By the time the school year was over, it was no longer a question who the top three would be. Many had hoped to compete for the coveted positions, training harder, staying late after class, and even seeking outside help. But despite their efforts, the gap only grew wider. The trio—Yuki Kazanari, Tokasu Nara, and Sayaka Senju—had ascended beyond the reach of their peers.
With the new jutsu Yuki had learned, he was now quite literally untouchable. His mastery of the Body Flicker alone made him near impossible to land a hit on, and whispers among the instructors suggested he had more up his sleeve than he let on. Nobody in the class could match his speed, precision, or sheer presence in combat. It was no longer just skill—it was inevitability. Yuki wasn't chasing greatness anymore. He was becoming it.
Tokasu, always analytical and controlled, had grown even sharper. His battle style, once predictable at close range, had evolved. Now armed with a short, single-edged sword strapped across his back, he blended Nara clan shadow techniques with precise swordsmanship and clever feints. His former weakness had become a strength—no longer a distant tactician, but a complete fighter who could dominate from any range.
Yet it was Sayaka who showed the most dramatic change.
She had always been formidable, her raw strength earning her the reputation of a one-girl demolition squad. But brute force alone wasn't enough to be the best. Sayaka knew this, and she didn't just aim to match her rivals—she aimed to surpass them. She'd spent the year honing her chakra control, molding her immense power into something refined and devastating. Her healing skills had improved. Her precision with chakra-enhanced strikes had become terrifying. The once wild powerhouse now moved with calculated grace.
Some students whispered rumors behind her back—something about a connection to the legendary Sannin, Tsunade. No one could confirm it, but the improvement in her technique, her sudden medical knowledge, and her unmistakable confidence seemed to give the story weight.
Now, with the final bell of the school year behind them, the classroom sat unusually quiet.
"...with that," the teacher said, closing a scroll on his desk, "the school year has come to an end. Yuki Kazanari, Tokasu Nara, Sayaka Senju—please come to the front."
Sayaka practically leapt out of her seat, her smile as bright as her chakra-infused strikes. There was no hiding her joy; this was what she'd worked for. Tokasu rose next, less explosive but no less pleased. His expression was calm, his arms folded neatly behind his back, but there was the faintest upward tug at the corner of his mouth.
Yuki stood last. Silent, composed. He didn't smile, didn't pump his fist or soak in the stares. He just moved—quietly and confidently—as though this was simply expected. As if the title of top student had always belonged to him.
The teacher smiled. "Congratulations, you three. You've worked hard all year, demonstrating not only your skill but your perseverance and growth. Your place at the top is well-earned."
The classroom buzzed with mixed reactions. Some students sighed, others clapped politely. One boy at the back of the room clenched his fists and looked away, clearly struggling with disappointment. A girl next to him scoffed and muttered under her breath, "Figures… the teachers play favorites anyway."
But not everyone was bitter.
Hideki Hyuga, who had finished fourth in the class—just behind the top trio—stood and offered a genuine round of applause. There was sadness in his eyes, sure, but it didn't dampen the respect he had for his classmates.
"They earned it," he said to no one in particular. "They were on another level this year."
Just then, the door to the classroom slid open with a click.
All conversation stopped.
The students stood, straightening their posture in unison as the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, entered the room. His presence alone commanded silence. Clad in his official robes, the wise old shinobi's sharp eyes swept across the room, taking everything in with the ease of a man who'd seen countless generations come and go.
"Lord Hokage!" the class echoed, bowing respectfully.
He gave a small nod, then looked toward the three students at the front of the room.
"Yuki Kazanari. Tokasu Nara. Sayaka Senju," he said with a faint smile. "Follow me."
The trio obeyed without a word, following the Hokage as he led them out of the classroom and down a quiet corridor, their footsteps muffled against the polished wood floors of the Academy. The rest of the students remained silent until they were gone, watching them leave like they were stepping into another world.
After a short walk, Hiruzen slid open the door to a smaller room—a training hall usually reserved for special lessons and visiting shinobi. Inside, the air felt different. Denser, more serious. The walls were lined with scrolls, maps, and various training tools. A single desk stood near the back, flanked by tatami mats.
"This," Hiruzen said as he entered, "will be your classroom from now on. What lies ahead is not just about jutsu or grades. It is about preparation—for war, for leadership, for decisions that can cost lives."
The three stood at attention.
"You are not ordinary students. You've shown strength, yes, but more importantly, you've shown growth. That is what makes a shinobi truly powerful."
He turned to face them fully, the tone in his voice growing heavier.
"I will personally oversee your development from this point forward. Each week, you will report to me. You will train harder than before, and you will be tested—not just in body, but in mind, in heart, and in purpose."
Sayaka's jaw was set with excitement. Tokasu bowed slightly, his expression unreadable. Yuki simply nodded, his calm gaze meeting the Hokage's without fear.
"Good," Hiruzen said, his voice lowering slightly. "Let us begin."
He walked slowly to the center of the room, the wooden floor creaking under his sandals. Folding his hands behind his back, he glanced at each of them with sharp, assessing eyes.
"As one of the leaders behind the advanced class, I've overseen everything that has happened within the academy—and therefore, everything about you three. I know your strengths. Your weaknesses. Even your ambitions," he said, voice calm but firm.
He paused for effect, letting the words hang in the air.
"But what I want to know now," he continued, "is exactly this: What do you want from me?"
Silence followed.
The question wasn't delivered like a test, but like a mirror—something they had to look into themselves. The three said nothing at first. Even Sayaka, so quick to speak, hesitated. The weight of the Hokage's gaze, of the question itself, was something they hadn't expected.
"I want you to think," Hiruzen said, "not only about what you want to learn, but what you need the most right now. What knowledge or training would shape your future? What lesson would be the most impactful for you?"
Still, silence. None of them answered. Hiruzen gave a slight nod, as if satisfied by their lack of immediate response.
"Good. That's how it should be."
He moved to the front of the room, where a blackboard had been prepared, and began outlining the structure of their month-long course.
"For the next thirty days," he said, writing with swift, precise strokes, "you will train with me—one hour per day, six days a week. These sessions will cover advanced theory, high-level tactics, field leadership, and more. This is not just to make you strong—it's to prepare you for responsibilities most genin won't face for years."
He turned back to them.
"If, after that time, you meet my expectations, you will be granted early graduation from the academy—two full years ahead of schedule. But make no mistake: I will not pass you lightly. This is a trial, not a reward."
His voice softened slightly, but his eyes did not.
"Bring your answers to my question tomorrow. I don't want shallow wishes. I want clarity. Purpose. Something only I can give you."
With that, he dismissed them.
The three bowed in unison, then made their way out of the classroom and into the fading light of early evening. The academy grounds were mostly empty now, the halls quiet save for the sound of distant birds and the wind brushing through the trees.
They walked together down the path, saying nothing at first.
Then Sayaka broke the silence.
"That was... intense," she muttered, shaking her head. "I mean, I knew he'd be serious, but still. The pressure in that room? It was like he could see straight through us."
Tokasu nodded slowly. "He wasn't bluffing either. He already does know us. He didn't ask us what we wanted so he could figure us out. He asked so we could."
"Yeah," Sayaka said, glancing up at the sky. "I was all excited going in, but now I'm just... overwhelmed. One hour and I already feel like I've been training for a week."
"Same," Tokasu agreed. "Did you see how he explained chakra theory like it was nothing? He connected ten different concepts before I could even process one of them."
Yuki remained quiet for a while. The other two looked at him as they walked.
"What about you?" Sayaka asked. "You looked so calm the whole time."
"I'm just thinking," Yuki said finally, "about his question."
"Yeah?" Tokasu raised an eyebrow.
Yuki's eyes stayed on the path ahead. "I don't want to waste the chance. If we only get one month with the Hokage himself, I want to make sure I ask for something attainable."
Sayaka nodded, suddenly more serious. "We've got to take this seriously. This isn't just some extra credit class... it's a chance to change our entire future."
Tokasu sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "We've made it to the top. But now it feels like we're standing at the bottom of something even bigger."
The three stopped at a fork in the road where their paths home split. For a moment, they just stood there, the sunset casting long shadows behind them.
"Same time tomorrow?" Yuki said.
"Yeah," Sayaka replied, smiling again. "Let's bring our answers."
They nodded to each other and went their separate ways, each deep in thought, each holding tight to the question the Hokage had asked.
And as night fell over the Hidden Leaf, three future shinobi walked home—not just students anymore, but chosen disciples of the Third Hokage, standing at the threshold of something greater than themselves.