Two years had passed…
Time flowed calmly, like a spring river that meandered unhurriedly, hiding its swirling currents beneath the surface.
Mizuki's encounter with Danzo had become a faint fragment, lost among the countless events of the village.
No one remembered that a little girl once walked beside one of Konoha's most suspicious figures. Even the shinobi who greeted them—whoever he was—had probably forgotten by sunset that day.
And truly, who would remember a plain little girl who appeared for only thirty minutes?
Over the past two years, Mizuki lived as a member of the Hyuga main family. Her status was guarded as if she truly belonged to the direct bloodline. She wore white kimonos like a noble princess, attended clan ceremonies, and even received basic training from the elders themselves.
But behind every formal smile and respectful greeting, she knew: her true identity was not a secret being protected—it was a threat being hidden.
The man who once brought her home to Konoha… had disappeared. Just like that.
'Silenced,' Mizuki thought as she sat on the veranda of the clan house, watching the trees begin to shed their leaves. 'The information about me is too dangerous to be left loose. They must've erased it from history.'
Only the clan head and the elders knew who she truly was. Even the clan head's twin children—four years older than her—had no idea that the quiet girl by their side was once a nobody.
Now, at six years old, an important decision had been made. She would enter the Ninja Academy.
This was not common among the Hyuga. Most clan children were trained exclusively within the family, under the strict supervision of the elders. In each generation, only one child from the main house was sent to the academy, as a symbol and public representation of the Hyuga's pure bloodline.
And now it was Mizuki's turn.
That morning, at the Ninja Academy courtyard.
The place was lively. Children from various clans—and some from none—had gathered. Some looked nervous, others overly confident. Mizuki stood upright in the middle of the crowd. Her Byakugan wasn't activated, but her awareness wrapped the surroundings.
Footsteps echoed from the main gate. All heads turned.
A middle-aged man in white robes and the Hokage's signature hat appeared, flanked by two ANBU. His face was sharp, his eyes piercing as if seeing straight into the soul.
Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Third Hokage.
"Good morning," he greeted, his voice deep but full of energy. "Today, you begin your journey as Konoha's future shinobi!"
The children let out small cheers, a few clapped.
"A shinobi's duty isn't just to fight, but to protect the village, uphold peace, and be a role model for the next generation. You are our hope!"
The cheers grew louder.
Mizuki blinked slowly, her expression calm. Inwardly, she analyzed:
'Clean propaganda. Moral messages planted in children's minds as early as possible. Typical of a military dictatorship wrapped in patriotism.'
'But effective.'
'This world needs propaganda to maintain stability.'
The initial selection test was held after the speech.
One by one, children were called for a series of basic tests: physical strength, speed, reflexes, basic chakra control, and situational awareness.
When her name was called, Mizuki stepped onto the training field. Many eyes watched—some because she was a Hyuga, others due to her unusual calm.
The instructor spoke plainly. "Kunai throwing test, moving target. You have five throws."
Mizuki said nothing, taking kunai from the tray. Her movements were fluid—graceful, precise.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
Five kunai embedded dead center in the moving target. Not one missed.
Some instructors exchanged glances. One scribbled quickly on his clipboard.
Next, the speed test.
'Zig-zag run from point A to B, avoiding genjutsu sensors and physical traps.'
Mizuki ran. But not wildly.
'Fire trap on the right. One-second delay. Left has visual obstruction, not an actual threat,' she calculated quickly. Her small body twisted and leapt with mechanical efficiency.
Only 8 seconds. Fastest of all participants.
At the end of the tests, names were announced.
"Minato Namikaze, Mizuki Hyuga, Tsume Inuzuka…"
When Mizuki's name was called alongside Minato's, the other children started murmuring. Minato, the blond boy with bright blue eyes, stood not far. He turned to Mizuki and smiled warmly.
"You were amazing," he said. His voice was light and sincere.
Mizuki nodded. Her eyes scanned the boy.
'Fast, intuitive, and has chakra control.'
'Could be an asset… or a threat.'
"My name's Minato. If you don't mind me asking… who's your clan tutor?"
Mizuki looked at him for a moment before replying softly. "The elders. And myself."
Minato chuckled, as if unaware that it wasn't a joke.
"I hope we're in the same class. I like people who can challenge me."
'Drawn to me because of strength,' Mizuki thought, her expression unchanged. 'I'm drawn to you for the same reason.'
They stood in the shadow of the Academy building, two poles that might someday clash—or align. Above, the sun shone warmly… but the faint scent of future war already lingered in the air.
---
The room was spacious, with large windows on the right side letting in the morning sunlight, casting soft patterns across the wooden floor. Desks were neatly arranged in three long rows, and each seat had already been taken by children in tidy clothing—some wearing clan symbols, most looking nervous yet excited.
Mizuki sat in the middle row, second seat from the back. She had chosen the spot deliberately—not too close to the front to avoid excessive attention from the teacher, but strategic enough to observe the whole class. She sat upright, hands folded neatly on the desk, her pale eyes subtly sweeping the room.
'Sixteen students. Composition: ten from clans, six civilians. Three show signs of prior training. Seven lack the posture suitable for taijutsu. One is too overweight to be a shinobi… or maybe a decoy?'
Heavy footsteps broke her thoughts.
A well-built man entered the room, a whistle hanging from his neck and a black mark on his forehead protector. His Chunin uniform stretched tight over his shoulders, and a faint scar lay beneath his left eye.
"Morning, kids. I'm Arai-sensei, and I'll be your homeroom teacher for the next two years."
Arai's voice was deep, slightly raspy, but not harsh.
"I don't like small talk, so let's get straight to it. Today, all you need to do is introduce yourselves. Who you are, where you're from, and… yeah, if you wanna say your dream, go ahead. Just don't say you wanna be Hokage if you can't even stand straight yet."
Some kids giggled. Mizuki remained calm, only letting out a small breath.
"Starting from the front row. Left to right."
The first boy stood. His voice was soft and nervous.
"M-My name is Tadashi… from the Yamanaka family. I like plants."
Next turn. Then another. One by one, the students introduced themselves—some confident, some rushed, others seemingly reading a script from memory.
Then a boy with bright blond hair and warm blue eyes stood up. He smiled wide, like sunlight itself.
"My name is Minato Namikaze," he said clearly. "I want to protect this village and become Hokage one day."
Some kids whispered. Others nodded.
'Of course,' Mizuki thought. 'There's always one who says that. But not all sound convincing when they do. Minato… actually sounds sincere.'
When it was her turn, Mizuki stood slowly. She controlled her breathing, shaping her tone to be clear, but not loud.
"My name is Mizuki Hyuga."
A few heads turned instinctively—the name Hyuga carried weight in this village.
"I'm from the main branch. I want to be a reliable ninja… and, more than that, I want to understand the world."
Silence. No one said a word. She gave a slight nod and sat back down.
'Quiet, but not arrogant. Gave just enough of a goal without showing ambition. A persona that earns respect without drawing fear.'
Some students now looked at her with newfound respect. Others might still be trying to figure out who the quiet Hyuga girl really was.
Not long after, a girl stood up with neatly tied long black hair and sharp, intelligent eyes. Her uniform was immaculate, her bearing composed.
"I'm Yoshino Nara. I don't like crowds, but if you're smart, we'll get along."
Her voice was soft, cold—but not with arrogance, more like efficiency.
Mizuki noted, her eyes narrowing slightly. 'A dangerous combination of intellect and composure.'
Then another girl jumped up with loud enthusiasm. Her brown hair was messy, her grin wide enough to stretch.
"I'm Tsume Inuzuka! I like dogs, running, and winning! Oh, and I brought pictures of my new puppy—anyone wanna see?!"
Laughter erupted across the class. Even Arai-sensei couldn't help but smile.
Mizuki watched Tsume quietly, fingers crossed beneath the desk.
'Cheerful. Reckless. But if she's anything like other Inuzuka, she's definitely strong in battle. Needs to be watched.'
Once everyone was done, Arai-sensei stood from his seat and crossed his arms.
"Alright. I know you all have dreams, but listen to this carefully. In the real world, being a ninja isn't about flashy jutsu or rooftop duels."
He looked at them sharply.
"Being a ninja means serving the village. That's what we call the Will of Fire. You will be taught to put Konoha above everything else. If you think this is just a place to play with cool moves, leave now."
No one moved. A few swallowed nervously. Minato still smiled, though a bit more cautiously now.
Mizuki stared at Arai-sensei's face without blinking.
'Will of Fire, huh? Instilling absolute loyalty into children from the start. Clever.''But I'm not part of that fire. I'm its smoke.'
Class was dismissed shortly after. The children left one by one, some starting to chat. Tsume dragged two kids to show them her puppy photos, Minato began talking to Yoshino, while Mizuki quietly walked out of the room alone.
But before she could get too far, Minato caught up and walked beside her.
"Hey, Mizuki!" he said cheerfully. "Do you think Arai-sensei was too serious?"
Mizuki glanced at him. "He's realistic. That's important for this profession."
Minato laughed. "You're pretty serious too, huh?"
Mizuki looked at him for a moment. "I'm just trying to survive."
Minato paused, then smiled more gently. "Then let's survive together."
'Interesting. He knows how to talk.''And that makes me a little cautious.'