"Don't worry, I'm just here to fill in for Mikoto and the others. No need to be too surprised or formal."
Uchiha Shin smiled gently, reassuring the female security guard before walking past her without hesitation.
The moment she saw his warm expression, the young woman felt her heart race. She barely managed to stop herself from throwing herself at him on the spot. Unfortunately for her, Uchiha Shin neither noticed nor cared.
Walking through the halls of this all-girls academy—practically a "forbidden zone" for men—his presence alone caused waves of excited whispers and suppressed squeals. However, his status ensured that no one dared to stop him.
His first stop was the classroom where Mikoto usually taught. Today was a busy day for him; he had to substitute for Mikoto, Kushina, and Kanako's classes.
Luckily, their schedules weren't overlapping. Otherwise, even he wouldn't be able to manage.
"Hm… maybe using Shadow Clones to teach while I personally supervise the future flowers of the village wouldn't be such a bad idea."
With a casual yet charming smile, Uchiha Shin stepped into the classroom.
Inside, only three little girls remained: Uchiha Izumi, Shizune, and Nohara Rin. The rest of the students had either been dismissed or taken elsewhere by other instructors.
Nohara Rin, clearly bored, muttered under her breath, "Hnn… did Teacher Mikoto take the day off today?"
"I think so. Otherwise, she wouldn't be late."
Uchiha Izumi, sitting next to her, nodded slightly.
Shizune, the timid one of the group, hesitated before asking cautiously, "Then… what should we do?"
The three of them pondered for a moment before Izumi suddenly clapped her hands together, eyes lighting up. "Doesn't that mean we can leave early?"
"Huh? You're talking about skipping class?"
"Ehh… that sounds bad," Shizune murmured nervously.
Izumi grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. "How about we use this chance to visit the Uchiha Clan compound? If we're lucky, we might even see Uchiha Shin-sama!"
At the mere mention of his name, Izumi's cheeks turned pink. She tried to play it cool, but deep down, she was nervous.
Recently, one of the elders had approached her and subtly hinted that she might be chosen as a concubine for Uchiha Shin. A marriage that would elevate her standing in the clan.
Truthfully, she didn't dislike the idea. But she was shy and unsure, so she figured dragging along her two friends might give her some courage.
Her suggestion immediately sparked interest in Rin and Shizune.
Uchiha Shin was a legend. In just a few years, he had unified the Land of Fire, an act many thought impossible. His reputation was carefully cultivated, and the admiration people felt toward him was borderline religious.
For commoners like Nohara Rin, he was a figure of almost divine stature. Years of hearing his name in the highest praise had conditioned her into deep admiration.
As for Shizune, it wasn't just admiration—she was indebted to him.
Years ago, her distant relative, Kato Dan, had been implicated in an assassination attempt on Uchiha Shin. Though the plot had failed, the fallout should have ended badly for her as well. Instead, Uchiha Shin had personally intervened and allowed her to live under the protection of Tsunade.
Because of this, among the three, Shizune held the greatest respect and gratitude for Uchiha Shin. She would do anything for him.
Just as they were about to finalize their escape plan, a voice interrupted them.
"Ahem. I think I just overheard something I shouldn't have."
The three girls froze.
Turning their heads, they were met with a sight none of them had expected—Uchiha Shin himself standing at the entrance.
For a moment, their minds went blank. It was one thing to dream about him, but to suddenly have him appear in front of them like this…
"Skipping class, are we?" he asked, smirking.
The weight of his golden eyes sent shivers down their spines.
Shizune and Izumi had seen him before. As for Rin, she had only ever seen his image carved into Hokage Rock. Seeing him in person was overwhelming.
"E-Emperor—"
"Ah, none of that. Call me Teacher, or Brother, if you prefer." His voice was soft, teasing. "I'm here as your substitute, so don't be too tense."
Despite his casual tone, their little hearts pounded wildly.
They were young—only six or seven—but they weren't clueless. Girls matured faster than boys, and even at their age, they understood certain things.
And Uchiha Shin? He was the perfect storm. Young, handsome, powerful, and charismatic. It was enough to make them dizzy.
Seeing their dazed expressions, Shin chuckled to himself.
They looked like little dolls—each adorable in their own way.
Izumi, with her striking resemblance to a young Mikoto, had an air of quiet elegance about her. But what set her apart was the teardrop mole under her right eye, which added a mature charm that would only grow more pronounced with age.
Rin, on the other hand, had a sweetness to her, enhanced by the two purple markings on her cheeks. A distinct feature of her lineage, though softer and more delicate than those of the Inuzuka Clan.
And then there was Shizune, small and timid, like a startled kitten. Her youthful face made her seem even more innocent, though Shin knew better than to take appearances at face value.
His smile deepened as he studied them.
Before any of them could respond, another voice cut in.
"Shizune, Izumi, Rin—Miss Mikoto is on leave today, so—"
A new figure stepped into the classroom.
She was a young woman, around Kushina's age, with shoulder-length blonde hair and a white veil. Her gentle features and glasses gave her the air of an intellectual, someone who carried herself with quiet confidence.
But the moment she saw Uchiha Shin, she froze in place, her body stiffening.
For a second, she simply stood there, staring at him in disbelief. The books in her arms slipped, scattering onto the floor.
Reacting swiftly, Shin caught each book with effortless grace before handing them back to her.
The girl's face burned red as she hesitated, fingers trembling slightly when she accepted the books from his hand.
He leaned in slightly, amused by her reaction. "Careful now, wouldn't want you getting flustered and dropping more things."
Her blush deepened, but she nodded, mumbling a quiet, "Thank you."
Shin chuckled, pleased with himself. Some things never changed.
As he turned back to the three younger girls, he clapped his hands together. "Alright, let's begin today's lesson, shall we?"
Izumi, Rin, and Shizune straightened in their seats, their heads filled with thoughts far removed from classwork.
As for Shin? Well, he was going to enjoy this day of substitute teaching far more than expected.
Support my Patreon 🫡
--------
Dear Readers
Join Patreon for Complete Novel (240 Chapters) and 100 Early Chapters
https://www.patreon.com/dd44
--------
Bonus Chapter - 100 Power Stones