Naruto: The Beast Within

Next Day

The day dawns, not as a bright burst of sunlight but as a slow stretch of morning light creeping through the window. Raimu doesn't stir at first, his golden eyes half-lidded as he lies on the edge of his bed, the soft blanket wrapped around him like a cocoon. He's in no rush to wake up. There's a strange peace in this silence, the calm before the storm. Graduation exams are tomorrow.

A yawn escapes his lips, and he lets out a long stretch, his white hair falling messily around his face. His movements are slow, languid, like he's trying to hold onto the warmth of the dream world for just a little longer. But the day won't wait, and neither will his responsibilities.

Raimu slowly pushes himself out of bed, his feet barely touching the floor as he stands, feeling the familiar chill of his empty clan house. The Mitsukawa clan was once a place full of life, not that he really remembers that. 

Now, it's just Raimu. The last. The solitary heir of a clan lost.

its history reduced to pages in books and whispered stories of power that could never be fully realized.

He walks to the small table, where a collection of old scrolls and books are laid out. It's a ritual of sorts—reading through the history of his clan. He's done it many times before, but today feels different. There's a weight in the air, something unspoken, something that keeps him turning the pages with a sense of familiarity.

As his fingers trail over the pages, the gold lettering catches the light. His golden eyes study the words, but they don't seem to take in the details like they used to. It's not that he doesn't care—he does. It's just that, at this point, he already knows the story by heart. But there's a comfort in reading it again. It's like hearing the echo of something familiar in a world that feels increasingly distant.

He lets out another quiet sigh, the sound barely audible, and looks up at the ceiling for a moment, lost in thought. It's hard to explain, but lately, a feeling has been growing inside him. He doesn't want to admit it, not to anyone, but it's there—a gnawing emptiness. Not loneliness, not really. But something close. He's the last of the Mitsukawa, and no one else in the academy, or in his life, truly understands what that means.

The weight of his clan's legacy feels heavier with each passing day. But for now, he lets it go. He's not going to dwell on it. Not today.

The sound of a distant bell breaks his reverie, signaling that it's time for school. With a soft groan, Raimu stands up and wraps his blanket around himself, his hair falling messily in front of his face. He's still sleepy, but the thought of what's to come today—graduation exams—lifts him up. He stretches slowly, the blanket still wrapped snugly around his shoulders, and heads toward the door.

__

When Raimu arrives at the academy, he's met with a strange mix of anticipation and excitement from his classmates. It's hard not to feel the tension in the air. The graduation exams are tomorrow. Everyone's whispering about it, talking in hushed voices as if it's a secret they're all dying to know.

"Morning, sleepyhead," a voice calls out from behind him.

Raimu turns, already knowing who it is. It's Takuma.

he guy's got more energy than Raimu could ever muster before his first cup of coffee—if he even drank coffee.

"Don't call me that," Raimu replies lazily, his voice soft but with an edge of playful annoyance. He yawns dramatically, stretching his arms above his head as if he's still waking up. "I'm just resting my eyes. You know, unlike some people who don't know how to shut up."

Takuma laughs, catching up to him. "Right, right. You wouldn't know what it's like to actually train, huh?" He smirks, clearly teasing.

Raimu looks over at him with a half-lidded gaze. "You keep talking, and I'll show you just how well I train. You won't know what hit you."

Takuma's grin widens, clearly unfazed. "No thanks, I'm not risking getting in trouble with Iruka-Sensei again. But I'm looking forward to the exam tomorrow. I hope you've actually been working hard."

Raimu tilts his head slightly, giving him a sly smile. "Working hard? I'm just doing what comes naturally. You, on the other hand, look like you've been doing push-ups in your sleep."

The bell rings, and they both go their separate ways, heading into their classrooms.

Raimu steps into the classroom, his sleepy expression still in place, but there's a quiet gleam in his golden eyes. It's subtle, like the flicker of fire beneath a calm surface. 

He slouches into his seat, the blanket still wrapped around him like a comforting shield.

Suzume is standing at the front, her expression serious as always, but there's a certain intensity in the air today that makes her seem even more imposing. She clears her throat, drawing everyone's attention to her.

"Alright, class, you all know what today is. It's the final day before the exams. You'll be facing your final test tomorrow, but before that, we're going to go over a few last-minute drills and techniques to make sure you're ready."

Raimu listens, but he's not really paying attention. His thoughts are elsewhere. Suzume's voice drones on in the background, the words mixing into a soft hum in his mind. The rest of the class, though, is on edge.

The graduation exam is a big deal for them, a chance to prove themselves. But for Raimu, it's just another step in his journey. He's not worried. He doesn't need to be. He's been training for this moment in his own way.

After a few more minutes of instruction, Suzume calls for the class to pair up for the drills. Normally, this is the part where the pairs would be chosen based on ability or even personal preference. Today, however, there's a certain tension in the air. Everyone knows what's at stake. The graduation exams tomorrow mean more than just another class.

Raimu stands and scans the room. A few of the students, as usual, look at him with curiosity, sizing him up. He's not trying to be intimidating or impressive.

"Raimu, you're with Natsuki," Suzume calls out, breaking the tension.

Natsuki. He's a quieter, reserved student, his green hair neatly combed and his expression always focused. He's been watching Raimu from afar, but there's always been a certain distance between them. The two have never paired up before.

Raimu looks over at Natsuki, offering him a lazy smile. "Hey," he says, his voice still a little groggy, "hope you're ready. This'll be fun."

Natsuki gives him a small nod, though his eyes show a hint of hesitation. He doesn't know Raimu all that well, and he's not sure what to expect from him today.

The two move to the practice area, where the drills will take place. Raimu stretches one last time, his blanket trailing behind him like a cape. He doesn't look particularly focused, but the calmness in his movements speaks volumes. He's ready for this.

"Alright, let's just take it slow," Raimu says, turning to face Natsuki. "We don't need to go all-out today. Just a good practice."

Natsuki nods again, slightly more relaxed now. The two begin sparring, their movements fluid, though not quite as intense as some of the other pairs. Raimu's taijutsu is sharp but slow, almost like a dance. He's not trying to overwhelm his partner. Instead, he's testing, seeing what works, feeling the rhythm of the fight.

The drill continues in that quiet, steady way. Natsuki tries his best to keep up, but it's clear that Raimu's movements are effortless, almost too easy. Raimu's eyes occasionally flicker with focus, but for the most part, he's just playing along, enjoying the simple act of moving, of being.

After a while, Suzume calls an end to the drills, and Raimu steps back, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow, though it's clear he hasn't exerted himself much. He offers Natsuki a playful grin, though there's something else in his eyes today—a quiet sense of purpose.

"Good job," Raimu says, his voice still light but with a hint of sincerity. 

__

Later that evening, Raimu heads back home, the sun sinking beneath the horizon. The streets are quieter now, the sounds of the village fading into the distance as he walks toward his clan house.

As he steps in front of the gate with his clan's symbol on it he takes a good, long look at it.

Tightening his fists as if some type of resolve has come to him.