CH 7: Recognition Ceremony

It is now the start of the classes and it's been a little over a week after the recognition day.

I am currently walking towards the academy with a bickering red-head beside me.

"Say, Kaito! Aren't you excited to meet all of our fans?"

Souma asked me enthusiastically as he tries to match my pace while walking.

"Oh? Not really Souma-kun, and I don't think any of the people in the academy are our fans at all"

I answered with a fake cheery expression.

(Hyssssss, this guy really won't shut up huh?)

I thought annoyed at this red-head's arrogant bickering.

"Why though? Weren't so many people cheering when you and i walked up the stage last week?"

Souma tried to prove his egotistical claims.

I stopped walking to look at Souma with an annoyed smile.

"Souma-kun, Just because they were applauding us during the recognition, doesn't mean they're our fans"

I explained to him.

"Hmm..."

He grabbed his chin to think.

"Maybe you're right....but maybe you aren't!"

He insisted and then he turned to look at the path and continued walking cheerfully again.

I also continued walking with a tired expression.

"*Sighs*"

I sighed tired of Souma's cheerful behaviour.

However despite that, I still worked up my expression.

(But remember, being close to him isn't all for a naught at all.. who wouldn't want to have such a rich friend? Hehe)

I thought with a devious expression as I continued walking, looking at the red-head's golden bracelets and his newly-issued branded shoes.

(Who would've thought that he'd have such a rich father)

I mused as I look back at my memories from last week.

---FLASHBACK TO LAST WEEK---

Many people were seated at their respective seats while facing the empty stage as they were talking while waiting for the recognition program to start.

Me, Hae-chan, and Souma were seated at the front along with some other examinees. While Minato-nii, Hae-chan's mother and father, and Souma's father were sitting right behind us as our respective guardians.

I turned around to look at Minato-nii to request for him to hand me a bottle of water, but then I noticed Hae-chan's parent who were both looking at me with their white eyes.

I also noticed a weird tattoo on the both of their foreheads, but I refrained from asking about that for now because it might just be a preference thing.

After analyzing them, I waved my hands at the both of them.

"Hello"

I greeted them shyly.

*BADUMP*

My heart thumped loudly in my surprise.

(What the?..... This...this was the same feeling i had when i first looked at Hae and the Hyuga proctor fromm the exams--)

I was thinking worriedly as i touch my chest, until suddenly, Hae's father responded to my greetings, cutting my train of thought short.

"So you must be Kaito-kun whom our Hae-chan has been talking about"

The father talked first.

"U-uh yes, nice to meet you Hyuga-sama"

I nervously greeted back.

"Honey, haven't you realized? You are currently sitting beside Minato-kun the Konoha Genius! "

Hae-chan's mother nudged her husband and she then smiled and waved at Minato-nii while he also waved back.

"U-uhh you didn't really have to exaggerate that.."

Minato told Hae's mother while scratching his head shyly.

Hae-chan's father turned his gaze away from me to look at Nii-san and he then smiled and waved at him.

"And you must be Minato-kun's younger brother! It really is so nice to meet the genius Namikaze brothers whom I have been hearing about! My name is Hyuga Erina and this is my hubby Satoru"

Erina introduced themselves to the both of us.

Hae finally found out what was going on behind her, so she also turned around with a worried expression.

"We have been hearing about the both of you from our Hae-chan for the past few days! She really does idolize Minato-kun too much, and now that she found out that she's batchmates with Kaito-kun here, she has been so joyous these days"

Erina told us while smiling.

After hearing her mom tell her idol about stuff that she deems as super embarassing to be exposed, Hae coldly glared at her mom with her already soulless-looking white eyes.

"Mom....."

She coldly stated with a dark expression.

Erina barely took a hint about her own daughter planning her demise, but on the bright side, her dad, Satoru, was able to sense this impending disaster, so he had to take matters with his own hands and intervene to thaw his daughter's ice-cold eyes away from her own mom.

"Lo-look here Minato-kun and Kaito-kun, do you think our daughter here could use a spar with Kaito?"

Satoru said with the intent to distract his daughter from her anger.

Hae heard this beautiful request her dad was making with the Namikaze brothers, which immediately thawed her cold expression to return to her slightly warm demeanor as she turns to look at both me and Minato with starry eyes.

"U-umm i don't-"

Minato tried to politely refuse but was soon cut off by Erina.

"Oh yes! that would be very delightful, i'm sure our Hae-chan here would be glad to do so"

Erina backed up her husband's request with a smile.

"Umm..."

I pondered about on how to approach this situation.

Seeing this, Satoru was finally able to heave a sigh of relief.

--Satoru POV--

After heaving a sigh of relief, i turned to look at the poor Namikaze brothers with teary eyes of sympathy, whom i have both used to tranquillise my daughter's wrath.

(Gomene! Kaito-kun and Minato-kun! Next time i'll treat the both of you to some meal just to relieve me of my own guilt)

I pleaded and apologized inwardly.

--MC POV--

I then finally decided to accept the request, since my schedule isn't even that full anyways.

"I guess i will consider it, and after all it is a good thing to be able to fight with a Hyuga for once, am i right? Nii-san?"

I accepted and turned to look at Nii-san for approval.

"I- i guess..."

Minato rescinded with a defeated expression.

(What's wrong with him?)

I asked inwardly, curious about why big brother became upset of me accepting the spar request.

(Hmm.. i'll just ask him about it later)

I decided inwardly as i turn back around to face the stage again.

After turning around, i could then hear Hae and her parents bugging Minato to tell them about himself, to which he weakly accepted from pressure.

(Minato-nii is still an over-all introvert after all, poor him for becoming too popular, an introvert's worst nightmare)

I sympathized with him inwardly, with a fake tear rushing down my cheeks.

Before turning around, i noticed Souma's father, he then noticed me observing him, and turned to look at me. A frowning expression was displayed on his face as he was looking at the Hokage before he turned towards me with a creepy smile. And despite him sitting beside Minato-nii, he didn't even try to acknowledge my famous brother and haven't even sent any greetings to him.

(He seems to be a rich man, by looking at his outfit, which makes the possibility that he knows my brother high. And looking at him now, he gives me the brooding prideful demeanor that reminds me of someone i knew back in my previous life)

I pondered as i observe him.

"Nice to meet you, Kaito-kun, Souma had told me so many things about you, including the fact that you were the only one who wanted to talk to him during the exams"

He introduced himself and told me some stuff about Souma, and of course, with a creepy smile.

"Nice to meet you too, Kurozawa-san--"

"Shintori, Kurozawa Shintori, Kaito-kun.."

He interrupted my greetings.

(Though he looks really rich by looking at his Limited Edition watch and his shoes...maybe i could make some connections..)

I thought with an inner devious smile.

"Souma-kun really is the opposite of you, Shintori-san, while he is energetic, you seem to be a composed man!"

I complimented him with a kidly demeanor.

"And you seem to be quite a sensible child for your age, Kaito-kun"

He creepily complimented me back, and of course, with his complimentary devious smiley face that looks like he has been scheming his whole entire life.

"Arigatou, Shintori-san, though i do always get that from people, but really, isn't it normal for kids in our chakra-filled world to mature much early? I mean, even other civillian kids the same age as me might be already working some day to day jobs...."

I further showcased my intelligence to him.

He smiled much wider this time, which gave me the signal that i ahd further piqued his interest.

"I suppose so Kaito-kun..."

He agreed with a short reply, hinting that he wanted to end the conversation already.

(I guess he'll take a little longer to conquer unlike others, though i know it wouldn't take too long...hehe)

Another devious thought crossed my mind again as i was turning around to face the stage.

As i am now facing the stage, I was shocked that Hiruzen the Third Hokage has actually been there on the stage all this time.

The Hokage seems to have already been on the stage since earlier, waiting for the audience' noises to pipe down a little bit.

After noticing the Hokage on the stage, Hae's parents and Nii-san along with the other guardians, examinees and the rest of the audiences silenced down to listen to what he has to say.

(Such admiration and respect)

I inwardly exclaimed, observing the 360 degrees change of the atmosphere in the program with the man in the center of it all, Sarutobi Hiruzen the respected and admired Third Hokage.

He was appointed by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, prior to the latter's death from being assassinated by rogue Kumo-nins.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, hails from the Sarutobi clan, a clan that is famous for the multi-elemental ninjutsu capabilities of their members, and adding to those facts are their connection to the Monkey clan, a summoning animal clan that lives in a separate dimension from earth. The Monkeys of this clan are all somewhat compatible with most of the members born in the Sarutobi clan.

But Hiruzen's famous name does not only come from his clan, he has a separate title that he gained right after the death of the brother of his Sensei, Senju Hashirama, the title being the 'God of Shinobi'. He was given this title by the Daimyos and other Kages of other countries and villages due to his immense display of strength whenever he goes on the Shinobi War battlefields.

Another title of his is 'The Professor', he was given this title because of his enormous knowledge reserves of many ninjutsus, taijutsus, genjutsus, and even iryojutsus.

"Our Konoha is a wonderful village where geniuses sprouts nearly every single year---"

Hiruzen began his formal speech.

After a while the recognized were finally called., but it was now the principal who will do the announcing.

"And now for the third ranked, let us call Hyuga Hae!"

The Principal announced.

After announcing her name, the audience applauded, and the cheers were mostly concentrated on the Hyuga section of the audience, of course including Hae's parents, who were then also called to the stage.

Hae walked up to the stage and shook hands with the Hokage and the principal, she then received her certificate and medal from the Hyuga patriarch and some other clan patriarchs.

Her parents hugged her on the stage, which made her fume with embarassment. She then hurriedly went down the stage, leaving her parents with the Hokage and the other patriarchs in shock.

"U-umm Hokage-sama, Principal-sama, Hinosuke-sama, and Noble-samas, please forgive my impudent daughter's lashing, she must've been a little shocked at our public display..."

Erina apologized in her daughter's stead.

"Oh don't you worry Erina and Satoru, your daughter might be shy but she is the pride of our clan's batch for this year!"

Hyuga Hinosuke assured Erina enthusiastically.

The other patriarchs nodded right after.

"Hinosuke is right, you have nothing to worry about"

Hiruzen further added onto Hinosuke's statement.

After the quick chat, Hae's mother along with her husband went down the stage with faces full of embarassment and rage as they approached their daughter.

(Oh you will get it Hae-chan! I know that this is your day of pride, but you are being too much!)

Erina's thoughts as she approached and glared right into her daughter's eyes.

Satoru coukd only look at the two Kunoichi of his family in nervousness.

After arriving at her seat, Erina began scolding Hae about her impudent behavior earlier, which the latter outright ignored as she looked at me while smiling.

(He-hey! don't pull me in on that, that's your problem)

I thought nervously.

"And for the second place, let us call upon Kurozawa Souma! please come onto the stage"

The principal announced this time.

Afer hearing his name, Souma rushed onto the stage without even waitint for his father to catch up to him.

I could only look at the two with cringe, as then suddenly Shintori looked back at me with a smile as he strides towards the stage.

(huuuuuh, that guy really creeps me out, maybe it might've been a mistake that i piqued his interests more.....No! he is going to be a valuable asset for me in the future, and plus, i have my strong brother with me)

The same thing with Hae happened to Souma, but this time, it was Souma and his energetic and lively personality happily handshaking with the Hokage and the clan patriarchs, as he jumpingly receive his awards.

But another difference was the fact that no hugging between Souma's father and him happened in the stage, because Souma just hurriedly but happily skipped from the stage's stairs unto his seat.

He noticed my gaze at him, so he turned to look at me and smiled with his shiny teeth, completely ignoring his father that was still on the stage approaching.

(Is there an issue between these two? like a daddy issue?... Whatever, it is none of my beeswax)

I mused at the fact that i got a hint of the relationship between the father and son.

"And for the 1st place!...Namikaze Kaito!!!"

It was the Hokage this time that announces my name, though with a bit of the tone of being biased.

(How energetic for an old man)

*Chuckles*

I chuckled as i went up the stage along with onii-san.

There was a loud cheering everywhere, and bright lights were being projected from the chakra crystal-powered spotlights combined with the daylight. These details were enough to intimidate and overwhelm a novice in the aspects of stage speeches, but for me, who have been in so many hearings, presentations, national assemblies and more of the such that were all for my companies and connections, this was a piece of cake.

Perhaps in this life, i was destined to become a super famous person again, considering my flourishing physical appearance combined with my ninja skills and talents in this war-torn world.

After handshaking with the Hokage, the principal, and the clan leaders, and receiving my trinket, medals, and certificates from them, i was called onto the podium for a surprise speech.

(It was a good thing that Minato-nii told me to prepare for a speech, as he was informed by Jiraiya-sama about the proceedings of the program beforehand)

Relieving thoughts entered my mind as i clear my throat for my speech.

Silence descended upon the audience as they respectfully and patiently wait for what the new rising prodigy has to say about his achievements.

"It is an honor for me to be called upon this glorious stage facing all of you, as it is an honorable time for me to stand amongst our famous and powerful leaders."

I spoke as i looked towards the Hokage and the clan patriarchs.

"I am extremely grateful that i have been granted the highest ranking here in the gates where i will begin my step forwards and towards becoming a fulfilling Shinobi of our village..."

I orated and paused.

"But this is still far from our beginning, this is still a distance away from our dreams of becoming a ninja, and this is still not the first step up the stairs of success that all of us who have finished the exams wish to attain..."

"But after a another but, i assure you that you have done atleast a stride, all of us, me, and you, all of us at the very least, have done something that might lead us to the lights of happiness"

"So my prayers, wishes, and manifestations for all of us, is that we would, should, and could keep heading towards that headband, that headband that shan't determine our success, but will surely and shall effectively guide us towards our meaning, our truth, regardless if we don't continue being a ninja in the future..."

I bowed my head after i finished my poorly-made speech.

*Wind Howls*

The sounds of the winds were the only sound that i could hear after finishing my speech.

Everyone was frozen, even the Hokage and the other clan patriarchs.

As i look around, there was no one that i could find who were....moving.

(Umm, what the heck?)