"Alright, everyone, take your seats," Uchiha Mikoto said with a gentle smile as she looked at the new students in front of her. "Stay quiet now. We're about to start roll call."
Then, she glanced at the old man, Grandpa Madara, sitting on a rocking chair beside the podium...
These small tasks were better left to her.
"Uzumaki Nagato?" Uchiha Mikoto flipped open the attendance list and called out, then lowered her gaze to the familiar red-haired boy.
"Here," Nagato raised his small hand and replied.
The three of them were already familiar with Uchiha Mikoto, as this older sister often helped out at the daycare center.
"Yahiko."
"Here."
"Mokushukuma." Uchiha Mikoto looked toward Mokushukuma's seat. Although Lord Jun hadn't demanded they change their surname, the Senju clan's ties with Konoha were too deep. The First Hokage and the Second Hokage were both from Konoha, so...
Their entanglement with the village was even more complicated than the Uchiha clan's. If they kept their original name, it would be a serious taboo.
Even if they remained Senju, Lord Jun wouldn't care.
Uzushiogakure no longer worried about such things.
After all, if the five great villages found out Uzushiogakure had bloodline limits from other villages, they would immediately declare war without hesitation.
Recruiting bloodline users from other villages was a major taboo in the shinobi world.
No matter how many there were...
So, adding one more Senju clan didn't matter.
"Uchiha Iketo." Uchiha Mikoto continued down the list. As expected, apart from Konan and Yahiko, most of the students in this class were children from Uzushiogakure's major clans.
Perhaps these would be the future elites of Uzushiogakure?
"Alright." Uchiha Mikoto smiled and closed the attendance book. "Now, let's welcome our homeroom teacher—Head Instructor Madara—to introduce himself."
However...
"Hmph!" Grandpa Madara remained reclined in his rocking chair, eyes closed, ignoring Uchiha Mikoto.
Because he was an old man, the academy had granted him certain privileges.
For example...
An assistant and this rocking chair.
Aside from the fact that the classroom lacked sunlight and this rocking chair wasn't as comfortable as the one on his balcony, everything else was fine.
As for the students...
Hmph!
Just a bunch of fools numbed by comfortable living.
He'd teach these losers a lesson once he was done resting.
"..."
Uchiha Mikoto saw Grandpa Madara glance at her before closing his eyes again, ignoring her.
"Ahaha..." She gave the students an awkward smile. "Grandpa Madara is quite old, and he stayed up late last night preparing for class, so he's a bit tired."
"Please be understanding."
Then, she walked over to Grandpa Madara and whispered, "Grandpa Madara, Grandpa Madara, it's time for your lesson."
Yet, Madara Uchiha still ignored her, turning his body away.
"..."
Seeing this, Uchiha Mikoto felt a headache coming on.
Grandpa Madara was throwing a tantrum again!
"Grandpa Madara, Grandpa Madara."
Uchiha Mikoto had no choice but to coax him like a child—which was part of her job...
However...
"Big Sis Mikoto, forget about this old man." One of the Uchiha clan members stood up. "He probably doesn't know anything anyway."
Big Sis Mikoto had recently become a jonin, recognized by the clan head. She was more than qualified to teach them.
"I don't even know why this school," the Uchiha member said disdainfully, "hired an old man who can barely walk to teach us."
"Quiet." Uchiha Mikoto frowned sternly at the Uchiha member. "Respect your teacher. Uchiha Iketo, apologize to Head Instructor Madara immediately, or the clan head will hear about this and punish you again."
"Was I wrong?" Uchiha Iketo stubbornly retorted. "He obviously doesn't know anything. That's why he won't teach us."
"You—Uchiha Iketo—" Uchiha Mikoto's frown deepened. "Apologize to Grandpa Madara right now—"
But before she could finish, Madara stretched and stood up.
"Grandpa Madara, Iketo didn't mean it." Seeing Madara's expression, Uchiha Mikoto thought he was angry and quickly said, "I'll apologize on his behalf."
However, Madara ignored her, staring at the door and calmly saying, "Someone's here."
...
"Old Man Madara is really..." Uzumaki Jun sighed as he watched the scene through the crystal ball in his office. "Hah... kind of cute?"
He clearly wanted to be a teacher, yet he was still acting arrogant here?
Does age make people more tsundere?
He...
Was no longer the same Madara Uchiha from the anime—the one who was domineering, cool, and always eager to dance.
"I wonder how Hashirama would react if he saw Old Man Madara like this?" Uzumaki Jun stroked his chin, smiling. "He's probably used to it by now, since..."
Even when he was young, Madara had always been tsundere.
Clearly wanting something but pretending not to care.
No wonder he could tame Kurama!
They were both tsunderes!
But...
"What should we do now?"
If the students all requested a teacher change, it would be awkward.
The best friend (partner) of the God of Shinobi resigning on the first day...
Hashirama would never let him live it down.
But...
"Why is Yōya here?" Uzumaki Jun frowned as he watched the crystal ball. "His daughter isn't old enough for school yet."
...
"Hello, teacher." A young man walked in with his wife and daughter. Seeing Madara Uchiha, he immediately smiled and said, "I am—"
But before he could finish...
"Get out." Madara frowned. "This is a classroom. Leave now."
"Sorry, sorry." Yōya quickly apologized. "I've been looking for you for a long time. I wanted to thank you for saving me back then, but I didn't know where you lived."
"So I came today during the school opening."
"I'm very sorry for interrupting your class."
"Get lost." Madara's frown deepened as he leaned on his cane, expressionless. "I have a class to teach."
Madara didn't seem to remember who this person was.
Besides...
Just some useless jonin. Why should he remember?
"Last time, when I was captured by Kiri-nin..." Yōya noticed the old man didn't recognize him and quickly gestured to his wife and daughter behind him. "Today, I came specifically to thank you for saving me."
Hanaka understood and stepped forward, handing over the gifts they had brought.
Since the newspapers had mentioned he was an old man, they had brought candy and health supplements.
Uzushiogakure's new health supplements were said to be very beneficial, especially for the elderly. Rumor had it that one old man who used to need a wheelchair could now climb five flights of stairs without any leg pain after taking them.
And Yōya's daughter...
"Hello, Grandpa." Naoe Hanako timidly looked at the seemingly unfriendly old man and whispered, "Thank you for saving my dad."
As for brats...
Madara gave the little girl a slight nod before coldly staring at Yōya and his family. "Take your things and leave. I don't remember saving some useless captive from Kiri."
"I have a class to teach. Get out."
Hearing Madara's words, Yōya quickly apologized. "Sorry, sorry. We disturbed your lesson. We'll leave right away."
Although the old man's tone wasn't the best, no matter what, he was his savior.
As for being called useless...
That was nothing. He'd heard worse.
He was used to it.
Besides, an old man who nodded in greeting to his daughter couldn't be a bad person. Maybe he was just expressionless, like the Uchiha clan?
Yōya picked up his daughter and took Hanaka's hand, quickly heading for the door while saying, "This is just a small token of appreciation. Please don't mind it, sir."
Without waiting for Madara's response, they left.
And Madara...
He glanced at the gifts indifferently before turning his sharp gaze to Uchiha Iketo. His expression was cold as he said, "Uchiha brat, you..."
"What did you say?"