Ayato woke before dawn, the pale blue light of early morning creeping across the walls of his room. He lay still for a moment, feeling the quiet weight of Haruma's words echo through him: Show them who you are.
He turned to look at his forehead protector resting nearby. Slowly, he reached for it, fingers running over the engraved leaf symbol. Today, it felt heavier — not just a sign of duty, but of choice.
He sat up, dressed carefully, and adjusted the protector in front of the small mirror until it sat just right. Outside, he heard Ren's muffled shouting and Miyo's high-pitched laughter drifting through the hall.
When he stepped into the main room, Sayo turned from the stove. "There he is," she said, a warm smile lighting her face.
Ayato nodded, trying to hide the tightness in his chest. "Yeah… I'm ready."
Ren dashed over, eyes huge. "Are you gonna do super cool ninja stuff today?!"
Miyo nearly ran into his leg. "Do you fight bad guys now?!"
Ayato laughed, ruffling their hair. "No bad guys yet. Just training."
Sayo handed him a rice ball, pressing it into his hand. "Eat on the way if you have to," she said softly.
Daigo looked up from his seat, steady and calm as always. "Make us proud," he said, voice low but firm.
Ayato nodded once more and stepped into the crisp morning air.
---
When he reached Training Field Three, Naruto was already there — pacing, groaning loudly, and holding his stomach.
"Where is he?! I'm starving!" Naruto wailed, throwing himself onto the ground.
Sakura stood off to the side, twisting her fingers together, glancing between the entrance and Sasuke. Sasuke leaned against a post, arms crossed, eyes closed, looking as if he couldn't be bothered with any of it.
Ayato approached quietly. "Morning," he said.
Sakura jumped a little, then managed a shaky smile. "Good morning…"
Naruto sat up abruptly. "Ayato! You didn't eat either, right? He said no breakfast, but I'm dying here!"
Ayato shook his head. "No. We're supposed to listen to him."
Naruto scowled, muttering under his breath. After a few more minutes of grumbling, he glanced around furtively. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small rice ball, half-smashed from being hidden.
Sakura's eyes widened. "Naruto! What are you doing?! You'll get in trouble!"
Naruto glared at her, mouth already opening wide. "I'm not gonna die just because some weirdo said so—"
A hand appeared from behind him, snatching the rice ball just as Naruto's teeth closed around empty air. Naruto froze.
Kakashi stood there, calm as a shadow, eye curving upward in what almost looked like a smile. "Good morning," he drawled.
Naruto yelped, flailing as Kakashi pulled the rice ball away. In one smooth movement, Kakashi tied Naruto to a nearby stump, ignoring his frantic squawking.
"You broke my first rule already," Kakashi said lightly. "You'll stay there for now."
Naruto roared in protest, kicking his feet. Ayato watched quietly, a small pang of sympathy twisting in his chest.
---
Kakashi turned to the others, slipping two small bells onto his belt. "You have until noon to take these bells from me. Fail, and you'll be sent back to the academy."
Sakura's mouth fell open. "But… there's only two!"
Kakashi shrugged lazily. "Life is tough."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, stepping forward slightly. Ayato looked at the bells carefully, then at his teammates. He felt a small knot tighten in his stomach.
"Begin."
---
Sasuke moved first, darting forward in a blur. Kakashi vanished and reappeared behind him in an instant, flicking Sasuke on the forehead and sending him tumbling back.
Sakura hesitated on the edges, trembling, trying to follow Sasuke's movements. Kakashi slipped behind her easily, poking her side, and she crumpled with a squeak.
Ayato crouched low in the grass, scanning. He pulled a smoke bomb from his pouch — conserve chakra first. He rolled it forward, gray haze billowing up around Kakashi.
He slipped through the smoke, eyes locked on Kakashi's outline. Almost...
"Too slow," Kakashi murmured behind him. Ayato twisted, barely avoiding a sweeping kick. He skidded backward, heart pounding.
Enough.
He formed quick seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A large sphere of roaring flame shot forward, bright and fierce. Kakashi's eye widened slightly as he prepared to dodge — but before it reached him, the fireball shifted. The flames liquefied mid-flight, turning into a molten, splashing wave that curved unpredictably toward him.
Kakashi barely flipped aside, landing lightly on a branch. His single visible eye narrowed. I've never seen fire behave like that… not from anyone, let alone a genin…
The molten fire struck the ground where he had stood, sizzling violently. Steam rose in thick white plumes, and the earth hissed and cracked beneath the sudden heat. Small droplets of glowing ember stuck to the grass, burning away patches in irregular, claw-like patterns. Even after the main splash faded, faint orange threads crawled along the ground like living veins of flame, searching for something to cling to.
Kakashi watched it all in silence, mind turning rapidly. What exactly is he…?
Ayato panted, sweat beading on his forehead. It felt so natural… but it took more chakra than I expected.
---
Naruto strained against the ropes, howling. "Ayato! That was amazing! Get him!"
Sakura peeked out from a bush, eyes wide. Sasuke watched from behind a trunk, his glare sharper than before.
Ayato glanced at them. "We can't do it alone," he said quietly. "We need to—"
Sasuke scoffed, slipping away without a word. Sakura didn't move. Naruto struggled against the ropes uselessly.
Ayato let out a small breath. They're not listening…
They tried one last messy rush — each on their own. Kakashi tapped Sasuke aside, flipped Sakura onto her back, and pinned Ayato with a single hand to his chest.
---
When they came to, they were tied up. Naruto was still on the stump, others tied near him.
Kakashi stood in front of them, arms crossed. "You all acted alone. You thought only of your own success — or hesitated until it was too late."
He set three lunches on the ground. "Eat if you want. But if anyone feeds Naruto, you all fail immediately."
Naruto's stomach growled loudly, his head drooping. Ayato looked at the others, then at Naruto.
After a long silence, Ayato sighed, broke off part of his rice ball, and offered it to Naruto.
Naruto's head shot up. "Ayato! You'll get in trouble—"
"It's fine," Ayato said. "You're part of this too."
Sakura trembled, then pushed some of her lunch forward. Sasuke turned away, scowling, but after a moment, shoved his portion toward Naruto without a word.
Kakashi reappeared in a puff of smoke, eye curving into a smile. "Pass."
Naruto gaped. "Huh?!"
Kakashi tilted his head. "Those who break the rules are trash… but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash."
Ayato felt a small warmth in his chest. So this is what it means to be a ninja…
---
That evening, Ayato sat on the porch, hands resting on his knees. Haruma stepped out quietly, lowering himself beside him.
"You used it," Haruma said.
Ayato nodded slowly. "And… I showed them something else too."
Haruma studied him for a moment, then let out a quiet hum of approval. "Good."
Ayato looked up at the moon, steady and bright. Tomorrow… I'll be stronger.