Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi held his beloved pipe, calmly exhaling a thin stream of smoke as he regarded the young boy before him. There was a trace of satisfaction in his gaze, subtle but unmistakable.
After confirming that Zoro was the grandson of a leading figure among the Uchiha's so-called "dove faction," Hiruzen's earlier vigilance had eased considerably. Those moderates, known for their restraint and reluctance toward conflict, were not the sort to instill dangerous, rebellious ideologies in a child.
"Zoro, congratulations on your graduation. Is there any reward you would like?"
Hiruzen's tone was gentle, carrying the easy patience of someone who had governed for decades. When dealing with children, he knew exactly how to present himself—approachable, benevolent, and just distant enough to command respect.
Sensing the synchronization rate in his mind tick upward once more—now reaching twelve percent—Zoro paused briefly before replying.
"Lord Hokage, I don't have any particular requests. But if I had to ask for something…"
His gaze shifted slightly, landing on the meter-long katana resting at his waist.
"I see." Hiruzen nodded almost immediately, as if he had expected this. "I'll have the village craftsmen forge you a custom blade."
His voice remained warm, measured. To an outsider, it would be difficult to detect anything beneath that calm surface—any calculation, any deeper intent.
"By the way, regarding your assignment… we've decided to place you in Team Minato."
"Team Minato?"
A flicker of surprise passed through Uchiha Zoro's eyes. He hadn't anticipated that Namikaze Minato would be chosen as his instructor.
"Don't worry. Minato is an excellent shinobi."
Hiruzen seemed to catch the hesitation in Zoro's expression. He took another slow draw from his pipe before speaking again, his tone dropping slightly, more deliberate now.
"You've likely heard the recent rumors in the village. Certain circumstances have left Hatake Kakashi in a depressed state. Your talent surpasses his, so I hope you can temporarily take his place—and perhaps bring something new to Team Minato."
Deep within Hiruzen's eyes, a faint glimmer surfaced—calculating, almost imperceptible.
Bonds. Emotional ties. Those were the most effective chains for a shinobi.
And now, he intended to create the right conditions for those bonds to form around Zoro.
Without question, Minato—already deeply shaped by the Will of Fire—was an ideal conduit.
"I will follow Lord Hokage's arrangements."
Zoro's response was respectful, flawless on the surface. Yet beneath that calm exterior, a trace of coldness stirred.
So the old man intended to bind him to Konoha through relationships?
If the day ever came when he had to choose between the clan and the village, there would be no hesitation.
The clan would always come first.
That afternoon, Uchiha Zoro arrived at the designated training grounds.
He crossed a stretch of lush green grass, the faint scent of earth and leaves lingering in the air. Before long, two figures came into view—both around his age.
A boy. And a girl.
To Zoro, they were anything but ordinary.
In the anime, their names alone had been tied to the origins of the Fourth Shinobi World War. Calling them central to that tragedy would not be an exaggeration.
A familiar phrase surfaced in his mind, something he had once seen online:
Kamui couldn't conceal the tears—everywhere you looked, there was Rin.
"Hi—hello. My name is Nohara Rin. I'll be counting on you from now on."
The girl stepped forward with a gentle smile. Nohara Rin carried herself with quiet warmth, her expression soft yet steady.
Her short brown hair framed her face neatly, and her large, dark eyes were clear and bright. She wore a light pink skirt layered over safety shorts, paired with dark red over-the-knee socks. Red bracelets adorned her wrists, and the two purple markings on her cheeks gave her a uniquely recognizable look.
"Rin, why are you being so nice to him?"
The boy beside her spoke up immediately, his tone edged with irritation.
Dressed in goggles and casual training clothes, with a ninja pouch strapped at his side, Uchiha Obito looked at Zoro with open hostility.
Earlier that day, he had witnessed Zoro's overwhelming talent firsthand. Since then, he had instinctively lumped him together with Kakashi—another prodigy he couldn't stand.
It was the reflexive resentment of someone always lagging behind, staring up at those far ahead.
"Obito, you can't act like that. He's going to be our teammate."
Rin spoke gently, her tone patient. Her smile seemed to soften the atmosphere itself, leaving Obito momentarily dazed.
"Hello. I'm Uchiha Zoro. If you'd like, you can just call me Zoro."
Zoro introduced himself with a faint smile. He wore a black bandana tied around his head, a long black coat draped over his frame, and three katana secured at his waist.
One had been forged by the Uchiha clan. One commissioned through Hiruzen. And the last—a simple wooden sword—had accompanied him through years of relentless training.
His voice snapped Obito out of his stupor.
"My name's Uchiha Obito. And don't think I'll be intimidated just because you're the Second Elder's grandson."
Obito lifted his chin, his expression openly defiant, though Zoro—despite being three years younger—stood slightly taller than him.
"Obito!"
Rin placed her hands on her hips before abruptly grabbing Obito by the ear.
"Zoro-kun, sorry about that. Obito's just… like this. He's actually a good person."
Ignoring Obito's immediate protests, she apologized with a small, embarrassed smile.
"That's not true! He's just as annoying as Kakashi!"
Obito's voice faltered midway, his earlier bravado giving way to a bashful edge. A faint blush crept onto his face.
Watching this childish display, Zoro found it difficult to reconcile this boy with the man he would one day become—the instigator behind the Nine-Tails' attack, the shadow behind an entire war.
…This mindset would need correcting.
There was a principle he intended to teach him sooner or later:
A swordsman without distractions—without attachments—becomes unstoppable.
"Looks like you're all getting along."
Just as Zoro's thoughts drifted toward how best to "contribute" to the shinobi world—
—perhaps by removing certain future variables at the root—
A calm, gentle voice cut in.
That voice carried an easy warmth, smooth and magnetic. Even without turning around, Zoro could already tell—this person was the kind who naturally drew others in.
"Minato-sensei!"
"Minato-sensei."
The moment Rin saw him, she immediately released Obito's ear.
Zoro turned as well.
As expected.
The future Yellow Flash stood before them, his presence light yet unmistakable. Namikaze Minato's mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique gave him an elusive, almost intangible aura—even now, Zoro could sense a subtle pressure emanating from him.
A quiet thought surfaced:
Which was faster—Minato's teleportation… or his own blade?
"Minato-sensei."
Zoro inclined his head slightly in greeting.
"Mm. You must be the student assigned to me by Lord Hokage. I'll be in your care as well."
Minato smiled, his tone polite and unassuming.
Although he hadn't personally witnessed Zoro's graduation assessment, the reports were hard to ignore. They claimed Zoro possessed the strength to defeat a special jōnin in an instant.
If that was accurate, then his ability likely already exceeded Kakashi's.
"In that case, take some time to get familiar with one another. From today onward, you'll be teammates—partners who rely on each other in battle."
Minato spoke evenly, deliberately avoiding any direct mention of Kakashi.
At present, Kakashi was still trapped in the shadow of his father's death.
That was a burden no one else could lift for him.
He would have to find his own way out.