Naruto: The Beast Within

The morning light filters through the window of Raimu's room, casting a soft glow across the empty floor. He blinks slowly, the remnants of a dream still hanging in his mind, and stretches out lazily in bed.

His white hair is messy, the usual golden eyes still heavy with the sleepiness that tends to linger with him. He sighs, a content smile tugging at his lips, as he throws the blanket aside and stands up. The day ahead feels… just like any other.

Except, it isn't.

As Raimu walks down the stairs of his quiet, empty clan house, he feels a strange stillness in the air. The house is always empty, just as it has been for years. No parents, no siblings. Only him. But somehow, today it feels different.

The silence isn't as comforting as usual. It's heavy. The walls echo with the sound of his footsteps, but that's all. He doesn't linger on it though. His mind is already on the academy.

Today, something's different.

He grabs his usual breakfast, a quick bowl of rice, and sets out toward the academy, the weight of his blanket with his Star Tri River symbol over his shoulders giving him a sense of comfort as he drapes it around himself.

As always, it's a part of him. The strange mix of sleepiness and calm confidence that he carries. It's funny how something so simple has become such a signature of his.

When Raimu steps onto the academy grounds, he's met with the usual buzz of activity. The students are all milling about, some in groups chatting, others training, but everyone seems to notice him today. It's like there's an energy to him that wasn't there before.

His gait is still the same—relaxed, almost lazy—but there's something sharper in the way his eyes gleam. That quiet confidence from his recent training, from the fight with Iruka, has seeped into him.

It doesn't take long for people to start staring.

A group of girls nearby whisper, their eyes fixed on him. One of them, Mei, nudges her friend. "Hey, is it just me or does Raimu look… different today?" Her tone is almost in awe. "He's got this… glow."

"I know, right?" her friend replies, eyes wide. "He's always cute, but today he looks… handsome."

Raimu feels a faint warmth crawl up his neck, but he doesn't show it. Instead, he smirks, brushing a strand of hair from his face and glancing lazily in their direction. He doesn't mind the attention, but it's still amusing to him, the way people react when he's not even trying.

He casually makes his way to his seat, throwing his blanket over it as usual, and sits down, his golden eyes scanning the room with that relaxed, almost sleepy gaze. He doesn't feel the need to acknowledge the attention—he's just here for another day of training.

But he can't ignore that tiny flicker of something inside him, a spark that's been growing since the fight with Iruka. A quiet confidence that seems to make people take notice.

Suzume, his teacher for the day, is standing at the front of the class, her arms crossed and eyes focused on the students.

She's a tall, sharp-eyed woman with short, raven-black hair, her expression a mix of friendly and stern. Today, she looks particularly serious, as though the weight of the approaching graduation exam hangs heavily on her shoulders.

Raimu sinks back into his seat, lazily watching her. Suzume's voice cuts through the air like a knife. "Alright, class, listen up! The graduation exams are just days away, and I'm sure you're all feeling the pressure. But remember—there's no room for mistakes now. The test will push you to your limits, so make sure you're ready."

Raimu's gaze drifts toward the window as she continues speaking. He doesn't feel the weight of the exam like his classmates do. They're all scrambling to perfect their techniques, practicing their ninjutsu and strategies.

But for Raimu, it's different. He already knows he's strong. His training with the chakra beasts, the lessons he's learned about control and focus—it's all coming together.

But for now, he just listens, his eyes half-lidded in that familiar sleepy way.

After class, Raimu heads outside for lunch, his blanket still wrapped around him like a comforting second skin. He finds a quiet spot under a tree, lying back and letting the cool breeze wash over him. As he relaxes, he can feel the eyes on him again, but this time he doesn't care. He's too absorbed in the stillness of the world around him.

Takuma, his friend, jogs over to him with a grin. "Yo, Raimu, you're looking… different today. What's up with you?"

Raimu smirks, shrugging casually. "Guess I'm just more awake than usual. Or maybe I'm just bored."

Takuma laughs, but there's a curious look in his eyes. "Yeah, sure, man."

Raimu doesn't respond, instead laying back again, staring at the sky above. "Maybe it's just the clouds," he says softly, his voice lazy. "I feel like I could just sleep here all day."

Takuma frowns, but shrugs it off. "With all that daydreaming just don't forget the exam is coming up."

Raimu nods lazily, but his mind isn't focused on the exam. Instead, he's lost in thought, thinking back to the training he's been doing on his own. His chakra beasts, the fire lion, the ice serpent, and the others—they've been with him in a way that nothing else has. The more he trains with them, the more he realizes how much he's grown.

As the day draws to a close, Raimu heads back to his empty home. The silence is louder today, almost oppressive. But he doesn't mind. He's used to it.