The night settled over Konoha like warm ink, thick and soft, smudging the edges of every rooftop and turning lantern light into little drifting pockets of gold. Ethan sat on the roof of the orphanage—knees drawn up, breath even, trying to sense the flow of chakra the way Iruka described during class earlier in the day.
But the truth was: he wasn't up here to train.
The Panel had been oddly quiet all afternoon, and that usually meant it was preparing something. He'd grown used to the pattern across worlds—when the silence lingered, the mission envelope dropped soon after.
And, right on time, a breeze rolled across the shingles without touching the air around him. Pure system interference.
The Panel opened.
A slow, deliberate white shimmer pulsed through the characters. Ethan straightened.
---
PANEL — NARUTO NODE: STABILIZATION PROTOCOL INITIALIZATION
GLOBAL STATUS
• Worldline: Stable → Warning: Early Volatility Detected
• Timeline Position: Pre-Genin Exams
• Node Integrity Threat: Moderate
• Interference Level: Rising (Cause: Unknown)
A second pane slid out beneath it.
---
MISSION TYPE: NARRATIVE STABILIZATION (CLASS I)
Requirement:
Select one key figure as a Stabilization Anchor for this node.
Purpose:
• Maintain their emotional, social, and physical trajectory.
• Prevent timeline-distorting fractures.
• Guide development toward canonical stability ranges.
• Reduce external interference signals.
Eligible Candidates:
1. Uzumaki Naruto — High volatility, high influence, high payoff.
2. Uchiha Sasuke — Trauma-linked volatility; do not alter primary arcs.
3. Haruno Sakura — Low volatility, moderate influence.
4. Shikamaru Nara — Already stable; low demand.
5. Hinata Hyuga — Fragile trajectory; low external threat.
Panel Recommendation:
> "Highest stabilization efficiency achieved by supporting Uzumaki Naruto.
Difficulty: High.
Reward Yield: Very High."
---
Ethan exhaled, slow and measured.
He'd suspected this.
Naruto was a chaotic point in this time period—ignored, lonely, raw power simmering under too many layers of grief and bluster. Ethan had been watching him in class these last few weeks. Naruto acted big because he felt small. He pushed people away because nobody pulled him close.
Stabilizing him wouldn't be easy. But it would matter.
A final pane unfolded.
---
CONFIRM SELECTION — STABILIZATION TARGET REQUIRED
"Yeah. That's what I thought," Ethan murmured.
He looked toward the academy building across the rooftops. Even now, he could hear Naruto's shouts echoing from a few streets away. Probably practicing shuriken throws by himself again—trying too hard, loud to hide the quiet.
Ethan closed the Panel with a thought.
Then stood.
Then jumped off the roof.
He landed with a soft thud, slipping between the small alleys until he reached the training yard behind the academy. And sure enough, there was Naruto—hair messy, hands on his hips, panting after another failed round of practice.
Naruto muttered, "Stupid targets… Why don't you ever stay hit?!"
"Maybe," Ethan said casually, "because you're throwing like you're trying to punch air."
Naruto whirled around. "E–Ethan? What're you doing here? It's late!"
Ethan shrugged. "Could say the same."
Naruto opened his mouth… then closed it. That alone told Ethan everything: no one else ever came to check on him. Not at night. Not ever.
Ethan stepped closer.
"Can I see your form?"
Naruto blinked. "Uh… yeah. I guess."
He threw again—wild, overpowered, off-angle. Ethan caught the movement with both eyes and instinct.
"Try shifting your weight here." Ethan nudged his foot.
"And lower your elbow a little."
Naruto tried again.
Thunk.
The shuriken clipped the very edge of the target.
Naruto's eyes widened like Ethan had handed him the Hokage's hat.
"WHOA!! Did you SEE THAT?! I TOTALLY—!!"
"Yeah," Ethan said, and smiled. "You did."
Naruto's grin brightened the entire yard. Ethan felt something settle inside him—a quiet click of alignment.
A mission he could do without forcing anything. Just… being here.
Being someone.
The Panel flickered silently behind his vision.
---
SELECTION REGISTERED
Stabilization Target: UZUMAKI NARUTO
Difficulty: High
Trajectory: Active
Emotional Link: Forming
Node Stability: +4%
MISSION STARTED.
---
Naruto jabbed him lightly with an elbow.
"So… you gonna train with me tomorrow too?"
Ethan nodded. "Yeah. I will."
Naruto's smile was almost too bright for the dark.
And somewhere inside the system, the Node stopped shaking quite so much.