---
The afternoon sun bathed the streets of Konoha as the three genin left the training field. The silence between them was almost palpable—until Ren decided to break it.
"So… Izuna, right?" he said, walking sideways like a crab to face Izuna. "You're, like, the quiet type? Not into socializing?"
Izuna kept his pace steady, a small smile on his lips. "Not exactly."
Enma stepped forward, shoving Ren aside and walking now between the two. Her teal-blue hair glistened under the sunlight.
"Oh, leave him alone, Ren. He'll talk when he feels like it." She glanced at Izuna with a mischievous smile. "Besides, I've heard things about Sasuke, but I bet you're way more interesting than him."
Ren laughed nervously, pointing to a food stand. "Hey, have you guys ever tried old Mebuki's dango? Best in the village! Wanna go give it a try?"
"I—"
Izuna was about to answer when Enma grabbed his arm without ceremony. "Don't overthink it, Izuna-kun. Let's go!"
The touch was surprisingly... normal. None of the usual hesitation people had when approaching a Uchiha.
Izuna looked at his arm being held so naturally and smiled, shaking his head before following the two.
---
[At Konoha's Central Plaza]
Ren threw himself onto a wooden bench, sprawling out like he was melting under the sun. "It's so hot today," he murmured.
Enma laughed, tossing a coin to a street vendor and grabbing three popsicles. "Here." She tossed one to Ren, who caught it, then held one up to Izuna's nose before he could refuse.
"I… thanks." Izuna took the popsicle, feeling the chill cool his fingers.
"You're so serious!" Enma said, licking her own popsicle. "Our team's gonna be the best, so you need to relax a little."
Ren jumped off the bench, landing next to them. "Enma's right! Team 6—we're gonna be the best squad." He laughed.
Izuna looked at the two—Ren with his contagious energy, Enma with her challenging spark—and gave them a small smile.
"Maybe you're right," he murmured, taking a small bite of the popsicle.
Enma grinned, like she'd won something. "There it is! The great Uchiha agrees with us mere mortals."
Ren threw an arm over Izuna's shoulders, popsicle in the other hand. "Now we're talking! Next stop—Ichiraku!" he shouted, pointing ahead.
"All you think about is food?" Izuna teased, a rare moment of playfulness.
They all laughed as they walked toward Teuchi's ramen stand, the setting sun casting long shadows across the streets of Konoha.
"Hey, food is ninja fuel, you know?" Ren replied with a grin, hands behind his head. "Besides, Teuchi's ramen is practically sacred."
Izuna shook his head, though half agreeing. On missions, they'd have to rely on soldier pills, which were said to taste awful. Compared to that, ramen really could be considered sacred.
They kept chatting until they passed a ninja tool shop, its window display filled with all kinds of weaponry. Ren suddenly stopped, eyes wide at the sight of a massive black shuriken on display.
"Whoa…" He stepped closer, nearly pressing his face to the glass. "Look at the size of that Fūma shuriken! I need it."
The ninja tool shop carried the familiar smell of weapon oil and varnished wood. Shelves lined the walls, filled with kunai, shuriken, and all kinds of gear. The owner, an elderly man with thick glasses, barely looked up when the trio entered.
Ren made a beeline for the massive Fūma-shuriken on display. "This beauty's gonna be mine!" He shook a coin pouch with a grin.
Enma, meanwhile, was drawn to a pair of short daggers with carved handles. She picked them up carefully, testing their balance. "Perfect for applying poisons," she murmured, satisfied, before heading to the counter with the blades.
Izuna, however, felt himself drawn to the back of the store—where the katanas glinted under the dim lighting.
That's when he saw it.
Hanging from a hooked stand, an imposing katana caught his eye.
Blade: 90cm of matte black steel, with an edge that shimmered like moonlight on water.
Hilt: Wrapped in purple and gold silk, with a 30cm tsuka—ideal for two hands.
Weight: Heavy model.
Price: 3,000 ryō—almost all of his saved money.
"Interested in the Kuroken, boy?" The old blacksmith appeared out of nowhere, rubbing his wrinkled hands like a sly merchant.
"Kuroken? That's the name of the katana?" Izuna asked.
The old man nodded.
"That blade's made from black steel from the Earth Country mines, forged in the Land of Mist. Last of its batch."
Izuna picked up the katana without hesitation. It was heavier than a standard blade—but when he gave it a test swing, the balance was flawless. The blade hissed through the air like it had a life of its own.
"Three thousand, you said?" Izuna was already reaching for his coin pouch.
It was nearly all the money he had saved, but soon he'd be going on missions with Team 6. There was no need to be stingy.
"Interested in kenjutsu, Izuna-kun?" Enma appeared suddenly at his side, her new daggers already strapped to her waist.
"A bit, yeah. Yūgao-sensei is a kenjutsu specialist," Izuna replied, lightly touching the blade. "It makes sense to try learning some."
Enma smiled, crossing her arms. "Looks like Team 6 will have its own swordsman, then."
Izuna smiled—"I'll take it," he decided, handing over the 3,000 ryō.
The blacksmith wrapped the katana in silk cloth before sliding it into its black scabbard. "Good choice, kid. This blade has no history—never been used." He glanced at the symbol on Izuna's forehead protector. "Maybe now it'll earn one with you."
Izuna nodded.
As they left the shop, Izuna adjusted the katana's mount at his waist. The weight wasn't uncomfortable—and it felt like it suited him.
Enma nudged him in the ribs. "You know, you're starting to look like Yūgao-sensei."
Izuna rolled his eyes but couldn't help a small smile. "Let's eat. I'm paying for ramen."
"Yes!" Enma shouted and ran ahead, grinning.
The three continued their walk—
Ren adjusting the Fūma-shuriken strap across his shoulders, Enma spinning a dagger between her fingers with natural ease, and Izuna with the katana secured at his side.
Five minutes later.
The tempting aroma of meat broth and fresh noodles filled the air as Team 6 arrived at Ichiraku. The weather was clear, and the stand wasn't too crowded today.
Inside, Naruto was devouring his third bowl while Iruka tried, unsuccessfully, to get him to eat with moderation.
"Ah! Izuna!" Naruto shouted with his mouth full, raising his chopsticks in greeting, then noticed the two next to Izuna. "Oh, these are your new teammates? They seem cool."
Izuna nodded as he sat at the counter with his teammates. "Hello, Iruka-sensei. These are my teammates: Ren Tanaka and Enma Yuki. We're the future Team 6."
Enma pulled a stool up beside Izuna, her elbow nearly brushing his. She greeted Iruka, then turned to Naruto. "The famous Naruto Uzumaki, huh? I've heard about your… performance at the Academy." Her amber eyes sparkled with amusement.
Naruto tilted his head but smiled, wondering if he was really that famous.
Ren grinned wide. "You're Iruka-sensei? You taught my cousin last year!"
Iruka chuckled, nodding at Ren, though clearly more relieved to see Izuna interacting normally. "Looks like we've got a promising new team here. What do you—"
"HEY! What's that sword?!" Naruto interrupted, pointing wide-eyed at Izuna's katana.
Before Izuna could answer, Iruka sighed. "Naruto, don't interrupt when people are talking. And look closely, it's not a sword—it's a katana."
Oh…
The blond shrugged. "Alright, alright, fine. But seriously, I'm jealous! Team 7 didn't get any cool weapons…"
Iruka shook his head, knowing it was rare for any sensei to gift tools this early. Clearly, they'd bought them on their own.
Iruka smiled, then looked at the three genin, then over at Teuchi behind the counter. "You know what? To celebrate all the new teams forming—today, ramen's on me."
"REALLY?!" Naruto and Ren shouted in unison, while Enma smiled in satisfaction.
Izuna tilted his head. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei."
Iruka smiled.
As the orders arrived—miso ramen for Izuna, spicy for Enma, and the daily special for Ren—the sounds of conversation and laughter mixed with the warm steam rising from the bowls.
Iruka watched Izuna between sips of tea. He seemed different—still serious, but now with a new sword at his side and two friends by his side. Something had shifted in him, beyond the new gear.
He was still the same quiet boy… but now, there was a little more warmth in his eyes. Maybe, just maybe, he was finally starting to let go after that…
---
(A/N: I may end up not posting this week due to personal problems and lack of creativity. With AI it may seem easy to write, but it's not that simple. As soon as everything is resolved and I have a calmer head I'll start posting again.)