The next morning, Yuki Seisui appeared in the classroom bright and early.
"Seisui, what's wrong with you?" Namikaze Minato, noticing the dark circles around his eyes, asked curiously, "You look like you didn't sleep all night."
"Could it be that you're feeling sorry about losing money?" Uzumaki Kushina sidled over, grinning as she waved her hand in front of Seisui's face. "Let me warn you first, once it's in your belly, you can't take it back!"
"Mm-hm."
Nara Shikaku, sitting in the back row, covered his face and sighed toward Aki dō Tōza. They're talking, why are you "mm-hmming"?
"Get lost, go play by yourselves." Seisui waved at them like shooing flies, not wanting to talk. "I don't want to chat with you little brats."
"Ha! Look who's talking," Kushina rolled her eyes and returned to her seat.
He hadn't slept a wink since yesterday's lottery.
Every time I nearly drifted off, I'd remember how disrespectful I was to Admiral Kizaru and Lord Fujitora, and end up slapping myself.
Just then, Yamanaka Yukio walked in, followed by a young girl.
Clear throat.
"This is a student from the other class, she's transferring into our class."
Yukio said with a certain pride, as if his teaching prowess had drawn the other class's top student over. Soon, I'll be the star teacher!
"I'm Uchiha Haru. I have no favorites. I have no dislikes."
That was Uchiha Haru, standing beside Yukio.
Minato and others stared wide-eyed, wondering why she'd been assigned to their class.
"She's adorable!"
"She's that aloof type! But I really like her."
"Looks like Uchiha isn't so hateable after all."
The boys buzzed excitedly, while the girls ground their teeth in envy.
"Speaking of which, she was just in the other class, didn't any of you see her when school let out?" Nara Shikaku complained incredulously.
"If not for Seisui, I probably never would've met her," Aki dō Tōza mumbled, shoving chip crumbs into his mouth through the bag's top.
"Kushina's going to flip, Haru's here too!"
Kushina sounded genuinely pleased.
Yamanaka Yukio glanced helplessly at the noisy classroom, then told Haru, "Just pick an empty seat to sit."
"Mm," Haru nodded calmly.
There was only one empty seat, next to Kushina. Initially she'd been teased for her tomato-red hair, but now, after Kushina's explosive defense, nobody dared sit near her anymore. Only after Tsunade brought her for ramen and she gradually met Seisui and Minato did she avoid cold hostility.
Just like in the original story.
Kushina whispered to Haru, "Why did you transfer into our class?"
Haru glanced at Seisui without raising her head: "Nobody in the neighboring class is my match."
No pressure.
"Really?" Kushina looked at Seisui and Minato teasingly. "I don't believe you."
"I think you're here for Seisui," she retorted with a faint blush. "I'm not. I didn't. Don't talk nonsense!"
On the other side of the room, Minato nudged Seisui with a grin: "Seisui, Miss Haru came to find you."
"And she's so gentle," Yamanaka Haichi added conspiratorially behind them. "Truly a love master!"
Seisui: Nice words, don't say too much next time.
Still, Haru seems pretty decent? Though icy on the surface, once you get to know her, she hides a clumsy, adorable heart. She's naïve, not worldly. Most importantly, long legs, well-off. A small rich girl vibes.
That's when Seisui turned to look, and realized Haru was watching him too. She quietly cleared her throat, pretending nonchalance and shifting her gaze away. Seisui rolled his eyes.
That's just like me in my past life, secretly snacking in the back row, thinking I was flawless, yet the teacher on the podium always spotted me.
Often, what you think is flawless is just people ignoring you. Seisui was one such person. Seeing Haru like that, he naturally remembered his former self.
On the teacher's podium, Yukio saw the two subtly glancing at each other, veins bulging on his forehead. They can't just use shadow clones to come to school and then this bright student gets lured away... If that happened, I couldn't even imagine my psychological torment.
If the teacher in the other class knew, he'd laugh himself silly. This top student often skipped class anyway, no need for shadow clones.
Beside them, Kushina wore an aunt-like grin, watching the pair.
"We've got a ship, definitely a ship."
A talented, hardworking common-born youth who skips class sometimes.
And a prestigious, cold-appearing Uchiha heiress who's actually sheltered and naive. It's shaping up to be a tragic romance, no doubt.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Haru looked at Kushina, puzzled.
"Is there something on my face?"
"No."
"Is that so?" Haru paused, then returned attention to the teacher.
Seisui sighed. "What a hassle."
"What hassle?" Minato asked, tilting his head.
"The so-called aloof goddess you see might not be aloof in private," Seisui said mysteriously.
"Aloofness is just an exterior, she might actually not be cold at all. Just go for it, confidently."
Yamanaka Haichi jotted that down in his notebook. Aki dō Tōza glanced over, tore open another bag of chips, paying no mind to the teacher's glare.
"Haichi, you're still writing that down?"
"Mm." Haichi pushed up his imaginary glasses.
"I find researching these things satisfying, especially the 'love master's' famous lines, they enlighten me."
"Auntie already arranged a child engagement for you, didn't she?"
"I want to marry someone I actually like!" Aki dō Tōza nodded, while Nara Shikaku looked speechless.
"You mentioned what kind of girl you like."
"Parents gone, great ability, immense wealth, fair skin and beauty, gentle and compliant with me."
Seisui couldn't help but snort back. "Listen to yourself, does a person say that?"
"Where can I find such a girl?"
"Please give me a dozen," Aki dō Tōza mumbled with his mouth full.
"Yeah, those standards are too strict."
"Someone like Rokuhisa is fine."
"You don't get it, people need to dream!" Haichi again pushed up nonexistent glasses.
In the end, Yukio lost patience. I'm teaching up here, and they're chatting down there, acting like they don't care about me at all!
"You four, out into the hallway!"
"Here we go again," Kushina muttered, "walking the plank daily."
"I don't even know what they talk about in class," she added.
Haru nodded thoughtfully.
After school, as small groups filtered out, only Seisui and Haru remained in the classroom.
"This is tough… I'd rather train all day than attend class," Seisui rubbed his calves. The agony of standing as punishment all day was now clear.
"You guys caused chaos in class and got caught," Haru said matter-of-factly. "You brought it on yourselves."
She watched him massage his calf and said, "Wouldn't it have been better if you'd skipped class from the start?"
"So… why did you call me over?" Seisui finally asked. He'd planned on taking a day off to relax in a hot spring. Haru had never asked anything of him before—this was unusual.
After a long hesitation, she spoke: "Come to my place tonight for dinner."
"Okay." He agreed without thinking, but then realization hit. Shocked, he pointed at himself: "I… to your house… for dinner?!"
"Mm." Haru lowered her head shyly. "My grandfather wants to meet you."
Seisui felt uneasy. This is Uchiha territory! Who knows what those maniacs will do to me.
"Is it a problem?" Haru noticed his expression and seemed disappointed. "If it's a problem, you don't need to come."
"No, I'll go with you."
He shook his head but ultimately agreed.
He didn't know much about Haru's status, but rumors said she was the Uchiha genius heiress. Her family likely had influence within the clan. After three months of being around a genius heiress, if the Uchiha clan didn't show some sign, he wouldn't believe it. Since sooner or later he'd have to face it, might as well do it now.
==========
Hokage's Office
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face had split into a forced grin, his eyes fixed on the crystal orb in his hands.
Knock! Knock! Knock! came the sound.
He hastily hid the orb, reclaimed his seriousness, and called: "Come in!"
"Hokage-sama, the child you ordered special protection for is currently en route to the Uchiha residence."
Hiruzen froze. He'd tasked protection for only three children: Seisui, Minato, and Kushina. These were Konoha's future—the new generation of leaders. And now one of them was heading to the Uchiha clan?
"What's going on?" he demanded, fixing the Anbu in the eye.
"That child, Yuki Seisui, has been invited to dinner by that genius Uchiha girl."
"The Uchiha genius girl?"
"Yes, Uchiha Haru," the Anbu confirmed.
Hiruzen lit his pipe and took a deep drag. "I see. You don't need to handle this."
"Yes, sir."
He sat smoking quietly, glancing at the clock overhead. She'll be here soon.
At that moment, the heavy office door burst open.
"Tenzō! That first-generation kekkei genkai successor has gone to the Uchiha clan!" Danzo stormed in, furious. "I told you, hand him over to me! Root is also Konoha's power!"
"Give it up, Danzo. Seisui can only grow under the sunshine," Hiruzen replied slowly, exhaling smoke.
"A tree needs leaves and branches to thrive. Isn't that what we're protecting, those leaves and branches?"
"But a tree also needs roots!" Danzo snapped back in his own interpretation. "The taller the tree, the deeper its roots must grow!"
"You can forget about it, Seisui isn't yours."
"Hmph!" Danzo snorted. "Then I'll pick a batch of children from the orphanage."
"This time, you won't refuse, will you?"
Hiruzen remained silent. Danzo, satisfied, began to leave.
He hadn't really expected to recruit that kekkei genkai successor. He knew Hiruzen respected these common-born talents. And the best way for that first-generation kekkei genkai would be to start a new family branch in Konoha, not Root. Hiruzen supported steady development, not radical change. Danzo might be ruthless, maybe scheming, but no one could deny he loved Konoha, like the elderly Third Hokage—willing to die for it.
Before leaving, Danzo sneered: "That kekkei genkai successor ran off to the Uchiha clan."
"Watch yourself."
"Those Uchiha are born evil!"
"They use beauty traps, it's so devious!"
"Evil old Uchiha!"
"Why don't you give me Kushina instead, so the evil Uchiha old man doesn't lure her away with a handsome trick!"
Hiruzen's bewilderment grew; he wondered how Danzo's personality had changed. Then the last line revealed his intention. The beads on that abacus crashed right onto his face!
"Danzo, I'm the Hokage!"
"These aren't your concerns!"
"Hmph! You'll regret this, Tenzō!"
With a loud slam of the door, Danzo left in a fury.
Meanwhile, within the Uchiha clan grounds, Haru led Seisui through. People greeted her occasionally, giving curious glances at him.
The Uchiha clan was far larger than he'd imagined. Since the Nine-Tails Incident hadn't happened yet, the clan still lived inside Konoha proper, not at the boundary. The Uchiha occupied a massive area. Civilians alone numbered in the thousands—and that didn't count the ninja.
Well, fair enough. After more than a thousand years of heritage, the Uchiha are destined to be numerous. Even after the clan's fall, the three magatama circulated widely.
Soon Haru stopped with him at the gate of a small courtyard.
"This is my house."
At that moment, Uchiha Setsuna emerged, smiling at Haru. "Did you attend class well today?"
"Mm," Haru nodded, indicating she'd been attentive.
Then Setsuna turned his gaze toward Seisui. His once-friendly expression turned inscrutable, with a cold, fake smile.
"I–I am Uchiha's Great Elder, Uchiha Setsuna."
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