Morning in Konoha always started the same way:
sunlight spilling over rooftops, the smell of rice porridge drifting from open windows, and the sharp distant crack of training grounds already in use. But today felt different—like the air itself was buzzing with anticipation.
Or maybe that was just Naruto.
Ethan spotted him from half a block away.
The blond whirlwind was already outside the academy gates, bouncing on his heels like a kid who'd eaten three bowls of sugar-coated optimism for breakfast.
"There you are!" Naruto shouted, waving both arms over his head. "You're late!"
Ethan blinked. "Naruto… the sun barely came up."
"Yeah, well, future Hokages wake up early!"
Ethan wasn't sure the Hokage actually did that, but he kept the thought to himself.
They walked toward Training Ground 2, Naruto chattering the entire way—how today he was going to master shuriken, or maybe tree climbing, or maybe some super-secret jutsu he hadn't invented yet but totally could.
Ethan listened with a steady patience. Partly because Naruto needed someone to hear him. Mostly because Ethan was taking mental notes.
He had a mission now. A target. A life to stabilize.
And the Panel was watching.
---
PANEL — STABILIZATION MONITOR (PASSIVE)
Target: Uzumaki Naruto
Volatility Level: High (Natural)
Emotional Alignment: +2% from prior interaction
Trajectory: Slight upward shift
Interference Signals: Weak, stable
Recommended Action:
Sustain supportive presence. Redirect frustration spikes. Encourage control-based training.
---
They reached the training ground.
Old splintered posts.
Faded target boards.
A wide clearing of trampled grass.
A perfect place for chaos.
Naruto immediately charged the target board with a war cry.
"HYAAAAAA—!"
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Every shuriken hit the dirt.
Naruto slumped with a wheeze.
"Why are these things allergic to the target? HOW?!"
Ethan walked up and retrieved two shuriken from the ground.
"Let's break it down."
Naruto nodded, chest puffed out, ready for whatever secret wisdom Ethan had discovered.
"First rule," Ethan said, "you don't throw your entire body at the target."
"But that's where all the POWER comes from!"
"You're not smashing it. You're guiding it."
Naruto squinted. "…Guiding?"
Ethan showed him—slow motion, controlled, a clean wrist rotation, elbow steady, body still.
Then he released.
Thunk.
Dead center.
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wha—HOW?! You're not even from a ninja clan!"
True. He wasn't from any clan. Not in this world.
Ethan handed Naruto a shuriken.
"Your turn. Just… copy the motion."
Naruto tried.
The shuriken wiggled through the air like it had performance anxiety.
But—
Thunk.
It hit the board. Off-center, but still on wood.
Naruto froze.
Stared.
Then exploded.
"YESSSSS!! I DID IT!! I'M A GENIUS!! I KNEW IT!!"
Ethan almost smiled.
"Good. Now do it again."
Naruto did.
Thunk.
Thunk.
Thud.
"Okay that one doesn't count—"
Thunk.
Thunk.
Slowly, shakily, Naruto's throws shifted from chaos to almost-method.
The Panel chimed.
---
STABILIZATION +5%
Emotional State: Energized
Confidence Arc: Developing normally
Trajectory: Positive reinforcement detected
---
After an hour of shuriken work, Naruto threw himself onto the grass.
"Ughhh… I'm tired. But like… the good tired."
Ethan sat beside him. "You did well."
Naruto grinned up at the sky.
"You know… nobody's ever trained with me like this before. People usually just tell me to stop yelling or go away."
Ethan didn't say anything.
He didn't need to.
Naruto continued, softer now:
"But you didn't run off. You didn't call me annoying. You just… y'know… stayed."
Ethan glanced at him.
The Panel shimmered quietly behind his eyes.
---
NOTICE:
Stabilization Anchor forming.
Bond Strength: +1
Trajectory Stabilized: +7%
Early Node Wobble: Reduced.
---
Naruto sat up suddenly.
"Hey, Ethan! If we keep training like this, we're gonna be the strongest in the whole class! No—THE STRONGEST IN THE WHOLE VILLAGE!"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "In the whole village?"
"Believe it!"
Ethan chuckled. "Alright. Then we'd better keep going."
Naruto punched the air.
"Yeah! Let's do one more round!"
They trained until noon.
Shuriken, footwork, stamina drills—nothing flashy, nothing explosive. Just repetition, form, support. Exactly what Naruto needed. Exactly what would keep his timeline from spiraling.
When they finally stopped, Naruto was sweaty, dirt-smudged, and grinning like he'd conquered the world.
"Same time tomorrow?" he asked.
Ethan nodded.
"Tomorrow."
Naruto beamed and raced off toward the orphanage for lunch.
Left alone in the clearing, Ethan closed his eyes.
The wind shifted.
The Panel whispered.
---
MISSION PROGRESS:
Phase 1 — Emotional Anchoring: Success
Phase 2 — Early Skill Stabilization: In Progress
Phase 3 — Narrative Protection: Pending
Overall Stability: +12%
Next Trigger: Academy Conflict Event (Imminent)
Prepare intervention.
---
Ethan opened his eyes.
Tomorrow wasn't just another training day.
Something was coming.
And Naruto wouldn't face it alone.