Finally, Kazeo stepped forward, his eyes alight with energy. "Hokage-sama!" he said with excitement. "I want to become like the Fourth Hokage. Please teach me the Flying Raijin technique!"
The courtyard fell silent. Even a few Jōnin in the distance turned their heads. Hiruzen blinked slowly, lips twitching in surprise. 'Eh? Is this kid plotting something?'
Still, he kept his tone curious. "Flying Thunder God, huh? And why that jutsu, Kazeo?"
Kazeo straightened up proudly. "Because I want to become someone great, just like the Fourth Hokage—and make Konoha proud. I read he was a civilian, too. If he could do it, I want to follow that path."
Hiruzen studied the boy carefully. 'This kid… is he acting, or is this really from the heart? I can't see a single trace of a lie on his face.'
The old Hokage gave a faint smile. "That's a noble dream, Kazeo. Truly. But… unfortunately, I can't grant you that wish. The Flying Raijin is a classified S-rank technique."
Kazeo's face fell into a slight pout. "But Hokage-sama… I even got first place."
Hiruzen chuckled softly, then explained with gentle patience, "That isn't quite enough. To even qualify for that technique, you'd need to become a master of Fuinjutsu and contribute significantly to the village. Only then could you earn access to something that valuable."
He gave a kind smile, the lines in his face softening. "Ask for something else, Kazeo. Something within reach—for now."
Kazeo paused, tilting his head in thought. Then, with a sudden spark of enthusiasm in his voice, he said, "Umm, then how about assigning me a mentor who can teach me the chakra string technique from the Puppet Technique of Sunagakure?"
Outwardly, his eyes gleamed with excitement—but inwardly, he was smiling. 'Let's see how many times you can reject a kid who just ranked first in the entire academy. Hehe.'
The courtyard, which had only just recovered from the murmurs about Kazeo's previous impossible request, fell into stunned silence once again.
Even Hiruzen looked momentarily off-guard. 'This… What's going on inside that head of his?'
He stroked his beard slowly before answering. "Kazeo, I can't approve that either. The Puppet Technique isn't native to Konoha. It belongs to Sunagakure. We don't have access to it."
Kazeo didn't miss a beat. "But… aren't they our allies? I'm not asking to learn all of Puppetry—just the chakra string technique."
Hiruzen gave a slow, almost weary sigh. "And that's exactly why we can't. They are allies, not subordinates. There are lines we don't cross. I understand your curiosity, but it's not within our rights to grant you that."
He leaned forward slightly, voice gentle but firm. "This will be your last chance to ask. If your next request also can't be fulfilled, I'll give you a few weeks to think things through. No pressure."
Only a single thought drifted through Kazeo's mind as the Hokage explained the supposed unavailability of the Puppetry Technique:
'What a smooth liar. Just casually saying they don't have access to Puppetry when the village literally has clans like the Uchiha and Yamanaka—people who could reverse-engineer a jutsu in their sleep. Tch… guess it's time to go with the real plan.'
At that exact moment, Kazeo's cheerful expression dimmed. He tilted his head slightly, as if weighing his words with care. Then, in a quieter voice, he asked, "Then… how about helping me open a food shop in Konoha?"
That got a few blinks from the crowd.
"I'll pay for everything—the land, the furniture, even the staff salaries. I have enough inheritance from my parents. All I need is help with finding employees, managing them and permissions. The village can take twenty percent of the profits."
Hiruzen blinked. That… was not what he expected. But what he surely understood was the underlying meaning behind the words 'Inheritance from parents.'
"Hm. I could help with that," he said slowly. "But that's not exactly a reward fitting someone who graduated at the top of the academy. Any adult could open a shop with the right paperwork and funds. I appreciate your generous offer to give back to the village, Kazeo—but why a food shop? You could've asked for another rare jutsu or a personal mentor. Anything."
Kazeo didn't answer immediately. He clenched his fists, then tilted his chin upward, his gaze searching the sky as if trying to find something long gone.
Then, quietly, he said, "Because… it was my parents dream."
His voice wavered slightly.
"I still remember… they used to talk about it at night. How they'd open a food stall together once they retired from active duty. Just something small, where they'd cook for people, laugh with customers…"
He swallowed hard.
"And the next day… they died."
He bit his lip, eyes glistening—but no tears fell. Not yet.
There was a moment of silence that stretched across the training ground.
Hiruzen's expression softened. Deep lines in his face seemed to fold in deeper with a kind of tired warmth. "You're a good son, Kazeo," he said softly. "I'm sure—wherever they are—they'd be proud of the path you're walking. And I'd be honored to help you fulfill their dream. Just tell me what you need."
Kazeo looked up and nodded, voice trembling but steady. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. I'll share the details a week from now."
He stepped back, and as he did, the training ground erupted into the sound of applause.
Twenty minutes later, the Hokage returned to his office after publicly announcing the names of students who had officially graduated and earned the rank of genin. He also offered a few words of encouragement to those who hadn't passed, urging them to keep working hard and try again.
After that, students were given permission to roam the academy grounds freely for an hour. Parents and guardians were also allowed inside during this time to celebrate with their children.
The moment the gates opened, the courtyard buzzed with emotion. Students rushed into the arms of their families—some shouting their results with pride, others bursting into tears as they admitted their failure. A few were already fantasizing about chasing down dangerous criminals as full-fledged shinobi.
Kazeo lingered near the crowd for a while, silently observing the sea of joyful reunions.
'No one's coming for me. Better to sit somewhere quiet than keep watching all this.'
On his way, he passed a few guardians of his classmates—who had already heard about his top rank. He offered them polite nods and short greetings.
'Now… where should I sit?'
His eyes landed on a familiar old swing beneath a tree, slightly worn and shaded from the sun. 'That's the swing Naruto always sat on when he felt left out, right?'
Kazeo made his way over and sat down, letting the swing sway gently beneath him. The breeze felt nice, and for a moment, the noise of the crowd felt distant.
But then he noticed some movement from the corner of his eye—three adults were approaching him.
He stopped swinging and looked up as the trio came into view: one was tall and slim with black hair, the second was stockier, also with dark hair, and the third had a muscular build and spiky blond hair.
' They look like Ino-Shika-Chō trio? Are these guys from…?'
The tall one stepped forward with a friendly smile. "There you are, Kazeo. We've been looking all over. What are you doing sitting here alone? Shouldn't you be celebrating with your friends?"
Kazeo blinked, confused. "Thanks for the concern, but… who are you exactly? Do I know you?"
"Ah, right," the man said, chuckling and scratching the back of his head. "I forgot introductions. My name's Nara Aoki. The big guy here is Akimichi Jiro, and the blond one is Yamanaka Itsuki. Nice to meet you."
All three gave brief nods as their names were mentioned. "We came to ask you something—if you're willing to hear us out."
Kazeo raised an eyebrow. "Tanaka Kazeo. Nice to meet you too. And you've already interrupted, so go ahead and ask."
Jiro laughed. "I like him. Straight to the point."
Aoki continued, "Well, the reason we're here is simple—we want to offer you the opportunity to join one of our clans. You're free to choose whichever you prefer."
Kazeo stared at them, stunned for a moment.
'Recruitment? From them? I thought people usually begged to join a clan, or proved themselves through years of service. I've never heard of clans actively scouting someone upfront.' He asked, "Join your clan? That's… sudden. Why now? I haven't heard anything about it. Why me? And what do I get from it? What happens if I say no?"
"Ah, so many questions," Aoki said with a chuckle. "Itsuki will answer them one by one. Interrupt him if you have any doubts, okay?"
Kazeo gave a silent nod.
The blond Yamanaka, Itsuki, shot a brief glare at Aoki, who simply shrugged in response. Then he turned to Kazeo and began, his voice calm but firm.
"For your first question—you haven't heard of this recruitment because it's not common. We only do it if civilian students from the elite class rank within the top twenty. It's not sudden, either. We've had our eyes on you since your entrance exam. And after that… you kept exceeding expectations. You even ranked first in the graduation exams. That's why we're here."
Kazeo listened without interruption, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought.
"As for the benefits of joining," Itsuki continued, "there are many. First, you'll gain a new family. You'll live inside the clan compound, either with other kids your age or, if you prefer, we can find you suitable foster parents from within the clan."
Kazeo blinked, that detail catching him off guard—but he stayed quiet.
"Second, you'll gain access to clan resources—elemental crystals, advanced training sessions with jōnin, and the potential to learn one of the clan's secret techniques, depending on the clan you join."
He paused slightly, watching Kazeo's reaction before adding, "And third, we have access to chakra-aligned training rooms. They're not as advanced as the top facilities in the academy, but they're still valuable—especially for someone with your potential."
Kazeo gave a small nod, absorbing each point. But it was the next line that truly grabbed his attention.
"As for what happens if you don't join…" Itsuki smiled faintly. "Nothing. Nothing will happen to you. This is just an invitation. You can say yes or no, and the matter ends there. But keep in mind, joining a clan offers advantages that can make a huge difference in a shinobi's life—especially for civilians. The support, the training, the guidance… it's not something to dismiss lightly."
There was no pressure in his tone—but the weight of the choice hung in the air.
Kazeo remained silent for a moment, thinking. Then he spoke. "The offer is… really generous. But it's too sudden. I need some time to think it through. Can I get a few weeks?"
"Of course," Itsuki replied immediately. "Take the time you need. Just let us know when you're ready, and we'll reach out."
Kazeo gave a small bow. "Thanks for understanding. I'll give you my answer in two weeks. But… can I ask how this would work if I say yes?"
The group stayed a few minutes longer, explaining the process and answering Kazeo's questions. Once their brief conversation ended, all three men congratulated him again before departing—off to make the same offer to other promising civilian genin.
But they weren't the only ones.
In the span of that one hour, Kazeo found himself approached by more clans than he had ever interacted with in his life. Some were well-known—Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, Utatane, Hatake, Fujiwara—and some came as a surprise, like the Kurama clan. One after another, their representatives made their pitch, extending warm smiles and tempting promises.
Kazeo listened patiently, gave polite nods, and told each of them the same thing: he would consider their offer and give his answer in two to three weeks.
By the time the hour passed, his head was spinning—not from nerves, but from sheer exhaustion. He had expected the day to be quiet… maybe even lonely. Instead, it turned into a parade of opportunity.
Then, the bell rang.
The sound echoed across the grounds, and all the newly passed genin were called to assemble in the central training area—where the Hokage had delivered his earlier speech. Meanwhile, the parents and guardians were politely escorted out of the academy by the teachers, their final words of praise and encouragement trailing behind them.
Soon after, several instructors arrived and began organizing the students, dividing them neatly into two groups based on their graduating class—elite and general. Once sorted, the genin were instructed to return to their respective classrooms, following their assigned teachers in quiet, ordered lines.
Inside the classroom, all thirty-three newly graduated students were seated, chatting among themselves with a mix of nervous energy and excitement. The classroom buzzed with soft conversation—moments before the next chapter of their shinobi lives began.
The door opened, and the academy instructors entered. Attendance was taken quickly, and then scrolls and headbands were distributed—each handed personally to the students by their respective homeroom teachers. Okabe stepped forward, calling his students by name and handing each one a sealed scroll and a headband after congratulating them. The other class teachers did the same.
After the distribution was complete, Akimichi Takuma stepped forward. "The storage scroll you've received contains the following: a first-aid kit, twenty-four shuriken, twelve kunai, twelve senbon needles, one ninja rope, and one hundred meters of ninja wire," he announced with a smile. "This is the final gift from the academy to you. Congratulations on graduating. Now, we'll proceed to announce your Genin squads."
Kazeo listened carefully as names were called out. When his team was announced, he turned slightly to glance at the two students beside him. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
'An Uchiha with lightning chakra—excellent at taijutsu. I think he was the one who defeated his opponent in under thirty seconds.
And a civilian with Water Release and pretty solid close combat skills. He was the one who defeated his opponent with water claw during sparring.'
He let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. 'Not bad. Actually... that's a decent lineup.'
But then his gaze flicked across the room and landed on Uchiha Ishikawa who was currently laughing at something his teammate had said.
' Ishikawa... I was actually starting to like that guy. We had even eaten ramen together last week. He could've been a good friend.'
He looked back at his two new teammates. One of them—the Uchiha—was adjusting his scroll strap, totally unaware of what Kazeo knew.
'But these guys,' his jaw clenched. 'the Uchiha... they won't be around for long, will they? Itachi should be thirteen this year.'
He didn't need to imagine how it would happen. He already knew. 'It's not their fault. And it won't be mine either. But knowing what's coming… what's the point of getting close and becoming friends?'
He felt a twist of guilt but forced it down.
'Just keep your distance and don't get too attached, Kazeo. Don't make this harder than it's already going to be.'
Once all teams were announced, the instructors informed the students that their assigned Jōnin instructors would arrive shortly to pick them up. With that, the teachers filed out, leaving the new Genin to wait.
As students chatted or sat in anticipation, Kazeo leaned back in his seat and exhaled.
'Naruto and his group started the academy last year. I've caught glimpses of them now and then, but I've been too busy to talk—or even observe them properly. Why is my interaction with canon characters so less?'
Before he could dwell on the thought, the door slid open. One by one, Jōnin instructors entered the room, each calling out their team number. A couple of minutes passed, then a tall man in a long cloak and a fox-like porcelain mask with red ears and a crimson triangle on the forehead stepped inside.
"Team 2," he called out in a calm, measured voice. "Come with me."
Kazeo, Ren, and Daichi stood and followed him quietly. The masked man led them up to the academy's rooftop. Within seconds, the three Genin arrived, standing before their new sensei as the wind brushed lightly across the tiles.
Kazeo studied him carefully. 'Is this really our sensei? Or is he just here to tell us the real one isn't coming today? That mask… White fox, red markings. It feels… familiar, like I've seen it somewhere. And that sword on his back also…'
A name bloomed in his mind. 'Wait. No way. Is he—?'
Before the thought could finish forming, the man reached up and removed his mask. "I am Uchiha Itachi," he said, "I'll be your Jōnin sensei."
Kazeo froze. Only one coherent thought surged through his mind. 'It's really Itachi fuc*ing Uchiha.'
[ A/N:- With this, Volume 1 officially comes to an end. I hope you've enjoyed the story so far. The next volume would be even more exciting!
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