The Konoha F6

"Hey, hey, hey, Danzo! Did you see that? The teacher's smiling at that kid!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi kept shaking the friend beside him, hoping to make him tell him this wasn't really happening!

Danzo fought off his dizziness and managed to say, "Stop shaking me, Hiruzen! I'm going to throw up my breakfast!"

Only when Danzo was about to pass out from the shaking did Hiruzen Sarutobi finally let go, apologetically.

But he still couldn't understand why their usually strict teacher was being so gentle today. And not even with him!

"So that's who he is."

Kagami Uchiha muttered quietly beside them, but Hiruzen Sarutobi still caught the faint words.

He hooked an arm around Kagami's shoulders and said righteously, "Kagami! Do you know something? Out with it!"

Kagami Uchiha gave Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was acting like a clown, a helpless smile. "That's Kumonaka Torikaze, Lord Hokage's student."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly felt that it might have been better to stay in the dark and remain blissfully ignorant.

That would have been much better than learning news like this.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slumped to the ground and said dejectedly, "When did Lord Hokage take on a student? How come I didn't know?"

Kagami Uchiha smiled. "Just yesterday. Half the people in Konoha already know."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked to the friends around him, but they all confirmed it.

Kagami then asked, "By the way, do none of you know the Kumonaka Clan?"

At Kagami's words, the others suddenly remembered that the kid was from the Kumonaka Clan.

Only Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura still looked completely confused, since they were civilians.

Danzo explained, "The Kumonaka Clan is an ancient family. No one knows where they came from."

"Their line is passed down through a single heir. The clan members are skilled at controlling clouds and mist, and they're all powerful. Few people dare to provoke them."

Hiruzen Sarutobi perked up again and nodded, adding, "Also, I heard that the previous clan head, Kumonaka Yama, never learned their secret technique, so the Kumonaka Clan had no choice but to join Konoha."

Torifu Akimichi, who was snacking nearby, was rather interested in this person who shared his name.

Every now and then, he chimed in with his thoughts.

"Then does that mean this kid has already learned that secret technique?" Utatane Koharu asked.

"Why?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes went wide. He couldn't figure out why Koharu would say that.

Utatane Koharu looked exasperated and rubbed her twitching eye. "Seriously, Hiruzen? You're the Young Clan Head of the Sarutobi Clan! You don't even understand that?"

At those words, Hiruzen Sarutobi sprang to his feet. "I don't like what you're implying! Of course I understand! I was just trying to liven things up!"

Everyone waited to hear his brilliant explanation, but he could only stammer, unable to get out a complete sentence.

Hiruzen looked resigned. "All right, I really don't know. Tell me."

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't seem to be pretending, Danzo said,

"If Lord Hokage took a six-year-old as his student, the child must have something exceptional about him. Lord Hokage wouldn't take on a student for no reason."

"That's it?"

"Ha! You couldn't even figure out something that simple!" Koharu mocked from the side.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face turned red, but he still stubbornly insisted, "Tch, I was pretending. How could I not know? I was just testing you all. Congratulations, you passed!"

The others were all at a loss for words, but they had to admit that without Hiruzen Sarutobi, their group would probably be gloomy all day long.

"Hey, you lot! Hurry up and get over here!"

When they heard Lord Tobirama calling them, they hurried over, afraid their teacher would get angry and punish them.

"Teacher, Lord Hokage, good morning!" Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others greeted them respectfully.

Tobirama merely nodded, while Hashirama beamed and said, "Good morning, kids."

He glanced over everyone present, then asked, "Kagami, why isn't your sister here?"

Only then did Kagami suddenly remember that he'd forgotten his sister.

He apologized. "I'm sorry, Lord Hokage. We were racing to see who could reach the top of the mountain first, and I..."

Senju Hashirama rubbed his forehead helplessly. He hadn't expected Kagami, who was usually so conscientious, to make this kind of mistake.

He supposed Kagami was still a boy, too easily carried away by excitement.

Sure enough, before long, a figure appeared on the horizon, looking thoroughly disgruntled.

Kagami guiltily turned his head, not daring to meet Chirori's eyes.

Chirori was furious, but Lord Tobirama and Lord Hokage were both there.

She couldn't afford to lose her composure, so she'd have to let her brother off this time!

"Now that everyone's here, let's introduce ourselves. We'll start with Torikaze."

Kumonaka Torikaze stepped forward and smiled warmly. "Hello, everyone. I'm Kumonaka Torikaze, clan head of the Kumonaka Clan. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Hello, everyone. I'm Uchiha Chirori, Kagami's younger sister. Nice to meet you."

Then it was Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others' turn to introduce themselves. Torikaze felt he already knew them quite well.

He took this opportunity to study each of their appearances closely.

They looked quite different from the elderly versions he remembered.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a Konoha Forehead Protector and introduced himself very carefully.

His eyes shone, and the others' gazes held a hint of admiration.

It was clear that he was the leader of this little group.

Danzo spoke calmly and logically. He seemed like a clever person.

The contrast between him and Hiruzen Sarutobi was striking. It was worth noting that he didn't yet have a scar on his chin.

Mitokado Homura wore glasses and didn't look particularly remarkable. You might not even recognize him if you passed him on the street.

What surprised Torikaze was that Utatane Koharu had been a beauty when she was young.

Her hair was tied up in a bun, giving her a rather spirited air.

There was nothing particularly special about Torifu Akimichi. He had the standard build of a fat man.

Still, since Lord Tobirama had taken him on as a student, he must have had some real ability.

Last came Kagami Uchiha. From the others' expressions, it was clear that Kagami got along well with them.

He was thoughtful without being old-fashioned, and his kind, humble manner made people feel at ease.

His deep blue hair and handsome Uchiha features made him a classic Uchiha heartthrob.

At school, he would surely have won over countless girls.

Torikaze had now gotten a proper look at all the people who would one day hold power in Konoha.

Leaving aside how they'd turn out in old age, in their youth they were all brimming with energy.

Each of them was like a radiant rising sun, confidence shining from every part of them.

"All right! Now that you've all met, you can get to know each other better as you spend time together," Senju Hashirama said cheerfully.

Then he looked toward the village, and Tobirama, Torikaze, and the others followed his gaze.

The view was wide open here, offering a panorama of the whole village.

People starting work in the morning, children on their way to school, and countless other sights filled their view.

"After all, the future of Konoha will surely be in your hands!"

At those words, an indescribable feeling welled up in everyone.

Maybe it was because Lord Hokage trusted them, or because they loved the village so dearly, or perhaps for some other reason.

Whatever the cause, a seed called Konoha had been planted in their hearts.

One day, that seed would take root and grow into a towering tree that blotted out the sky.

"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn on!"