The first day of enrollment.
After the self-introductions, Iruka let everyone have free time.
Probably, it was to let the students build harmonious relationships faster!
After all, ninjas mostly exist in the form of squads, and relationships need to be cultivated as early as possible.
There were about 30 people in the class, most of whom did not know each other before.
Now, taking advantage of the classmate relationship, everyone introduced themselves to each other and then became friends.
In the class, people with compatible temperaments formed small circles.
Jokichi did not like to join the bustle and sat alone in his seat.
But Naruto and Ino gathered over.
Along with Sakura, Shikamaru, and Choji also crowding around, and Hinata sitting in her seat secretly peeking over from time to time.
Although he did not talk much, these people chatted on their own.
Jokichi was very speechless.
He originally wanted to be a transparent person in the class, keeping a low profile to study and train, but as a result, these guys seemed to have formed a small circle with him as the core.
Later on, Kiba would hit it off with Naruto, and Shino, because of his showy personality, would inadvertently approach...
Except for Sasuke, the graduating ninjas of this class were all gathering around him as the center.
Could it be that I will become the social butterfly of this batch of ninjas?
...
Happy times always pass quickly.
Approaching evening, the school dismissal bell rang.
Iruka returned to the classroom.
He stood at the podium, looking at the classroom, with a faint smile on his face, "Today's class will end here. Remember to gather at the sports field at nine o'clock tomorrow morning!"
"Iruka-sensei, is there a ninjutsu class tomorrow?"
"Is it a very powerful ninjutsu?"
"I heard from my dad that the academy only teaches the Three Basic Jutsu!"
"Is that so?"
Below the podium, a group of students started discussing excitedly.
"Unfortunately, no." Iruka smiled and said, "Tomorrow is the opening ceremony, and Lord Third Hokage will personally attend."
"Lord Hokage!"
"Wow!"
The Third Hokage moonlighting as the academy principal, it was not surprising for him to come to the opening ceremony.
Afterwards, Iruka announced school dismissal.
The people in the class left the classroom in groups of three or five.
"Shikamaru, Choji, see you tomorrow." Jokichi stood up from his seat, greeted the two next to him, and prepared to leave.
"Mhm! See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
At this time, Ino ran over.
"Jokichi, let's go home together!"
"..."
Jokichi fell silent.
He quietly looked at the little girl full of expectation in front of him, shook his head, and refused.
"I am going to the nearby training ground to train, so you go back by yourself!"
"I see!" Ino looked disappointed.
She really wanted to tag along, but that would disturb his training.
Moreover, there was a curfew at home, and she was not allowed to go home very late.
"Let's do it together next time we have a chance!" Jokichi said indifferently, bypassed Ino, and left from beside her.
Naruto sat in the front row and left earlier.
He was already waiting for him at the door.
After the two greeted each other, they left together.
At the school gate, there were many adults coming to pick up their children.
Jokichi saw quite a few acquaintances.
The older generation Ino-Shika-Cho, Uchiha Mikoto, Kiba's older sister Inuzuka Hana, Shino's dad, a youth from the Hyuga branch family, Sakura's father...
Watching the classmates throw themselves into their parents' arms and act spoiled one by one, Naruto's eyes revealed envy and longing, along with a trace of loneliness.
Jokichi patted his shoulder comfortingly and chuckled lightly, "Let's go."
"Mhm!"
Naruto nodded and cheered up.
The two left the academy together.
When passing the school gate.
Jokichi politely bowed and greeted Inoichi, Shikaku, and Choza.
The three also smiled back.
Afterwards, the two parted ways at the gate.
Jokichi went to the nearby Ninth Training Ground, while Naruto walked towards the direction of his home.
Uchiha Mikoto stared blankly at the retreating figures of the two leaving.
Is that Kushina's child?
Mikoto and Kushina were best friends, but because of the Nine-Tails incident, the Uchiha faced a crisis of trust.
And as the clan head's wife, it was not convenient for her to visit Naruto.
She only heard some news from the neighbors; Naruto was not doing well, people were very disgusted and even hated him, and the children isolated and distanced themselves from him.
However, it was not as bad as the rumors said!
Thinking of the other child leaving together with Naruto.
A trace of a smile appeared on Mikoto's face.
"Mother!"
Sasuke's voice rang out from behind.
Mikoto looked towards the sound, and Sasuke ran over acting spoiled.
Stroking Sasuke's head, Mikoto smiled dotingly, "What did the academy teach today?"
"They didn't teach anything. The teacher let us have free time." Sasuke was somewhat dissatisfied.
He originally thought the academy could teach many ninjutsu that the clan didn't have or were even stronger, but he didn't expect them to teach nothing on the first day.
"The teacher is letting you build good relationships with your classmates. Ninjas also need to help each other."
"But they are all very weak. Many people don't even have basic training."
"That is only for now." Mikoto smiled and took Sasuke's hand. "Do not underestimate anyone, or you will be caught up to."
"Mhm!" Sasuke nodded nonchalantly.
Seeing this, Mikoto did not say much else.
Some things require personal experience to understand.
"Let's go home!"
"Mhm!"
Under the setting sun, the mother and son walked along the road towards the Uchiha compound.
On the way, they passed by the Ninth Training Ground.
Mikoto saw the child who had left with Naruto earlier. He was practicing shuriken, hitting the target almost every single time.
Mikoto covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes trembling slightly.
How could...
Mikoto was not surprised by Jokichi's accuracy, but by his shuriken throwing technique.
That was a technique passed down in the Uchiha clan.
Of course, although it was rare for outsiders to use clan techniques, it was not enough to be surprising.
The clan had integrated into the village for decades, and some techniques and ninjutsu, even the Sharingan, had been privately given to other companions in the village by some people.
But even with the same technique, in the hands of different people, there are different insights and habits.
The technique and details Jokichi used were clearly exactly the same as her own son Uchiha Itachi's. That was the insight Itachi figured out on his own when practicing.
Why would this child use Itachi's unique technique?
Sasuke noticed his mother's abnormality and also stopped his footsteps to look into the training ground.
Seeing Jokichi's almost perfect practice, he was also surprised for a while.
"So formidable. That person... seems to be a classmate in my class."
"He is your classmate?"
Mikoto looked at Sasuke beside her, then looked at Jokichi practicing in the training ground, deep in thought.
"What is wrong, Mother?" Sasuke asked curiously.
"No, nothing." Mikoto's face restored its usual smile.
She held Sasuke's hand and continued walking towards the Uchiha compound. "Sasuke, you must get along well with your classmates in class, especially that one just now, he is very formidable!"
"Mhm!" Sasuke nodded, then said unyieldingly, "I am also very formidable."
"Of course."
Inside the training ground.
Glancing sideways at the retreating figures going far away, Jokichi continued practicing.
He knew the Uchiha clan had special hidden weapon techniques, but he did not know what the difference was between the training method Itachi gave him and the public throwing techniques.
After all, this was just a basic throwing technique, without any flashy skills like blind spot shooting.
If an outsider could see it, it would not be a clan technique unique to the Uchiha.