As the taxi pulled up in front of Shibuku Hospital, Reito stepped out and headed inside. The moment he reached the hallway leading to Hiruzen’s room, a cold pressure brushed against his senses—sharp, unnatural.

  Reito didn’t hesitate.

  He broke into a run and pushed the door open.

  Hiruzen was sitting upright in bed, perfectly still. Awake. Calm. As if nothing had happened.

  Reito: Hey! Are you okay?

  Hiruzen looked up, blinking in surprise.

  Hiruzen: Yeah… I’m fine. Are you okay?

  Reito exhaled, tension leaving his shoulders.

  Reito: Yeah. I just thought—never mind. What matters is… I just got back from talking to your father.

  Hiruzen’s eyes widened.

  Hiruzen: What!? Is he— Is he alright?

  Reito: Yeah. Though… your old house has definitely seen better days.

  Hiruzen looked away, fingers tightening against the blanket.

  Hiruzen: Yeah. After my mom and little sister died, he shut down. Stopped talking. Stopped living. I tried reaching out, but he pushed me away every time. Eventually… I just stopped trying.

  Reito softened.

  Reito: Well, when I told him I was your mentor, he perked up. And when I explained where you’ve been… he was extremely worried. He’s been looking for you for months.

  A faint, bittersweet smile tugged at Hiruzen’s lips.

  Hiruzen: Nice to know he still cares… at least a little.

  Reito reached into his coat pocket.

  Reito: He also asked me to give you this.

  He pulled out a necklace—silver links threaded with small blue jewels, all leading to a sapphire pendant that shimmered like frozen starlight.

  Hiruzen’s breath caught.

  Hiruzen: …This is… my mother’s necklace. She wore it every day.

  He took it gently, as if afraid it might shatter. The moment his fingers brushed the sapphire, a memory surged forward—

  Twelve Years Ago

  Akira: Hiruzen, it’s time to go!

  Hiruzen: “I’m coming, Mom!”

  A tiny five?year?old Hiruzen barreled down the stairs and leapt into his mother’s arms. Akira laughed, spinning him once before setting him down.

  Akira: Always so energetic, aren’t you, my little snowflake?

  Hiruzen: How could I not be? It’s my first day of school!

  Akira: Alright, alright. Let’s eat breakfast and get ready. Tyler, honey—are the pancakes ready?

  Tyler, younger and full of life, stumbled out of the kitchen dusted in pancake mix.

  Tyler: Yeah, but—

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  Akira: But what?

  Tyler: I might’ve burned them a little. But they’re edible if you close your eyes and don’t chew.

  Akira sighed dramatically.

  Akira: Well, since your father tried to poison us, it looks like we’re having cereal.

  Hiruzen: Awwww, I wanted pancakes…

  Akira knelt and ruffled his hair.

  Akira: Tell you what. Tomorrow I’ll take you out and get you all the pancakes you want. Sound good?

  Hiruzen: AWESOME! Thanks, Mom

  Akira giggled. You’re welcome. Now let’s eat before your dad burns the cereal too.

  They ate together, laughing, teasing, living in a warmth Hiruzen would one day ache for.

  Soon after, Akira drove him to school.

  Akira: Here we are, sweetie. Behave for your teacher, okay? And be respectful.

  Hiruzen: “Okay! Love you, Mom. Bye!”

  Akira: Love you too, my little snowflake.

  She kissed his forehead before he ran off to join the other kindergarteners.

  A blonde woman with bright blue eyes greeted them.

  Mrs. Belle: Hello, little ones! I’m Mrs. Belle. Welcome to your first day at Dawn Academy!

  Inside, the classroom was a rainbow explosion of toys, posters, and tiny furniture. The children scattered instantly.

  Hiruzen picked a toy stegosaurus and settled in a corner. A shy boy with orange hair and glasses approached, clutching a T?rex.

  Quincy: H?Hi… I’m Quincy.

  Hiruzen: I’m Hiruzen! Nice to meet you!

  Quincy: You like dinosaurs too?

  Hiruzen: Yeah! They were the strongest creatures ever! My dad told me.

  Quincy’s eyes sparkled.

  Quincy: Wanna play dinos together?

  Hiruzen: Sure!

  They played happily—until a shadow fell over them.

  Bully: Hey, nerds. Give me those toys.

  Hiruzen: No way. We had them first.

  Quincy: G?Get your own…

  Bully: Shut up, four?eyes.

  He shoved Quincy to the floor and snatched his glasses.

  Quincy: Give them back!

  Bully: Nah. Maybe I’ll just break ’em.

  He dropped the glasses and stomped.

  The crack echoed.

  Quincy burst into tears.

  Something inside Hiruzen snapped.

  He stood, fists trembling.

  Hiruzen: Give. Them. Back.

  Bully: Or what? You gonna cry too?

  Hiruzen: I don’t want to hurt you.

  Bully smirked.

  Bully: Too bad.

  He raised his foot again—but never got the chance.

  Hiruzen shoved him.

  Hard.

  The bully flew across the room, slammed into the wall, and slid down, leaving behind a crater

  The classroom went dead silent.

  Mrs. Belle stood frozen, horrified.

  Mrs. Belle: Everyone stay here! I’m getting the nurse!

  Whispers erupted.

  Student 1: What a freak…

  Student 2: Is he one of those powered people?

  Student 3: My dad says they’re dangerous.

  Student 4: Did he kill him?

  The nurse, Mrs. Belle, and the principal rushed in.

  Principal: MR. YUKI. WITH ME. NOW.

  He dragged Hiruzen to his office.

  Thirty agonizing minutes later, Akira arrived.

  The car ride home was silent.

  Akira: Want to tell me what happened?

  Hiruzen: He was bullying my new friend Quincy we were just playing dinosaurs and he broke his glasses

  Akira: Sweetie, we talked about this. You’re stronger than most people. You have to be careful.

  Hiruzen: But Dad said not to let people pick on me…

  Akira sighed.

  Akira: We’ll finish this at home.

  Once they arrived, she knelt in front of him.

  Akira: I’m not mad you protected your friend. I’m mad you forgot how strong you are.

  Hiruzen’s eyes welled up as he started to cry

  Hiruzen: I’m sorry… I just wanted to—

  Akira wiped his tears.

  Akira: Let me tell you something. But don’t tell your father okay

  Hiruzen sniffed. Okay…

  Akira: When I was your age, I had made a friend too. He was shy and didn’t talk much but I could tell he was a good person. We used to play together all the time and eventually we became best friends. One day at school I found out he was getting bullied by a group of boys so I beat them all up and told them if you mess with him you mess with me.

  Hiruzen: Wow mom, you were so cool!”

  Akira smirked.

  Akira: Were? I’m still the coolest person you know. And guess what?

  Hiruzen: What?

  Akira: That shy little boy that I was protecting… was your father.

  Hiruzen burst into laughter.

  Hiruzen: Wait Really?

  Akira:Really. Listen Hiruzen, make sure to always cherish your friends. They’ll be the ones to lift you up when you fall. And if someone tries to hurt them… knock them sky?high.

  Hiruzen: Got it, Mom.

  Akira: Good. Now let’s see how badly your father burned dinner this time.

  The memory dissolved back into the present and Hiruzen clutched the necklace, tears slipping down his cheeks.

  Hiruzen: …Thanks, Reito. This means a lot.

  Reito: No problem, kid. Now enough with the waterworks. Everyone’s waiting at the new place

  Hiruzen wiped his face, stood, and changed into his normal clothes. He fastened the necklace around his neck, the sapphire resting over his heart.

  Hiruzen: So… where are we training?

  Reito: The academy’s still under repair. So we’re using my personal estate. I recently installed a new training room for myself but I’ll let you guys use it for a while.

  They stepped outside.

  A sleek black limo waited at the curb, polished enough to reflect the sky.

  Hiruzen: Whoa… this is yours?”

  Reito smirked.

  Reito: Yup. Now get in. It’s going to be a long drive.

  Hiruzen climbed in, the door closing behind him with a soft click he buckled his seatbelt as the limo pulled of heading towards Reito’s estate

  End Chapter