It's been a month.
I haven't sensed the ANBU around us at all.
They're gone.
Hokage must've pulled them back.
So... he's trusting us now?
That's good.
No more eyes behind the walls.
No more whispers in the trees.
Now… I can move without shadows crawling behind me.
I've gained more control over my chakra lately.
It's still rough, more like smoke than silk but I can shape it better now.
Maybe it's the Nine-Tails interfering with my chakra.
His presence is stronger.
He's pressing against the edges of me.
Kurama..
A lonely beast, sealed for decades.
Feared. Hunted.
He's power. Raw, endless power.
He can be my greatest weapon,
Or my greatest flaw.
The Akatsuki are already watching.
They want him.
They want me.
I have to control him before they make a move.
Before it's too late.
People are easy to manipulate.
Desires. Ambitions. Guilt.
But a Tailed Beast?
That's another story.
I'm not like Naruto, he has a way of turning even his greatest enemies into friends.
He smiles, and people change.
That's his genius.
Mine's different.
I don't change people.
I understand them.
And if needed… I break them.
Still, even I know...
To write the perfect story…
You have to take your time.
And mine has just begun.
---
In the Academy Classroom
Iruka-sensei's voice boomed over the hum of morning chatter.
"Shikamaru! Sit up straight and stay awake! This isn't nap time."
"And Chōji, no snacks during lectures!"
Typical day. Same routine.
But then, a soft knock interrupted the flow.
Everyone turned.
The door creaked open, revealing Koji.
One of my classmate.
Silent, late again.
His gaze didn't meet anyone's.
Iruka gave a tired sigh.
"Koji… again?"
"I'm sorry, sensei," Koji mumbled, almost too soft to hear.
Iruka nodded, motioning him in.
"Go sit. Don't let it happen again."
Koji shuffled to his seat, his head low, his body almost sinking into itself. No emotion, no light in his eyes.
But I saw it, felt it.
That thick, heavy aura.
Like shadows clinging to his skin.
I've always had a sensitivity to presence, knowing when someone's nearby but lately… it's more, Sharper.
I don't just sense chakra anymore,
I feel emotions. Fear. Anger. Despair.
The air around Koji buzzed with it.
Could this be the Mind's Eye of the Kagura? Karin Uzumaki had it… maybe I do too. Or maybe it's Johan, the other me, the part that sees deeper.
Or… maybe it's a mix of both.
In Monster, Johan saw through people, knew their desires, their fears, their needs, then twist them and used them like puppets.
Maybe I'm doing the same.
I need to test it properly.
See what happens when I pull at those threads.
---
Lunch Break
"Hey Johan, let's go play!" Naruto called, waving.
I shook my head, eyes still on Koji.
"You go. I've got something to do."
Naruto pouted, then ran off. "Your loss!"
The classroom slowly emptied.
Just a few students left.
Koji sat alone. Head down. Still.
I walked over, calm, deliberate.
"Hey, Koji."
He looked up, startled.
"Oh… hi Johan."
"You've been late a lot lately," I said softly. "You seem distracted."
He didn't reply. Just pulled his sleeves down, quick, like he was hiding something.
I already knew. I could feel it.
"You're not okay," I said. "Did someone hurt you?"
His eyes flickered with panic. "Why do you care?"
I smiled, gentle on the surface.
But my eyes stayed flat. Empty. Cold.
"Was it a friend… or your family?"
His body stiffened. His breath caught. At first he didn't react, but after hearing the word 'family', the aura around him turned darker...
Family.
Bingo.
The tension hung between us.
"It's okay," I said, voice smooth. "You don't have to tell me. But if you ever want help… come to me."
I turned and walked away.
Behind me, I felt his eyes. His doubt. His confusion. His need.
He's thinking. Breaking.
Good.
Come to me, Koji.
And I'll fix your little problem.
Permanently.