The rest of the school day was a blur of whispers and glares.
Sasuke didn't return to class. Apparently, the "stimulation to his chakra network" required an ice pack the size of a watermelon and a donut cushion.
Every time Kenji moved, the girls in the class hissed like angry cats.
"Don't look at him," Sakura whispered loudly to Ino. "My mom says perversion is contagious."
"I heard he uses that finger for... other things," Ino shuddered.
Kenji ignored them, sitting in a meditative pose (actually just counting the dust motes in the air) while Mizuki droned on about shuriken trajectories.
When the final bell rang, Mizuki slammed his book shut.
"Dismissed! And remember, pain is just weakness leaving the body. Or, in Uchiha-kun's case, entering it." Mizuki chuckled at his own joke.
As the students filed out, Mizuki called out.
"Sato-kun. A word?"
The class froze. Sakura smirked. He's in trouble now.
Kenji walked up to the podium, keeping his face a mask of innocent confusion.
"Yes, Mizuki-sensei?"
Mizuki leaned down, his silver hair falling over his face. He smelled of cheap cologne and suppressed malice.
"That technique you used," Mizuki said softly, his eyes searching Kenji's. "It was... unconventional. Where did you learn it?"
Kenji blinked wide, adorable eyes. "Oh, that? I read about it in a medical journal, Sensei! It said the 'Root Chakra' is located at the base of the spine. I just wanted to help Sasuke-kun unlock his potential! I didn't know he was so sensitive there."
Mizuki stared at him. He looked for a lie. He saw only a clueless six-year-old.
"I see," Mizuki straightened up, a fake smile plastered on his face. "Well, be careful. The Uchiha clan is... proud. You made a powerful enemy today."
"I was just being friendly!"
"Right," Mizuki's eyes narrowed slightly. "You have talent, Kenji. Raw, unrefined talent. If you ever want... extra tutoring... you come to me."
Ah, there it is, Kenji thought, suppressing a sneer. * The Groomer has cast his line.*
"Thank you, Sensei! You're the best!" Kenji bowed and ran out of the classroom.
As soon as he hit the hallway, his expression shifted from 'innocent child' to 'calculating criminal' in a split second.
Extra tutoring my ass. You just want another scapegoat for when you steal the Scroll of Seals.
******
"Kenji! KENJI!"
Kenji barely made it to the gate before an orange blur tackled him.
"Whoa!" Kenji sidestepped (Agility +5 coming in clutch again), causing Naruto to stumble.
"Kenji!" Naruto's eyes were sparkling. He looked like he had just seen God. "That move! The Thousand Years of Death! It was amazing! You sent him flying! He went ZOOM! And then SPLAT!"
Naruto mimed the action with enthusiastic sound effects.
"Teach me!" Naruto begged, grabbing Kenji's sleeve. "If I learn that, I can beat Sasuke! I can beat Kiba! I can be Hokage!"
Kenji looked at the desperate boy.
[Mission Update: The Apostle of Culture] [Loyalty: 15% (Disciple)] [Reward: Skill Book - 'Chakra Control: Tree Climbing' (Delivered to Inventory).]
Kenji smirked. Got it.
"Alright, young padawan," Kenji said, crossing his arms like a seasoned sensei. "First, you must visualize. Don't just think of 'a girl'. That's boring. That's abstract. You have to think about the details."
"Details?" Naruto tilted his head, confusion written all over his whiskered face.
"Yes. The physics," Kenji lectured, gesturing with his hands. "The bounce. The sway. The... texture. Tell me, Naruto, have you ever seen a real woman naked?"
Naruto's face turned atomic red. "N-No! I'm six! I mean... I saw the matron at the orphanage once through a crack in the door, but I scrubbed my eyes with soap for an hour!"
"Pathetic," Kenji sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. "How can you create art if you haven't seen the muse? You are trying to paint a masterpiece without knowing what color looks like. We need research material."
"Research... material?"
"Come with me."
****
[Location: The Dusty Corner Bookstore]
The bell above the door jingled as Kenji pushed it open. It was a small, cramped shop that smelled of old paper and dust.
The owner, a balding man with thick glasses, looked up from his newspaper. His eyes narrowed when he saw Kenji. He recognized the brat. This was the kid who, at age four, had walked in and tried to buy Icha Icha Paradise with a straight face.
But then, the shopkeeper's gaze shifted to the orange-clad boy standing nervously behind Kenji.
The air in the shop instantly turned freezing.
"You," the shopkeeper spat, rising from his stool. His face twisted into a mask of pure disgust and fear. "Get out."
Naruto flinched, shrinking into himself. "I... I just..."
"I said get out, you demon brat!" the man shouted, waving a rolled-up newspaper like he was shooing a stray dog. "Why did you come here? Did you come to curse my shop? To bring bad luck? I don't want your filth in here!"
Naruto's shoulders slumped. The bright, determined look from earlier vanished, replaced by the familiar, crushing weight of loneliness. He tugged on Kenji's shirt.
"Kenji..." Naruto whispered, his voice cracking. "Let's go. I... I don't like reading anyway."
He turned to leave, his head hanging low.
Kenji's hand shot out, grabbing Naruto's wrist. His grip was iron-tight.
"You don't need to go anywhere," Kenji said coldly.
He turned to the shopkeeper. The innocent "child" mask was gone. In its place was a look of cold, calculating arrogance that made the old man pause.
"Hey, Old Man," Kenji stepped forward, shielding Naruto. "Watch your mouth. When did Naruto step foot in your store? He is standing on the doormat. Technically, that is public property."
"He's blocking my entrance! He's driving away customers!" the shopkeeper sputtered.
"There are no customers," Kenji pointed to the empty shop. "Unless you count the ghosts of your failed business model. Don't tell me he isn't even allowed to exist in your general vicinity? Is the whole of Konoha yours? Should I check the land deed at the Hokage's office?"
"You... you insolent little..." The shopkeeper turned red, stammering. He couldn't refute the logic, only swallow his irrational anger. "Whatever! Just buy what you want and get that... thing away from here."
"Hmph." Kenji scoffed. "A wise choice."
He marched into the "Adults Only" section—which was just a beaded curtain in the back—while the shopkeeper watched, too flustered to stop a six-year-old.
Kenji scanned the rack. He needed something high-impact. Something with variety.
He grabbed a glossy magazine titled Kunoichi Unmasked: Summer Special.
He walked back to the counter and slammed the money down.
"Keep the change," Kenji said coolly. "Use it to buy a personality."
He grabbed Naruto's arm and marched out.
The shopkeeper stared at their retreating backs, bewildered. "That kid... buying that magazine? At his age? The youth of today are doomed."