The door to the Hokage's office was pushed open by Sora.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was buried in a pile of documents. Hearing the sound, he looked up and saw the visitor, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"Sora, ah, what brings you to this old man's place today?"
Sora walked to the desk and gently placed his resignation letter down.
"Third Hokage-sama, I would like to resign from my position as captain of the Anbu squad."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand paused in mid-air.
He picked up the letter, glanced over it, then set it down and relit his pipe.
"Tell me your reasons."
"Karin is graduating this year." Sora scratched his head, his face bearing his usual cheerful grin. "As her big brother, I have to personally guide her onto the right path. I can't let her go astray."
"And besides..." he changed the subject, "life in the Anbu has been too comfortable. Every day it's either reading books or basking in the sun. If I stay any longer, I'll really go soft."
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for a moment.
Smoke curled around his face, obscuring his expression.
"Where do you want to go?"
"To become a jonin instructor." Sora's voice was light. "Train some newcomers, go out on missions, and rack up some battle merits."
Battle merits.
Those two words deepened Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze slightly.
He understood Sora's intentions perfectly.
No matter how many contributions one made in the Anbu, they remained merely the village's shadow.
But the Hokage had to be the sun that illuminated everyone.
"I understand your thinking," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "However, the duties of a jonin instructor are no easy task."
"I know." Sora smiled.
Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the resignation letter and stamped it with the Hokage's seal.
"Since you've already decided, I won't stop you." He paused, then added, "As it happens, there's a very special class this year."
Sora raised an eyebrow.
"Class 7," Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled a list from his drawer. "Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Karin Uzumaki."
Sora took the list and glanced at it.
Naruto, Sasuke, Karin.
The Fourth Hokage's son, the Uchiha prodigy, the last survivor of the Uzumaki clan.
This combination...
"Third Hokage-sama, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" Sora said with a laugh.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not deny it.
"These three children are all very special," he said, taking a deep drag on his pipe. "Naruto is the Fourth Hokage's son, with the Nine-Tails sealed inside him; Sasuke is the Uchiha genius, the future heir of the Uchiha clan; Karin is the orphan of the Uzumaki clan—your little sister."
"This class needs a jonin instructor who is strong enough and reliable enough."
"And in all of Konoha, the only one who meets both those conditions is you."
Sora was silent for a moment, then laughed.
"Third Hokage-sama, is this you showing faith in me, or are you just giving me trouble?"
"Both," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "So, do you dare to take it?"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Sora folded the list and slipped it into his pocket. "It's just leading three brats. Piece of cake."
He turned to leave but paused at the door.
"Oh, right, Third Hokage-sama." He looked back. "I'm pretty lazy by nature. If I end up dragging them all over the place in the future, don't blame me."
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled.
"Go on."
Sora pushed the door open. Sunlight poured in from outside, bathing him in its glow.
He squinted, then stepped out.
From this day forward, he was no longer Konoha's shadow.
He would become Konoha's sun.
Anbu Headquarters.
Sora returned to his office, where Yamanaka Kaede, Yamato, and Uchiha Itachi were already waiting for him.
"The Third Hokage-sama has approved it," Sora said directly. "Starting today, I'm no longer the Anbu squad captain."
Yamato nodded without speaking.
Uchiha Itachi simply stood there quietly.
Only Yamanaka Kaede's expression was complicated.
"I'll be taking on the role of jonin instructor for Class 7," Sora continued. "Sasuke, Naruto, Karin."
Itachi's eyebrow twitched slightly.
"Sasuke?"
"Yeah, your little brother." Sora grinned. "How's it feel knowing I've become your brother's teacher?"
Itachi was silent for a moment.
"Please take good care of him."
His tone remained calm, but Sora could sense the sincere trust behind it.
"Don't worry," Sora patted his shoulder. "I'll train him into a proper ninja."
He turned to Yamanaka Kaede.
"Kaede, from now on, you don't need to send those documents my way anymore."
Yamanaka Kaede's hand tightened around the scroll she was holding.
"I understand."
Her voice was soft, almost inaudible.
Sora looked at her and suddenly smiled.
"But I'll still come back once a week—to eat the bentos you make."
Yamanaka Kaede looked up. For the first time, a flicker of emotion appeared in those usually cold eyes.
"Really?"
"Of course." Sora held out his hand and gave a thumbs-up. "It's a promise."
The corners of Yamanaka Kaede's mouth curved up slightly.
It was a very small smile, but it was genuine and warm.
Three days later.
The graduation ceremony at the Ninja Academy had ended.
The newly promoted genin stood on the training ground, waiting for their jonin instructors.
Naruto Uzumaki wore a brand-new ninja outfit, his face full of excitement.
"Awesome! I finally became a ninja!" he shouted loudly. "From now on, I'm a Hokage candidate!"
Sasuke Uchiha stood nearby, arms crossed, looking disdainful.
"Dead last."
"What'd you say, Sasuke?!" Naruto exploded instantly. "I graduated as the top student!"
"That was only because Karin let you have it," Sasuke snorted. "She's the real top student."
Karin Uzumaki stood between them, her red hair gleaming in the sunlight.
She said nothing, simply gazing quietly into the distance.
She was waiting for someone.
The gates of the Ninja Academy swung open.
A figure strolled in leisurely.
Silver-white hair, a lazy gait, and a cheerful smile on his face.
"Yo." Sora raised a hand in greeting. "Class 7 brats, your teacher's here."
Karin's eyes lit up instantly.
"Big Brother Sora!"
She rushed over and threw herself into his arms.
Sora ruffled her hair.
"Not bad—graduating as top student."
"Of course!" Karin lifted her head proudly. "I did exactly what Big Brother Sora told me—I beat everyone down!"
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance.
"Teacher?" Naruto pointed at Sora. "You mean this guy's our teacher?"
"This guy?" Sora's smile faded a bit. "Kid, that way of addressing me isn't very polite."
"I don't care!" Naruto declared loudly. "Big Brother Sora's barely older than us—why should he be our teacher?!"
Sasuke said nothing, but there was a hint of doubt in his eyes as well.
Sora looked at them and suddenly laughed.
"Since you're both saying that, let me show you what a real ninja looks like."
He raised his hand and formed a seal in mid-air.
The next second.
His figure vanished.
Naruto and Sasuke's eyes widened.
"Where'd he go?!"
"Right here."
Sora's voice came from behind Naruto.
Naruto whipped around and found Sora standing there, holding his wallet.
"Hey! That's my wallet!"
Sora tossed it back to him, then disappeared again.
This time, he appeared behind Sasuke.
Sasuke reacted quickly, spinning around and thrusting a kunai toward Sora.
But Sora simply tilted his body slightly and dodged the attack.
Then he reached out and flicked Sasuke lightly on the forehead.
"Kid, too slow."
Sasuke stumbled back a few steps, glaring at Sora.
Those dark eyes were filled with unwillingness.
Sora put away his smile, his expression turning serious.
"That's the gap between us," he said calmly. "Right now, you don't even qualify to make me get serious."
He paused.
"But that's fine."
"Starting today, I'll train you into real ninjas."
"No matter how weak you are now, how inexperienced, how looked down upon."
"As long as you follow me, I'll turn you into Konoha's strongest genin team."
His cheerful grin returned to his face.
"So, got any confidence?"
Fire burned in Naruto's eyes.
"Of course!"
Sasuke was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"I'll prove it to you."
Karin simply gazed at Sora quietly, her eyes full of trust.
"Good." Sora clapped his hands. "Then starting tomorrow, we'll officially begin training."
"Meet at Training Ground 3, 5 a.m. sharp."
"Remember—if you're late, no breakfast."
With that, his figure vanished once more.
Leaving the three young ninjas standing there.
Naruto scratched his head.
"That guy... he's pretty amazing, huh."
Sasuke said nothing, but his fists clenched tighter.
Karin looked in the direction Sora had disappeared, a small smile on her lips.
Big Brother Sora has gotten even stronger.
I have to work hard too.