Konoha Year 39, June —
The Ninja Academy was unusually lively today. From early morning, shinobi and villagers streamed in, filling the grounds with a tense excitement. Among the crowd were not just parents and instructors, but some of the most respected figures in the village—among them, the Third Hokage himself, and even the legendary Sannin.
The reason for such a spectacle? The graduation assessment.
Normally, the exam to leave the academy was a small affair, taken at the end of the year by students ready to become genin. But today was no ordinary test. Today, a boy of only five years old—Hatake Kakashi, son of the fallen hero known as the White Fang—had requested early graduation.
And he wasn't alone.
Word had already spread that another prodigy, the boy who once defeated Kakashi in a spar, would also be taking the exam: Fujiwara Lock.
The atmosphere was electric. For the first time since the academy's founding, two geniuses this young were being tested side by side.
In the classroom, the remaining students buzzed with restless chatter.
"I heard Lock and Kakashi are both taking the test. If they pass, they'll leave us behind…" one student muttered.
Excitement, envy, and even a bit of fear filled the air. For many of them, Kakashi and Lock had always been immovable mountains, casting long shadows over the class. Now, those mountains might vanish, leaving a strange emptiness behind.
Obito, as usual, couldn't sit still. "Tch! If only Yagyu-sensei had let me, I'd be out there too!"
"Please," Ebisu scoffed, adjusting his glasses. "Kakashi and Lock have the talent to skip ahead. You? You'd embarrass yourself."
"You little—say that again!" Obito shouted, springing to his feet.
"Say it twice if you want," Ebisu retorted coolly.
"Then let's settle this with a fight!"
Before they could actually start, Guy leapt between them, fists pumping with excitement. "Yes! Youth burns brightest when tested in combat! My blood is boiling already!"
Their antics drew laughs, but in the back, Rin and Kurenai sat quietly, their expressions serious. Both girls silently prayed for Kakashi and Lock's success.
Out on the training grounds, Kakashi glanced sideways at Lock.
"Why are you even taking this exam?" His voice was flat, but the question carried a sharp edge.
Lock smirked. "What, you get to graduate early but I can't? Don't forget, Kakashi—you've already lost to me once. How could I let you walk out of the academy before I do?"
Kakashi fell silent, his gaze lowering. His father's death still hung over him like a storm cloud, shaking the foundation of everything he once believed. To him, the shinobi life—the missions, the duties, the endless work—was an escape. If he drowned himself in it, maybe he could forget the pain.
But now, having Lock by his side… it eased something deep inside him, even if only a little.
Then Lock spoke again, hesitant. "About your father—"
"Don't."
Kakashi's voice cracked like a whip, his eyes flashing with anger. "Don't talk about him. He was a coward. A shinobi who broke the rules has no honor."
Lock's expression softened. He understood. The fury in Kakashi's eyes wasn't rejection—it was grief, turned outward.
"Maybe you won't hear it from anyone else, but I'll say it." Lock's tone grew firm. "I don't agree with throwing away your life, but your father… he was a hero. If it were me, I'd have made the same choice. His only mistake was not trusting his comrades enough. That doesn't make him a coward."
Kakashi trembled, torn between anger and sorrow. No one—no one—had spoken kindly of Sakumo since his death. And yet, he couldn't accept it. Not yet.
"He was weak," Kakashi hissed. "A coward who broke the code. Don't ever mention him to me again."
Lock shrugged. "Suit yourself."
He knew words alone wouldn't heal Kakashi. That wound needed time, and perhaps another friend—the kind of stubborn, big-hearted fool like Obito—to pull him back someday.
"Lock! What are you standing around for?"
Yagyu-sensei's sharp voice cut through the tension. The teacher looked equal parts exasperated and anxious. "The assessment is starting. Move!"
"Yeah, yeah." Lock followed, hands in his pockets.
Neither he nor Kakashi noticed just how many eyes were waiting for them outside.
At the academy's training ground, a high platform had been raised. The Third Hokage stood at its center, pipe in hand, while the Sannin flanked him. Even Danzo lurked in the shadows nearby, his sharp gaze never straying far.
Around them, countless jōnin and chūnin had gathered, eager to witness the birth of Konoha's next prodigies.
The White Fang's son… and the boy who once defeated him.
The stage was set.
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