Itachi collapsed onto the ground, completely exhausted.
"Yeah…" Kaen said knowingly as he got to his feet, "that happens the first time."
He removed the extra bandage wrapped around his leg and knelt beside Itachi, calmly patching the cut on his forehead.
"Bro… really, if I hear you asking for another spar in this month alone… I'm freaking out," Kaen said.
Itachi giggled. "Ok ok, fine."
After a moment, Itachi sat upright and spoke again.
"But bro, don't you think we need to get better than the other kids in the class?"
"Tenga?" Kaen asked.
"Yeah, but not only him… there's Haruto and a few others," Itachi said.
"Hm… okay. Tell me in terms of your rankings," Kaen said.
"Okay… I can do that. Let's see. There are five in our class I think are better than me," Itachi said, pausing to think for a few moments, clearing his thoughts and making a list.
"Fifth is… Yamanaka Rinka. The girl who sits beside you."
WHAT… only number five?!
Rinka muttered from behind the tree.
"Hm… wait, Rinka… Rinka… who—oh yeah. Her. Naoki-san's daughter," Kaen said.
Rinka's jaw dropped.
I've been sitting beside him for two weeks and he remembers me by my father's name.
"Yeah. Her. She's really frightening when it comes to her Yamanaka arts," Itachi said.
Kaen made a semi-impressed face.
"You don't look impressed, Kaen," Itachi said. "Wait, don't tell me you also think women can't be good shinobi."
"Bruh, no," Kaen snapped. "Trust me, if you knew who my mother was, you'd pull your hair out."
Itachi smiled but moved on.
"Anyways… fourth is Soma Tenga. You've fought him head on."
"Wait, why am I not after Tenga?" Kaen said, clearly annoyed. "I literally lost to him two days ago."
Itachi narrowed his eyes. "Bro… please. We both know you were being modest."
"Shut up," Kaen said, looking away to hide the blush.
"Aww," Rinka whispered.
"Number three… Hyuga Haruto," Itachi continued.
"Bro, I swear I'll freak out now," Kaen said. "Haruto's clearly better than me. This is false praise."
"Your ground game is better than what Haruto showed today," Itachi replied.
Kaen folded his arms. "Say whatever."
Itachi smiled. "Number two… is you."
"Meh," Kaen muttered.
"And number one?" Kaen asked.
"That's probably the kid we've never seen fight," Itachi said.
Kaen's head snapped up. "WHO?"
Itachi took a breath. "Aburame Shizo."
Kaen's eye twitched. "Who?"
"Bro, don't tell me you don't know Shizo," Itachi said.
"Yeah…?"
Shizo? The quiet kid… Rinka thought.
"Well, you can't blame him," Itachi said and paused.
His eyes widened with astonishment as he said. "He's never been allowed to spar."
Kaen frowned. "Bruh, then what's th—"
He froze.
"OH SHIT"
"YES," Itachi said immediately.
Kaen went into simulations, imagining how this kid looked and how he would fight.
Itachi opened his mouth to speak but stopped halfway.
Kaen looked at him.
"Bro... you wanna talk... you can".
"No it's nothing...", Itachi dismissed.
Kaen said nothing, just kept looking.
You think you can hide secrets from my super lie detecting glare.
Itachi sighed. "OKAY FINE... but don't tell anyone."
Kaen laughed.
Ah Oto-san... this trick works every time.
"about 3-4 days ago... there was this big meeting of the high level Jonin in the village...", Itachi began speaking.
Kaen nodded; he somewhat knew about it.
"They said… there's gonna be a war", Itachi said.
Kaen blinked. "What's... a... war?" He asked innocently.
Itachi's mouth opened slightly from surprise. "Bro... don't tell me you don't know what a war is?"
"Yeah dude... is it like a festival". Kaen made a guess. "Bro tell me... becuz they did not taught the war in the academy".
Itachi's expression only deepened.
Itachi measured his words, and after a long silence, he spoke.
"Bro... honestly..." He shook his head. "Even I don't exactly know what a war is... but..."
Kaen stuck out his tongue. "BAHHH". He made a mocking gesture.
"Say earlier if you don't know... you build anticipation and deliver... I don't know".
"Bro... lot's of people die...", Itachi said.
"Okay???", Kaen replied, measured.
"Not like... die... I mean... they are KILLED", Itachi spoke.
"Why?"
"Because... because... they fight"
"WHY?"
"Because.... be... I don't know"
Kaen's jaw opened.
"So wait... you're saying the people of the village are gonna fight each other... for something we don't have a clue about... is my Uncle Minato gonna fight my clan?? Is Hokage-ji-chan gonna fight Minato-san... BRO PLEASE TELL ME".
*wow... these two are Mr. Genius one second and Mr. Idon'tKnow the other*.
Rinka thought about .
Itachi stuck out his hands.
"Bro... wait... let me explain".
"It's not the people of the village... it's the hidden leaf gonna fight some other village".
Kaen's head jerked in disbelief.
"Bro... I think... we should consult some adult on this", Itachi added. "Because clearly nor me neither you know jack about what this exactly is".
"Wait... where did you got this info about the meeting and the....", he said with disgust, "WAR".
"My father told me", Itachi replied.
"And you did not asked him about what's a war".
"No"
"WHYYYY"
"Because that was NOT THE POINT DAMN IT CALM DOWN KAEN".
Kaen disdained in disbelief.
what the hell does he means... KILL
Kaen wanted to speak, but the words died in his mouth. He looked at his palms.
The blood on them
The man he stabbed in the neck laying at his feet
The others pointing blades at him
Kill this brat... he's possessed
His breathing grew heavier. He zoned out.
Itachi immediately kicked into his Medical Department training.
He grabbed Kaen's arms and shook him. Then he stood up, dragged Kaen to the pond, and splashed cold water onto his face.
Kaen's breath came back in sharp gulps. He staggered, fell to his knees, and vomited.
Rinka could not hold back anymore. She came out from hiding, running toward Kaen. As Itachi rubbed Kaen's back, Rinka rushed in.
She took out a water bottle from her small handbag and handed it to Kaen.
Itachi looked at her with surprise.
Where did she come from.
Kaen breathed in and out, slowly. Itachi spoke, "Kaen... count one to ten".
Kaen gave no response. His chakra tensed so violently that the fish in the pond began jumping.
"KAEN... ONE TO TEN... COUNT!!!", Itachi yelled close to Kaen's ear.
Finally, Kaen started whispering.
"One... Two..."
He sat upright, scooped water with his hands, and splashed it onto his face—again, and again—until the nightmare loosened its grip.
Once he calmed down, he looked at Rinka. He smiled teasingly.
"So you finally decided to step out right?"
Rinka jerked back. "Wh.. what... no.. I.. I just came here..."
Kaen grinned. "I know the exact moment you came so don't lie".
She reddened.
Itachi narrowed his eyes. "So you were spying on us".
She reddened even more. "NO... I... I was not.. I just".
Kaen started laughing. "Bro... you are getting mad like you were not spying on Tenga training yesterday".
Itachi blushed. "That's different". He gave up quickly. "Okay fine". He sighed.
The pressure finally eased on her—otherwise she was seconds away from crying. It was that embarrassing.
Rinka looked at Itachi with a hint of anger at his hypocrisy—but she was a softie, so she let it slide.
Then she said, "Okay well... make sure you don't get references to killing and blood in your talks... it's likely triggering a PTSD".
Kaen blinked in surprise. He would later describe Rinka's sentence as "Too mature for being my age".
"What's a PTSD??!!", he asked.
"It's basically post traumatic stress disorder common in people with backgrounds of intense violence...", Itachi answered.
Kaen grew even more surprised.
"Yo wait... where are you two learning this stuff from?"
Rinka raised an eyebrow.
Don't tell me he does not know even this
"In the class", Itachi said.
"WHAT CLASS?", Kaen snapped instantly.
Itachi grinned. "You think only you study in two departments."
It clicked for Kaen.
"Wait... you mean you two are in the Medical Department?"
"Not me... just him... I have other things to do than just bury myself in books", Rinka stated—almost coping.
"Then how'd you know...?", Kaen asked.
"Just... general knowledge", Rinka said, trying to be modest.
Kaen slowly looked at Itachi and gave him a glimmered look that, by bro code, clearly said, "Damn she smarter than you Itachi".
Itachi turned his face away, hiding the childish envy creeping up on him.
"But anyways... how did you knew I was there", Rinka asked after a moment of hesitation.
Kaen looked at her and said, "Umm well... General Knowledge".
Itachi laughed. Kaen laughed.
Rinka reddened and puffed her cheeks. She was about to leave, but curiosity won over embarrassment.
"Oh come on..."
"Ok ok... let's not... Kaen, tell us... I also wanna know how did you knew", Itachi intervened.
"I just... can... and I came to know about this concept just today... of why I can.", Kaen said.
Both Rinka and Itachi leaned in.
"Basically it's called Chakra Latency... as Nozomu Sensei said... like the fingerprints and retina being a unique feature... the Chakra signature is also unique on a molecular level... I can sense this...", Kaen explained.
Itachi looked at Kaen with subtle impressment.
"Why can't we do that too?", Rinka asked genuinely.
"Because... well, to be able to even catch the presence of this signature... you must have your Chakra leaking in the surroundings to do this... you know about the existence of Sensory types in the field right?"
Itachi nodded.
Rinka affirmed, "Yeah... my mother was one
"yeah... well... Nozomu Sensei is one of them too... he uses this method to locate enemies on field... in my case... it's basically done reflexively"
He shrugged to appear modest. "... cuz... my Chakra... I mean I don't mean to brag but... it's huge compared to normal standards", Kaen gave a mini lecture.
"Ohhh", Itachi gasped at the extent of knowledge Kaen had grasped in such a short time.
"Can I do that too??", Rinka asked.
"Yeah maybe... I don't know how Sensei does it... but... yeah", Kaen answered.
"Wow", she gasped.
"Yo why don't you just enter the Chakra Science?", Kaen asked her.
Rinka faltered a little. "No... I... I don't really have time so..."
Itachi was about to say something measured—but Kaen, ever the blatant one, cut in. "WHY?"
Man... why is he so fearless to ask... this is the first time we're talking,
Rinka thought.
Itachi shook his head slowly as Rinka stared at Kaen.
"Just that... my mama is not well most of the time... so... I can't... I mean...", she answered.
"Hmm understandable"... Kaen said. Then, tilting his head, he added—again, bluntly—"But... can't Naoki-san take care of her for a while?"
"No.. uh... I mean he does take care of her most of the time... but... there is... as Itachi said... a war coming up... so he'll be away for quite a while in the coming days."
Kaen giggled. "You're talking like you know what war is."
Itachi smiled.
Rinka—now slightly offended—slipped into bragging mode.
"Excuse me Lord Second... I KNOW WHAT IT IS."
Itachi's head snapped forward, while Kaen laughed for a moment before turning serious.
"Really??"
Rinka took a deep breath and began explaining.
"As Itachi said earlier, war is two groups of people fighting each other... right now behind closed doors of Hokage Office... a big war is about to come... my father anticipate this will be the THIRD OF IT'S KIND."
"THIRD?", Itachi asked.
"Yeah... the THIRD GREAT SHINOBI WAR", Rinka completed.
Kaen's face lit up with astonishment.
"But why?", he asked.
"It's...." Rinka opened her mouth, then stopped herself.
Kaen asked again, firmer now.
"Rinka-chan... tell me WHY!?"
Itachi glanced at Kaen, then turned his attention fully to Rinka, waiting.
Rinka sighed.
"Ok fine but... do NOT tell ANYONE I TOLD YOU THIS."
Kaen pinched the skin on his neck—a gesture of promise from where he came from. Itachi already knew what it meant, though Rinka didn't.
"I PROMISE", Kaen said.
Itachi copied the gesture and added,
"Yeah Rinka-chan... we promise..."
"Basically... I eavesdropped on my parents... and... Kaen... it's totally related to you and your arrival", Rinka finally said.
Kaen's eyes widened. His thoughts began racing, pieces clicking together as he stared down at the ground, zoning out.
"Wait how is Kaen involved and who are we fighting?", Itachi asked.
Before Rinka could answer—
"KUMOGAKURE NO SATO", Kaen said.
"We are fighting those bastards..."
An unnatural smile—far too sharp for a kid his age—spread across his face.
He whispered to himself,
"Ka-san... I will avenge father."
Rinka went pale.
Please tell me I did not hit a nerve.
"KAEN", Itachi called out sharply.
Kaen looked at him.
"What?", Itachi asked.
Kaen shook his head and faked a smile as his fists clenched the dirt.
"Nothing."
"So... when can WE enter the war?", Kaen asked grimly.
Rinka's eye twitched.
"You're unbelievable... the whole point of the war is YOU being safe", she almost lashed out.
"I ain't asking anyone for protection", Kaen said, turning his face away.
Rinka shook her head in disbelief. Before she could respond, Itachi grabbed her arm and shook his head silently, conveying—Not now.
He then turned to Kaen.
"Only Chunin will be allowed to enter direct combat..."
Kaen looked at Itachi, thinking for a moment before speaking.
"Oh... so you mean we need to graduate early."
"Yeah...", Itachi said.
Kaen cut in immediately.
"Let's wait for your father to come... I am gonna ask him for helping me graduate early."
"There's no need for that", Rinka said, still irritated from the earlier exchange.
Kaen tilted his head.
"Wha???"
"Yeah... and that's what I was tryna tell you before... you lashed out on the... war", Itachi said, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice.
"We are graduating early???", Kaen burst out, excitement instantly flooding his tone.
"Yeah... remember you said your brother Obito graduated outa nowhere... well... it's part of the what that... big shot meeting was about", Itachi explained.
Kaen grinned.
"Coming weeks... we'll be put on a special syllabus designed for the six high achievers in our class... after that... we'll graduate in March."
"March instead of JUNE???", Kaen nearly jumped on the spot.
Why the heck is this guy so happy bout it??
Rinka disdained silently.
"Wait... who six by the ways", Kaen asked.
Itachi smiled.
"Us three... Haruto, Tenga and Shizo."
"LES GOOOO."
"Oh Itachi... I see you clearly know more about this meeting... tell me if you know the teams... cuz I asked my father a lot... he just did not replied saying it's a surprise", Rinka said.
"Yeah... I know the teams...", Itachi replied.
Kaen immediately grabbed Itachi by the arms.
"Oh come on... are you gonna kill me for telling it all in one go?"
Rinka let out a chuckle—half fascination, half disbelief.
"It's... Me, Rinka and Shizo... for Team 2", Itachi said after a sigh.
Kaen's eyes widened.
"That means... it's Me, Haruto and... Tenga...??"
"Yeah... you're the... TEAM 1", Itachi confirmed.
Rinka nodded quietly, already thinking ahead.
Kaen burst into laughter.
"Bro... should've started from this..."
---
As the three continued talking, a certain man in white robes—his hat marked with the bold letter "Ho"—watched from the shadows.
This hour was meant to be his quiet afternoon stroll, a habit he kept after long days buried in paperwork. And as always, he chose to spend it the same way—observing the next generation as they slowly began to bloom.
But unlike little Rinka, this man was a PROFESSOR in every sense of the word. No simple sensory trick would ever catch him off guard. He calmly exhaled smoke from his pipe.
"Hm…"
A low hum escaped him, accompanied by a knowing smile.
Throughout his thirty-year term, Hiruzen Sarutobi had often been whispered about as the matchmaker of many—ahem—pairs within Konoha.
And perhaps… just perhaps… he was out here today for that very same reason.