It would shock people to know that the first thing young Shinobi learn in the Academy wasn't Jutsu, it was Formation.

  This is why, three days after his and his sister's Chakra ceremony, they stood in formation on the physical education field.

  One may ask, being a smart casual observer, why ninja need to know formation and marching. The answer is surprisingly simple, Hi no Kuni, aka The Land of Fire, concentrated most of its military resources into Konohagakure.

  It is poignant to be aware, Konohagakure is a military establishment. One where the Hokage is by fact a Dictator and Governor. The Diamyo, whom said Hokage serves at the pleasure of, sometimes inspects his investment, nothing builds a monarchs confidence in his military more than soldiers in orderly rows.

  The twins, standing side by side in the uniformity of their Academy css, each wore pin bck T-shirts embzoned with the Senju Symbol on their backs. The design was striking: a bold, circur crest formed by concentric rings, radiating a sense of unity and tradition. At its core, two sturdy lines crossed like parallel roads, representing bance and strength. This symbol, carrying the weight of their ancestors’ legacy, seemed almost alive as it moved with the siblings, swaying gently with each precise step in the formation.

  This formation would go on the rest of the first day, with intermittent breaks. The content of the breaks mostly consisted of a series of one on one chats with special counselors, something used to build out a css make up.

  There was another purpose of this drill, which was to allow for the separation of civilian students from those of the cns. The academy had 3 courses, Cn members, who'd learn more civics first semester; non cn children of shinobi, who'd get a mix of civics and chakra control testing; and finally the civilians, who only learned chakra control.

  [Break]

  Ryoji spent countless hours in the warm, inviting parlor of the Senju compound, engrossed in the intricate world of Fuinjutsu alongside his great-grandmother, Mito Uzumaki. Mito, with her wise eyes and gentle smile, found great amusement in Ryoji's remarkable proficiency in the art, often noting how he surpassed her other student, Kushina. Initially, Kushina had been consumed by jealousy, feeling the sting of rivalry as Ryoji’s skill flourished. However, she eventually recognized that being envious would only hinder her growth. With this newfound understanding, she resolved to focus on her own path instead.

  In the cozy parlor, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of familial warmth and camaraderie. Mito sat gracefully by a sunlit window, meticulously embroidering the Senju symbol onto a traditional hakama for Ryoji, her hands deftly moving with the rhythm of her craft.

  Nearby, Himari watched with simmering jealousy as Kushina tenderly braided Ryoji's hair, her fingers deftly weaving strands together. Himari couldn’t quite pinpoint why she felt this way; her emotions were a tangled mess.

  Ryoji, at just five years old but looking ten, carried the knowledge and experience of a thirty-two-year-old soul reincarnated into this young body. While he enjoyed the gentle attention from Kushina, who was ten but appeared almost fourteen, he was acutely aware of the boundaries set by his own maturity and preferences.

  He had no interest in younger girls, especially since his mother, Tsunade, was twenty-two— was herself both 4 years older than his threshold for attraction, she was also his main target. As Kushina leaned closer to braid his hair, the warmth of her body pressed against his back registered in his mind, creating a sense of discomfort. He felt a rush of confusion: while he appreciated her friendship and the bond they shared, he was far too young physically to fully react to the swirling emotions that accompanied such moments.

  [Break]

  The twins, affectionately called the Blues Twins, were born with brown hair like Hashirama’s. Over time, Himari’s hair lightened to blonde, streaked with pale blue, while her eyes remained a soft brown, much like their mother’s. Many remarked how she resembled Tsunade—only with different hair.

  Ryoji’s hair, on the other hand, turned blue before deepening into a rich navy. He wore it long, cascading to his waist in Hashirama’s style—not by choice. No matter how many times he cut it, it would always grow back to the exact same length. His golden eyes, flecked with scarlet, were currently watching his twin, drawing the attention of several girls in the css.

  To his left sat a young woman with a wolf cub and red fang markings on her cheeks. Digging through memories of an anime from his past life, Ryoji recognized her as Tsume Inuzuka, a suspicion she confirmed as she took her seat.

  Dressed in his preferred bck silk shirt and custom bck cargo pants, Ryoji leaned back in his chair, zily strumming a guitar. Behind him stood Kushina, assigned to observe how the sensei handled students. The moment she spotted Ryoji, she couldn’t help herself—her fingers wove effortlessly through his hair, braiding it.

  He sighed. He didn’t mind her touching his hair, but why did she always braid it? She knew he hated it.

  “Kushina-nee, could you stop? This is kind of embarrassing,” he groaned. Not that it mattered—Tsume still got a ugh out of it.

  A few rows ahead, Himari busied herself arranging her pencils, deciding to sketch until css began. Just as she settled in, an unwanted hand nded on her shoulder.

  Turning, she found herself face-to-face with Yagami Uchiha, his expression unsettling. “I am Uchiha Yagami, and you will be my—”

  *Pah!*

  A ball of wet paper smacked him square in the face, cutting him off. His eyes, though cking the Sharingan, swept over the css with murderous intent—until they nded on Ryoji, who sat smiling at him. Yagami instantly shrank back.

  His older cousin, Fugaku, had warned him not to anger that boy. And yet, somehow, he had done just that. Unfortunately for Yagami, he wasn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. He sat there, stewing over what had gone wrong, missing nearly two full csses before realization finally struck.

  It happened when Ryoji casually turned to Himari and asked, “Wanna eat near the flowers, sis?”

  RecklessDawn