heard.

When she opened her eyes, Kazan still had his fist extended. The dog had flown into a snowbank.

Kazan hadn't even glanced at her. He'd simply gone over, picked up the unconscious dog, and carried it away. She thought she'd heard him say something like, "Dinner's sorted."

No, she must have misheard. Surely Kazan had said he was going to find its owner.

"Wow, I had no idea that happened between you and Kazan." Rin Nohara sounded a little envious. It seemed romantic to her, and she imagined Kakashi swooping in to save her someday.

Still, she suspected Kurenai hadn't misheard. Kazan would eat even the most appalling cooking. Unless something unexpected had happened, that dog had ended up in his stomach that very night...