After returning from the Hokage Building, Madara Uchiha found those good-for-nothing brats fighting over the two miniature tailed beasts again. They had even come to blows, completely forgetting the pride and self-restraint expected of shinobi.
The teaching materials and supplies he had neatly arranged on the podium before leaving had been rummaged through and tossed aside, piled together with empty lunch boxes. Leftovers littered the floor. The place was an utter mess.
"..."
Madara Uchiha's face darkened visibly, like the murky, leaden clouds before a storm, weighing so heavily on everyone that they could barely breathe.
Madara's usual expression was already frightening, but now his face was black as thunder, radiating pressure. As he stepped into the classroom, the air grew oppressively heavy. The students who had been squabbling nonstop all froze, and in an instant, the entire Ninja Academy fell so quiet that a sense of dread rose unbidden.
"Shh! Stop fighting! Teacher Madara's back!"
Sensing his arrival, the academy brats, already well experienced in getting beaten up, immediately behaved themselves. They wished they could shrink into the shadows or the corners, or simply vanish altogether, as though that might let them escape Madara Uchiha's notice.
Madara ignored the unfortunate students huddled to one side like frightened quails and advanced toward the two tailed beasts. At the sight of him, Kurama and Shukaku, who had been strutting around on the podium like kings, instantly lost every trace of their swagger. It was replaced by sheer terror and unease.
When Madara Uchiha finally reached them, Kurama and Shukaku let out miserable cries almost in unison:
"Spare us!"
But the furious Madara Uchiha gave neither of them a chance to flee or beg. He grabbed them by their necks and swung his arm, flinging them away like garbage. The two screaming