Konoha, the Mitarashi residence.
The courtyard had already gone through a full expansion and renovation.
The house had even been relocated to the residential district at the very center of Konoha.
There was no helping it—more and more people had moved in, so expansion was inevitable.
Anko was the last remaining mber of the Mitarashi family and Hakken’s older sister, making her the rightful mistress of the ho.
As for Kurenai Yūhi, for certain reasons, she had moved in a few years earlier to live with her best friend.
Her official excuse had been to keep Anko company so she wouldn’t feel lonely.
But as the mistress of the house, Anko saw straight through her little sche.
Well… Anko knew exactly who her “best friend” was actually here for.
Aside from Kurenai and Anko, the first-generation maid Yugito Nii had been enjoying life quite a bit lately. At least she was no longer the only maid and now even commanded a powerful subordinate—Konan! With General Konan at her side, she could crush that jerk any day!
Ahem. Not that she was exaggerating—she had once squatted by the door, peeking inside, and had seen everything clearly.
And she knew so secrets that even Anko and Kurenai didn’t.
Secrets shared only between a maid and her master.
So sotis she would secretly ask Konan strange questions.
Like… subtle sensations she might feel.
Or how her body responded.
Or why her clothes ended up torn to pieces.
And how exactly was Konan supposed to answer those?
After accepting her role, Yugito originally planned to slack off. But after getting close to the other won, she realized Konoha wasn’t as terrible as she had imagined.
The warm, happy smiles of people in the village were incredibly close to the peace she once dread of.
Wasn’t this the life she wanted?
If it were that man, maybe… he really could bring peace to the world.
Too bad Nagato and Yahiko would never get to see that day.
She’d thought that without that infuriating man around, her mood would gradually improve.
But as though she’d gotten used to being bullied, his image would sotis surface during her lonely nights. She didn’t know why.
She felt lost.
Besides the maids and the pair of best friends, the newly expanded Mitarashi household had one more resident:
Uzuki Yugao.
Officially, the girlfriend of Konoha’s Kenpachi.
Originally, she only ca by daily to help tidy Hakken’s room. But after staying just one night, she found she couldn’t bring herself to leave… so she moved in as well.
Her arrival caused a chain reaction—Tsunade soon joined them too. Under the pretense of protecting her disciple from “danger,” she conveniently stayed over while teaching her the Yin Seal.
Yugao, of course, knew exactly what Tsunade was really thinking.
The Senju compound was full of sorrow. An empty courtyard, all alone, would only bring back painful mories.
And so, for all of these reasons, the Mitarashi household had grown very lively.
Kurenai and Anko, two maids, Tsunade and her apprentice—
Six girls altogether, creating quite the spirited atmosphere.
And Hakken Yoru was the only man.
So when he stepped into the courtyard, he froze.
The other five girls were understandable, but even Tsunade had moved in… wasn’t that excuse a bit too flimsy?
Raising an eyebrow, he barely had ti to react before Anko dashed forward and threw herself at him.
His well-proportioned older sister had developed impressively over the years. Though her weight had gone up quite a bit, all the extra softness had gone to exactly the right places.
For example, Anko’s “Anko” had clearly surpassed her best friend’s, though it still fell short compared to Tsunade’s.
“You really need to lose so weight, sis.”
Hakken pinched her cheek helplessly.
Her weight was still manageable for now, but at this rate, he worried her refined features might eventually get buried.
“Don’t care. You handle it later.”
Anko rolled her eyes.
There were plenty of ways to lose weight.
But when Hakken glanced at Konan in the distance—her cheeks faintly flushed—an idea suddenly ford in his mind.
During those days when he forced Konan to “stay calm,” she seed to have lost quite a bit of weight.
Of course she had—scream-inducing high-intensity training burned an absurd number of calories.
I’ll try it later.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, the conclusion clear.
Lying back in his familiar reclining chair, the two maids took their positions—one standing at his left with a fan, the other at his right offering sweet fruit.
This sumr was destined to be scorching…
Yet filled with refreshing coolness.
…
“Why is the atmosphere of the world you govern completely different from the one I once ruled?”
As they returned ho from outside the village, the scenery along the path flowed into Kaguya’s mind through Hakken’s eyes.
Indeed.
Even a thousand years ago, when Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was revered as the Rabbit Goddess, people only displayed peace on the surface.
Behind the scenes, whispers of discord never truly ceased.
The warmth she sensed from these people now left her confused.
Why had she never received anything like this before?
After becoming the Rabbit Goddess, all she ever felt from others was fear—nothing like this gentle closeness.
“The reason is simple. Part of it is that your thod was too rough,” Hakken said calmly.
“The other part is that you never truly saw yourself as soone who belonged to this world.”
“Strength reaches its greatest potential when you wield it yourself, yes. But don’t overlook the people beside you—they’re just as remarkable.”
“If there’s one key difference between you and …”
“…it’s that even if both of us succeed, even if we’re crowned at the top, you’ll be standing alone.”
“But when I stand at the summit, I won’t be alone. Not even close.”
Just a few words were enough to lay bare Hakken’s heart.
His change in mindset hadn’t happened overnight. Bit by bit, he’d learned to integrate into this world, to help Konoha revive from what once seed hopeless.
From having no particular fondness for this village…
…to feeling the warmth of Minato’s protection.
What he gained wasn’t just power.
The people who trusted him mattered just as much.
The worlds of ani and manga are simple—express your emotions sincerely, and it’s enough.
Is that the difference?
Kaguya fell silent.
Learn to trust others?
That was sothing she had never truly done.
My lord… perhaps I have never fully understood you. Even after those years we spent together absorbing the Golden Wheel Tenseigan, even during our journey through Anominaka—the world I once created with the God Tree’s power…
Even after so long, every part of him still drew her in, still made her want to understand him more.
Perhaps in a thousand years, the one correct decision she had made was becoming his perfect wedge.
My lord is nothing like .
He gained overwhelming power, yet his heart never changed.
Unshakable, as always.
She closed her eyes, letting the warm sunlight and the passing breeze wash over her senses.
A faint smile curved Hakken’s lips.
He had once said: a few confidants, a few beloved companions—that was enough.
A carefree life, enjoying battles and the peace that followed.
That was the life he wanted.
…
“Hey, Sasuke.”
“Nīsan’s back.”
In the elite class of the Ninja Academy, where graduation was just around the corner, Iruka stood at the front, explaining new rules for the final exam.
Below, Naruto—seated beside Sasuke—suddenly whispered.
“We can’t go yet.”
Sasuke shook his head.
These two destined rivals had, because of Hakken, forged an even deeper bond.
Rivals.
Friends.
Motivation for each other—a target to surpass.
Now that Hakken had returned, a simple glance at the village gates wasn’t enough.
After so many years, it was only natural Naruto missed his brother.
Every ti Itachi ca to pick Sasuke up, Naruto’s “disdainful” look always carried a hint of envy.
Hmph. Well, now my brother’s back.
Try bragging to about how great your brother is.
And your brother can’t beat my brother.
Naruto grinned smugly.
But what did Sasuke an by “we can’t go”?
“When I ca back earlier, Nīsan said that for the next few days, Sensei will be at ho with his family. I don’t know the details, but Sensei’s house is full of girls. It’d be inappropriate for us to visit.”
Sasuke pulled out a copy of Icha Icha Paradise, glanced at it, and calmly analyzed the situation.
It was the uncensored version—a gift from his master after he beca his disciple.
Rumor said the treasure had been passed down from Jiraiya, one of the Sannin.
As a kid, he couldn’t understand it. But after experiencing the pain of being yanked off the toilet by Naruto one day, clarity had arrived.
“And there’s one more thing.”
Sasuke inhaled deeply, eyes glinting as he pointed to the lectern. “Don’t you think showing Sensei how much we’ve grown is the best way to greet him?”
Graduation season.
Becoming official ninja.
Naruto’s eyes widened in realization.
Right.
Seeing his little brother’s growth—of course that would make his brother happy.
These two energetic brats…
Iruka smiled from the front of the room.
Once soone set their sights on a goal, they would charge forward fearlessly.
Though these two were considered prodigies, ever since the Ninja Academy reford its graduation system…
…the difficulty had increased several tis over!
Whether a student could graduate—no one could say for certain.
Yes.
The graduation system had been completely reinvented.
Before, mastering the Three Basic Techniques was enough to pass the exam.
…
But that's no longer the case.
As a ninja—even a genin, the mont you leave the Academy, you represent Konoha. A genin should possess combat prowess befitting a genin. Therefore, the way the academy trains its students has changed. Psychological resilience, physical conditioning, ninjutsu aptitude, chakra reserves, theoretical knowledge—all must et standards for successful graduation!
The next generation is the vital seedling destined to succeed Konoha’s elder ninjas in protecting the village. There can be no negligence. Rumor has it the driving force behind this educational reform is that enigmatic figure, Konoha’s Kenpachi. Before he departed the village, this entire system had already begun implentation.
Iruka had initially opposed it. After all, children are children. If the curriculum beca too rigorous, the excessive burden could hinder their growth. Yet, years later, this system earned his profound respect. Especially when those genin who had left the Ninja Academy returned, having faced dangers in the outside world, they expressed deep gratitude for the education they received at the academy. This showed Iruka a new way forward.
“Alright, the graduation exams are in two days. Good luck to everyone.”
After explaining all the necessary procedures for the exam, Iruka smiled at his students. This class was the most outstanding group he had ever taught. As graduation approached, he felt a pang of reluctance. As their ntor, witnessing their growth was the greatest comfort.
“Iruka-sensei!”
“Thank you for everything!”
Just as Iruka was about to find a quiet spot to reflect, the entire elite class stood up in unison and bowed deeply to him. This unexpected turn of events caught him completely off guard.
“You…”
Iruka’s eyes welled up as he clenched his fists.
“You’ve grown up!”
Below, Sasuke and Naruto exchanged a glance. The plan to thank their sensei for his hard work had originally been Naruto’s idea. This stemd from the excellent upbringing instilled by Minato Namikaze. Respect for teachers and the way! Good family education fosters outstanding individuals.
In the original story, Naruto’s mischievous behavior was rely a way to seek attention. But this ti, having parents, he received proper guidance. He’d inherited that sunny disposition perfectly. This transformation had even influenced Sasuke.
“My foolish little brother, everything you see in Konoha is thanks to Ken-san. Even your older brother can only watch his back from behind. Including the Uchiha Clan, including you—Master Ken-san gave everything to Konoha without expecting anything in return. Rember, being Ken-san’s disciple is the greatest honor you’ll ever have in this lifeti.”
These were words Itachi often repeated. Young Sasuke didn’t understand them then, but after seeing Konoha’s developntal history at the Ninja Academy, he ford his own thoughts. Without a doubt, Konoha’s Kenpachi transcended the greatness of any previous Hokage.
...
Graduation season had officially arrived.
Three days later, on the vast grounds of the Konoha Ninja Academy, the new batch of students awaiting their assessnts were itching to get started.
“Hearing from seniors who failed to graduate last year, the Lord Third overseeing the exams is said to be incredibly strict.”
“Sigh, I wonder if I'll even pass.”
“Well, it's the Third Hokage-sama—strictness is to be expected. But seniors who smoothly graduated 3.0 also said that if you can't even pass the exams, you'll likely die on missions out in the field.”
Around the field, students whispered and debated. But when The Third Hiruzen Sarutobi shuffled over, his aged fra swaying, the chatter died completely.
Retiring? Not exactly. Hiruzen enjoyed watching Konoha’s new generation grow. The youthful energy of the children made him forget his own age. And the feeling of contributing to Konoha reminded him he was still alive.
Standing in the center, Sarutobi shook his large tobacco pipe with a touch of lancholy. Sadly, today he was destined to rely watch.
“Ahem. Though I'd love to test your abilities like the Elder did, this year... the one responsible for evaluating your graduation eligibility isn't this old man.”
Not the Third Hokage? Then who?
The children around him exchanged puzzled glances.
“It is... the hero of Konoha, the man who wields the Sword Eight insignia and the power of the Hokage. Konoha’s Kenpachi!”
Buzz!
Amidst the children's astonished gasps, a figure slowly descended from the sky. The familiar silhouette that had entered Konoha that day ca into view.
“My na is Yoru Hakken.”
His gentle voice sent the children into a frenzy, itching to rush forward and admire his heroic presence up close. Konoha’s Kenpachi. Konoha’s living legend. He had personally co to oversee the graduation exam.
It was actually him?
In that instant, Sasuke and Naruto were stunned. Yet the next mont, blazing intensity and surging fighting spirit erupted from within them.
Their goal had changed.
From rely completing the graduation exam—to giving their absolute all…to earn that man's recognition.
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