The clone didn't react, but Kaina's eyes narrowed slightly. She wasn't buying the vague answers, but she also knew pushing too hard would only make him shut down more.
"Alright, fine," she said, relenting for now. "But if you're here, you might as well make the most of it. You don't have to be so... closed off all the time."
The clone nodded, its expression softening just a fraction. "I'll keep that in mind."
Kaina sighed, clearly frustrated but trying to stay patient. "You're impossible, you know that?"
The clone didn't respond, its gaze drifting back to the ground. The group's conversation shifted to lighter topics, but Kaina kept glancing at the clone, her curiosity far from satisfied.
She wasn't sure why, but something about Eichi bothered her—not in a bad way, but in a way that made her want to figure him out. And she wasn't going to stop trying anytime soon.
Meanwhile, the clone remained silent, its mind working quietly. It had given just enough to satisfy Kaina for now, but it knew she wasn't the type to let things go.
For the moment, though, it had done its job. It had gathered what it needed, and the real Eichi was already elsewhere, moving forward with his plans. The clone would dissolve soon, its purpose fulfilled—but for now, it played its part, blending in just enough to avoid suspicion.
As Eichi sat in class, bored out of his mind, he half-listened to the teacher drone on about the history of Quirks.
The so-called "Quirks," which he knew were nothing more than a mutated form of chakra, had appeared a few hundred years ago, quickly spreading through the newer generations of this world.
With their emergence came chaos, as such power was never exempt from human greed. Eichi's own clan, the Uzumaki, had been victims of that same greed.
The Uzumaki clan had once been known for their mastery of Kenjutsu and Fuinjutsu, long before the founding of the shinobi villages.
They were isolationists, thriving in relative peace during the Warring States period while their cousins, the Senju, were embroiled in constant conflict.
This isolation allowed the Uzumaki to grow in size and strength, their expertise in sealing techniques and swordsmanship unmatched.
But after the shinobi villages were established, wars escalated from local skirmishes to continental conflicts, and the Uzumaki were inevitably dragged into the First Shinobi World War.
Despite their prowess in Fuinjutsu and Kenjutsu—both devastating in their own right—the Uzumaki were not invincible.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, who had extensive knowledge of Uzumaki seals, created jutsu that defied the laws of the universe: Edo Tensei, Flying Raijin, the Eight Trigrams Seal, and more.
These techniques showcased the terrifying potential of Fuinjutsu, and the world took notice. Fear of such power turned into greed, and soon, the Uzumaki became targets.
Combined efforts from multiple nations led to the near annihilation of the clan, their knowledge and techniques sought after by those who wished to wield such power for themselves.
Eichi's lips curled into a faint, bitter smirk as he thought about it. The parallels between his world and this one were impossible to ignore. Here, Quirks had become a source of both power and division, much like chakra in his own world.
The teacher mentioned that 80% of the population was Quirkless, but Eichi doubted that meant they lacked chakra entirely.
For a mutation like a Quirk to occur, chakra had to exist in the first place. It was likely that the Quirkless simply hadn't unlocked or developed their chakra in a way that manifested as a Quirk.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Eichi stood up, his expression unreadable. He was about to head outside when the teacher's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"For those who don't have hero costumes yet, please go to the Development Studio and inform them of your preferences. After that, meet me at the P.E. grounds. Thank you, everyone."
Eichi sighed inwardly, already regretting not paying more attention to Kaina's endless chatter when she had been "guiding" him earlier. Of course, he'd tuned her out—her enthusiasm was exhausting—but now he was paying the price for it.
He made his way to the door, already mentally drafting a map of the school in his head. Not having one already was a major oversight, and he wasn't about to let that slide.
Just as he stepped into the hallway, he saw her—Kaina, with her bright purple hair and that blinding smile plastered across her face.
She was leaning casually against the wall, as if she'd been waiting for him. Upon seeing her, Eichi barely managed to suppress another sigh.
She was, without a doubt, an irritating individual—always so cheerful, so talkative, so...much. But as much as he hated to admit it, he needed her right now. She knew her way around this place, and he didn't have the patience to wander aimlessly.
And didn't she have class a minute ago on the other end of the building? How did she get here so fast? Was her Quirk teleportation or something? Did she somehow know the Shunshin no Jutsu? The thought made him narrow his eyes slightly, though his expression remained otherwise neutral.
"Eichi!" she called out, waving enthusiastically. "I heard you need to go to the Development Studio. Lucky for you, I was just heading that way myself. Come on, I'll show you!"
Eichi tilted his head, his tone dry and his expression unchanging. "Do you have my timetable or something? You stalking me?"
Kaina blinked, her smile faltering for just a moment before she laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "What? No! I'm notstalkingyou.
That's creepy! I just happened to overhear the teacher talking about it earlier. Plus, I'm kind of the class rep, so I make it my business to know what's going on. You know, helping people and all that."
Eichi raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Class rep, huh? So you're the designated busybody."
Kaina pouted, crossing her arms. "Hey, that's not fair! I'm just trying to be helpful. You're new here, and I figured you could use a guide. But if you'd rather wander around lost, be my guest."