Visiting

The next day.

Naruto woke from his sleep.

He washed up and prepared breakfast.

Looking out the window, the weather was clear.

"Alright, a new day, and another day of hard training!" Naruto stretched, quickly forming hand seals with both hands.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique."

After a cloud of smoke, four Narutos appeared beside the original.

"I won't waste your time. Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Ninjutsu, Chakra stabilization, Kidō – you guys can split up and handle these yourselves. Thanks for your hard work," Naruto said kindly.

"Don't worry, I am also Naruto Uzumaki. I yearn to become stronger. In the days to come, I will become the light that illuminates you."

"Actually, Naruto, you're really talented. With both talent and hard work, you'll definitely become the greatest Hokage."

"In this cruel world, I will always stay by your side." Several talkative Narutos spoke softly with gentle smiles.

"Get out of here before I beat you all up," Naruto said with a smile, clenching his fists.

The four shadow clones immediately disappeared.

"Finally, peace and quiet," Naruto sighed, getting dressed and heading towards the Ninja Academy.

He had made an agreement with his shadow clones: they would attend school once a week, and the rest of the time, the shadow clones would go in his place.

For them, studying the boring curriculum at the Ninja Academy was undoubtedly torture, but considering the potential of his classmates, Naruto could only endure it.

Naruto had considered graduating early, but he eventually abandoned the idea.

Firstly, his classmates showed great potential, and he needed to build connections with them.

Secondly, graduating early was not in the Third's plans, so it definitely wouldn't be approved.

As it turned out, Naruto's thinking was correct.

Danzō and the Third had once argued over Naruto graduating early.

Danzō advocated for Naruto's early graduation so he could join the Anbu and receive his personal guidance.

The Third, however, believed that Naruto's bonds with his classmates were not yet deep enough, and graduating early now would bring more harm than good.

The two argued endlessly, fully revealing Danzō's ambition to acquire Naruto.

In the end, the Third, as usual, concluded the discussion with his tried-and-true Hokage philosophy.

Furious, Danzō stormed off, his heart growing even more twisted.

Inside the dimly lit Hokage's office, the Third's gaze was filled with complex emotions, eventually becoming resolute.

"I didn't do well before, but now, I will make amends. Minato, I will ensure Naruto has a good life," the Third murmured softly in the office.

Arriving at the familiar classroom, he didn't see the usual figures, and Naruto was a bit confused.

Sasuke usually arrived at school very early. This was the first time he'd been late in a year, wasn't it?

"Naruto-kun! Good morning!" Ino, seeing Naruto, excitedly greeted him along with Sakura.

Other students also greeted Naruto.

"Morning," Naruto replied to each of them, his gaze finally landing on the shy girl with short, lavender hair.

He remembered Hinata's more assertive side and couldn't help but chuckle, "Morning, Hinata."

"Good morning, Naruto-kun." Receiving special treatment, Hinata flinched like a startled bird, responding with a blush.

"What's this? Why did Naruto greet Hinata specifically? He wasn't like this before," Sakura pouted enviously from the side.

After Naruto sat down at his seat, several students suddenly gathered around him.

"Naruto, did you know? The Uchiha clan was wiped out."

"Really? An entire clan was annihilated?" Other students immediately leaned in with surprise and started discussing.

"Yes, a prominent clan was wiped out overnight. It seems only Sasuke survived."

"Oh my god, who did it? That's terrifying."

"I don't know. The Anbu are cleaning up the mess right now. I heard the mansion was flooded with blood."

Listening to the discussion, Naruto's expression gradually became serious.

His premonition from yesterday was correct. Something had indeed happened.

After the decline of the Senju Clan, it was no exaggeration to call the Uchiha the most prominent noble clan in Konoha. Countless powerful individuals with awakened Sharingan were part of it, forming a crucial piece of Konoha's top fighting force.

But such a prestigious clan was wiped out overnight?

It just didn't make sense.

Where were Konoha's Anbu? Where were Konoha's ninja?

Were they all just standing around doing nothing?

The more Naruto thought about it, the more something felt wrong. The extermination of the clan was too abnormal, too bizarre.

If the mysterious force that wiped out the Uchiha had nothing to do with Konoha, it would mean this mysterious force possessed the terrifying ability to infiltrate Konoha, annihilate the entire Uchiha clan overnight without being detected, or even escape unscathed if discovered.

The reasons for their destruction of the Uchiha clan could be few: to weaken Konoha's strength, or because they held a grudge against the Uchiha.

Since they could eliminate the Uchiha clan without a sound, they surely wouldn't think much of Konoha.

It would be more straightforward to directly attack Konoha.

No matter how one considered it, Konoha must have played an extremely significant role in this Uchiha clan massacre.

It might even have been Konoha itself that carried out the act.

Naruto's eyes flickered, his vigilance increasing.

To have so easily annihilated the Uchiha, it seemed there must have been an inside man within the Uchiha clan.

With only Sasuke left from the entire clan, that inside man must have had some connection to Sasuke.

Itachi's gentle smile suddenly flashed in Naruto's mind.

Could it be... Sasuke's brother, Itachi Uchiha?!

Naruto swallowed, taking a deep breath.

"Do you know who did it?" Naruto asked.

"Huh? Naruto, you don't know?" His classmates looked at him in surprise. "It was Sasuke's brother, Itachi Uchiha! He massacred the Uchiha clan."

Upon hearing this, a tempest of shock churned within Naruto's heart.

Itachi?

How could it be Itachi?!

He recalled that man, who was both terrifyingly powerful and incredibly gentle towards his younger brother.

Could such a man have killed everyone in the Uchiha clan except for Sasuke?

This was utterly impossible.

It seemed the mastermind behind the Uchiha clan's annihilation was no simple matter.

Naruto's gaze deepened.

He would visit Sasuke after school.

After school, Naruto, along with Rock Lee, headed towards the hospital.

The last time he came to the hospital, it was also because of Sasuke.

Thinking about it, Sasuke was becoming a regular at the hospital.

They walked in silence, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.

After a long while, Rock Lee, unable to stand the silence, spoke first. "Naruto, did you hear? The Uchiha clan was..." He didn't utter the words 'massacred'.

After all, those two words were too heavy.

In the past, Rock Lee had worried about his own talent, even entertaining many childish thoughts, such as self-harm.

But compared to a clan massacre, his own troubles were insignificant.

"From now on, Sasuke will have to carry the fate of the entire Uchiha clan. It's too much for him," Naruto sighed.

Everyone born into this world has their own responsibility.

Before the massacre, Sasuke was a carefree young master from a wealthy family, contentedly receiving his family's affection.

Even if he made mistakes, someone would cover for him.

But after that night, he was alone.

His words and actions would represent the Uchiha, and the glory of the Uchiha would weigh on him like a mountain.

For a child who was only 7 years old, all of this was too cruel.

Naruto and Rock Lee fell silent once more.