(A/N): And so… Volume 2 officially begins! The calm is over, and the real chaos is about to make its grand entrance. If you thought Ryo's life was simple before, think again — politics, schemes, and a whirlwind of unexpected encounters are waiting around every corner.
This world is about to get a lot messier, a lot louder… and, of course, a lot more entertaining. Buckle up, dear readers — it's about to get spicy.
Konoha Year 36, December 18th
Konoha Ninja School
The winter sunlight streamed softly through the classroom windows, dust motes drifting lazily in its glow. Outside, December's chill whispered against the village rooftops, but inside, the classroom carried a quiet tension. The fourth-year final exams were approaching, and the air was thick with concentration.
Students bent over their scrolls, muttering answers under their breath, revising frantically. Mikoto and Tsume, seated behind me, leaned closer, whispering to each other as they tried to calm their nerves, glancing occasionally at their notes with tense expressions. Kushina sat beside me, fidgeting slightly, her fingers tracing the lines of her text as she revised the chapters.
It felt like a normal day at first, but the anticipation of what was coming made every moment sharp. My mind focused, aware of the weight of the upcoming exams.
The chunin teacher's voice cut through the room."Ryo. Minato. Step outside for a moment."
We blinked in surprise, our attention snapping to him. Neither of us fully understood why we were being called out. We quietly rose and followed him, glancing at each other with a shared understanding that this wasn't part of the normal routine. Behind us, Mikoto, Tsume, and Kushina exchanged nervous glances, their anxiety for the upcoming exams mirrored in their tense expressions.
The teacher led us briskly through the corridors, our footsteps echoing against the polished floors. I stole a glance at Minato—his usual calm composure mirrored my own unease. Neither of us had expected to be singled out like this, and the murmurs of students behind us only heightened the sense that something unusual was unfolding.
Finally, we arrived at the Principal's office. The doors swung open, and there he was—Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, seated behind the desk, eyes bright with curiosity and something like restrained amusement. "Ah, Ryo. Minato," he greeted, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of authority. "I've been expecting you two."
We bowed slightly. "Lord Hokage."
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Your chunin teacher informed me of your progress over the past four years. He believes—correctly—that you are wasting your potential in a standard curriculum. So, I asked for your presence today to discuss early graduation."
Minato and I exchanged a quiet glance. Without a word, we both nodded, understanding each other instantly. The idea of completing our academy years a little early wasn't daunting—it was a challenge we were willing to accept.
Hiruzen smiled softly. "Very well. But first, I want to ensure you can handle the responsibility. You will spar against a chunin under controlled conditions for five minutes. No holding back. Are you prepared?"
"Of course, Lord Hokage," I replied, feeling a calm certainty settle over me.
Hiruzen turned, his robes rustling softly as he motioned for us to follow. "Come with me."
We trailed him through the corridor that led out of the School Building, flanked by two silent ANBU. The hidden path opened into a wide, secluded field surrounded by tall stone walls — one of the ANBU's private training grounds, used only for elite evaluations. The mid-morning light slanted over the area.
"Here we are," Hiruzen said calmly, walking to the edge of the field. "You'll each face one Chūnin from the Anbu. The test is simple — five minutes of full effort. Show me what you're capable of."
We nodded silently.
Hiruzen's eyes shifted to Minato first. "You'll go first."
A masked ANBU Chūnin stepped into the ring — tall, calm, and clearly experienced. His movements were minimal, his chakra sharp and well-contained. The kind of opponent who didn't underestimate anyone.
"Begin," Hiruzen ordered.
Minato moved instantly — a blur of motion as he launched forward, kunai flashing. The Chūnin parried with one hand, countered with the other, his precision brutal. Each strike forced Minato back, the sound of metal clashing ringing sharply through the clearing.
But Minato adapted fast — always reading, adjusting, predicting. He used the Substitution Jutsu, reappearing behind the Chūnin, landing a grazing hit to the man's arm. The Chūnin only smiled faintly behind his mask and swept Minato's leg out from under him, forcing him to roll away.
Sweat glistened on Minato's brow as he leapt back, forming rapid hand seals.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
A strong gust erupted, blowing the Chūnin off balance. Minato used that instant — darting in, landing two clean blows before getting grabbed by the collar and thrown aside. He hit the ground hard but rolled back to his feet, panting, chakra flickering around his hands.
His expression steadied. He raised his right hand — chakra swirling into a small, whirling sphere of compressed power.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed in surprise.
Minato dashed forward. "Rasengan!"
The Chūnin crossed his arms in defense, bracing — the Rasengan slammed into his guard with a loud boom, sending dust and sparks flying. The Chūnin skidded back several meters, his armor cracked slightly at the forearm, but he was still standing. Minato, though, stumbled to one knee, chakra reserves nearly gone.
Hiruzen raised a hand. "Enough."
The Chūnin stepped back respectfully, bowing slightly before fading into the shadows.
Minato exhaled deeply, trembling slightly from exhaustion. "Five… minutes," he murmured, barely catching his breath.
Hiruzen smiled faintly. "You did well. Excellent reaction speed and chakra control. A few more years of training, and you'll be leading others into battle."
Minato bowed low, his expression bright with pride despite the exhaustion.
Seeing the injuries on Minato, I stepped towards him and used Mystical Palm Technique and healed his injuries which made Hiruzen's eyes light up as he nodded silently with a smile.
Then, he instructed me. "Now, Ryo. Your turn."
A different Chūnin entered the arena — this one larger, his chakra presence heavier. Even through the mask, I could feel his confidence.
"Begin," Hiruzen commanded.
The Chūnin vanished instantly, reappearing behind me in a blur of motion — fast, but predictable. I twisted slightly, catching his strike with my forearm and pushing him back with a light kick that sent him stumbling.
He recovered fast, throwing three kunai in succession — I caught one midair, deflected the second with it, and sidestepped the third without even breaking stance.
The ANBU's breath hitched — barely audible, but there. I could tell he realized then that I wasn't an opponent to toy with.
"Come," I said softly, beckoning him forward. "Don't hold back."
He didn't. His chakra spiked — the ground cracked under his step as he lunged with killing intent.I matched his rhythm easily, meeting every strike with relaxed precision, exchanging taijutsu blows that left shockwaves rippling across the ground.
After a minute of trading hits, I decided to stop holding back.Channeling chakra into my hand, I formed a dense, spinning sphere of energy — the Rasengan.
The Chūnin froze for an instant — then moved to evade, but the Rasengan's burst of wind caught him mid-step and slammed into his shoulder. The explosion of force sent him sprawling, his mask cracking at the edge as he hit the ground with a grunt.
He struggled to rise — but I was already standing over him, Rasengan still whirling in my palm. I let it fade.
"Five minutes are over," I said quietly.
Hiruzen raised his hand, signaling the end.
The Chūnin bowed stiffly, clutching his shoulder, then stepped back into formation.
Hiruzen approached, remembering the point where the Rasengan hit. "Remarkable," he murmured. "That technique… did you create it?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage," I replied with a respectful nod. "It's called the Rasengan. A ninjutsu based entirely on chakra rotation and compression — no hand seals, no nature transformation. Pure control. With possibility of future enhancements."
Hiruzen's brows lifted slightly, genuine amazement glinting in his eyes. "An A-rank jutsu, born from scratch… impressive. But you mentioned it can be enhanced further?"
"Yes, though…" I paused briefly, glancing toward the injured Chūnin. "That version is too powerful to use here. It could kill the opponent."
He regarded me silently for a moment — curious. "Show me."
I nodded once, stepping to the far side of the field. I began forming another Rasengan — but this time, I infused wind chakra into it. The once-smooth sphere distorted, its edges forming Four Shuriken like wind blades, the air around it shrieking with intensity.
The noise rose sharply as the sphere expanded into a glowing white shuriken.
"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"
I hurled it forward — the spinning shuriken cut through the air like a storm of razors, colliding with the far wall. The explosion that followed was thunderous — the entire section of ground erased into dust, wind currents ripping outward in every direction. When the smoke cleared, there was nothing but silence and a deep crater several meters wide.
Even the ANBU stationed nearby had gone rigid, cold sweat soaking their backs.
Hiruzen stood unmoving for a few seconds, watching the devastation. His expression softened slightly, the faintest trace of awe in his eyes.
"…I see. That explains your hesitation."
I turned back toward him, lowering my hand. "Yes, Lord Hokage. It's powerful — but far too dangerous for a spar. That's why I didn't use it earlier."
Hiruzen's lips curved into a faint, approving smile. "You've shown judgment as well as power. Good. You'll need both in the future."
He turned away, clasping his hands behind his back. "Come. Let's go to my office. I've seen enough."
The echo of our footsteps followed us back through the polished corridors of the Hokage building. The tension from the test had faded into a calm silence — the kind that came after something meaningful had been proven.
When we entered the office, Hiruzen dismissed the two ANBU who had been standing guard at the door with a nod. The faint scent of smoke lingered in the air, and the light from the afternoon sun spilled warmly through the open windows, brushing across the shelves lined with scrolls and old records.
"Take a seat," Hiruzen said, settling behind his desk. His tone had softened now, the stern examiner replaced by the gentle leader Konoha respected.
We both sat opposite him, the faint creak of the wooden chairs filling the stillness.
Hiruzen's gaze moved from Minato to me, then down to the papers he was writing on. "You've both exceeded my expectations today," he said finally, setting his brush aside. "Minato — your reaction speed, chakra control, and discipline under pressure are remarkable for your age. I can see why your teacher pushed for early graduation."
Minato straightened slightly, his usual calm giving way to a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Lord Hokage. I… won't let you down."
"I believe you won't." Hiruzen's eyes softened. "From this day forward, you are officially a genin of Konoha Village. Wear this proudly.
"He reached into the drawer and placed a neatly folded forehead protector on the desk.
Minato accepted it with both hands, bowing, his voice quiet but full of emotion. "Yes, Lord Hokage."
Then Hiruzen turned toward me. The kindness in his eyes deepened — but there was something sharper too, an awareness that what stood before him wasn't just another prodigy.
"And you, Ryo…" he began, his voice measured, "your strength far surpasses what we expect of an academy student — or even a typical genin. You've shown mastery over ninjutsu, control under pressure, and the wisdom to restrain yourself when necessary. For that, I see no reason to make you start from Genin."
He smiled faintly, leaning forward. "If you're willing, I'd like to promote you directly to Chūnin."
I blinked — even expecting it, the words hit differently in person. A part of me wanted to play humble, but another knew opportunities like this weren't handed out often.
I bowed respectfully. "I would be honored, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen nodded, visibly pleased. He gestured to the cabinet behind him. An ANBU appeared silently, handing over a folded Chūnin vest and a second forehead protector. "Then wear this with pride," he said, passing them to me. "From today onward, You are Chūnin Ryo of the Konoha."
As I secured the vest and tied the forehead protector around my neck, Hiruzen motioned to another ANBU.
"Bring me the Book of Seals."
The ANBU nodded and vanished. Moments later, he reappeared holding a massive black-bound scroll — ancient, sealed by layer upon layer of intricate chakra wards.The sheer presence of it made the air feel thicker, like history itself was watching.
Minato's eyes widened slightly. "Isn't that—?"
"Yes," Hiruzen said softly, his expression almost reverent. "The Book of Seals. Every forbidden or high-level jutsu known to the Hidden Leaf is recorded here. It contains knowledge too dangerous for ordinary eyes — but also, the proof of this village's growth."
He turned toward me. "Your technique — the Rasengan — deserves to be recorded. It's a creation that stands beside the great works of those before you. Would you be willing to add it?"
There was a quiet flutter in my chest — not pride, but understanding. And Right now? This was history being written.
"Of course, Lord Hokage," I said, bowing slightly.
He nodded once, unsealing the scroll with a flick of chakra. Symbols lit up faintly as the paper unfurled across the desk — lines of elegant script and diagrams of seals stretching endlessly.
I stepped forward, took the provided brush, and began writing. The swirl of chakra rotation, the compression principles, the ratio of spin — every detail precise, deliberate. Then the variations — the Rasengan's structure, potential for elemental transformation, and the danger of incomplete control.
When I finished, Hiruzen's pipe smoke curled slowly through the silence as he looked over my notes.
"…Excellent work," he said after a moment. "To think something like this was created by a ten-year-old… the future of this village truly rests in good hands."
He resealed the scroll, his expression faintly wistful. "You've remind me of my Teacher, the Second Hokage, his passion for creation and thirst for understanding."
I smiled quietly at that. "That's… high praise, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen chuckled. "You two may yet surpass us all. Especially you Ryo, I have high hopes for you."
By the time we left the Hokage Tower, the academy was just finishing for the day. The bell rang across the training grounds as kids poured out, laughter and chatter filling the air. Minato and I exchanged a quick look — and without even needing words, started toward the familiar slope leading to the old tree where we always gathered.
When we reached it, the usual crowd was already there — Nawaki waving his arms around excitedly as he tried to convince Mikoto and Tsume of something, while Kushina was busy munching on a rice ball.But the moment they saw us, the conversation stopped.
Every single head turned.
Their eyes went wide — first at the forehead protectors tied neatly across our foreheads… and then at the Chūnin vest resting perfectly on me.
"You've gotta be kidding…" Nawaki muttered, gaping. "No way."
Kushina blinked rapidly, nearly choking on her rice ball. "Wait— you already graduated?!"
Minato rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Ahaha… yeah. Lord Hokage said we met the requirements."
Tsume frowned in disbelief. "You mean both of you?"Then her gaze flicked to my vest and her jaw dropped. "Wait. That's not a genin uniform."
I grinned. "Nope. Chūnin."
The collective silence that followed could have been cut with a kunai.
Mikoto's lips parted. "A–Already? But you're only ten! How—"
Kushina smacked her palm on her forehead. "Why does everything about you have to be so unfair, Ryo!?" she groaned dramatically. "You didn't even give the rest of us a chance to catch up!"
I chuckled lightly. "I'll slow down when you guys start running faster."
That earned a round of groans, laughter, and one well-aimed pebble from Tsume that I easily dodged. Even Mikoto, who was usually composed, cracked a soft smile — part awe, part exasperation. "Only you could make becoming a Chūnin sound so easy."
Minato, for once, didn't even defend me — too busy being pulled into a headlock by Choza, who laughed like a madman. "You're treating us today, Mister Genin! BBQ! No excuses!"
Before Minato could protest, Inoichi and Shikaku grabbed him from either side, grinning like wolves. "Yup, rules of friendship — you graduate, you pay."
Nawaki chimed in, slapping Choza on the back. "And we'll make sure he doesn't escape."
Minato sighed in defeat as they half-dragged, half-carried him away, his voice echoing, "Save me some living expenses at least!"
That left me standing beneath the tree, a small smile tugging at my lips… and three girls who suddenly looked far too nervous for normal conversation.
The laughter from the departing boys faded into the distance, replaced by the soft rustle of leaves overhead. Mikoto, Tsume, and Kushina stood there, exchanging quick glances that grew increasingly awkward by the second.
I tilted my head. "...You girls alright?"
Kushina fiddled with her hair, avoiding my eyes completely. "W-We were planning… um…"
Tsume looked away, her usual confidence nowhere in sight, cheeks faintly pink. "It's not that big of a deal…"
Mikoto, who had been the calmest, suddenly cleared her throat — a rare crack in her poise. "Actually, it is… kind of important."
That caught my attention. "Oh?"
All three of them looked at each other one last time, took a deep breath… and blurted out, perfectly in sync:
"We love you!"
The silence that followed could've stunned even a tailed beast.
Three red faces stared back at me, eyes wide and breaths held. The shock, the sincerity — it all hit me at once, like a sudden, warm rush in my chest.
I blinked slowly, then let out a small laugh. "You know, I had a feeling you were all up to something."
Kushina's face went bright red. "W–We weren't being that obvious!"
Tsume smacked my shoulder lightly, half-embarrassed, half-pouting. "You're supposed to say something, idiot."
Mikoto exhaled softly, her smile small but steady. "Don't tease them too much."
I chuckled again, softer this time, then reached forward — pulling the three of them gently into my arms.
Their eyes widened in surprise as I hugged them close, one arm around Kushina's shoulder, another around Mikoto, and Tsume tucked in between.They froze for a heartbeat, then slowly relaxed, warmth radiating between us in quiet, unspoken understanding.
"I know," I said quietly, smiling against their hair. "And I love all three of you too."
Their hearts practically jumped at once. Kushina made a tiny squeak, Tsume's ears reddened as a wide, toothy grin broke across her face, and Mikoto's fingers brushed lightly against my vest, grounding herself.
The moment stretched — quiet, tender, and a little clumsy in its sweetness.
By the time we reached the Akimichi BBQ, the evening sky had deepened into hues of crimson and gold. The smell of grilled meat and sizzling sauce filled the air, and laughter rolled through the place like music.
Inside, Minato and the others were already at a table — Choza devouring half a platter by himself while Nawaki and Shikaku argued over something trivial.When they noticed us enter, Minato waved brightly. "Over here!"
Kushina practically dragged me forward, still trying to hide the blush that hadn't left her cheeks. Mikoto and Tsume followed, smiling softly as they joined the group.
Choza raised his cup with a grin. "About time! We were starting without you."
"Don't you dare," Tsume said, snatching a skewer from his plate and taking a bite.
Shikaku smirked lazily. "Guess we're all celebrating, huh? One genin, one chunin, and…"His eyes flicked subtly between the girls and me. "Some… interesting developments."
Mikoto's hand twitched toward her drink. "Don't start."
Inoichi chuckled knowingly. "Oh, we won't say anything."Then he lifted his cup again, smiling with that quiet, older-brother warmth. "To new beginnings."
Minato grinned and raised his glass too. "To the future."
I raised mine as well, meeting their gazes — my team, my friends, my family in all but blood.
"To us."
The glasses clinked together, a soft chime that seemed to echo with promise.Even Nawaki, blissfully dense as always, joined in, cheering loudest without realizing why everyone else's smiles looked a little too warm.
The night rolled on with laughter, teasing, and the warmth of shared dreams — and beneath all of it, an unspoken sense of something greater beginning.
(A/N): Well… nearly 3500 words for the first chapter of Volume 2! Didn't see that coming, even I got a little lost while writing. This could have easily ballooned to 6k+ words, but I finally slammed on the brakes and decided to split it into another chapter. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this little taste of love. Trust me, the fun's only getting started — bigger twists, more chaotic moments are coming your way. See you in the next chapter… and don't say I didn't warn you.