The sparring session that followed was unremarkable. After the intense battle between Naruto and Satsuki, which was comparable to a ninja exam, the other children's fights were like child's play—a push here, a trip there, more like roughhousing than ninja training.
Satsuki stood on the sidelines, observing coolly, silently calculating—if she were to step in, these kids probably wouldn't last a single round.
The only ones who showed a bit of promise were Shino and Choji. Shino's fighting style was calm and precise; though still very green, his every move was spot-on. Choji, on the other hand, was the complete opposite, rushing in haphazardly and flailing about like a playful puppy.
When it was Shikamaru's turn, he simply yawned and lazily raised his hand in surrender. "Ah—too troublesome, I give up."
Choji followed suit, also surrendering, stating he didn't want to hurt anyone.
And so, the afternoon class ended hastily amidst much frolic. When school was dismissed, the children swarmed out of the classroom and were quickly picked up by their waiting parents.
Naruto, however, packed his things alone. He didn't have the luxury of being picked up by parents; after all, he was the protagonist archetype.
After making a dark joke at his own expense, Naruto was about to head to Uncle Ichiraku's for a bowl of ramen before going home when he suddenly found two figures blocking his path.
In the setting sun, Satsuki stood with her head bowed, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, a faint blush coloring her fair cheeks.
And the tall man standing beside her was particularly striking—his black hair was meticulously neat, a Jonin vest fit snugly over his body, and most conspicuously, the red and white family crest embroidered on the shoulders of the vest.
It was the same as the one on the back of Satsuki's uniform, shaped like a ping-pong paddle, but in reality, it was a fan, representing the Uchiha Clan's emblem.
"You must be Naruto."
The authoritative voice snapped Naruto back to attention. He instinctively straightened his body, his gaze flitting between Satsuki and the man. "Yes... May I ask..."
Satsuki quietly tugged on her father's sleeve, muttering something softly. Naruto watched this usually arrogant young lady now acting as timid as a quail. "Are you... Satsuki's father?"
"Mm." Fugaku nodded slightly, his stern face unreadable. "Satsuki has mentioned you many times."
It wasn't as simple as "many times."
Fugaku sighed inwardly. Ever since his daughter met Naruto, her conversations always revolved around "how Naruto was today." From taijutsu sparring to the taste of his bento, she could talk for half a day about every single movement of that blond boy.
"Satsuki said you've been training with her." Fugaku's tone softened unconsciously. "She's been under your care all this time."
Naruto hastily waved his hands. "No, no, no! You're overstating it!" He stole a glance at Satsuki, who looked like she was about to explode. "Actually, Satsuki has helped me a lot with my training. It's my good fortune to have a friend like her."
Fugaku gazed at the blond boy before him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He, of course, knew Naruto's true identity.
The orphan of his late friend, Minato Namikaze, and also the most important war deterrent weapon of Konoha, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
In the past, his wife Mikoto and Uzumaki Kushina were like sisters, and he had staked all the Uchiha Clan's political chips on Minato Namikaze, fully supporting him in his bid for the Hokage position.
When Minato truly donned that Hokage hat, Fugaku had naively believed that the Uchiha Clan's situation in Konoha was finally about to take a turn for the better.
However, fate is always so cruel.
On the night Kushina gave birth, the Nine-Tails suddenly broke free from its seal and attacked Konoha. What shocked Fugaku most was that in the beast's crimson eyes, a pair of Sharingan were clearly reflected—this was undoubtedly irrefutable evidence of an Uchiha Clan member controlling the Nine-Tails.
After that day... Fugaku recalled bitterly in his heart.
His supported Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself, and his wife's dear friend Kushina passed away. During that period, Mikoto's eyes were always red. What was worse, the Konoha higher-ups began to suspect an internal traitor within the Uchiha Clan.
No matter how Fugaku argued, the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails' eyes was irrefutable evidence. Ultimately, the entire Uchiha Clan was forced to relocate to the village's outskirts.
The proud ninjas within the clan grew increasingly discontent, and the hawkish faction gradually strengthened, even beginning to plot a military coup. As clan head, Fugaku had no choice but to try his best to appease these radicals at every clan meeting, while patiently waiting for an opportunity to bring the Uchiha back to the center of Konoha.
Originally, he had placed his hopes on his extraordinarily talented eldest daughter, Uchiha Itachi, expecting him to join the Hokage's direct Anbu and gain a voice for the Uchiha.
But fate always seems to play tricks—now, the turning point appeared to be with his second daughter, Satsuki, a child whose talent, though high, did not quite match her older sister's.
That afternoon a few years ago, Fugaku still remembers vividly.
When he was summoned by the Third Hokage and stepped into the Hokage's office alone, Hiruzen Sarutobi's first words made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice pit—
"Fugaku, I hear your second daughter has recently been in contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
Fugaku's back instantly tensed. In fact, Mikoto had privately mentioned more than once that she wanted to take in the son of her deceased friend and raise him, for Naruto to recognize her as his godmother.
But this idea, in the end, could only be an unspoken wish. In the Uchiha Clan's current sensitive situation, it was a topic that couldn't even be touched.
Just as Fugaku thought the Third Hokage was about to call him to account, the old man's next words left him incredulous—if Fugaku had no objections, he would support Naruto and Satsuki making contact and forming a bond.
But the prerequisite was that Fugaku also could not interfere with their contact, and other Uchiha Clan members were not allowed to approach Naruto.
Fugaku immediately understood the hidden meaning.
This was Konoha's opportunity for the Uchiha! Naruto, as the Fourth Hokage's orphan and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, would undoubtedly enter the core of the Hokage faction in the future.
If Satsuki could establish a deep bond with him... wouldn't the Uchiha Clan's opportunity arrive?!
The original plan was so perfect—to have Satsuki build a friendship with this future core figure of the Hokage faction, paving the way for the Uchiha Clan. But now, looking at his daughter's blushing, lowered face, had that "friendship" perhaps changed into something else?
This discovery should have made Fugaku ecstatic. For the Uchiha Clan now, being able to establish such an intimate relationship with a future core of the Hokage faction was simply a godsend.
But as a father, the thought of using his daughter's feelings to gain political leverage still made him a bit uncomfortable.
Just then, Satsuki's fingers lightly tugged at Fugaku's sleeve, her dark eyes now showing a hint of urgency. Fugaku looked down to see his daughter signaling him with her eyes to quickly get to the point.
So, what exactly did Fugaku want to talk to Naruto about? It turned out that just after school, Satsuki noticed Naruto walking towards the gate alone.
All the other children were happily leaving, hand in hand with their parents, but the blond boy stood alone at the school gate. This scene inexplicably tightened Satsuki's heart, and a pang of tenderness welled up in her chest.
That's right, Satsuki wanted to walk home with Naruto. But she just couldn't bring herself to say that simple invitation.
After much internal debate, she had no choice but to ask her father for help. However, proud as she was, she naturally wouldn't directly admit her good intentions. Satsuki specifically instructed her father not to say that she wanted to walk Naruto home, but rather to say it was to foster their friendship, with her father proposing that she walk Naruto home.