The week passed quickly.
Children selected from various villages were gradually sent to Konoha. Under Kawakaze's arrangents, the Academy had prepared dormitories, waiting only for everyone to arrive before officially beginning classes.
On this day, the children from Kirigakure finally arrived. They were among the later groups, with only a few students still yet to co.
"So this is Konoha?"
"It doesn't seem all that different from our village, does it?"
i followed behind a Konoha ninja, glancing around at her new surroundings as they made their way to the Academy. Though her words carried indifference, the occasional gleam in her eyes betrayed the excitent she tried to suppress.
"It's just a village. How different could it really be?"
"Ahem—"
The boy beside her coughed mid-sentence, unable to hold it back. Looking closely, his pale face bore an unhealthy pallor, with two red dots between his brows.
"Rinnosuke, are you okay?"
i's expression tightened instantly, and she patted him lightly on the back. Though they hadn't been close before, in this unfamiliar environnt, she naturally felt a sense of kinship with a fellow villager.
"I'm fine. It's an old problem."
One could only imagine how shocked the Konoha ninja was to hear the phrase "old problem" from an eight-year-old boy.
"I didn't want to co here in the first place."
"But my father said that if there was anywhere that could cure ..."
"Then it would be Konoha."
Rinnosuke Kaguya wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, completely devoid of the innocence a child his age should have.
Ever since awakening his Shikotsumyaku, his health had only worsened. While other children ran and played, he was already worrying about whether he'd live to see the next sunrise. No one knew how he had endured all these years.
"It's true that Konoha has the strongest dical-nin in the entire ninja world—more than just one, even."
"But you got one thing wrong."
"This isn't about whether we wanted to co or not."
"We had no choice."
i understood all too well—no village could refuse Konoha's orders anymore.
"It doesn't matter."
"Since I'm already here, I've prepared myself to die here."
To Rinnosuke, Konoha was nothing more than his last hope. He had no interest in the Academy, nor in anything else here. From the mont he set foot on this journey, his goal had never changed.
To survive.
"You'll be fine. You will get better."
i couldn't truly understand his pain, so all she could do was repeat words she wasn't even sure she believed.
"Let's hope so."
Rinnosuke glanced at the Academy in the distance, the corners of his lips finally curving into a faint smile.
"We're almost there."
"I'll take you to your dormitory first."
The Konoha ninja's gaze lingered on Rinnosuke for a few monts, but in the end, he said nothing. He had faith in Tsunade and Orochimaru's abilities, yet he couldn't bring himself to offer the boy any reassurances.
After all, he was just a guide—soone insignificant.
"Thank you."
Both i and Rinnosuke spoke at the sa ti, quietly following behind the Konoha ninja.
...
Three days later, all the children had finally arrived.
Konoha had also selected ten children from the Uchiha, Hyūga, and Minazuki clans.
As the thirty students sat silently in the classroom, the instructor for their first lesson entered.
"It's him?"
"Is he really going to teach us personally?"
While the children from other villages whispered among themselves, the Konoha children were already beaming with excitent.
Before the teacher even spoke, everyone had already recognized him.
"Judging by your expressions, I assu you all know who I am."
"I'm honored to be your instructor for this first lesson. My na is Kawakaze Hatake."
Kawakaze stepped forward with a friendly introduction, his gaze subtly scanning the students, taking note of Rinnosuke's condition.
This kid was definitely sick—and not just a little.
Without dwelling on it, Kawakaze continued,
"Although you all co from different places, starting today, you share the sa identity."
"You are now students of Konoha's Ninja Academy."
"In the coming years, you will study and live here."
"You will make new friends and learn new ninjutsu."
"And today, each of you will receive a Konoha forehead protector."
At his signal, soone carried in a box filled with forehead protectors.
The first step in this lesson was to give these children a sense of belonging—to ease them into accepting their new identity.
As for the usual rule that only Genin receive forehead protectors, in this class, it didn't matter.
After all, the prodigies from each village were already at least Genin-level.
"Co up and take one yourselves."
At Kawakaze's command, the Konoha children moved first.
The others hesitated, glancing at one another, before soone finally stepped forward.
They hadn't even been given a choice about coming to Konoha in the first place—so what choice did they have now?
"Good."
"From this mont on, you are all part of Konoha."
"I hope you will learn to get along with each other in the days ahead."
"And when your training is complete, whether you choose to stay or leave will be entirely up to you."
Kawakaze had no doubt that in a few years, these children would beco exactly what Konoha wanted them to be.
"Really?"
"Of course."
"I, Kawakaze Hatake, always keep my word."
He remained as calm and composed as ever, his warm smile unwavering despite the skepticism.
"Alright, let's begin the lesson."
With the most important step completed, Kawakaze picked up the textbook and began instilling new ideals into the students.
"I'm sure you're all aware of this by now."
"With the war over, the ninja world no longer has enemies."
"As ninjas, we will no longer serve as weapons of war."
"From now on, our strength will be used to combat criminals and protect the people."
"So that everyone in the ninja world can live in a safe and peaceful society."
"Ninjas will step forward—not as re tools of the powerful, but as protectors of peace."
"Do you understand what this ans?"
"It ans that a new era of shinobi is about to be born."
"And you are the first of this new generation."
Kawakaze t the gaze of each child for a mont.
He could see both confusion and excitent.
Dreams were always the most precious thing.
For these children, the idea of forging a new era was overwhelming—almost too grand to grasp.
"Don't doubt yourselves. You are capable of achieving this."
"I gathered you here because you are exceptional."
"Each of you is a one-in-a-thousand talent."
"And in this new era, you will shine the brightest."
...
As Kawakaze continued, the children grew captivated.
By the end of the lesson, most of them were staring at him with admiration.
This was the power of a persuasive speaker.
Unfortunately, he had only scratched the surface—otherwise, these kids might have sworn their loyalty on the spot.
Moistening his dry lips, Kawakaze stepped out of the classroom, feeling more exhausted than if he'd just fought a battle.
But this was his own doing, and he had no choice but to push through.
Just as he was about to leave, sothing crossed his mind.
Turning back to the classroom door, he gestured for Rinnosuke to co over.
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