The Academy grounds buzzed with anticipation. Word had spread all week—today's classes would not be ordinary. A demonstration day, where students would be observed not just by instructors, but by select shinobi from the upper ranks, and even the Hokage himself.
Haruko sat on the wooden platform's edge, arms resting on his knees. Around him, the courtyard had been cleared and marked for performance—chalk circles, wooden posts, straw dummies. Daichi adjusted his wrist guards beside him, visibly anxious, while Emi muttered hand signs under her breath.
From the shade of a tall tree, several seasoned shinobi watched the students. Chief among them stood the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, his presence calm yet authoritative, a faint smile beneath his pipe.
The drills began with the more senior students.
Genma Shiranui stepped forward, his expression calm and focused. He demonstrated a precise clone technique, followed by a textbook transformation that earned murmurs of approval.
Asuma Sarutobi followed. His Fire Release: Ember Palm drew a small gasp—minor in scale, but his chakra control was crisp.
"Your son's coming along well," a Jōnin murmured.
Hiruzen didn't respond immediately. He watched as Asuma bowed and returned to the line. A flicker of pride danced behind his otherwise unreadable eyes.
"He has potential," Sarutobi said. "But it's his will that will define him."
A few more students came and went—some faltered, some impressed.
Then came Might Guy.
Even as a boy, Guy moved with intensity. His punches and kicks struck the dummies with such speed and strength that the straw cracked and scattered. Sweat flew as he pushed himself through rapid spins and flying kicks.
"Chakra control's a mess," muttered one instructor, "but look at that drive."
Sarutobi nodded. "He has the fire of youth. With proper guidance, it'll burn bright."
Guy landed with a final thud, panting and smiling despite the bruises forming on his arms. The applause, though scattered, was genuine.
Then came Kakashi Hatake.
Quiet and sharp-eyed, he stepped forward, forming hand signs with clean precision. Three flawless clones appeared beside him, mimicking every movement. He followed with a transformation into a senior instructor, before concluding with a perfectly aimed shuriken that split the bullseye.
"Incredible control for his age," an instructor murmured.
"Sakumo's son," Hiruzen said quietly.
Another instructor beside him nodded. "He'll be something else. But... there's another one."
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed the next group approaching the circle.
"Next: Emi Takano, Daichi Hayashi, and Haruko Iso."
The three stepped forward. Haruko remained quiet, his gaze steady. A few whispers passed among students—mostly about Kakashi, but some eyes turned to the trio with curiosity.
Daichi went first. He performed a solid substitution technique, followed by a creative use of chakra thread to pull back a wayward shuriken. The execution was shaky but showed promise.
Emi followed. Her transformation jutsu shifted her form into a sparrow, then into a clone of herself, then back with smooth transitions. She didn't rush—her pace was deliberate and her chakra stable.
Haruko stepped forward last. Still. Measured. He released two smoke pellets behind him. A moment later, two hidden dummies activated—trap wires and shuriken launching from the brush. The smoke disarmed the traps just in time.
Then he moved.
Each step was calculated. He used a clone to spring a trap, a substitution to evade a wire loop, and finally caught a shuriken in midair with his bare hand. The performance ended as he gently placed the shuriken at the instructors' feet.
Tetsuo jotted something silently.
Sarutobi raised an eyebrow.
The instructor beside him leaned in. "They've got the basics. The Kakashi boy—naturally. But quiet one doesn't overpower. He out-thinks."
Sarutobi's gaze lingered on Haruko. "Yes... a quiet fire. Watch him."
Later, the students gathered beneath the maple trees, decompressing.
Daichi groaned. "I thought I was going to drop my shuriken halfway through."
"You didn't," Emi said. "The chakra thread was smart."
Haruko remained silent until Daichi nudged him.
"What was with the catch? Show-off much?"
Haruko shrugged. "It was flying at me. Easier than dodging."
"You're weird."
"I prefer 'efficient,'" Haruko muttered.
Emi smiled faintly. "We're getting better."
Haruko nodded. "We have to."
"For the war?" Daichi asked quietly.
Haruko didn't answer, but the silence was enough.
That evening, in a quiet corner of the Hokage's office...
A Jōnin instructor stood before the Third.
"They've got the basics. Some stronger than others. Kakashi stands out—of course. But there's another. Haruko Iso. He doesn't overpower. He calculates."
Sarutobi leaned back, pipe in hand. "Interesting. Keep a close watch."
That night, Haruko sat in the solitude of his room.
The world dimmed—a soft pulse behind his eyes.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: "Some shine in daylight. Others sharpen in dusk. Path divergence detected. Keep watching."]
His eyes flickered.
Something was changing.
Something had begun.