A Day in the Life of Naruto Uzumaki

While Hui was still practicing flight, Sasuke followed Itachi to visit Shisui.

Sasuke was astonished to discover that his brother also had a "Brother Shisui."

Just like in the original timeline, when Sasuke faced Orochimaru, he was so intimidated by the man's killing intent that he was unable to move and gave up the fight.

After the secret medicine was injected, Sasuke regretted it—deeply regretted it.

At first, an itchy sensation spread from the injection site.

Gradually, the itching spread throughout his entire body, eventually evolving into agony.

Sasuke now felt as if he were enduring pain that gnawed at his very bones.

He slowly forgot the purpose of his visit, feeling for a moment as if he had been abandoned by the world.

It was then that Itachi played his part; under his encouragement, Sasuke managed to hold on.

A new day.

That morning, Naruto climbed out of bed with a yawn, two scrolls sliding off his body.

Seeing this, Naruto quickly snatched them up and tucked them away.

Looking at the two buckets of paint in the corner of his room, Naruto felt a sense of nostalgia.

He had originally intended to use that method to make everyone notice him, but it seemed that was no longer necessary.

The experiences of this past week still felt somewhat unreal to him.

Ever since he learned the Shadow Clone Technique the day before yesterday, Naruto felt he had truly become a ninja.

The neighbors and those annoying middle-aged men and women who used to bother him seemed to have started acknowledging him.

Although Naruto could still read disgust in their eyes.

At least they no longer called him "Demon Fox" to his face.

Things were moving in a better direction, weren't they?

"Alright, Naruto Uzumaki, keep your spirits up and work twice as hard today!"

Naruto cheered himself on with overflowing energy.

After a simple preparation, he grabbed a piece of bread in his mouth and hurried off to school.

Upon arriving at school, Naruto skillfully greeted Hui.

Then, he caught sight of a flash of pink hair. It was Sakura Haruno.

"Sakura! Good morning."

"Oh, Naruto. Good morning. Why are you so energetic today?"

In the original timeline, Naruto's affection for Sakura was a complex issue.

Sakura was one of the few people who had never disliked Naruto from the very beginning.

In daily life, Sakura would look after Naruto, occasionally sharing a bento or helping him treat his wounds.

All of this caused Naruto, who had been severely starved of love in his childhood, to develop a unique sense of reliance on her.

In his youth, he might have mistaken this emotion for something else.

Coupled with the fact that Sakura had always been infatuated with Sasuke.

Facing his lifelong rival Sasuke, his affection for her was not without a sense of competition.

In his worldview at the time, if Sakura liked him, it might have been equivalent to defeating Sasuke.

If Naruto had possessed the Uchiha bloodline, he would have been the next Obito.

But although the current Naruto still lived a lonely life, a ray of light called hope had shone into his heart.

In his eyes, the current Sakura was simply a good friend.

"Hehe, Sakura, let me tell you. I've become a ninja now!"

Naruto leaned in close to Sakura, acting all mysterious.

Sakura looked at Naruto, feeling somewhat bewildered.

"Haha, watch this, Sakura, I'll prove it to you!"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head and laughed.

He pressed the index and middle fingers of both hands together, crossing them into a cross sign.

"Multi Shadow Clone Technique!" Countless Narutos flooded the classroom.

"Naruto, you idiot!"

Sakura was submerged by the sea of Narutos and let out a roar of frustration.

In an unknown corner, a girl with short black hair and Byakugan eyes was "frightened" into fainting by the inexplicable sight.

"Naruto! You are not allowed to use ninjutsu inside the school without permission; I explained that to everyone on the first day of school."

"It seems I need to help you remember that lesson. You are punished to stand at the classroom door!"

Iruka stood on the podium, scolding Naruto.

At this moment, Iruka held very complicated feelings toward Naruto.

This was not the version of him from six years later who had already found peace.

At this time, he still harbored resentment toward Naruto.

"Haha, sorry, sorry. Iruka-sensei, I'll remember it."

Lacking proper education, Naruto did not understand what this meant.

Seeing the grinning Naruto before him, a vein popped on Iruka's forehead. He returned after fetching two buckets of water.

"Naruto, it seems you need to reflect properly. Stand at the door holding these two buckets, and you must still listen carefully to the lesson content. When class ends, I am going to test you thoroughly!"

Iruka said every word with emphasis.

Naruto's entire face collapsed.

He stood honestly at the classroom door, acting like a guardian statue.

As the class time passed, Naruto's thoughts drifted far away.

Sasuke, why hasn't he come yet?

This question popped into Naruto's mind.

Sasuke was a model student; he had never seen him late once in these past two weeks.

It wasn't until the first period was almost over that he finally saw Sasuke walking over, swaying unsteadily.

"Sasuke, Sasuke, are you okay?"

Naruto tossed the water buckets in his hands aside and ran to Sasuke, looking him up and down with concern.

He was trying to find the reason for Sasuke's unusual state.

"Na... Naruto, I'm fine. Why are you standing at the door?"

Sasuke's voice sounded somewhat listless.

"Forget about that, I'm taking you to Konoha Hospital right now."

Naruto's mind was filled with only one question.

Is Sasuke sick?

Without another word, he hoisted Sasuke onto his shoulder and bolted straight toward Konoha Hospital.

"You... you idiot, put me down."

After the doctor's repeated assurances, Naruto was finally convinced that Sasuke was perfectly healthy, just mentally exhausted.

At this moment, he suddenly discovered a small problem.

It seemed he had skipped class while taking Sasuke to the hospital.

Second period, at the classroom door, Naruto had an extra bucket balanced on his head.

At noon, Naruto was dragged away by Iruka for private tutoring.

For the first time in a while, only Hui and Sasuke were left on the rooftop.

Sasuke gritted his teeth and grabbed Hui's clothes.

"You bastard, I want to duel you, a duel!"

"Right here, let's settle this!"

"Sorry, sorry, Sasuke. Cool down, cool down. Good things always come with a price," Hui said with a laugh.

"Hmph, I forgive you, but you're coming with me to the Training Ground this weekend. This is another thing you owe me."

"Definitely, definitely. We can go see Chiyuki-sister while we're at it. I made her worry last time."

On Naruto's side.

"...That is the complete content of the ninja code. How about it, Naruto, did you memorize it?"

After an hour of re-explaining the day's lesson, Iruka looked at Naruto with complicated emotions.

Before becoming the homeroom teacher for this class, he had actually been quite resistant to the idea.

It was only under the persuasion of the Third Hokage that he finally agreed to teach here.

The Nine-Tails Rebellion—that was a night he could never forget.

His father had died protecting him.

The cause of death was precisely the Nine-Tails inside the boy before him.

He looked at Naruto, who was unusually excited today.

Iruka's heart was in a state of turmoil; as a teacher, he should be guiding his student's path.

Yet, in the two weeks since the term began, he felt he had failed to fulfill his duties as an instructor.

Just then, an ill-timed growl erupted from Naruto's stomach.

Naruto looked at Iruka sheepishly and scratched his head.

Perhaps having come to a realization, Iruka spoke.

"Let's go, Naruto! I'll treat you to a meal at Ichiraku Ramen."

Iruka patted Naruto on the shoulder.

"You mustn't be so mischievous next time, or you won't be able to make any friends."

Naruto stared at Iruka in a daze; aside from his peers and the Third Hokage, this was the first adult to truly acknowledge him.

Naruto nodded vigorously.

"Yeah! Iruka-sensei, I promise I won't be mischievous next time."

"Haha, let's go, let's go, Naruto. If we don't eat now, the afternoon class will start."

"Oh! Let's have miso ramen! Iruka-sensei, the taste of this ramen is absolutely fantastic."

The two figures walked together toward Ichiraku Ramen.

A perfect day continued on.