Naruto: Farming Emotions with Multiple Identities in Naruto — Chapter 205

Chapter 205: Is Kakashi Insulting Us?

The morning lessons at the Ninja Academy dragged on with mind-numbing simplicity. The curriculum consisted entirely of dry history lectures, with instructors droning on about the foundation of the school and the legendary exploits of the four Hokage whose faces were carved into the towering rock overlooking the village.

When the midday bell finally rang, the cafeteria buzzed with hungry students. Thanks to the inclusive policies established by the Fourth Hokage, whatever benefits the commoners received, the Uchiha clan was obligated to accept as well. Thus, Uchiha Obito—despite hailing from a prestigious clan that provided him with a generous living allowance—was automatically allocated a spot for the Academy’s free nutritious meals due to his orphan status.

Stelle bypassed the crowded tables, carrying her steaming meal tray straight toward the chain-link fence on the western edge of the school grounds.

Kikushi was already waiting there, crouching in the sparse grass. Thanks to Stelle’s previous mental soothing, the girl’s shattered consciousness had recovered just enough for her to handle her way here without getting lost.

Stelle carefully slid the tray through a wide gap in the rusted wire.

“Look at you, Kikushi, you’re doing so well finding your way here,” Stelle cooed softly, her tone sickeningly sweet. “Hurry up and eat. Remember to head straight home once your stomach is full. Don’t go wandering off. I’ll make you something delicious when I get back tonight… well, maybe not delicious, but it’ll definitely fill you up.”

Kikushi stared back with vacant, uncoordinated eyes. Looking a bit foolish, she grabbed the tray with both hands and began devouring the food with messy, ravenous bites.

Stelle reached her hand through the gap in the fence, gently brushing away the stray blades of grass and dirt clinging to the girl’s clothes before patiently re-tying her messy hair.

Even in her disoriented state, Kikushi knew Stelle was good to her. Stelle never hit her and always spoke with a gentle voice. Pausing her frantic chewing, Kikushi grabbed a greasy chicken leg from the tray and offered it through the fence.

“No need, you eat. I’ve already eaten,” Stelle lied smoothly, patting the girl’s greasy hand.

It didn’t matter if she skipped a meal. Kikushi’s mind was a broken mess; if she went hungry, she would inevitably wander off in search of sustenance. It would be a massive headache if the girl ended up eating poisonous mushrooms or toxic weeds from the nearby forest.

After Kikushi finally scraped the tray clean and shuffled away toward home, Stelle pulled the sparkling clean plastic tray back through the fence.

Right on cue, her system completely broke down.

[Wuwuwu… Host, I regret everything!] the system wailed in her mind, shedding digital tears. [How could I arrange such a tragic persona for you? You’re actually starving yourself just to maintain character! How about we switch aliases? It’s just an insignificant identity anyway; no one would bat an eye if this persona died.]

Stelle hid a smirk, thoroughly amused by the glowing orb’s dramatic outburst.

‘Why are you crying over nothing? I’m immortal. I can slaughter my way through a blood-soaked battlefield for three days and three nights without blinking. What’s the big deal about skipping two measly meals? I can just pop a ration pill when no one is looking, right? Besides, I have a mountain of food stashed in my system space. Maintaining a persona requires flexibility, not actual suffering.'[But I can only block the pain of physical injury! You still genuinely feel the hunger!] the system sobbed. [Over the years, the only real hardship you’ve experienced was eating those bland communal meals at the Orphanage for a few days. Now I’ve given you this alias, and you actually have to starve! Wuwu, I feel so bad, Host. Let’s just switch aliases!]’Since we’re committing to a persona, we have to see it through to the bitter end. Be good, don’t cry.’

As Stelle casually comforted the glowing interface in her mind, the system only cried louder.

[Ding! Mood value from Kakashi Hatake +10]

The sudden, mechanical broadcast startled both the scheming host and her weeping system.

Stelle immediately traced the faint fluctuation of chakra. Her gaze snapped upward, landing on a second-floor balcony of the Academy building. There, leaning against the railing, was Kakashi. He was casually munching on a rice ball, his dark eyes locked onto her.

Their gazes collided in the crisp afternoon air. He contributed another measly 10 mood value points before indifferently turning his head and walking away, perfectly embodying the aloof, untouchable persona of a young prodigy.

The system instantly stopped crying. Instead, it was thrown into a fit of absolute rage.

[Such an important main character, and he only gives 10 mood value?! Is he insulting us?! Host, tonight we are putting a burlap sack over his head and beating him into a pulp!]

Stelle was genuinely surprised as well. Kakashi’s emotional state was terrifyingly stable. A dazzling, prominent main character of his caliber should, by all rights, generate at least a thousand points from even the slightest emotional ripple. Yet, a direct stare-down only yielded ten.

The last person she had encountered with such a flatlined, stable mood value was Orochimaru.

By the time Stelle returned to the bustling cafeteria with her empty tray, Obito was slumped over the table, listlessly shoveling cold rice into his mouth. His dark eyes instantly lit up the moment he spotted her.

“A-Mu! Where did you go?” Obito practically jumped out of his seat. “I looked everywhere for you and couldn’t find you at all!”

“Sorry, I went to eat outside,” Stelle lied without missing a beat, her expression perfectly innocent. “The air in the cafeteria was a bit too stuffy, and I lost sight of you in the crowd.”

“Next time, remember to wait for me! I get really worried when I can’t find you.”

Stelle offered a soft, agreeable hum. Seeing that she was already turning toward the exit, Obito quickly inhaled the rest of his food in three massive bites, nearly choking before scrambling to follow her back to the classroom.

The afternoon schedule was dedicated entirely to practical training.

Senju Naoto, eager to gauge the individual skill levels of his fresh batch of students, decided to conduct a major physical assessment on the very first day.

“Alright, everyone, line up and head to the training ground!” Naoto clapped his hands, his voice echoing off the chalkboard. “We will conduct this assessment in groups of three—specifically, your desk groups. The trio that performs the best will each receive a custom-forged kunai!”

“Yay! We finally get to go outside and play!”

Children stuck in a classroom always craved physical education, and aspiring ninja were absolutely no exception. The room erupted into excited cheers.

A group of students immediately began stretching, eager to prove themselves. Only Kakashi remained seated. His brow furrowed as he seemingly contemplated something, his sharp gaze darting sideways toward Stelle.

When Obito enthusiastically volunteered to run up front and help the instructor carry the heavy boxes of training tools, Kakashi reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small, dense sphere and placed it squarely on Stelle’s desk.

“This is a military ration pill,” Kakashi stated, his voice flat. “It’s introduced in the third lesson of our textbook.”

“Hmm?” Stelle blinked, shrinking back slightly as she cautiously eyed the silver-haired boy.

Meeting her timid gaze, Kakashi immediately turned his head away, a deep scowl of annoyance crossing his masked face.

“Don’t drag me down in the ninja tools class later,” he muttered. “I want that kunai.”

His voice carried across the quiet desk. Stelle visibly flinched, her shoulders trembling as she timidly slid a few inches further down the bench. She bowed her head, acting as if she wanted to melt into the floorboards and hide from his overbearing presence.

Kakashi’s frown deepened into a harsh glare. He didn’t have the patience for this. “Eat it.”

“Y-Yes!” Stelle’s shoulders twitched violently. She quickly snatched the ration pill off the wooden desk and popped it into her mouth, swallowing it dry.

Honestly, if she was so terrified of him, why did she even choose to sit at this desk? Just because they both wore masks covering the lower halves of their faces?

Kakashi mentally sighed. He found the kids at this school unbearably childish, the classes dreadfully boring, and everyone around him entirely too loud. He couldn’t help but wonder how great it would be if he could just take the graduation exam early and leave this daycare behind.

With his naturally fierce eyes and permanent scowl, anyone who didn’t know the context would assume he was mercilessly bullying the quiet girl beside him.

Just then, Obito returned from the front of the room. Seeing Stelle cowering and Kakashi glaring, the Uchiha’s blood boiled. He let out a furious yell and sprinted over, throwing his arms out wide to physically block Kakashi from getting any closer to Stelle.

“Kakashi! Are you bullying A-Mu?!” Obito roared, his face flushed with anger. “I won’t let you get away with this!”

“Boring,” Kakashi scoffed. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets, proudly tilted his chin up, and walked past them, leaving the fuming Uchiha to yell at his retreating back.

Stelle reached out, gently tugging at Obito’s sleeve.

“You misunderstood,” she whispered, her voice soft and placating. “Kakashi just told me that we need to try our absolute best in the practical training class later. He really wants the kunai for the first-place group.”

“Don’t look down on me! I’m incredibly strong!” Obito shouted down the hallway, shaking his fist at Kakashi’s shrinking silhouette.

Stelle highly doubted that.

Given that Obito was currently the class’s infamous ‘dead last’, his grades and physical coordination were bound to be painfully average until he actually matured and unlocked his bloodline.

And as for herself? She was currently playing the role of a frail, ordinary girl with zero foundational training. How could her grades possibly be outstanding without breaking character?

So, even though she had graciously eaten Kakashi’s ration pill, the silver-haired genius shouldn’t hold his breath waiting for that prize kunai.

Soon, the chaotic horde of ‘radish heads’ arrived at the outdoor training ground. The dirt field was lined with wooden target posts. Senju Naoto stepped up to the front, demonstrating the proper grip on a shuriken and breaking down the essential throwing posture for the class.

Asuma Sarutobi, desperate to impress a certain red-eyed girl named Kurenai, immediately volunteered to go first. He stepped up to the line, his grip perfectly matching the instructor’s standard. With a swift flick of his wrists, all six of his shuriken sailed through the air, sinking solidly into the red circle of the bullseye.

The class erupted into a loud round of applause.

Then, it was Kakashi’s turn.

He didn’t even bother stepping up to the line. Instead, he jumped straight up into the air. While suspended in mid-gravity, his hands moved in a blur. By the time his boots hit the dirt, all six shuriken had already slammed into the target.

Every single blade hit the absolute dead center of the bullseye. They were clustered so tightly together that their metal rings were practically touching. The sheer precision required to throw them while jumping was leagues above Asuma’s stationary stance.

The applause that followed was deafening.

“He’s so amazing! And so handsome!” a group of girls squealed.

“I heard my dad say that the Hatake clan once produced a terrifying genius swordsman,” a boy whispered in awe. “They called him Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang! He made the elite ninja of the Land of Wind tremble in fear just hearing his name. Kakashi must have inherited Lord White Fang’s talent!”

“Yeah… he’s just built completely different from the rest of us.”