Kumogakure – The Raikage's War Room
Thunder rolled outside the mountain fortress as Raikage A stood at the center of a dim, stone-walled chamber. Around him, scrolls lay unfurled across a long table, each marked with seals, blood signatures, and cross-country mission data.
Two of his top operatives stood nearby—Dodai, his trusted advisor, and a sensor-nin in black armor named Raiga.
Raikage: (low growl) "Someone in Konoha—or maybe outside of it—has access to the Shikotsumyaku. That's not a coincidence. That's deliberate."
Dodai: "If they've engineered a bloodline hybrid, it could destabilize the entire balance between villages. Especially if the Byakugan is involved."
Raikage: "And Konoha's silence is even more suspicious. No protests, no reports of a kidnapping, no retaliation. Which means one of three things—"
He held up thick fingers as he counted.
Raikage:
"They caught our man and covered it up." "They used him to test something." "They're hiding someone."
Raiga: "You want to send another team in?"
Raikage: "No. No more direct moves. Not yet. We move in the shadows now."
He slammed a marked scroll on the table.
Raikage: "Send three operatives—separate, quiet. Not shinobi. Traders, vendors, pilgrims. No chakra signatures. I want surveillance in Konoha for the next six months. Focus on the Hyuga compound, the Aburame sector, and any strange chakra activity near civilian zones."
Dodai: "Understood. What about the Uchiha?"
Raikage: "If there's a Byakugan-Shikotsumyaku hybrid, it's already dangerous. If the Uchiha get involved, it's a weapon Konoha hasn't even realized it has."
He turned toward the towering window behind him, staring into the storm.
Raikage: "They buried the first man. Let's see if they can bury three."
Konoha Training Grounds – The Week After the Party
The air was warm, the sky cloudless, and the clearing near Training Ground 11 buzzed with the chatter and laughter of fifteen energetic kids.
Naruto sprinted across the field, arms flailing behind him as he shouted:
Naruto: "You're not getting away this time, Karasu!"
Karasu vaulted over a training post with a lazy grin.
Karasu: "You've got the energy of three shinobi, but the stealth of a wounded badger."
From the sidelines, Inohiko was timing Naruto's laps.
Inohiko: "He's getting faster though. Still terrible form—but faster."
Kaito and Kiba were locked in a mock grapple, Tatsumaki circling them like a hungry referee.
Kiba: "Don't let your dog cheat again!"
Kaito (grinning): "He's not cheating. He's... aggressively observing."
Meanwhile, Shino and Kyuta stood shoulder to shoulder near the trees, observing the chaos with calm expressions. Neither had joined the sparring yet.
Shino: "They're growing fast."
Kyuta: "Faster than they realize."
He turned slightly, his tone shifting ever so subtly.
Kyuta (quietly): "Something's off today."
Shino: "Too much noise?"
Kyuta: "Too much quiet. Behind the trees. South side."
Shino's kikaichū buzzed in response, crawling just beneath the surface of his skin.
Shino: "No chakra signature... but movement. Too consistent to be wildlife."
Kyuta's voice lowered.
Kyuta: "Let's not raise alarms. If they're watching us, we let them think we haven't noticed."
Shino nodded.
Shino: "I'll release a few scouts. Small. Unnoticed."
A moment later, a handful of tiny insects lifted into the air, invisible against the golden sunlight.
Elsewhere, Shikajiro was teaching Naruto how to throw kunai with proper form, while Choji and Chosuke debated the merits of barbecued onigiri versus skewered meat buns.
Everything seemed normal.
Too normal.
Same time, in Naruto's apartment:
A gentle knock echoed through the modest home. Kyoi looked up from her quiet evening routine, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear.
Kyoi: "Coming."
She padded over to the door, unlatched it, and opened it to find a familiar face: Shino's mother, standing with her usual calm poise. In her hands was a neatly folded envelope.
Shino's Mom (softly): "We hope you can make it."
She extended the envelope. Kyoi took it slowly, eyes scanning the writing—an invitation, hand-decorated in colored pencil, likely by Inohiko or Shikajiro.
Shino's Mom: "It was the kids' idea. Not ours. So… it should be fine."
Kyoi hesitated.
Kyoi: "None of the other adults will be there?"
Shino's Mom (gently): "No. They planned it themselves. Just them. But you… have to be there."
Kyoi looked down at the invitation, her thumb brushing the edge.
Kyoi: "What about—"
Shino's Mom: "He'd love to see you too."
That landed like a stone in her chest. No names were said. None needed to be.
The silence between them said everything. Two mothers. Two truths. One impossible choice.
Shino's Mom (quietly): "They're stronger than we think. Both of them."
She turned and left without another word, the hallway swallowing her presence. Kyoi stood in the doorway for a long moment, holding the envelope against her chest, listening to the echo of footsteps and memories.
Then she closed the door and sat down, staring at the invitation in her hands.
She would go.
Of course she would.
Even if it broke her all over again.
A Rooftop in Konoha – Kumo Operative's POV
High above the training field, hidden beneath a civilian vendor's shawl and a passive chakra suppression seal, a figure watched through tinted glasses.
The operative—known only as Yora to his handlers—leaned back from the edge of the roof, adjusting the lens of his small monocular.
The children below laughed, tackled, jumped, and sparred. Just a group of overactive, muddy kids. Nothing more.
But Yora wasn't watching them for their strength.
He was watching for patterns.
"Seven of them. Always the same group. Always together. And none of them behave like average five-year-olds."
He scribbled notes on a small notepad with a stylus that left no ink, only chakra impressions visible through specialized lenses.
"Confirmed sightings:
– Aburame sector, Subject KYU (silent; possible kikaichu variant)
– Inuzuka subject: accompanied by a beast (unregistered species)
– Hyuga child: unknown lineage, unusual chakra density during play
– Uchiha variant—Karasu—suspected prodigy status
– Other subjects show signs of enhanced stamina, reflexes"
He looked again through the lens, focusing now on Naruto Uzumaki, who was panting after his fourth failed attempt at hitting the bullseye.
"And the Jinchūriki. No formal training. No clan support. Still competitive."
Yora tilted his head, his trained eyes narrowing.
"The blonde is being drawn into their circle. Intentional or coincidence?"
He made a final note, then whispered into a thread-thin radio seal embedded in his collar.
Yora: "Observation complete. The group is cohesive. Training exceeds average academy level. No adults are present. Surveillance will continue."
A pause. Then a voice replied in a crackling whisper:
Voice: "Maintain cover. Avoid chakra output. Priority targets are the Aburame hybrid and the Hyuga. If either shows unique bloodline use—report immediately."
Yora gave a quiet nod and leaned back into the shadow of the clay chimney.
Down below, Naruto tried again—his kunai sticking just outside the target. The others cheered anyway.
Yora didn't smile.
He watched.
Waited.
Calculated.
"Children," he thought, "should not move like that."
Hokage's Office
The sliding door burst open. Danzō stormed in, his Sharingan eye glinting with accusation.
Danzō: "The Uchiha are recruiting contacts—including the Jinchūriki! You must put a stop to it."
Hiruzen lets him speak without rising from his seat. When Danzō fell silent, the Hokage sighed.
Hiruzen: "The only contacts he's had are with children—and they're from every clan, not just the Uchiha."
Danzō: "They'll use him as a pawn."
Hiruzen: "Not these kids. They're training together, true—but they're bound by friendship, not schemes."
Danzō's mouth thinned. He tilted his head, voice low and dangerous.
Danzō: "Then I want those seven… Root operatives."
Hiruzen's expression hardened.
Hiruzen: "Impossible. They're clan children—registered and protected under village law."
Danzō's glare could have cut steel.
Danzō: "You will regret this."
He swept past Hiruzen and out into the corridor.
Hiruzen (to the closing door): "And you'll learn not to underestimate Konoha's future."
Training Field – Beneath the Surface
The game had shifted from sparring to snacks, the group lounging on grass under the warm sun. Laughter echoed. Naruto was mid-rant about how "this year, for sure," he'd win the Academy obstacle race—even though it hadn't started yet.
Kugi, seated cross-legged near the edge of the shade, didn't laugh. His eyes weren't on Naruto.
He leaned slightly to Kyuta, who was calmly feeding a kikaichu, a crumb of fruit.
Kugi (low): "Third roof, west side. He's still there."
Kyuta (quietly): "I see him. He's not using chakra, but he's not a civilian. Too still. Too deliberate."
The insect buzz under Kyuta's sleeve shifted, agitated.
Kugi: "If we let him report back, this gets worse."
Kyuta didn't nod—he didn't need to.
Kyuta: "We'll need help. Not flashy. Not fast. Just... gone."
They both turned their heads subtly toward Kaito, who was throwing a stick for Tatsumaki. The creature bounded after it—stretching like shadow, then snapping back into shape with its two tails whipping behind.
Kugi: "Think your dog can eat something bigger than a tiger?"
Kaito raised a brow, glancing from them to the rooftops.
Kaito (quietly): "You found one?"
Kyuta: "Most likely Kumo. Embedded. Observing us."
Kaito exhaled through his nose.
Kaito: "Tatsumaki's been hungry anyway."
Tatsumaki stopped mid-bounce, his head swiveling toward the boys. He sniffed the air.
A moment passed.
He started growling in a low deep voice.
Moments Later
Yora was adjusting his scope, switching between chakra filters when a chill ran across the nape of his neck.
Movement.
He twisted—but too late.
A ripple of black slime surged from the edge of the chimney, faster than wind.
Yora reached for a kunai.
Didn't make it.
The last thing he saw was two glowing eyes—one canine, one feline—staring into his soul as the viscous mass swallowed him whole.
No sound.
No mess.
Just wind, and then nothing.
Training Field – Back to Normal
Tatsumaki returned five minutes later, licking his paws. His body had already shifted back into pup form. He sat beside Kaito like nothing had happened.
Kaito (nonchalantly): "It's handled."
Kyuta (nodding): "No trace?"
Kaito: "No shadow. No bones. No chakra."
Kugi smirked faintly.
Kugi: "He's probably just ramen now."
Kyuta looked back at the horizon. The air felt cleaner.
Kyuta (quietly): "One down. But they'll send more."
Kugi: "Let them. We're not done growing yet."
October 10th – Community Hall, Konoha
The hall stood dark and silent as Kyoi led Naruto up the steps, her hand resting lightly on his back. The wide wooden doors loomed ahead, moonlight catching the edges of a colorful banner just barely visible through the cracks.
Naruto: "Are you sure we're in the right place? It looks closed."
Kyoi: (smiling faintly) "Why don't you open the door and find out?"
Naruto stepped forward, hesitated… then pushed.
The moment the doors creaked open—
Everyone: "SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NARUTO!"
Lights flared on, bathing the room in warmth and color. Streamers hung from every corner. A handmade banner stretched across the ceiling beams, and standing below it was every single one of his friends—grinning, waving, calling out his name.
Naruto froze in place.
He blinked.
Then blinked again.
His eyes welled up as he turned toward Kyoi.
Naruto (choked): "You… you planned this?"
Kyoi (shaking her head softly): "No. They told me not to plan anything. Because they already had it covered."
Naruto looked back at the crowd—at Karasu, Kyuta, Shikajiro, Chosuke, Kogi, Inohiko, Kaito, Shino, Kiba, Hinata, even Sakura and Ino waving from the side.
In the center of it all was a cake, five candles flickering.
Karasu (grinning): "Come on, birthday boy—make a wish."
Naruto walked up slowly, wiped his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Naruto: "I don't need a wish. I already got it."
He blew out the candles, and the room erupted into cheers.
Music started playing. Plates clattered. Laughter rang out as the group launched into games and snacks and whatever chaos they could invent.
Near the back of the hall, Kyuta stepped away from the crowd, making his way to the woman standing alone by the snack table.
He stopped beside her—arms folded, tone soft.
Kyuta: "Hey, Mom."
Kyoi's heart skipped a beat.
Kyuta: "I just wanted to say… I understand why you did what you did. I'm not mad."
Kyoi turned to look at him, eyes already watering.
Kyuta: "I hope we can see each other more. That's all."
He glanced toward Naruto, who was mid-laugh with Kaito and Karasu.
Kyuta: "He's a good kid."
With that, he turned and walked away—no drama, no blame, just quiet understanding.
Kyoi stood still for a long moment, her hands tightening around the paper cup she held.
She didn't say anything.
She didn't need to.
Gift Time
When the chaos had settled into a rough circle around the cake, Chosuke rolled out the first box.
Chosuke: "Imported ramen packs! My mom snagged these during a trip to Tea Country. Can't get 'em anywhere in Konoha."
Inohiko: (handing over a box with gold trim) "Special-edition Ichiraku bowl. Teuchi-San said he's naming it the Naruto Birthday Special."
Shikajiro: "Also from Ichiraku. Sealed fresh ramen—just heat it up and it's like Teuchi made it himself".
Karasu: (holding out a wrapped pouch) "You're starting the Academy this year. Figured it was time you had your own kunai and shuriken."
Kyuta: "Sealing scroll. You can hide snacks in it. Or scrolls. Or snacks on scrolls."
Kogi: (dragging in a wrapped log-sized shape) "Custom training dummy. You've got energy. Might as well hit something that won't hit back."
Kaito: (shrugging, holding a squirming bundle) "It's a cat. He likes ramen crumbs. And you."
The cat meowed once and then immediately climbed onto Naruto's shoulder like it owned him.
Naruto looked at the pile of gifts—then at the people around him.
Naruto (softly): "This is… the best birthday ever."
The rest of the night flowed gently. Kids played, jokes flew, and Tatsumaki attempted (unsuccessfully) to eat a decorative paper lantern, resulting in mild panic and major laughter.
As the guests trickled out and the lanterns dimmed, Naruto clutched his gifts and whispered to Kyoi:
Naruto: "Can we do this every year?"
Kyoi (smiling through quiet tears): "Every year."