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Minato knew—had always known—that he wasn’t like the rest of his classmates.

Not when his very name carried the weight of legends.

Uchiha Minato. A name that bore not one, but two legacies: the blood of the formidable Uchiha Clan, wielders of the feared and revered Sharingan, though his had yet to awaken, and the namesake of the Fourth Hokage himself. But most of all, he is the son of two of the greatest shinobi Konoha had ever known: Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke.

With that kind of lineage, expectations came naturally. Minato didn’t mind. He was born to meet them.

With that kind of lineage, expectations came naturally. Minato didn’t mind. He was born to meet them.

“ Minato! You better be dressed or I’m leaving without you! ” his dad’s voice echoed from downstairs, loud and impatient.

Minato stood in front of the mirror in his room, the early morning light casting a golden hue across the wood floor. He stared at his reflection, at the fresh Konoha headband shining proudly on his forehead. For the past two days since his graduation, he hadn’t stopped admiring it. Proof that he was no longer a student.

He was a shinobi now.

Grinning, Minato tightened the knot at the back and bolted down the stairs, feet thudding lightly against the wood.

In the kitchen, the usual morning warmth greeted him.

His Papa and Dad sat side by side at the dining table, both already dressed for work. Sasuke with his sharp, composed demeanor in dark navy, and Naruto still shrugging on his Jonin vest over his orange tee. Across the table, Itomi sat beside Minato’s usual seat, book in one hand, absently poking her breakfast with the other. Her hair was as dark as their Papa’s, but her whisker-marked cheeks and intense gaze made her Naruto’s daughter through and through.

These mornings filled with quiet routine and gentle chaos were Minato’s favorite.

He strolled over to Sasuke first, leaning in to press a quick kiss to his cheek. Sasuke merely hummed in approval, not even looking up from the scroll in his hand.

Then to Naruto, who grinned and immediately reached out to ruffle Minato’s hair. “There’s my big-shot Genin,” Naruto teased.

Minato rolled his eyes affectionately, then crossed to Itomi and flicked her forehead. She frowned up at him, eyes narrowed in mock annoyance, but he caught the way her lips twitched with a barely suppressed smile.

“You’re in bright spirits today,” Sasuke noted, finally setting the scroll aside as he added food to Minato’s plate. The boy had grabbed only toast and butter—hardly enough, in Sasuke’s opinion. He added a few strips of bacon and two sausages without asking.

Minato dug in without complaint, speaking around a bite. “I meet my Jonin Sensei today! No idea who it is yet.”

“ Who did you get teamed up with, Onii-chan? ” Itomi asked, finally setting her book aside for the first time that morning. Her dark eyes sparkled with curiosity as she nibbled on her toast.

Minato grinned as he reached for another piece of bacon. “ Metal and Himawari! ”

“Oh?” Naruto perked up from across the table, clearly intrigued. “ Hinata and Kiba’s daughter, right? You kids used to have playdates when you were babies. ”

Minato chuckled, eyes flicking to the ceiling as if trying to recall. “ Yeah, apparently. But I don’t really remember much. I mean, Himawari and I aren’t super close or anything, but she’s really smart and she can already use her Byakugan! ” His voice held a note of awe, admiration glowing in his expression. “ It’s kind of crazy seeing it in action up close. ”

Sasuke, calm as ever, sipped from his tea. “ Having a Hyūga on your team gives you a tactical advantage. ” His gaze briefly met Naruto’s, then returned to Minato. “ You’ll learn a lot from her. ”

“And Metal’s on your team too?” Naruto asked, amusement dancing in his voice.

Minato’s face lit up. “ Yup! I was so excited when I saw his name on the list! He’s super strong and fast, and even though he kinda freaks out sometimes, he always gives it one hundred percent. He’s awesome. ”

Naruto laughed fondly, shaking his head. “ Just like his old man. Lee used to shake like a leaf before every test. Still ended up wiping the floor with half his opponents. ”

Minato nodded enthusiastically, mouth already half-full. “ I think we’ll make a great team. We balance each other out. ”

Itomi, who had finally finished her toast, rested her chin in her palms and gave her big brother a pout. “ You’re lucky… I want a team too. ”

Sasuke smiled at her, warm and patient. “ You’ll get your team in a few more years, sweetheart. Until then, focus on learning your kanji.”

She groaned dramatically, making both her parents laugh.

“ Alright! I need to go, or Kakashi-sensei’s gonna grumble at me again, ” Naruto said as he pushed back his chair and stood. He leaned across the table and planted a kiss on Sasuke’s lips, drawing loud complaints from both children like clockwork.

“ Ugh, get a room! ” Minato groaned, stuffing the rest of his toast in his mouth.

“ Gross! ” Itomi echoed, scrunching her nose.

Naruto just grinned. “ That’s your future, kiddos! True love looks like this! ”

Sasuke sighed, shaking his head as he stood to clean the plates. “ Minato, chew your food properly, for the love of— ”

“ Come on, Minato! ” Naruto called over his shoulder, already slipping on his sandals by the front door.

Minato scrambled to his feet, grabbing his bag and practically inhaling his juice on the way out. “ Okay okay! I’m coming! ”

“ Be safe, you two, ” Sasuke called after them, stacking dishes in the sink. “ We’re having karaage for dinner tonight. ”

That stopped them both in their tracks.

“ YES! ” the blond duo shouted in perfect unison.

Sasuke shook his head with an amused huff, already dreading the floury mess they’d leave behind when they inevitably asked to help.

Naruto and Minato always walked out together in the mornings. Even at thirteen, Minato didn’t mind being seen beside his dad. Metal and Shikadai would tease him relentlessly about it, calling him a daddy’s boy or imitating sappy goodbyes but Minato never cared. He loved his parents, and he couldn’t imagine starting his day without that walk to the Academy with his dad.

They didn’t take the same route every morning either. Sometimes Naruto would suddenly veer off course, leaping onto rooftops or dashing into trees, forcing Minato into a chase. It was their game, a tradition since Minato was five and even now, with a forehead protector proudly tied around his head, he still enjoyed every second of it.

But today, the walk was quieter. A calm stroll under the early morning sun. Naruto was holding a scroll in one hand, eyes scanning its contents, while still listening intently as Minato rambled beside him.

“I bet our Jonin-sensei’s going to be super strict,” Minato was saying. “What if they make us do pushups for every mistake? What if we have to fight them like you did with Kakashi-jiji?”

At that, Naruto chuckled. “Well, I hope they don’t pull the bell test on you three. That thing was brutal.”

Minato tilted his head, curious. “Wait… did you like your team back then? I mean, Papa was on your team too, right?”

“I hated being on the same team as your Papa,” Naruto replied immediately.

Minato stopped mid-step, mock-offended. “ What?! You’re so gooey-eyed for him now! Honestly, Dad, it has got to stop. It’s getting embarrassing.”

Naruto burst out laughing, throwing his head back. “Yeah, yeah, but back then? I couldn’t stand it! I saw him as my number one rival. He was good at everything— everything! People swooned when he walked by. The top of the class, cold and quiet… I wanted to beat him so bad.”

Minato grinned. “Then what happened?”

Naruto slipped the scroll into his jacket, placing his hands behind his head as they continued walking. His expression softened.

“Then he became my best friend. Papa, Me and Sakura—we just worked. We were really different, but somehow, we balanced each other out. We had each other’s backs, even when we didn’t say it out loud.”

Minato listened quietly, smiling to himself.

“And…” Naruto hesitated.

Minato’s eyes gleamed. “And,  when did you fall in love with Papa?”

Naruto immediately flushed, stuttering like he’d been caught in a genjutsu. “Th-That’s—Hey, I can’t tell you that! Not yet!”

“Come on! ” Minato groaned dramatically. “I wanna know! ”

Naruto cleared his throat, ears still red. “Let’s just say… it took us way longer than it should have.”

Minato snorted at his father’s flustered reaction, then looked away, still smiling.

He’d always admired the way his parents loved each other. The small things like the glances, the gentle teasing, the way one always reached out to the other without thinking. Even after everything they’d been through, and all the years behind them, they still looked at each other like it was new. And Minato hoped that one day, he’d find someone who made him feel like that too—someone who could look at him the way his Dad looked at Papa, like he hung the stars in the sky and did the dishes afterward.

They reached the base of the Hokage Tower. Naruto turned to him with that ever-familiar, sun-bright grin and tapped two fingers to Minato’s forehead, something between a blessing and a benediction in their family. “Tell me all about your day later, alright? I’ll be home before dinner, like usual.”

Minato grinned back, heart full, eyes shining with pride. “I’ll talk your ears off, ya know! ”

Naruto laughed, the kind of laugh that made passerby smile without knowing why, and ruffled his son’s hair with both hands like he was trying to scrub joy directly into his skull. “See ya later, kid. Be good. Make your Papa proud!”

Minato puffed up his chest and gave a mock salute. “Roger that!”

And with that, he turned on his heel and made his way to the training grounds.

The walk wasn’t long, just a short detour from the Tower but Minato still took his time. He liked mornings like these. Cool, quiet, and promising. The way the light filtered through the trees, dappled and soft, made everything feel a little more magical. When he reached the clearing, he found it empty and still, as expected.

He leaned against a broad tree trunk, hands tucked in his pockets, and plucked a reed of grass from the ground to chew absentmindedly. He let the morning breeze ruffle his hair, let his mind drift with the rhythm of rustling leaves. He liked the silence. The quiet between noise. There was something sacred in it.

His Papa always said he was too much like him when he got like this. Broody and contemplative with a side of “I’m not brooding, I’m thinking deeply, thank you very much.” Honestly, Minato didn’t mind. Sometimes the world was too loud. Being still was his way of understanding it.

But his moment of peace didn’t last.

“Minatooo!” Metal’s voice cracked through the clearing like a thrown shuriken.

Minato popped up from his slouch, brushing his pants like he hadn’t just been leaning like a melodramatic poet. He spotted Metal jogging toward him, and right behind him—

Oh.

There was Himawari, a step behind, hands folded in front of her politely like she was about to greet royalty. Her hair was tied back neatly, and her pale eyes, those unmistakable Hyūga eyes, glanced anywhere but directly at Minato.

“Hey! You’re early as usual,” Metal greeted, holding out his fist. Minato bumped it with a grin.

“Yeah, Dad had to leave early for work,” he replied, stretching his arms over his head with a satisfying pop.

Then he smirked, eyeing the space between Metal and Himawari.

“Hmmmmm… so you two walked here together, huh?” he teased, voice dripping with fake innocence.

Himawari turned scarlet instantly, her fingers tangling in the hem of her jacket as she squeaked, “I—It wasn’t like that! I just—he—our houses are— I was already walking— !”

Metal groaned, throwing a light punch to Minato’s shoulder. “Shut up , idiot! We just happened to bump into each other!”

Minato snorted, hands up like he was surrendering. “Okay, okay! Relax. Just saying, I’d ship it.”

“I will throw a kunai at your forehead.”

Minato laughed again, eyes twinkling. He liked getting under Metal’s skin, it was too easy. And Himawari was fun to fluster. Which, he realized, probably meant he was slowly becoming more like his Dad than his Papa. That was… concerning.

“Anyway,” Metal continued, brushing off the embarrassment, “have you seen our sensei yet? Any idea who it is?”

Minato shook his head and leaned back against the tree. “Nah. Kakashi-jiji was being all mysterious about it. Said something cryptic like, ‘It’ll be someone unexpected but very familiar.’” He mimicked the old man’s tired drawl perfectly.

“Kakashi jiji? ” Himawari blinked. “You call Lord Sixth ' jiji'? ”

Minato shrugged with a smirk. “He basically is. He’s been giving me war stories since I was four. Told me not to trust anyone who shows up late and smells like dogs.”

Himawari blinked again. “…That’s oddly specific.”

Metal laughed. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kakashi -sama shows up as our Jonin. Can he even do that?"

“If he does, I’m quitting,” Minato deadpanned, arms crossed. “I’m not spending missions listening to Make-Out Tactics quotes and pretending I didn’t hear them.”

Metal snorted. “Come on, it’s a classic!”

“It’s emotional trauma.”

But before Himawari could ask what Make-Out Tactics was (and she was wisely starting to suspect she didn’t want to know), a sudden puff of smoke cracked behind them—a telltale sign of a shinobi’s flashy entrance.

“Hey!”

All three of them whirled around—and Minato’s heart immediately dropped to the soles of his ninja sandals.

“No. No. Nope.” His face contorted in betrayal. “Hisaki-niisan!?”

Oh, it was him.

That cocky, sideways smirk. That unmistakably smug glint in his eye. That stupid long spiky ponytail.

There stood Watanabe Hisaki —Naruto’s former student, self-proclaimed “big brother” to Minato, and world-class menace to his entire childhood. His black police uniform bore the Uchiha clan crest proudly on his sleeve, worn underneath the flak vest of a shinobi clearly far too pleased with himself. His forehead protector was slung around his neck like a fashion accessory, like he invented being cool. Ugh.

Minato didn’t even get to retreat before Hisaki swooped in and slung an arm around his shoulders.

“Look how much you’ve grown, Natto!” Hisaki cooed like a doting grandma before promptly grabbing Minato’s head and rubbing his knuckles across the top with unholy force.

“Gaaah! Get off me!!” Minato flailed like a captured squirrel, completely trapped in the older ninja’s grip. “Stop calling me that! No one calls me Natto except you!!”

“I call you that because you’re sticky and dramatic,” Hisaki teased, grinning. “It’s a compliment.”

“It’s not a compliment!!”

Metal was wheezing with laughter, hunched over and slapping his thigh, absolutely useless. Himawari, on the other hand, blinked in stunned confusion. “Um… Is this part of the training?”

“No,” Minato grunted, still struggling to escape. “This is called bullying. ”

Finally, after a moment more of affectionate torment, Hisaki released him, ruffling Minato’s hair one last time for good measure.

Minato stepped back, wildly trying to fix his hair, face red not from embarrassment—but rage.

“You’re our Jonin-Sensei?! Seriously!?” Minato practically choked on his disbelief, hands flailing for emphasis.

Hisaki’s grin only widened, smug as ever, as he struck a dramatic pose with his hands on his hips, like he’d just revealed himself as the final boss of a particularly annoying video game.

“Sure am!” he announced, beaming. “Surprised?”

Minato jabbed a finger at him like it was a kunai. “Don’t you already have a job at the Police Department?! Go back to your desk job and stuff your face with donuts like the rest of the overworked officers!”

“Ouch,” Hisaki clutched his chest like the words had physically wounded him, but the laughter bubbling out of him betrayed any real offense. “You wound me, Natto! But what can I say? They said Naruto-sensei’s precious son needed the perfect, dazzling mentor and naturally—who better than me? ”

Minato groaned and dragged a hand down his face, muttering something very unflattering under his breath. There was no escaping this man. His life was officially over.

“Well,” Hisaki said, clapping his hands together. “Now that my favorite brat has been publicly humiliated, let’s move on to the rest of you. Obviously, I already know Natto over here—”

“ Stop calling me that! ” Minato snapped from behind his hands.

“—but I don’t know you two yet, so let’s do formal introductions,” Hisaki continued smoothly, ignoring the protest like it was background noise. “I’m Watanabe Hisaki, Konoha Police Captain, and one of the first recruits when they reestablished the department nearly ten years ago. I was also trained by none other than your dad, Naruto-sensei—” he gestured grandly toward Minato, “—so technically, I’m like your big brother and elite babysitter rolled into one.”

Minato looked like he wanted the earth to swallow him.

Metal stepped forward energetically, ever the ball of sunshine. “I’m Metal Lee! I’m great at Taijutsu like my dad, but my mom’s been training me in chakra control and medical ninjutsu too!”

Hisaki raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “Whoa! So, you’re the kid of Rock Lee and Sakura Haruno? That’s one wild combo. No wonder you’ve got that energy—Taijutsu fire and chakra finesse. Love it!”

Metal practically sparkled under the praise.

Then Hisaki turned to Himawari, whose posture straightened a little under his gaze. Her white Hyūga eyes looked determined, even if her fingers twisted the hem of her sleeve nervously.

“I’m Inuzuka Himawari,” she said in a soft but clear voice. “I want to master my Byakugan… and become a kunoichi strong enough to surpass even my uncle Neji.”

Minato blinked, visibly surprised by the steel in her tone. It wasn’t often that Himawari spoke with that kind of conviction—and somehow, it made her seem both fierce and graceful all at once.

Hisaki grinned wide. “A Hyūga with lofty goals. I like it. And with Metal’s Taijutsu and Natto’s… sheer stubbornness, I think we’ve got ourselves a solid team.”

“I am this close to throwing a kunai at you,” Minato muttered.

Hisaki ruffled his hair again.

“You’ll survive, Natto,” Hisaki said breezily, tossing a wink at Minato like he hadn’t just dragged him through years of childhood torment. “Now! Team Nine—we’ve got a long day ahead. Hope you all had a big breakfast, because we’re starting off with a little survival test!”

“Test?” Metal blinked, glancing between his teammates in confusion. “Like… right now?”

“Yup!” Hisaki flashed them a wide grin, and just as he said it, he produced two small bells from his vest pocket and waved them mockingly in front of their faces. They jingled lightly, almost cheerful—but Minato felt his stomach twist.

He knew this.

This was the bell test.

His Dad had mentioned it offhandedly during one of their morning walks, laughing about how Kakashi-jiji nearly starved them and tied them to a post. It was supposed to test something more than just skill something more subtle. But his Dad had never gone into detail, just smirked knowingly and said, “It’s not about what you think it is.”

Minato stared at the bells, feeling the shift immediately. Hisaki might be an idiot on the surface, with that cocky smile and overdone dramatics but Minato knew him. Knew the glint in his eyes when things got serious. Behind that laughable exterior was the man who worked his way up to become Captain of the reformed Konoha Police. The man who once knocked out a rogue Jōnin with a single strike in front of the Uchiha compound.

There was nothing funny about Hisaki when he got like this.

“Now then,” Hisaki continued, voice still casual, but there was something colder under it. “The rules are simple: take the bells from me, and you pass. Easy. You get to keep being shinobi and go on your merry way to glorious, D-rank filled adventures. Doesn’t that sound exciting?”

The three of them exchanged looks of confusion and uncertainty. Minato furrowed his brows. Wasn’t… wasn’t this part over already? He had the headband. He’d graduated. He was already a shinobi. Right?

“Uh, Sensei?” Metal asked hesitantly, raising his hand like they were still in the classroom. “What do you mean? We are already shinobi—right?”

“Ah ah ah,” Hisaki said, cutting him off with a wag of his finger. The grin on his face was still there, but his eyes were sharp now—watchful. Cold. “Getting a bit ahead of ourselves, aren’t we, Metal-kun?”

He let the silence sit a beat too long before he continued, the bells going still in his hand.

“I get to decide if you’re actually shinobi material. You see, graduation means you’ve passed the basics. It doesn’t mean you’re ready for real missions. For this world.” His voice dropped a register, the humor now entirely gone. “Failure to get a bell means one thing.”

He paused.

Minato swallowed.

“Back to the Academy for you,” Hisaki finished. “Or you quit. Up to you.”

And just like that, the atmosphere snapped. It was like a heavy weight dropped onto the training ground. The air suddenly felt thick. Minato felt the breeze still against his cheeks, the wind itself holding its breath.

Metal’s smile faltered.

Himawari stiffened beside him, eyes narrowing with focus.

Minato’s fingers slowly curled into fists. He’d always known Hisaki could be intense, but this—this was another level. It was like watching a mask fall away, revealing a predator beneath a jester’s face.

This wasn’t a game.

This was real.

And whether he liked it or not… this was Minato’s first step into the world his parents had fought so hard to protect.

His heart pounded once, hard and loud.

Alright then. Let’s do this.

Then it hit him.

His eyes darted back to the bells still jingling in Hisaki’s hand—two.

Just two.

But they were three.

His breath caught in his throat.

“You’re not saying…” Minato asked, his voice quieter than before. “One of us will fail, right, Nii-san?”

The playful grin was gone. Hisaki looked at him with unreadable eyes—serious, distant. Like a soldier remembering war.

“Then so be it,” Hisaki said coldly. “If that’s gonna be the result.”

Minato didn’t even have time to react before Hisaki flicked something toward the ground.

Clink—poof!

Smoke exploded around them.

Coughing, Minato instinctively pulled his headband down to cover his mouth, waving away the gray haze. Metal sputtered next to him, and Himawari choked, shielding her face with her sleeve.

When the smoke finally cleared, Hisaki was gone.

Minato narrowed his eyes and turned toward his teammates. “Okay. Here’s what we’re going to do. We need to corner him. Fast.”

“Didn’t you hear him?!” Metal said, panicked. “One of us is going to fail! ”

Minato’s jaw clenched.

“Then if only two of us can pass,” he said quietly, “I’ll make sure it’s you and Himawari.”

Metal’s eyes widened. “What?! That doesn’t even make sense! You’re the smartest one here! What’s the point of passing if you don’t?! He can’t just—he can’t fail one of us like that! That’s not fair!”

Minato wasn’t listening anymore. His brain was already racing, pulling together what he knew about Hisaki’s habits, strengths, and fighting style. There had to be a way around this. A loophole. Something.

He turned to Himawari, who looked pale and shaky, her arms hugging herself.

“Himawari,” he said, steady and firm, “use your Byakugan. We need eyes on him.”

Himawari startled at the sound of her name but nodded. She closed her eyes and focused.

“Byakugan!”

Her eyes snapped open, veins bulging from the sides of her temples as the full power of the Hyūga’s bloodline surged to life. She scanned the area slowly, methodically. Then, she blinked and deactivated it, worry all over her face.

“He’s deep in the forest,” she said quietly. “There’s no way we can fight him.”

“What?! Why?” Metal asked, breath quickening.

“I saw his chakra reserves,” she said, eyes still wide. “They’re… massive. We won’t be able to beat him with ninjutsu. Not even close.”

Minato stiffened.

Of course. Of course she was right.

Hisaki wasn’t just some Jōnin. He was the Jōnin. The one who rose through the ranks like wildfire. A prodigy under Naruto and Sasuke’s generation. The one Naruto always said was nearly impossible to beat in close quarters.

He made Jōnin at thirteen.

And when he sparred Naruto—Kurama’s chakra in full throttle—Hisaki hadn’t just survived it. He held his ground.

This wasn’t just a test.

It was a challenge designed to break them.

Minato’s pulse raced. His mind was already weaving plans, strategies, fallback routes—but none of it mattered if they weren’t on the same page.

“We can’t beat him in a straight fight,” Minato said finally, voice steady despite the fear crawling up his throat. “So we don’t fight him directly.”

He looked at them both.

“We outthink him.”

Deep in the forest, Hisaki lounged atop a thick branch, one leg dangling, the other propped up, arms behind his head like he had all the time in the world. A soft breeze rustled the leaves above as he whistled some stupid cartoon jingle stuck in his head. Completely unbothered. Completely relaxed.

Typical.

When the Hokage had summoned him to take on another Genin team, Hisaki had barely blinked.

Another one?

He’d long since lost count of how many batches had been shoved his way. Eager-eyed little brats with headbands too big for their foreheads and dreams even bigger than their skillsets. None of them knew what it really meant to be a shinobi.

They wanted fame. They wanted praise. They wanted to be Hokage.

Tch. Ridiculous.

He’d trained under Uzumaki Naruto and Hatake Kakashi themselves—one the man who saved the world, the other the man who walked through hell to lead it. He knew exactly what a shinobi was supposed to be.

And he refused— refused —to let anyone onto the field who wasn’t ready to bleed for it.

So when he saw the list for Team Nine, he hadn’t expected much.

Then he saw his name.

Uchiha Minato.

Hisaki had stared at the paper for a long time. A slow grin pulling at his face. A twist of pride in his chest, unexpected and sharp.

But also… something heavier.

Poor Natto. What rotten luck, being stuck with him as a sensei.

“So,” Lord Sixth had asked, arms folded, his voice unreadable, “are you up for it?”

Hisaki had just shrugged, hands in his pockets.

“Dunno,” he’d said lazily. “Are they?”

Back in the trees, Hisaki cracked one eye open.

He’d already observed them from the moment the test began. He wasn’t watching the bells. He was watching them.

Uchiha Minato, brilliant, just like his parents. His chakra control, his instincts, his raw intelligence… he was already outpacing most Chūnin, and he didn’t even realize it. That humility would be both his strength and his biggest curse.

Then there was Metal Lee. All passion and fists. The son of Taijutsu incarnate. He lacked confidence, sure, but not potential. Once he stopped trying to be someone else’s shadow, he’d be dangerous.

And lastly, Inuzuka Himawari.

Now there was an interesting one.

Byakugan active, already forming emotional bonds, eyes sharp but heart cautious. She didn’t like hurting people. That would be a weakness in the wrong hands and a strength if she learned how to wield it right.

Altogether?

This team was promising.

More promising than any he’d been assigned in years.

But promise meant nothing if they couldn’t figure it out. If they didn’t understand why they were here. Why any of this mattered. What it cost.

Hisaki closed his eyes again, whistling lowly.

“Let’s see what you do, Natto,” he murmured.

“If you’re really ready for this world.”

“He doesn’t seem like the serious type,” Metal whispered, crouched low behind a thick bush, his voice barely above the sound of rustling leaves.

All three of them were huddled close together in the underbrush, knees in the dirt, half-covered by a mess of brambles and moss. The forest was dense here. Sunlight broke through the canopy in narrow beams, casting long shadows that shifted with every breeze.

Minato shook his head, eyes narrowed. “Hisaki-niichan only looks that way,” he muttered. “But he’s brutal. He goes on S-rank missions with my parents a lot.”

Metal’s eyes widened slightly. “ S-rank ? Are we sure this isn’t some kind of mistake?”

“Nope,” Himawari replied, grimacing. “They sent us into the lion’s den.”

“Okay,” she said with a sigh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, “so how exactly do we outsmart an S-rank ninja?”

Minato didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached down and grabbed a stick from the forest floor. He used the tip to draw into the dirt, rough, quick lines forming a map of the area. A circle for the clearing. An X for the tree Hisaki had been spotted in. Arrows, notes, escape paths.

“I’ll create as many Shadow Clones as I can to move through the perimeter,” he said, his voice taking on a sharper, more focused edge. “Metal, you’ll take the west side, loop behind him. Himawari, conserve your chakra until we need your Byakugan. Once we’ve got him surrounded…”

“We trap him,” Himawari finished, nodding slowly. “Then grab the bells.”

Metal frowned. “There’s still the problem of there being two bells.”

“I told you. You two get them,” Minato said quietly, without hesitation.

Himawari blinked. “But Minato—”

“I’ll figure it out,” he cut in with a small grin.

“That’s not a very good plan,” Himawari said gently. “You’ll end up going back to the Academy.”

Minato paused for a beat, his grin still on his face, though it wavered just slightly. “What’s one more year?”

But inside, his stomach was twisting.

He was scared.

Scared shitless , honestly.

He didn’t want to go back. Didn’t want to face his parents, especially not after failing something so important. Not after all the expectations stacked on his shoulders. But even scarier than failing was the thought of turning on his teammates for a stupid bell. He couldn’t live with himself if he did that.

He’d rather fall than climb alone.

“All right,” Minato said, shaking the thoughts away and pushing his glasses up his nose. “Let’s put that aside for now. First things first—we trap him. Let’s go over the plan one more time.”

The three of them leaned closer, heads nearly touching as Minato redrew the paths, their hushed voices mingling with the sounds of the forest. It wasn’t the perfect plan. But it was theirs .

Hisaki watched the three of them discussing under the bush. Funny to think that these brats could actually hide from him. Cute, he thought. Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him and he turns around to see Lord Sixth standing there always looking at the trio. “Working together already, I see.” Kakashi pointed out. Hisaki could only beam with pride. “Minato’s being the sacrificial idiot that he is, of course. Wonder who he got that from.” He joked, Kakashi chuckling slightly.

“What’s your next move, Hisaki-sensei?”

Hisaki smirked. “Take away the rock.”

The plan was in motion.

Himawari positioned herself high up in a tree, tucked behind thick branches and leaves, her Byakugan already scanning the terrain. From her perch, she had eyes on both the decoy and their target. Below, Minato’s Shadow Clones silently slinked through the forest floor, keeping low, hiding behind roots and rocks as they crept into formation.

In the clearing, Metal stood out in the open, just as they had planned—wide stance, arms crossed, exuding the kind of cocky confidence that only a well-prepared Genin could fake. He kicked a stone away lazily, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

It wasn’t long before footsteps approached.

“Ah,” came a calm, slightly amused voice. “So your teammates have offered you up as the sacrificial lamb, huh?”

Metal turned slowly, eyes sharp. Hisaki approached casually, the bells on his belt jingling faintly with every step. His expression unreadable, hands in his pockets, his entire demeanor screamed unbothered .

Metal dropped into a fighting stance, his muscles coiled tight. “Or maybe I’m the bait,” he said with a grin.

With a shout, he sprang forward, fists already flying.

Hisaki barely blinked, sidestepping each strike like he was dancing. Metal’s punches were rapid, precise. One after another, faster than most Genin could track but Hisaki slipped through them with infuriating ease. A twist here, a lean there. His eyes flicked with a glint of curiosity.

“Huh,” he muttered as he dodged. “You’ve got better aim than I thought.”

Then—bam!

Metal’s fist missed Hisaki but struck the ground. A deep crack tore through the earth as the forest floor trembled beneath the force. A small crater formed instantly from the sheer power of the blow. Hisaki let out a low whistle, stumbling slightly. “Whoa… definitely Haruno Sakura’s kid, huh? That brute strength isn’t just for show.”

That brief stumble was all Minato needed.

In an instant, Shadow Clones burst from the underbrush, leaping forward. One grabbed Hisaki’s left wrist. Another caught his right leg. Then two more latched onto his remaining limbs, successfully pinning him in place.

“Nice!” Metal shouted, panting but grinning.

Hisaki grunted, caught off-guard, his balance thrown. “What the—?!”

From above, Himawari dove, her Byakugan glowing pale and intense. Her hands were drawn back, her expression serious, Gentle Fist ready. She was locked onto his chakra points.

She struck fast, precise.

And just as her palm connected—

Puff!

A log hit the dirt with a dull thud.

Himawari’s eyes widened. “Substitution—!”

“Damn it!” Minato hissed, his remaining clones vanishing with a poof , one after another.

The three of them landed back in the center of the clearing, panting, tense, scanning around.

A sharp whistle rang out.

“ That was actually impressive, guys!” Hisaki’s voice drifted down from a tree above. He lounged across a branch like a lazy cat, legs dangling, grinning lazily as he clapped. “Three points to you.”

Hisaki landed with a soft thud, barely stirring the dirt beneath his feet. His hands remained casually tucked in his pockets, his grin as smug as ever.

“You’re definitely not the worst batch I’ve seen,” he said, smirking at the trio. “Still not enough to beat me, though.”

Minato bit the inside of his cheek hard enough to sting. He refused to show how frustrated he was. Beside him, Himawari lowered her hands slowly, her Byakugan fading, while Metal exhaled a deep breath, sweat dripping down his temple.

Then—without warning—Hisaki’s expression shifted.

“There’s a hole in your plan, though,” he added casually.

Before Minato could react, a hand shot up from the ground beneath him, gripping his ankles and yanking him down with startling force.

“Wha—?!”

Dirt flew as Minato was dragged straight into the earth, leaving only his head sticking out like a vegetable in a field.

“Minato-kun!” Himawari shouted, already stepping forward.

Metal dropped into a ready stance. “Hang on, we’ll—”

“No!” Minato shouted. “He’s got me—run! Plan B!”

Without hesitation, Himawari and Metal exchanged a quick nod and scattered into the trees.

Hisaki burst out laughing. A real laugh. Loud, amused, holding his stomach for dramatic effect as he pointed down at Minato. “Oh my god, this is hilarious ! You look ridiculous!”

Minato squirmed uselessly in the dirt, face red with both embarrassment and fury. “We’ll get those bells, ya know! And we’ll be the ones laughing!”

Hisaki waved him off with a lazy flick of his hand. “Yeah, yeah. Sure, twerp.”

He stepped back, still chuckling. “Anyway, I’m gonna go hunt your friends now. Hope you don’t mind. Not like you can do anything from your… hole .”

With a poof , he vanished in a puff of smoke.

“Ughhhh,” Minato groaned, scrunching his face. “Stupid. Stupid dirt trap. Stupid smug jounin with stupid hair—!”

He wriggled. Nothing budged. Just the sound of distant birds… and the distant crunch of leaves where Hisaki had gone.

“Ugh! This is the worst !”

“What do we do, Metal-kun? We can’t leave Minato-kun there!” Himawari called out, leaping from branch to branch. The wind cut through the trees as they moved deeper into the forest canopy.

“For now, we need to think of a way to get back to him,” Metal replied, voice steady but tense.

His mind was racing. He wasn’t the strategist—that was Minato. He’d never been good with plans. He was fists first, think later. Himawari had the instincts, but she still second-guessed herself. They had to act quickly. If they didn’t—

“Yaaaahoooo~!”

Both of them skidded to a stop, hearts jumping into their throats. Standing directly in their path on a thick branch was Hisaki, one hand raised in a lazy wave, the other still tucked in his vest pocket. His grin was infuriatingly wide.

“Aw, you left poor Minato behind?” he teased, cocking his head. “That’s cold.”

Himawari and Metal landed on the branch across from him, kunai drawn and ready.

“Stay alert,” Metal whispered to her, shifting into a fighting stance. “He’s messing with us.”

Hisaki leaned forward slightly. “Well, at least you brought weapons this time. That’s cute.”

Metal didn’t wait. He lunged forward with a roar, leading with a powerful punch aimed at Hisaki’s midsection. But Hisaki vanished in a blur, appearing behind Metal with a lazy yawn.

“You’re fast, I’ll give you that,” Hisaki said, twisting and kicking Metal hard in the side, sending him flying into a nearby tree with a loud crack .

“Metal-kun!” Himawari shouted.

She moved to help him, but Hisaki was already on her. He appeared right in front of her, forcing her to block a strike aimed at her shoulder. She stumbled back, landing on a lower branch. He didn’t pressyet.

“You’ve got good chakra control, Byakugan girl,” he said, eyes sharp now despite the grin. “But you hesitate.”

Himawari’s eyes flashed. “Not this time!” she snapped, activating her Byakugan and moving in with precision strikes—aiming for his shoulder, then his ribs. Hisaki ducked and weaved between her hits like it was a game, still grinning.

Then he countered.

A palm jab to her gut knocked the air from her lungs, and he swept her feet out from under her, sending her tumbling. She barely managed to flip and land on her knees, panting.

“That’s enough,” he said.

In the blink of an eye, Hisaki appeared behind Metal, who was just beginning to get up. A hand chopped the back of Metal’s neck, and the boy collapsed with a soft groan, unconscious.

“Metal!” Himawari cried, eyes wide.

Before she could run to him, Hisaki flashed in front of her and held up a hand. “Ah, ah—don’t even think about it. He’s fine. Just taking a nap.”

She froze, kunai trembling in her grip.

“Now, I could chase you too,” he said calmly, glancing at her. “But honestly? I want to see what you’ll do next.”

And with that, he slung Metal over his shoulder and vanished in a puff of smoke.

Himawari stood frozen, panting, gripping her kunai tightly. Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing.

They were all separated now.

Minato buried. Metal captured.

And her? Alone.

She swallowed thickly and clenched her fists.

“…I have to think. I have to save them.”

The sun had climbed higher above the trees, casting long shadows through the clearing. Birds chirped above as if mocking Minato’s grunts as he finally clawed himself free from the hole he was buried in.

“Ugh, finally,” he groaned, flopping onto the ground face-first, panting. He was covered in dirt and grass, hair sticking up like a wild hedgehog. But his eyes were burning with determination now. He sat up, dusted off his clothes, and activated a Shadow Clone.

“Find the others. Now,” he said. The clone nodded and disappeared into the trees.

It didn’t take long.

⸻

Minutes later, hidden in a dense grove, the three of them were finally back together. Metal sat cross-legged, still rubbing the sore spot on his neck where Hisaki had knocked him out. Himawari was crouched beside him, examining the area with her Byakugan.

“His chakra trail is still fresh. He’s waiting,” she whispered.

“Then it’s not over,” Minato said, clenching his fists. “He wants to see what we’ll do.”

“He’s testing more than just fighting skills,” Himawari added quietly. “He wants to see if we give up… if we turn on each other.”

Minato nodded. “We’re not going to. We finish this together.”

Metal grinned. “Yeah. Let’s get those stupid bells.”

⸻

Back in the clearing, Hisaki stood atop a large rock, casually tossing the two bells in the air with one hand, humming a little tune.

“Tick-tock, little genin,” he muttered to himself. “Time’s almost—”

“NOW!” came Minato’s voice from the trees.

A barrage of kunai rained from above. Hisaki leapt away easily, but it wasn’t the weapons that mattered—it was the chakra threads tied to them.

Before he could land, Himawari appeared beneath him, launching a precise strike at his ankle to disrupt his balance. He blocked it just in time, only to get tackled mid-air by Metal, whose momentum sent them both skidding across the ground.

“You punks again?” Hisaki laughed, twisting out from under Metal and backflipping to his feet. “Persistent—I’ll give you that.”

But they were already moving.

Minato surged forward from the side, clones trailing behind him in a tight formation. One clone tackled Hisaki while another slid behind him, planting a paper tag on the back of his vest.

Poof! Another clone gone. Hisaki chuckled, twisting to throw a kunai but that’s when he felt it.

His limbs locked. Not from a jutsu but because Himawari, in the chaos, had struck key chakra points in his shoulders and knees, stunning him just long enough.

And finally, Metal tackled him from behind again, grabbing both bells and pinning Hisaki to the ground.

The forest fell quiet.

All three kids stood around him, breathing heavily—bruised, scratched, but still standing.

Hisaki lay still for a moment… then let out a short laugh.

“Okay. Okay!” he said, sitting up and raising his hands in surrender. “You got me. You little brats actually got me.”

He looked up at them, real pride glinting in his eyes now. Slowly, he stood and brushed the dirt off his coat, resting his hands on his hips as he regarded the three of them.

“Now then, you’ve got to decide,” he said casually.

All three of them froze. Of course—two bells.

Minato’s breath hitched as he glanced at the bells Metal had successfully taken. His chest ached, but not from the bruises—he knew what came next. Only two would pass. One would fail. That had always been the rule.

The three of them exchanged glances. Minato sighed, stepping forward before the others could speak.

Hisaki raised an eyebrow at him, lips twitching in that familiar teasing smirk.

“It’s them,” Minato said simply. “They get the bells.”

“Oh-ho? Are you sure?”

“Minato—” Metal called out, eyes wide. Himawari looked confused, lips parting.

But Minato turned to them, offering a small, exhausted smile. “I told you, it’s okay.”

His stomach twisted, but he meant it. Better him than them. He knew how hard Himawari had worked for this. How much Metal wanted to prove himself. Minato had always been the son of legends, he could afford to wait.

Couldn’t he?

Hisaki shrugged, clearly entertained. “Alright then, it’s decided—”

But before he could finish, Himawari stepped forward and grabbed one of the bells from Metal. The soft jingle as she took it echoed in the silence. She walked right back to Hisaki and held the bell out.

“If Minato doesn’t get to pass,” she said, firm and unwavering, “then I’m failing with him.”

Hisaki blinked. It wasn’t often he was caught off guard—but this did it.

And then, like a switch flipping, Metal ran over and shoved his bell forward too. “We’re Team Nine! If we have to redo the Academy, we’re doing it together!”

Minato stared at them both, stunned.

They were serious.

His chest felt tight. Something hot pricked at the corners of his eyes, but he blinked it away. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to make the hard choice. Take the fall.

Instead, they stood with him.

Then, confetti.

With a flick of Hisaki’s wrist, colorful paper exploded into the air and fluttered down like soft rain.

“You all passed!” he announced proudly.

All three froze once more, in confusion this time.

Minato’s mouth opened, but no words came. Himawari looked like she might cry. Metal’s face twisted in confused joy.

Hisaki crossed his arms and grinned wider. “You worked together. You stood back up even when you were losing. You didn’t leave anyone behind, and you didn’t take the easy way out.”

He looked at each of them, voice steady and full of something heavier than just praise. “You’ve got the spirit of real shinobi.”

Minato blinked. “So… does that mean we—?”

The forest was quiet, the wind brushing through leaves. His own heartbeat rang in his ears.

“You pass,” Hisaki said again, this time softer. Then, more solemnly, “I wasn’t looking for strength. I wanted to see what you’d do when everything went wrong. When someone was taken. When the plan failed.”

He turned, slipping his hands into his pockets.

“A wise man once said: ‘Those who break the rules are scum…’”

The three genin went still.

“…But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum.”

He glanced back at them, the edges of his smile gentler now.

“And you didn’t abandon each other—not even for a second.”

There was silence. Then Metal whooped so loudly it made birds scatter from the trees. Himawari laughed, brushing tears from her cheeks. Minato just stood there, still reeling.

He thought of his dad. Of all the pressure. Of never being sure if he really earned any of this.

But now—his team had chosen him. Not because of his name. Not because of expectation.

Just… because.

A rare, crooked smile pulled at Hisaki’s lips.

“You’ve got potential,” he said. “Welcome to Team Hisaki.”

Minato’s heart swelled.

They were a team.

And somehow, it felt like the most important thing in the world.

Hisaki leaned back against a tree, arms crossed, watching them with a strange fondness. Metal practically danced in place, Himawari grinning through her tears, and Minato—his fists clenched at his sides, smile wide and real—just soaking in the moment.

That grin. Hisaki remembered it from long ago—Minato toddling around HQ, clinging to Naruto’s cloak, mimicking his father’s stance. Always shadowing Sasuke with serious eyes and small fists. And now? Scraped up, dusty, bruised, but standing proud.

A real shinobi.

Hisaki swallowed hard. There was a lump in his throat he didn’t care to explain. “Tch… damn kid,” he muttered under his breath, though there was no heat in it. Only warmth.

He wasn’t just proud. He was hopeful. These three—they might just make something incredible.

“Alright, brats!” he called, pushing off the tree. “Go celebrate while you still can. Training starts tomorrow. Six a.m. sharp.”

“Aww, c’mon!” Metal whined, clutching his sides.

Himawari giggled. Minato rolled his eyes—but there was no hiding the spark in them.

Minato waved goodbye to his teammates, watching as they disappeared around the corner. His teammates. The words still felt brand new, and he couldn’t help the grin that stretched across his face, his cheeks already sore from how much he’d been smiling. Beside him, Hisaki walked in comfortable silence, hands in his pockets as they headed toward the Uchiha household. Just the two of them now.

“I thought you didn’t like being a sensei,” Minato said casually, glancing at the older man from the corner of his eye.

Hisaki gave a low chuckle. “Well, all the genin they sent my way before weren’t exactly shinobi material.”

Minato raised an eyebrow. “You’re just picky.”

Hisaki smirked. “That is true.”

They reached the front door and opened it together, stepping inside as they shouted in unison, “I’m home!”

Like Hisaki actually lived there.

Within seconds, the sound of light, rapid footsteps echoed through the hallway, and Itomi came barreling toward them, her eyes sparkling like twin suns.

“Hisaki-niichan!!” she squealed.

Hisaki immediately crouched down, arms open. Itomi launched herself into him without hesitation.

Minato blinked. “Wow. Not even a pause.”

He folded his arms. “Hey, Itomi! I’m home too. You know, your actual brother.”

Still clinging to Hisaki, she stuck her tongue out at Minato. “You’re always home anyway.”

Minato gaped. “Unbelievable.”

From the kitchen, a familiar voice chimed in. “Ah, Hisaki. Staying for dinner?” Sasuke peeked out, drying his hands with a dish towel. Hisaki stood up and gave a small bow. “If you don’t mind, Sasuke-san. I miss your cooking.”

“Perfect timing,” Sasuke replied, already turning back to the stove. “I’m making your favorite.”

Hisaki’s eyes lit up. “ Karaage!? I love you, Sasuke-san!”

He dashed past Minato and toward the kitchen like a kid chasing dessert.

Minato stood in the hallway, watching the scene unfold like it was some surreal domestic comedy. His Papa definitely knew Hisaki was their new sensei. And somehow, he had the audacity to act like this was all perfectly normal.

“Unbelievable,” Minato muttered again, shaking his head as he stepped forward to follow them in.

But deep down, he didn’t really mind.

Just as he was about to walk into the kitchen, the front door creaked open again behind him.

“Yo! I’m home!” came his Dad’s cheerful voice. Naruto stepped inside, a white paper bag in one hand, the unmistakable sweet scent of sugar and fried dough trailing behind him.

Minato turned slowly, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. “No way… You also knew about Hisaki-nii?!” He pointed an accusing finger at Naruto like he’d just uncovered a grand conspiracy.

Naruto laughed, completely unbothered, and reached out to ruffle Minato’s hair. “So you did it!” he called out toward the kitchen. “Great job, Hisaki! I brought donuts! Congrats on finally passing a team!”

“I’m the one who took the test!” Minato grumbled, arms crossed. Naruto just grinned and pinched his son’s cheek affectionately. “I’m just playing around. Come on—tell me all about it.” That was all the encouragement Minato needed. His annoyed pout melted into an excited grin as he launched into a full retelling of the bell test. He was practically bouncing on his feet as he followed his dad to the dining table, where dinner was already laid out.

Hisaki was already seated across from Minato, digging into the karaage like he’d been starving for days. Sasuke calmly brought over the last of the dishes while Itomi climbed up beside Minato, her eyes sparkling in anticipation of the story.

“And then, he literally pulled me into the ground!” Minato said, waving his arms for emphasis. “Just my head was sticking out! He kept laughing like a jerk, and then Himawari and Metal had to run!”

Hisaki let out a chuckle between bites. “You looked like a daikon sticking out of the dirt.”

“You buried me!”

“Well, you weren’t fast enough.”

“Guys, focus!” Itomi huffed, clinging to every word. “What happened next ?”

Minato dove right back in, reenacting the entire thing in vivid detail—every dodge, every clone, every ridiculous surprise Hisaki pulled. Himawari and Metal’s teamwork, the trap that finally got the bell, and the way they tricked Hisaki at the end. Naruto and Sasuke watched quietly, pride written all over their faces. Their son— their Minato—was growing up, one mission, one laugh, one victory at a time.

Later that night, the house had quieted.

Hisaki stayed behind to help Naruto clean up in the kitchen while Minato dragged himself to the shower, barely keeping his eyes open. The hot water did little to wake him—if anything, it made him sleepier. By the time he got into his pajamas and collapsed into bed, sleep was pulling at him fast.

But before he could fully drift off, there was a soft knock at the door.

His Papa stepped inside, quiet and calm, and sat beside him on the edge of the bed. A gentle hand carded through Minato’s damp hair, just like when he was little.

“You did amazing today, Minato,” Sasuke said, voice low and warm. His smile was soft, but Minato still caught the worry hiding behind it. Minato let out a tired chuckle. “Hisaki told you everything already, didn’t he?”

Sasuke nodded. “Said you were smart. Said you all managed to best him… eventually.”

“He definitely held back a lot,” Minato mumbled, eyes fluttering shut. “But… I can’t imagine a better sensei to have than Hisaki-nii. Well, maybe Chiyo Onee-san.”

Sasuke gave a quiet laugh. “Chiyo’s too strict. You’d cry halfway through day one.”

Minato cracked a sleepy grin. “Maybe…”

There was a short pause before Minato added, “But… won’t being our sensei mess with Hisaki-nii’s job? He worked so hard to become Police Captain. Isn’t this kind of a… downgrade?”

Sasuke was quiet for a long beat, still stroking his hair. Then he hummed. “It’s complicated. His position… isn’t just about the police. I can’t tell you everything, but no—this won’t interfere. Hisaki is a shinobi under Kakashi-sensei first, above anything else. And when Kakashi assigns him somewhere, that’s where he needs to be.”

Minato cracked one eye open. “Didn’t know Hisaki-nii was a simp for Kakashi-jiji.” Sasuke barked a laugh and poked his forehead. “Watch your mouth.” Then he leaned in and pressed a kiss to the same spot. “Rest up, kiddo. You really did great today.”

“’Night, Pa…” Minato murmured, already halfway asleep.

Sasuke stood up quietly, gave one last fond look at his son, and turned off the light.