Six months had passed since the academy term began, and the Hidden Leaf Village had moved from the warmth of summer into the crisp winds of early autumn. The trees lining the village streets had begun to blush with amber and crimson leaves, and the air carried the faint scent of dried grass and wood smoke.
Inside the Hokage Tower, sunlight filtered through the wide windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Nara Boku, clad in his usual loose jonin robes with the Nara clan symbol etched onto the back, approached the tall doors of the Hokage's office. Despite his usually indifferent demeanor, his expression was composed and professional as he knocked twice.
"Enter," came the calm voice from within.
Boku stepped inside, bowing respectfully. "Lord Third," he said, his voice low but clear. "As requested, I've come to present the progress report for Class 1A."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated behind his desk adorned with scrolls, inkpots, and a softly burning pipe, looked up with a small smile. His aged eyes, though kind, still held the sharpness of a battle-hardened veteran.
"Ah, Boku. Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat," he gestured to the chair across from him. "I'm eager to hear how our next generation is shaping up."
Boku nodded, pulling a scroll from his sleeve and unrolling it neatly on the desk. "There have been steady improvements. Some students are showing exceptional promise, while others… need more time. The upcoming exams should give a clear picture." His tone was even, but his eyes betrayed a hint of pride—and concern.
He leaned forward slightly, tapping a few names on the scroll with his index finger. "As expected, Minato Namikaze continues to lead in almost every category. His taijutsu is polished and instinctive, but what truly sets him apart is his growing affinity for fūinjutsu—he's already experimenting with basic sealing techniques—and his chakra control is near flawless for his age."
He paused, then shifted to another name. "Shin Uchiha has made impressive strides as well. His ninjutsu versatility and shuriken throwing are top-tier, and his chakra control is precise, even advanced for a first-year. However, he continues to struggle with taijutsu—his movements remain stiff under pressure."
Boku's gaze flicked to another line. "Aiko Uchiha is well-rounded—he performs steadily across all fields and adapts quickly—but lacks the physical strength to dominate. On the other hand, Senju Toru and Kira Hyūga are physically outstanding. Their taijutsu is already near chūnin level, but they both struggle with chakra control, which limits their ninjutsu effectiveness." He allowed a small smile as he pointed to another name. "Mirai Inuzuka has been a surprise—strong sensory skills, excellent teamwork with her ninken, and her chakra control is well above average."
Boku sat back, folding his arms. "These six stand out from the rest. With the right guidance, they all have a real shot at becoming jōnin one day."
Hiruzen listened intently, his fingers steepled beneath his chin as Boku concluded. A faint smile touched the edges of the Hokage's lips as he leaned back in his chair.
"Minato Namikaze… a civilian boy outperforming clan heirs in fūinjutsu, chakra control, and taijutsu? Remarkable." His tone carried genuine admiration. "It's rare to see such talent bloom without clan resources or inherited techniques. Keep a close eye on him, Boku. That boy has the makings of something special."
He paused, then glanced down at the name Shin Uchiha. "And Shin… just like his grandfather—mastering fire-style ninjutsu already, hmm? The blood runs true in that one. Once he overcomes his weakness in taijutsu, he may very well carry the Uchiha name with pride into the future."
Hiruzen's gaze turned toward the window, watching the drifting clouds. "Konoha's next generation is starting to shine."
Hiruzen's smile gradually faded as silence settled over the room. His eyes, once warm with pride, grew distant and heavy. The soft rustle of leaves outside the tower window seemed louder in the stillness.
"The Second Great Ninja War is drawing near," he murmured, more to himself than to Boku. "The clouds on the horizon are no longer whispers—they're thunder waiting to fall." His gaze dropped to the list of students on the scroll before him. "These children… full of potential, full of dreams. But dreams don't shield against kunai or fire." He exhaled slowly, the weight of leadership pressing down like a mountain. "They may be the future of the village, but only if they survive what's coming. Our duty isn't just to guide them anymore… it's to prepare them for the harsh reality that peace won't last. Not yet."
---
Far from the Hokage's Office…
The sun dipped low over the Konoha training grounds, casting long shadows across the grass as three boys lay sprawled on their backs, panting heavily, sweat glistening on their brows. The smell of scorched earth and smoke lingered faintly in the air.
"That was too close," Minato said between breaths, chuckling softly. "I thought I was done for after that Fire Ring."
"Tch. You got lucky," Shin muttered, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Next time, I'm adding an extra layer of flames. Let's see you Body Flicker out of that."
"You say that every time you lose," Aiko chimed in, arms behind his head, staring at the sky. "But Minato still ends up winning. What is he, ten wins and six losses against you now?"
Shin shot a half-hearted glare at Aiko. "Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, Aiko."
Aiko grinned. "Hey, I'm just stating facts. Besides, you're the one always coming in hot—literally."
Minato laughed, sitting up and stretching his arms. "Still, your jutsu flow is getting sharper, Shin. That Fire Bullet into Fire Lance move almost clipped me. And that Flame Ground? I barely escaped."
Shin didn't reply immediately. He closed his eyes, letting their voices fade into the background for a moment.
Six months ago, I was clumsy with chakra. Now, I can mold it cleanly. My Fire Release is sharper—Fire Shuriken, Fireball, Fire Bullet—they all come to me with ease. Flame Ground and Fire Ring? Mixing control and raw output. Wind Projectile lets me guide my shuriken mid-air and fuels the flames. My hands move faster too—no signs, more speed. Even the barrier jutsu I picked from the archives is coming along, though I didn't use it in today's spar. Taijutsu though... still my weakest link. I'm eighth in class. I need more... grit, more movement.
He opened his eyes to find Aiko poking Minato with a stick.
"Hey!" Minato yelped, scooting away. "I'm still recovering, you maniac!"
"Just checking if you're alive," Aiko said innocently.
"Why don't you poke Shin instead?" Minato huffed.
"Nah, too much fire. Might trigger another explosion."
"Funny," Shin muttered dryly. "Keep talking, Aiko. Next time, I'll aim the Fire Lance at you."
---
As the breeze rustled through the trees, Aiko suddenly sat up and groaned, rubbing the back of his head.
"Ugh, I just remembered… we've got the six-month evaluation exam in three days."
Minato blinked. "Already? That snuck up fast."
Shin sat up as well, brushing off the dirt from his sleeves. "Tch. I heard there will be a theory test, chakra control test, and taijutsu evaluation, right?"
"Yeah," Aiko said with a grimace. "Theory's going to be a pain. I bet Nara-sensei's going to load us with trick questions again. Last mock test, I almost wrote down the Shadow Clone technique as a real clone. Almost."
Minato chuckled. "You did write it down. I saw it."
"Shut up," Aiko muttered, half-smiling. "Anyway, chakra control should be fine for us… I've got the leaf exercise and tree walking down."
Minato nodded. "Same. I've been working on controlling the flow into my seals too. Helps with speed."
Shin remained quiet for a moment before adding, "Chakra control's fine. But I'm not thrilled about the taijutsu test. I'm still not fast enough to counter a Hyūga properly."
"That's 'cause they're freaks when it comes to taijutsu," Aiko said, stretching his arms. "Toru and Kira are probably going to ace that section."
"We'll survive," Minato said confidently. "Just focus on improving what we can. We've all come a long way since we started."
The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the exam looming over them—but beneath it, a flicker of excitement stirred in their chests.