The First Day of School

Itachi promptly reported Orochimaru's entry into the village to the Fourth Hokage and the Third Hokage.

Konoha quickly went on high alert, launching a thorough search for Orochimaru.

Sasuke's home.

Sasuke hid his injured hand in his pocket and said bluntly, "Naruto, I can get home by myself."

Naruto nodded helplessly. If you can get home by yourself, why were you too scared to get more than three meters away from me on the way back, Sasuke? Just admit Orochimaru scared you. Kids get scared; nobody's going to laugh at you.

"Remember to put some ointment on it. School's about to start, so don't be late," Naruto said earnestly.

Sasuke rushed into his house, ignoring Naruto. When I go to school, I'll pretend I don't know you.

A torrential downpour washed Naruto from head to toe. He went home, changed, and lay down on his bed.

"Melon-Skin System, is it because of you that I can't use the Clone Technique?"

A notification appeared.

The system and the host are unique existences. Unique means no clones, no substitutes, and no transformations.

"Hmph, it's such a useful jutsu, and I can't use it. What a waste!"

From the host's perspective, there are no clones, substitutes, transformations, genjutsu, or parallel timelines.

"Fine, being unique isn't so bad. Now that I've heard the explanation, I won't dwell on it anymore."

The panel displayed:

Host: Uzumaki Naruto.

Ninjutsu: Talk no Jutsu; Rasengan; Fire Release.

Taijutsu: Eight Inner Gates (harmless version); Super Self-Healing.

Sealing Jutsu: None.

Summoning Jutsu: None.

Chakra Nature: Wind, Fire, Lightning, Earth, Water, Yang.

Chakra Remaining: 60%.

Chakra Control: 85%

Chakra Nature Transformation: Wind (100%), Fire (100%).

Naruto prepared to accept the task issued by the system.

Sign-in Task: Perfect the Eight Inner Gates.

Task Completion Reward: Shareable perfected version of the Eight Inner Gates.

The harmless version of the Eight Inner Gates was a task reward. Without the system's authorization, Naruto had no right to share it with anyone.

If he violated this rule, the system would crash, and the host would have to start over.

"Melon-Skin System, if I understand you right, there are flaws in Guy-sensei's Eight Inner Gates. This task is like a bonus for me and anyone else who can train in the Eight Inner Gates!"

I look forward to the host seizing this opportunity.

"Is there a standard for what counts as perfecting it?"

To be determined.

"You always play word games with every task. Whatever, I'll leave the judgment to you. I'm going to rest."

Outside the Konoha Bookstore.

"Kakashi-sensei, is the new volume out?" Naruto squeezed over to see what Kakashi wanted to buy. "Kakashi-sensei, have you seen where Guy-sensei is?"

Kakashi turned around. "Naruto, isn't today the first day of school?"

"Oh no!" Naruto had forgotten that the Ninja Academy term started today. He was supposed to find out which class he was in and learn about the new term's schedule.

His image as a model student was ruined.

Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki happened to be away from home, so there was no one to remind Naruto.

Naruto had originally planned to go find Guy-sensei and come clean.

When he got home, Naruto hurriedly gathered his things, grabbed his backpack, and raced toward the Ninja Academy. He wished he could open the Gate of Life to speed himself up.

The school's iron gate was locked. In the guardhouse, an older guard dozed in his chair.

Naruto vaulted over the gate and entered the school without difficulty.

A class assignment board stood outside the school building. Naruto scanned it and found his name.

"Nice, Hinata's in my class too." Naruto slung on his backpack. He was already late, so going faster or slower wouldn't make a difference.

Inside the classroom.

Iruka looked kindly at the students. "Class, learning should be fun. You'll learn how to become capable and powerful shinobi—not just theory, but plenty of practical jutsu as well. I'm your teacher, so you can call me Iruka-sensei."

"Class, let's welcome the Third Hokage to speak to us."

The class erupted in enthusiastic applause.

On the first day of the Ninja Academy term, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a speech at the front of every class.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore his Hokage hat and happened to arrive at the classroom door at the same time as Naruto.

Naruto had planned to sneak into the classroom through the back door, but it was closed. Then he heard applause from inside. While the teacher's distracted by the applause, I can slip along the wall and quietly get to my seat. That way, no one will notice I'm late, right?

Not a bad idea.

"After you, sir."

Naruto stepped back, not wanting to become the joke of the first day of school. Hopefully, not many people saw me just now.

Hiruzen Sarutobi deftly caught Naruto and led him inside with him. "Iruka, you mustn't give up on mischievous children. You must teach them with all your heart, too."

Iruka smiled. "Third Hokage, I'll remember that. Naruto, you're late on the first day of school, so you'll clean the classroom after school for a week. Now find a seat."

The punishment was no big deal.

Naruto adjusted his attitude. "Yes, Iruka-sensei."

There was only one empty seat, beside a girl with short pink hair. She was staring happily at Uchiha Sasuke, who seemed lost in thought.

Naruto had no choice but to sit there. Then he smiled gently at Hinata behind him and to his right, letting her know he was fine and she didn't need to worry.

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke kindly. "Congratulations on making it into the Ninja Academy. If you study hard, one of you may become the next Hokage. I want you all to remember this: wherever the leaves dance, the fire burns. The fire's shadow will shine upon the village and cause new leaves to sprout. A shinobi's true strength will emerge when they want to protect the people they cherish most."

As Naruto listened to Hiruzen Sarutobi's inspiring words, he agreed with some of them, while also thinking that Minato Namikaze clearly lacked the experience of the Third Hokage.

Children's minds were the easiest to shape. By not coming to the school to promote his own Will of Fire, Minato Namikaze had already missed his chance.

Thunderous applause broke out again when Hiruzen Sarutobi finished his speech.

Poof!

Hiruzen Sarutobi vanished in a puff of smoke.

So it was a Shadow Clone!

Iruka clapped his hands. "All right, next we'll rearrange the seats. Two students to a desk. I've arranged you according to your entrance exam scores. If anyone isn't satisfied, you can come talk to me in the office after class."

Iruka had spent the whole night working out the seating arrangements. First, he'd received instructions from the Fourth Hokage to put Naruto at the very back, so Naruto wouldn't think too highly of himself.

Both the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan had asked for their children to be seated with Naruto.

Iruka hadn't thought that was a good idea.

In the end, he decided to stick to the teaching principles he usually followed.

He made one last adjustment, placing Naruto and Hinata just one aisle apart.

Iruka had a better impression of the Hyuga Clan than of the Uchiha Clan.