The streets of Konoha bustled with life, as they always did in the late morning. The scent of grilled meat and freshly baked bread drifted through the air, blending with the occasional clang of a blacksmith's hammer in the distance. The village was alive with energy as shinobi moved between missions and civilians went about their daily routines.
But inside a modest home near the marketplace, a small storm was brewing.
"Asasu! Wake up already, you little brat!"
The voice of Soki Shozen, high-pitched and full of frustration, rang through the house.
Buried under a thin futon, seven-year-old Asasu Shozen let out a tired groan, rolling over in protest. He had no interest in waking up yet, especially not to whatever chaos his twin siblings had undoubtedly caused.
The wooden floor creaked as Soki stomped closer. "If you don't get up, I'm gonna"
A weight suddenly crashed onto his back.
"Got him!" Ito Shozen's excited voice rang out, far too happy for whatever was happening.
Asasu gritted his teeth. "Ito, I swear"
Soki jumped on top of both of them, sending all three into a pile of tangled limbs and flailing arms.
"Mission complete!" Soki cheered, victorious.
"You guys suck," Asasu muttered into the futon.
It was another typical morning in the Shozen household.
Asasu eventually untangled himself from the twin terrors, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he sat up. He was small for his age, with messy dark brown hair that always seemed to stick up in weird directions no matter how much his mother tried to fix it. His grayish-brown eyes were still half-lidded with sleep, giving him a perpetually tired expression.
His clothes were simple just a loose long-sleeve t-shirt and a pair of dark pants. He hated shoes, preferring the feel of sandals even though they were always caked in dirt. No matter how much he washed them, they somehow ended up looking like he'd run through a training field full of mud.
Soki, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Messy, but energetic. Her dark hair was already a disaster despite their mother's attempts to brush it, and her grin was sharp and mischievous.
Ito, their glasses-wearing, book-loving brother, was adjusting his frames while grinning like he had just executed the greatest strategy in shinobi history.
"Mom said to get up," Ito added as if that excused them from their crimes.
Asasu yawned, scratching his head. "Yeah, yeah. I'm up."
The Shozen family home was small but lived-in, full of warmth and noise. The scent of food filled the air, courtesy of their mother, Kosu Shozen, who ran a small but popular restaurant in the village.
"You finally woke up, huh?" Kosu called from the kitchen, her voice light but carrying that motherly tone that meant you better listen or else.
She was moving quickly, stirring a pot while flipping something over a hot pan. Despite the rush, she had a wide, satisfied smile on her face. Kosu was a woman full of energy, always bouncing between different things but somehow never losing control.
"Blame them," Asasu muttered, pointing lazily at his younger siblings, who immediately scattered like guilty criminals.
"Uh-huh," Kosu said, unconvinced. "Hurry up and eat before your father steals your food."
A low, lazy voice came from the other side of the room. "I wouldn't do that… unless you take too long."
Asasu turned his head to see his father, Rentaro Shozen, lying across the floor like a man who had zero responsibilities.
His father was stretched out, one leg crossed over the other, sandals kicked off nearby, and an old book resting on his chest. His expression was the same as Asasu's half-lidded eyes, completely unbothered by the chaos around him.
"Morning, kid," Rentaro greeted, flipping a page in his book without looking up.
Asasu rubbed his face. "Dad, you're supposed to be a Jonin. Why do you look like you haven't moved in hours?"
"Because I haven't," Rentaro replied easily. "Long mission last night. Need my rest."
"Asleep in the middle of the house?"
Rentaro smirked. "Best spot. Good airflow."
Kosu sighed, shaking her head. "Ignore him, Asasu. Your father is a bad example."
Rentaro snorted. "That's not what you said back when we first met."
"Shut up and eat your food."
Asasu plopped down at the table, picking at his plate. Breakfast was simple but filling rice, grilled fish, and miso soup. A pretty standard meal, though he was mostly focusing on trying to wake up enough to function.
Across from him, Ito was already nose-deep in a book.
"What are you even reading?" Asasu asked, taking a bite.
"A historical record of the Third Shinobi War," Ito replied without looking up. "The tactics used by the major nations, how they handled supply lines, the strategic formations---"
"Uh-huh," Asasu cut in. "Never mind."
Ito huffed. "You should read more."
"I don't need to read," Asasu said lazily. "Dad says experience is the best teacher."
Ito adjusted his glasses. "That's exactly what people who don't read say."
Soki snorted. "He's got a point."
Rentaro chuckled, stretching his arms. "Reading's important, but so is knowing how to fight. You're gonna be in the Academy soon, Asasu. You excited?"
Asasu shrugged. "Dunno."
His father raised an eyebrow. "You don't sound excited."
"I mean… I don't really know anything yet," Asasu admitted, poking at his food. "I'm not like a clan kid. They already know a bunch of jutsu before they even join. I'm just… me."
Rentaro hummed, looking at him for a moment. Then, he smirked.
"You'll be fine," he said simply. "You're a Shozen. We figure things out."
Kosu sighed. "That's a terrible lesson."
Rentaro just grinned, completely unbothered.
Asasu wasn't sure how to feel. The Academy was supposed to be a big deal, but he didn't have any cool jutsu, any legendary bloodline techniques, or anything special. He was just… a kid.
He looked down at his dirty sandals, wondering if he'd ever be more than just a kid from a civilian family.
Outside, the sounds of the village continued shinobi jumping between rooftops, merchants calling out their sales, people moving toward their daily lives.
Asasu didn't know it yet, but this was the last time he'd ever feel truly normal.
Because soon, his life as a shinobi would begin.
And the world wouldn't wait for him to catch up.