Birth of the shadow: Uchiha sasuke x COTE fanfic

After the opening ceremony, the students of Class D filtered into their classroom. Sasuke remained in the back, observing the flow of students as they moved. There was an air of uncertainty around the room. Even though this school had clear rules, it seemed like most of the students had no idea what they were getting into. He let out a barely audible sigh as he took a seat by the window, right next to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Horikita Suzune.

The room was filled with idle chatter, but Sasuke didn't bother paying attention to most of it. He wasn't here to make friends or get involved in trivial conversations. Everything in this place was about positioning and gaining leverage. He would observe, calculate, and act only when necessary.

Next to him, Ayanokoji sat with his usual blank expression, as though he didn't care about the world around him. On the other side, Horikita was quietly organizing her notes, her sharp eyes scanning the class, already assessing the potential of her peers.

A few moments later, Hirata Yosuke, the seemingly perfect golden boy of the class, stood up and smiled warmly at everyone. His presence immediately drew attention as he spoke with an enthusiastic and approachable tone.

"Hey, everyone," Hirata began, "since we're all going to be together for the foreseeable future, why don't we take a moment to introduce ourselves? It would help us get to know each other better."

His suggestion was met with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Some students immediately perked up, eager to share, while others shrank back in their seats, clearly uncomfortable with the idea.

One by one, the students began introducing themselves. Sasuke tuned out most of the introductions—none of it seemed important to him. He was more interested in trying to piece together the structure of the school and how it functioned. His mind wandered to potential strategies he could use to rise through the ranks. This "Class D" wasn't where he belonged, but to get out, he needed to understand the game.

He was deep in thought, considering his next move, when suddenly, Hirata's voice broke through his contemplation.

"Uchiha Sasuke, right?" Hirata asked politely, looking at Sasuke with his ever-present smile. "Would you mind introducing yourself next?"

Sasuke blinked and turned his gaze toward Hirata, his expression unreadable. He stood up slowly, his handsome features and cool demeanor instantly grabbing the attention of several girls in the class, who whispered quietly amongst themselves.

"I'm Sasuke," he said simply, his voice calm and indifferent. "I don't like unnecessary chatter. That's all."

The room fell into a brief silence, but it was clear his stoic nature and confident aura had already left an impression. The girls couldn't take their eyes off him, and the boys seemed a bit intimidated by his attitude. It wasn't the longest or most detailed introduction, but it was more than enough for him.

After a moment, the attention shifted to Ayanokoji.

"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, you're next," Hirata said, looking over at the brown-haired boy.

Ayanokoji looked up, slightly startled that his turn had come so soon. He straightened in his seat and awkwardly stood up. Sasuke watched him out of the corner of his eye, curious about how this boy would handle the spotlight.

"My name is... Ayanokoji Kiyotaka," he began, his tone hesitant. There was a noticeable pause after every sentence as if he was unsure of what to say next. "There's not much... interesting about me."

His introduction was short, abrupt, and filled with awkward pauses. It was clear that socializing wasn't Ayanokoji's strong suit. When he finished, the class was quiet for a beat before giving him a polite, albeit pitying, round of applause. The kind that was more out of obligation than genuine enthusiasm.

Horikita, sitting next to Sasuke, smirked slightly. She didn't say anything, but her amusement at Ayanokoji's discomfort was evident. Sasuke, on the other hand, remained neutral, though internally, he found himself both amused and suspicious of Ayanokoji. The boy wasn't good at interacting with people, that much was clear, but something about his demeanor felt off. Sasuke could tell when someone was pretending, and there was more to Ayanokoji than met the eye.

He's hiding something, Sasuke thought to himself. Interesting.

The introductions continued, though Sasuke barely paid attention. His mind was already moving to his next steps. He would need to figure out the structure of the school quickly if he wanted to gain any leverage. This place was a battlefield, and he wasn't about to be stuck at the bottom.

The classroom buzzed with excitement as Chabashira Sae stood before the students, her eyes scanning the room with an air of cool indifference. She wore a slight smirk, a subtle sign of her enjoyment in withholding crucial information. Behind her, the digital clock on the board displayed the time ticking toward a new beginning.

Sasuke, sitting between Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Horikita Suzune, leaned back slightly in his chair, his arms crossed as he observed the scene unfold. His face remained expressionless, though his mind was racing. This classroom felt foreign to him, yet eerily familiar. He had long learned to stay silent, to absorb information and strike only when necessary. And right now, all he needed to do was listen.

Chabashira began, her voice smooth and controlled. "Welcome to Advanced Nurturing High School. I am your homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae."

Her gaze swept across the room, pausing briefly as she locked eyes with Sasuke. He didn't flinch, meeting her gaze with the same cool intensity he always carried. No one could read him, and that's how he liked it.

"As you may already know, this school operates under a unique system—the S-System. Here, each class is assigned points based on merit. These points determine your standing, both as a class and as individuals."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing the weight behind her words. He knew there was more to this than she was revealing, but he stayed silent. He could already feel the tension in the air—students around him were eager to hear more, but they were too naive to question the full implications of this system.

"For now," Chabashira continued, "you will each receive 100,000 personal points. This amount is equal to 100,000 yen."

A wave of shock swept through the room. Students sat up straighter, exchanging glances and murmurs of disbelief. Some couldn't help but smile, excitement lighting up their faces. Hirata Yosuke, the picture of politeness, raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, while others, like Ike and Yamauchi, were practically vibrating in their seats with glee.

"100,000 yen?" one of the students exclaimed. "They're giving us that much?"

"This is insane!" Ike nearly shouted, leaning forward eagerly. "I'm gonna buy whatever I want with this!"

Sasuke barely reacted. He expected this reaction—people driven by greed, eager to throw themselves into the first shiny offer without a second thought. He wasn't interested in the money. It was a mere distraction.

Ayanokoji, beside him, remained as passive as ever, his expression unreadable. Sasuke noticed how the corners of his eyes slightly shifted, betraying a flicker of thought, but Kiyotaka gave away little. Sasuke had made it a habit to observe him—there was something about Ayanokoji that was carefully hidden beneath the surface. Though they hadn't exchanged words, Sasuke already knew this would be someone to keep an eye on.

Horikita, on the other hand, seemed unmoved by the announcement. She sat rigidly in her seat, arms crossed, looking unimpressed. Sasuke could sense she wasn't easily swayed by the same things that dazzled the others.

Chabashira, still wearing her thin smile, paused just long enough for the class's excitement to build, watching as their eagerness consumed them. She enjoyed this—their naivety, their blind trust in the system. The students had no idea how quickly their behavior would lead to their downfall, how their points would plummet over the next month. But she didn't intend to tell them. Not yet.

She wasn't just their teacher; she was the architect of their undoing.

"As long as you have points," she continued, "you can use them freely. Buy whatever you want from the school store, enjoy the benefits this institution provides. But I suggest you manage your points carefully."

Sasuke's mind whirred. The word "manage" lingered, tinged with unspoken meaning. The warning was vague enough that most students would ignore it. They would rush headlong into indulgence, spending their points without care. And when the consequences came? That's when the real game would begin.

Still, Sasuke wasn't concerned. He knew he would stay ahead. He had no intention of following the crowd, no desire to waste his time on frivolous pleasures. For now, he would observe—watch how the others stumbled and fell, and then rise above them when the time was right.

The lesson concluded, and as Chabashira left the room, the students erupted in conversation. Excitement buzzed through the air as most of them discussed what they would buy first, completely oblivious to the true nature of the system they had just been introduced to.

Horikita rose from her seat, as impassive as ever, moving toward the door without a word. Sasuke stood next, slowly walking toward the exit as well. He glanced once more at Ayanokoji, who, despite his disinterest, still stood out to him. There was something about this seemingly ordinary boy that didn't add up.

"Interesting," Sasuke thought, his lips curling slightly into a smirk as he followed the rest of the class.