Konohagakure no Sato :
Hokage Office :
The evening air of the late summer blew gently through the open windows of the Hokage Tower, carrying with it the ambient sounds of a village winding down for the night. Inside the Hokage's office, however, the atmosphere was dense and charged with a serious, unspoken gravity.
The room was sparsely populated but held some of the most formidable military assets in the Land of Fire. These elite shinobi stood at attention, ready to receive the official Team Assignments that would dictate the next generation of Konoha's strength.
Tomorrow, these Shinobi would take command of their own Genin squads.
Among the gathered commanders, three distinct presences dominated the room.
The first was a striking Kunoichi standing with perfect, lethal poise. She possessed a haunting, ethereal beauty, defined by her distinct, voluminous curly black hair that cascaded down her back like spun shadow.
Her eyes, however, were her most arresting feature—a piercing, luminescent crimson that seemed to look straight through physical matter into the mind itself. This was Yuhi Kurenai, Konoha's foremost expert in Genjutsu, a woman whose illusions were as beautiful as they were deadly.
Beside her stood a man whose physical presence was as grounded as a mountain. He was of a tall, burly build, his jaw dusted with a thick beard, and he bore an unmistakable facial similarity to the Third Hokage sitting behind the desk.
He wore the standard Jonin flak jacket, but with the added distinction of a "Twelve Guardian Ninja" sash worn around his waist. Despite the formal setting, a lit cigarette rested lazily between his lips, a plume of smoke curling upward.
This was Sarutobi Asuma, a master of trench-knife combat and close-quarters wind-nature manipulation.
The last of the trio, and arguably the most famous, was the current ace of Konoha. He stood with a deceptively slouching, relaxed posture, his hands buried deep in his pockets.
He wore the standard Jonin attire, but his defining features were the silver, gravity-defying hair that swept to one side, and the dark blue fabric mask that covered the lower half of his face. His forehead protector was pulled down at a slanted angle, deliberately obscuring his left eye.
This was Hatake Kakashi, the Copy Ninja, the man of a thousand jutsu, and the wielder of the Sharingan. Even now, in a high-level briefing, his visible right eye seemed half-lidded and eternally bored.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat heavily in his grand chair. He looked over the assembled Jonin—and the various Chunin who had already received their secondary team assignments.
The delay in the meeting had been caused by a certain silver-haired latecomer, but Hiruzen had long since stopped letting Kakashi's tardiness raise his blood pressure.
The Hokage first addressed the Chunin and Special Jonin present. His voice was soft, yet it carried the unquestionable authority of the Supreme Commander. He handed out the preliminary files, giving meticulous instructions on pedagogy:
when to introduce elemental training, how to balance psychological stress with physical conditioning, and how to foster the "Will of Fire."
As the ultimate dean of the Academy and a man who constantly observed the village through his crystal ball, Hiruzen knew these children intimately. He dispensed personalized advice to each instructor, ensuring that no Genin would be mishandled.
Once the lower-ranking officers were dismissed, the heavy oak doors closed, leaving only the Hokage and his three most elite Jonin.
On the mahogany desk sat three final stacks of files—the dossiers of the village's most prominent, and potentially volatile, young leaves.
Hiruzen shifted his gaze to the only Kunoichi left in the room, his future daughter-in-law.
"Jonin Kurenai."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Kurenai replied, her voice smooth and professional.
"The team you will be leading," the Hokage continued, his tone turning analytical, "will consist of Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, and Hyuga Hinata. Team 8."
Hiruzen tapped the top file. "Team 8 is primarily a specialized Sensor and Tracking Team. Their mandate focuses on long-range reconnaissance, target tracking, and covert surveillance. Their specialization is built upon the highly unique, sensory-based bloodlines of each member—scent, insect-based chakra mapping, and the Byakugan."
"..."
" Furthermore, I have received reports that Hyuga Hinata has recently displayed medical proficiency bordering on Chunin-level expertise. This makes your squad incredibly self-sustaining in the field. I hope you lead them well."
Kurenai stepped forward, her movements fluid and silent. With both hands, she respectfully accepted the three thick dossiers.
These files contained far more than Academy grades; they held psychological profiles, known phobias, preferred combat ranges, and even dietary habits. It was a comprehensive manual on how to train these three children and keep them alive.
After Kurenai stepped back, the Hokage turned his attention to his only surviving son.
"Jonin Asuma."
Asuma didn't bother to stand at strict attention. He gave a half-hearted wave with the hand currently holding his cigarette. "Ohh."
The Hokage's eye twitched violently. Kurenai let out a soft, internal sigh, mentally facepalming at her lover's casual disrespect.
Kakashi, meanwhile, had subtly withdrawn a bright orange and green book from his pouch and was reading it with a thoroughly unbothered expression.
Swallowing his paternal frustration, Hiruzen gathered the next set of files and extended them toward Asuma.
"Team 10," Hiruzen announced, his voice tightening slightly.
"The Ino-Shika-Cho formation: Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Choji. This is a highly specialized trio focusing on tactical, close-to-mid-range combat and immobilization. Their historical expertise lies in the perfect synergy of restricting movement via shadows, psychological warfare and intelligence gathering via mind transfer, and heavy, direct physical assault via Body expansion."
Hiruzen paused, looking deeply into Asuma's eyes. "This team excels in highly coordinated, strategic combat. They require a leader who understands the fluid dynamics of the battlefield. It is a massive responsibility, Asuma. You are shaping the future heads of three noble clans. Can you do it?"
( The Kid still makes me worry )
The waver in the Hokage's voice—the fleeting, fatherly doubt—was not lost on Asuma. His own eye twitched in annoyance. Grumbling inwardly at the Old Man's constant need to test him, Asuma stepped forward, snatched the files from his father's hand, and met his gaze evenly.
"Don't worry about it, Old Man," Asuma said gruffly. "I've got it handled."
As Asuma retreated to stand beside Kurenai, the Hokage let out a long, weary sigh. He looked down at the final three files sitting alone on his desk. The dossiers for the year's most complicated graduates.
Asuma, sensing the shift in tension, smirked around his cigarette. "So, Kakashi is getting the Rookie of the Year and the number two overall graduate, huh? Lucky bastard."
Kurenai chimed in, her red eyes shifting to Kakashi. "I also heard rumors that Uzumaki Naruto was the one who engineered those new high-compression sealing tags that only the Jonin and ANBU commanders have access to."
Kakashi didn't look up, but he smoothly slid his inappropriate novel back into his flak jacket pocket, knowing his turn was approaching while Asuma looked toward the ceiling, feigning innocence.
The Hokage leveled a steady, unimpressed gaze at his son. The information regarding Naruto's engineering feats was highly classified, restricted to a very specific, top-tier circle.
A circle that included Asuma. It was painfully obvious that Asuma had whispered these state secrets to Kurenai in the privacy of their shared bed. Yet, Hiruzen didn't bat an eyelid at the leak; Kurenai was fiercely loyal, and soon to be family anyway.
"Um," Hiruzen hummed noncommittally.
The Hokage fell silent for a moment, his mind pivoting to a far more sensitive matter.
( how to hadle this then ?? )
Sighing inwardly, the Hokage reached into his robes and withdrew a heavy, matte-black mechanical pocket watch. He placed it carefully on the desk next to a stack of recent intelligence reports regarding Naruto's movements that very afternoon.
Before Hiruzen could dive into his memories, Asuma interrupted, his brow furrowing. "That's a nice watch. I never thought you liked those mechanical things, Old Man. You usually rely on the tower clock."
Hiruzen looked down at the dark metal, a genuine, profound smile breaking through his weary wrinkles. "It's a gift."
The sight of the Supreme Commander of Konoha smiling with such unguarded relief over a simple pocket watch threw the three elite Jonin into immediate puzzlement.
"Who gave it to you, Old Man?" Asuma asked, genuinely curious.
Hiruzen's smile widened slightly as he rested his hand over the watch. He looked up, meeting the gazes of his most trusted subordinates. "Naruto gave it to me. Just a few hours ago."
The room reacted instantly. Asuma took a sharp drag of his cigarette, his eyes narrowing in calculation. Kakashi's visible eye snapped fully open, locking onto the watch with newfound, intense scrutiny.
Kurenai tilted her head, analyzing the craftsmanship. "It looks incredibly well-made. A perfect touch of vintage charm, mixed with modern durability."
Hiruzen's smile faded, replaced by the hardened, calculating mask of the Shinobi no Kami.
"And this watch," the Hokage said, his voice dropping into a low, serious timber, "is the reason for our next topic of discussion."
The shift in tone was absolute. The three Jonin straightened their postures, their military instincts flaring to life.
"Uzumaki Naruto," Hiruzen announced, each word deliberately measured, "has successfully learned the S-rank Space-Time Ninjutsu of the Fourth Hokage. The Flying Thunder God."
Absolute, deafening silence slammed into the office.
Kakashi entirely lost his lazy slouch, snapping to rigid attention, his lone dark eye widening in sheer disbelief as ghosts of his past rushed his mind.
Asuma's jaw went slack, the lit cigarette slipping from his lips to hit the wooden floorboards with a soft sizzle. Kurenai physically recoiled, her mouth opening in shock.
"What—are you serious?!" Asuma choked out, stepping quickly to crush the dropped ember beneath his boot.
"The jutsu that made the name of the Yellow Flash?" Kurenai whispered, the tactical implications already terrifying her.
Kakashi was frozen, his mind violently pulled back to a battlefield of yellow hair, blinding speed, and the tragic loss of his sensei.
Hiruzen allowed a sliver of pride to warm his expression as he continued the briefing.
"It is true. However, while he has learned the jutsu, he is still utilizing it. It is not yet at the flawless, instantaneous combat level of the Yellow Flash."
A collective, massive sigh of relief escaped the three Jonin. The thought of a newly graduated Genin wielding the most broken assassination technique in history was a logistical nightmare. Kakashi blinked rapidly, pulling himself back to the present.
Asuma rubbed his face in frustration. "Just tell us everything, Old Man. No more half-truths."
The Hokage nodded. "Naruto can teleport, yes. But the chakra calculation and execution speed are still rudimentary. It cannot be used fluidly in mid-combat. It requires a moment of focus and a physical anchor."
"Hokage-sama," Kurenai spoke up, her tactical mind racing. "Why are you revealing this S-rank secret to us now?"
Instead of answering directly, Hiruzen picked up the pocket watch. He turned it over, presenting the back casing to the three Jonin. Etched into the dark metal was a unique, flawless black seal—a sun-like emblem surrounded by flame-shaped rays.
"This is a modified Flying Thunder God mark," Hiruzen explained. "As you know, the user requires these marks as coordinates to teleport."
The Jonin leaned in, studying the intricate formula with deep apprehension.
"Now," Hiruzen continued, his voice heavy. "Just as Naruto gifted me this mark to me for emergencies... he spent this evening gifting similar items to his closest friends. Items carrying this exact same mark."
The tactical gears clicked simultaneously in the minds of the three Jonin. Asuma and Kurenai immediately looked down at the thick dossiers in their hands, the realization hitting them like a physical blow.
"Team 8 and Team 10," Hiruzen confirmed grimly. "All six of the children under your command now possess a weapon or item bearing this mark."
".....hoh"
" how thoughtful "
"...."
"If word got out," Hiruzen interrupted, not allowing them to spiral, "that Konoha has a new Yellow Flash in the making, the enemy villages—particularly Iwa and Kumo—would react with immediate, overwhelming assassination protocols. They would target the boy, and anyone connected to him."
The fleeting warmth the Jonin had felt over Naruto's protective nature vanished, instantly replaced by the ice-cold reality of global shinobi politics.
"Damn it," Asuma hissed, running a hand over his scalp.
"Ugh," Kurenai groaned, closing her eyes as she imagined the target now painted on her Genin's backs.
"Sensei..." Kakashi murmured, the weight of his old master's legacy suddenly feeling very heavy.
The countermeasures had to be absolute.
"I have strictly forbidden Naruto from using this technique unless it is a dire, village-level emergency," Hiruzen stated firmly.
"Furthermore, the Genin themselves do not know the truth. Naruto told them it is simply a 'special trigger seal' that calls him for physical reinforcements, not an instantaneous space-time teleportation."
The Jonin noticeably relaxed their shoulders, though the internal shock remained. The secret was contained, for now.
"I hope you understand why I am briefing you on this," Hiruzen said, his eyes locking onto Asuma and Kurenai. "It is an ultimate life-saving card for your students and also for you "
"...." X3
" I want you to use it cautiously. If a situation goes FUBAR, and you trigger the mark, Naruto will report to me before executing the jump. Even though he operates at a Special Jonin combat capacity, he can extract your teams from a fatal situation. But I need you to ensure this secret remains buried. "
"....."
" unless life threatning , I want this to be a secret as long as possible , Am I clear? "
Understanding the monumental responsibility of managing this hidden trump card, all three elite Jonin straightened their spines, their faces hardening into perfect military masks.
"Hai, Hokage-sama!" they answered in unison.
Satisfied, Hiruzen finally relaxed against the high back of his chair. He reached out and picked up the last three files on his desk. But before he could extend them toward the Copy Ninja, Kakashi finally spoke up, his visible eye sharp and questioning.
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi drawled slowly. "Does my team also possess these Hiraishin marks?"
Hiruzen's hand paused in mid-air. He let out a long, deeply tired sigh, leaning his head back against the chair.
Kakashi looked puzzled, and Asuma and Kurenai exchanged a confused glance. Only then did it register with them that the Hokage had explicitly only mentioned Teams 8 and 10 possessing the anchors.
"Team 7," Hiruzen began, his voice laced with a bitter sort of irony, "consisting of Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura... do not possess the marks."
The Jonin stared at him, genuinely shocked.
"Naruto," Hiruzen elaborated, rubbing his temples to stave off a migraine,
"only gave these highly advanced, custom-made protective marks to his friends. And, well... Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura are decidedly not his friends."
Asuma's eye twitched violently. Kurenai stepped forward, her brow furrowed in disbelief.
"But Hokage-sama, this is a matter of tactical squad survival! Can't you simply order him to provide the marks to his own teammates?"
Hiruzen offered a bitter, self-deprecating smile. "Naruto is... exceptionally stubborn. He distributed these marks against my initial advice to keep the jutsu entirely hidden. He did it out of love for the bonds he chose to forge. If Naruto does not acknowledge you, he will give you nothing."
The Hokage looked at his elite commanders, his expression looking suddenly very old and very fragile.
"You all should understand the boy's psycholgy.... He is fiercely loyal to those who earned it, and utterly indifferent to those who haven't "
"....."
" If I give him a direct, cold military order to mark the Uchiha and others.... he may obey. But I refuse to risk creating a fracture between us. Not over this."
Seeing the usually indomitable 'God of Shinobi' looking so helpless and worried—acting more like a terrified grandfather trying not to alienate his grandson than a military dictator—the three Jonin fell into a stunned silence. They didn't know what to say.
Hiruzen knew his leniency was a tactical flaw, but he was drowning under the pressure.
Ever since Naruto had discovered the truth about his parentage, Hiruzen had been walking on eggshells. If he pushed too hard, if he ordered Naruto to protect a boy who openly despised him, the delicate 'Will of Fire' Hiruzen had spent years cultivating in the boy's heart might evaporate into resentment.
Shaking his head to clear the gloom, Hiruzen pushed the final three files across the desk.
"And that," Hiruzen said, his voice regaining its command, "is why Naruto is placed in Team 7. Uchiha Sasuke, the last survivor of his clan, possessing unmatched potential. Haruno Sakura, possessing flawless academic scores . And Uzumaki Naruto, operating at Special Jonin parameters."
Kakashi stepped forward, his face unreadable behind his mask as he accepted the heavy dossiers.
"This team is designated for Full Assault Specialization," Hiruzen concluded, staring directly into Kakashi's lone eye. "Kakashi. I am giving you the two most valuable, politically sensitive, and emotionally volatile assets in this entire village. I expect you to manage the team well. Do not let me down."
Kakashi looked down at the files, the weight of Sensei's son and Obito's clan survivor resting heavily in his hands. He took a slow step back, nodding once.
Hiruzen shifted his gaze to the other two. "Alright. Jonin Asuma, Jonin Kurenai. You are dismissed. Prepare your introductory exercises for tomorrow."
"Hai!"
As Asuma and Kurenai bowed and turned toward the door, they both cast lingering, sympathetic glances toward Kakashi. They understood the unspoken dismissal perfectly:
( ......a troublesome team ) Asuma
( must be Team 7 psyche problems ) Kurenai
The Hokage needed to have a very private, very sensitive conversation with the Copy Ninja regarding the blond Jinchuriki whose name they had abruptly stopped discussing.