"Naruto! Is it time?"
At their old meeting place—the secret base they once used—Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, Lee, and Yakumo Kurama gathered together.
"Yes, soon," Naruto replied calmly.
"In another half a year, that will be the best opportunity. A grand stage will open, and you'll be able to witness it properly."
Sasuke remained silent for a moment before nodding.
"Naruto, if nothing unexpected happens, you'll be graduating tomorrow, right?" Neji asked, excitement flashing in his eyes.
As a young man, he was eager to step into the wider shinobi world.
"Neji, for the next six months, focus on winning over the Hyūga Branch Family," Naruto said seriously.
"No problem," Neji answered, his tone steady but proud.
"Half of the Branch Family already listens to me. They've long resented the Main Family. They'd gladly leave with us."
Indeed, gaining the support of so many Branch Family members was no small feat.
It wasn't only because Neji could help loosen the Caged Bird Seal that bound them, but also because of his overwhelming talent. After relentless training, Neji's strength had grown formidable, giving the Branch Family hope that he might one day protect them.
With his ability, it was clear that in a few years Neji would hold great power. At the same time, the two Hyūga clansmen who had previously joined the Umbrella Organization spoke endlessly of its strength.
Though their boasts were exaggerated—such as "punching the Land of Wind and kicking the Land of Lightning!"—the Branch Family could tell that Umbrella was no minor group.
Especially once they learned that the Seven Colors Trading Company was one of its enterprises, their faith in Neji's path solidified.
After all, rumors had long spread across the shinobi world that Kirigakure and the Land of Water secretly supported the company. If the Seven Colors Trading Company hadn't possessed real power, it would have been devoured by the Hidden Mist long ago.
Reassured of their future survival, the Branch Family members were willing to fight for their freedom.
In the present, a small flame flickered between the group, with a makeshift grill set over it. The scent of roasting meat wafted through the air, making them all inhale deeply.
Sasuke swallowed unconsciously and accepted the skewer Naruto handed him. The others followed suit, memories stirring of past missions with Might Guy. Those missions were best left unspoken—but the taste of this meat was in a different league altogether.
"You really can do everything so well," Neji said, chewing carefully.
The meat was tender, seasoned with just the right touch of spices. The flavor was exquisite, almost enough to make one swallow their tongue.
"Indeed, Naruto-kun is very impressive," Yakumo Kurama added with a smile of satisfaction.
"It's nothing special. Just Heaven rewarding diligence," Naruto replied with a smirk.
The others exchanged a look. Heaven rewards diligence? Everyone here worked hard, yet Naruto always made it look effortless.
"Freak," Neji muttered. Sasuke nodded in rare agreement. "Just eat and ignore him."
Laughter flickered briefly between them as they ate in peace.
When the meal was finished, Naruto's expression grew serious again.
"Neji, there must be no mistakes on your end."
"Don't worry," Neji answered firmly. Food and banter were one thing, but when it came to responsibility, he was resolute. The Branch Family's bird had broken free from its cage—and now its sharp wings were ready to spread.
...
Hokage's Office
"Third Hokage-sama… are you saying you want me to be a substitute teacher?"
Kakashi tilted his head, eyeing the file in front of him.
Inside were three familiar names: Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke… and one stranger—Haruno Sakura.
"Kakashi, you're already a mature shinobi. You should understand the importance of those two—guide them in the right direction."
The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed slightly, sharp and calculating like a fox.
"Besides," he added, "haven't you already taken Uchiha Sasuke as your disciple?"
The fact that Kakashi had privately begun training Sasuke was no longer a secret. Hiruzen intended to use that connection to bind the new team together.
Kakashi's expression didn't change, but inwardly he sighed. Years ago, he had led a team for the first time as a Jonin sensei.
None of the candidates had passed his strict assessment, and the team had disbanded before it began. He hadn't expected the Hokage to hand him this responsibility again.
Third Hokage… do they really need me to lead them?
He mocked himself silently.
In recent years, Kakashi had devoted himself to two things: training relentlessly, and investigating the truth of his father's death. The White Fang's demise had never sat right with him, and Kakashi was certain Danzo had played a role.
But years of life under Konoha's system had left him conflicted.
Was Sakumo's death truly Konoha's fault—or the doing of Danzo and the Hokage? The villagers' slander had driven his father to despair, but it was Danzo who spread the rumors. And Hiruzen… had allowed them to fester.
"Very well, Hokage-sama," Kakashi finally said. He took the documents and left the office.
Hiruzen watched him go, his voice soft as he murmured to the empty room, "I hope they can forge a true bond."
...
The Next Morning
Naruto and Sasuke hurried into the Academy. The day before, they had already passed their graduation exam—once again, it had been the Shadow Clone Jutsu. This time, Naruto had passed without effort.
That morning, however, they overheard a rumor. A classmate, in league with Mizuki, had stolen the Scroll of Seals. Both had been caught and thrown into prison.
When Naruto heard the gossip, he only sneered.
So what?
Yes, the Scroll of Seals had been involved, but he wasn't the protagonist of that incident in this timeline—and honestly, he didn't care. The scroll was probably just a copy, maybe containing one or two useful techniques at most.
Besides, unlike others, he was the Fourth Hokage's son and the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
Konoha would never allow him to fail to graduate.
Imagine the humiliation—the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, the Fourth Hokage's heir, unable to even pass the Academy. Impossible.
As for Mizuki and that unfortunate student, they were nobodies. A grave crime like stealing the Scroll of Seals sealed their fate. The matter was already fading from memory.
When Naruto and Sasuke arrived in class, Naruto made his way to Hinata's side as usual. Sasuke, instead of sitting alone by the window, quietly took the seat next to him.
The move immediately stirred the classroom.
"Naruto, do you think we'll end up on the same team?" Sasuke asked under his breath.
"This team assignment isn't random," Naruto replied, lowering his voice. "We'll most likely be paired."
"The Ino–Shika–Chō trio will definitely be together—that tradition's unbreakable. Kiba, Hinata, and Shino are the perfect reconnaissance team."
"That leaves us. You and I will be grouped, and they'll add one more to balance things out."
"As for the rest—the ones without clan ties, special skills, or talent—they'll get lumped into teams of their own. Their sensei will probably just be Chūnin-level."
Naruto glanced around the room. "But we're from Class A. Even if the others can't compare to us, they'll still form the backbone of Konoha one day. That's why our instructor will definitely be a Jōnin."
As if to prove his words, Iruka began reading off the assignments. Each name fell exactly where Naruto had predicted.
Finally—
"Team 7: Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura."
"Yesss!" Sakura cheered inwardly, her face lighting up. I'm on Sasuke-kun's team!
...
TN:
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