Moyu had only enjoyed a few quiet days of rest before peace was broken once again. Early in the morning, Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto appeared at his door together.
Their purpose was simple and direct—they wanted Moyu to accompany them to their Ninja Academy graduation exam.
Just as Moyu was preparing to accept another mission, the two brats barged in unannounced. Watching them standing there with determined faces, he sighed and rubbed his temple.
But as he thought of it more carefully, he remembered that neither of these two had parents to attend their exam, while most of the other children would have family present. His irritation softened at once.
"Alright, alright," he said finally, waving his hand in mock surrender. "Tell me the exact time. Maybe I can finish this mission in time and still go with you to the Academy."
The two boys exchanged a brief glance, as if unsure how to respond, before blurting out the answer in unison.
"The exam's tomorrow!"
Moyu froze, feeling a vein twitch in his forehead.
"Tomorrow?" he muttered, a faint smile of disbelief tugging at his lips. "You two really know how to pick your timing."
He had been about to take a high-reward assignment—a mission that would have paid handsomely—but now it seemed he'd have to decline. With a helpless sigh, Moyu walked over to the mission board and struck his name from the roster.
"I guess you've heard," he said to the clerk. "I'll be accompanying these two troublemakers to the Academy's graduation exam instead."
That night, he brought the boys back home and cooked for them himself. The aroma of warm stew and grilled fish filled the small house.
"This time," Moyu said as he served them, his tone calm but expectant, "I want to see just how much progress you've made. The graduation exam isn't only about becoming genin—it's a test of what you've learned from me. Don't disappoint me."
Both Naruto and Sasuke fell quiet at his words. Moyu had been the one guiding them since they were small. He had watched them grow, training their bodies and sharpening their minds. He had corrected every reckless impulse, scolded every foolish mistake, and pushed them toward strength with his own hands.
Because of that, he couldn't help feeling a swell of pride mixed with anticipation. Still, there was another reason he wanted them to succeed.
If they failed, others would surely whisper that Moyu was a fraud—a man who lured children into his home and taught them nothing of value.
He smirked to himself at the thought.
That rumor had already begun to circulate, thanks to Iruka-sensei.
Iruka had visited Moyu several times recently, his face full of polite concern but his words sharp with judgment. He'd accused Moyu of warping the boys' sense of values and insisted that someone like him shouldn't be involved in their education.
Moyu had listened quietly, then simply smiled. He didn't take offense. Misunderstandings were natural in a world like this.
After all, a teacher who didn't understand the way of blood and battle could never comprehend what true growth required.
When Moyu thought about it now, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Conscience really is a luxury," he murmured.
He shook his head, exhaled deeply, and let his thoughts go. There was no point worrying about other people's opinions. He knew what he had done for these two, and that was enough.
Feeling refreshed, Moyu stretched out on his bed after dinner, closing his eyes to rest. Tomorrow, he would be standing among parents—not as a warrior, but as someone representing family. He wanted to look composed, to embody the pride of a mentor who had raised his own.
By the next morning, the Academy grounds were already packed. Parents, teachers, and children crowded the entrance, filling the air with laughter, nervous whispers, and the rustle of uniforms.
When Moyu and the boys arrived, the sight made him pause for a moment.
He had expected a small gathering, but this was closer to a festival—hundreds of families lined up, all waiting for the exams to begin.
He scratched his head and let out a low whistle. "I didn't think the Academy had this many students. Looks like the competition's pretty fierce today."
Naruto grinned, bouncing on his heels. "Heh, competition or not, I'm gonna crush it!"
Sasuke gave a faint snort, his voice cool and confident. "Just make sure you don't fail again, dobe."
Their familiar bickering made Moyu smile faintly. For a moment, he forgot the weight of missions, the politics of power, and the bloodshed outside the village. Watching the two of them stride toward the Academy gates, full of energy and fire, he felt something rare—peace.
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