March 1, Year 41 of Konoha.
The new term began at the Konoha Ninja Academy. It was the day a new batch of young ninja students enrolled, and, more importantly... the first time the Ninja Academy welcomed four- and five-year-old newcomers!
Most of those who voluntarily enrolled at four or five were children from ninja families.
Although the proposal to lower the enrollment age had been voted down at the Jonin Meeting, that did not mean Konoha's ninja feared battle or could not bear to send their children.
That went without saying for staunch hawks like the Uchiha Clan, who had collectively voted in favor. They practically wished they could send their children in a few months earlier.
Even many of the ninja who had opposed it at the time sent children who had yet to turn six.
Since it was the start of a new term, particularly the first day for so many new students, the school gates were unusually crowded with parents dropping off their children.
And just then...
Quite a few people noticed Hatake Sakumo and Uchiha Orochimaru arriving!
One came from the east, the other from the west, and they happened to meet at the school gates. Each had a little boy beside him.
The boy beside Hatake Sakumo looked as though he had been cast from the same mold, right down to his little mop of white hair. Though only four, his eyes were remarkably composed, lacking the liveliness a child ought to have.
The boy beside Orochimaru... looked as though someone had forcibly carved him into Orochimaru's likeness!
The boy looked a little wooden, his eyes full of nervousness. He wore a long robe in the same style as Orochimaru's everyday clothes. He seemed curious to look around, but with his father beside him,