You are Uzumaki Shiki, and you’re in a position now that some would consider enviable, while others would avoid with their last exertions. In this room, defended from the outside with a force you’d almost call token compared to its occupants, there are three types of people – village leaders (your mother and the five Kages), their respective chosen adjutants (your sister Makoto, your friend Kōshū, the legendary Uchiha Sasuke, and three others you don’t know as well), and then, of course, you.

And right now, their gazes are all asking you the same question, just in various different ways. Many show some degree of curiosity, along with the calm pride evident in your mother’s eyes. Some, you don’t need to know the person to tell are looks of skepticism. That’s probably more common than you’ve seen, since your name is one many among the shinobi nations will doubtless know without having ever met you or worked with you.

Regardless of their nature, those gazes demand an answer from you.

“I’ve spoken with Delta-san,” you begin. “Both during our fight and since. So…”

“And what’s she given you?” Darui-san asks curtly.

“Darui-san,” Kurotsuchi-san interjects, feigning a smile. “I’d advise you against interrupting any more Uzumakis today.”

“The kid is here to answer our questions,” Darui counters gruffly. “Doesn’t matter what his name is or how fond you are of him.”

“You’ve only met Boruto-kun,” Kurotsuchi-san muses with a smirk. “Shiki-kun and Makoto-kun are… something different. Trust me on this one, they deserve your respect.”

“Naruto-kun was a sage at their age,” Darui shoots you an appraising glance. “He had the power to back up his rough attitude and lack of manners.”

“What makes you think we don’t?” you ask calmly, having discerned by Darui-san’s words what the problem is – it’s not something you’re unfamiliar with. Many older shinobi, those who were the right age to have fought in and survived the fourth war, share the opinion that today’s generation of shinobi aren’t up to the old standards.

And it’s not totally unfair. Most young shinobi today have little experience with combat, or even with life and death situations generally. Many would probably struggle to take another human life despite having the necessary skills to do so. And worst of all, something which you can agree on – there’s an overall lack of proper discipline. Even at the level of technical training and martial practice, that sort of discipline is critical. It allows even those without the gift of true talent to gain skill through perseverance and experience.
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