Konoha. Graduation season. Ninja Academy.
"Tokuma, who do you think my squad leader will be?"
Inuzuka Hana scratched her head as she looked around at her classmates. "I don't really know anyone that well… If only Yun were still here, then the three of us could've been put in the same team."
"How could that be possible?"
Hyūga Tokuma let out a breath. "I heard Yun's already a jonin. During the war with the Hidden Cloud, he became famous across the entire ninja world for killing the Fourth Raikage."
"Lord Hiashi even mentioned that after the war with the Kumo, all the villages added a new standard to their mission-abandonment rules!"
Hana froze. As a clan member about to graduate, she fully understood what Tokuma meant.
Flee-On-Sight Order: If you encounter Uchiha Yun during a mission and your progress is blocked, you are not to throw your life away pointlessly. Abandon the mission, no punishment.
Before him, the only ninja who inspired that level of fear…
The Fourth Hokage, the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato.
Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo.
Both carved their names into history during the great wars.
And of them, the Yellow Flash became Hokage himself.
"…Has the gap already grown this big?"
The words slipped out of Hana's mouth without her realizing.
"Yeah…"
Tokuma sighed. "I knew it from the start. Even if that guy wanted to laze around school until graduation, it was impossible. The moment he stepped outside, with that strength, it was only a matter of time before he became famous across the ninja world."
Tokuma remembered how his branch family had now gained access to more of the Hyūga's secret techniques, changes that bore Yun's influence.
For years now, Lord Hiashi and Lord Hizashi had pushed for reform.
And Tokuma believed… those changes weren't over yet.
Time ticked by in the classroom…
Bang.
The door slid open. Kakashi walked in, mask on, listless as always.
Seeing six students still waiting inside, he scratched his head and muttered, "There are actually people slower than me? How unreliable."
Tokuma clenched his fists and whispered to Hana: "You know him, too, right? Hatake Kakashi, the Hokage's student. They say he's mastered over a thousand jutsu!"
Hana's eyes lit up with excitement.
Even among jonin, there were huge differences in strength, teaching ability, and the range of jutsu.
And this man in front of them was already a legend in the Academy.
Graduated at five.
Chūnin at six.
Jonin at twelve.
Son of Konoha's White Fang.
Disciple of the Hokage.
A genius in every field.
Having him as squad leader? You couldn't ask for better.
"Zenno, Kōgai… come with me."
But when Kakashi called out three ordinary names, the excitement deflated instantly.
He left with three overjoyed classmates.
Hana frowned. "Tokuma, with Kakashi's power and status, there's no way he'd normally be paired with them."
Her voice was low but filled with doubt. Tokuma understood clearly.
As the Hokage's student, Kakashi could be considered direct Hokage lineage. Yet he was assigned three civilian students. It made no sense.
If instead he'd been assigned Tokuma, Hana, and Yun's younger sister, Hyūga, Inuzuka, and Uchiha heirs, that would've been expected.
Tokuma sighed. "I'm not expecting someone like Kakashi-senpai anymore. Whoever our jonin is, they're taking their time. Really unreliable."
Hana nodded. "If it turns out bad, we'll just do our best in the next Chūnin Exams. Once we're chūnin, we'll have more options."
Tokuma thought for a moment, then glanced at Izumi in the front row. "Looks like we'll be teammates. Izumi, do you know who our leader is?"
Izumi, who had been dozing off, rubbed her eyes and turned back sleepily. "Has my brother arrived yet? If not, I'm going back to sleep."
Then she flopped back down.
Tokuma and Hana froze.
What?!
It's Yun?!
The boy they used to share a classroom with… was now going to be their jonin squad leader?!
It was…
Wait. Given Yun's hero status in the village and his growing fame across the shinobi world, it was less awkward than it seemed.
Tokuma remembered Hizashi's words: after the war with Kumo, the Hyūga owed Yun a huge debt. Especially for the branch family, who benefited from the rules Yun had changed.
Thinking about it that way, Yun becoming their leader wasn't so unthinkable.
"…Actually, having Yun as our leader might not be so bad."
Hana sighed. "Still, it feels awkward. Half the village must've wanted him to train their clan's kids. My mom's going to be overjoyed when she hears, though."
Tokuma nodded. "Yeah. The name Uchiha Yun carries way too much weight now."
At that moment, the door slid open again.
Uchiha Yun walked in, yawning. He spotted them and raised a hand casually. "Morning. Long time no see, you two."
Hana couldn't help but retort: "Morning? If you were any later, it'd be lunchtime."
Tokuma asked cautiously, "Yun… you're really our squad leader?"
Yun walked over to Izumi, flicked her forehead, and made her yelp.
"Ah! That hurts!" Izumi pouted when she saw him. "Why'd you do that?"
Yun smiled. "You knew today was a team assignment. But you stayed up late last night, chattering nonstop."
Izumi puffed her cheeks. "That's why I should've just come with you. If you're not here, I'm not leaving either."
Ignoring her complaints, Yun clapped his hands and said, "Alright then… let's meet on the roof."
His figure vanished.
The three glanced at each other. Tokuma asked Izumi, "You knew about the assignment? Did you ask Yun what the test is?"
Izumi blinked. "Test? But we already graduated."
Hana sighed. "Jonin squad leaders can send graduates back to the Academy if they think we're unfit. It's their right."
Izumi froze. Her brother had that kind of authority? Would he keep her in school forever, just to keep her safe?
After all, the Academy was the safest place.
"Yun wouldn't really do that, right?" Tokuma asked nervously.
Hana shook her head. "Times of peace aren't like wartime. In peacetime, unqualified genin don't graduate. And every jonin has their own way of testing. If we can't figure out Yun's purpose… he might actually send us back."
Tokuma groaned. "I don't want to fail graduation. My dad will kill me. Let's just get this over with."
…
On the rooftop.
The three sat neatly in front of Yun. Even if they were the same age, he was now their teacher.
"Konoha tradition. Introduce yourselves. Likes, dislikes, dreams, goals."
Tokuma forced a smile. "We already know each other so well. Do we really need to?"
Yun raised an eyebrow. "As members of Hyūga and Inuzuka, you should know there are always a few repeat students each year. Want me to send you back?"
Tokuma's smile froze. He definitely didn't want to repeat. If his father found out Yun was his squad leader, and that Tokuma got sent back because of his own failure… his childhood would end in tragedy.
"…I'm Hyūga Tokuma. My dream is to completely change my destiny!"
Yun studied him. 'Change destiny, huh? The cursed seal of the caged bird was always a reminder of fate. I have the means to undo it, but it wasn't the right time yet.'
"Inuzuka Hana. My dream is to open my own veterinary hospital in Konoha. Emphasis on my own."
A simple dream. Simple likes and dislikes. Yun recalled that she did indeed become a veterinarian later. She lived quietly through Pain's invasion and the Fourth Ninja War, showing up occasionally but ultimately fading into a peaceful life.
Finally, Izumi raised her hand. "I'm Uchiha Izumi, twelve years old. What I like is my brother's protection. What I dislike is… also my brother's protection. My dream is to become a ninja as strong as my brother!"
Yun blinked.
'Both like and dislike?'
'Twelve years old, her rebellious stage.'
But… he thought back to when he first arrived in this world. At that time, unsure if his first transaction would succeed, he was anxious. Protecting Izumi had become a constant.
Likes, dislikes, dand reams, she mentioned him in all three. Maybe it was time to start planning for her future.
Yun ruffled her hair. She looked up at him nervously.
"You really have grown, Izumi."
Then he pulled his hand back, turned to all three, and said, "Normally, the test starts tomorrow. But my rules are different."
He tossed a scroll to Tokuma.
"Here's a map. There's proof of success at the target location. Bring it to me by 5 p.m. tomorrow and you pass."
"Of course, you can wait until tomorrow to start. If you can still make it, I don't care."
Tokuma opened the scroll, and his face turned black.
It was nearly noon already. From now until 5 p.m. tomorrow, they had about twenty-nine hours. If they didn't sleep, they could just about make it. But with rest, it would be barely enough.
Clearly, Yun had been late on purpose.
"Pack essentials. Meet at the village gate."
The others nodded, leapt away, and vanished across the rooftops.
Yun chuckled. First time being a teacher, but his test wasn't simple.
Strength wasn't the key. Even legends like the White Fang died to rumors. Cherishing comrades was important, but more important was having their own judgment, to see through the fog and find the truth.
…
Uchiha compound.
"Brother, will you be watching us in secret?"
Yun leaned against the doorway, watching Izumi with her backpack. She'd grown. She had packed a map, ninja tools, food, everything she'd need.
"Why would I? The target isn't even outside the Land of Fire. What danger could there be?"
Izumi eyed him suspiciously. "You're lying… But fine. Either way, I'm definitely becoming a genin! And after that, I'll become strong like you."
Yun smiled. "If you're ready to become strong, then as your brother, I'll support you. But I hope you can stay true to your own convictions."
It was the first time he had openly acknowledged her. Izumi froze, then nodded firmly.
"I will! I'll work hard!"
She waved and ran out.
Yun sighed. Everyone has to grow up eventually.
"…You're worried about Izumi, aren't you?"
His mother, Uchiha Hazuki, spoke from behind.
Yun nodded. "You know as well as I do, if the Uchiha want their Sharingan to grow stronger, their hearts must be tested. The deeper the bond, the greater the loss, the stronger the eyes become. That's why so many Uchiha fall into extremism. The Sharingan really is a cursed power."
Hazuki sighed too, then smiled gently. "But Izumi has you. As long as her brother is here, there's no problem. I've always believed that."
Yun smiled faintly. "Yes. Everything has already changed. Izumi's dream is to be a great ninja. As her brother, how could I stand in her way? Don't worry, Mother with me here, Izumi will never be in danger. Though… the pain of growing up can't be avoided."