After more deliberations, the council chamber of the Hokage Tower emptied slowly, like a great flame dimming after its purpose was spent. Chairs scraped gently across the floor as the jōnin rose one by one; they spoke in low tones, trading weary smiles or murmuring brief farewells before filing out through the broad double doors.
Soon, only two figures remained at the large circular table; the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and Nara Shikata, the Jōnin Commander of Konohagakure.
Minato exhaled, a soft sound that might have been a sigh or a chuckle; it was hard to tell. Across from him, Shikata remained seated, posture immaculate, her hands folded neatly atop her clipboard. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then, at last, Shikata broke it with a sigh that seemed to come from somewhere deep in her chest.
"You know, Hokage-sama," she began, voice steady yet touched with something soft, "I thought I'd keep at this for a few more years after the war. But it seems my old bones disagree."
Minato's brows lifted slightly; surprise flickered across his face before being tempered by understanding. "You're retiring," he said, half statement, half question.
Shikata inclined her head. "I am. I'm getting old; the kind of old that doesn't show in the face but in the bones. It's time for someone younger to take up the post. The new generation is ready; we've trained them well enough to survive their own mistakes."
There was no regret in her tone; only calm finality. She had made her peace with the decision long before speaking it aloud.
Minato leaned back slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You've served Konoha longer than most; longer than I've even been a shinobi, that's certain. Still, I'll need you to name your successor before you disappear into the forest for tea and quiet."
Shikata's lips curved into what, for her, was almost a smile. It softened her usually sharp features. "I already have someone in mind," she said simply. "My son—Shikaku. He has a good head on his shoulders. Smarter than I ever was."
Minato chuckled, shaking his head. "So both the current commander and the Nara clan head plan to retire? You'll leave me without any strategists. Are you trying to test me?"
A faint glimmer of amusement lit her eyes. "You'll manage. You always do. Besides, Shikaku's sharp, but not patient enough for clan politics; that's why he'll do better in this service than in my husband's."
Minato laughed quietly, the sound echoing softly in the nearly empty chamber. It was a sound that carried both relief and warmth; the kind of laughter that came easily between comrades who had outlived battlefields. "You two really are alike," he said. "You even insult yourselves the same way."
"I prefer to think of it as realism," she replied coolly, but the faint quirk of her mouth betrayed her amusement. "And you, Hokage-sama, should learn to get some rest. The paperwork is multiplying faster than your shadow clones can keep up."
He grinned at that, rubbing the back of his neck. "You noticed?"
"Everyone notices," Shikata replied dryly. "Even the genin gossip about how you're single-handedly ruining the village's paper supply."
Minato's laugh came louder this time. When the laughter faded, a brief, peaceful silence returned; the kind that hung in the air after good company. Minato rose from his chair and inclined his head in a gesture of deep respect.
"Then it's settled," he said warmly. "You've earned your rest, Shikata-san. And Shikaku… I trust your instincts."
She nodded once, satisfied. "You should. They've kept you alive this long."
That earned another laugh. For a moment, it almost felt like they were back on the front lines, exchanging sardonic remarks between missions to keep fear at bay. But this time, the war was over, and there was no fear left—only the peace they had both fought for.
When Shikata finally rose to leave, she paused at the doorway and turned slightly, glancing back at Minato. "Don't get too comfortable, Hokage-sama," she said with a faint smile. "Peace never lasts as long as people want it to."
Minato looked up, the soft candlelight catching in his blue eyes. "That's why we build a generation that's stronger than the last," he replied simply.
Shikata nodded once, as if she had expected no other answer. Then she left, her footsteps fading down the long corridor.
The chamber, now empty, seemed larger than before. Minato stood there a while longer, gazing at the maps on the wall, the scrolls of duty and record.
"A stronger generation, huh?" he murmured, almost to the walls. "Let's see if you can keep that promise."
The next morning dawned clear and bright over the Hidden Leaf. The sky was a soft blue washed with gold, and the air carried the earthy scent of freshly watered grass. The wide training grounds beside the academy were alive with sound and motion; laughter, shouts, the clang of metal buckles, and the flutter of headbands catching the sun. Rows of newly graduated genin stood assembled, their faces bright with anticipation. For most of them, this was the first day of their new lives as shinobi.
The field itself was broad and open, surrounded by wooden fencing and old oak trees that whispered gently in the morning wind. The Hokage Tower loomed in the distance like a watchful guardian. A few jonin stood in scattered clusters along the sidelines, observing the new generation with quiet appraisal.
Then, from the main building, Nara Shikata emerged, walking toward the raised wooden platform at the field's centre. She moved with deliberate grace; even in her age, her posture was impeccable. Her silver-streaked hair caught the light like threads of steel. The moment her presence registered, the noise of the crowd faded, replaced by the kind of silence born from respect rather than fear.
Her gaze swept the gathered students—sharp, assessing, but not unkind. "Congratulations," she began, her voice clear and steady. "You've completed the first step of your shinobi journey. Today, you'll be placed into your genin squads; your first teams, your first comrades."
A ripple of excitement ran through the group. Some stood taller, others fidgeted nervously. One boy sneezed and tried to pretend he hadn't.
Shikata continued, "These teams have been decided after long discussion between the Hokage and your instructors. Each of you was chosen for balance; not comfort."
A few students exchanged uneasy glances at that, and a low murmur spread through the crowd before dying under Shikata's pointed stare. She unrolled a long scroll and began reading in her crisp, commanding tone.
"Team One," she called, "Reconnaissance and mobility focus. Hyuuga Ren; Aburame Kenta; Takeshi Rino. Jōnin sensei: Inuzuka Kiro."
Three students stepped forward amid scattered applause. Shikata nodded approvingly before moving on.
"Team Two; front-line combat and coordination focus. Akimichi Daisuke; Nara Emi; Inuzuka Ryo. Jōnin sensei: Sarutobi Taeko."
A loud cheer erupted from the Akimichi boy, followed by laughter from the crowd. Shikata waited patiently for quiet, tapping the scroll once against the podium as if to remind them of decorum.
"Team Three; medical and support division. Haruno Mei; Tsuchiya Hina; Fukuda Renji. Jōnin sensei: Yamanaka Daichi."
This announcement drew a few pleased murmurs, mostly from the younger girls who admired the medic-nin ranks.
"Team Four; stealth and tactical infiltration. Hoshino Kana; Uchiha Riku; Miyake Shun. Jōnin sensei: Uchiha Rina."
At this, some of the crowd's whispers turned speculative. Uchiha Rina was known for her precision and strictness; her team members exchanged glances of both pride and nervous anticipation.
"Team Five…" she began.
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