Shocking Enrollment!

Inside the Hokage's office.

"Lord Hokage, the Uchiha have completed their relocation today."

"I have arranged for Anbu members to keep watch outside their compound."

"There are also people from Danzo's Root organization present."

"So far, no negative reports have come in."

The Anbu member reported the details of the Uchiha relocation in full.

"Mm, I understand."

"It seems Fugaku Uchiha made a wise choice in the end."

"Go and prepare some food and clothing; I am going out for a while."

"School starts in a few days."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, he took off his Hokage robes.

He walked out of the Hokage's office.

In front of a dilapidated house, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at Naruto's door carrying the food and clothing.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

"Who is it?"

"Old man!"

"How do you have time to come see me?"

"Let me tell you..."

Naruto opened the door, and upon seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi, he excitedly pounced on him.

He began to recount the "interesting things" that had happened recently.

Catching fish and shrimp, pulling pranks, the Uchiha he had encountered today...

Looking at the optimistic Naruto, whose face was full of reliance, Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

The current jinchuriki had almost become his, Hiruzen Sarutobi's, private possession.

With this reliance in place, controlling him in the future...

"Naruto, do you want to go to school?"

"You can meet many new friends, learn a lot of knowledge, and become a powerful ninja in the future!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi acted like a kind and benevolent grandfather teasing his grandson.

"School?"

"I want to go!"

Naruto excitedly clenched his fists.

An hour later, Hiruzen Sarutobi walked out of Naruto's room.

With the help of the Anbu, he donned his Hokage robes once more.

"Continue the surveillance."

"Do not let anyone from the Root organization make contact with him, and at the same time, stop anyone else from approaching him immediately."

Hiruzen Sarutobi uttered these two cold commands before leaving the area.

At the new Uchiha residence.

"Sasuke, you will be going to school in a few days."

"These are the new clothes I have prepared for you."

"When you get to school, remember to get along well with your classmates; they might just be the partners standing by your side in the future!"

Sasuke, who had not yet fallen asleep, was carefully instructed by Mikoto about things to keep in mind once he started school.

Even though there was still a week left.

"Mm-hmm."

"I know, Mother."

"I will."

"Sasuke, you haven't rested yet?"

"I knew it, you're still refining your chakra..."

No sooner had Mikoto Uchiha left than Itachi arrived.

It was another round of persuasion.

In the end, under Sasuke's look of disgust and annoyance, Itachi left with a somewhat dejected mood.

It seemed that now that his little brother was growing up, he was no longer under his control.

Fortunately, he was busy preparing for his promotion assessment recently, otherwise, he probably would have nagged Sasuke for half the day longer...

Although he felt a bit helpless, this familial affection still warmed Sasuke's heart.

At least in this home, this emotion was real...

After putting these feelings aside, Sasuke continued to refine his chakra.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Early on the morning of enrollment, he was woken up by an enthusiastic Mikoto and Itachi.

After being carefully "dressed up," he was taken out by Mikoto.

Although Itachi also wanted to witness his brother's enrollment, he unfortunately had a mission to attend to.

This was perhaps the first time in history that Itachi Uchiha had ever disliked a mission.

Due to the clan's relocation, by the time the two arrived at the gate of the Ninja Academy, there were already many parents and children gathered there.

Sasuke looked around but did not spot Naruto.

Then again, it made sense; he probably didn't have anyone to take him to school.

Perhaps the Hokage had arranged his enrollment directly, and he might not even see him today.

"Why is that demon fox coming to school too?!"

"Demon fox? Mom, what's a demon fox?"

"Don't ask. You'll have bad luck if you learn about him. Stay far away from him at school, you hear me?"

"Mm..."

"Tch, I wouldn't be friends with a troublemaker like that anyway!"

"I know, he's a demon fox, a monster that will destroy the village!"

Just then, a commotion broke out at the entrance.

The cries of "demon fox" reached Sasuke's ears.

He looked toward the source of the noise.

A child holding a piece of paper, wearing clothes washed until they were faded white, was standing not far away.

His head was bowed, making it impossible to see his face clearly.

"Sasuke?"

Just as Mikoto was registering Sasuke, she saw him walking toward the crowd nearby.

Though curious, Mikoto did not stop him.

In her eyes, her son might have already found a friend of his own.

"Hello, my name is Sasuke Uchiha."

"What about you?"

Naruto, who had been trembling slightly, slowly raised his head upon hearing this voice.

"Uzumaki... Naruto."

Naruto stammered out his name.

This was a situation he had never imagined... he hadn't even dared to dream of it.

Despite his seemingly naive and carefree exterior, the darkness in his heart had never dissipated.

Yet today, a boy like a ray of light had burst into his world.

"Hello, Uzumaki Naruto... I can call you Naruto, right?"

"From now on, we'll be studying at the same school. Shall we be friends?"

Sasuke reached out his hand generously.

At this moment, not to mention Naruto, who had completely frozen up, even the onlookers nearby were nearly choked by this massive piece of gossip.

The Uchiha, who had just been "exiled," and Konoha's monster demon fox were going to be friends?

What kind of absurd combination was this?

"Alright!"

Naruto nodded earnestly, a silly grin spreading across his face.

After the two little ones agreed to be friends, Sasuke turned around with a cool air and returned to Mikoto's side.

Naruto handed the free enrollment documents provided by Hiruzen Sarutobi to the teacher, waved at Sasuke, and left.

To be precise, he fled.

He... was not yet good at dealing with such things.

If it were just playing dumb or acting foolish, he could manage.

But... sincerity was always the most lethal weapon.

"Mother, do you also think that kid is a monster?"

Just as Mikoto Uchiha was reeling, the question from her youngest son reached her ears.

"Huh?"

"No... Mother doesn't think so."

Mikoto did not doubt Sasuke's thoughts for a second; besides, making friends was something she and Itachi had always encouraged.

It was just that Sasuke's choice of friend...

"Mother, let's go back."

Sasuke did not press the issue.

Mikoto nodded, took Sasuke's hand, and left the scene.

Meanwhile, the little girls who had been drawn to Sasuke's cool demeanor now had second thoughts after seeing him choose to befriend Naruto.

Of course, Sasuke couldn't care less about that.

Women... heh...