A Visit

The next day.

Naruto woke from his sleep.

He washed up and prepared breakfast.

Looking out the window, he saw that the weather was clear.

"Alright, a new day—another day to train hard!" Naruto stretched, his hands rapidly forming seals.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique."

After the smoke cleared, four Narutos appeared beside the original.

"I won't waste words. Zanjutsu, Hakuda, ninjutsu, Chakra stabilization, Kido—you can divide them among yourselves. I'm counting on you," Naruto said gently.

"Don't worry. I'm Naruto Uzumaki too. I crave strength. In the days to come, I'll become light and shine upon you."

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

"In this cruel world, I'll always stay by your side." The chatty Narutos all wore gentle smiles as they spoke softly.

"Leave before I beat you all up," Naruto said with a smile, clenching his fists.

The four Shadow Clones immediately vanished.

"The world is finally quiet." Naruto let out a long breath, got dressed, and headed for the Ninja Academy.

He had an agreement with his Shadow Clones: he would attend the academy once a week, while the clones would take his place the rest of the time.

To them, learning boring lessons at the Ninja Academy was undoubtedly torture. But considering his promising classmates, Naruto could only endure it.

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

First, his classmates had great potential and were worth befriending.

Second, early graduation was not part of Third's plan, so it definitely would not be approved.

And the facts proved Naruto right.

Danzo and Third had once argued over whether Naruto should graduate early.

Danzo advocated having Naruto graduate early and join the Anbu under his guidance.

Third, however, believed Naruto's bonds with his classmates were not deep enough yet. Graduating early now would do more harm than good.

The two argued endlessly, fully revealing Danzo's ambition to obtain Naruto.

In the end, as he wished, Third ended the matter with his ever-effective Hokage argument.

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

Within the dark Hokage's office, Third's expression was immensely complicated before it finally became resolute.

"I failed before, but now I'll make it up to him. Minato, I'll make sure Naruto lives well," Third murmured softly in his office.

When Naruto arrived at the familiar classroom, he did not see the familiar figure, leaving him somewhat puzzled.

Sasuke usually arrived at school very early. Was this his first time being late in a year?

"Naruto-kun! Morning!" Upon seeing Naruto, Ino grabbed Sakura and cheerfully greeted him.

The other students followed suit and greeted Naruto as well.

"Morning." Naruto responded to them one by one, his gaze finally falling on the shy girl with short pale-purple hair.

Remembering Hinata's bossy side, he could not help but chuckle. "Morning, Hinata."

"Morning, Naruto-kun." Receiving such special treatment, Hinata shrank her neck like a startled bird and answered with a blush.

"What's with that? Why did Naruto specifically greet Hinata? He never used to do that." Sakura pouted jealously from the side.

Once Naruto had settled into his seat, several students suddenly crowded around him.

"Naruto, did you know? The Uchiha Clan was annihilated."

"Seriously? Such a huge clan was wiped out?" The other students immediately crowded closer, discussing it in astonishment.

"It's true. That powerful clan was annihilated overnight. It seems only Sasuke survived."

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

"No idea. The Anbu are cleaning up the aftermath now. I heard the estate was awash in blood."

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

His premonition yesterday had been correct. Something really had happened.

After the Senju Clan declined, it would not have been an exaggeration to call the Uchiha Clan Konoha's foremost noble clan. There were countless powerful members who had awakened the Sharingan, and they formed an important part of Konoha's top combat strength.

Yet such a powerful clan had been annihilated overnight?

It made no sense no matter how he thought about it.

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

Had they all gone to drink the northwest wind?

The more Naruto thought about it, the more wrong it felt. The Clan Annihilation was far too abnormal, far too strange.

Suppose the mysterious force that destroyed the Uchiha Clan had nothing to do with Konoha. That would mean it possessed the terrifying strength to infiltrate Konoha, wipe out the Uchiha Clan overnight without being discovered—or escape unscathed even if discovered.

There were only a few possible reasons for destroying the Uchiha Clan: weakening Konoha, or harboring a grudge against the Uchiha.

If they could silently wipe out the Uchiha Clan, they certainly would not have regarded Konoha as a threat.

They might as well have attacked Konoha directly.

No matter how he considered it, Konoha must have played an extremely important role in the Uchiha Clan's annihilation.

It was even possible that Konoha had done it personally.

Naruto's eyes flickered, and his heart grew more vigilant.

To wipe out the Uchiha Clan so easily, there had to be an insider among the Uchiha.

Only Sasuke remained of the entire clan, so that insider should have had some connection to Sasuke.

A gentle smiling face suddenly appeared in Naruto's mind.

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

Naruto swallowed and drew a deep breath.

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

"Huh? Naruto, you don't know?" His classmates looked astonished. "It was Sasuke's older brother, Itachi Uchiha! He annihilated the Uchiha Clan."

At those words, a storm rose in Naruto's heart.

Itachi?

How could it have been Itachi?!

He remembered that man, powerful enough to inspire fear, yet incomparably gentle toward his younger brother.

Could such a man really have killed every Uchiha except Sasuke?

That was completely impossible.

It seemed the mastermind behind the Uchiha Clan's annihilation was no simple figure.

Naruto's gaze darkened.

He would visit Sasuke after school.

After school, Naruto brought Rock Lee with him, and the two headed toward the hospital.

The last time they had come to the hospital had also been because of Sasuke.

Thinking about it, Sasuke was going to become a hospital regular.

Neither of them spoke along the way, and the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

After a long while, Rock Lee could no longer bear the silence and spoke first. "Naruto, have you heard? The Uchiha Clan was..." He did not say the words "annihilated."

Those two words were simply too heavy.

Rock Lee had once worried over his own talent and even entertained many childish thoughts, such as harming himself.

But compared to a clan's annihilation, his troubles were far too insignificant.

"From now on, Sasuke will bear the fate of the entire Uchiha Clan. That's too heavy for him," Naruto sighed.

Everyone born into this world had responsibilities that belonged to them.

Before the Clan Annihilation, Sasuke had been the carefree young master of a powerful clan, accepting his family's affection as a matter of course.

Even when he did something wrong, there would always be someone to protect him.

But after one night, he was alone.

Everything he said and did would represent the Uchiha Clan, and the Uchiha Clan's glory would weigh on his shoulders like a mountain.

For a child only seven years old, all of this was far too cruel.

Naruto and Rock Lee both fell silent.