The puppy was named "Black."
The name held no special meaning—it was simply because he was black.
Black was born from a retired ninja wolf of the Inuzuka clan and, from birth, displayed chakra and wisdom comparable to that of humans.
If someone knowledgeable in training chakra beasts had found him, he could have easily been turned into a ninja dog.
However, Kuro neither knew how to train him nor had any intention of doing so. He simply liked dogs. Besides, living alone in such a large yard was much more bearable with a dog around.
.....
When the sun began to set, Kuro was tidying up the yard.
At that moment, Black came running back with a crow perched on his back.
Both stopped in front of Kuro, lowering their heads like children who had done something wrong and wanted to apologize.
Kuro patted their heads and smiled kindly.
"It's okay. Don't worry about it"
However, in his mind, he had already made a decision: Starting tomorrow, while I'm away, you're staying chained up. That'll avoid any future problems.
Neither Black nor the crow could read his thoughts, so upon hearing his forgiving words, they began to move enthusiastically.
Black rubbed against Kuro's legs, while the crow flapped its wings around him.
Kuro played with them for a while before heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner. He also cooked something for Black.
When the day's chores were done, he went to the dojo and sat cross-legged.
There, he began organizing the items he needed for future training:
Ninjutsu scrolls.
Practice accessories.
Ration pills for quick replenishment.
Once everything was ready, he stored it all in a single scroll.
Finally, he took a bath and went to bed.
...
The night passed uneventfully.
The next morning, as the first ray of sunlight illuminated the mountaintop, Kuro opened his eyes.
From his bed, he looked out the window. The plum tree branches were covered in green leaves, and a small sparrow hopped among them, chirping cheerfully.
Suddenly, a crow flew in and perched on the branch, scaring the sparrow away.
The crow looked at Kuro through the window and, somehow, seemed to smile at him.
"..."
He's definitely been spending too much time with Black.
Kuro remained silent for a few seconds before getting up, dressing, and starting his morning routine: washing up, preparing breakfast, eating, and doing a bit of exercise.
Before leaving, he made sure to chain Black up to avoid trouble.
As for training, he decided to take a few days off after his last intensive session.
After all, balance between work and rest is important.
Perhaps because it was still early, Kuro didn't run into Ino on the way.
When he arrived at the classroom, only two or three classmates were there, most of them unfamiliar to him. Despite that, the atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm.
Some greeted each other, while others curiously approached to ask about techniques like the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
There were always people drawn to the standouts, and Kuro was one of them. Though he stayed low-key during the weeks, his strength was undeniable—he had been the academy's top student for three consecutive years.
Moreover, his calm demeanor and polite manner made him very popular. While not overly social, he never rejected anyone who approached him.
He was approachable without being overly intimate, a quality many appreciated.
Kuro smiled as he answered his classmates' questions, maintaining a cordial attitude. Though everyone left with cheerful goodbyes, some blushed slightly, realizing they had been a bit forward at first.
He sat in his seat, a bit bored, watching as the classroom gradually filled.
...
Soon, familiar faces arrived, including Ino, who confidently approached him. She lightly pushed Shikamaru aside and, without hesitation, grabbed Kuro's left arm, pressing it firmly against her body.
She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the small gesture, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.
Kuro furrowed his brows slightly, uncomfortable but trying not to draw attention.
"Ino… you're too close," he murmured, trying to gently pull his arm away, but she held on tighter, pressing his arm closer as if wanting to merge with him.
"It's no big deal," she replied, leaning even closer, her eyes shining with determination despite the soft blush tinting her pale face.
"Ino…" Kuro sighed, realizing she had no intention of backing down. Before he could say anything more, Ino's voice broke through the air with a boldness that surprised him.
"Kuro-kun… be my boyfriend, please!"
These girls are so daring!
For a moment, Kuro was silent.
Part of him felt flattered, but another part knew he couldn't reciprocate… not now, at least.
"Ino…" He swallowed before speaking, carefully choosing his words. "I can't. I have to train. I don't have time for… for this."
He lamented Ino's young age and continued, "I can't. I have to train. I don't have time for… for this."
Ino's face trembled slightly, but her determination didn't waver. She tightened her grip a little more, as if fearing he might slip away.
"I won't hold you back," she insisted, her eyes filled with an intensity that nearly made him doubt. "I don't care if you don't have time for dates. I just want you to notice me… to like me, even a little. That's enough for me."
Kuro looked away, feeling pure frustration.
"No, Ino," he finally said, more firmly, though his tone remained gentle. "It would distract me… I can't afford that."
The brightness in Ino's eyes dimmed slightly, but she didn't let go of his arm. She lowered her head, trying to hide her disappointment.
"I know you won't give up, and I admire that, but… I can't," he added.
Just as the tension in the air thickened, someone shouted:
"Iruka-sensei is here!"
Startled, Ino quickly straightened up and let go of Kuro's arm.
Iruka stood at the podium, looking at Ino with a serious expression. The other students, noticing his presence, turned their attention to her as well.
For the first time, Ino showed a bit of embarrassment, her face turning a deep shade of red.
"Well… um…" she tried to explain, but Iruka interrupted her.
"It's fine. Please take your seat. I have an important announcement to make."
"Yes…" she replied, hurrying back to her seat.
The classroom filled with murmurs about Ino and Kuro, but Iruka quieted them with a gesture.
"Iruka-sensei came a bit early today," Chōji said, munching on something as he glanced at the empty seats in front of him.
"This isn't class time," he added.
"I guess he has something important to announce," Shikamaru said casually, observing Iruka's expression.
"Seems like it…" Kuro nodded slightly.
Iruka waited a while as more students trickled into the classroom. However, Naruto and Sasuke were absent.
Taking a deep breath, Iruka finally spoke: "I have something important to announce today."
The classroom fell silent, anticipation hanging in the air.
"Sasuke already possesses the necessary skills to be a Genin. After gaining his and his parents' consent, the academy has decided that he will graduate alongside this year's graduating class."
"Nani?!"
Kuro was so surprised that he jumped to his feet, drawing everyone's attention.
The entire class turned to look at him, curious about his reaction.
Though they were also shocked by the news, none of their reactions were as extreme as Kuro's.
"Kuro, is there a problem?" Iruka asked curiously.
"No… nothing," Kuro said, sitting back down. "I was just surprised by the news."
"Actually, you shouldn't be that surprised. Mizuki already told you that you could graduate early as well if you wanted," Iruka added, causing even more stir in the classroom.
Students looked at Kuro with curiosity, disbelief, or excitement.
"I still have a lot to improve on. It's too soon for me," Kuro replied modestly.
The future is becoming more and more unrecognizable.
________
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