Konoha, Sixteen Years—
It had been a year since the end of the Ninja War, and the village of Konoha no longer needed to maintain wartime alert status. Except for the Anbu Ninjas, who remained on guard missions, the overall atmosphere leaned towards a more relaxed state, reflecting a time of peace and prosperity.
The Hokage had made deliberate efforts to promote the rise of civilian ninjas, encouraging civilians to send their children to the academy by implementing measures to improve their quality of life. Even civilians who rented land from ninja clans found their circumstances comparable to those who owned land independently.
Compared to the past, civilians now lived better in Konoha. They no longer had to worry about much besides diligently working their fields. Unconsciously, they began to develop a strong sense of belonging to the village, which was exactly what the interim Hokage had hoped to achieve.
In addition to the civilians, there were others who had traveled to Konoha—mainly merchants, craftsmen, and members of declining samurai families.
Some enterprising merchants saw business opportunities in the complex relationship between Konoha and the Land of Fire, hoping to expand their ventures. Others, whose businesses had failed, sought refuge in Konoha, betting on a brighter future.
During the First Ninja War, the demand for ninja tools in Konoha had surged beyond what the ninja clans could supply. This drew a wave of skilled craftsmen to the village, eager to capitalize on the mutual benefits.
However, the status of samurai had sharply declined after the First Ninja War. The conflicts had left many samurai families destitute, nearly indistinguishable from civilians. After much internal struggle, some families chose to abandon their samurai ways and turn towards the path of the ninja.
One such family was the Hatake clan. Once a well-known samurai family, their status had crumbled under the new order established by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, which had placed ninja above all. Those samurai unwilling to adapt retreated to the Land of Iron, while the rest, though reluctant to abandon their traditions, chose to change their mindset.
Had the war not occurred, the Hatake clan might have continued as samurai. However, the war's aftermath brought hardship, and the family found themselves struggling to survive. Fortunately, the current head of the clan was not a stubborn man. When he realized that the samurai held no future for them, he decisively relocated his family to Konoha.
Although samurai did not wield ninjutsu, their physical prowess and combat skills made them effective fighters. While they lacked the stealth tactics of ninjas, their abilities allowed them to progress quickly at the ninja academy. Hatake Sakumo, the only son of the clan head, stood out as particularly exceptional.
At seven years old, Sakumo had already undergone rigorous training, becoming highly proficient in his family's swordsmanship. If one disregarded the principles of ninjas and judged solely by strength, Sakumo was among the top of his peers. Even though he had yet to master ninja techniques, he had learned how to counter them effectively. The teachers at the academy had high hopes for his future.
Despite arriving in Konoha with almost nothing, the Hatake clan had been granted land by the village—a privilege not extended to ordinary people. The clan consisted only of the patriarch and his son, Sakumo. With no ambition left after past failures, the patriarch's only hope was for his son to establish a stable life in Konoha.
To his delight, Sakumo had recently returned with news that he had been noticed by Fumori Masaki, a prominent figure in Konoha, and was about to leave the academy to become his student.
Having moved to Konoha, the patriarch had naturally conducted some research on the village. Though he couldn't uncover deeper secrets, he did learn that Masaki was a student of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. And personally trained with First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. He never expected his son to attract the attention of such a distinguished individual.
"Sakumo, cherish this opportunity and study hard under your sensei," Hatake Hagaki advised sincerely. "We come from a clan of samurai, its quite similar to Fumori-sama and we don't quite fit in here. If we want to integrate into this village, we'll need the support of people like Fumori-sama."
"I understand, Otou-san," Sakumo replied with a reassuring smile. "I decided to live as a ninja a long time ago."
Hagaki gave a bitter smile. "Who would have thought, after all these years, that our family would embrace the path of the ninja? It's a relief that you've adapted so quickly. I was worried you might not understand."
How could he not understand? Sakumo thought, his eyes falling on his father's thinning figure. He knew the weight of their clan's history as samurai made it difficult for his father to let go, despite his outward acceptance.
Though young, Sakumo was intelligent and perceptive. He could see through his father's attempts to hide his inner turmoil. His father's willingness to come to Konoha was a decision born out of necessity, not ease.
Determined to alleviate the burden on his father, Sakumo had always been obedient. He resolved to use his own strength to secure a place for their family in Konoha.
Soon after, Sakumo received a message from his teacher regarding their meeting location and details about his two future teammates. At the academy, he had learned that ninja teams typically consisted of three members. This structure, modeled after the successful collaboration between the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans during the war, had become widely adopted.
"I wonder what kind of people my teammates will be," Sakumo murmured, feeling a little nervous. He knew that coming from a samurai clan made him stand out in a village dominated by ninja. Just as samurai had their reservations about ninja, many ninja were wary of samurai. During his time in Konoha, Sakumo had already noticed the occasional cold glance from those around him.
It was precisely for this reason that Hagaki was eager for his son to study under Masaki, hoping that it would help Sakumo gain the recognition and acceptance of the village. For outsiders like them, the feeling of not belonging was unsettling.
On the day of the meeting, Sakumo left early and arrived at the designated training ground. The village had been expanding its training facilities recently, prioritizing the development of its students. Some grounds were public, while others, like the one Sakumo had been assigned, were private.
Masaki was a student of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. Born into the Fumori clan, which once samurai family like Hatake, after civil war in his clan, Masaki taken in by the Senju Hashirama during the Warring States Period, Masaki had proven himself at the academy. During the First Ninja War, he had led a raid behind enemy lines, cutting off supplies of the Kumo Ninja Village and defeating the infamous Kinkaku Ginkaku Force, a victory that forced their retreat and bought time for Konoha to adjust its strategy.
As Sakumo recalled these stories, which were recounted to all academy students, his admiration for Masaki only grew.
"I wonder what kind of person he is. I hope we get along well," Sakumo muttered to himself. Suddenly, he sensed someone approaching. He turned quickly to see a boy walking slowly toward him.