Today was, without a doubt, the worst day since Akuma had come to this world.
Right now, he was heading to the Ninja Academy—something he had absolutely no interest in. It all started yesterday when Guy-sensei arrived with his usual enthusiasm, announcing that the Hokage had approved Akuma's enrollment based on his exceptional physical condition.
Guy-sensei had been overjoyed, practically radiating excitement as he shared the news. But on the other hand, Akuma felt the exact opposite. To him, this was nothing short of a disaster. He had wanted to refuse on the spot, but he had no logical reason to reject the offer—at least, none that would be accepted.
So, he devised a plan.
If he had to go to the Academy, then he would simply fail everything on purpose. With enough effort, they'd be forced to kick him out. And if, for some reason, they still didn't expel him, he could always use his "incompetence" as an excuse to stop attending altogether. Either way, he had no intention of staying in that place any longer than necessary.
With that thought in mind, Akuma made his way toward the Academy, fully prepared to make this the shortest enrollment in history.
Akuma entered the Ninja Academy, his expression blank as he walked through the halls. After asking a few people for directions, he finally found his assigned classroom. The moment he stepped inside, the room fell into an eerie silence.
Dozens of eyes turned toward him, filled with curiosity, unease, and even fear. The way they stared at him reminded him of people in a zoo watching something unnatural, something that didn't belong.
He already knew why. He looked different—far too different from everyone else. His deep red hair, piercing red eyes, and sharp, fang-like teeth made him stand out like a sore thumb. Slowly, he was resembling the Akuma he had been modeled after. To these children, he wasn't just another student. He was something strange. Something monstrous.
The realization made something bitter settle in his chest. The way they stared at him… it reminded him of his past life.
For a brief moment, he clenched his fists, but he quickly dismissed the thought. It didn't matter. Let them stare. Let them fear him.
He scanned the room, taking in each of his so-called classmates. One by one, they all averted their gazes the moment his eyes landed on them.
Finally, he turned his attention to the teacher at the front of the class.
The man, a standard Konoha instructor, stiffened under Akuma's gaze. Even though he had no reason to, a strange, primal fear crawled up his spine as he looked at the boy. Why do I feel uneasy? He's just a child… right?
Pushing the feeling aside, the teacher cleared his throat and spoke. "You must be Akuma, the one the Hokage told me about. First, introduce yourself to the class. Then, take a seat in the fourth row."
Akuma didn't react immediately. He just stood there, staring at the teacher with an unreadable expression. After a few seconds of silence, he exhaled through his nose and turned to face the class.
"...Akuma."
That was all he said. Nothing more, nothing less. His voice was deep for his age, carrying a weight that most children his age lacked.
The class murmured among themselves, surprised by his brief introduction.
As Akuma moved toward his assigned seat, he noticed Konohamaru eagerly waving at him. The boy had a wide grin plastered across his face, clearly excited to see him.
Beside Konohamaru sat a timid-looking boy with glasses and a perpetually runny nose—Udon Ise. On the other side, the girl next to them, Moegi Kazamatsuri, had a confident and cheerful demeanor.
Akuma barely spared them a glance before continuing past them, his mind already set on making this whole experience as short-lived as possible.
At the fourth row, Akuma spotted Hanabi Hyūga sitting there. She was still and composed, her posture straight and her expression neutral. As Akuma approached and sat down, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on her. At first glance, she appeared calm, but upon closer inspection, he noticed the subtle trembling of her legs. The closer he got, the more her nerves seemed to show, betraying the composure she tried to maintain.
His eyes narrowed slightly. Why is she so nervous?
When they first met, she wasn't like this. She had been calm, collected—typical of the Hyūga clan. But now, she was practically shaking. Even though she tried to maintain her composure, he could clearly see through the act.
What changed?
It wasn't until he thought about it that he began to suspect the reason. Was it… me?
Unbeknownst to Akuma, his continued use of Satsui no Hado had caused his aura to change. It wasn't something he consciously controlled—it was simply there, a natural extension of him. The more he immersed himself in training, the stronger that aura became. And now, just like Akuma from Street Fighter, his mere presence was enough to instill fear in those around him.
Only the strong-willed or those who viewed him in a positive light were spared from its effects. But for those who were uncertain about him—like Hanabi—his aura felt suffocating. Overpowering.
Akuma exhaled quietly, turning his attention forward. This is annoying. He had wanted to be left alone, but it seemed his mere presence was enough to accomplish that. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all.
After the lecture, it was time for physical training. While the other students prepared for their exercises, Akuma sat in the corner, training by himself. He had no interest in their structured routines. However, his focus was interrupted when the instructor announced that they would be sparring to get a feel for combat.
Akuma ignored it and continued his training.
But then, his name was called.
"Akuma vs Hanabi Hyūga."
Akuma had no interest in fighting Hanabi. Sparring with her would only cause unnecessary trouble—he'd either have to hold back or risk accidentally hurting her. And if he won, it would only draw more unwanted attention. Neither option was worth the effort. So, he decided to ignore it.
But the instructor called his name several times, and the other children in the class started staring at him with annoyance. Seeing this, Akuma decided to end it quickly. He walked toward the group, and in the middle of it, there was a larger ring where Hanabi Hyūga stood, glaring at him with anger. Akuma chose to ignore her, focusing instead on the instructor.
"I resign," he said flatly.
The instructor frowned. "If you refuse to spar, you will fail this class."
Akuma met his gaze with an indifferent expression. "That's fine."
The instructor was already frustrated, but before he could say anything else, Hanabi took matters into her own hands.
"Are you looking down on me? I'm not afraid of you!"
Her voice carried determination, but Akuma could still detect the lingering uncertainty beneath it. Regardless, she had already decided on her course of action—before anyone could stop her, she charged at him, kunai in hand, her Byakugan activated.
Akuma didn't move.
He simply watched her approach with a blank expression, arms still crossed. The moment she entered his range, Hanabi's movements were crisp, well-practiced—she was undoubtedly a prodigy of her clan. But compared to what he had faced in his past life, she was lacking in will.
She closed the distance in an instant, thrusting her kunai straight toward his chest.
Akuma did nothing but stare at her, unfazed. Hanabi Hyūga, seeing him not defend himself, became worried that she might kill him. In a moment of panic, she spun her body, narrowly missing Akuma's chest by mere inches. Her rapid spin caused her to lose her balance, and she fell hard to the ground.
The class fell into stunned silence. One moment, Hanabi Hyūga, the genius of the class, had attacked Akuma; the next, she was on the ground, flustered and humiliated. The other students whispered among themselves, confused by what had just happened.
Akuma, however, showed no sign of concern. He calmly looked down at Hanabi, his gaze unwavering. "Are you afraid of killing me?" he asked, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Without waiting for a response, Akuma bent down, picking up the kunai Hanabi had dropped. He handed it back to her and whispered, "This thing is meant to kill. If you're not ready, then don't use it."
With that, he turned and walked away, returning to the corner of the room where he resumed his training, completely uninterested in the spectacle he had just caused.
Hanabi's grip on the kunai tightened, her knuckles turning white. The anger and humiliation burned in her chest as she stared at Akuma's retreating figure. Never had she felt such a mixture of emotions—anger at him, at herself, and a deep-seated fear that gnawed at her pride.
She had always prided herself on her strength, on the hard work she put into training her body, but this moment shattered that sense of control. She had let herself be dominated without a single strike, and it stung deeper than any physical wound.
Her anger shifted inward. She had been training for so long to be strong, to surpass her older sister Hinata and take the position of Clan Leader. She had convinced herself that to be a leader meant to be powerful, unyielding, and fearless. But now, seeing her own fear reflected in her hesitation to strike, doubts began to cloud her vision. How could she ever lead the Hyūga Clan if she was afraid of a boy her age, someone she barely knew?
The weight of her responsibility pressed down on her chest, heavier than ever before. Hanabi had always known that her sister, Hinata, with her gentle nature, would suffer if she became clan leader. Hinata's kind heart wasn't fit for the harsh leadership that the Hyūga clan required, and Hanabi had made it her mission to take on that burden instead. She had pushed herself relentlessly, knowing that to protect her sister, she had to become strong.
But now, standing there in the wake of her failure, Hanabi couldn't ignore the gnawing doubt in her mind. If she couldn't overcome her fear of Akuma, how could she ever rise to the challenges of leading her clan? How could she protect her sister if she couldn't even protect herself from her own weaknesses?
Her heart pounded as her thoughts swirled in confusion and frustration. I need to be stronger. She couldn't let this weakness define her. She wouldn't allow fear to dictate her future. The leader she aspired to be couldn't be someone who hesitated or feared the challenges ahead.
I will surpass my sister. I will become the leader I know I can be. She clenched her fists, determination burning in her eyes.
In that moment, Hanabi made a silent vow to herself. The next time they crossed paths, she wouldn't falter. She wouldn't hesitate. She would face her fears, face her weaknesses, and conquer them all. No matter what it took, she would grow stronger—and she would become the Hyūga clan leader she was destined to be.
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If we reach 100 stones, I'll reward you all with a bonus chapter!