The road home was quiet.
Kelvin Stone dragged his feet along the dusty path, academy papers folded carelessly in his pocket. The sun was already sinking, painting the sky in dull orange streaks, but he barely noticed.
His shoulders ached.
Not from the exam.
From waiting.
Other kids passed him, laughing loudly, reenacting parts of the practical exam like heroes retelling battles. Parents walked beside them, praising, scolding, promising food.
Kelvin walked alone.
Dad should've been there.
The house came into view—small, familiar, warm-looking from the outside.
Kelvin stopped at the door.
For a moment, he just stood there.
Then he pushed it open.
"Dad?" he called out.
Silence.
The house smelled like soup.
His mother's cooking.
But no footsteps. No voice. No presence.
His chest tightened.
His mother stepped out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a cloth. "You're back," she said softly, forcing a smile. "How was it?"
Kelvin shrugged, dropping his bag. "Fine."
She studied him for a moment—too carefully.
"Your father isn't home yet," she said quickly, like she was patching a crack before it spread. "He said he might be late."
Kelvin's jaw clenched.
"He said he'd be there."
His mother hesitated.
"I know."
His elder brother leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, eyes sharp with concern he tried to hide behind indifference.
"You pass?" he asked.
Kelvin nodded.
"Good," his brother said. "He'll be proud."
Kelvin didn't answer.
Dinner was quiet.
Kelvin ate mechanically, barely tasting anything. His spoon scraped the bowl louder than necessary.
"You should rest," his mother said gently. "Big day tomorrow."
"Yeah," Kelvin muttered.
He stood, pushed the chair back, and headed for his room.
No argument.
No goodnight.
Just exhaustion.
He collapsed onto the bed fully dressed, eyes burning, body heavy.
Sleep took him before the anger could turn into tears.
In the kitchen, the silence lingered.
His brother sat at the table, fingers tapping slowly.
"He's upset," he said quietly.
"I know," their mother replied.
Her hands trembled slightly as she cleaned the dishes.
The house felt too big.
Too empty.
She paused, staring at the doorway like she expected someone to walk through it.
Her thoughts whispered what her lips couldn't.
Thomas… where are you?
The academy courtyard buzzed with noise.
New uniforms scratched against skin that wasn't used to them yet. Parents argued with instructors about schedules. Kids ran around like they'd already graduated and saved the village twice.
Kelvin Stone stood near the steps, hands in his pockets, watching it all.
So this is it, he thought. I'm really here.
Someone bumped into his shoulder.
"Oops. My bad."
Kelvin turned.
The boy from the exam stood there—same plain clothes, same sharp eyes, same calm posture like he wasn't surrounded by chaos.
They stared at each other for a second.
Then Kelvin spoke. "You almost knocked me over."
The boy shrugged. "You looked sturdy."
Kelvin snorted despite himself. "That's the nicest insult I've gotten today."
The boy smirked faintly.
They stood in silence for a moment, watching another kid trip over his own excitement and faceplant into the dirt.
"…First day?" the boy asked.
Kelvin blinked. "Obviously."
"Fair." A pause. "You did good yesterday."
Kelvin glanced at him. "You saying that as competition or pity?"
"Observation," the boy replied. "You think too much. But you don't quit."
Kelvin frowned. "…Thanks?"
The boy extended his hand. "People call me GIFTED."
Kelvin stared at the hand. Then at him.
"That's… not a name."
Gifted shrugged. "Didn't say it was."
Kelvin hesitated, then shook it. "Kelvin Stone."
Gifted tilted his head. "Stone, huh? Makes sense."
"How?"
"You're dense," Gifted said flatly.
Kelvin yanked his hand back. "Okay, I take it back. That was an insult."
Gifted's lips twitched—barely.
Before Kelvin could respond, a horn echoed across the courtyard.
"Students!" an instructor shouted. "Opening ceremony starts now!"
Kids scrambled into lines.
Kelvin instinctively scanned the crowd again.
Parents waved. Cheered.
His father wasn't there.
The familiar ache settled in his chest.
Gifted noticed.
"You expecting someone?" he asked.
Kelvin looked forward. "Yeah."
Gifted didn't push. He just nodded.
"Then let's not be late," he said, stepping into line. "Would be embarrassing to miss day one."
Kelvin followed, fists clenched.
Far from the academy—
The forest was quiet in the wrong way.
Kelvin's father moved between the trees like a shadow, boots never snapping a twig, breath controlled and slow. The deeper he went, the darker the woods became—light strangled by thick branches overhead.
His eyes scanned everything.
Tracks. Broken leaves. Faint drag marks.
They've been here.
The Hokage's voice echoed in his mind.
"They call themselves the Five Great Hands."
Five rogue ninja.
Notorious.
Cruel.
They didn't raid villages.
They played with them.
They carved symbols into walls using bare hands—prints smeared in blood. They left survivors on purpose. Broken ones. Witnesses.
One specialized in poison.
Another in brute strength.
Another in genjutsu so twisted victims begged for reality back.
Turtles.
Slow. Armored. Patient.
Deadly.
Kelvin's father crouched, touching the ground.
Still warm.
His jaw tightened.
I should be at the academy right now.
His thoughts drifted—unwelcome, but persistent.
Kelvin's face when he promised.
"I'll be there. No matter what."
The boy had nodded, pretending it didn't matter.
It mattered.
Kelvin's father exhaled slowly.
He's going to be angry.
Angry… or hurt.
He rose, eyes hardening.
Just hold on a little longer, son.
Ahead, something shifted in the shadows.
A faint chuckle echoed through the trees.
Kelvin's father reached for his weapon.
The forest seemed to close in around him.
And far away—
At the academy—
Kelvin Stone stood among future shinobi, unaware that the shadows hunting his father were already stretching toward his own path.
Maybe he really got busy and forgot about me. Kelvin thought to himself
Gifted kept stealing glance at him. 'Something is bothering but I feel like shouldn't meddle in things that doesn't concern me'
"Urgh. We've been waiting for ages!!. Are these people too old to quicken whatever process and let's get this over with!!" A lousy kid who looks likes he has never gotten any dirt on him in his entire life said with irritated face. "Hey, that's rude u shouldn't ta__" A slim looking kid who was so slim even the breeze was considerate not to blow him off his feet said buh was interrupted abruptly
"Shouldn't.. what?, you want to lecture me? Do you know who I am?"
"Kids would always be kids" Gifted said while leaning on tree. Kelvin looked up at him frm where he was squatting "And you are.?"
"I'm clearly not a kid" Gifted replied seriously
"I'm sorry what did you say ag…"
"Students please make your way to the class on the slip given to you yesterday"
A rough voice boomed from the speakers above.
And the journey of being a great ninja has begun!