The next day…
The morning sun slipped past the blinds, casting faint patterns across the room. A soft glow crept over the bed, and Enso shifted beneath the covers. The light wasn't aimed at his face directly, but the growing warmth was enough to stir him. He raised a hand against the heat, squinting as he cracked one eye open, then let out a quiet sigh before sitting up.
Stretching his arms and cracking his neck, he dragged himself to the bathroom. A splash of cold water shocked the sleepiness away, and after brushing his teeth, he took a quick shower. As the steam settled and he wiped the mirror clean, he froze for a moment.
He had grown taller.
His reflection stared back at him—a sharp jawline, golden eyes, and a lean, muscular frame honed from months of intense training. His silver-white hair, wild and slightly messy, reminded him of Gojo Satoru in his younger years.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Enso pulled on his signature outfit—black, loose-fitting pants that gave him more mobility than the standard Shinobi pants, a long-necked short-sleeved black shirt, and a clean white jacket to hide his muscular body frame.
He remembered, with a small chuckle, the time he'd removed that same jacket during a sparring match against Hiruzen. The girls watching had screamed so loudly that the ANBU were forced to erect a soundproof barrier around the training grounds to keep the academy classes from being disrupted. Itachi had teased him for weeks.
Konoha Headband was quickly tied to his left hand above the biceps.
Enso and Itachi had been called to the Hokage's office while the rest of their class continued with their usual lessons.
Inside, the Hiruzen and Danzo stood off to the side, observing the meeting in silence. Their expressions were unreadable, though their presence was a total opposite to one another.
Minato sat at the centre, his arm resting on the desk. When the boys entered, a warm smile tugged at his lips.
"Well," he said lightly, "you two are here early."
He paused for a moment, letting the words settle before continuing, "Congratulations. You've both done exceptionally well. But remember, this is just the beginning. The path of a Shinobi only grows more demanding from here. Now that you're a Genin, your strength will be tested in ways the Academy never could. I trust you'll keep pushing forward."
Both Enso and Itachi bowed respectfully.
Knock-knock.
The door to the room opened, revealing two Jonin escorting four newly-graduated students. Enso recognised the names immediately—Yuki Minazuki and Hayama Shirakumo, both veteran Jonin. They introduced the Genin accompanying them: Tenma Izumo, Shinko Inari, Tokuma Hyuga, and Inari Kaisen.
Minato also introduced Enso and Itachi to the two Jonin and the others before proceeding to announce the team arrangements.
Enso was assigned to Team One—under Hayama Shirakumo—along with Tokuma Hyuga and Inari Kaisen. Meanwhile, Itachi was placed in Team Two, led by Yuki Minazuki, alongside Tenma and Shinko. Too bad the two were not put together in the same team.
The name Tokuma rang a bell. He was a member of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family, rumoured to have one of the sharpest Byakugan among his generation. Enso hadn't spoken to him before, but he remembered his name being brought up by others in his class for a while.
As for Inari Kaisen, Enso had no impression of him. The name sounded vaguely familiar—perhaps an exchange student from another village, or part of an off-branch clan. Minato dismissed them after assigning the two to a newly formed Genin team.
Enso followed his new team out of the building, he found himself quietly relieved. Having a skilled Hyuga on the team meant their tracking abilities were covered.
Their new sensei, Hayama Shirakumo, led them through the streets of Konoha to a quiet dango shop tucked near the edge of the commercial district. The scent of fresh matcha filled the air.
They sat around a small table as Hayama ordered twenty sticks of dango and four cups of matcha tea. When the food arrived, he leaned back, relaxed but observant.
"Let's start with introductions," he said, tone casual but firm.
Inari Kaisen went first. "My name is Inari Kaisen. I'm from the Kedoin Clan… I transferred from the outskirts of the Land of Fire. I like Mochi."
He smiled nervously, scratching the back of his head. His short hair was slightly dishevelled, and his eyes darted from Enso to Tokuma.
Next, Tokuma introduced himself. "I'm Tokuma Hyuga. I come from the Hyuga Main Family. My favourite food is miso ramen."
His voice was calm and precise, reflecting the composure from years of disciplined clan training.
Hayama's gaze shifted to Enso. "Your turn."
"Enso Uzumaki," he said simply. "I specialise in Kenjutsu. That's about it." He paused, then added, "What about you, Sensei?"
Hayama raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting the question. Most Genin didn't bother asking.
"I'm Hayama Shirakumo. I'm specialised in Kenjutsu and tracking," he said. "But we'll talk more about that later. For now, I'll keep it short."
He leaned forward slightly, setting his cup of tea down.
"Tomorrow at 10 a.m., meet me at the Third Training Ground. Survival training. Pass, and you stay. Fail, and I'll send you all back to the Academy."
He smiled, but the long scar running down his cheek made the expression look slightly more menacing than he probably intended.
After they finished their dango, Hayama excused himself, leaving the three Genin alone.
Enso turned to his new teammates. "Alright. I've never worked with you guys before. What are your specialities?"
Kaisen respond first. "I'm more of a mid-range fighter. I can use Genjutsu and wire-based traps. My clan's jutsu revolves around transformation techniques, but I'm still learning it."
Tokuma followed. "Close-range combat, scouting, and surveillance. I can use Byakugan and Gentle Fist."
Enso nodded slowly. "Good. Looks like we've got coverage at every range. I specialise in Kenjutsu and can hold my own with Shuriken too."
He leaned back slightly, folding his arms with a thoughtful look. "We'll meet tomorrow at 8 a.m. Spar a bit, figure out each other's fighting styles, and go over some strategies. Information only takes us so far—nothing beats seeing each other in action. And since we're up against a skilled Jonin, teamwork's going to be the key."
Tokuma nodded in agreement. Having sparred with Jōnin from his clan before, he knew all too well how overwhelming the difference in power could be. Enso's plan made sense.
Their assigned Sensei wasn't just anyone. Hayama Shirakumo was renowned for his Vacuum Blade Technique—sharp, precise, and deadly. Tokuma had heard rumours about him, even from the older clan members who respected his skill."
If anything, their team had been given a serious opponent for the test.
Seeing the two come to an understanding, Inari let out a nervous laugh and nodded. He wasn't sure what to expect from a Jōnin-level fight, but he knew that his father, the head of his clan, was the only one to have ever reached that rank. He couldn't help but feel slightly nervous. Luckily, his teammates were quite reliable.
Everyone at the Academy had heard of the Three Great Dōjutsu, so Enso didn't bother asking Tokuma to explain their abilities in detail. Still, he was curious to find out how far Tokuma could see with his Byakugan.
"Tokuma," Enso asked casually, "how far can you see with your Byakugan? If you don't mind me asking."
Tokuma scratched the back of his head, looking a bit self-conscious. "Quite far. I can see up to two kilometres."
"Wow, that's amazing," Inari said, clearly surprised. "Can every Hyuga see that far?"
"Not really," Tokuma replied. "The Main Family tends to have better range than the Branch Family. Mine just happens to be the best among people my age."
Enso grinned. "So you're the Hyūga genius, huh?"
Tokuma looked away, a little embarrassed.
"Anyway," Enso continued, " I'll see you all tomorrow at the training ground."
Enso orders 10 more Dango Sticks to take away, as Tokuma and Inari leave the Dango Shop. Tomorrow would be their first real test. After parting ways with his new teammates, Enso went to his usual spot for training.
Enso decided to train in a new Ninjutsu—the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique—which allowed him to duplicate the number of Shuriken mid-flight. This would help him better assist his teammate in tomorrow's test. After Tobirama became the Second Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi mentored his father, granting him access to Hiruzen's original techniques. The Jutsu was naturally passed down through his father's memories.
While Enso could easily master it, he still practised several times to become fully accustomed to the technique. He also experimented with a few techniques inspired by Itachi Uchiha, namely the tricky angled Shuriken throw and direction adjustments using two Shuriken.
Enso headed home after training for a nice shower, before heading to the Shinobi district. The walk was peaceful, yet his thoughts buzzed with excitement. Becoming a Genin wasn't just about recognition or status—it also meant he could finally visit the Konoha Shinobi Warehouse on his own.
In the past, Minato had always provided the essentials—Shuriken and kunai, but Enso had always felt a little guilty about it. As grateful as he was, he didn't want to rely on his Sensei for something as simple as tools.
The Shinobi Warehouse stood tall and orderly near the heart of the village. A wide, engraved sign above the entrance bore the village's symbol. To civilians, it was just another district—but to Shinobi, it was their lifeline for supply and equipment replacements.
As Enso stepped inside, the scent of polished metal and oiled leather filled the air. Rows of shelves stretched out in every direction, packed with tools, weapons, scrolls, and gear. From deeper within, a soft murmur of voices echoed—Shinobi browsing or discussing equipment with the staff.
He strolled casually through the aisles, nodding politely to a few passing Shinobi. Most were older—Chūnin or Jōnin—and they returned his gesture in kind. He smiled in return, trying not to look too much like an excited kid.
Enso started in the clothing section. Something was refreshing about picking out gear for himself, not based on practicality alone but with a bit of personal style mixed in. He selected two pairs of baggy pants—one black, one white—and two jackets of the same contrasting design. They were simple but well-made, with reinforced seams and discreet pockets for carrying tools.
Next came the hoodies: blue, black, and white. Soft and breathable, they were perfect for a morning run. He also picked up two sleeveless shirts and two long-sleeved ones in black and white. Everything was functional but comfortable, built for movement and flexibility. The fabric was surprisingly light and yet durable. When he reached the register, he was pleasantly surprised to receive a 30% discount—an exclusive benefit for Leaf Genin on their first purchase.
After neatly packing his clothes into a scroll pouch, Enso made his way to the weapons section.
This part of the warehouse had a different feel. The lighting was brighter here, the shelves carefully labelled and arranged by weapon type. Blades lined the walls, from standard Kunai and Shuriken to more exotic tools like wire strings, explosive tags, and even a crossbow.
He approached the counter where a middle-aged shopkeeper stood organising scrolls.
"Excuse me," Enso said. "Do you have any chakra conductive weapons?"
The man looked up and gave a thoughtful nod. "We do, but nothing beyond standard issue. Anbu-grade at best. Anything more specialised usually needs to be custom ordered."
Enso nodded, a little disappointed but not surprised. "What about double-edged swords?"
The shopkeeper shook his head. "Rare around here. You'd probably have to commission a blade like that."
Enso frowned slightly. He had a clear image in mind of what he wanted, but maybe that would have to wait.
For now, he browsed through what was available and gathered what he could: two sets of Senbon, fifty nail Shuriken, wire string and ten kunai. Enso pick those Kunai one by one, making sure that it well balanced, which translates to longer use.
What caught his attention next was six Wakizashi blades resting on the bottom shelf.
"Those blades seem a bit different," Enso said, pointing toward them.
The shopkeeper looked over and chuckled. "Ah, those. They've been sitting there for more than ten years. Most Leaf Shinobi go for full-length katanas or the shorter Tanto blade. Wakizashi kind of fell through the cracks. But they're a fine blades—Land of Iron steel. Excellent craftsmanship. It's also conduct Chakra, a true weapon for Samurai."
"How much is it?"
The man hesitated, then smiled. "Tell you what, if you're taking all of them, I'll give you 50% off. It's been collecting dust for too long."
Enso unsheathed the sword and tried to channel his chakra through it, then swung it with full force a few times. He gradually increased his strength, testing whether the blade could withstand his full power. He was ready to compensate the shopkeeper if it broke, but he was surprised to find that the blades endured his strength without cracking.
Enso grinned. "Deal."
He liked the overall balance of the Wakizashi—not too long, not too short. Just right for his style of movement. More importantly, they were easier to carry than a full-length katana. Enso wasn't trying to impress anyone; he wanted what worked. The blades suited his high-speed movement perfectly.
"Who crafted these weapons?" Enso asked, unable to hide his curiosity.
The shopkeeper smiled faintly. "An underground bladesmith from the Land of Iron," he said. "His work is outstanding, but because of a crime he committed years ago, he's not allowed to run a legal business within the city."
"He can't use his name to run a business anymore," the shopkeeper added, his tone dropping slightly. "Normally, a smith would engrave their name onto the tang of the blade, but these three Wakizashi don't have any markings."
With practised hands, he carefully removed the handle from one of the swords, revealing the bare tang beneath. "See? Completely clean. No signature, no stamp—nothing."
After the shopkeeper finished calculating everything, Enso counted out the total and paid. His earlier questions hadn't been out of idle curiosity; he wanted to know if there was a way to replace his weapons if they broke in combat. From the shopkeeper's tone, it sounded like the blacksmith who forged them was still active. That was a relief—knowing he could order replacements if needed.
He even threw in a sturdy black belt—broad enough to hold multiple weapon pouches along the sides and designed to carry the sword across the lower back, the old-school Shinobi way. On top of that, he handed Enso a membership card for future discounts.
"All right," the man said, sealing everything into a summoning scroll with practised hands.
Enso accepted the scroll with both hands, bowing slightly. "Thanks."
"Good luck out there, kid. You've got good taste in blades."
As he stepped back out into the fading light of the village, Enso took a deep breath.
Tomorrow, his training would continue. Enso quickly went to Kushina's home for dinner.