Chapter 1: Hamada Shin

The Village Hidden in the Leaves was alive with its usual bustle. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees surrounding the village, casting dappled shadows on the cobblestone streets. Laughter filled the air—the carefree laughter of children who had yet to taste the bitterness of reality. Their voices mingled with the steady hum of life in Konoha. Women stood in small groups outside shops, chatting and exchanging news while shopkeepers called out to passersby, hawking their goods. A stray cat darted across the street, pursued by an overly enthusiastic toddler, much to the amusement of onlookers.

Above it all, the Hokage Monument stood proud, carved into the mountainside, a testament to the strength and legacy of the village. The faces of the four Hokage gazed down upon their people—Hashirama Senju, the founder of Konoha, with his serene and steady expression; Tobirama Senju, his brother, known for his unyielding discipline; Hiruzen Sarutobi, the wise Third Hokage; and Minato Namikaze, the beloved Fourth, his youthful visage a reminder of sacrifices made not long ago. The monument was a symbol of protection, pride, and the weight of duty that each leader carried.

Inside the Ninja Academy, a boy sat by the window, his green hair catching the sunlight as it framed his slender figure. His gaze was fixed on the distant Hokage Monument, his emerald eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and longing. This was Shin Hamada, a boy whose quiet presence often went unnoticed, yet his features, striking and delicate, almost rivaled even those of Uchiha Sasuke, the most admired boy in the whole academy.

Shin's expression was pensive, a stark contrast to the chatter and clamor of his classmates behind him. His thoughts wandered far beyond the walls of the academy, to dreams of a future where he would stand as a protector, just like the faces carved into the mountain.

"Shin-kun!"

A sudden voice shattered his thoughts, pulling Shin back to the present. He blinked and turned away from the window, his focus landing on a girl standing hesitantly by his desk.

It was Ayaka Mori, a classmate known for her bubbly energy and persistent enthusiasm. She had sleek black hair that fell neatly past her shoulders, framing her bright golden eyes, which seemed to glow with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Her features, though not strikingly beautiful, had a certain grace to them—a delicate face with a small, shy smile that revealed her sincerity. Her confident air was offset by the way her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve.

"I-I was just wondering if you wanted to pair up for kunai practice later?" she asked, her voice a little higher than usual, her eyes darting to the side as if to avoid meeting his gaze.

Shin tilted his head slightly, the corner of his mouth curving into a faint, knowing smile. He could see right through her. Ayaka thought she'd kept her crush a secret, but her frequent glances, nervous giggles, and the way her friends teased her around him made it painfully obvious.

"Sure," he replied, his tone casual but not dismissive. "It's better than being paired with someone who doesn't take it seriously."

Ayaka's eyes lit up, and a rosy blush crept onto her cheeks. "R-Really? That's great! I mean, uh... great!" She clasped her hands together in front of her, clearly struggling to contain her excitement, before scurrying back to her desk.

Shin watched her go, shaking his head slightly. She might think she was being subtle, but it was hard to miss. Still, her sincerity was... endearing, in a way.

...

The training field buzzed with energy as the Academy students took their places for kunai practice. Rows of wooden targets stood at varying distances, their red bullseyes beckoning challengers. The sun, now peeking through the clouds, cast a warm glow over the grounds, and the faint rustling of leaves added to the atmosphere of concentrated effort.

Shin stood beside Ayaka at their assigned station. His emerald-green hair gleamed in the sunlight, and his expression, as always, was calm—perhaps too calm. Ayaka stole a quick glance at him, brushing a strand of her dark brown hair behind her ear. Her golden eyes sparkled with a mix of determination and nervousness. Though she was decent at kunai throwing, she always felt a flicker of self-doubt when practicing alongside others, especially Shin.

"Alright, everyone!" Iruka-sensei's voice carried across the field. "Focus on accuracy. Remember, technique over power. Take your time and aim carefully."

Ayaka nodded, gripping her kunai tightly. She took a step forward, steadying her stance, and fixed her gaze on the wooden target ahead. With a swift motion, she hurled the weapon through the air. It struck the target solidly—not the bullseye, but close enough.

"Not bad!" she muttered to herself, smiling a little.

"Your turn, Shin," she said, stepping back. She fully expected him to miss or, at best, hit the outer rings of the target. Shin wasn't exactly known for his physical skills, and she had seen him struggle before during practice.

Shin picked up a kunai lazily, holding it as though it were just another mundane object. His posture was relaxed, almost disinterested, but his green eyes held a glimmer of focus as he took aim.

He adjusted his grip and threw the kunai. It flew through the air with precision and embedded itself near the bullseye, just a few millimeters shy of the center.

Shin allowed himself a moment to take in the result, the faintest hint of satisfaction lighting his features. All that hard work paid off, he thought, gripping another kunai. Since the start of the academy, he had practiced kunai throwing over and over again, long after the lessons had ended. Day after day, he had honed his aim and control, slowly but surely getting the hang of it.

With an effortless flick of his wrist, he threw again. And again. Each kunai hit near the same spot—close to perfect, bordering on flawless.

Ayaka blinked, her mouth opening slightly in surprise.

"What...?" she whispered, watching him pick up another kunai and repeat the process. His consistency was almost mechanical, yet it didn't feel forced.

"Shin!" she finally exclaimed after his fourth throw. "When did you get so strong?"

Shin turned his head toward her, his expression unchanging, though the corner of his lips twitched as if holding back a smile. He shrugged casually.

"I dunno," he said, his tone light, almost lazy. "Just happened, I guess."

Ayaka stared at him, her golden eyes wide with amazement. Her heart raced as a flush of color crept into her cheeks. She'd always admired Shin for his calm demeanor, but now, seeing his hidden talent on full display, her admiration deepened.

He turned back to the targets, oblivious—or so she thought—to the effect he was having on her. Ayaka, however, could feel her growing fondness for him taking root, and no matter how much she tried to focus on her own kunai throws, her thoughts kept drifting back to Shin.

"Alright, let's see what else you've got," she said with a playful smirk, trying to mask her feelings.

Shin simply nodded, already picking up another kunai, his calmness as steady as ever.

...

The academy day had finally ended, and the sun hung low in the sky, bathing the streets of Konoha in a warm, golden light. Students spilled out of the building in small groups, their chatter and laughter filling the air. Shin walked alone, blending into the background as he often did, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

As he neared the academy gates, a familiar voice called out to him, halting his steps.

"Shin! Wait up!"

He turned to see Ayaka hurrying toward him, her long, dark brown hair bouncing slightly with each step. She stopped just short of him, a hint of pink coloring her cheeks as she caught her breath.

"What is it?" Shin asked, his voice calm and detached.

Ayaka hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "I... was wondering if you could walk me home," she said, her words coming out in a rush.

Shin blinked, studying her with a curious expression.

"My parents usually come to pick me up," she explained quickly, her gaze flickering away from his. "But they're busy today, and, um... I don't really want to walk home alone."

Shin tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing just a bit. He wasn't convinced. Ayaka wasn't the type to scare easily, and something about her tone gave her away. He could tell there was more to her request than she was letting on.

Still, he shrugged. "Alright."

Ayaka's face lit up, and she fell into step beside him as they left the academy together. The streets of Konoha were quieter now, with most villagers wrapping up their day. The faint aroma of freshly baked bread wafted from a nearby shop, mixing with the scent of blooming flowers carried by the evening breeze.

As they walked, Ayaka stole glances at Shin. His face was composed, as usual, and his strides were even and unhurried. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous walking beside him, though she wasn't sure why.

"So," she began tentatively, trying to break the silence, "you don't mind walking me home?"

"No," Shin replied simply, his tone as indifferent as ever.

Ayaka pressed her lips together, wishing he'd say more. After a moment, she tried again. "You were really amazing today, you know. At kunai practice, I mean. I don't think anyone expected you to be that good."

Shin glanced at her briefly, then looked ahead. "I've been practicing," he said, his voice calm.

"Why didn't you tell me before then? For how long?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"Since the start of the academy," he admitted.

Ayaka blinked in surprise. "That long?"

Shin gave a small nod. "Took a while, but it's finally paying off."

Ayaka smiled softly. She could sense the quiet determination behind his words, even if he didn't outright say it.

They continued walking, the silence between them growing more comfortable. Eventually, Ayaka gathered the courage to ask something that had been on her mind for a while.

"Shin..." she began hesitantly.

"Hmm?"

"What about your mom? I never see her around... Does she pick you up sometimes?"

Shin didn't stop walking, and his expression remained neutral, though there was a brief flicker of something in his eyes. "She's... dead," he said, his voice steady.

Ayaka froze for half a second, her breath catching in her throat. "Oh," she murmured, guilt washing over her. "I... I'm so sorry, Shin. I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," he interrupted, glancing at her with a faint, almost serene smile. "It happened a long time ago."

Ayaka stared at him, her chest tightening. There was no sadness in his voice, no anger or bitterness—just quiet acceptance. She felt a pang of admiration for him, for the strength it must have taken to carry on like this.

"But... doesn't it hurt to talk about it?" she asked softly.

Shin shrugged. "What's the point of dwelling on something I can't change?"

Ayaka looked down, her fingers gripping the fabric of her sleeve. She didn't know what to say, but she wanted to say something. "You're... stronger than I thought," she said quietly.

When they reached her home, Ayaka stopped at the gate, turning to face him. "Thank you for walking me home, Shin," she said, her voice soft.

Shin nodded, his face calm and unreadable. "See you tomorrow," he said before turning to leave.

Ayaka watched him go, her heart heavy with unspoken words. For all his quiet strength and calm demeanor, Shin Hamada was a puzzle she couldn't help but want to solve.

...to be continued.

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The author here! How was the first chapter? Hope you liked it (Also, please be lenient with me, english is not my first language).

Be sure to check my original novel, Hyperborea, you won't regret it!