The crisp autumn morning was draped in a wispy haze, as if Konoha had been wrapped in a sheer, translucent veil.
In front of the ninja academy, Yuto, Naruto, and Shikamaru met up.
Greetings Naruto, Shikamaru."
"Mornin'."
"Ugh, Yuto, why you gotta sound like a fancy scroll now? Cut it out!" Naruto scrunched his nose like he'd smelled something foul. "Talk like a normal person!"
"Got it, Nar-bear," Yuto nodded, immediately switching gears. Then, glancing at Shikamaru, he added, "Shika-bear."
"Oi, you tryin' to pull rank on me?!" Naruto scowled.
"Eh, call me whatever. Just don't let my mom hear it." Shikamaru yawned, hands behind his head.
"Hey, Yuto," Naruto suddenly leaned in, digging into his pocket before pulling out a suspiciously lumpy black plastic bag. "Got you a little something for the grade tournament make sure you wipe the floor with that jerk Sasuke!"
"Thanks, but hard pass" Yuto took two quick steps back, already catching a whiff of the bag's "artisanal street fragrance."
"Aw, c'mon! I scooped this up fresh off the street just for you!" Naruto pressed forward, swinging the bag like a "biological weapon".
"Naruto, throw that away!" Shikamaru finally snapped, pinching his nose. "You seriously carried 'dog crap' in your pocket?!"
"Relax, I've got a new ultimate move now, Naruto," Yuto held up a hand like a peace treaty. "That old trick's retired. Ditch the bag before your mom's ghost haunts us all."
"New move?" Naruto perked up.
"Brand new" Yuto confirmed.
"…Fine." Naruto sighed and lobbed his treasured bag into the nearest trash bin.
Phew.
Yuto dragged Naruto straight to the school restroom and watched him scrub his hands like a surgeon prepping for an operation before finally letting him return to class.
"Man, you're such a mom," Naruto grumbled, inspecting his now sandpapered hands.
"Maybe because that's what your mom would've wanted?" Yuto sighed.
"Tch. Ugh, look who's here—that jerk!" Naruto's eyes locked onto a certain emo-haired Uchiha."He's looking at us! That's a challenge—Yuto, what the heck?!."
His jaw dropped as Yuto smiled and waved at Sasuke—who unbelievably nodded back?!
'Since when were they on speaking terms?!'
"Just saying hi," Yuto shrugged.
"You greeted him?!" Naruto clutched his chest like he'd been emotionally stabbed. "You KNOW I hate that guy!"
"Eh, he's not so bad," Yuto patted his shoulder. "Maybe try not declaring war for five minutes?"
"NEVER!" Naruto roared."I'm gonna punch that smug face into next week!"
"Still salty about last time, huh?" Shikamaru deadpanned.
"SHUT IT! Whose side are you on?!" Naruto flailed.
Yuto ignored the drama and closed his eyes, mentally running through hand seals.
At this point, regular jutsu bored him—seal-less ninjutsu was the real challenge.
Meanwhile, Inside the Spirit.
"Kushina, your kid's quite the character," Mikoto chuckled.
"Character? He's a menace!" Kushina groaned. "Sometimes I wanna jump out and bonk him for being such a simp!"
"Boys will be boys," Mikoto said soothingly. "So, who's the lucky girl?"
"That pink-haired one in front of him—Sakura," Kushina muttered. "Your future daughter-in-law, apparently."
Mikoto froze.
Her bestie's son was into her own son's future wife? How was she supposed to react to that?!
After a long, awkward pause, she changed the subject. "Aren't you gonna set Naruto up with his future wife?
"Funny story—she's got a crush on Yuto now," Kushina said flatly.
Mikoto's soul "left her body".
"…But whatever. Let them figure it out," Kushina sighed. "Just seeing Naruto grow up is enough for me."
Mikoto nodded in silent, existential horror.
School finally ended, and Naruto latched onto Yuto's sleeve like a barnacle.
"Finally! You're not ditching me for another * date, right? Ramen, now!"
"Sure," Yuto agreed.
But just outside the gate, a Root agent in a monkey mask because of course they wear ridiculous disguises blocked their path.
"Hayashi Yuto. Come with me."
Yuto held back a fuming, flailing Naruto. "Rain check," he said, then followed the agent into the shadows.
"Who the heck was that?!" Naruto growled.
"Drop it, Naruto," Shikamaru muttered. "Those guys are bad news."
His dad worked in Intel and Root was not to be messed with.
But why was Yuto tangled up with them?
'What was he really doing?'
Inside Root's super-edgy villain lair, bandage-wrapped Danzo sat like a grumpy mummy.
"Lord Danzo" Yuto bowed. "You summoned me?"
"Yuto, I'm assigning you an official position," Danzo said coolly. "But first, a small task."
"At your service," Yuto replied, oozing fake enthusiasm.
Danzo nodded, pleased. Sure, the kid was unhinged, but at least he was loyal.
"Tell me, Yuto—how should we deal with traitors?"
"Kill them all!"Yuto declared without hesitation.
"Even if it's someone you know?"
"Yes"
"Good." Danzo smirked. "Our agent "Grey Feather" in the Land of Waves has gone rogue. You know what to do."
"I'll bring you her head," Yuto vowed.
"After your school tournament," Danzo added.
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"