Naruto walked through the straight corridors and courtyards, arriving at the westernmost part of the academy. This was where the new students gathered every year, just like in the original series.
Iruka brought Naruto to his classroom, which was clearly where all the notable new students were placed. Despite appearances, this class, which included some children of commoners, was actually the most important class of the year. Naruto was placed here due to his unique status.
As Naruto followed Iruka into the classroom, it was already buzzing with activity. Looking around, Naruto saw many familiar faces—familiar in the sense that he knew them from the original series, but in this lifetime, he was meeting them for the first time.
Except for one familiar presence.
Upon entering the classroom, Naruto’s gaze immediately focused on a short-haired girl with bright eyes and a timid expression, exuding a subtle aura of unease. She was Hinata Hyuga, the princess of the esteemed Hyuga clan in the Hidden Leaf Village.
Naruto had always had a great fondness for this unpretentious princess, even more so due to their chance encounter over a year ago, which left a deep impression on him.
“Hinata Hyuga…”
As Naruto looked at her delicate face, a gentle expression appeared in his eyes. Hinata, despite not having activated her Byakugan yet, was more perceptive than others. She noticed Naruto’s gaze almost immediately and upon making eye contact, her eyes widened slightly, showing a hint of surprise.
Naruto gave her a soft, reassuring smile. Just this small gesture made Hinata blush furiously, steam almost visibly rising from her forehead. She quickly looked down, her nervous fiddling with her hair making her even more endearing. This sight made Naruto’s expression even softer.
“Naruto, find a seat wherever you like,” Iruka said, not noticing the brief interaction between Naruto and Hinata, nor did the other students.
“Yes, Iruka-sensei,” Naruto replied, moving to a seat by the window at the back of the classroom. He knew he had to be cautious due to his sensitive status. A casual encounter in childhood might be overlooked, but any attempt to get closer to Hinata now would be scrutinized by the village’s higher-ups and her father, Hiashi Hyuga.
As Naruto walked to the back, he reminded himself to be discreet and follow his plan to increase his strength gradually. Once his body was strong enough, he could attempt to contact the Nine-Tails inside him. Naruto was confident he could persuade the stubborn Kurama to help him, leveraging his knowledge of the storyline.
In this classroom, many familiar faces from the original series, the Konoha 12, were present. Besides Naruto, eight of them were in this classroom, all core members of various ninja clans. Truly civilian-born ninjas were rare, with only Sakura Haruno and Rock Lee fitting that description. Even Tenten, who seemed ordinary, displayed wealth in every battle, indicating she wasn’t from an average family.
Naruto had no intention of getting close to these characters as in the original series. His goal was not just to survive but to thrive, knowing that some of these individuals might become his allies or enemies in the future. As he passed a “cool-looking” black-haired boy, Naruto’s steps and gaze paused momentarily before continuing.
“Sasuke Uchiha…”
Naruto thought to himself, recognizing the fan symbol on Sasuke’s back. Iruka didn’t notice Naruto’s actions and resumed speaking once Naruto sat at the back.
Clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention, Iruka smiled.
“Everyone is here. Today is your first day at the academy. I am your instructor, Iruka Umino. Congratulations on making it this far. For the next six years, you will learn everything about being a ninja here, both practical and theoretical. To become a great ninja, you must master both. I hope each of you will study hard and follow my guidance, growing into excellent ninjas after graduation!”
Iruka addressed the three to four dozen children with a steady voice, hoping to inspire them for the journey ahead.
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