Naruto: The heir of the Hoshino clan.

[Konohagakure — 70th Year Since Its Founding]

The light of a cold autumn dawn illuminated the village. The temperature was a bit low but bearable. The civilians began to take care of their clothing, preparing for the weather that announced the arrival of snow in the coming months. Unlike the ninjas, they were more sensitive to temperature changes.

Although some civilians envied the "power" or "status" of the ninjas, the vast majority were aware of the dangers they faced and how tedious and demanding that lifestyle was. That's why they thought it was better to simply support the stability of their nation by fulfilling their obligations through work and paying their taxes.

At least, that's what the adults thought.

"Fireball Jutsu!"

"Substitution Jutsu! Ha, you couldn't hit me."

A large number of children played at what they believed was being a ninja. They ran around frantically and smiling, imagining they could become ninjas when they grew up, while weaving the battles of ninjas with the power of their imagination.

The park was filled with civilian children, as the clans of Konoha usually trained their children in private. When they went out, it was simply to socialize with clans they considered allies. For obvious reasons, the descendants of those families couldn't interact with the "commoners," due to confidentiality and security concerns. They were only allowed to interact with the children of allies in the village's politics.

For example, in some secluded areas of the park, you could see children with the distinctive emblems of their families. Mainly, those commonly seen were: Akimichi, Nara, Yamanaka, Inuzuka, and Aburame. They all had something in common: they were members of a clan and were always accompanied.

Generally, there was never a child from a prominent clan who was alone, as they were taught from an early age the importance of teamwork. At least, that was the case for the most part. There could be some exceptions that were... questionable.

In particular, there was one boy who strongly stood out, and it wasn't for being a "demon fox" or having "monster eyes," unlike certain unfortunate girls. The boy watched the others play with an apparently unshakable demeanor and an ethereal atmosphere. His pale complexion, along with his jet-black hair, highlighted his sharp, dark eyes, filled with an evident loneliness that afflicted him.

"Meow~"

He simply limited himself to petting the cat in his arms, lost in his thoughts.

"Kyaa~"

As usual, he was secretly watched by a group of admirers, who were nothing more than a group of girls even younger than him. In their eyes, you could see not-so-pure intentions, to the point that one might confuse their actions with harassment. It made one wonder if kunoichi simply matured faster than civilian girls, or if there was something wrong with this world.

"Mmm, kay... one week left until my birthday. I wonder if I'll be able to enter the academy. Part of me doesn't want to leave you alone, but I can't disappoint my parents and lose the legacy my father earned."

He murmured, lost in his mind, enjoying the company of his furry friend.

His father wasn't a hero, not by a long shot. He didn't have great talent either, and frankly, he didn't remember him much, as he passed away when he was just over two years old. However, he had heard stories about him. Apparently, he was a kind and charismatic person, and he had helped the village a lot with his Fūinjutsu (Sealing Jutsu) during a time when users of it were scarce. So much so that he earned the right to have his own surname and, in turn, establish a new clan in Konoha.

Of course, with some restrictions, as his surname could only be passed down to his descendants, meaning from father to son. Unlike other clans, which had the freedom to adopt talented individuals into their families... although it was a practice that, unfortunately, no one used frequently.

Things like that had been explained to him repeatedly by village officials. Apparently, his father had left his respective resources to ensure a stable life for him, as well as some jutsus he had collected in case his son wanted to be a ninja.

He had to admit that it had become a bit annoying how insistent the officials had been in explaining everything, as they had visited him over a hundred times in the last year to explain things in detail.

*Sigh*

He couldn't help but sigh, lamenting not having known him. Such a kind person who cared so much about his son's future, even if his birth had caused his wife's death.

"He would have been a great father..."

His voice cracked slightly, and his glassy eyes seemed on the verge of tears.

"Meow"

He tried to control himself, petting his friend and only companion... who was also the only gift and memory his father left him so he wouldn't feel alone.

"You're right, Dad wouldn't want to see me cry. Thanks, kay."

He continued admiring the atmosphere of the place, watching the children play and ignoring the girls who looked at him worriedly.

A couple of hours passed. Feeling a bit hungry, he prepared to leave as he saw the now empty park.

*Thud*

The boy was slightly startled by the figure that appeared out of nowhere, but he quickly recognized the "uniform" of the individual. A very characteristic mask, accompanied by black clothing. It was a member of the ANBU, an elite organization under the direct command of the Hokage.

The ANBU in front of him radiated considerable pressure, which was quite impressive, as, judging by his height, he was quite young.

"Seiji Hoshino, the Hokage requests your presence."

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