The next day, the Third Hokage arranged for an ANBU ninja to take Naruto to the Ninja Academy.
“Hanatarō, you’re here too?”
“Brother Junxi!”
“Byakkomaru, I definitely won’t lose to you when it comes to becoming a ninja!”
…
Children enthusiastically greeted friends and acquaintances one after another
“Makoko-san, Reiko-chan, you came too?”
“Wamei-kun, is this your child?”
…
The adults likewise warmly greeted the parents they were acquainted with.
Then, the moment the ANBU arrived with Naruto—
The entire area abruptly fell silent.
“It’s that child. He’s actually still alive!”
“How could he be dead? Don’t you shop at the market all the time? If it weren’t for the prohibition…”
“Shh. You’re forbidden from saying the rest.”
“Hmph. Someone like that should just die.”
“How shameless!”
…
In an instant, adult after adult turned venomous gazes toward Naruto.
“Mom? Dad?”
The children uneasily tugged at their parents.
The adults immediately found an outlet for their resentment.
They began sternly warning their children, resorting to threats and intimidation without hesitation.
“Tatamaru, remember this. Never, ever play with that child. If I find out you’ve been playing with him, I’ll beat you.”
“Fuko, see that child? Stay far away from him from now on. You’re not allowed to become friends with him. Understand?”
“Mame-chan, even if that child dies right in front of you, you’re not allowed to save him. Do you understand?”
…
With Naruto’s arrival, virtually every parent began harshly warning their children to stay away from him.
“Mom, Dad, I-I won’t play with him.”
“Mom, Dad, I’ll definitely stay far away from him.”
…
Under their parents’ intimidation, the children hurriedly gave their assurances, bewildered by the severity of the warnings.
“What’s so special about that kid? Why are all those parents telling their children not to play with him?”
The pineapple-headed Shikamaru asked his father, Shikaku Nara.
“There’s nothing special about him. If you want to play with him, then play with him. If you think he’s someone worth becoming friends with, then become his friend,” Shikaku replied.
“Just follow Shikamaru’s judgment,” Chōza Akimichi said, patting Chōji Akimichi on the shoulder.
“The same goes for you, Ino,” Inoichi Yamanaka told his daughter.
“I don’t care about any of that anyway,” Ino replied dismissively.
Then she spotted Sakura and immediately waved excitedly.
“Sakura!”
“Ino!”
Sakura noticed her as well and instantly waved back.
They had already known each other from preschool.
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The ninja clans even had a preschool program.
Although Sakura had performed rather poorly in the original story, she still belonged to a shinobi clan with its own clan crest.
Even if that clan probably only had a handful of members.
Naruto did not remain outside for long.
The ANBU ninja was only there to complete his mission.
After quickly helping Naruto finish the enrollment procedures, he left.
Naturally, Naruto had no intention of ingratiating himself with people who clearly wanted nothing to do with him.
So he went straight home as well.
Tomorrow would be the official first day of school.
“Look! It’s the Uchiha Clan!”
Just as Naruto was preparing to leave the Ninja Academy, an exclamation suddenly rang out from among the crowd that had been casting disgusted looks at him.
Naruto looked over.
Sasuke Uchiha was approaching the Ninja Academy with his head held proudly, holding Itachi Uchiha’s hand.
“That’s Sasuke Uchiha, the second son of the Uchiha Clan Head. He’s so handsome.”
“Yeah! Even standing beside the genius Itachi Uchiha, he doesn’t look inferior at all.”
“It’s just a shame their surname is Uchiha. Those Uchihas are so irritating.”
In the end, the adults still could not suppress their resentment.
“Wow, he’s so handsome!”
The little girls, on the other hand, were instantly captivated by Sasuke.
“Looks like you’re pretty popular, Sasuke.”
Itachi Uchiha smiled happily at seeing his younger brother receive so much attention.
Everything looked so wonderful.
Unfortunately, it was nothing more than a fleeting illusion.
Naruto watched them for a moment before calmly walking past them.
“Hmm?”
The moment Itachi Uchiha saw Naruto, he paused and frowned slightly.
“What’s wrong, Big Brother?” Sasuke asked.
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
Itachi shook his head.
He had recognized Naruto as the Nine-Tails’ Jin chūriki.
And aside from someone possessing the Uzumaki hiden techniques, there were hardly any suitable candidates to serve as the Nine-Tails’ Jin chūriki.
Combined with Naruto’s blond hair…
Among Konoha’s major shinobi clans, Naruto’s identity as the Fourth Hokage’s son was hardly a secret.
It was something they could figure out simply by thinking about it.
Naturally, someone like Itachi Uchiha, the young heir of the Uchiha Clan, could not possibly be unaware of it.
He also knew that the Fourth Hokage’s wife and his own mother had been close friends.
Unfortunately, Itachi, who possessed a Hokage-like way of thinking, did not frown because of Naruto’s treatment.
He frowned because allowing the Nine-Tails’ Jin chūriki to attend the Ninja Academy seemed far too dangerous.
He had no idea what the Third Hokage was thinking.
Yet contradictory as he was, Itachi also believed that the Fourth Hokage was a hero of Konoha, and that seeing the hero’s son treated with such exceptional favor would inspire Konoha’s ninja to work even harder to protect the village.
It only reinforced his belief that the village was right…
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Naturally, Naruto had no way of hearing Itachi Uchiha’s thoughts.
Otherwise, he undoubtedly would have sighed inwardly.
There really are far too many lunatics in this world.
“…Where the leaves dance, the fire burns. The fire’s shadow illuminates the village, and once again, new leaves will sprout. This is the Will of Fire. I hope all of you students gathered here today will one day become flames that illuminate Konoha and nurture the new leaves.”
The following day, after speaking at length for two entire hours, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally concluded his opening address.
“Class A: Shigeta Saiko, Iki Rinko… Sasuke Uchiha, Shikamaru Nara, Chōji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka, Hinata Hyūga, Sakura Haruno… Naruto Uzumaki. Everyone whose name I called, follow me,” Iruka Umino announced.
“Next is the list for Class B. Mado Daigō…”
Mizuki stepped forward and began reading.
Naturally, Class B had nothing to do with Class A.
Naruto had no intention of wasting time listening to the Class B roster, and neither did the other Class A students.
While Mizuki continued reading names on one side, the members of Class A stepped out of the crowd one after another and gathered in front of Iruka.
After confirming that everyone was present, Iruka led Naruto and the others toward the Class A classroom.
“This is our Class A classroom. Unless we’re attending an outdoor lesson, this is where we’ll have class from now on,” Iruka said.
“Now, everyone find a seat.”
The students immediately headed toward whichever seats they preferred.
Naturally, it was first come, first served.
Naruto casually walked toward the back.
Then he sat down beside the window.
He had barely taken his seat when Shikamaru sat beside him.
“Hi. I’m Shikamaru Nara.”
Shikamaru extended a hand toward Naruto.
“Naruto Uzumaki.”
Naruto smiled and shook his hand.
“Shikamaru, you unmotivated idiot. You’re planning to hide back here and sleep again, aren’t you?”
A disdainful female voice immediately sounded beside them.
Who else could it be but Ino?
She promptly sat down beside Shikamaru.
“What? You’re not sitting with your best friend?” Shikamaru asked.
“Don’t mention her to me!”
Ino gritted her teeth.
Clearly, the fragile little boat of friendship between the two girls, who had still been getting along perfectly well yesterday, had already capsized.
“You two had a fight?” Shikamaru asked in surprise.
“Hmph! I’m not going to lose to her. Sasuke-kun will definitely be mine!”
Ino proudly made her declaration.
“Tch. You women are such a pain.”
Shikamaru immediately looked disgusted.
“All right. Since everyone has found a seat, settle down.”
Iruka looked across the classroom.
“Next, we’ll begin with introductions so everyone can get to know one another. After all, from today onward, we’ll be teacher and students, as well as classmates.”
“First, I’ll introduce myself.”
“My name is Iruka Umino. I’m a Chūnin. My dream was to become a teacher, and now I’ve achieved it. I like eating Ichiraku Ramen, I dislike mixed rice, the word I like is ‘trust,’ and my hobby is soaking in hot springs. That’s about it.”
Iruka then pointed toward the heavily covered boy sitting in the corner.
“Next, starting from the left, introduce yourselves using the same format I just did.”