The morning light spilled through the window of the small guest room Ryo had been given. He blinked awake, the smell of wood and clean air greeting him. For the first time since he arrived in this world, he'd slept in an actual bed, not that it made things any less strange.
His eyes landed on the folded Leaf Village clothes at the edge of the table. A note was pinned on top, written in quick, messy handwriting.
"Meet Team 7 at Training Ground Three before 8. Don't be late. – Sarada"
Ryo rubbed his eyes and exhaled. "Great, I'm already being bossed around by an Uchiha."
He changed into the standard outfit they'd provided, a dark undershirt, light flak jacket, and shinobi sandals. It felt weirdly natural, though he wasn't sure if that was comforting or not. When he caught his reflection in the mirror, he almost laughed.
"Guess I really look like I belong here now," he muttered.
After a quick breakfast provided by a kindly old lady at the inn, he followed the map someone had drawn for him. The village was lively even in the early morning. Shopkeepers were setting up stands, and groups of genin were already training in the distance. The familiar faces he spotted here and there made his brain spin, this was the real Konoha, not just some page from a manga.
By the time he reached the training grounds, the sun was higher. A large field opened before him, surrounded by trees and marked with worn wooden posts. Three figures stood there already.
Sarada was stretching her arms, wearing her usual red battle outfit. Mitsuki stood quietly beside her, calm as always, and Boruto was sitting on a rock, yawning like he hadn't slept at all.
Sarada turned first when she noticed him. "You're on time. Good."
Ryo waved awkwardly. "Uh, morning."
Boruto looked him over and frowned. "So this is the guy Naruto-sensei told us about? The one with the weird story?"
"Yeah," Ryo said, scratching his head. "I guess that's me."
Boruto grinned. "Man, I was hoping for something cooler. Like an alien or a secret weapon or something."
Mitsuki tilted his head slightly. "Technically, he might still be both."
Ryo stared at him. "You're... joking, right?"
Mitsuki smiled faintly. "Maybe."
Sarada clapped her hands once. "Alright, enough. Naruto-sama said we're to keep an eye on him, so that's what we'll do. But since he's here, he's joining training."
Ryo blinked. "Training? Wait, I'm not "
Before he could finish, Boruto tossed him a practice kunai. "Catch!"
Ryo barely managed to grab it, fumbling with both hands. "Hey, warn me next time!"
Boruto laughed. "You'll need faster reflexes than that if you want to survive here."
Sarada sighed. "Boruto, stop teasing him."
"Come on, it's just a warm-up!" Boruto said, already drawing his own kunai. "Let's see what the new guy's got."
Ryo held up his hands. "I literally just got here!"
But Boruto didn't wait. In a blink, he rushed forward, his movements a blur. Ryo barely had time to react before the younger ninja swung low. Pure instinct made him duck, the kunai slicing the air above his head.
Boruto grinned. "Not bad for a beginner!"
Ryo stumbled backward, heart pounding. His hands were shaking, but somehow, he had dodged it. He didn't know how.
A pulse ran through his wrist again, that faint, shifting mark glowing softly. For a brief second, the world around him seemed slower. He could see Boruto's second strike coming before it happened.
Without thinking, he stepped aside. The kunai missed again.
Boruto stopped, blinking. "Huh?"
Sarada narrowed her eyes. "Did you see that?"
Ryo looked down at his wrist. The glow faded just as fast as it came. "I... I don't know what that was."
Boruto smirked. "Guess the weird guy's got some moves after all."
"Enough," Sarada said firmly. "We're supposed to observe him, not knock him out on his first day."
Boruto shrugged. "Fine, fine. You're no fun."
Mitsuki stepped closer to Ryo. "That reaction just now, your body responded faster than normal human limits. That's not ordinary chakra control."
Ryo rubbed his wrist. "It just... happened."
Sarada crossed her arms. "We'll report it to the Hokage later. For now, you're training with us. We'll see what else you can do."
Ryo sighed. "Right... training. Because dodging death once isn't enough."
Boruto grinned. "Welcome to Team 7."
Ryo couldn't tell if he was being welcomed or warned.
---
The next hour felt like survival training disguised as teamwork. Boruto made it his personal mission to test Ryo's limits, throwing kunai and using shadow clones whenever he got bored. Sarada kept score on a small notepad, occasionally scolding both of them for sloppiness. Mitsuki observed quietly, giving small comments that were somehow both polite and unsettling.
By the time Naruto arrived, Ryo was lying flat on the grass, gasping for air.
The Hokage's voice came from behind the group. "Looks like someone's having fun without me."
Boruto froze mid-throw. "Dad! You're early!"
Naruto smiled, his hands in his pockets. "I said I'd check in, didn't I? So, how's our new guest doing?"
Sarada nodded toward Ryo. "He's... surviving."
Ryo sat up, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Barely."
Naruto chuckled. "Good. A ninja needs to know how to survive first." He crouched down beside Ryo, his expression soft but curious. "So, Ryo Kazehara... how does it feel training in Konoha?"
Ryo stared at him, still a little in disbelief that Naruto Uzumaki, the real Hokage, was talking to him. "Honestly? Unreal. I mean, I'm just a normal guy. I shouldn't even be here."
Naruto's smile faded a little. "Maybe. But sometimes, people end up where they're needed most."
Ryo frowned. "You think I'm supposed to be here?"
"Not sure yet," Naruto said. "But you've got something inside you, don't you? That mark on your wrist."
Ryo hesitated. "You noticed that?"
"Hard not to. Your chakra spiked during training. It's unusual." Naruto stood and gestured toward the open field. "Show me."
Ryo's stomach dropped. "Wait, what? You want me to"
Boruto smirked. "Guess the Hokage's serious now."
Sarada stepped back. "Let's see what happens."
Naruto gave an encouraging nod. "Relax, kid. Don't think too much. Just focus and let your chakra flow."
Ryo closed his eyes and took a slow breath. He had no idea what he was doing, but he focused on the warmth in his wrist. The mark pulsed again, faint light tracing along his arm. For a moment, everything around him grew sharper, the sound of leaves rustling, the hum of energy in the air, the steady beat of his own heart.
Then, a gust of wind burst outward from his body, scattering dust and leaves across the field.
Mitsuki blinked. "That... wasn't normal wind chakra."
Naruto's expression turned serious. "No, it wasn't."
Ryo opened his eyes, startled. "What just happened?"
Boruto whistled. "That was actually kinda cool."
Sarada frowned. "But that energy didn't feel like chakra. It was... something else."
Naruto looked thoughtful. "You're right. It felt raw, unrefined. Almost like nature reacting on its own."
Ryo stared at his glowing wrist, panic slowly rising. "I don't understand. I didn't mean to do that."
Naruto crouched again, resting a hand on Ryo's shoulder. "It's fine. You're not in trouble. But whatever that power is, it's connected to why you're here."
"So... you believe me? About where I came from?"
Naruto smiled faintly. "Let's just say I've seen stranger things."
Boruto snorted. "Yeah, like aliens and time travelers."
Sarada sighed. "Don't remind us."
Naruto straightened up. "Alright, training's over for today. I'll have Yamato and Sai run some tests later to check that energy. For now, rest up."
Ryo stood slowly, still shaken. "Thanks, Hokage-sama."
Naruto turned to leave but paused. "And Ryo... don't be afraid of your power. Sometimes, the strangest gifts end up saving the world."
Ryo didn't know how to respond to that. He just nodded.
As Team 7 started packing up, Boruto slung an arm around him. "Guess you're officially part of our team now, huh?"
Ryo forced a laugh. "If I survive another session like that, sure."
Sarada smirked. "Don't get too comfortable. Tomorrow's endurance drills."
Ryo groaned. "You're kidding, right?"
Mitsuki smiled faintly. "She's not."
Boruto laughed out loud. "Welcome to Team 7, bro. No backing out now."
Ryo sighed and looked toward the Hokage's office in the distance. He still didn't understand this world, or the power pulsing beneath his skin. But as he watched the sunset over Konoha's rooftops, one thing was certain, his story here had just begun.
---