4 Weeks After Academy Graduation
Around mid-morning, the sun hung bright in a clear blue sky, casting sharp shadows across the village streets. The marketplace bustled with life — vendors calling out their wares, smiths hammering at glowing steel, and shinobi moving purposefully through the crowd on their assigned duties.
Two figures moved through the quiet morning — one tall and cloaked in green, the other smaller but walking with crisp, measured steps.
Naruto Uzumaki.
Four weeks ago, he would have raced down these streets headlong, bouncing from rooftop to rooftop, arms flailing, eyes wide with chaotic energy.
Now… he walked with intent. Blade resting lightly across his lower back. Steps light but balanced. Breath steady.
"Funny…"
Naruto's gaze flicked skyward as they moved beneath a line of swaying banners.
"Four weeks ago, I couldn't hold a basic stance for more than ten seconds. Could barely make three clones without losing control."
His mind replayed the early mornings — the cold grass beneath his bare feet as he balanced on the rivers surface… trembling legs fighting to stay upright.The exhaustion of running kata after kata, sweat stinging his eyes, breath burning in his chest.
"And that first week of taijutsu… gods, I was awful. Swinging like an idiot."
He smiled faintly, remembering Hayato's patient but relentless correction."'Flow, Naruto. You are not a hammer. You are the stream that wears down the stone.'"
The rhythm had come slowly. Painfully. Until one morning, without thinking — his body had moved correctly, weight shifting with the water, blade following breath.
"I can feel it now… not just reacting, but seeing ahead."
He reached unconsciously toward his core — sensing the steady well of chakra, no longer a raging flood but a deep, controlled current.
"Even my clones… finally stopped fighting me. We move together now."
And his blade —"Tsuki no Ryū — Moon Style. Still just scratching the surface, but…"
He could still feel the moment of that first clean strike against Hayato — the calm surge of knowing his movement had been invisible, precise.
"Four weeks. Not enough. Never enough. But I'm not the same."
His reflection broke as Hayato spoke beside him, voice calm.
"Focused today?"
Naruto looked up. "Yes, sensei. Ready."
Hayato gave a small nod of approval.
"Good. We are requesting three missions this time — extended operations, away from the village. You will need to maintain discipline even without daily oversight."
Naruto's expression hardened with resolve.
"I'll handle it."
They turned a final corner — the great tower of the Hokage rising before them, morning sunlight gleaming off its curved roof tiles.
Naruto took a breath.
[Scene: Hokage Tower — Jonin Mission Briefing Room]
The wide circular chamber on the top floor of the Hokage Tower was quiet but expectant. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, painting shafts of light across polished wooden floors and scroll-lined walls.
At the center sat Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, in his ornate chair — looking every bit the wizened leader. Though his robes were immaculate and pipe freshly lit, there was a weariness to his gaze — the weight of an old soldier steering a fragile peace.
Around him stood several experienced jonin — instructors, ANBU liaisons, and mission handlers — gathered for the weekly mission briefing.
Among them, leaning casually against a pillar, was Kakashi Hatake — silver-haired, masked as always, eye half-lidded and outwardly relaxed.
A soft knock interrupted the murmured exchanges.
"Enter," Hiruzen said.
The doors parted.
Hayato strode in first — tall, composed, clad in his dark green cloak and black sash. His calm aura seemed to ripple faintly through the room.Behind him walked Naruto Uzumaki — now a far cry from the impulsive, loud-mouthed academy prankster. His gait was measured, eyes alert, posture straighter. A slim katana was secured to his back.
Kakashi's lone eye flicked toward Naruto and narrowed slightly — noticing the subtle change at once.
"Hayato. Naruto. You requested special audience during this session?" the Hokage began.
Hayato offered a crisp bow. "Yes, Hokage-sama. Following four weeks of intensive supervised training, I formally request assignment of multiple C-rank missions for my student — extended duration, out-of-village operations."
A low murmur swept through the jonin. Extended C-rank — not typical for a solo genin.
Naruto stood steady beside his sensei, determined gaze unwavering.
"Multiple? That is ambitious." Hiruzen tapped his pipe thoughtfully. "Explain your reasoning."
Hayato spoke with his usual quiet precision.
"Naruto has demonstrated substantial growth in core areas: advanced chakra control, refined taijutsu, foundation-level kenjutsu, mental discipline, and clone integration. The intent is phased exposure — field-proven adaptation of this progress, under my oversight."
He gestured slightly. "A sequence of C-rank missions will provide layered practical experience beyond what D-rank missions can offer at this stage."
Kakashi finally spoke, voice mild but edged.
"That's fast. Too fast." He straightened from the wall. "Even with good training — and I'm not doubting Hayato's methods — four weeks isn't much time for deep patterning. Field operations aren't clean drills. A genin can break under real stakes."
His visible eye slid toward Naruto. "Especially one who… let's say, hasn't exactly been a model of stability until now."
A flicker of irritation passed across Naruto's face, but he held back.
Hayato answered evenly.
"Acknowledged. That is why I will accompany him. Full responsibility rests with me. The first mission will serve as evaluation — no commitment to further ones unless performance proves adequate."
Kakashi exhaled softly.
"You know I've seen too many promising rookies pushed too hard, too fast. We are shinobi, not artisans — breaking them in the forge does no one good."
Hayato's voice remained calm, almost cool.
"Nor does leaving the blade untested."
The two jonin locked gazes for a brief moment — a silent clash of philosophies.
Hiruzen observed the exchange carefully.
Then his gaze shifted to Naruto.
"And you, Naruto? Do you understand what you are stepping into?"
Naruto inhaled deeply, heart steady.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. I trained hard. I want to prove I can handle real missions. Not just for myself — but for the village."
His voice carried a calm conviction that made several jonin glance toward him, faintly surprised.
Hiruzen smiled slightly beneath his hat. 'He has changed.'
He regarded Hayato once more.
"Hayato — your reputation for caution and skill precedes you. I trust your judgment. Very well — I will authorize one C-rank to begin. Success will determine the next."
He gestured toward the mission scroll stack beside him.
"Escort assignment. Merchant convoy to the eastern border outpost. Two-week duration. Threat level: moderate — occasional bandit interference, no known shinobi elements."
"Full debrief before departure. You leave at dawn tomorrow."
Hayato bowed slightly. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
Naruto's pulse quickened — his first real mission. But he kept his face steady.
As they turned to go, Kakashi's voice drifted after them, soft but carrying.
"Hayato… just remember: even tempered steel can shatter if the hammer strikes too soon."
Hayato paused in the doorway, glancing back.
"That is why I hammer with care — and with purpose."
The door closed softly behind them.
Kakashi exhaled again, face unreadable. The old Hokage chuckled softly beneath his breath.
"It seems the winds of change blow stronger this season."