Chapter 3: Young Love Ruins Everything...
Konoha Year 42, the first day of April. The Ninja Academy officially opened its doors.
At the entrance ceremony, the chunin teachers who would be guiding students over the coming years each stepped forward to say a few words. The Third Hokage also made a timely appearance before the assembled crowd.
"...Lord Third Hokage holds the title of 'The Professor' and stands at the very pinnacle of the shinobi world today!"
"..."
Chunin teacher Kimura Ryosuke's eyes lit up as he said it, chest swelling with pride as his voice climbed.
"Whoa!"
The first-year students seated in rows on the rooftop craned their necks upward in unison. Framed against the massive stone faces of the Hokage Monument behind him, the Third Hokage radiated the unmistakable presence of someone truly powerful.
"All right, Ryosuke, 'pinnacle' might be pushing it a little."
"Where leaves dance, the fire burns eternal. The future belongs to these young ones."
"Sir!"
The assembled chunin teachers responded in crisp unison. The Third Hokage gave a satisfied nod, then lifted the Hokage hat from his head and smiled warmly at the crowd before introducing himself:
"I am the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi..."
"..."
As the Hokage launched into his address, a few sharp-eyed students shifted their attention to Sarutobi Asuma nearby. The Hokage's son, a big deal in most people's eyes.
Apparently sensing the stares, Asuma clicked his tongue softly and looked away, deliberately avoiding his father at the front of the crowd. Not a trace of admiration on his face.
His little act of rebellion caught the attention of Yūhi Kurenai beside him. Sensing the girl's eyes on him, Asuma instinctively played it cool and muttered:
"Just an old man too busy with work to be there for his family."
By the time the address wrapped up, Furukawa Osamu was clapping and cheering along with the rest. The Academy curriculum included history and something close to civics, and the Will of Fire was something they started planting early.
Under their homeroom teacher's direction, the students filed back toward their classrooms, chatting and laughing along the way.
Next up was self-introductions. Most of the students could barely contain their excitement about what Academy life had in store.
"I heard they allow early graduation. We can start on advanced coursework ahead of schedule!"
Ebisu said this while glancing at Kakashi and Furukawa Osamu walking ahead of him. He was genuinely looking forward to watching geniuses rise.
"I'm going to finish the whole program within three years and become a proper ninja!"
Before either of them could respond, Might Guy's eyes went wide and he thrust his fist into the air with that declaration. Snickering broke out almost immediately.
Kids that age judge by appearances, and Guy's clothes were slightly wrinkled hand-me-downs that made him look anything but impressive. On top of that, more than a few of them already knew his father was a permanent genin.
"Hey, Osamu, want to see who graduates early? I'm thinking ninjutsu, taijutsu, personal coursework, none of it should be a problem. Team and tactics classes are really the only thing left. Six months, tops, and I'll have my headband."
Kakashi strolled toward the classroom with his hands in his pockets, keeping his voice low as he casually laid out his capabilities to Furukawa Osamu beside him. Most kids their age couldn't keep up with him, and he knew it.
"Maybe another time, Kakashi. I'm planning to study medical ninjutsu. Just the reading alone is going to be a headache."
Furukawa Osamu gave a slight shake of his head and smiled, clapping the silver-haired boy on the shoulder. What came out next was entirely natural, carrying the quiet weight of the Will of Fire without him even trying:
"It's different from playing ninja games. Saving more of your teammates on a real mission takes proper medical ninjutsu. I'll keep you all in one piece."
Kakashi turned away with a huff the moment the words left Osamu's mouth. Shiranui Genma and the boys around them immediately started making noise:
"That's Osamu for you, dependable as ever!"
"I really hope we end up on the same team after graduation..."
"Osamu's just built different!"
....
In the hallway, the Third Hokage watched the students file into their classroom. He had clearly caught the exchange. He reached up and adjusted his hat, and a satisfied smile crossed his face.
The address had gone well. The seed of the Will of Fire had been planted.
* * *
At the front of the tiered classroom, in a window seat in the first row, Furukawa Osamu settled in after his own self-introduction, which had doubled as another quiet declaration of the Will of Fire.
Having a mature soul made fitting in straightforward enough. Listening was usually all it took. When a familiar name from his memories came up, he turned to look:
"My name is Nohara Rin. I like strawberries. My dream is to become a great kunoichi someday."
Pink top, short brown hair, dark reddish-brown eyes, two purple markings on her cheeks. The girl introduced herself with easy confidence. The classroom filled with murmurs of appreciation.
After her, the square-jawed Morino Ibiki stumbled through his introduction looking thoroughly nervous. Inuzuka Hana stared wide-eyed at the room like she was about to write a whole essay about it.
Kakashi's introduction was so offhand it rubbed most people the wrong way. Might Guy's passionate declaration went completely ignored.
The girl sitting beside Osamu, Shizune, noticed he seemed to be reading notes on medical knowledge. She worked up her nerve and asked quietly:
"Furukawa-kun, are you planning to join the medical track?"
"I am. We can head over to sign up together this afternoon if you'd like."
Furukawa Osamu smiled and answered right away. Shizune's face brightened instantly and she gave an eager nod, then kept stealing sideways glances at him, working up the nerve to say something else but not quite getting there.
Once the last student had introduced themselves, homeroom teacher Kimura Ryosuke frowned slightly and swept the room with his eyes before calling out:
"Uchiha Obito?"
Confirming the absence, Kimura Ryosuke said nothing more about it and moved on, encouraging the class before going over the week's schedule and handing out registration forms.
Obito was an orphan and hadn't received much attention from within the Uchiha clan. Kimura Ryosuke was just about to assign someone to bring Obito his form when a student spoke up on their own:
"Sensei, I'll take Obito's registration form!"
"That'd be a big help. And remind him not to be late again."
Kimura Ryosuke was pleased with Nohara Rin's initiative and sent her off with a smile. The Uchiha clan lived far from the Academy, so the occasional tardiness was understandable.
Rin took the envelope with a cheerful nod. More than a few boys in the room looked distinctly jealous.
* * *
The welcome banner at the school gates was just being taken down when a boy in goggles came sprinting toward the entrance at full speed:
"No no no no no!"
"I absolutely cannot be late today..."
Uchiha Obito arrived drenched in sweat. The moment he saw the entrance ceremony banner coming down, he knew exactly what he'd missed, and he ground to a miserable halt right where he stood.
His mood only sank further as students began spilling out through the gates, laughing and talking.
A few of them recognized the Uchiha clan member from their class, but jealousy won out over friendliness, and most of them walked past without a word.
"Late to your own entrance ceremony. Someone like that has no business being at this Academy. You've already washed out."
Kakashi, who had crossed paths with Obito while gathering intel before enrollment, stopped walking and delivered that verdict without even turning around, finishing it off with a dismissive shrug.
"It's okay!"
"I picked up your registration form for you. Fill it out and you're all set."
Nohara Rin's bright voice cut through the moment. She stepped forward holding the envelope out in both hands. Obito, who had been about to fire back at Kakashi, spun around fast, took one look at the girl's smiling face, and completely fell apart:
"T-that's mine? Thank you so much!"
Furukawa Osamu had turned back to call for Kakashi when he caught the whole scene. He watched the boy press his hands together, his face going redder by the second, and could only think to himself:
Young love really does ruin people.