At the Ninja Academy's training ground, parents who had come to watch their children take the entrance exam took their seats in the surrounding stands.
The Ninja Academy had been expanded several times over the past few years, and the training ground had grown very large. Stands had even been built around it.
As the children entered, the parents in the stands couldn't help cheering them on.
"Naruto! You can do it!"
In the stands, Kushina Uzumaki paid no heed to her status. The moment she spotted Naruto in the crowd, she sprang to her feet and waved both arms as she called out to him. Beside her, Mikoto Uchiha reached out, trying to pull Kushina back into her seat, but several attempts came to nothing.
The parents nearby cast curious looks their way, making Mikoto blush.
"That woman..." Fugaku felt even more embarrassed. He covered one side of his face with his hand, looking utterly helpless.
"Is that Lady Kushina Uzumaki, the Fifth Hokage's wife? Then that boy must be the Hokage's son!"
"I heard his name is Naruto?!"
"The Hokage's son, huh? We'd better keep an eye on him."
Quite a few parents recognized Kushina Uzumaki. Following her gaze, they spotted Naruto. His hair was so conspicuous that, beneath the sunlight, it seemed to shine with a golden glow.
That hair color was easy to recognize in Konoha. Apart from the Yamanaka Clan, no one in the village was naturally blond. And Naruto's hair was quite different from the Yamanaka Clan's, too. Naruto and Minato's hair was a deeper shade, while the Yamanaka Clan's was a pale gold.
Most of the parents present were active shinobi with a discerning eye. They soon began sizing up Sasuke Uchiha, Shikamaru Nara, and the others.
Children from shinobi clans were easy