Musashi left the classroom, and Iruka stood on the podium, holding Karin Uzumaki's hand.
"This is Karin Uzumaki. She's your new classmate from today on. I hope everyone will treat her with kindness and get along with her."
"Karin, introduce yourself."
"Just briefly say what you like and dislike, your hobbies, dreams, and so on."
Karin looked at everyone in the classroom with a sense of novelty.
The teacher in front of her and the large group of peers were an environment Karin had never experienced before.
Compared to the Grass Village, this place was infinitely better.
She clenched her small fist to encourage herself.
"My name is Karin Uzumaki."
"I like pork cutlet bowls, I like friendly people, and I hate fierce people."
"My dream is... to become a powerful female ninja."
And then stay by Big Brother Musashi's side.
"Let's welcome her." Iruka led the applause, and the students below also started clapping.
"Hey, this girl looks pretty nice."
"Really? Red hair is weird, isn't it?"
"And wearing glasses, looking a bit dorky, maybe she's quite introverted."
"Who was that ninja who brought her just now? Teacher Iruka's attitude was very respectful."
"I don't know, maybe he's also a very powerful ninja."
"Powerful my foot, I've seen him. He used to wear that ugly green spandex all day, always training Taijutsu."
"Repeating one movement for half a day, he must be an average ninja."
Bang! Naruto Uzumaki slammed the table and stood up.
"Hey! You guys, you're not allowed to say that about my Boss! My Boss is very powerful!"
"Dare to badmouth my Boss, be careful or I'll beat you up."
The male student who was gossiping heard this and whispered, "He just beat Sasuke once, what's there to be proud of."
But he dared not discuss loudly anymore.
Naruto continued, "Also, from now on, I'm covering Karin."
"If anyone causes trouble for her, don't blame me for being impolite."
"Naruto, who are you being impolite to?" Iruka's voice made Naruto's face freeze.
"Sit down quickly!"
Naruto sat down obediently.
Iruka said to Karin beside him, "Karin, find a seat you like and sit down."
"If there are parts of the lesson you don't understand, don't worry, take it slow."
Karin looked around the classroom.
Logically, her relationship with Naruto should be the closest.
But his dorky look made her uninterested.
Moreover, sitting with a boy felt awkward.
She looked around and finally fixed her gaze on a girl with white eyes.
The other's chakra felt gentle and bright to her.
She walked over and asked, "Can I sit next to you?"
"Ah? O... okay." Hinata Hyuga said.
After Karin sat down, Iruka continued the lesson.
Below the podium, everyone was still secretly sizing up the new classmate, but Sasuke Uchiha stared in the direction Musashi left, revealing a thoughtful expression.
It's him, no mistake.
The one who blocked that man and saved Big Sis Izumi and Aoi was him.
The classmates didn't know Musashi, but Sasuke did.
That night, only three people from the entire Uchiha clan survived.
Him.
Izumi Uchiha and Aoi Uchiha.
And the two of them hadn't gone out at that time.
Naturally, he was curious about the reason for their survival. After asking around, he received news that extremely surprised him.
That night, someone stopped that man and successfully saved two Uchiha clan members.
Finally, he went to find Izumi and learned the person's name from her.
Musashi Ryomiya.
Izumi's teammate, a person who usually appeared unremarkable.
When they first started school, that man had evaluated him as "just a Genin".
Izumi asked him to keep this news secret.
Today, he encountered the other party again.
That guy Naruto probably only managed to luckily win against him under that person's guidance.
Iruka was still talking non-stop on the podium, teaching knowledge Sasuke had already mastered, completely unoriginal.
Sasuke silently recited the other's name in his heart.
Musashi Ryomiya
---
Evening.
In a high-end residence in Konoha.
Izumi Uchiha was preparing dinner while dealing with Aoi Uchiha, who was pestering her to go out and play.
"Aoi, stop fussing. We'll go to Musashi's house tomorrow, okay?"
"Why? Good sister, I still want to play with Karin." Aoi pulled the ears of the rabbit doll in her hand, trying to convince her sister.
"What's so fun about that? Karin is a fourth-year student, and you're only in first grade. How can you play together?"
"Who says, Karin and I get along very well." Aoi lied smoothly.
"Sasuke is the same age as Karin, and he's your brother. Why don't you keep Sasuke company?"
"No, Sasuke is gloomy all day long, with no vitality at all. I still like someone sunny and energetic like Big Brother Musashi."
"No means no. You have to stay home today anyway, and do your schoolwork properly."
"Tch~ The stuff school teachers teach is childish, no need to do it properly."
However, no matter what tactics Aoi used, Izumi didn't change her mind.
Aoi's thoughts as a child were simple.
Izumi was different. She always felt uncomfortable facing Musashi.
Although they had a "life-and-death friendship" and were teammates back then.
But these were two different things.
She was originally Itachi Uchiha's "official girlfriend", and now going to Musashi's house every day was inappropriate.
Moreover, he and Ayame from the ramen shop were sticky all day long.
Anyone could see that they liked each other.
Maybe they had already done shameful things.
Was it fun for her to go and be a third wheel?
Amidst her wild thoughts, there was a knock on the open door.
Izumi looked up in confusion and found Sasuke Uchiha standing at the door.
"Sasuke!?" Izumi was a bit surprised.
He rarely came over on his own initiative.
"Come in quickly, I just prepared dinner, let's eat together."
She said this, but didn't expect that after hesitating for a moment, he actually took off his shoes and walked in.
Izumi: ?
It wasn't a fake invitation.
In fact, since moving to the new house, she had consciously taken on the responsibility of the "eldest Uchiha sister", intending to take good care of the two children.
However, Sasuke's personality had become very withdrawn.
Although he maintained respect for her as an elder sister, his attitude was distant.
It was an avoidance born of guilt.
Itachi killed many people, naturally including Izumi and Aoi's elders and relatives.
It was hard for Sasuke to face the two of them.
She just didn't expect that Sasuke wouldn't refuse the invitation today.
Surprised inwardly, Izumi's expression didn't change as she took out clean bowls and chopsticks to invite the two to eat.
During the meal, there was silence.
"Um... Sasuke, how is schoolwork recently? Is it going smoothly?" Izumi broke the silence and asked with concern.
"It's okay."
"Oh... that's good. There are many kids at school, get along well with everyone."
"En."
"There should be many pretty girls in the class, right? Does Sasuke have a girl he likes? Although you're still young, you can try dating."
"No."
"I won't do such boring things."
Izumi: "..."
Aoi couldn't stand it anymore and couldn't help saying, "Sister, how about we just eat quietly first."