Without a single word of reminder from Aburame Shibi, Aburame Shiki had already decided to make more friends. More precisely, he planned to rack up a few more achievements along the way.
After Shibi left, Shiki and Shino entered the Ninja Academy. The building was alive with activity—students, parents, and teachers bustling about, a scene of thriving energy and excitement.
Shiki suddenly stopped in his tracks. Shino, a couple of steps ahead, turned back in mild confusion. Following Shiki's gaze, he spotted a blonde-haired boy standing alone in the corner. There was an ineffable loneliness about him.
"That's Uzumaki Naruto," Shino said without hesitation.
While most of Konoha's villagers treated Naruto like a monster, the Aburame clan—especially Shibi, who had once been Minato Namikaze's teammate—knew better. He had corrected Shiki privately, though out of respect for the Third Hokage's orders, the boy's true identity remained undisclosed.
"His eyes… they hide a lion," Shiki's mind whispered suddenly.
A compliment.
Naruto looked dejected, yet his eyes burned with an intense, undeniable emotion. In the original story, he managed to earn the recognition of everyone in Konoha, a feat that, in some sense, bordered on terrifying obsession. Most ordinary people would have snapped under such treatment, gone rogue or dark.
Of course, perhaps it was the influence of the Asura chakra.
[Uzumaki Naruto.][Current Achievement: Newly Made Friend.][Passive Achievement: Unknown.]
As Shiki studied him, Naruto lifted his head.
He was sensitive to such attention, able even to sense malice in some cases. But this time… there was none.
Nearby, two more boys stood in similar attire.
The one in front was striking, handsome, and exuded a quiet composure. The one behind blended almost seamlessly into the crowd.
Naruto scratched the back of his head.
…They're not afraid of me?
He had technically already enrolled in the Academy, yet none of his classmates liked him. So, under the Third Hokage's guidance, he was starting over this year.
While lost in thought, he saw the front boy walking toward him.
Naruto froze. His initial curiosity twisted into unease.
Doesn't he know I'm a freak?
"I'm Aburame Shiki," Shiki said, standing before him. "Want to be friends?"
Having read the original story inside and out, Shiki knew there was no need for pretense—straightforwardness worked best. Of course, if the boy were an Uchiha, Shiki would've kept his distance. He had no interest in being watched by two perverted old men. But the Aburame clan, loyal through and through, prioritized trust and dedication above all.
"Huh?"
Naruto's eyes went wide, darting around nervously. "Y-you… you mean me?"
"You." Shiki nodded calmly.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"
Naruto hesitated a moment, then his expression lit up with excitement. "Nice to meet you!"
[Achievement Unlocked: Uzumaki Naruto – Newly Made Friend.][Reward: Copper-Skin Gu.][Copper-Skin Gu: A first-rank Gu insect that enhances the user's skin defense, allowing them to take greater damage.]
Lightning-fast achievement acquisition.
Shiki hadn't expected it to be this simple.
Moonlight Gu and Copper-Skin Gu—a classic duo: one offense, one defense. And, aside from a few exceptions, most ninjas were fragile. No matter how strong, a kunai through the chest could still kill you.
It wasn't surprising that Shimura Danzo once used kunai against Susanoo.
[Uzumaki Naruto.][Current Achievement: Dominate the Ninja Academy.][Passive Achievement: Unknown.]
Shiki blinked slightly at Naruto's newly triggered achievement.
Well… that could be tricky.
Everyone knew Naruto was the Academy's class bottom, often failing in the original story, even forced to steal the Sealing Scroll. But challenges were meant to be faced, and achievements depended on difficulty.
"Let's head to class."
Shiki shook off his thoughts and spoke.
"O…okay!"
Naruto still seemed dazed. Did I really just make my first friend this easily?
Third Grandpa, you never lie!
On the left side, on the second floor of the classroom building, two figures were quietly observing.
"Shikaku, who's that?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe and asked.
"Aburame Shiki," Shikaku replied. He had been escorting his own son, Shikamaru, to school, only to bump into the Third Hokage.
"Ah, that's him." Hiruzen thought for a moment. "Shibi's son, right?"
He hadn't met Shiki before, but he'd heard of his medical genius. A promising child indeed.
Tsunade's role was obvious—but ever since she developed hemophobia, she could hardly serve as a medical ninja. Now, there was new potential.
Add a bit of the Will of Fire and a strong friendship with Naruto, and Shiki might one day become a cornerstone of Konoha.
Provided, of course, Tsunade agreed to take him as a student.
Shiki and the other two entered the classroom.
Naruto felt his chest tighten.
Nothing was scarier than sudden silence.
All eyes turned toward him, whispers spreading like wildfire.
Naruto instinctively looked at his two new friends, worried their attitude would change.
It didn't.
The two remained utterly calm, as if they hadn't seen a thing.
Naruto even wondered if they were really wearing sunglasses.
"Only dogs bark wildly when they're scared."
Shiki strode toward an empty seat, expressionless.
Naruto blinked, puzzled and wide-eyed.
He was too young, too naïve to fully understand the weight of the words.
Shino, accustomed to his brother's grand statements, wasn't surprised. He only worried that one day Shiki might get beaten up.
Clearly, he had to become the strongest insect tamer.
Naruto took his seat, still aware of the stares and occasional whispers like demons drifting around him.
He turned to Shiki, eyes complex.
"Ask whatever you want," Shiki said, reading his hesitation.
Naruto's expression looked… off.
Thinking back to his original self, where he often shouted at Sasuke, "Why are you gay?!" Shiki silently thought: Careful, the Konoha LGBTQ police might be watching.
"I'm the monster everyone talks about," Naruto said, bluntly.
He feared Shiki only befriended him because he didn't know the truth.
"So?" Shiki replied casually.
"Huh?" Naruto's confusion was clear.
"You clearly don't get it at all," Shiki shook his head. Then he lifted his chin.
The classroom's attention shifted.
Especially the girls.
Uchiha Sasuke strolled in, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable, exuding a naturally cool aura.
"That's him!" Naruto's eyes lit up.
He had seen Sasuke before and remembered him vividly—he, like Shiki, treated others' gaze normally. Well… normal was a relative term; it was almost as if they didn't exist.
Sasuke ignored the commotion, taking the front-most seat with his usual pride.
Shiki could've caused a similar stir entering alone—but Naruto had stolen the spotlight.
The door opened again, this time revealing three more students.
Akimichi Chōji crunched loudly on a bag of chips, Nara Shikamaru looked half-asleep, and Yamanaka Ino scanned the room.
The moment she spotted Shiki, she abandoned her two companions entirely.
"She… seems to be here for us," Naruto blinked, incredulous.
"I'm Yamanaka Ino," she announced confidently, stepping in front of Shiki and holding out her hand. "I forgot to introduce myself last time."