The room went dead silent. The kind of silence that stretches across space and time, where even dust particles feel like they're waiting for confirmation.
Shock was painted all over the faces of the clan kids' parents. Some of them even shook their heads slightly, as if trying to physically dislodge what they had just heard from their brains.
I, on the other hand, didn't react outwardly. I expected this. No need to ruin the moment with theatrics. But internally? I was proud. All the relentless training, the long nights, the endless pain. it hadn't been for nothing. It had led me to this moment.
And then, out of nowhere, Misayo Nara. Shizuru's mother, launched forward like a missile powered by pure joy. With surprising strength, she grabbed my shoulders and began shaking me with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for lottery winners. My vision blurred from the sheer velocity of her excitement.
"Noa, you did amazing! I knew you were special the moment Shizuru mentioned you!" she said, beaming.
Then she spun around and pointed at her husband with dramatic flair, nearly poking his soul through his chest with her accusing stretched finger. "I told you he was special from day one, yet you doubted my incredible instinct!"
And then she burst out laughing, full-bodied and completely unrestrained. Her husband looked away like a shinobi dodging shuriken, clearly used to this routine. Shizuru, for her part, blushed furiously and looked like she was trying to evaporate from existence. Her whole body was screaming, "I do not know these people."
The other clan parents were starting to put the pieces together. The number one rank hadn't gone to a Hyuga or an Uchiha or even a Senju. It went to a civilian. No bloodline, no clan techniques, no legacy jutsu. just training, obsession, and more training. Their expressions shifted from disbelief to something worse. Interest.
That was when the real danger began.
You see, to them, I had suddenly become prime free real estate. A talented orphan meant I was unclaimed, untethered, and moldable. The perfect prospect for an alliance. It didn't take a genius to figure out what would come next. Offers of specialized training, mentorship, and eventually, a nice little push toward marrying into their clans. Classic clan tactics. Wrap the talent in silk and loyalty while they're still young, then pretend it was all natural.
I wasn't thrilled by the attention. The way they looked at me reminded me of how I stare through the window of a fancy restaurant, watching people eat food I can't afford while they try to ignore my hungry eyes. Except I was the food. And let me tell you, clan people only want one thing and it's disgusting.
Still, I forced myself to smile. Appearances matter, especially when Root's interest in me was now clear. If a few clans were willing to offer even superficial support, that could complicate things for anyone trying to make me vanish quietly. Being "Kind of claimed" meant being Kind of protected.
Misayo yanked me back into focus. "Noa, you have to come over to celebrate your and Shizuru's rank. I'll cook all your favorite dishes. It'll be a night to remember!"
Daiki Nara's parents, standing nearby, looked genuinely pleased. They nodded quietly, clearly content that I already had a connection to their clan. I swear I could hear them filing mental notes under 'Future Assets.'
Kaen looked like he was going to combust. His entire body radiated heatless fury, and it was honestly kind of impressive. His father? Even worse. He stared at Kaen with disappointment so sharp it could slice through flak jackets. The message was clear. Kaen's summer vacation was going to be filled with a lot of yelling, sparring, and possibly weighted clothes.
Misaki Hyuga, meanwhile, kept glancing at me with a deep blush on her face. Great. Just great. I silently promised myself I'd visit her compound personally to clear the air. Surely a surprise visit from an orphan boy who just beat her rank wouldn't be misunderstood by her or her famously stoic clan. Nope. No chance of that going horribly wrong.
Genta Senju looked at me too, but not with jealousy or hostility. Just determination. He didn't want revenge. He wanted improvement. I respected that. He was mature, level-headed, and sharp. Definitely someone I could see myself getting closer to next year.
To my surprise, none of the parents approached me directly. They just nodded and offered vague congratulations while keeping their distance. Smart move. They were cautious, clearly opting to observe a little longer before making any actual moves. A single misstep could ruin their chance at future influence.
Then it happened.
My stomach twisted as I saw almost all of them begin to gather around Sena Yamanaka. I could barely make out their words, but I didn't need to. They were asking her about me. Probing. Gathering intel. And Sena? Oh, she didn't disappoint.
She smiled with practiced poise, speaking just loud enough for me to hear snippets. And then, like a trap snapping shut, I remembered what she had said earlier in front of everyone when I entered the classroom.
"I look forward to our training, Noa-kun."
She said that, out loud, in front of all of them.
She had already laid the groundwork. She knew I'd be ranked first. She knew the parents would hesitate to approach me directly. And so she gave them a bridge. A link. Somone from a respected clan. Someone with a connection to me who was far more socially accessible than Shizuru or her parents.
It was brilliant.
I slow-clapped internally, genuinely impressed. That level of social manipulation wasn't just smart, it was terrifying. And I couldn't even be mad about it. You don't get angry at the rain for falling. You just learn to carry an umbrella. Game recognize game Afterall.
"Well, whatever comes, comes," I mumbled, and turned back to Misayo, who was still beaming. Her warmth was oddly comforting. And no, it wasn't just the promise of free food.
After a few closing words from Daiken, we were dismissed. He caught my eye and gave a subtle gesture, signaling for me to follow him. I quickly said my goodbyes to Shizuru's parents and promised to attend the celebration dinner.
We walked quietly through the administrative section of the Academy. I expected more tension, but it was calm. Oddly peaceful.
Eventually, we arrived at a modest office. I stepped in, mildly surprised. It was... normal. Clean. Organized. It smelled like ink and faintly of pine. I didn't know what I expected. Scrolls burning? Chakra-reactive seals glowing? An ACME cartoon anvil where he tempers his muscles? Maybe a desk made out of enemy swords? But no, this was just an office. A very standard, government-issued office.
From the layout and the piles of scrolls, I could tell this wasn't just a teacher's office. This was Daiken's jonin workspace too.
He sat down in a huge chair that somehow still looked small under him, and gestured for me to take the seat opposite him.
Then, silence.
He didn't speak for a while. Just studied me with an unreadable expression.
Not knowing what else to say, I blurted out, "Nice weather we're having today."
Daiken's eyebrow twitched. Slowly. Dangerously. Then he sighed and spoke with quiet gravity.
"Let's talk about what happened with Root."
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