Bab 4: The Academy
I stared at the old man, the Hokage, feeling the weight of his presence. His strength was undeniable, he didn't have to show it—everyone just knew. That kind of power, that sense of control, was something I needed. Not for protection. Not for peace. I needed it for revenge.
The thought tightened in my chest, dark and simmering. The people who took my family away, the ones responsible—they wouldn't stop unless I made them. I needed power, not just to survive but to crush them. To break them so completely that they'd never even think of crossing me again. Power like his, but twisted to my will, sharpened for one purpose.
As I looked at him, the idea grew, settling into place. If I had that kind of strength, I wouldn't just stop the people who hurt me. I'd make them feel the same fear they made my family feel. I'd take everything from them, like they did to me. Make them beg for mercy that I wouldn't give.
Crushing them, piece by piece, until there was nothing left.
My grip tightened on my chopsticks. I didn't show it on my face, but inside, the desire for that kind of power burned hotter. I needed to be more than just strong. I needed to be unstoppable. Strong enough to make sure no one could ever take anything from me again.
As those dark thoughts churned inside me, I felt a sudden shift in the air beside me. I glanced out of the corner of my eye and saw Jiraiya looking at me, his usual carefree grin gone, replaced by a more serious expression.
"You alright, kid?" he asked, his tone softer than usual. There was something in his eyes—concern, maybe—but I didn't let it get to me.
I loosened my grip on the chopsticks, taking a slow breath, forcing the storm of thoughts to settle. My face didn't change. I kept my voice calm, as steady as I always did. "I'm fine."
Jiraiya studied me for a moment longer, like he wasn't sure if he believed me. But eventually, he just shrugged and went back to his ramen, slurping loudly again.
"Alright, if you say so," he said, but there was still something in his tone, something that said he wasn't fully convinced.
A little while later, I found myself standing in a large office, the air thick with the scent of parchment and ink. The walls were lined with scrolls and books, and sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting long shadows on the floor. Jiraiya and the Hokage were talking, but their voices felt distant to me, like they were speaking in a language I wasn't fully part of.
I kept my eyes low, staring at the floor beneath me, but my ears caught every word.
"We need to get him settled," Jiraiya was saying, with his usual casual tone. "The Academy would be the best place for him. He's got potential—raw, but it's there. The structure will be good for him."
The Hokage nodded, puffing on his pipe thoughtfully. "Potential, yes. But he's not from Konoha, and the Academy isn't used to taking in outsiders without a formal process. It might raise questions."
Jiraiya shrugged. "We've made exceptions before. You know what the kid's been through. He needs a fresh start, and this village is as good a place as any."
The Hokage glanced over at me, his eyes unreadable. "You say he's... stable?"
Jiraiya hesitated for just a second, but I caught it. "As stable as anyone could be after what he's seen. But he's tough. He'll get through it."
They kept talking, but I didn't care much about the details. The Academy, Konoha, whatever it was... it didn't matter. What mattered was that I needed to get stronger. And if this place, this school, was the way to do that, then I'd go along with it. For now.
The Hokage's voice brought me back to the moment. "It won't be easy for him. He'll stand out, and the other students might not take kindly to someone from outside. But I trust your judgment, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya grinned. "Don't worry, old man. I've got a good feeling about this kid."
The Hokage gave a slow nod, then turned to me. "Chihara," he said, his voice calm but firm. "The Academy will help you become stronger. But you'll need to work hard and earn the trust of this village. Do you understand that?"
I looked up, meeting his gaze for the first time since we'd entered the office. His eyes were steady, and there was something behind them—wisdom, maybe, or just experience. I gave a short nod, my voice quiet but clear.
"I understand."
(One Week Later)
The week passed quietly, and I had settled into the small apartment the Hokage had arranged for me. It was simple—just a bed, a desk, and some basic supplies—but it was enough. I didn't need much. The days had been routine, mostly spent exploring the village on my own, getting used to the idea that this place would be home for a while. But even as I wandered the streets of Konoha, I felt distant from it all, like I was moving through someone else's life.
Early one morning, a knock came at the door. I knew it was Jiraiya even before I opened it. He was standing there with his usual grin, the sun barely over the horizon behind him.
"Morning, kid," he said. "Ready for your first day at the Academy?"
I didn't say anything at first, just nodded, then stepped outside, closing the door behind me.
We started walking through the village, Jiraiya glanced down at me, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "So, listen," he began, his tone more serious than usual. "The Academy's not just about learning Jutsu and fighting. It's also about building bonds. That stuff is just as important, maybe more so. You should try to make a few friends while you're there."
I didn't respond. The word "friends" didn't mean much to me. I wasn't here to build bonds, so I wasn't interested in making friends or fitting in.
Jiraiya sighed, clearly sensing my lack of enthusiasm. "Look, I know you're not the most social kid, but trust me on this. Life gets a lot easier when you've got people you can rely on."
I glanced at him but stayed quiet. Jiraiya was always like this—trying to lighten the mood, trying to get me to open up. But I didn't feel the need to explain myself. I had a goal, and nothing else mattered.
We reached the front gate of the Academy after a while, a few other kids already gathered around, some talking in groups, others heading inside. I stopped at the gate, staring at the building.
As we stood there at the gate, a figure approached us—a tall man with dark brown hair pulled back into a short ponytail, his forehead protected by a Leaf headband. His expression was serious, but kind and his eyes were observant. The scar running across the bridge of his nose stood out, giving his otherwise kind face a hardened look.
Jiraiya waved lazily. "Yo, Iruka! This is the kid I was telling you about."
The man—Iruka—looked down at me, giving me a small nod. "Chihara, right? I'll be your instructor while you're at the Academy. We're glad to have you here."
I met his gaze, not showing any emotion. "Thank you."
Iruka gave a slight smile, but I could see the way his eyes flickered, like he was trying to read me. He seemed different from Jiraiya—more formal, but not cold.
"We've got a good group of students this year," Iruka continued. "I hope you'll find your place among them."
I nodded, though I wasn't really thinking about the other students. I didn't care about finding my place. I just needed to get through this—learn what I needed, and keep moving forward.
Jiraiya patted me on the shoulder. "Alright, kid. Try not to scare the other students too much on your first day, okay?"
I glanced up at him, and for the first time in a while, I almost smiled. Almost. But instead, I just gave him a brief nod before turning back to Iruka.
Iruka gave a slight nod, his eyes still watching me, though they didn't seem too harsh. "Follow me," he said simply, turning to lead the way into the Academy.
I walked a few paces behind him, taking in the building as we entered. The hallways were filled with other students, some talking in groups, others rushing to their classes. They glanced at me as I passed, their eyes curious, but I ignored them, keeping my focus ahead.
We reached a wooden door, and Iruka stopped just inside the classroom door and gave me a kind look, his stern demeanor softening. "Before you take your seat, Chihara, I'd like you to introduce yourself to the class. Don't worry," he added with a small smile, "they're a good bunch. This'll help you settle in."
I blinked, not expecting to be put on the spot like this. The idea of standing in front of all these unfamiliar faces didn't appeal to me, but I nodded, stepping forward without protest.
I turned toward the class, and every pair of eyes locked on me. The room had quieted down. Some kids looked curious, others uninterested. I took a breath, keeping my face blank, my voice low but steady.
"I'm Chihara," I said simply. "Nice to meet you all."
There was a brief silence, so I stood there, scanning the faces of my classmates, and a few of them stood out to me more than the others.
One boy near the front immediately drew my attention. He sat with a posture that radiated confidence, his dark eyes focused but distant. His hair was jet black and spiked up in the back, almost too neatly arranged. He didn't seem like the type who cared about the introductions or what anyone had to say—more like he was sizing everyone up in silence, already sure of himself. The way he watched me felt different from the others, like he was searching for something. His presence was cold, but powerful.
A couple of seats over, there was a boy who couldn't seem to sit still. His hair was a bright, messy blonde, and he wore an ugly orange jumpsuit that made him stand out even more. He had a loud energy about him, his expression constantly shifting from curiosity to impatience, like he could barely wait for the day to really begin. He seemed to be muttering to himself, his gaze darting around the room—when it wasn't fixated on me. His blue eyes were full of fire, but it was chaotic, undisciplined. Something about him felt... different.
At the back of the room, almost hidden in the shadows of the corner, was a boy who barely looked up from the desk. His dark hair was pulled back in a lazy ponytail, and his expression was one of complete disinterest. He had a slouched posture, like even sitting up straight took too much effort. He wasn't talking to anyone or even trying to engage—just staring out the window, as though none of this really mattered. When our eyes briefly met, he let out a deep sigh, like it was all too troublesome for him.
Next to him, a larger boy with messy brown hair and round, kind eyes was munching on a bag of chips, completely unconcerned with anything happening in the room. He seemed more focused on his snack than on the lesson—or me, for that matter.
Across the room, a girl with long, pale white eyes caught my attention briefly. She had a shy demeanor, almost hiding behind her desk, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeves. She glanced up at me a few times but quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing slightly whenever our eyes met. There was a softness to her, a gentleness that stood out in contrast to the others.
I didn't know any of their names yet, and it didn't really matter. I wasn't here to get to know them. But standing there, I realized this was the first real step. Whether I liked it or not, this was my new reality.
Iruka cleared his throat, his smile still kind. "Thank you, Chihara. You can take a seat now."
I made my way to an empty seat near the middle of the classroom, right next to a girl with bright pink hair. She sat upright with an air of attentiveness, her green eyes focused on me as I approached. The pink hair was striking, and tied with a red ribbon. As I sat down, I could feel her glance my way.
"Hi," she whispered, leaning slightly toward me but keeping her voice low so she wouldn't disturb Iruka's lesson. "I'm Sakura Haruno."
I turned my head just enough to meet her gaze. She gave me a small, friendly smile, her eyes curious.
"Chihara," I replied, my voice flat, though I could tell she expected more from me.
She didn't seem put off by my short response and continued anyway. "Are you new to the village?, I've never seen you around before."
I nodded slightly, not giving much away. I wasn't here to talk, especially not about myself.
"Well, it's nice to meet you," she said quietly, before turning her attention back to the front, where Iruka was starting his lesson.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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