The next morning, the sky above Konoha was clear and bright, the soft sunlight casting a golden hue over the village rooftops.
In front of Naruto's small, modest house, Hatake Kakashi closed the book in his hand—Icha Icha Paradise—with a sigh. A gentle breeze passed, ruffling the silver strands of his hair.
He took a deep breath and knocked on the door with a soft yet clear voice.
"Yo, Naruto. I'm here to take you to the Ninja Academy."
Just yesterday, Kakashi had overheard someone mention that tomorrow was the first day of school. That was when it hit him—Naruto was finally old enough to start at the academy.
A nostalgic smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Minato-sensei, Kushina... your son's first day at school is here.
And as Minato's only surviving student, Kakashi felt it was his duty to be there for Naruto.
He had made sure to wake up early today, putting aside his usual laziness, just to walk Naruto to the academy in person.
But after several seconds of silence, there was still no response from inside.
Kakashi blinked, a bit puzzled.
"Still asleep?" he mumbled. He raised his voice slightly.
"Oi, Naruto! Wake up! It's your big day!"
He knocked again—this time more firmly.
Bang, bang, bang.
Still no answer.
Kakashi's expression darkened slightly. A sense of unease settled in his chest.
"Don't tell me something happened…"
His mind began conjuring unpleasant possibilities—perhaps Naruto was sick, unconscious, or worse.
No. Don't panic.
Trying to stay calm, Kakashi glanced up and down the quiet street. No one was around.
His eyes narrowed. In a fluid motion, he squatted low, bracing himself. Then with a swift, powerful kick, he struck the old wooden door.
CRACK!
The door splintered and burst open, wood fragments flying everywhere.
"...Oops." Kakashi scratched his head with an awkward smile. "Guess I overdid it."
He stepped inside quickly, setting aside his embarrassment.
"Naruto! Are you in here? Answer me!"
He scanned the room, his Sharingan unconsciously flickering into focus.
But the room was... fine. Clean. Tidy. Nothing was out of place. No signs of a struggle, no overturned furniture, no broken windows.
Kakashi exhaled, his shoulders relaxing a little.
"Looks like... he's not here."
He glanced around again and found the bento box missing from the table.
"He must've gone ahead on his own…"
A wave of warmth and pride filled Kakashi's heart.
"You've grown up, Naruto."
With a small smile, he turned on his heel and headed toward the academy.
I can't let him go alone. Not today.
---
Elsewhere in the village...
"Uncle Obito, thank you for taking me to school!" said little Naruto, beaming as he clutched a skewer of three-colored dango.
The boy's eyes sparkled with excitement, and his bright smile was infectious.
Obito—wearing a simple black cloak and mask pulled halfway down—looked at Naruto with gentle affection.
He reached out and ruffled Naruto's blond hair softly.
"You don't have to thank me," Obito said warmly. "That's what uncles are for."
Naruto looked up at him with those big, sincere blue eyes. His gratitude wasn't just in his words—it radiated from every part of him.
Obito's heart clenched slightly.
He knew how much he owed this child. For all the years of pain Naruto had endured. For everything Obito had done—or failed to do.
But he was here now, and he'd vowed to make it right.
He smiled again, eyes soft.
"I'll take you to school every day from now on."
"Really?!" Naruto's mouth dropped open, and his eyes widened with joy.
In the next moment, he launched himself forward, hugging Obito's leg tightly.
"Yay! That's awesome, Uncle Obito!"
Obito chuckled, kneeling down to pat Naruto on the head again.
"Of course. But now, let's get going—it's almost time."
"Okay!" Naruto said cheerfully, bouncing in place.
For a boy who had grown up alone, who'd been scorned and ignored by the village, the idea of going to school—of making friends—was like a dream come true.
As they walked hand in hand toward the Ninja Academy, Naruto chatted excitedly the whole way, babbling about what he'd heard: classes, shuriken practice, making new friends.
Obito listened quietly, smiling, occasionally responding with a hum or a kind word.
---
At the Ninja Academy
The sun had risen high into the sky, bathing Konoha in golden light.
Outside the main gate of the Ninja Academy, the area buzzed with life.
Dozens of parents stood with their children, helping them adjust headbands, patting their shoulders for encouragement, or whispering last-minute advice.
Children from all over the village—some from common civilian families, others from powerful clans—were preparing for the first big step in their lives.
The Uchiha clan.
The Hyuga clan.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio families.
Even children of shinobi stationed abroad had come back for this day.
Each child stood proudly, some more nervous than others, but all of them filled with curiosity and anticipation.
Suddenly, a wave of silence spread through the crowd as a respectful voice called out:
"Greetings, Hokage-sama!"
Heads turned instantly.
Walking toward the gate was none other than Uchiha Fugaku, the Fifth Hokage.
He was clad in his formal robes, his presence commanding and calm. A soft smile touched his face as he walked gracefully through the crowd, holding the hand of a small boy beside him—his son, Sasuke.
The teachers at the registration tables immediately stood up and saluted.
Even those busy recording names and assigning classrooms stopped what they were doing to bow in respect.
"Good morning, Hokage-sama!"
Fugaku nodded in acknowledgment, his voice gentle.
"Thank you, everyone."
Parents and children alike stepped aside to make way for him. The crowd parted naturally, as if the village itself was welcoming its leader.
Fugaku continued forward, gently guiding little Sasuke toward the registration desk.
Sasuke looked around, his dark eyes filled with awe. The towering buildings, the chatting students, the bustling teachers—it was all so new.
But what impressed him most was how everyone looked at his father.
That admiration. That reverence.
He realized, perhaps for the first time, how important his father truly was. And that made him swell with pride.
As if sensing his son's thoughts, Fugaku smiled softly and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
---
At the front desk, the registration teacher, Umino Iruka, spotted them and nearly dropped his pen.
"H-Hokage-sama!" Iruka stammered, standing at attention.
Fugaku offered a calm nod.
"I'm here to register my son, Uchiha Sasuke."
"O-Of course!" Iruka fumbled for his notebook, quickly writing down the information.
He didn't hesitate to assign Sasuke to his own class.
Once the registration was complete, Iruka bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Fugaku gave a courteous nod.
"I leave him in your care."
Then, turning to Sasuke, he knelt down and looked his son in the eyes.
"I have to return to the office now. Be good in class, alright?"
Sasuke nodded firmly, though his eyes were a bit reluctant.
"Yes, Father."
Fugaku placed a hand on his son's head for a brief moment, then turned and walked away without looking back.
Sasuke stood straight, watching him go with respect and admiration.
Just then, a whisper drifted through the crowd.
"Hey… look. That demon fox kid showed up too."
The voice was quiet, but the words cut through the air like a blade.
Several adults turned to look toward the academy entrance.
Naruto was standing beside Obito, waving at someone excitedly. He didn't hear the whispers—or chose to ignore them.
But others around them didn't miss it.
Iruka, standing nearby, clenched his fists behind the table.
Obito's expression darkened ever so slightly, his sharingan flickering for a moment before fading.
The past still lingered in the hearts of the villagers. But Naruto didn't need to carry that burden anymore.
Obito placed a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Go on. It's your day."
Naruto grinned and nodded.
He ran forward, dashing toward the courtyard where other kids had started to gather. His bright laughter rang out through the schoolyard, full of life and hope.
And for the first time in years, the future of Konoha felt just a little brighter.
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