Kaguya?

In the silence of an empty hospital room, a young girl stood motionless, her gaze locked onto the mirror. Her eyes traced the unfamiliar silhouette staring back—a version of herself she barely recognized. Long, flowing white hair cascaded down her back, replacing the short, spiky blond hair she had known all her life. Her hands trembled as they lifted to her face, as if needing to touch, to confirm that the reflection was real.

Her once bright blue eyes were now completely white, devoid of pupils or color—a cold, haunting contrast against her pale skin, smooth and icy to the touch, like freshly fallen snow. It was like looking at a stranger, a figure that had stolen her reflection, leaving only a hollow echo of what she used to be.

In some strange relief, she noted the absence of horns or the ominous third eye she half-expected, yet the dark presence lurking within her heart felt all too real. A chill settled over her, pressing down like a weight she couldn't lift, no matter how hard she tried.

"I really am… a monster," Naruto muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Iruka's lifeless form flashed before her eyes, a haunting reminder of what had been lost, of the kindness she could no longer reach. The ache of it cut through her, sharp and merciless, as if she were standing in the presence of her own shadow.

Her dull eyes drifted toward the corner of the room. She could feel—no, sense—eyes staring at her from that direction, an oppressive, invisible gaze that left her skin crawling. Yet, when she looked, there was nothing. It was as if she were an animal under silent surveillance, trapped in a cage of invisible bars, observed by a presence she couldn't confront. The weight of it made her skin prickle, amplifying the sense that whatever watched her lay far beyond the mirror's reach.

Her hand tightened into a fist, only to unravel a moment later, helpless, her strength dissolving into the stillness around her. She stood there, unmoving, left to face the silence that pressed in from every side.

Cre-eak…

The door began to slide open, the sound slicing through the quiet, and a familiar figure stepped into the room. Hiruzen Sarutobi. Her surrogate grandfather, the only warmth in a world that had grown so cold and unfamiliar. His presence was both a comfort and a reminder of everything she had lost.

Hiruzen's eyes met hers, and for a fleeting moment, she thought she saw… surprise? His gaze lingered, a glimmer of shock hidden behind his usual calm. It was as though he were seeing her for the first time, and for her the first time she had seen anything other than gentleness behind his gaze. 

"Naruto… how are you feeling?" Hiruzen asked, his voice gentle yet probing, though he resisted the urge to pull out his pipe and take a steadying puff. His gaze held steady, but she could see the questions flickering in his eyes, the unspoken worry lurking beneath his calm exterior. He stood just a step away, as if uncertain how close he should come to the person Naruto had become.

Naruto stood quietly, watching him, sensing the underlying wariness in Hiruzen's gaze. She could feel it—he saw her as a monster, too. Dread seeped into her very being, filling her with an unbearable heaviness. Her eyes dulled further as her thoughts spiraled into a dark place, staring past him into the void that felt like it was closing in around her. The warmth of his presence seemed to fade, swallowed by the shadows lurking in her mind.

Suddenly, she felt warm arms wrap around her, pulling her into an embrace. Hiruzen gently stroked the top of her head, his touch a familiar comfort amidst the chaos.

"Now, now, Naruto," he said softly, "I'm sure the events of last night have shocked you, and seeing you now, I can tell for certain they have."

His voice was steady and reassuring, yet Naruto felt a storm brewing within her, a tumult of emotions that clashed with the warmth of his embrace. She wanted to believe him, to find solace in his words, but doubt lingered like a shadow, darkening the edges of her heart.

"Jiji…" Naruto's voice cracked, her heart tightening as she struggled to find the words. "Iruka-sensei… is he—"

Hiruzen stood still for a moment, the embrace tightening around her as he pulled her closer. He didn't need to answer; the heaviness in the air spoke volumes. The warmth of his hug was a fragile shield against the reality she dreaded to face.

"I'm so sorry, Naruto," he finally whispered, his voice thick with sorrow. "We did everything we could." The words hung between them, heavy with unspoken grief, as Naruto felt the world around her shatter a little more.

...

...

In a classroom beneath the Hokage Tower, a group of 25 kids mingled, their chatter filling the air with a youthful energy that contrasted sharply with the weight of the day.

"Say, why do you think Iruka-sensei is so late?" Sakura asked, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger, a worried frown creasing her brow.

Ino shrugged, glancing at the clock on the wall. "I don't know. He's usually here by now. Maybe he got caught up with something important?"

"Oh brother what a drag," Shikamaru chimed in, resting his head on his hand with a bored expression. "Can't we just get this over with already?"

Choji munched on a snack, nodding in agreement. "Yeah"

Shino, seated at the back of the room, adjusted his glasses and added quietly, "He wouldn't leave us without a reason. Perhaps he's just dealing with some… personal matters."

"Still, it's our team placement today; I can't believe he'd be so insensitive to be late," Sakura snorted, crossing her arms. Her irritation was quickly replaced by excitement as her eyes landed on the familiar figure of Sasuke walking into the room.

"There he is!" she exclaimed, her voice rising with enthusiasm. "Sasuke!"

Sasuke barely acknowledged her, his expression as stoic as ever as he strolled to his desk. Sakura's heart raced as she admired him, momentarily forgetting her worries about Iruka.

"Hey, Sasuke! Did you finish the training exercises?" she asked, leaning forward, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Yeah," he replied flatly, not meeting her gaze, his focus on the desk in front of him.

Sakura's excitement dimmed a little, but she pressed on. "You should've seen how well I did! I think I really nailed the last technique!"

He shrugged, still avoiding her eyes. "That's nice," he muttered, his disinterest palpable.

Sakura's heart sank a bit, but she couldn't help but feel a rush of determination. "Maybe we could train together later?" she suggested, hopeful.

"Maybe," Sasuke replied dismissively, turning his attention to the window, where clouds began to gather ominously outside.

The door slid open once more, and a young boy accompanied by a Chunin entered the classroom. "Hello, class! My name is Koshikawa Ienobu, and I will be your acting teacher today," he announced in a flat tone, devoid of enthusiasm.

Beside him stood a young lady with long white hair cascading down her back and striking white eyes that seemed to reflect an emptiness. She appeared detached, her expression bland as she scanned the room without much interest. "I'm Kaguya," she stated flatly. "I'll be joining you for the team placements."

"Now, does anyone have any questions?" Ienobu asked, his voice carrying a hint of staleness.

Shikamaru leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed with concern. "Not much, but why is Iruka-sensei not here?" he asked, glancing at the Chunin beside Ienobu. "And who is Kaguya?"

"Iruka has passed away, killed in action during a B-class mission last night," Ienobu announced, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. He coughed lightly, motioning for Kaguya to take a seat next to Sasuke and Sakura. "Now that that's out of the way, let me begin with the team placements."

A heavy silence fell over the classroom, the weight of Ienobu's words settling uncomfortably among the students. Shock and disbelief flashed across their faces, but before anyone could respond, Ienobu continued, ignoring Shikamaru's unasked questions about Kaguya.

"Team placements are important," he stated matter-of-factly, pulling a stack of papers from his desk. "You've all been training for this moment, and I'll make sure you are assigned to teams that will challenge and support you."

"Now for team placements this year," he said, pausing briefly as he glanced at the papers.

"Team 1, still in circulation."

"Team 2, Mizuno Akane, Kushibo Ryuunosuke, Nara Shikarai."

He paused, letting the names settle as the students exchanged glances. Some whispered quietly, still processing the earlier news.

"Team 3," Ienobu continued, "Higurashi Kenta, Hyuga Haruka, and Inuzuka Kota."

The silence deepened, a stark contrast to the usual excitement that team announcements brought. Kaguya's expression remained unreadable, while Sasuke clenched his fists, a mix of frustration and determination in his eyes.

"We'll proceed through these placements swiftly," Ienobu added. "If you have any issues or questions, they can wait until the end."

The weight of the moment was palpable, and the classroom felt colder as they waited for their names to be called.

The room slowly emptied until there was only Kaguya, Sakura And Sasuke left.

As the last of the students filtered out, Sakura's gaze lingered on Kaguya, who sat quietly at the desk next to Sasuke. The pale girl, with her long white hair and unreadable expression, seemed almost ethereal in her detachment, but it only fueled Sakura's insecurities. She watched Kaguya for a moment, feeling the stir of jealousy tighten in her chest. Why does she look so calm? Why does she get to sit next to Sasuke?

Sakura shifted in her seat, her voice breaking the silence as she leaned slightly toward Kaguya, her tone tinged with forced sweetness. "So... Kaguya, right? That's a pretty unique name," she said, her fingers unconsciously twisting a lock of her hair. She gave a nervous laugh. "I haven't seen you around before. Where are you from?"

Kaguya's white eyes briefly flicked to Sakura as she leaned forward, her expression still as detached as ever. The faintest glimmer of irritation flashed across Kaguya's face, but it quickly disappeared, replaced by a cold indifference.

"Mind your own business," Kaguya replied flatly, her voice devoid of any warmth. She didn't even seem to care enough to elaborate, her gaze already wandering back to the front of the room as if Sakura had never spoken at all.

Sakura's smile faltered, her stomach twisting uncomfortably at the blunt dismissal. She had been hoping for some kind of connection, some acknowledgment, but instead, she was met with nothing more than a cold shoulder. She blinked, her heart sinking, but she refused to back down.

Sasuke, meanwhile, had been listening to the exchange with half an ear, but when Kaguya's Byakugan was mentioned, his attention momentarily sharpened. His dark eyes briefly flicked toward her—he didn't say anything, but his curiosity was evident. There was something about the way Kaguya carried herself, that distant aura she exuded, that made Sasuke wonder just how powerful she was. His interest, however, remained faint, more academic than personal, and he quickly turned his attention back to the window, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.

Sakura's frustration grew as the silence stretched on. She watched Kaguya, her mind racing with a mix of jealousy and confusion. What makes her so different? The other girl didn't seem to care about fitting in or making friends, and that only made her more intriguing—and more threatening to Sakura's carefully cultivated place beside Sasuke.

"What's your deal?" Sakura couldn't help but ask, her voice coming out sharper than she intended, but Kaguya didn't seem to care in the least.

"Don't waste your time," Kaguya replied, her tone flat. "You wouldn't understand."

Sakura clenched her fists under the desk, her face flushed with the sting of being so thoroughly dismissed. How dare she... But before she could say more, the door swung open with a creak, and Kakashi's familiar, laid-back voice broke through the tension.

"Well, well, looks like we're all here," Kakashi said, his single visible eye scanning the room lazily. "I'm sorry for the wait, but it looks like it's time to get moving."

He shot them a disinterested glance and stretched as he strolled into the room. "Alright, team 7, let's head to the front room," Kakashi continued, his voice still carrying that familiar bored edge. "You all know the drill. Don't make me repeat myself."

But before anyone could rise, Kakashi's gaze flicked over to Kaguya. For the briefest of moments, his expression hardened, his visible eye narrowing as he took her in with a sharp, calculating look. It was quick—almost imperceptible—but it was enough to make Sakura's stomach twist.

"...Kaguya," Kakashi said, his tone now just a little sharper, but he didn't elaborate. "You too."

Kaguya simply nodded, her face as blank as ever. Without a word, she stood up and began walking toward the door, her movements fluid and calm. Sasuke followed shortly after, his quiet footsteps echoing in the tense silence.

Sakura hesitated for a moment longer, still fighting the unease crawling through her chest. She was trying to push down the jealousy, but it lingered, thick and suffocating.

With a frustrated sigh, she finally stood and followed the others into the hallway, her thoughts tangled in a mess of insecurity and confusion. Why does she have to be so... so perfect? why did her indifferent eyes bother her so much?