Shocking Enrollment!

Inside the Hokage Office.

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

"Anbu have been assigned to keep watch outside their new compound."

"Danzo's Root Organization also has people there."

"So far, no bad news has come in."

The Anbu member reported everything about the Uchiha's relocation.

"Mm, I know."

"It seems Fugaku Uchiha ultimately made a wise choice."

"Go prepare some food and clothes. I'm going out."

"School starts in a few days."

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

He left the Hokage Office.

In front of a dilapidated house, Hiruzen Sarutobi carried some food and clothes to Naruto's door.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

"Who is it?"

"Old man!"

"What brings you here?"

"Let me tell you..."

Naruto opened the door, saw Hiruzen Sarutobi, and excitedly threw himself at him.

He began telling him about the "funny things" that had happened recently.

Catching fish and shrimp, playing pranks, and the Uchiha he'd run into today...

Looking at Naruto's cheerful face, full of trust in him,

Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips curved into a meaningful smile.

The Jinchuriki had all but become Hiruzen Sarutobi's private property.

With Naruto's trust in him, controlling him in the future...

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

"You'll meet lots of new friends and learn all kinds of things. Then one day, you can become a powerful ninja!"

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

"School?"

"I want to go!"

Naruto excitedly clenched his fists.

An hour later, Hiruzen Sarutobi left Naruto's room.

With the Anbu's help, he put his Hokage robes back on.

"Keep watching him."

"Don't let anyone from the Root Organization approach him. If anyone else tries to, stop them immediately."

Hiruzen Sarutobi coldly left them with those two orders, then walked away.

The Uchiha's new compound.

"Sasuke, school starts in a few days."

"These are the new clothes I got for you."

"When you go to school, remember to get along with your classmates. They might be your companions someday!"

Sasuke hadn't gone to bed yet. Mikoto carefully went over what he should expect when he started school.

Although there was still a week to go.

"Mm-hmm."

"I know, Mother."

"I will."

"Sasuke, you're still up, aren't you?"

"I knew you'd be practicing chakra control..."

Mikoto Uchiha had only just left when Uchiha Itachi arrived.

He gave Sasuke another long-winded lecture.

In the end, when he saw the look of disdain and annoyance on Sasuke's face, Itachi left, feeling a little dejected.

It really was true: once a little brother grew up, he was no longer under your thumb.

Fortunately, he was preparing for his promotion exam. Otherwise, he probably would have kept chattering at Sasuke for another half hour...

Though it left Sasuke feeling a little helpless, the affection between family still warmed his heart.

At least in this family, that affection was real...

Once he had put those feelings aside, Sasuke continued practicing chakra control.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Early on the morning of his enrollment, Mikoto and Itachi excitedly woke him up.

After they carefully got him "dressed up," Mikoto took him out.

Itachi had wanted to see his little brother off on his first day, too, but unfortunately, he had a mission.

It was probably the first time in Uchiha Itachi's life that he'd resented having a mission.

Because the family had moved, there were already plenty of parents and children outside the Ninja Academy by the time they arrived.

Sasuke glanced around but didn't see Naruto.

That made sense. He probably didn't have anyone to bring him to school.

Maybe the Hokage would arrange his enrollment directly, so Sasuke might not 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 away from him at school, understand?"

"Mm..."

"Hmph, that troublemaker? I'd never be friends with him!"

"I know he's the demon fox, the monster who'll destroy the village!"

Just then, a commotion broke out at the entrance.

Shouts of "demon fox" reached Sasuke's ears.

He turned to look.

A child stood not far away, clutching a piece of paper and wearing clothes faded from repeated washing.

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

"Sasuke?"

While Mikoto was enrolling Sasuke, she saw him walk toward the crowd nearby.

She was curious, but didn't stop him.

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

"Hi, I'm Uchiha Sasuke."

"What's your name?"

Naruto had been trembling a little, but when he heard the voice, he slowly raised his head.

"Uzumaki... Naruto."

Naruto murmured his name.

He had never imagined something like this could happen... he hadn't even dared dream of it.

He might have seemed cheerful and carefree, but the darkness in his heart had never gone away.

Today, however, a boy who was like a ray of light had entered his world.

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

"We'll be going to the same school. Will you be my friend?"

Sasuke held out his hand generously.

At that moment, Naruto wasn't the only one whose mind had completely shut down.

The onlookers nearby were so stunned by this juicy bit of news that they nearly choked on it.

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

What kind of absurd pairing was that?

"Okay!"

Naruto nodded earnestly, a goofy smile spreading across his face.

After the two little ones agreed to be friends, Sasuke turned and strode back to Mikoto.

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

More accurately, he fled.

He... wasn't used to dealing with this kind of thing yet.

If he only had to play dumb, he could manage.

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

"Mom, do you think that child's a monster, too?"

Just as Mikoto Uchiha was frozen in shock, her younger son's question suddenly reached her ears.

"Huh?"

"No... Mom doesn't think that."

Mikoto didn't doubt Sasuke's intentions at all. Besides, she and Itachi had always encouraged him to make friends.

It was just that the friend Sasuke had chosen...

"Mom, let's go home."

Sasuke didn't press the question.

Mikoto nodded, took Sasuke by the hand, and left.

Meanwhile, the girls who had been captivated by Sasuke's cool appearance had new thoughts after seeing him go make friends with Naruto.

Of course, Sasuke didn't care about that.

Women... heh...