Konoha.
It was nearing noon in the Uchiha Clan Compound.
A red-haired girl carrying a lunchbox skipped and hopped across the street.
"Karin, you're going to deliver food to Sasuke again, aren't you?"
"Yes! It's a love-filled bento box!"
Karin was dressed neatly and cleanly, with a happy smile on her face.
"I'm so happy to see your aunt! Her red hair is so vibrant!"
Here, I'll give you a flower. Its meaning is perfect for you.
The florist handed Karin a white and green flower.
Karin took the flower and tilted her head curiously. "What's it called? What's its flower language?"
The florist crouched down and whispered, "These are Eustoma, and their flower language is eternal, pure, and flawless love."
Bang!
Karin's face flushed bright red, a mixture of excitement and shyness.
"Thank you, Kikuzakura-aunt! I'm going to give this to Sasuke-kun!"
With that, Karin ran even faster toward the Training Ground within the clan's territory.
Uchiha Kikugaku covered his face, watching Karin's bouncing figure with a doting smile.
——
In the Training Ground.
"Is that all you can do, Sasuke!"
In the middle of the scene, a boy with a yellow afro was shouting.
Opposite him, a black-haired boy with a bare upper body and clearly defined muscles stood up, supporting himself on his knees.
His small body was covered with many scars, which showed how hard he trained.
Sasuke spat and said disdainfully.
"You're just relying on your Uzumaki Clan's physique! Just you wait, when we clash with ninja tools, I'll stab you a few times!"
Naruto, hands on his hips, laughed loudly, "Hahahaha! Uchiha Sasuke, curse your pathetic fate of not having the Uzumaki physique!"
"When it comes to Taijutsu, no matter how hard you try, it's useless!"
"Hahaha—"
Whoosh!
While Naruto was laughing with his head tilted back, Sasuke Body Flicker Technique closed in, grabbed Naruto by the neck, and slammed him to the ground!
Thud...
His other hand was only half an inch away from Naruto's face.
"I won, Naruto!"
"You cheated! How could you attack me while I was laughing!"
Sasuke scoffed dismissively. "Attack when your opponent is relaxed. That's what our master taught us. You haven't remembered any of it."
"Aaaaaah! That doesn't count! You're cheating! Let's do it again!"
Sasuke got up from Naruto, clapped his hands, and said calmly, "Next time, Naruto."
"I'm going to eat."
He had already seen Karin running towards him; her bright red hair was too eye-catching.
Although this girl is annoying, ever since she started bringing me lunchboxes, my mom has stopped making lunchboxes for me!
There was no other way; in order to conserve his strength, Sasuke had to Karin gave him.
The most crucial principle of the Kagami Uchiha lineage is to eat well.
At mealtimes, the people who were scattered around the Training Ground would gather together to eat.
Although the training is rigorous, they are given at least an hour to eat and rest at noon.
"Sasuke-kun, this is what I made today: pork cutlet rice bowl, Tonkotsu Ramen, and yakitori (Japanese BBQ)~"
"And also~ this is Eustoma for you, its flower language is..."
Sasuke completely ignored Karin's next words, opened the eight-layer bento box, and quickly started eating.
As for that flower, I didn't even look at it.
What's the use of flowers? You can't eat them.
Naruto glared at Sasuke resentfully, then looked around and found the figure behind a large tree.
Hinata, could you please deliver my lunchbox for me?
"Honestly, my mom is always so lazy. She makes you deliver such a big bento box."
"It's okay... it's me..."
Hinata's voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz, and even when Naruto leaned closer, he couldn't hear it clearly.
If Hinata, Naruto would blush and faint, so he didn't insist on hearing her clearly.
Picking up a bento box that was almost as tall as him, Naruto rushed to Sasuke's side.
"Sasuke, you're too weak! Your bento is only this small!"
"Mine has fourteen layers! A full fourteen layers!"
Sasuke ignored him, which made Karin anxious.
He stepped forward and nudged Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto! Do you have any complaints about the bento I made?"
Naruto's momentum immediately deflated.
"No, Karin- nee..."
When facing Karin, Naruto felt like he was facing a miniature version of his mother; she was terrifying when she got angry.
"Alright, you guys hurry up and finish eating and rest for a while. We still have training this afternoon."
A boy wearing black-rimmed glasses and with his silver-gray hair tied back approached.
Beside him was a kind-looking young man.
"Yamato- nii, Kabuto-nii," Sasuke asked, shoveling food into his mouth. "Didn't you say Shisui- nii would be back today? Hasn't he come yet?"
With a faint smile, Kabuto said, "Shisui went to the Hokage Building to report on his mission first."
"He'll probably come with Kagami-sama."
"Master is coming too!"
Naruto shuddered, remembering the trauma of being smashed to pieces.
"Hmm, it seems like I have something to announce."
As the conversation continued, more and more people gathered around.
Eating together is more fun, and you can also see what other people's bento boxes contain that you like to eat.
Uchiha Izumi, Uchiha Tekka, and Inaho naturally sat down next to Sasuke.
"Hinata, what are you doing here? Let's go together."
Neji Hyuga put on his outer garment, revealing skin covered in scars.
On his exposed forehead, there was only sweat from training.
"Neji- nii..."
Neji knew his sister too well, so he didn't bother to explain and simply dragged her to Naruto's side.
A group of people sat together, some chatting and laughing, others engrossed in their food.
Hinata was quiet; she had already eaten at home.
It's not convenient to bring food for about fifty people to the Training Ground.
Apart from Yakushi Kabuto, everyone present was either a bloodline ninja or had a special bloodline, making them a super Elite Class assembled by Kagami Uchiha.
However, only Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin are formal disciples.
Five years ago.
Minato Namikaze accepted Shisui as his disciple, making him his only formal disciple.
He also requested that Kagami Uchiha accept Naruto Uzumaki as his disciple.
Yes, Naruto's surname is still Uzumaki.
Although Chiho and Karin are from the Uzumaki Clan, they no longer use that surname.
To make Kushina less lonely, Minato decided that Naruto would take the surname Uzumaki.
They also planned to have their second child's surname Namikaze.
As for Karin.
She has great talent. Despite the treatment she received in the original timeline and the fact that she never had a proper chance to cultivate, she still managed to develop considerable strength.
If she had been born a decade or more earlier, Madara might have chosen her to nurture his Rinnegan.
Of the current trio, Karin is actually the strongest.
While Sasuke and Naruto were still in the foundational stage, she had already started using the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
There's also an even younger Konohamaru who will join the training camp next year.
——
Hokage Building.
Conference room.
Not only Minato and Sakumo, but all the Konoha Jonin gathered together.
Kagami Uchiha sat in the head seat, resting his chin on one hand, and spoke calmly.
"Announce this to the Shinobi World."
"The Land of Fire does not recognize any of the titles of Kage except for Hashirama Senju, Minato Namikaze, Hatake Sakumo."
"I have decided to hold the Shinobi World Grand Martial Arts Tournament."
"Redefining the ranks of ninjas."