The next week.
The Academy was on fire...
Metaphorically.
Barely controlled chaos rippled through the halls. Kids had turned coat racks into training dummies.
Bento boxes were being used as makeshift shields. A boy ran past yelling "I AM THE WIND," and faceplanted into a wall.
Tamamo stood near the doorway, unimpressed.
"I give it five minutes before someone breaks something," she muttered.
Sasuke, standing beside her with the air of someone already regretting being alive, replied, "Something's already broken. I can smell it."
"That might be Kiba's ego. Or Whisker's last brain cell."
He gave her a sideways look. "You seem chipper."
"I'm not. I'm just emotionally bracing."
"For what?"
Tamamo exhaled dramatically. "To be forced into physical combat with someone who probably has too much confidence, too little aim, or—knowing my luck—both."
Sasuke arched a brow. "You're not going to lose."
"I might lose my will to live."
--
Inside the classroom, Iruka stood in front of the blackboard with a clipboard and the thousand-yard stare of a man who knew what was coming.
"Today," he began, "you'll be participating in a Taijutsu assessment. One-on-one, light-contact sparring to evaluate your hand-to-hand combat skills."
Cheering. Groaning. Someone did a backflip and immediately regretted it.
"This is not a tournament for glory," Iruka continued. "This is for form, control, and effort. No chakra. No ninjutsu. No biting."
Naruto's hand shot up. "What if they bite first?"
"Then report it to me and do not bite them back."
Tamamo leaned toward Sasuke with the grave intensity of someone planning a heist.
"Too late. I already implemented my pre-fight snack protocol. Phase one: stealth dumplings. Phase two: emergency rice balls in both sleeves. Phase three—" she tapped her forehead, "—mental preparation through sugar."
Sasuke blinked. "You smuggled food into a sparring tournament?"
"I'm emotionally bracing through calories," she hissed. "If I go down, I'm going down chewy."
He tilted his head slightly. "Iruka is standing five feet away."
Tamamo didn't miss a beat. "Good. Let him know what he's dealing with. I hope he hears every word."
From the front of the classroom, Iruka lowered his clipboard and stared at her.
Tamamo stared back.
Very slowly, she unwrapped a piece of dried fruit and put it in her mouth without breaking eye contact.
Sasuke sighed. "You're going to be put on a list."
"I am the list," Tamamo whispered dramatically.
Students rushed the board when Iruka posted the matchups. Some cried out in joy. Others wailed. One kid declared he had a dentist appointment and sprinted for the exit.
Sasuke returned calmly. "You're fighting Hyuga."
Tamamo blinked. "The soft-spoken one who whispers apologies to trees?"
"That's the one."
Tamamo's first instinct was to plan a dramatic, snark-filled performance. Something iconic. Something the classroom would talk about for weeks.
But then, as her eyes scanned the room, she saw Hinata standing alone, fingers wringing together in a quiet panic, like she was trying to fold herself out of existence.
Tamamo hesitated.
'I was going to put on a show,' she thought. 'But she's already drowning.'
A pause.
'Ugh. Fine. I'll be useful.'
--
Epic Match Chaos Montage
Naruto vs. Shino
Naruto came in yelling, "TAKE THIS!" and tripped over his own foot. Shino won by default. Naruto demanded a rematch with fewer bugs even though there were none.
Sakura vs. Ino
A tense, silent battle of pride. Iruka stepped in when they both grabbed each other's hair and refused to let go.
Kiba vs. Choji
Kiba pounced. Choji spun. The resulting collision took out three chairs and a startled civilian boy. Draw.
Sasuke vs. Civilian Kid
A clean block, twist, and takedown in under five seconds. Sasuke walked back to his seat. The other boy still hasn't gotten up.
Shikamaru vs. Civilian Girl
Shikamaru walked onto the mat, sighed, and stared at his opponent for three long seconds.
Then he raised his hand.
"I forfeit. Too much effort."
He walked off the mat and immediately lay down in the grass.
Iruka blinked. "...Right. Next match."
Tamamo clapped once, solemnly. "A true hero."
Sasuke didn't look up. "He just didn't want to sweat."
--
Tamamo leaned against the wall, letting her mind wander, until she heard whispers from the nearby information-dump side characters.
"...She's up against the Hyuga girl."
"The one who flinches when you look at her funny?"
"Poor thing. She's toast."
"Yeah, especially against Tamamo Uchiha."
"I heard she awakened her Sharingan over something called… chicken nuggets."
"I think her brother saw it happen. He looked… traumatized."
"...What even is a chicken nugget?"
"I think it's a jutsu?"
Tamamo blinked.
She turned slowly and made eye contact with the group. They froze.
She raised a single eyebrow.
They scattered like scared squirrels.
Tamamo sighed.
--
Iruka called out, "Tamamo Uchiha vs. Hinata Hyuga!"
The noise died.
Hinata stepped forward like she was heading toward her execution. She bowed so quickly it was a miracle her forehead didn't hit the mat.
Tamamo followed calmly.
She leaned in and whispered, "Hey. You don't have to win. Just try. I'll handle the rest."
Hinata blinked, startled. "I-I'll do my best…"
Tamamo smiled faintly. "That's all I need. But just so you know…"
She straightened up and declared to the class:
"I'm adopting this one," Tamamo announced, gesturing to Hinata like she was claiming a sacred relic. "She's mine now. Best friends by decree. This is legally binding. Anyone who objects will be met with strongly worded letters, emotional damage, and a flying kick. Possibly in that order."
The classroom blinked.
Hinata turned beet red.
Sasuke, watching from the sidelines, didn't say a word.
'Every day she strays further from the Uchiha aesthetic.' he thought, deadpan.
'You know I can hear you right?' Tamamo replied mentally.
'...' Sasuke sweatdropped.
Iruka pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just… begin the match."
Hinata moved first—hesitant, but faster than Tamamo expected. A quick jab aimed for her shoulder. Tamamo swayed back, brushing it aside with ease.
"Nice try. Try again."
Another strike. Tamamo caught the wrist and gently pushed it away.
"You've got speed. Use it."
Hinata took a deep breath. Third strike—stronger. She aimed low this time, for Tamamo's ribs. Tamamo turned and blocked with her elbow.
"You're getting braver," she murmured.
She wasn't mocking. She meant it.
Then Hinata feinted high and went low again. A sweep.
Tamamo jumped it.
'Okay,' she thought. 'She's improving mid-fight. Good girl.'
The next exchange was smoother. Hinata kept moving. Tamamo didn't attack—just guided, testing her responses.
Then, when the timing was right, Tamamo stepped inside Hinata's guard and swept her feet with a twist of her hip.
Hinata landed gently, breath whooshing out, but not hurt.
"Point—Tamamo Uchiha," Iruka said.
Tamamo offered her a hand. "That was awesome."
Hinata hesitated, then took it.
"I still lost…"
"You improved with every step. That's not a loss."
As they walked back, Tamamo threw an arm around Hinata's shoulder, making her blush.
"Reminder that you're officially mine now. I'll be training you in secret arts. Step one: Confidence. Step two: Eyebrow control. Step three: Scaring people without blinking."
Hinata giggled.
"I don't know how to do that."
"Perfect. I'll teach you."
Hinata watched as Tamamo jogged back to her brother, sleeves slightly crooked from the match, rice ball already half-unwrapped like it was part of a sacred post-battle ritual.
She smiled to herself, soft and small.
'It might be nice… to have a friend.'
Not someone who stared or whispered. Not someone who called her weird for stammering or too quiet to bother with. Just someone who said, try, and meant it.
And for the first time in a long time, Hinata didn't feel like folding in on herself.
--
Iruka's Internal Notes
Tamamo Uchiha: Quick reactions. Understated control. Chose not to dominate the match. Showed empathy, restraint, and encouragement. Rare traits — especially for an Uchiha. Watch this one closely.
--
Under the usual tree, Tamamo unwrapped her lunch like a queen preparing for court.
Then a soft presence joined her.
Hinata.
She didn't speak at first. Just opened her own lunch and sat beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Tamamo smirked. "Well, well. Look who followed me to my sacred lunch spot."
Hinata smiled shyly. Cheeks red. "You really meant it… about being friends?"
Tamamo nodded. "I meant it the moment I decided to destroy those rumors with facts and affection."
"Rumors?"
"Don't worry about it."
Hinata's smile widened. "Tha... Thank you."
"You're welcome, Bestie."
She didn't say it like a joke. And Hinata didn't hear it like one.
Across the courtyard, Sasuke passed by with Naruto, Shikamaru, Kiba, and the rest of their usual chaos squad trailing behind him like mismatched ducklings.
He looked at Tamamo. Then at Hinata beside her, chatting softly. Then at the base of the tree where Tamamo used to sit alone for the past week, pretending she preferred it that way.
Tamamo raised her rice ball like a banner.
Sasuke nodded once, subtle. The corners of his mouth twitched.
Naruto froze mid-step. "Wait a second… did Tamamo just make a friend?"
Kiba leaned closer like he was spotting a rare animal. "Oh man. She did. She actually did."
Shikamaru didn't even lift his head. "This is how it starts."
"Starts?" Naruto echoed.
Shikamaru sighed. "Tamamo gets a friend. Then she gets influence. Next thing you know, she's forming a lunch cult."
Kiba backed up a step. "Should we be scared?"
Shikamaru stared at the tree. "Absolutely."
Naruto looked shaken. "She's spreading."
They all watched as Tamamo broke off part of her rice ball and offered it to Hinata like a benevolent queen.
Kiba whispered, "It's already too late."
Bonus Scene: After The Academy
The door slid open.
Tamamo marched in proudly. "Mother! I bring home a Hyuga!"
Hinata trailed behind her, red-cheeked and trying not to trip over her own feet.
Sasuke followed, shrugging off his sandals. "She adopted her before their spar. It was weirdly effective."
Mikoto looked up from the kitchen, curious. "Oh?"
Tamamo gestured grandly. "This is Hinata. She's my new best friend, legally bound by rice ball."
Hinata bowed. "G-Good afternoon, Mikoto-sama…"
Mikoto's face softened instantly. "Oh my, so polite. Come in, sweetheart."
As Tamamo dragged Hinata to the table like a goblin hoarding treasure, Sasuke quietly sat nearby. He didn't say anything at first—just watched Hinata quietly accept the tea, answer Mikoto's questions with soft-spoken grace, and offer Tamamo her last dumpling without hesitation.
No screaming. No grabbing. No declarations of eternal love.
Just peace and food.
It was… nice.
Sasuke blinked.
'I don't hate this,' he thought, mildly surprised.
Tamamo raised an eyebrow across the table.
He met her gaze, deadpan. 'Say nothing.'
She smirked but didn't push it. Not today.