The wind was gentle on the Hokage Monument that morning, brushing across the carved faces of the leaders who once protected the village.
Ryo sat at the edge, legs dangling, the mark on his wrist glowing faintly as the sun warmed his skin. For the first time, he didn't feel like an outsider looking up at these faces.
He felt connected.
Behind him, Boruto flopped onto the stone, arms behind his head. "Man, I still can't believe we took down an Otsutsuki. Think Dad will let me skip training today?"
Sarada shot him a sharp look, arms crossed. "As if. We need to report everything to the Seventh. And your injuries still need checking."
Boruto groaned, turning his head toward Ryo. "She's scary when she gets like this, huh?"
Ryo smiled softly, watching the morning clouds drift over the village he swore to protect.
"Thank you… both of you," he said quietly.
Sarada's expression softened. She adjusted her glasses before sitting beside him. "You're part of this team, Ryo. You protected us, too."
Boruto sat up, a grin breaking across his face. "Yeah! Next time, let's show the old man how we protect Konoha."
Ryo's hand tightened around the kunai at his side, the warmth from the mark pulsing like a heartbeat. "Yeah… Next time."
As they stood, the breeze picked up, carrying the scent of the village below—smoke from the food stalls, the rustle of leaves, laughter of children heading to the academy.
Boruto stretched, cracking his neck. "So what do you think, future Hokage?" he teased, nudging Sarada.
Sarada smirked. "I think… there's still much to learn before we reach that day."
Boruto glanced at Ryo. "And you? What's your dream, huh?"
Ryo looked out over Konoha, the sunrise painting the roofs in gold.
"I don't know yet," he admitted honestly, the breeze tugging at his hair, "but whatever it is… I want to protect this place. And you guys."
Boruto's grin widened, and he threw an arm around Ryo's shoulders. "That's a pretty good dream, if you ask me."
Sarada rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her small smile as she adjusted her hitai-ate. "Come on. Let's go home."
Together, under the rising sun, they walked down from the Hokage Monument, the Will of Fire alive in their hearts, ready for whatever tomorrow would bring.
Because the Will of Fire would never die—and neither would their promise to protect each other.
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✨ Hokage World: Shadows Beyond the Leaf - End of Arc 1 ✨