Familiar Faces

But Menma's expression remained unchanged.

Over the more than five, nearly six years, Menma had long grown used to these people's stares. So what if he was hated and rejected by a few ignorant people? Menma did not care in the slightest. He was not the Naruto from the Original Work, desperate to beg the people of Konohagakure for recognition.

All Menma had ever thought about was how to survive, and then how to take revenge on those enemies of his.

As for anything else? What did it have to do with him?

Iruka, on the other hand, appeared calm, but inwardly he was somewhat worried and tense. He feared those stares might provoke Menma. Only when he saw that Menma still wore a calm expression did Iruka finally breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, a Jinchuriki's emotions had to remain as stable as possible. If they were prone to losing control at any moment, it could easily cause the Tailed Beasts to run rampant. There had been several clear examples of that in the Shinobi World over the past few decades.

They went straight down the main road and soon arrived at the Ninja Academy's main gate.

Outside, a long line had already formed.

They were all children of the appropriate age who had come to enroll, all from civilian families. Those born into ninja clans had all already refined Chakra beforehand and were capable of becoming ninja, so there was no need for an entrance test.

But civilians were different.

Unless their parents were ninja as well.

The most ordinary civilians had no way to refine Chakra. They had to undergo the Ninja Academy's initial screening.

Only after confirming that they possessed the aptitude to become ninja could they enter the Ninja Academy to study.

Menma naturally did not need to go through that process.

Led by Iruka, he passed directly through the main gate and entered the largest office building at the very back of the Ninja Academy.

After completing the necessary enrollment procedures,

Iruka took Menma to the classroom for the class he was responsible for.

"Menma, starting today, you are officially a student of the Ninja Academy. Remember to study hard and get along well with your classmates."

Standing outside the classroom,

Iruka crouched down and gently rubbed Menma's little head once more as he spoke in a soft tone.

"Yes, Teacher Iruka. I will. Don't worry!"

Menma nodded lightly and replied with an obedient expression. He would not be like Naruto in the Original Work, desperately seeking everyone's recognition. But neither would he treat those who showed him kindness with coldness, much less harsh words.

No matter what, Iruka had left a good impression on Menma.

Not just from the Original Work, but from their personal contact in this life as well.

"Mm, very good. Then let's go in."

Iruka smiled and nodded.

Then, he pushed open the classroom door and led Menma inside.

The classroom was noisy and boisterous.

Even Iruka and Menma's arrival

only drew the attention of some children seated near the front. Most of the others remained focused on their own affairs.

"Go on."

Iruka did not mind. Children these days were basically all like this.

He lightly patted Menma's shoulder.

Menma nodded and walked down. Under the curious gazes of several children, he calmly headed toward a seat in the very last row at the back. Unlike their parents, these children did not look at Menma with hostility.

At most, they found Menma's red hair eye-catching and looked at him with curiosity.

Menma had no intention of interacting too much with these children.

They were ultimately just passersby in his life. Why draw extra attention to himself?

Only the notable rookies from the Original Work made Menma subconsciously take a few extra glances.

Besides, their appearances were far too distinctive—Shikamaru Nara, Shino Aburame, Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka, and the like.

Of course, the two who drew Menma's attention the most were still the others.

One was Hyuga Hinata, as pure and flawless as a white bridal kimono, quietly seated in a corner. The other was Sasuke Uchiha, still at that smug, trying-to-look-cool stage, surrounded by a group of little girls who were clearly children themselves yet already hopelessly lovestruck.

But no matter how much he cared inwardly, Menma would not reveal it on the surface.

After only taking a few extra looks,

Menma reached his seat and sat down properly.

Resting his chin on his right hand, he quietly watched the scenery outside the window.

"Ahem..."

Just as Iruka stepped onto the podium, cleared his throat, and was about to speak,

"Creak."

the door was suddenly pushed open again.

A golden figure walked in.

This time, unlike Iruka and Menma's arrival,

the golden figure instantly drew the attention of more than half the room the moment he entered. Even those children who had not noticed at first subconsciously turned their eyes toward the door when they saw the unusual expressions of their classmates nearby.

The moment they saw who it was,

every one of the children revealed shocked and excited expressions.

"Oh!? It's Young Master Naruto!"

"Wow, is Young Master Naruto going to be in our class!?"

"This is too wonderful!"

"We actually get to be in the same classroom as Fourth Lord's son! I have to tell my parents when I get home!"

"Young Master Naruto!"

"Young Master Naruto!"

The children from civilian families in particular could hardly conceal the excitement on their faces!

Even Iruka on the podium was briefly stunned.

Menma in the corner also froze instinctively.

Naruto?

It was not as if he had never anticipated it, but when he saw that Naruto had truly appeared and would be in the same class as him, a small ripple still rose in Menma's heart.

Shikamaru, Shino, Kiba, and the others seated in the front all looked toward Naruto, who had appeared in the classroom, with varying expressions.

As for Hinata, there was no need to mention her.

Her eyes were clearly filled with nothing but Naruto!

Even the exceedingly smug Sasuke Uchiha gave Naruto a rare second glance at that moment.

He could ignore everyone else in the classroom.

But Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son.

The village's publicly acknowledged "Prince."

Even the proud Uchiha had to treat him seriously.

"Ah, Teacher Iruka, Young Master Naruto will be studying in your class from now on. Please take good care of him."

A young Konoha Ninja who had arrived alongside Naruto, and who was clearly Naruto's Guard, looked at Iruka with a smile as he spoke.

"Teacher Iruka, please guide me from now on."

Naruto also bowed properly to Iruka as he spoke.

His personality was no different from the Original Work.

But because his treatment and circumstances since childhood had been completely different, Naruto naturally displayed entirely different behavior in some outward aspects.

Because he was now the Hero's Son!

The Hokage's son, whom most people in the village had to respectfully address as "Young Master Naruto."

"Oh? The honor is mine, Young Master Naruto."

Iruka hurriedly gave a slight bow in return, looking at Naruto with a trace of respect as he answered softly.