The crowd gathered in front of the newly built Ninja Academy. The circle in the Konoha emblem hanging high above them seemed like an eye, silently watching over them. The posted notice listed the names of the students in the first class of the Ninja Academy.
Their clothes bore clan crests, making it easy to tell which families they belonged to.
People jostled for space, and the sound of whispered conversations never ceased.
At the back stood a shinobi with pure white eyes. Surrounded by his guards, he moved a little closer to the bustling crowd.
The Hyuga Clan had still arrived late.
He turned to look at the Branch Family members whose foreheads were wrapped in headbands. His thoughts wandered as he mused to himself, Those old fossils in the clan who think so highly of themselves would never agree to send a child from the Main Family to this new school.
His gaze swept over the list, and familiar clan names caught his eye.
Sarutobi, Shimura, and Ino-Shika-Cho, as well as Uchiha and the civilians of the village.
A Branch Family member whispered in his ear. So, they had already investigated everything.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was Sasuke's son, Shimura Danzō was the son of an elder, and the three most talented members of the Uchiha Clan were among the students. And then there was that man's disciple, too.
"Hmph."
The Hyuga man let out a cold snort and slowly walked away. Those short-sighted old fossils were such a nuisance.
Avoiding the morning sunlight, Rikusei waited quietly in the shade in front of a two-story building for Naori.
He had no idea what to bring on his first day of school. His hands were empty, though at least his ninja tool pouch was stuffed full of gear.
Kunai, Shuriken, Explosive Tags—packed to the brim. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was going to blow up the school.
He had quietly changed history as much as he could.
While Uchiha Madara was still in the village, Rikusei had brought up plans for its future development.
He wanted to give Madara, who hadn't yet been deceived by Black Zetsu, fewer things to brood over, and keep him busy looking after the village from the Hokage's seat Hashirama had insisted he take.
With the other shinobi clans in the Land of Fire joining the village, Rikusei knew all too well that Madara would still leave Konoha, given his nature.
All Rikusei wanted was for Madara to be able to put his vision of an ideal village into practice from the Hokage's seat before he left Konoha.
Even if the position was only a temporary Hokage post, tentatively agreed upon between partners.
Naori's mother stood at the open doorway with a smile, welcoming Rikusei inside and chatting with him.
Their questions gradually shifted from family matters to his thoughts on a future partner.
Rikusei's answers made the woman narrow her eyes. The smile tugging at her lips grew more and more satisfied.
"Mother, we're only five!"
Naori hurried downstairs, smoothed her hair, and put on her shoes. Then she quickly turned around, ushered her mother inside, and closed the door. Facing it, she tried to steady her breathing.
As Naori started down the steps, a gentle voice came from inside. "Take care!"
A blush spread across the girl's cheeks as she quietly apologized to Rikusei.
The girl's shy appearance made Rikusei's heart pound. He quickly shifted his gaze into the distance and comforted her. "If you met Grandmother, she'd probably be even worse."
Naori remembered Grandmother on the day of the clan meeting, surrounded by fans on the wooden platform. Her bright eyes filled with disbelief. "Could Lady Chiri really be like that?"
Rikusei nodded slightly. After a moment's thought, he decided not to expose Grandmother's hidden side. He had to let her experience the dangers of the world for herself.
With the morning sun beside them, the two strolled through the clan district. There was still plenty of time before class, so they took their time admiring the lively sights.
The rich aroma coming from the Dango Shop, which was surrounded by a crowd, stirred Rikusei's appetite. He pulled Naori over to join in the fun.
They took the packaged Hanami Dango and Tricolor Dango from the shopkeeper. The soft, chewy dumplings melted in their mouths, and they tasted pretty good.
On their way, Rikusei casually pulled Kagami away from the crowd gathered in front of the notice board, stretching their necks and rising onto their toes to get a better look.
Rikusei glanced over the missions posted on the notice board.
The B-rank and higher missions at the top offered only brief descriptions. For details and to accept them, they had to go to the central building the village was constructing.
The simpler C- and D-rank missions were posted below, where anyone could reach them.
Most were odd jobs around the village: weeding, finding lost belongings, helping build houses, and leveling roads.
The more difficult ones involved hunting animals around the village that posed a threat to civilians.
Though the village was still in its early stages, missions that weren't too difficult were usually posted directly on each shinobi clan's notice board.
As the village gradually got on track, these arrangements would also be phased out.
The crowd in front of the Ninja Academy was so thick that anyone would have thought it was a parents' meeting.
Rikusei and the others could clearly feel the gazes studying them as they entered the school, accompanied by the crowd's whispers.
"Those were members of the Uchiha Clan just now, right?"
Once they had gone inside, low whispers rose from the crowd.
"That's right. The Ino-Shika-Cho are already inside, too. Why haven't we seen anyone from the Senju Clan?"
After the commotion died down, a muffled voice asked in curiosity.
"Look carefully at the list. There isn't anyone with the surname Senju on it."
Someone immediately answered the question.
"Phew."
Naori pressed both hands to her chest and let out a breath. Smiling, she said, "This is even more nerve-racking than training."
"I'm fine."
Rikusei acted as though it were nothing.
Leaning against the wall, Kagami glanced at the two chatting happily, then looked around at the school's interior.
Beyond the gate, the courtyard had an even, flat surface, while the usual spring greenery grew beside the classroom buildings.
Footsteps sounded in the corridor of the Mathematics Building. The three quietly went to meet them.
"Great Elder Kaku, what are you doing here?" Kagami asked in disbelief.
"Why can't I be here?" Kaku stood with his hands on his hips and looked at him askance. Tapping the nameplate on his chest, he said, "I'm your Taijutsu teacher now!"
"Sorry, Teacher Kaku."
Kagami immediately apologized without a fuss.
Kaku winked at Rikusei and Naori, who knew what was going on, then turned and gestured for them to follow.
"Teacher Kaku, how many students did they admit this year?" Rikusei asked as they walked along the corridor.
"Not many. Fewer than twenty. There are exactly nineteen, in fact." Kaku's reply echoed down the hall.
"Who's the principal?"
"You'll find out in a moment." Kaku pointed mysteriously toward the classroom.
Once everyone had arrived, the mystery was solved.
It was the man who had opposed the Uchiha all his life.
Tobirama Senju.
Dressed in plain white clothes, he stood at the lectern, his silver hair a perfect match for his outfit. His red eyes surveyed the students in the classroom, and he nodded in satisfaction. "You all come from different shinobi clans. So, let's begin with introductions. I'll start."
Tobirama gathered his thoughts and spoke clearly. "Tobirama Senju. I'm your homeroom teacher. I like grilled fish, and my dream is to protect the village."
"Sarutobi Hiruzen! I like Hijiki, and my dream is to become a powerful shinobi loved by my clan, just like my father!"
"Very good. Next!"
"Kagami Uchiha. I like Bonito Rice Balls, and my dream is to become a strong member of the Uchiha Clan."
Tobirama raised his eyelids slightly, without changing his expression. The village had only just been formed, and the children in the classroom all looked up to the elders of their clans. It wasn't strange for a member of the Uchiha Clan to think that way.
"Shimura Danzō. I like Hot Sauce, and my dream is to become a strong member of the Shimura Clan."
Tobirama's lips twitched. He nodded and said, "Next!"
Now for the main event.
Tobirama watched the boy slowly rise to his feet with a serious expression. This was that man's disciple, after all.
"Uchiha Rikusei. I like Tricolor Dango, and my dream is to work with my teacher to contribute to the village."
Teacher.
Anyone present who wasn't from the Uchiha Clan might have thought he meant Tobirama, but Tobirama knew exactly who Rikusei meant.
Madara, the man who was as renowned throughout the Shinobi World as his elder brother.
If they knew Madara couldn't become Hokage, how would his thoughts change?
For better or worse?
Even Tobirama couldn't say. Without showing what he was thinking, he said, "Next!"
"Uchiha Naori. I like Tricolor Dango." The purple-haired girl rolled her lively eyes and looked toward the boy who had just sat down in front of her. Then she continued, "My dream is to eat every kind of dango in the Shinobi World."
"Very good!"
Those little gestures hadn't escaped Tobirama's notice. He silently gave the girl, renowned for her talent within the Uchiha Clan, a label.
A glutton.
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