Chapter 1 The Beginning
It was the season for new students to enroll in school again. Compared to previous years, this year's enrollment season had reached its peak in the history of Konoha. Not only were there countless applicants from ordinary citizens, but it was also the time when the Konoha Twelve Ninja were about to begin their ninja path.
"Naruto! We are here!"
Shikamaru and the others, who had already regrouped, waved to Naruto, who was looking robust and energetic not far away. However, because there were too many people, Choji's voice was drowned out by the crowd.
"I haven't seen such a large crowd in a long time," Choji said, carefully protecting his snacks to prevent them from being squeezed out by the flow of people.
Shikamaru also said with a troubled expression, "The last time so many people gathered together was when the Fourth Hokage took office. What a hassle!"
"Shikamaru, are you saying that the Hokage's inauguration was troublesome?"
"Idiot! How could I possibly say that!" Shikamaru quickly covered Choji's mouth. Such words could not be spoken carelessly!
Kiba Inuzuka, who was standing nearby, looked around and whispered, "I wonder if the Hokage will come."
"Why don't we just ask Naruto about this!" Choji said, stuffing another handful of snacks into his mouth, his voice somewhat muffled.
Shikamaru said, "Let's wait in a less crowded area. We've already finished our registration."
Shikamaru, looking troubled, led Choji and Kiba to the shade of a nearby tree.
A moment later, Naruto also emerged from the crowd. Seeing Shikamaru and the others, he laughed loudly, "Shikamaru, so you were here. I was looking for you for a long time."
"By the way, have you seen Sasuke?"
Choji shook his head and said, "No."
Shikamaru glanced at the crowd not far away and said indifferently, "He's the son of the Uchiha clan head, so he must have a grand entourage."
"Look over there."
Naruto and the others turned their heads and saw more than a dozen people escorting a boy to school. His attire was somewhat luxurious, but Naruto and the others couldn't recognize which prominent Konoha family he belonged to.
"Which family is this? I've never seen them before," Choji said, pulling out another bag of snacks from behind his back and eating heartily.
"I don't recognize them."
Shikamaru shook his head. Konoha had so many small clans; how could he possibly know which one it was? Moreover, with the cessation of war, Konoha's population had doubled, and there were nearly a hundred new clans. Of course, one or two people could also form a clan.
However, the prominent clans remained the same few.
Naruto said with some envy, "To have so many people to see him off to school, how cool!"
Shikamaru looked at Naruto strangely and then asked, "Naruto, did you come alone?"
"Of course not, my dad brought me. He's helping my sister with her registration right now!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Shikamaru and the other two were speechless. The Hokage personally escorting him was far better than those dozen nobodies!
They suspected Naruto was showing off! But they had no proof!
Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the crowd, and then a path wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side spontaneously opened up. Only the Uchiha clan could make such an entrance.
"It's Sasuke! Sasuke, I'm here!"
Naruto shouted excitedly at Sasuke, indifferent to the gazes of the surrounding crowd. Shikamaru and the others covered their faces, regretting being with the idiot Naruto.
"Idiot Naruto!"
Sasuke muttered under his breath and then, with a blank expression, followed his brother Itachi into the school to complete his registration. He had experienced the stares of the surrounding crowd since he was a child and was almost immune to them.
As soon as the Uchiha brothers entered the school, the surrounding crowd gradually closed in, and discussions began to spread.
Even though the Fourth Hokage had adopted a soft policy towards the Uchiha, the public's "snobbish" impression of the Uchiha could not be easily changed, and besides, the Uchiha had not changed much, remaining as self-willed as ever.
"Shikamaru, I want to go find Sasuke."
Shikamaru pondered for a moment and said, "Let's go together. It seems the first class of the school year is about to begin."
"I heard that it's the retired Third Hokage who will be giving us a speech."
"What a nuisance!"
...
At the Ninja Academy registration office, Itachi was helping Sasuke with his registration. Everything went smoothly, and all procedures were completed quickly.
Sasuke did not go to find Naruto and the others but sat quietly in the classroom waiting for the class to start.
Itachi watched Sasuke for a moment at the doorway before intending to leave for training, but his shoulder was suddenly patted.
"It's been a while, Itachi. You've grown taller!"
"So it's Teacher Lin Yu," Itachi said, relieved. He had thought it was a teacher from the Ninja Academy. To be able to get so close to him without him noticing.
Wait, Teacher Lin Yu seemed to be a teacher at the Ninja Academy. Appearing here now, could he be thinking of...
"Teacher Lin Yu, are you thinking of returning to your old profession?"
Lin Yu smiled and said, "I can try if there's an opportunity, but I'm here to bring my disciple to school today. Little Hinata, come out and say hello."
Hiding behind Lin Yu, Hinata, who was tightly gripping Lin Yu's clothes with her small hands, looked at Itachi with some timidity and said softly, "H-hello, I am Hyuga... Hinata."
Itachi was stunned for a moment and quickly said, "My name is Uchiha Itachi, and I am also a student of Teacher Lin Yu."
Itachi then looked at Hinata again, frowning slightly. Did this junior sister have any outstanding talents?
"I'll take my leave now. Brother Shisui is still waiting for me."
Lin Yu nodded. Itachi wasted no time and hurried out of the Ninja Academy. As soon as he exited the school gate, he used the Body Flicker Technique. However, he seemed to have forgotten to say goodbye to someone.
In the classroom, Sasuke glared at Lin Yu, grinding his teeth.
This annoying red-haired guy again! Brother left without even saying goodbye! How infuriating!
Sasuke now wished he could beat Naruto to a pulp to vent his anger!
"Sasuke! I'm here!"
Naruto rushed into the classroom and ran towards Sasuke, his joy evident on his face. He had finally become classmates with Sasuke!
In the days to come, they would surely...
*Bang!*
Naruto clutched the large lump on his head and said aggrievedly, "Sasuke, why did you hit me!"
"Idiot!"
"You're still calling me names!"
"Fool!"
...
For a moment, all eyes in the classroom were on the two who were arguing and then wrestling with each other.
Not only did no one stop them, but there were also cheers of encouragement.
"Go, handsome guy! Beat that little blondie!"
"Handsome guy, do you need any help!"
"Sasuke Oppa, hurry up and beat my brother!"
Without exception, all the cheers were for Sasuke. Naruto became even more enraged when he saw that one of the cheerleaders was his own sister, Karin. His own sister wasn't even supporting him!
Damn it! Sasuke, die!
The fight between the two intensified, and a strong sense of animosity also ignited among the three girls standing by.