…
Unaware that the ANBU had mistaken Root for a hidden threat, Kazama Shin soon heard shouting from outside his door.
"Shin!"
Naruto called out and began knocking.
Shin opened the door. Already expecting this, he stepped out and closed it behind him before Naruto could speak.
"Let's go."
Naruto froze for a moment, then hurried after him.
…
The Ninja Academy—
Established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
It was located in the central area of Konoha, not far from the Hokage Building, in a relatively quiet district.
This was where all ninjas began their journey.
After completing basic training at the Academy, students would be assigned to teams and guided by instructors, taking on missions suited to their level.
When Kazama Shin and Uzumaki Naruto arrived at the school gates, a large crowd had already gathered.
"Hello!"
"Hey there, haha!"
Children accompanied by their parents greeted each other in small groups, chatting and laughing.
Suddenly—
"Hey, look… isn't that kid—"
Someone noticed Naruto approaching, their expression changing instantly, eyes filled with disgust.
Others followed their gaze.
All of them stared at Naruto.
"That thing is coming to the Academy?"
"This is outrageous. Our children are going to study with that disaster?"
"…"
Parents quickly pulled their children away, keeping their distance.
In an instant, a large empty space formed around Kazama Shin and Naruto.
Naruto's expression changed.
The excitement he had felt about entering the Academy turned cold.
Kazama Shin noticed his mood but could only sigh inwardly.
There was nothing he could do to change how the villagers saw Naruto.
He couldn't exactly shout—
"Listen up! Naruto is the Fourth Hokage's son! He's the hero who sealed the Nine-Tails and saved you all!"
If he did, he'd probably be taken away by the Third Hokage immediately.
…
"I really don't understand why the Third Hokage chose to hide it…"
Shin sighed.
Minato had wanted Naruto to be seen as a hero.
But because of the secrecy surrounding his identity, the villagers only saw fragments of the truth.
To them—
Naruto was the Nine-Tails itself.
A monster that had killed their loved ones and even the Fourth Hokage.
Shin shook his head, unwilling to dwell on it.
The Third Hokage was old now.
Having returned to power after the Fourth's death, he had lost some of his former decisiveness, often swayed by others like Danzo.
…
Fortunately, Naruto had long grown used to these looks.
And with Shin by his side, he quickly regained his usual cheerful grin.
Though there was still a trace of sadness deep inside—
At least now, it wasn't as lonely as it had been in the original story.
Kazama Shin began scanning the surroundings.
This enrollment—
Many of the "Rookie Nine" should be present.
And sure enough, he quickly spotted several familiar faces.
"The Hyuga Clan Head…"
In the distance, a group had gathered around a man.
People greeted him respectfully as they passed.
"The Hyuga Clan Head… so that must be Hiashi Hyuga."
Looking at the man with long black hair tied behind him, pale white eyes, and traditional attire, Shin confirmed it inwardly.
"And that must be Hinata…"
At his side stood a small girl, timidly clutching his clothes.
One of the future Rookie Nine—Hinata Hyuga.
…
Soon after, he also spotted a young Inuzuka Kiba, his face already marked with clan patterns.
Aburame Shino stood nearby, already wearing his signature small dark glasses.
"Look, that's the Uchiha clan—"
A sudden stir spread through the crowd.
Everyone turned toward the road.
A pair of figures approached—
One older, one younger.
The younger one was riding on the older one's back.
The crowd parted instinctively.
"Alright, Sasuke, time to get down."
At the entrance of the Academy, the older boy spoke gently.
The child on his back, feeling everyone's gaze, quickly climbed down, standing beside him and looking around curiously.
The older boy wasn't much older—perhaps in his early teens—but he carried himself with a calm maturity.
People treated him with natural respect.
Both brothers wore clothing adorned with a fan emblem—
The unmistakable symbol of the Uchiha clan.
"Uchiha… Itachi…"
A sharp glint flashed in Kazama Shin's eyes.
A true genius.
A man destined to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
And a tragic figure.
In the future, due to the escalating conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village, he would be forced to carry out the clan's annihilation under Danzo's orders—spared only his younger brother.
Afterward, he would join the Akatsuki as a spy.
In the end, he would die from illness after transferring his ocular power to Sasuke.
…
"He hasn't awakened the Mangekyō yet…"
Shin thought.
Shisui's death hadn't happened yet, so Itachi should still possess only the three-tomoe Sharingan.
Even so—
His strength was already at least Jonin level.
…
"Sasuke, once you enter the Academy, you need to work hard."
Itachi smiled, gently ruffling his brother's hair.
"I will! I'm going to surpass you, big brother!"
Sasuke replied brightly.
At this moment, he was just a cheerful child—not the cold figure he would later become.
After all, he still had his family.
"I'll be waiting for that."
Itachi tapped Sasuke's forehead lightly.
Then—
He turned his gaze toward a certain direction.
Sasuke followed his gaze.
There, he saw two figures—
Standing alone in a large empty space.
No one dared approach them.
"Who are they, big brother?"
Sasuke asked curiously.
One had blond hair and whisker-like marks, looking a bit foolish.
The other had black hair, calm and composed, almost detached from everything around him.
"They'll likely be your classmates."
Itachi smiled faintly.
"Make sure you get along with them."
He knew Naruto's identity.
He also knew about Kazama Shin—the rising civilian genius.
But unlike others, he held no prejudice toward either of them.
…
At that moment, Kazama Shin withdrew his gaze from the Uchiha brothers.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Because—
He had just heard three notifications.
"Ding. Successfully copied Shuriken Technique. Fuse?"
"Ding. Successfully copied Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu. Fuse?"
"Ding. Successfully copied Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu. Fuse?"
"Two more ninjutsu… and a refined shuriken technique. Not bad!"
Without hesitation, he chose to fuse them.
In an instant, he mastered the execution of these two C-rank Fire Release techniques—
As well as a more advanced method of controlling shuriken.
His strength increased yet again.
With his current chakra reserves, while he couldn't unleash techniques recklessly—
He could still perform dozens of C-rank jutsu.
At last, he didn't have to worry too much about running out of chakra.
"Still not on his level…"
Shin glanced at Naruto, who was somehow already glaring at Sasuke, the two clearly clashing at first sight.
Naruto's chakra reserves—
Bolstered by the Nine-Tails—
Were truly enviable.
"But who knows what the future holds…"
Kazama Shin clenched his fist slightly and murmured softly.
…