Before itachi could inquire more on why sunless didn't want his father to check his mental illnesses.
The murmurs in the courtyard dimmed as a figure approached the stage infront of the kids clearly prepared for a speach.
The hokage, hiruzen sarutobi had arrived and walked upon the stage, ready to give a speech and itachi turned towards him ready to listeneveryword carefully.
Sunless had seen the face of the old man on the mountain he had just passed by and now it was time to ask about it.
"So who's the old man supposed to be" sunless asked while carefully scanning the man infront of him with shadow dance.
"You seriously don't know" itachi asked turning towards sunless with a shocked expression.
"I seriously don't know" sunless replied calmly without a slightest change in attitude.
After a moment of shock, itachi calmed and hurried to explain before the speach started.
"Hokage is regarded as the village's strongest shinobi. They are responsible for protecting the village, managing its day-to-day affairs, and supervising its ninja forces."
"Lord 3rd,hiruzen sarutobi is the 3rd hokage and also the current hokage " itachi said
"So in basic terms, he is a village leader of sort" sunless said while he noticed that the old man perhaps due to old age was at the level of a master.
"In basic terms, yes" itachi said now fully calmed down and looking at hiruzen.
Then the old man finally started speaking,it was time for some child manipulation.
"Today marks not just the start of your academy but a promise to your village and to one another." He said his voice as calm as an old man cause he was an old man.
He paused, His gaze swept over the field, looking at everyone and then lingered on Itachi for a heartbeat, then swept onward.
"The Will of Fire," he continued, "is what builds Konoha. It is love for those who live here, a respect for the next generation, and the courage to protect our home even when the cost is high. Those who carry this will fight for peace and sacrifice when needed. A shinobi is not a killer but a village protector."
'Great speach to manipulate children into sacrificing themselves in the name of village, as expected of someone who is at the top' sunless thought.
'Though its a bit sloppy as it wouldn't generally work on people who has already developed their values but good enough for children as they haven't chosen the path they want to walk on' sunless thought.
Then his eyes slowly turned towards itachi who was listening to the every word said by hiruzen carefully.
A thought formed in his mind 'Is this guy for real and here I thought he was supposed to be smart, well at the end of the day he's still a kid afterall'
"Itachi," he said under his breath, turning a little sideways, "do you… really believe that? About the Will of Fire?"
"I do" itachi said calmly without a hint discontent others would have if they heard someone asking something like it.
Sunless didn't continue.
After a few more words and wishing everyone to pass successfully, the hokage finally stepped down.
Then one of teachers started to guide the children towards the inside of the academy.
After just a minute of walking in line, everyone was told to stop before a gate.
"Everyone listen" the shinobi teacher said gathering everyone's attention and continued "One by one come inside the room to get evaluated and do not make any noise".
Then he entered the room himself with the first kid.
There were around a 40 students in the hall for now, let's see how many remained after the exam.
After a while of waiting itachi's turn came and sunless said "good luck" and itachi replied with "thank you" and entered the room.
After a few minutes it was sunless's turn and he entered with a fully made up smile like the most stupid kid in the world.
He saw a chair and the churning infront of it gestured him to sit on it.
"What is your name kid" the chunin asked with a bored expression as though he had was told to do the same job every year maybe he was.
"Sunless" sunless said like an energetic kid though it was only a mask he was wearing.
"Weird name" the chunin mumbled and asked "Do you have any last name"
"No" sunless replied energetically as though he didn't understood the meaning of it.
"Orphan huh..another unlucky kid from the nine tails" the chunin said and wrote sunless name down.
"what's your Age kid" the chunin asked his tone becoming noticeably gentler
Now the problem began, sunless couldn't lie about his age as his flaw forced him to him to answer every question truthfully.
But did you really think the great mastermind of the third nightmare wouldn't have already thought about it so he answered without hesitation.
"I..
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[P.s: the legendary child manipulation technique is here, it took a lot of time as I didn't want to copy anyone so, had to make my one hope you liked it] [what do you think would be his answers.]
(Please write a comment as it motivates me more than the power stones as i don't really earn from it nor do I plan to for now and do it for fun)
(If you got time might as well write a review)