The Academy days leading up to graduation always carried a special sort of tension—
the kind that buzzed under the skin, made teachers impatient, and turned even the quietest kids into powder kegs.
But for Ethan?
It was the first time the Naruto Node actually felt… alive.
Not dangerous.
Not chaotic.
Not apocalyptic.
Just alive.
---
I. Morning Routine — Three Idiots and a Calm One
Naruto burst through the Academy gate like he was late for a war.
"I'M GONNA PASS THE EXAM AND BECOME HOKAGE!" he yelled at absolutely no one.
Half the class groaned.
Sasuke walked behind him, pace measured, expression unimpressed.
"Do you have to announce your life goals every morning?" Sasuke muttered.
"Yes," Naruto said instantly.
"Otherwise people forget!"
Ethan followed the two quietly, hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded.
Ano, he thought, people will never forget you, Naruto.
Not in any universe.
Iruka saw them approaching and sighed in that long-suffering way of his.
"Good, you three are actually on time today," Iruka said, though he eyed Naruto suspiciously. "Naruto… did you run through the market again?"
Naruto froze.
"…Maybe?"
"Which stalls?"
"…All of them?"
Ethan coughed into his sleeve to hide a laugh.
---
II. Training Yard — Class Dynamics Shift
The moment they stepped outside for morning drills, the class split into its usual groups:
• The "Hinata stays near the fence" group
• The "Shikamaru naps until forced to participate" group
• The "Kiba vs. anyone willing to wrestle" group
• The "Sakura and Ino compete over Sasuke" group
• And the small, drifting orbit around Ethan, Naruto, and Sasuke
Something had changed since Ethan bonded with the two.
They didn't know the details, but they felt it.
Naruto was a little more focused.
Sasuke a little less alone.
Ethan a little more… present.
Which meant something else:
The other kids were starting to mirror it.
Shikamaru actually stood when Iruka called for sparring pairs.
Kiba didn't pick a fight instantly.
Sakura didn't yell when Naruto breathed in her direction.
Even Choji seemed less nervous around people.
Iruka blew his whistle.
"Pair up!"
Naruto immediately pointed at Sasuke.
"SASUKE! LET'S FIGHT!"
"No."
"What?! WHY NOT?!"
"Because you don't listen," Sasuke said.
"I LISTEN PERFECTLY!"
Iruka raised his hand. "Ethan, you pair with Naruto today. Sasuke, your partner is… Kiba."
Kiba cracked his knuckles.
Sasuke did not look impressed.
Naruto fist-pumped.
"ALRIGHT, ETHAN, LET'S G—"
Ethan held up a hand.
"You rush in every time."
Naruto puffed up indignantly.
"That's because rushing in WORKS!"
Ethan shook his head.
"Not without control."
Naruto deflated a little.
"…Okay, fine, teach me."
That was the biggest difference.
Naruto was starting to ask instead of assume.
---
III. Ethan's Instruction — Control Before Power
Ethan formed a single seal, nothing advanced, just a focusing pattern.
"Chakra first," he said.
"Always chakra first."
Naruto nodded, jaw set.
Ethan placed his hand on Naruto's diaphragm—lightly, like a coach guiding posture.
"Breathe.
Slow in.
Slow out."
Naruto did.
And his chakra steadied like a flame cupped in hands.
Ethan smiled.
"Good. Now again."
Across the yard, Iruka watched the scene and blinked.
Since when did Naruto listen this well?
Since when was Sasuke not picking a fight?
Since when did Ethan—quiet, polite, seemingly average Ethan—have this much influence?
Iruka rubbed his temples.
Something was happening with these three boys.
He didn't understand it.
But he couldn't deny the results.
---
IV. Lunch — The Growing Trio
Lunch break turned into an unofficial meeting spot beneath a wide tree at the edge of the yard.
Naruto sprawled on the grass.
Sasuke leaned against the trunk.
Ethan sat between them, reading a small Academy text.
Naruto described a dream involving ramen, fireworks, and becoming Hokage "before lunch."
Sasuke grumbled but listened.
"Hey," Naruto said suddenly, "when we graduate… do you guys wanna be on the same team?"
Sasuke snorted.
"That's not how assignment works."
"I know that!" Naruto said (he did not know that). "But like—if we COULD choose. Ethan, you wanna be with us, right?"
Ethan closed the book slowly.
"…Yes," he said.
Naruto lit up.
Sasuke pretended not to react—but his shoulders eased a little.
---
V. Afternoon Lecture — Everyone Has A Question
The Academy classroom buzzed as Iruka began the pre-exam review.
Transformation jutsu.
Clone jutsu.
Basic weapon familiarity.
Chakra flow stability.
Academy taijutsu form.
Normally half the class would be nodding off by now…but today?
Hands kept going up.
Even Sasuke's.
Even Shikamaru's.
Even Hinata's (quietly).
Iruka blinked three times in confusion.
"What… what is happening today?"
Ethan sat with his notebook open, taking careful notes—
not because he needed them.
But because the act of learning kept him grounded in the timeline.
Naruto nudged him.
"Hey… Ethan," he whispered. "Do you think I'll pass this time?"
Ethan turned, eyes soft.
"You will," he said. "And you won't be alone when you do."
Naruto swallowed hard
then nodded fiercely.
"Yeah! YEAH I WILL!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes—but his lips twitched the tiniest bit.
---
VI. After Class — A Promise for the Exam
The three boys walked home together, a habit that became natural over the past weeks.
At the final crossroads, Naruto stopped.
"…Tomorrow's the last week before the exam," he said quietly.
Ethan nodded.
Sasuke did too.
"Let's all pass," Naruto said.
"Together."
Sasuke looked away, expression unreadable.
Ethan simply said:
"We will."
Naruto grinned.
"Then it's a promise!"
And with that, he ran down his road, shouting loud enough to scare pigeons off rooftops.
Sasuke started down his own path.
Ethan watched him go.
The Uchiha paused.
"…I meant what I said before," Sasuke murmured without turning around.
"No holding back. No interfering. Let me grow on my own."
Ethan nodded.
"I will strengthen you," he said quietly. "Not lead you."
Sasuke's hand tightened at his side.
"…Good."
He walked away.
Ethan stood alone in the road, the twilight warm on his skin.
Two bonds.
Two futures intertwined with his.
And the Academy Exam just ahead.
The Naruto Node was beginning to accelerate.
And Ethan could feel it—
Things were about to change.