Chapter 11:New Quest!

Yuto, Naruko, and Hitomi stood before Hiruzen, who looked at them with concern.

"I'm glad you're all safe," Hiruzen said, his voice soft but serious. "Since the Uchiha massacre, tensions have risen, and other villages are watching Konoha, waiting for any sign of weakness. I apologize for putting you three in harm's way."

Yuto responded calmly, "It's alright, Lord Hokage."

Naruko, ever the bright spirit, nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! It's not Grandpa's fault!"

Hitomi stayed quiet, nodding in agreement, though her mind seethed. 'Itachi... this is all your fault! You killed my clan, and now you're dragging my friends into danger too.' Her fingers clenched at her sides as she masked her emotions.

Hiruzen sighed, sensing the heaviness in the air. "I appreciate your understanding. The village will recover, but we need to be cautious. I'll ensure you're all better protected from now on."

The trio exited Hiruzen's office, leaving the weight of their recent experiences behind them. As they walked down the hall, Yuto glanced back, his mind racing with thoughts of what had just transpired.

Once outside, Kakashi's shadow clone materialized before Hiruzen, who immediately focused on the clone. "Report."

Kakashi nodded, a serious expression crossing his face. "The attack by the grass nin was orchestrated. I found fake intel on their bodies, and I sensed Root ninjas manipulating them through a Genjutsu."

Hiruzen furrowed his brow, absorbing the implications. "So, Danzo is still pulling strings?"

"Yes," Kakashi replied. "He's keeping a close eye on Yuto, Hitomi, and Naruko. We need to be cautious."

Hiruzen sighed, the burden of leadership heavy on his shoulders. "I'll investigate this further. Make sure to keep an eye on the kids. They may not realize how much danger they're in."

Kakashi nodded, vanishing into thin air as he set off to fulfill the Hokage's orders. Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, deep in thought, knowing that the peace of the village was still precarious.

Three months passed, and the second year at the academy commenced. The only notable changes were the introduction of new exercises: leaf-sticking, an obstacle course with traps, and projectile-throwing drills. However, the dynamic among the trio remained consistent, with Yuto, Hitomi, and Naruko still holding the top ranks. The only real shift was the ongoing rivalry between Hitomi and Naruko, who continually swapped places in second and third during tests, their arguments echoing through the academy halls.

"Why do you always have to mess up my throws, Usuratonkachi?" Hitomi shouted, frustration clear in her voice.

"I wouldn't mess up if you weren't so slow!" Naruko retorted, sticking her tongue out defiantly.

"Slow? I'll show you slow!" Hitomi shot back, determination igniting in her eyes.

Yuto watched the bickering with an amused smile, thinking, 'This is getting better than any show I could find.'

Yuto then contemplated his quest progress, realizing he could maintain his balance on the tree with the leaf stuck for 34 minutes. 'I need to last a full hour for this exercise and then have to last 1 hour while in a fight,' he thought, calculating that he could achieve this within three months.

His attention then turned to the pamphlet Iruka-sensei had handed out during the first period. It announced the upcoming sports festival for second, third, and fourth-year students—much like the sports festivals from his past life, but with a ninja twist.

Scanning the rewards, he noted that first place would earn a random C-rank jutsu, second place a D-rank, and third place an E-rank. 'This could be my chance to snag some useful ninjutsu,' he mused, excitement building at the thought of enhancing his abilities and a chance to get 3 ninjutsu's if he could make it on the top three for three years straight.

Yuto watched as Naruko and Hitomi were caught up in yet another heated argument, their voices rising as they bickered over whose skills were superior. With a thoughtful expression, he stepped in, eager to mediate.

"I have a suggestion," he announced, holding up the pamphlet for the sports festival. "Why don't we participate and see who wins? If we give it our all, all three of us can aim for the top and snag some ninjutsu in the process."

He paused, looking directly at both girls. "Plus, this way, you two can finally decide who's stronger!"

Naruko and Hitomi exchanged determined glances, their competitive spirits ignited. "I'm going to crush you this time, Hitomi!" Naruko declared, her fists clenched in excitement.

Hitomi smirked, tossing her hair back confidently. "In your dreams, Naruko! Just try to keep up!"

As their banter continued, Yuto couldn't help but think, 'Some things never change.' He shifted his attention to the quest screen that materialized before him.

[Quest Number 2:Sports Festival Challenge Place in the top three, show everyone what you have got.

Bonus : Place 1st, show everyone that you are the best.

Rewards:1 Mystery Box, 3 points to all stats, 2 points of free stats.

Bonus Reward:1 Mystery Box, 3 points to all stats, 2 points of free stats, Luck increases by 3 points.]

'Looks like this will be a fun challenge.' Yuto mused, grinning at the thought of not only competing but also reaping the rewards.While yuto thought about his new quest, the scene shifted elsewhere.

Hiruzen, sitting at his desk, sorted through his paperwork while contemplating the upcoming sports festival. A nostalgic smile crossed his face as he thought about "The Big Three" — Yuto, Hitomi, and Naruko. They reminded him so much of his own team back in the day.

'It's like watching history repeat itself,' Hiruzen mused, his mind flashing back to the sports festival he attended and saw his students for the first time. He vividly remembered a younger Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, each filled with so much potential. His thoughts turned more somber.

'Jiraiya… I know you're still hurting after losing your students.' He thought about his former student, who had turned to wandering, working through his grief with his spy network, and writing his novels. Despite the bravado, Hiruzen knew how deeply Jiraiya mourned.

'Tsunade…' He sighed, thinking about how her sorrow had led her down a path of gambling and drinking, a result of losing everyone she loved. And then, of course, there was Orochimaru, the brightest of them all, who had turned to darkness because of his own failings as a sensei.

"I can't let that happen again," Hiruzen muttered to himself. His hand paused over a stack of documents. "Yuto, Naruko, Hitomi—they must not face the tragedies that befell my students."

Hiruzen sighed, reflecting on how different things could have been if he had done things differently back then. A Hokage's regrets were heavy, and even now, with all the responsibilities of the village on his shoulders, the past lingered in his heart.

But one thing was clear—this new generation had the potential to be even greater than the last, and he was determined to guide them better this time.

"They are strong," Hiruzen muttered to himself, turning his attention back to his work. "They just need the right guidance."

(Pls give me some power stones!)

(Find out next time on Naruto:Eye system)