Of course, Uchiha Sasuke couldn't possibly grasp the intricate connection between Indra and Ashura's chakra. To him, beyond the man he vowed to kill, only two individuals in this world felt different—Uzumaki Naruto and Shouta Kazuki.
It wasn't a mere coincidence. Something about these two stirred a feeling deep within Sasuke, an unexplainable pull that he neither understood nor wanted to acknowledge.
On the other hand, Shouta Kazuki had also begun to notice some changes in Sasuke's behavior. The proud Uchiha, who usually maintained his cool and distant demeanor, seemed to be acting... differently. Subtle yet unmistakable signs—a slight hesitation in his usual retorts, an extra glance thrown his way when he thought no one was looking.
But Sasuke wasn't the only one acting strange.
Even Naruto had made a comment—twice now—about feeling "weird" when around him. Then there was Uchiha Madara, whose attitude had undergone a noticeable shift. The man who had initially viewed him with cold detachment now observed him with a curiosity bordering on interest.
Shouta couldn't ignore the pieces falling into place.
Could this be... because of the Indra chakra he had obtained?
In the original story, the reincarnations of Indra and Ashura's chakras had created two of the most legendary rivalries-turned-friendships in ninja history. Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama. Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke. Two pairs of destined comrades bound by both friendship and enmity, their fates intertwined by something beyond their own control.
But now… he had Indra's chakra as well.
Did this mean he was… a third wheel?
A mistress in this twisted reincarnation cycle?!
Had he unintentionally inserted himself into the already-complicated love-hate dynamic between Naruto and Sasuke?
Shouta shuddered at the thought. No, no, no! I'm not into that!
His gaze darted toward Naruto and Sasuke. The idea of being caught in their stormy destiny made him uneasy, and he quickly shook his head to clear the thought. That's their problem, not mine! Let them deal with their weird reincarnation drama!
What he needed was something normal. Something grounded. Something—
His eyes landed on Yamanaka Ino, who was still holding a bouquet of flowers in her hands.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Ino's face turned an adorable shade of pink as she quickly averted her gaze, her fingers tightening around the stems of the flowers she held.
Oh? Ohhhh?
Shouta smirked internally. So, it wasn't just Naruto and Sasuke acting unusual—Ino was being a little different today too.
To most, she was just another pretty girl in their class, but to Shouta, she was more than that. With her sharp features, elegant posture, and the natural grace of a kunoichi, Yamanaka Ino was easily one of the most attractive girls in their generation. But she wasn't just beautiful—she came from a strong family.
Her father, Yamanaka Inoichi, was the head of the Yamanaka clan. That alone made her a prime candidate for a strategic marriage. If one were to think logically about it, marrying her wouldn't just be a personal win—it would be a power move.
The Yamanaka clan was closely tied to the Nara and Akimichi clans. They operated as an unbreakable triad, a political force that wielded both influence and power within Konoha.
If he were to marry Ino…
He'd be securing the backing of three clans.
That alone would be a game-changer.
While Shouta was contemplating this, Ino took a deep breath and, with uncharacteristic shyness, approached him.
"Shouta... um..."
She hesitated for a second before extending the bouquet of flowers forward.
"These… these are for you," she said softly, her voice trembling just slightly. "I grew them myself… I hope you like them."
For a second, Shouta was caught off guard. He had expected her to blush, maybe even giggle like usual. But to give him flowers? That was unexpected.
Then it clicked.
She had probably heard her parents talking about how her father used to gift flowers to her mother, and she was now trying the same thing on him.
How… cute.
Shouta reached out and took the flowers from her hands, offering a small smirk.
"Arigato, Ino. These flowers are beautiful, but…"
Ino stiffened. Her heart began to pound. But?
Did he not want them?
Had she messed up?
A wave of panic threatened to consume her until she heard the next words that left his mouth.
"But… they're not as beautiful as you. In my eyes, you are far more breathtaking than any flower."
Boom.
Ino's face turned crimson.
Her mind blanked. Her vision blurred. Did he just—
Steam practically erupted from the top of her head.
Shouta watched, utterly fascinated. He had thought the whole "steam princess" thing was unique to Hinata Hyuga, but now… it seemed he had the ability to fluster girls to that degree as well.
Interesting.
Without another word, Ino spun on her heels and fled back to her seat, too overwhelmed to process what had just happened.
Shouta chuckled to himself. That was cute.
Still, he had no intention of thinking too deeply about relationships just yet. There was still time. Graduation would come soon, and then he could consider those things. For now, strength came first.
—
As the class settled down, Iruka finally entered the room, standing at the front of the class with his usual authoritative air.
"Alright, everyone," Iruka began, his voice commanding the students' attention. "Today, we will be conducting a practical training session. This is your final year at the Academy, and soon, you will step into the real world as full-fledged shinobi. That being the case, practical combat experience is essential!"
A ripple of excitement spread through the classroom.
Practical training meant no lectures!
But the one person who seemed most affected by this announcement was Uchiha Sasuke.
His dark eyes locked onto Shouta, a fire of determination burning in them.
In all their previous training sessions, Shouta Kazuki had been the one standing in his way. The only opponent in the class who truly challenged him.
This time…
This time, he would not lose.
Meanwhile, completely unbothered, Shouta rested his head on his desk, his body seemingly at ease.
But in truth, he wasn't sleeping.
He had entered his spiritual space once more.
—
Iruka sighed as he scanned the room. As much as he loved his students, managing them was a nightmare.
A sleeping Naruto, a lazy Shikamaru, a forever-eating Choji, a brooding Sasuke, a flustered Ino, a lovestruck Sakura, a hyperactive Kiba… and let's not even talk about Aburame Shino, whose presence was so low that even as a teacher, he sometimes forgot he was there.
Iruka scratched his head.
Wait.
Who was he just thinking about again?
...
Ah well. No matter.
Class was about to begin.