The Academy courtyard was loud enough to be its own ecosystem.
Kids racing across the walkways.
Shouts echoing off stone walls.
Chalk dust floating from open windows.
Iruka-sensei yelling at someone about "NO RUNNING ON THE ROOF—AGAIN."
Ethan stepped through the gates, shoulders relaxed, posture calm. Another morning. Another mission day. He was starting to get used to the rhythm of this world—the smell of dust and warm air, the clatter of kunai practice, the faint hum of chakra he could almost-but-not-quite sense.
Naruto spotted him instantly.
"E—THAAAAAN! OVER HERE!"
Ethan winced a little at the volume.
Naruto was standing on top of a stone bench, waving both arms in the air like a drowning man signaling for rescue.
Ethan walked over and flicked Naruto lightly on the forehead.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"For yelling like someone stole your breakfast."
"They DID! The cook gave me the tiny bowl today!"
Ethan sighed. Same Naruto. Same world.
But today… something was off.
The air had tension. Kids whispering. Heads turning. A cluster forming in the center of the yard.
Trouble.
The Panel stirred in the back of Ethan's mind.
---
PANEL ALERT — NARRATIVE EVENT IMMINENT
Trigger: Early Academy Bully Convergence
Target: Uzumaki Naruto
Recommended Action: Moderate intervention. Maintain stability without over-correction.
Trajectory: Volatility spike detected.
---
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
Yep. There they were.
A group of three older kids—upper-year students—circling the practice log where Naruto usually trained. The leader, a smug kid named Daichi, held something dangling between two fingers.
Naruto's favorite training scroll.
Ethan felt Naruto stiffen beside him.
"Give it back!" Naruto shouted, already charging forward.
Daichi smirked. "Or what? You gonna trip over yourself at us?"
The other boys snickered.
Ethan moved, slipping behind Naruto and resting a steadying hand on his shoulder.
"Wait," Ethan murmured.
Naruto blinked up at him. "But—!"
"Think first. Act after."
Naruto's face scrunched. Thinking wasn't his first language. But he stayed put.
Daichi lifted the scroll higher. "Aw, look! The class clown brought a babysitter."
Naruto bristled. Ethan stayed calm.
"You stole something that isn't yours," Ethan said evenly.
Daichi rolled his eyes. "Oh please. He drops this junk everywhere. We're doing the village a favor."
Ethan's tone remained level. "Give it back."
The bully stepped forward, puffing his chest. "Or what? You're just another no-name orphan. Like him."
Naruto flinched.
Ethan didn't.
He stepped forward just enough for Daichi to notice the difference in height, in balance, in the quiet steadiness Ethan always carried.
"Last chance," Ethan said quietly. "Return. The scroll."
Something about Ethan's eyes made Daichi hesitate.
Only for a second—but enough.
Then pride kicked in.
Daichi scoffed and shoved Ethan's shoulder. "Back off!"
Ethan didn't budge.
He didn't even sway.
Daichi froze.
"You're… heavy," he muttered.
Ethan didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Naruto, emboldened, stepped forward with a grin. "Yeah! That's what you get for messin' with us!"
Daichi's face twisted. The situation was slipping out of his control. So he made the classic decision of insecure bullies everywhere:
He threw a punch.
Naruto gasped.
Ethan sighed internally.
He shifted just enough—foot angled, weight distributed—and Daichi's swing passed through empty air. With a tiny redirect of force, Ethan guided the boy forward, letting gravity do the rest.
Thump.
Daichi landed on his backside, blinking in confusion.
The other two kids paled.
Naruto looked awestruck.
"Ethan… that was AWESOME!"
Ethan simply crouched, picked up the scroll from Daichi's loosened grip, and dusted it off.
"Take better care of it," he said to Naruto, handing it over.
Naruto nodded vigorously. "I will!"
Daichi scrambled back to his feet but didn't try to attack again.
For all his bluster, he wasn't stupid enough to swing twice.
"Tch… whatever," he grumbled, backing away. "You two are weird."
The trio retreated.
The courtyard exhaled, the tension dissolving.
Iruka-sensei arrived a moment too late, holding a clipboard. "What happened here?"
Naruto jumped. "NOTHING! Everything's great!"
Ethan nodded politely. "All resolved, Iruka-sensei."
Iruka eyed the boys… eyed the scroll… eyed the dirt on Daichi's pants far across the yard…
Then sighed. "Just get to class."
Naruto saluted.
Ethan bowed slightly.
Iruka trudged off muttering something about needing more coffee.
When it was just the two of them again, Naruto beamed.
"Ethan, you were SO COOL! Can you teach me that move?! The one where the punch just… whoosh—misses and the guy goes boop onto the ground?!"
Ethan chuckled under his breath.
"Maybe. Later."
The Panel pulsed softly.
---
STABILIZATION UPDATE
Volatility Spike: Neutralized
Bond Strength: +2
Confidence Arc: Strengthening
Trajectory: Improving
Node Stability: +9%
Warning:
Overshadow risk detected.
Avoid repeated direct confrontations. Encourage Naruto's independent progress.
---
Ethan absorbed the message.
It made sense.
He couldn't become Naruto's crutch.
He could guide, steady, redirect—but not replace Naruto's growth.
Naruto, meanwhile, was still buzzing with excitement.
"C'mon! Let's get to class! I bet today I'll finally beat Sasuke!"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "At what?"
"All of it!"
He laughed softly as Naruto sprinted ahead.
The mission was delicate.
The timeline was fragile.
But for now?
Naruto was smiling.
And that meant Ethan was doing his job.