Deskmate (Please Bookmark)

Sitting in the sacred window seat at the back of the last row, Uchiha Kiyoshi read with great interest.

With such a perfect spot, Uchiha Kiyoshi dared to say that even during class, he could openly read extracurricular books!

As time passed, more and more students arrived.

Several ninja from the Aburame Clan, Sarutobi Clan, Nara Clan, and Yamanaka Clan had also shown up.

It could only be said that this was indeed Class 1. Every clan had sent members from their ranks, and they were all among the better students.

Class 1 could still be considered mixed, with a few civilian ninja. Class 2 was different—it was entirely made up of clan ninja, those who had not performed as outstandingly during special training and had been assigned there.

As for Class 3, most were civilian ninja. Of course, there were still clan ninja among them, though they were generally less gifted. Even so, they ranked near the top of that class.

Class 4 was the worst class, made up entirely of civilian ninja.

With things arranged this way, the top students in the first three classes were basically monopolized by the clans. Unless a few exceptionally talented civilian ninja emerged, that was simply how things would remain.

As students arrived one after another, the classroom gradually filled up.

Besides Uchiha Kiyoshi, there was another member of the same generation from the Uchiha Clan in Class 1: Uchiha Tao, who had sparred with Uchiha Kiyoshi during special training.

With a Jonin brother like Uchiha Ryu, Uchiha Tao's Taijutsu foundation was extremely solid. He had progressed rapidly during special training, and only Uchiha Kiyoshi had been able to spar with him.

With Uchiha Kiyoshi as an opponent, someone who successfully blocked every attack he made, Uchiha Tao improved greatly every time. Even Uchiha Ryu had been surprised.

Having such a powerful opponent naturally benefited Uchiha Kiyoshi as well, and his Taijutsu had improved just as quickly.

Unlike Uchiha Kiyoshi, Uchiha Tao was extremely high-profile. He sat directly by the window in the first row, looking so proud that he truly lived up to being an Uchiha brat.

Uchiha Kiyoshi looked around as well. There were no important characters from the original story in his year.

Besides those he had mentioned before, Uchiha Kiyoshi spotted a child wearing a uniform bearing the Senju Clan crest.

At this time, the Senju Clan had not completely declined. After Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage, died during the First Shinobi World War, the Senju Clan, led by Uzumaki Mito, the First Hokage's wife, intermarried with civilians and entered a semi-reclusive state. Still, some Senju ninja remained active in the Ninja World.

At that moment, a smiling boy with short brown hair entered through the classroom door. His first impression was one of sunshine and vitality.

The moment he entered, he climbed onto the podium and shouted at everyone below.

"Listen up, all of you! My name is Senju Nawaki, and I'm going to become Hokage!"

Then he burst into loud laughter.

Uchiha Kiyoshi and the other students wore the same stunned expressions. Was there any need to be this arrogant? Couldn't he keep a lower profile?

And Uchiha Kiyoshi had even more on his mind.

"Senju Nawaki? Isn't he Tsunade's younger brother? That can't be right. How could he be in the same year as us? Shouldn't he be in the next year, alongside Uchiha Mikoto?"

Uchiha Kiyoshi could not make sense of it.

Uchiha Mikoto was the mother of Itachi and Sasuke in the original story, the wife of the Uchiha Clan Leader, and the granddaughter of the Uchiha Clan's Third Elder.

Uchiha Kiyoshi had asked around before. Uchiha Mikoto was five years old this year, one year younger than him.

Uchiha Kiyoshi remembered that Nawaki should have been in the same year as Uchiha Mikoto.

"Did I remember wrong? Or is this the butterfly effect? No, the butterfly effect shouldn't make Nawaki be born a whole year early..."

Since he could not figure it out, he stopped thinking about it and continued reading the Introduction to Medical Ninjutsu in his hands.

Nawaki stood on the podium, looking at the nearly full classroom with some distress as he scratched his head. Then, as if he had discovered something novel, he headed toward the last row.

Uchiha Kiyoshi was focused on the book in his hands and had no idea Nawaki was coming his way.

Nawaki walked over to the empty seat beside Uchiha Kiyoshi and sat down.

Uchiha Kiyoshi sensed someone beside him and looked up. He frowned. Why had Nawaki come over here? Couldn't he see the glaring ping-pong paddle—cough—the Uchiha Clan crest on his clothes?

Nawaki turned to look at Uchiha Kiyoshi, smiling with a hint of confusion as he asked bluntly.

"Hey! You're from the Uchiha Clan, right? I heard your clan is really proud, just like that guy up front. So why are you sitting in the last row? You're different from everyone else."

Uchiha Tao, seated in the first row, heard Nawaki's words. He turned and glanced at Nawaki without saying anything.

Nawaki refused to be outdone and glared right back at Uchiha Tao.

Watching from the side, Uchiha Kiyoshi was speechless. Sure enough, they were still children.

Without paying Nawaki much attention, Uchiha Kiyoshi came back to his senses and continued reading his book.

Nawaki became furious at this and was about to yell when Uchiha Kiyoshi hurriedly stopped him.

"Just like Naruto's personality. Over such a tiny matter, he wants to shout and make a scene. No wonder he stepped into an Explosive Tag in the original story—and an entire Explosive Tag pit at that. He got blown to death without any room to escape."

Uchiha Kiyoshi thought to himself.

Nawaki then remembered the question he had just had and looked at Uchiha Kiyoshi.

Seeing the curiosity in Nawaki's little eyes, Uchiha Kiyoshi gave him an explanation.

"Ah! Yes, I'm from the Uchiha Clan. Didn't you see the clan crest on my clothes?

"As for why I'm sitting in the last row? Because this is obviously the best seat."

After hearing that, Nawaki came up with another question, turning into a walking encyclopedia of whys.

"Why is this the best seat? The teacher can't even see us."

"Didn't you just say it yourself?"

"Huh? Why is it good if the teacher can't see us? Hey, hey! Explain yourself."

"If the teacher doesn't notice us, can't we do whatever we want?"

"Huh? That actually makes sense! How did I not think of that?"

Nawaki seemed to have discovered something interesting and decided that he would sit here from now on too.

Uchiha Kiyoshi could only accept reality. What else could he do? It was not as though he could chase Nawaki away.

Nawaki felt that this Uchiha beside him seemed a little different. He was not as difficult to get along with as the elders in his family had said.

Naturally, Nawaki could not sit still and quickly became bored, repeatedly asking Uchiha Kiyoshi all kinds of questions.

Uchiha Kiyoshi could only answer them one by one.

Nawaki was the only one chattering nonstop in the entire classroom, and the other students were annoyed as well. Still, some of Nawaki's questions interested them.

Uchiha Kiyoshi's answers surprised them. They had not expected this low-profile Uchiha Kiyoshi to be so capable. They had thought he was bronze, only to discover he was actually a king?

At that moment, Nawaki noticed the Introduction to Medical Ninjutsu in Uchiha Kiyoshi's hands.

"What are you holding?

"Huh? Introduction to Medical Ninjutsu? Medical Ninjutsu? Why is an Uchiha reading that? Can you even stand reading it?

"I can't, anyway. My sister studies Medical Ninjutsu all day long. I'm sick of just looking at it."

Nawaki was extremely familiar with strangers, completely forgetting that he had only just met Uchiha Kiyoshi. He kept searching for topics to discuss, his mouth never stopping.

This time, Nawaki's words surprised the other students who had been "eavesdropping."

Indeed, why would an Uchiha be reading Medical Ninjutsu?

Only Uchiha Tao in the front seemed to think of something. As though he understood, he nodded without saying anything.

Uchiha Kiyoshi was helpless in the face of Nawaki's question. Could Nawaki really not sit still? It had only been a short while, yet he had asked so many questions. Couldn't he see everyone was reading?

However, Uchiha Kiyoshi had misunderstood. Not everyone was diligently reading. Aside from one student who was sleeping and another who was petting a dog, many students were only pretending to study.

The earliest arrivals had all been quiet, and with that Hyuga ninja and Uchiha Kiyoshi both reading, the students who came afterward obediently began "reading" as well.

Only someone as thick-nerved as Nawaki could speak without the slightest fear in this situation.

In fact, after Nawaki took the lead, several people had already begun quietly chatting by this point.

Uchiha Kiyoshi had long prepared an answer to Nawaki's question. Though it had not been intended for Nawaki, it was more or less the same.

"Who says Uchiha Clan ninja can't learn Medical Ninjutsu? Can't I be interested in it? Once I learn Medical Ninjutsu, I'll be able to treat injured ninja and save one ninja's life after another. Isn't that something exciting?

"And once I learn even more powerful Medical Ninjutsu in the future, I'll be able to save even more people.

"My goal is to become a great medical ninja and provide treatment for my comrades."

Uchiha Kiyoshi passionately spoke of his grand aspiration, making it sound deeply moving.

Many students were filled with admiration after hearing him, and even Nawaki respected him. Thinking of his violent sister, he compared the two and decided that his deskmate was truly great. They were both medical ninja, so why was the difference between them as people—no, as ninja—so huge?

Only Uchiha Tao in the front sneered inwardly when he heard Uchiha Kiyoshi's words. Great, my ass. If I didn't know what you were really like, I might have believed you. Saving comrades' lives? You can make being afraid of death sound like this? Your silver tongue really is impressive.

Elsewhere, in the Hokage's office.

Smack!

A female ninja with a ponytail and delicate features slapped the Hokage's desk and shouted loudly.

"Teacher, how could you approve Nawaki going to the Ninja Academy? He's only five years old, he hasn't reached school age yet."

That was right—this female ninja was Tsunade. Before all those accidents happened and before her relationship with her teacher broke down, Tsunade still called him "Teacher." However, her attitude...

Was extremely fierce!

Jiraiya and Orochimaru, standing nearby, remained silent.

This had nothing to do with them. It was best not to get involved, or Tsunade would latch onto them and cause trouble. Especially with that Monster Strength—even one punch was not something just anyone could endure.

The Third Hokage was in no hurry. He puffed on the tobacco he had recently bought and explained with a smile.

"Tsunade, don't be so impetuous.

"Hasn't Nawaki already begun refining Chakra? He won't fall behind his classmates."

Tsunade still could not accept it and slapped the desk again.

"This isn't about whether he can keep up. Nawaki is still too young. He hasn't reached the age to attend school."

The Third Hokage tapped the desk, signaling Tsunade to calm down.

"Nawaki is already five and a half. He's only half a year short. He argued with me here for quite some time, and seeing how determined he was, I could only agree."

With matters having come to this, Tsunade had no choice. Hmph. She could only go home and teach that brat a lesson.

Nawaki, who was still incessantly asking Uchiha Kiyoshi questions in class, had no idea that Tsunade had her eye on him again. What kind of "affection" awaited him this time?

As for why it was again? Think about it. Think carefully.

Not long after the Third Hokage soothed Tsunade, a cat-faced Anbu ninja entered the Hokage's office and bowed as he reported.

"Lord Hokage, Young Master Nawaki has completed registration."

As he spoke, he cautiously glanced at Tsunade, whose expression was not particularly pleasant. At the Hokage's signal, the Anbu ninja continued his report.

"Young Master Nawaki has been assigned to Class 1. He is seated by the window in the last row, and his deskmate is a member of the Uchiha Clan..."

The Anbu ninja then reported everything that had happened after Nawaki entered the academy.

Tsunade frowned as she listened. "An Uchiha Clan member? Why would he be in the last row? And how did Nawaki get mixed up with the Uchiha Clan?"

At the Hokage's signal, the cat-faced ninja reported Uchiha Kiyoshi's information.

When they first heard about Uchiha Kiyoshi's declaration in class, the Third Hokage and the others were surprised. Such ideals?

Even Tsunade had been moved for a moment by what he said.

However, as the cat-faced ninja described Uchiha Kiyoshi's prior special training and background, the Third Hokage and the others suddenly understood.

So it was not some grand ideal. He was simply afraid of death? The Uchiha Clan had actually produced such an oddball?

Well, he had lost his parents at two years old. Perhaps it had left some kind of trauma behind?

Still, this was good too. If the Uchiha Clan produced another medical ninja who treated more people and gained acceptance, perhaps it could greatly ease the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village.

And perhaps Konoha might gain another decent medical ninja as well!

The Third glanced at his prized disciple, and an idea seemed to form in his mind.

Tsunade knew what he was planning the moment she saw his look and immediately refused.

"Teacher, forget it. I won't accept an Uchiha Clan ninja as my disciple.

"Besides, I'm only eighteen. I don't want to take on disciples yet."

The Third Hokage could only abandon the idea.

Time passed quickly.

With Nawaki taking the lead, the students gradually began chatting and making new friends.

At that moment, a middle-aged ninja wearing a green vest and a gentle expression walked onto the podium.

"Everyone, quiet down. Now that all the new students have arrived, gather at the training ground. We'll be holding the opening ceremony."

After saying that, he left directly.

The students rose one after another and headed toward the training ground.

Uchiha Kiyoshi was dragged to the training ground by the overly familiar Nawaki.

Upon arriving at the training ground, Uchiha Kiyoshi experienced another opening ceremony.

However, unlike before, there were not many tedious details this time.

It was simply the Third Hokage preaching the Will of Fire onstage while a group of elementary-school children stared up at him in worship.

Uchiha Kiyoshi could not put on such an admiring expression, but he still looked as though he were listening attentively and thinking seriously.

On the stage, the Third Hokage occasionally observed the reactions below. Seeing the worshipful gazes of so many children, he was greatly satisfied.

At the same time, he noticed Uchiha Kiyoshi.

But seeing how seriously the boy appeared to be listening, along with his occasional nods of agreement, the Third Hokage was satisfied as well.

Tsunade also observed Uchiha Kiyoshi from the side, but she did not notice anything special about him. After watching for a while, she stopped paying attention.

And Nawaki? His eyes were shining so brightly that he almost wanted to shout.

Speeches were boring. Even the most passionate speech would become boring if it went on long enough.

Finally, amid everyone's anticipation, the Third Hokage reluctantly ended his speech.

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