"Hey, you there. You're a first-year student, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am."

The boy who answered sensei's question was slightly taller than me. He had short black hair, black eyes, a slender build, and slightly oversized black-rimmed glasses.

"I see. I have a favor to ask of you, if you don't mind."

"Sure. If it's something I can do, I'd be happy to help."

The boy smiled as he answered.

"Then I'd like you to show this boy around the island. I'd also like you to take him to the kimono shop so he can get a haori made."

"Of course. I was planning to look around myself anyway."

"Thank you. Hazama, leave your luggage in your room and let this boy show you around the island. I'd love to guide you myself, but I have other matters to attend to. Excuse me."

With that, Fujimura-sensei walked away from my room.

As soon as he was gone, the boy turned to me.

"You're going to put your things away, right? There should be a white bag on your desk containing your ninja uniform and textbooks. Inside it, you'll find a small brown pouch. Just bring that with you when you come out."

"Okay. Got it."

I entered my room and set down my belongings. Then, just as the boy had instructed, I reached into the white bag on the desk. After finding the small brown pouch, I took it and stepped back outside.

"Oh, that was quick. Did you bring the pouch?"

"Yeah, I've got it right here."

I held it up for him to see.

"Great. Then let's go."

He started walking away.

"Wait a second. We haven't introduced ourselves yet, have we? My name is Shinji Hazama. What's yours?"

"Oh, right. I forgot."

The boy smiled and held out his hand.

"My name is Keisuke Ikusadake. Nice to meet you."

I shook his hand.

"I'll show you around, but I'm only a first-year student myself. I don't know everything about this island yet, so I can only show you the places I know. Is that okay?"

"Of course. I'd love to see whatever you can show me."

As soon as I said that, Keisuke started walking, heading down the dormitory stairs and out of the building.

"First, let's leave the dorms and head to Ninja Town. Apparently, a lot of ninjas live there."

He walked away from the boys' dormitory.

"Keisuke, why did you want to come to the Iko Ninja Academy?"

"My parents graduated from this academy. They told me that if I wanted to become a ninja, this was the best place to do it. There are other ninja schools, of course, but this one has produced the greatest number of outstanding ninjas. Your parents recommended this place too, didn't they?"

"No. Until today, I didn't even know I had what it takes to become a ninja. I grew up in an orphanage, so I didn't even know my parents had been ninjas. Fujimura-sensei invited me here."

"I see… Maybe I asked something I shouldn't have."

"It's okay. I've already gotten used to not having parents around. And now… I want to become a great ninja like they were. So before classes start, I'd like you to teach me everything you know about the ninja world."

I smiled at him.

"Of course. While I show you around Onigashima, I'll answer whatever I can. Let's both do our best and become great ninjas."

He smiled back.

As we chatted about all sorts of things, we eventually arrived at our destination.

Before us stood a large wooden sign that read:

Ninja Town

Behind it was another gate leading into the academy grounds.

"So this is Ninja Town. The gate behind it leads to the academy, but we can't go in right now. Starting tomorrow, though, we'll be able to pass through it and begin our training. I'm really looking forward to it."

Keisuke sounded genuinely excited.

"I've actually already been through that gate. I even met Headmaster Hattori."

He looked at me in shock.

"You met Headmaster Hattori? That's amazing! You got to meet the strongest ninja in the world! You're so lucky. What was he like?"

"Hmm… He seemed like an ordinary old man. Though I guess his hairstyle was pretty memorable."

"That's it? He's the strongest ninja in the world! Didn't he seem like someone who could use incredible techniques or own amazing ninja tools?"

"Not really. I only talked to him for a little while, but nothing about him struck me as extraordinary. Honestly, he just felt like a normal old man."

"Really? Well, Headmaster Hattori is an incredible ninja. I'm jealous that you got to meet him. My parents admire him a lot too. Ah―but this isn't the time to stand around talking. Let's go into Ninja Town. There are still lots of places I want to show you."

With that, Keisuke entered Ninja Town.

I followed him inside.

The rooftops were covered in tiles, and rows of wooden houses stretched far into the distance.

"So this really is Ninja Town? These houses look like they'd be easy to rob."

"No, not at all. Ninja houses often have secret passages, hidden mechanisms, or underground rooms. Breaking into one wouldn't be easy. Of course, not every house has those things."

"I see. So even if someone sneaked into a house, there'd be no guarantee they could steal anything valuable."

"Exactly. Anyway, let's take a look around. It doesn't seem like any of the shops are open right now, so we might as well explore."

The two of us wandered through Ninja Town.

There were plenty of ninjas walking around―men and women dressed in indigo ninja uniforms.

As we continued our walk, we eventually reached a spot overlooking the sea.

Together, Keisuke and I gazed out at the Pacific Ocean.

Spread before us was a vast blue sea and a small isolated island in the distance.

"It's still hard to believe this island is completely hidden from the rest of the world."

I stared out at the ocean.

"I didn't believe it either until I came here. But now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I think it's an incredible place. And don't you think it's kind of amazing that we're somewhere no one outside the ninja world even knows exists?"

"Yeah… I do."

Then something caught my eye.

"Huh? Is that… a frog statue?"

I pointed toward the small island in the distance.

"You're right. It does look like a frog statue. I wonder why there's one all the way out there."

As both of us focused on the distant statue, a person silently appeared behind us.

Then, without warning, the stranger spoke.