The seasons had shifted, and with them, so had Hiro’s world.

  Over the past several months, life had changed in ways both subtle and immense. The old orphanage, once cramped and underfunded, was now a memory, repced by a rger, better-equipped facility. The building stood tall, designed with a mix of tradition and practicality—a home rather than just a shelter.

  Hiro and Kaya had moved into a small house attached to the orphanage, giving them a space of their own while still remaining close to the children. For the first time, Hiro had a home that belonged to him.

  The expansion of the orphanage brought a flood of new faces. Children from another orphanage were integrated, their numbers swelling. Kaya, now responsible for the combined facility, had not found her workload reduced—but it had changed.

  Instead of scrambling to keep things running, she was able to focus on helping the children adjust, ensuring each one felt accepted and cared for.

  With the help of her shadow clones, she implemented structured programs tailored to each child’s potential:

  Those with shinobi aspirations trained for the Academy.Others studied for bureaucratic roles, learning literacy, arithmetic, and trade skills.Kaya worked with both old allies and new contacts from the Hokage’s office to ensure each child had a path forward.The orphanage had become something more than just a refuge—it was now a pce where children could find their purpose.

  Hiro’s days had grown more structured, his training more intense.

  His weekly sparring sessions with Natsume continued, each one forcing him to push his limits. Shinji, when avaible, supervised their matches, critiquing their form and strategy with his usual sharp eye.

  One evening, after a particurly grueling session, Shinji had spoken to him directly.

  "You’re hiding your real specialty," he had said, his tone neutral but his eyes sharp. "That summoning power Kaya asked me to help keep quiet—it’s your biggest weapon. But even without it, you’re not bad at armed combat."

  Hiro had been too exhausted to say much in response, but those words had stuck with him. Shinji wasn’t one to give empty praise.

  "If you refine your whip style and find a solid close-range counter, you could be dangerous."

  It was the closest thing to a compliment Shinji had ever given him.

  Hiro stood outside the orphanage, staring into the vilge as the morning sun cast golden hues across the rooftops. His fingers curled at his sides as he took in the familiar streets, the distant sound of merchants setting up for the day, and the faint ughter of children pying nearby.

  The day had come.

  The Academy entrance exam.

  Behind him, Kaya leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, a knowing look on her face. She had been watching him for a while, letting him process everything on his own.

  "It’s time, Hiro," she called gently.

  Hiro turned toward her, eyes steady but heart pounding.

  "I know," he said.

  Kaya pushed off the doorway, stepping toward him. "You’ve worked hard for this. You’ll do just fine."

  Hiro exhaled slowly and nodded. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the first real step toward his future as a shinobi.

  And he was going to do it without his summoner abilities.

  As he turned toward the road, ready to leave, he felt Kaya’s hand on his shoulder.

  "No matter what happens in there," she said, voice firm, "you are strong. And you are ready."

  Hiro met her gaze, a sense of warmth settling over him.

  "I know," he repeated. And this time, he believed it.