Two hours after Kaina's crusade for his well-being, Eichi stirred awake on the rooftop. The cool breeze brushed against his face, and the faint hum of the city below reminded him that he wasn't in his world anymore.
Upon opening his eyes, he saw his clone waiting for him, leaning casually against the rooftop railing. The clone's expression was almost smug.
"So? What happened?" Eichi questioned, his tired eyes already searching for his bento. He hadn't eaten since morning.
The clone shrugged, a small smirk playing on its lips. "Well, I had a pretty eventful conversation. It should solve most of the problems. So, I'd guess that's one annoyance gone."
Eichi raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued despite his irritation. "Oh yeah? And what did you talk about?"
The clone's smirk widened. "Why not discover it yourself?" With that, it dispersed in a puff of smoke, and the memories of the conversation and class session flooded Eichi's mind.
He closed his eyes, processing the memories one by one. The rooftop, Kaina's annoyingness, the heavy questions he'd asked, her stunned silence, and the way she'd tried to reach out to him despite his lack of fuck given. It was all there, vivid and unrelenting.
"Fuck's sake," Eichi muttered under his breath, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a headache. "What a hassle."
She didn't understand—couldn't understand—the kind of world he came from, the kind of choices he'd had to make. And yet, she'd tried. She'd listened, even when he'd thrown impossible questions at her. Even when he'd pushed her away, she'd stayed.
Eichi got to his feet, stretching his stiff muscles as he glanced at the Acedemy. The sun was beginning to set. It was almost peaceful, if not for the storm of thoughts raging in his mind.
"Guess I'll have to deal with her sooner or later," he muttered to himself, grabbing his bento and opening it. The food was cold, but he didn't care.
As he finished his meal and packed up his things, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, he didn't know yet.
"One annoyance down," he muttered to himself. "But the rest of them are still out there."
"Alright," He stood, brushing off his uniform and scanning the campus. His eyes narrowed as he tried to remember the location of the Martial Arts Club. Aiko had mentioned it during their first meeting.
At the time, he'd brushed it off, but now it felt like a necessary step. Contradictory as it was to his original plan of staying isolated, he couldn't deny that his current approach wasn't working.
These people—Kaina, Aiko, and the rest—were too nosy, too persistent. If he continued to push them away, they'd only dig deeper, and that was the last thing he needed.
"Where is it now?" he muttered.
The martial arts department had to be around here somewhere. If he could establish some kind of rapport with Aiko, maybe he could buy himself some peace. Or at least, redirect their meddling into something less intrusive.
It was a risky move, going against his instincts to stay hidden and isolated. But as much as he hated to admit it, he needed their resources. Their training facilities, their time, their connections—all of it could be useful if he wanted to train in silence and prepare. The animals that wanted him dead weren't going to stop chasing him just because he'd crossed into another world. If anything, they'd only grow more desperate.
And as a shinobi, he knew better than to think he could hide in plain daylight forever. Sooner or later, someone would notice.
"Alright," he said, finally spotting the building he was looking for. The martial arts department was on the far side of the campus.
"Let's see how this goes," he muttered, pushing open the door to the Martial Arts Club. The sound of sparring were heard, the rhythmic thud of fists and feet against training dummies filling the air. It was familiar, almost comforting, in a way.
Now, all he had to do was find Aiko and see if she was as serious about that spar as she'd sounded. And if she was... well, he'd just have to make sure she didn't regret it.
Eichi walked into the Martial Arts Club. He scanned the room, his eyes landing on Aiko. She was in the middle of a drill. For a moment, he hesitated. He hadn't exactly been polite to her earlier that day, and showing up now felt... awkward.
But he didn't have time for awkwardness. He needed this. So, he took a deep breath and approached her.
Aiko noticed him almost immediately, her eyes narrowing as she stopped mid-movement. "Eichi," she said, her tone flat. "What are you doing here?"
He shoved his hands into his pockets. "You said something about a spar. I'm here."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "You were pretty clear earlier about not wanting to talk. What changed?"
He shrugged. "I thought about it. Figured it wouldn't hurt to train with someone who's a little familiar with my style. And I could help you too. You don't know that."
Aiko crossed her arms, studying him. "And what if I'm not interested anymore? You weren't exactly friendly earlier."
Eichi winced internally. "Yeah, I know. I'm... not great at this whole 'people' thing. But I'm here now. So, what do you say?"
Aiko stared at him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. But keep it light. I want to improve, not go backward because of injuries."
Eichi nodded. "Fair enough."
They moved to an open mat, and for the next hour, they sparred. It wasn't intense—Aiko made sure of that—but it was productive. Eichi focused on precision and control, showing her techniques of the Uzumaki's style she hadn't seen before. In return, she tried to find flaws to correct him, but surprisingly found none at all.
It was all polished, all neat. At first, she'd thought he was just a muscle freak with no elegance, but now that they were moving slowly, she saw the expertise in his movements. Every strike, every block, every shift of his weight was deliberate and calculated. There was a fluidity to his style that she hadn't expected, something that spoke of years of practice and discipline.
"You're... really good," she admitted reluctantly, pausing to catch her breath. "Where did you learn to fight like this?"
Eichi shrugged. "Around."
Aiko frowned, not satisfied with the vague answer, but she didn't push. Instead, she adjusted her stance and gestured for him to continue. "Alright, show me that last move again. Slowly this time."
He obliged, breaking down the technique step by step.
As they worked through it, Aiko couldn't help but notice how natural it all seemed to him, like fighting was as instinctive as breathing. It was impressive, but also a little unsettling. How had someone his age gotten so skilled?
When they finally stopped, Aiko wiped the sweat from her forehead and gave him a small nod. "Not bad. You're not as much of a lost cause as I thought."
Eichi smiled, though it looked almost strained. "Thanks. I think."
She rolled her eyes but didn't say anything else. For a moment, they just stood there, the tension from earlier slowly fading.
"Look," Eichi said finally, his tone more serious. "About earlier... I didn't mean to be an ass. I was just tired, didn't sleep all that well because of studies and such. So I'm here to apologize."
Aiko raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Studies, huh? You expect me to believe that?"
Eichi shrugged, his expression neutral. "Believe what you want. I'm just saying I didn't mean to come off like that."
She studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Apology accepted. But next time, try not to take it out on me, okay? I'm not your emotional punching bag."
He nodded, feeling a flicker of guilt. "I'll try."
Aiko crossed her arms, her tone softening slightly. "And for what it's worth... you're not as bad as you seem. When you're not being a jerk, anyway."
Eichi almost smiled at that, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment."
With that, they were about to part ways when Haru suddenly entered the club. Upon seeing Eichi, he froze, clearly not expecting him to be here of all places.
Aiko's eyes lit up with mischief as she turned to Eichi. "Oh, I almost forgot. Haru asked me to help him with his weakness. Can you help us out too?"
Eichi turned to her, his deadpan expression clearly showing his frustration. "Almost?"
Aiko grinned. "What? You're already here. Might as well make yourself useful."
Still, as much as he hated that, he knew he had to fix things up with Haru. If he could make the boy feel guilty about the misunderstanding and and apologize to him for his Genjutsu outburst, it might turn him into an ally. Haru might not be incredible on the battlefield, but he could be useful on the home front—someone to deflect questions or vouch for him if needed.
Haru, still standing awkwardly by the door, looked like he wanted to disappear. "Uh, I can come back later if this is a bad time..."
Eichi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No, it's fine. Let's just get this over with."
Aiko clapped her hands together, her grin widening. "Great! Let's see what you've got, Haru."
As Haru reluctantly joined them on the mat, Eichi couldn't help but feel like he'd just walked into a trap.
Haru nodded, though his confidence seemed to be in short supply.
He took a deep breath and assumed a basic stance that Kenta was using, his movements stiff and awkward. Eichi watched silently, his arms crossed, as Haru went through a series of drills. It was clear the boy had potential, but his lack of confidence and precision was holding him back.
While Eichi saw the fighting kata's of Kenta as exceptional, it was glaringly obvious they were designed for self-defense, not aggression. They relied on counterattacks and feints, which could be fatal when facing someone faster or stronger. But that was the flaw of all Taijutsu—technique alone wasn't enough when confronted with raw power or superior speed.
Eichi had an idea. He would start by training his body first, pushing it to the level of a genin within six months. It would be hellish, but he didn't care. After all, when you had chakra in your blood, even if you couldn't use elemental chakra or had an underdeveloped chakra network in certain parts of the body—discarding the area influenced by a Quirk—you could still strengthen your body by training relentlessly and forcing chakra to aid in recovery. It was a brutal process, but it would worked. And if Haru was serious about improving, he'd manage.
Eichi, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "You're too tense. You're focusing so much on getting it right that you're forgetting to breathe. Loosen up."
Haru blinked, surprised by the advice. "Uh... thanks. I'll try that."
Aiko raised an eyebrow, glancing at Eichi. "Well, look at you. Who knew you had a teaching side?"
Eichi shrugged. "Just stating the obvious."
They continued for a while longer, with Eichi occasionally chiming in with short, blunt pointers. Despite his less-than-warm demeanor, his advice was solid, and Haru slowly began to improve.
As Haru caught his breath, Eichi decided it was time to start his body conditioning training. He approached Haru. "Aight, Haru, pay attention. You are butchering it. Learning Martial Arts when you're weak will only hinder you in the long run. Yes, you'll be efficient in a fight with someone who doesn't have destructive abilities, like Sakura. But against opponents like Kenta—with his overwhelming speed and strength—you'll do nothing, no matter how much you train your techniques."
Haru frowned, clearly confused. "So... what are you saying? That I shouldn't train in Martial arts?"
Eichi shook his head. "No. I'm saying you need to build your body first. Strength, speed, endurance—those are the foundations. Without them, your techniques won't mean much. You'll just be a polished fighter with no power behind your punches."
Aiko nodded. "He's got a point, Haru. You can't rely on technique alone. You need to be strong enough to back it up."
Haru looked between them, still unsure. "So... what's the plan?"
"You train. Hard. Every day. No excuses. If you're serious about getting stronger, you'll put in the work. If not, then don't waste our time."
Haru hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll do it."
Aiko raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Our? The anti-social expert is including me in his problems? That's touching."
Eichi shot her a flat look. "It was you who threw me into this mess. I had to fix up the disaster in front of me in case we happen to be working together after we graduate."
Aiko laughed, clearly enjoying his irritation. "Oh, so now you're thinking about the future? Look at you, being all responsible."
Eichi rolled his eyes. "Fuck off."
Haru, who had been watching the exchange with a mix of confusion and amusement, finally spoke up. "So... what's the first step?"
Eichi turned to him, his expression serious. "Tomorrow morning. Meet me at the training grounds at 4 a.m. Don't be late, and I would suggest you don't eat anything."
At this, Aiko raised her eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because it would be wasting food when you throw it up, even common sense is lacking in you guys." he said shrugging.
Aiko's grin faltered for a moment, replaced by a look of mild offense. "Excuse me? Who do you think you're talking to? I've been through tougher training than whatever you're planning, trust me."
Eichi gave her a flat stare, unimpressed. "Sure you have. That's why were struggling to keep up."
"Alright bet. If you think your little training regimen is going to break me, you've got another thing coming."
Eichi shot her a look. "You're not invited."
She shrugged, unfazed. "Too bad. I'm coming anyway."
Eichi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Why do I even bother?"
Haru, caught between the two, looked increasingly nervous. "Uh... should I be worried?"
Eichi turned to him, his expression dead serious. "Yes. But if you want to get stronger, you don't have a choice. So, be there at 4 a.m. sharp. If you're late, I'm leaving without you."
Haru swallowed hard but nodded. "Alright. I'll be there."
Aiko crossed her arms, her smirk returning. "Well, since you're so confident, Eichi, why don't we make this interesting? If Haru and I survive your little boot camp, you owe us something. A favor, yeah?"
Eichi raised an eyebrow. "And if you don't?"
"Then we'll owe you," Aiko shot back, her tone challenging. "But let's be real—you're not going to break us."
Eichi's lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smirk forming. "We'll see about that. But fine, I'll play along. Just don't come crying to me when you regret it."
Aiko laughed, clearly enjoying herself. "Oh, this is going to be fun. I can't wait."
Eichi didn't respond, already turning to leave. But before he did, he called out to Haru. "Haru, come here. We need to talk."
Haru froze, his heart skipping a beat. He glanced at Aiko, who raised an eyebrow and gave him a playful shrug. "Looks like you're on the hot seat now. Good luck."
Swallowing hard, Haru jogged after Eichi, who was already halfway out the door.
"Uh, what did you want to talk about?" Haru asked, his voice tinged with nervousness. He wasn't sure what to expect—Eichi wasn't exactly the type to have casual conversations.
Eichi didn't answer immediately, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he led Haru down the hallway.
Finally, Eichi stopped near a set of large windows overlooking the training grounds. He turned to face Haru, his expression unreadable but lacking the Locker room's intensity that had made Haru's blood run cold.
"Yesterday," Eichi began, "I overreacted. That wasn't necessary, and I apologize."
Haru blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected an apology—not from Eichi. "Uh... it's fine," he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, I was kind of prying, so... I get it."
"No, it's not fine. I let my frustration get the better of me, and that's on me. But there's something you need to understand."
Eichi crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Your Quirk—your ability to see through and cast illusions—it's not just a tool. It's a weapon. And if you're not careful, it's going to get you into trouble."
"What do you mean? I've always thought of it as... I don't know, a way to see the truth. To help people."
Eichi's lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smirk. "That's a naive way to look at it. The truth isn't always something people want to see. And when you force it on them, they'll push back. Hard."
Haru's frown deepened, his confusion giving way to a flicker of frustration. "But I thought that I was the only one who could cast illusions. My Quirk is pretty rare, after all." Then his eyes widened, a sudden realization dawning on him. "Wait, by the way... you have two Quirks?"
Eichi's smirk faded, replaced by a look of mild irritation. "You could say that."
Haru's eyes widened further, his curiosity now fully ignited. "Wait, seriously? Two Quirks? But... that's extremly rare. Everyone knows you can only have one Quirk. That's, like, the rule."
Eichi's expression didn't change "Rules are just guidelines. And in my case, they don't apply."
"But... how? How is that even possible? Did you, like, inherit two Quirks or something? Or is it some kind of mutation?"
Eichi's lips twitched again, the faintest hint of amusement returning. "It's not a mutation. And it's not inheritance, either. It's... complicated."
Haru's frustration boiled over, his hands gesturing wildly. "Complicated? That's all you're going to give—"
"Haru," Eichi interrupted sharply.
Haru froze mid-sentence, his mouth snapping shut. "You pried too much yesterday, and you said so yourself. Stop pushing it."
Haru blinked, his frustration giving way to guilt. "I... yeah, you're right. Sorry."
Eichi exhaled slowly. "Let's not dwell on that. Instead, let me explain it through my illusion. Try to lessen the energy going through your eyes."
"Y-yeah, of course. But... how do I do that?"
Eichi raised an eyebrow, his tone dry. "How do you feel when you cast an illusion?"
Haru hesitated, his brow furrowing as he thought about it. "Well... I guess it's like focusing on something, but also... letting go? It's hard to explain."
Eichi sighed. "Alright, that's no biggie. Just prepare yourself and don't fight the illusion, alright?"
Haru nodded, though he still looked uncertain. "Alright."
As Eichi waved his hands in a series of hand signs, Haru frowned, not understanding what he was doing. After all, hand signs were nonexistent in this world—a result of the lack of knowledge about chakra and its applications.
Eichi's world had been fortunate to have the Sage of Six Paths pass down hand signs, but here, such methodes were unheard of.
Before Haru could ask any questions, the world around them shifted. The hallway, replaced by a dimly lit alleyway. The air was dusty, the faint sound of distant sirens echoing in the background.
Standing in front of them was a figure—Haru, but not quite. This version of Haru was dressed in a sleek red outfit, his hair tied back with a small pair of sunglasses perched on his head.
His eyes, however, were the most striking feature. They glowed faintly, a red ring in an ocean of darkness.
"What I will show you," Eichi said, his voice echoing slightly in the illusionary space, "is your potential."
Haru stared at the other version of himself, his mouth slightly agape. "Is that... me?"
Eichi nodded. "In a way. This is what you could become if you learn to use your Quirk—and your eyes—to their fullest potential."
The scene shifted again, and suddenly the alleyway was alive with action. The illusionary Haru was facing off against a villain—a hulking figure with a Quirk that seemed to enhance his strength and size.
The villain lunged forward, his fists swinging wildly, but the Haru in the illusion moved with a fluid grace, his eyes tracking every movement.
As the villain threw a punch, Haru's eyes flickered, and the villain's fist seemed to veer off course, missing him by inches.
The villain growled, swinging again, but each attack was subtly altered, his movements just slightly off, as if Haru's eyes were manipulating his perception of space and distance.
Haru watched in awe as his illusionary self dodged and weaved, occasionally pretending to get hit to trick the villain into a false sense of security.
"This," Eichi voice echoed, "is what it means to fight like someone who truly understands their Quirk. Your eyes aren't just for seeing through illusions—they're for creating them. For altering your opponent's perception, making them miss, making them doubt themselves. And when the time is right, you strike."
The illusionary Haru finally made his move, darting forward and landing a precise blow to the villain's temple. The villain crumpled to the ground, unconscious, and the scene faded back to the alleyway.
Haru was speechless. "That... that was incredible. But how? How did he—I mean, how did I—do that?"
Eichi's lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smirk returning. "By understanding how your Quirk works and pushing it to its limits. Your eyes aren't just a tool—they're a weapon. And if you learn to use them properly, you can do things most people would fawn over."
Before Haru could respond, the scene shifted again. This time, they were on a busy street, the illusionary Haru running at full speed, his glowing eyes scanning the area.
The energy of the crowd seemed to blur around him, but his focus was on someone else. He was tracking someone—a villain who had just committed a crime and was trying to escape.
As Haru watched, his illusionary self used his eyes to spot the faint traces of energy left behind by the villain, following the trail with pinpoint accuracy. The villain ducked into an alley, but Haru was already there, cutting him off.
The villain tried to fight back, but Haru's eyes flickered again, altering the villain's perception just enough to throw him off balance. A quick strike to the pressure point, and the villain was down.
The scene faded, and Haru found himself back in hallway, his heart racing. He turned to Eichi, his eyes wide with awe. "That... that was amazing. But how do I even start learning something like that?"
Eichi's smirk widened. "Like I said, by training. By pushing yourself harder than you ever have before. About using everything to your advantage."
Haru nodded, his expression serious. "I'm ready. Teach me."
Eichi's gaze softened. "Like I said, tomorrow."
Haru's eyes grew teary, his emotions bubbling to the surface. He bowed deeply. "Thank you, really, thank you so much. I was already having doubts about my career as a Hero, and you... you gave me hope."
Eichi blinked, caught off guard by the sudden display of emotion. He shifted slightly, his usual stoic demeanor faltering for just a moment. "Aaalright, that's enough," he said, his voice gruff. "Get your ass up tomorrow, and we'll see about that."
Haru straightened, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, but his grin was unmistakable. "I'll be there. I won't let you down."
Eichi sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You'd better not. Now go home and get some rest. You're going to need it."
Haru nodded, still grinning, before turning and heading down the hallway. Eichi watched him go, his expression unreadable.
Haru was... different. He wasn't like the others—nosy, overbearing, or overly competitive. He was earnest, determined, and, most importantly, willing to listen.
In a way, he reminded Eichi of the past, of a time when he himself had been as determined and naive as Haru was now. Back then, Eichi had believed in the ideals of his clan, in the promise of a future where strength and love would be enough to protect the ones he cared about.
But that was before the war, before he had been forced to confront the harsh realities of the world.
Haru's optimism was a double-edged sword. It could drive him to achieve greatness, to push past his limits and become someone extraordinary.
But it could also blind him, leaving him vulnerable to the kind of pain and disillusionment that had shaped Eichi into who he was now. Whether Haru would change for the worse, like Eichi had, or for the better, like Izuna—who had clung to his optimism even in the face of certain death—was up to him. Eichi could guide him, but he couldn't control the outcome.
He sighed, leaning against the wall. "Shit," he muttered under his breath. "One variable down, I guess."
---
The next morning, Haru arrived at the training grounds just before 4 a.m, his stomach growling in protest from skipping breakfast.
He scanned the area, but Eichi was nowhere to be seen.
For a moment, Haru felt a flicker of doubt. Had he misunderstood? Had Eichi changed his mind?
But then he shook his head, pushing the thought aside. Eichi wasn't the type to back out of something like this. If he said they were training at 4 a.m, then they were training at 4 a.m. Haru just had to be patient.
Meanwhile, Eichi was elsewhere, stretching casually as if he'd been awake for hours.
He had considered making Haru and Aiko wait for an hour—a test of their patience and commitment. After all, in a mission, intel was often vague, and suggestions from employers—or even Kage—were just that: suggestions. It was up to the shinobi to read between the lines, to anticipate, to adapt.
But as he stretched, Eichi reconsidered. Making them wait unnecessarily would only breed frustration, not discipline. And while he wanted to prepare them for the unpredictability of real missions, he also knew that trust was a fragile thing.
If he wanted Haru and Aiko to follow his lead, he couldn't afford to alienate them with pointless tests. Besides, he wasn't their Kage. He wasn't even their sensei. He was just a student, like them, trying to navigate this strange world and survive.
So, instead of leaving them to wait in the cold, Eichi decided to head to the training grounds.
By the time he arrived, Haru was pacing nervously.
"Yo," Eichi said, his voice cutting through the silence.
Haru jumped, startled, before turning to face him. "Eichi! I thought... I mean, I wasn't sure if—"
"Relax," Eichi interrupted, his tone dry. "I'm here, innit?"
Haru nodded, his nervousness giving way to relief. "Yeah. I just... didn't want to be late."
Eichi's lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smirk. "Good. Being late is a good way to get yourself demoted. But being too early isn't much better. You'll just tire yourself out before the real work begins."
Haru blinked, his brow furrowing. "Wait, so... should I not have come early?"
Eichi shrugged. "It's not about coming early or late. It's about being ready. And right now, you're not."
Haru opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. He knew better than to question Eichi—at least, not right now. Instead, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his thoughts. "Alright. So... what do I do?"
Eichi's smirk softened slightly, and he reached into his bag, pulling out a neatly wrapped bento box. "For starters, stop overthinking. And don't skip breakfast. I got you this. Eat it after training—you'll need it."
Haru stared at the bento, his eyes widening in surprise. "You... got me food?"
Eichi raised an eyebrow. "Don't make it weird. You're no good to anyone if you're running on empty. Now, while we wait for Aiko, let me tell you what we're about to do."
Haru nodded, clutching the bento like it was some kind of treasure. "Okay. What's the plan?"
Eichi crossed his arms. "First and foremost, we're fixing your muscle mass. Let's face it, Haru—you're a twig. If you're going to keep up, you need to get stronger. And not just stronger, but durable. You can't rely on your Quirk alone if your body can't handle the strain."
Haru's cheeks flushed, but he didn't argue. He knew Eichi was right. Compared to most of their classmates, he was... well, scrawny. "Alright," he said, his voice steady despite his embarrassment. "What's first?"
Eichi's smirk returned. "We'll start with the basics. Strength training, endurance, and flexibility. You're not going to like it, but if you stick with it, you'll see results. And once your body can handle it, we'll move on to more advanced techniques."
Haru nodded, his determination hardening. "I'm ready."
Eichi studied him for a moment. "Good. But don't say I didn't warn you. This isn't going to be easy."
Before Haru could respond, the sound of footsteps reached their ears. Aiko appeared a moment later, her hair tied back in a messy ponytail and a bored look on her face. She glanced between Eichi and Haru, her grin widening. "Did I miss anything?"
"Just Haru learning the importance of not skipping breakfast," Eichi said, his tone dry.
Aiko laughed, her energy already filling the space. "Well, I'm here now. Let's get started."
Eichi nodded. "Alright. Let's begin."