The clamor of the Hokage inauguration ceremony would eventually fade.
But the ripples it had caused had only just begun sweeping through every corner of Konoha.
Uchiha Clan Compound, the newly built Hokage residence.
This place had now become Konoha's new center of power.
Naruto woke up on an absurdly soft, oversized bed.
Sunlight streamed through the exquisite wooden lattice window, bathing him in warmth.
He stared blankly at the intricate, elegant wood grain on the ceiling, momentarily dazed.
This is... my home?
Naruto sat up and looked at the smooth silk pajamas he wore, then at the bedroom, which was larger than his entire old apartment.
It was clean, tidy, and faintly scented with incense.
There was no smell of mold, no expired milk, no empty refrigerator.
Everything felt like an unreal dream.
"Master Naruto, are you awake?"
A gentle female voice came from outside the door. It was the Uchiha maid assigned to care for him.
Still unaccustomed to it, Naruto answered, "Yeah..."
"Breakfast is ready. Lord Yao is waiting for you."
Lord Yao...
His teacher!
Naruto jolted awake and hurriedly got dressed.
It was a brand-new black-and-orange outfit. The material was far better than his old, worn-out tracksuit, and a small Uchiha Gunbai emblem was embroidered on its back.
Naruto opened the door and, led respectfully by the maid, passed through the long corridor to the dining room.
Uchiha Yao was already seated at the head of the table.
Dressed in simple black casual clothes, he quietly sipped tea as though he had been waiting for some time.
The table was covered with a lavish breakfast Naruto had never seen before.
Golden-grilled Pacific saury, steaming Miso Soup, glistening white rice, tamagoyaki, pickles, fruit... there was a dazzling spread of food.
Naruto's stomach growled betrayingly.
He scratched his