Sunlight streamed through the paper-screen windows, casting soft golden streaks across Kayomi's bedroom floor. A gentle breeze fluttered the curtains as he sat on the edge of his bed, carefully wrapping the last strip of cloth around his crimson Six Eyes.
His eyes pulsed faintly under the bandages, like smoldering embers beneath ash. He made quick work of the wrap, tying the knot at the back of his head.
"Much better," he muttered, exhaling.
Without the bandages, his Six Eyes overloaded his senses chakra flows, faint muscle shifts, tiny energy signatures it was like a thousand whispers in his head. It didn't hurt, but it was… loud. The bandages helped dull the noise, keeping his mind sharp.
Dressed in his usual dark training gear with a light jacket, he padded downstairs, where the comforting smell of grilled fish and rice greeted him.
"Morning," Soari Inuzuka greeted with a soft smile, placing a bowl on the table. Her long hair was tied back neatly. "Hungry?"
"Starving," Kayomi grinned, sliding into his seat. "Where's Dad?"
"A mission came in last night. He left before dawn."
Kayomi nodded, understanding. "Must be serious."
Soari chuckled. "You know he's got pull, even if he doesn't talk about it much."
They ate in comfortable silence, Kazu and Raiga, now in their smaller dog forms, waiting at the doorway with wagging tails.
After finishing his meal, Kayomi crouched down and ruffled their fur. "C'mon, you two. Time to eat."
He tossed meat into their bowls, and they barked happily, licking his hands. Since their awakening, they'd compressed their chakra into smaller forms, appearing as regular Inuzuka dogs well, if regular dogs had faint, glowing markings on their fur.
Moments later, Kayomi was leaping across the rooftops, the wind rushing past his face. Leaf Village bustled below, but up here, it was peaceful.
The training ground came into view, and standing there, clad in his usual white battle gear with arms crossed, was none other than Sakumo Hatake.
"Morning!" Kayomi called as he landed with a soft thud.
"Yo," Sakumo replied with his usual calm smile. "Looking sharp, prodigy."
Kayomi was practically vibrating with excitement. "So, what's on the training menu today? Taijutsu drills? New jutsu?"
Sakumo chuckled. "Actually, not today."
Kayomi blinked. "Huh?"
"You're heading to the Academy. There's something important happening."
"The Academy?" Kayomi tilted his head. "Am I… in trouble?"
"Far from it," Sakumo grinned. "But I promise it'll be worth it. Now go on, you don't want to be late."
Still confused, but curious, Kayomi sprinted off toward the Academy.
By the time he reached the Academy, he was out of breath. It felt strange being here again he'd graduated early, after all. What could they possibly want?
He slipped through the front doors, looking around for Sakumo. Nothing.
Then
"KAYOMI?!"
Standing at the end of the hallway, arms crossed and one brow raised, was Toreno-sensei Iruka's spitting image down to the scar and scowl.
"What are you doing here?"
Kayomi scratched his head, a little awkward. "Uh… Sakumo-sensei sent me. Told me to come here, said something important's happening?"
Toreno sighed but gestured down the hallway. "Well, come on then. They're waiting."
He led Kayomi to a familiar classroom and slid the door open. "Wait here."
Kayomi stepped inside and froze.
It was his old classroom. The same desks, the faint smell of chalk, the cracked ceiling tile near the back corner. For a moment, a smile tugged at his lips. Memories came rushing back Mebuki arguing over test scores, Shisui napping during history, that time someone filled his shoes with pudding.
Snapping out of it, he shook his head and made his way up the stairs. Slipping into his old seat, it felt like muscle memory. He let out a quiet breath and opened his status window.
[STATUS WINDOW – KAYOMI UCHIHA]
Title: None
Age: 6
Race: Human
Clan(s): Uchiha / Inuzuka
Special Traits: Chakra Eater (Lv. 2), Prodigious Mind (Lv. 1), Incendiary Chakra (Lv. 3)
Fire Dragon Slayer Magic: Awakened
Six Eyes: Lv. 5
Beast Magic: Lv. 8
---
[STATS]
Chakra Control: High Jonin
Chakra Reserves: High Jonin
Ninjutsu: Low Jonin
Taijutsu: High Chunin
Genjutsu: Low Jonin
Tracking/Sensory: Low Jonin
[KEKKEI GENKAI & ABILITIES]
Sharingan (2-Tomoe):
— Enhanced perception
— C-rank move tracking, response to lower B-rank taijutsu
Six Eyes:
— Chakra flow perception
— Chakra efficiency
— Combat prediction
"Still broken, huh…" he muttered, scanning the status window.
He didn't notice the soft thud of footsteps as more students entered the classroom.
"Hey… is that Kayomi?"
"Didn't he graduate already?"
"Yo, check out those bandages. Trying to look cool or what?"
"Shut up, he's got the Sharingan. They say he can read your moves before you even blink."
Some students whispered with awe. Others snickered, eyeing his short height and thin frame.
"He didn't grow at all!" one guy near the back muttered with a laugh.
Before Kayomi could react, someone plopped down beside him.
"You do realize you're stealing all the attention, right?" came a teasing voice.
"Shisui," Kayomi grinned.
"And me," Mebuki chimed in from his other side. "You look like you just walked out of a battlefield."
Kayomi smirked. "I did graduate early after all."
Shisui whistled. "Flex harder, prodigy."
They chuckled. It felt… nice. Like things hadn't changed too much.
Then, the classroom door slid open.
Toreno-sensei stepped in, clipboard in hand.
"Alright, listen up! Congratulations on completing your Academy journey. Today, you'll be assigned to your genin teams."
The room quieted instantly.
"Team 1…"
Kayomi half-zoned out until
"Team 7 will be… Mebuki Haruno, Shisui Uchiha, and by special order of the Third Hokage Kayomi Uchiha. Your team leader is Sakumo Hatake."
A hush fell over the room.
Mebuki clapped her hands. "We're on the same team!"
Kayomi blinked, his mind racing. "Sakumo… is our jonin?"