Compared to the chaos raging outside, life in Kirigakure hadn't changed much.
Those who needed to train at the Ninja Duel Tower still went to the tower, and those who sold goods at the stalls still sold their goods.
The Ninja Academy was the same.
Under the dominance of Yuki Yoru, even with war breaking out, even with Kirigakure's population still scarce despite their efforts to have more children, the village would never send children to die on the battlefield.
Of course, with the current military strength in Kirigakure, they didn't need to use little kids anyway. (Well, even though Konoha during the Third Great Ninja War didn't really need to either… they still did it~)
The midday sun dispelled the foggy coldness on the training ground. A group of seven or eight-year-old kids were quietly listening to their Chūnin teacher's lecture.
"Today, we have three new transfer students joining us. Because of this, the combat test matchups announced yesterday will be rearranged."
"The sixth-grade midterm combat test: first match, Kaguya Kimimaro versus… Uzumaki Naruto!"
Unlike Konoha's teachers, Kirigakure's didn't waste time with long speeches. After announcing the transfers, the teacher directly read the roster and announced the first match.
Instantly, the students tensed up. All eyes turned to the corner, where a silent, expressionless Kimimaro sat.
"Who is Naruto Uzumaki? He's fighting Kimimaro. How unlucky."
"Isn't he the son of the Fifth Hokage?"
"Pfft, Hokage or not, he's no match for Kimimaro-sama. Besides Uchiha Hikari, who else in the whole school can compete with Kimimaro-sama?"
"Transferring in just to get beaten up… tough luck."
The students whispered among themselves as Kimimaro walked expressionlessly to the center of the training ground.
If not for the Fourth Mizukage's orders, he wouldn't even bother attending classes anymore—his strength had already long surpassed that of a mere "student." Even among Kirigakure's elite shinobi, only a handful could stand on equal ground with him.
The only real rival he had in the Academy was another boy: Uchiha Hikari.
Whether in strength or in status, that Uchiha was the only one close to him, and the one he usually fought during tests.
But strangely, today the teacher had switched his opponent.
To… this boy.
Kimimaro's gaze fell on the blond-haired Naruto.
"The Fifth Hokage's kid is going to get beaten up? Hey, Sasuke, they said you're going to get beaten up, eh? ε=(ο｀*)))唉~"
Naruto said with a grin, nudging the Sasuke next to him with his elbow.
"You idiot, the teacher called you!"
"Eh?!"
Only then did Naruto realize. But instead of being worried about fighting in this completely unfamiliar place, he jumped out confidently and shouted at the class:
"Oi! What're you all whispering about, getting beat up this, getting beat up that? I'll have you know, this great Naruto is super strong! Got it?!"
He then turned to Kimimaro, pointing at himself with his thumb.
"I'm really strong! You better watch out!"
"…Begin."
Kimimaro didn't waste words. Even without using his Quincy powers, just his kekkei genkai alone made him far beyond ordinary shinobi.
"Arrogant jerk—just as full of himself as Sasuke!" Naruto's little face twisted into a pout as he clenched his fists.
But before he could say more, the chūnin instructor had already stepped between the two, calling out:
"Both sides, prepare!"
Naruto's face carried a confident grin.
He pulled a kunai from the pouch at his waist, ready to show off his skills and make a name for himself in Kirigakure.
Kimimaro, however, stood completely still, utterly indifferent.
"Begin!"
With the teacher's command,, Naruto shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, charging straight at Kimimaro. Yet Kimimaro remained rooted in place, not moving an inch.
That attitude only fueled Naruto's annoyance. Back in the Konoha Academy, he was one of the strongest in practical combat class—second only to Hinata. Even that arrogant Sasuke couldn't beat him.
But now, on his very first day at this new school, he was being looked down on like this.
"Leaf Whirlwind—ahhh!"
Before Naruto could even unleash his Konoha-style taijutsu, Kimimaro's clean and crisp flying kick landed directly on a chakra point in Naruto's lower abdomen.
In an instant, Naruto's smooth chakra flow froze, his body flew backward, and he collapsed limply onto the ground, completely unable to fight.
Instant kill!
"H-How is this possible!" Sasuke's eyes widened. Even his Sharingan couldn't help but activate. The two-tomoe was clearly visible in his eyes.
He knew Naruto's strength very well. What shocked him even more was that Kimimaro's taijutsu just now carried hints of Gentle Fist.
Because of Fugaku's shameless persistence, Naruto and Sasuke had often visited the Hyūga compound together, training alongside Hinata. During those times, Sasuke had been especially impressed by the Hyūga clan's Gentle Fist. He'd even tried several times to replicate it with his Sharingan.
But the Sharingan wasn't the Byakugan. Without the ability to see chakra points, his imitation Gentle Fist was all form with no substance—completely useless in real battle.
Yet Kimimaro…
Forget the Byakugan—how could a boy from the Kaguya clan of Kirigakure possibly use Gentle Fist?!
"The winner of the first match: Kaguya Kimimaro!"
Kimimaro walked down with an expressionless face. The students around him seemed to have long been accustomed to this. They just laughed at Naruto Uzumaki but didn't say much else.
The reason was simple: if they had been up there, the outcome would have been exactly the same.
In the entire Academy, besides that one from the Uchiha clan, no one was a match for Kimimaro in a single blow.
After walking off the field, Kimimaro walked toward where Sasuke Uchiha was. This made Sasuke freeze. He subconsciously said: "Hey, you..."
"Hinata-sama. It has been a while."
Passing Sasuke without pause, Kimimaro lowered his head respectfully before the quiet, white-eyed girl standing nearby. His voice softened.
"I didn't expect that you would transfer here as well."
"This was the Hokage's decision, and my father also thought it would be more convenient to be able to receive guidance from the teacher." Hinata bowed slightly in return and said: "Kimimaro-sama is as excellent as ever."
"Hinata-sama, you flatter me. You are the true jewel."
Kimimaro's face showed a trace of embarrassment. "And please don't call me with such honorifics. Just Kimimaro will do, Hinata-sama."
"Please don't be modest, Kimimaro. You are the genius acknowledged by the teacher and have taken over the Kaguya clan."
Hinata's tone was gentle, which made Sasuke next to her a little dumbfounded. He obviously didn't expect the two to not only know each other but also be so familiar.
But after thinking about it, Sasuke suddenly remembered something his father had mentioned. The Hyūga clan and Kirigakure's Kaguya clan seemed to be relatives...
That would explain why Kimimaro could use Gentle Fist.
…Or no, it didn't! How could someone without the Byakugan ever pull off the Gentle Fist?!
"The second match of the sixth-year midterm combat test: Uchiha Sasuke versus—"
The teacher's voice cut off Sasuke's spiraling thoughts.
With no time to dwell further, Sasuke cast a deep look at his new "rival" Kimimaro before leaping gracefully into the center of the field.
The son of the Hokage, the Uchiha clan's second heir, stood with his hands tucked in his pockets.
Cool and aloof, Sasuke's eyes gleamed as the double-tomoe Sharingan spun quietly within them, clearly visible to all.
The face Naruto lost… I, Uchiha Sasuke, will take back!
Just with these eyes—
…Huh?!
Suddenly, his smug expression froze. Because among the crowd, Sasuke saw other Sharingan.
And not just one pair.
Yes—those eyes, which should have belonged exclusively to the Uchiha clan, were now staring back at him from within Kirigakure's academy. No fewer than three pairs looked straight at him, without fear, meeting his gaze head-on.
Two with single tomoe. One with double tomoe.
Sharingan locked with Sharingan, their gazes clashing midair. The proud Uchiha heir's eyes widened, disbelief spreading across his face.
Not to mention that at this stage, the Uchiha clan had been almost completely slaughtered by that guy Obito, and there were barely any old people, women, or children left. Even in the original Uchiha clan, no one had awakened their Sharingan at the same age as him.
What was going on with these guys, and with this place?!
"The situation with the Uchiha clan is… complicated. If you want to know more, after today ends, I can take you to the Duel Tower library to read about it."
A calm, almost gentle voice reached him. A girl stepped forward to stand across from Sasuke.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"…You are?" Sasuke stared at her blankly.
"The second match of the sixth-year midterm combat test: Uchiha Sasuke versus Uchiha Hikari!" the instructor announced.
Uchiha Hikari?!
Since when did the Uchiha clan have a person named Hikari Uchiha?!
What the hell was going on?!
The usually intelligent Sasuke clearly felt that his brain wasn't working well enough today, but he also knew that this wasn't the time to think about these things.
It didn't matter why other Uchiha were here. It didn't matter how many there were. He was the son of the clan head. It was his duty to face this!
"Come on!" Sasuke Uchiha took a deep breath. He stared at Hikari with his two-tomoe Sharingan: "Since we're from the same clan, let's let these eyes do the talking!"
"Oh?"
Hikari Uchiha smiled calmly and didn't say anything more. She just looked at Sasuke peacefully. Then, without him moving, she walked in front of him and placed a kunai on Sasuke's neck.
"Again…"
"Hikari-sama is so amazing."
"Of course—she's the Academy's top student, personally chosen by the Mizukage!"
The other students below hardly looked surprised. They'd seen this happen countless times. The chūnin instructor only sighed, glancing helplessly at Hikari.
Honestly, today was mild compared to usual. Normally, Hikari didn't even bother speaking—her opponents often collapsed into self-inflicted defeat without her lifting a finger. Only when she was bored did she spar with Kimimaro to compare taijutsu.
"The winner of the second match: Uchiha Hikari!"
The teacher's announcement snapped Sasuke out of his daze.
He looked around blankly, utterly bewildered.
What… what is happening here?
"Idiot Sasuke! That Uchiha Hikari used genjutsu on you!" Naruto's loud voice jolted him further.
Right, he was fighting against Hikari Uchiha!
Then... then he saw a pair of...
Three-tomoe Sharingan?!
How was this possible! That girl had a three-tomoe Sharingan?!
Sasuke was about to break down. He stared at Hikari Uchiha with eyes full of disbelief.
After all—his brother, the clan's number one genius Uchiha Itachi, had awakened the three-tomoe at age eight. That record had stood as the youngest in Uchiha history.
But this girl...
Sasuke clenched his fists tightly, his two-tomoe Sharingan locked on Hikari as if the tomoe inside his eyes might gain a third at any moment.
"The situation of the Uchiha clan is complicated. If you want to know more, once today is over, I can take you to the Duel Tower's library to read the records."
Hikari's words still echoed in his mind.
Taking two deep breaths, Sasuke finally stepped down from the field. Yet his gaze never once left Uchiha Hikari—not even to glance at Naruto, his so-called best friend.
This, of course, left Naruto pouting with jealousy.
"The third match of the sixth-grade midterm combat test: Hyūga Hinata versus Hōzuki Suigetsu!"
…
Meanwhile, far from the Academy, the situation outside Kirigakure was spiraling into chaos.
Inside the Mizukage's office, Terumī Mei rubbed her temples wearily after finishing the latest stack of battlefield reports. She cast a helpless look at the man standing at the window, watching over the village below.
"You're remarkably calm, considering the world outside is tearing itself apart," she said.
Yuki Yoru did not turn, his eyes still gazing down at the village like a man surveying a board of pieces.
"Something has happened in Kumogakure. The Fourth Raikage has probably already been controlled by that guy. The whereabouts of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails have also been exposed. That guy will probably come knocking on the door soon."
"And is that supposed to be a problem?" Yoru's smile was light, his eyes narrowing faintly. "Or do you doubt Shisui's strength?"
"It's not that I…" Mei faltered, pressing a hand to her forehead before sighing in exasperation.
"You do understand Uchiha Shisui's situation, don't you? If he joins forces with Uchiha Obito, the fallout could be disastrous. Even if you have the power and confidence to resolve everything, sitting idly while this unfolds… what if things spin out of control?"
"Mei, you already know my goal."
Yoru finally turned slightly, his voice calm but firm.
"Obito. Shisui. They are nothing more than players in our ongoing game. On this board, which is already on the verge of all-out war, their only true purpose is to pressure the other side further."
"I don't know what that guy in the Pure Land is planning, but I've already prepared to face him."
Yoru said calmly. Under Mei Terumī's stunned gaze, the blue light in Yoru's eyes had already begun to change into a deep, mysterious black light.
"So, in this game of kings against kings, I will not lose, and there will be no such thing as a slip-up."