The Ninja Academy.
New students gathered on the playground, chattering away like birds.
Nearby, parents stood in groups, laughing or giving last-minute instructions to their children.
Outside the lively crowd, a blond-haired boy sat alone on a swing.
There was envy and loneliness in his eyes as he watched the others.
Naruto Uzumaki wanted to join them.
But whenever he approached, the other children would walk away.
Whispers of "Demon Fox," "bad omen," and "monster" followed him.
The adults' attitudes hurt even more.
Pairs of strange eyes looked at him with disgust and cold indifference.
He was scared.
Those gazes were like knives, piercing deep into his heart.
I just want to be acknowledged by you guys too.
Looking up meant seeing eyes full of rejection.
So he lowered his head, pretending to study the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves onto the ground.
"Hey, Naruto!"
A familiar voice instantly dispelled the darkness in his heart.
Naruto snapped his head up, joy overflowing in his eyes.
"Boss!!"
"Why are you here?!" Naruto had hoped Musashi would accompany him to the entrance ceremony.
But Musashi had been on a mission recently.
As someone aspiring to be Hokage, he felt bad about delaying Musashi's mission just to send him to school.
"Haha! Today is the day you enter the Academy, Naruto! Of course I came!" Musashi laughed.
"Aren't you on a mission, Boss? How do you have time?"
"Mission's done. And there shouldn't be any new missions for a while."
"Really? That's awesome!~" Naruto jumped up in excitement.
"I can hang out with Boss again!"
"Naruto!" Musashi put on a serious face. "You're in school now. Starting today, you can't just think about playing all day. You have to train hard and become an excellent ninja."
"Yeah, yeah, I know, Boss." Naruto scratched the back of his head.
"Also, listen to your teachers and study hard. Don't become the Dead Last, got it?"
"Hah!" Naruto beamed with confidence. "Boss, who do you think I am? I'm Naruto Uzumaki, believe it!"
"Dead Last? Impossible. I, Naruto Uzumaki! I'm going to become the strongest ninja here! I'll make everyone acknowledge me!"
"Good! That's the spirit!" Musashi flashed a sparkling-teeth smile worthy of Might Guy!
"Naruto, remember your words. You must become the strongest ninja!"
"If I hear you're slacking off in school, the Iron Fist of Youth will meet your face unexpectedly~"
"Don't worry, Boss! I'm the strongest Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Yo!~ The power of Youth is surging!"
"Let's do our best, Naruto!"
"No problem, Boss!"
"Tch~" A disdainful sound rang out, freezing the smile on Naruto's face.
His gaze found the source of the noise.
Black hair, dark shirt, hands in pockets—a new student with an incredibly arrogant face.
"Hey! You! Why did you make that noise?" Naruto asked.
"What noise? I only heard the sound of someone bragging arrogantly."
"Damn it! You think you're cool, huh?" Naruto clenched his fists, getting agitated.
"Better than a loudmouth braggart," the arrogant boy replied, looking down his nose.
"What's your name? I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'll definitely show you how strong I am!"
"Tch~" Another disdainful response.
"Ahhh!~" Naruto was losing it.
"Alright, Naruto." Musashi stopped the rampaging Naruto and looked at the person behind the boy with a pleasantly surprised expression.
"Itachi! It's you! Long time no see!"
"Musashi." Behind the boy, Itachi, dressed in full Anbu gear, nodded in response.
"Since you graduated, we've barely met. Itachi, are you a Jonin now?"
"Yeah."
"Yosh! Itachi, you're as excellent as ever. Ah~ Meeting an old friend is truly joyful. I feel the power of Youth beginning to boil. Itachi!"
"Musashi, you're as... energetic as ever."
"Hahahaha~ Why are you wearing your mission gear?"
"Missions are busy. I just made time to come over."
"I see. This must be Sasuke, right? He's changed so much. Last time I saw him, he was just a baby who only knew how to sleep. In the blink of an eye, he's old enough for school."
Sasuke Uchiha looked at the weirdo in front of him, confused.
"You... know me?"
"More than just know you," Musashi lowered his head slightly. "Back in school, I was Itachi's best friend. When I saw you back then, you would only sleep if Itachi held you. If I held you, you'd squirm around. That's right—I've even held you before~"
Sasuke: (￣～￣;)
He couldn't help but look at Itachi, as if asking, Is this weirdo lying to me?
Surprisingly, Itachi nodded.
Sasuke pouted involuntarily.
As if complaining that his brother let a stranger hold him when he was little.
Especially a weirdo in spandex!
"Itachi, your brother is a little shy. Hahahaha..."
"Let me introduce you. This is my little brother, Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Naruto, this is Senior Itachi, Boss's classmate and friend."
"Hello, Senior Itachi." Naruto greeted him simply, then looked at Sasuke. "What? So it's just Boss's friend's little brother. I'm Naruto Uzumaki. Let's be friends too!"
Sasuke: "Tch~"
Naruto: (///￣皿￣)!
"You jerk! When school starts, I'm gonna show you how strong I am!..."
Sasuke: "Big Brother, looks like we need to assemble. Let's go."
Naruto: o(￣皿￣╬)
"Okay."
Saying goodbye to Musashi, Itachi walked away holding Sasuke's hand.
Musashi's keen hearing caught the brothers' conversation from a distance.
"Big Brother, was that guy in the tight suit really your classmate?"
"Yes."
"Is he as strong as you?"
"Just a Genin."
Musashi: o(￣皿￣╬)
Naruto: "Boss! Your friend's little brother is totally annoying!"
Musashi: "When school starts, find a chance to teach him a lesson! How can a Youthful boy lack physical communication!"
Naruto: "Huh? Isn't he your friend's brother? You even said you held him?"
Musashi: "That's exactly why we need to supervise his growth!"
After Naruto vowed to make Sasuke pay once school started, the entrance ceremony began.
The Third Hokage stood on the podium, speaking passionately and endlessly to the new students.
The Will of Fire poured forth, deeply infecting the crowd, including Musashi (who was pretending).
The children had tears in their eyes, the Will of Fire solidifying in their hearts.
Naruto listened with teary eyes, clenching his fists in determination.
"Children, today is the day you enter the Academy. Here..."
"Where the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will..."
"Let me emphasize one more point..."
"It mainly includes three aspects..."
As Musashi listened, he realized something was off.
Why does this sound so familiar?
The Third's speech was long and tedious. When it finally ended, applause erupted.
Musashi glanced in Sasuke's direction and noticed Itachi had already left.
That guy... his aura is getting gloomier and gloomier.
Looks like the Night of the Massacre isn't too far off.
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