Two years later

"Hey, Naruto, hurry up and get out of bed! You're going to be late for the opening ceremony!"

Yugao's voice came from outside the window. Naruto rubbed his eyes, his mind gradually clearing.

Oh, school starts today.

Naruto had lived pretty well over the past two years, if you left out those blockheaded villagers.

During the first year, Naruto had gotten to play with Sasuke or Hinata three or four times a week.

Later on, though, it had pretty much been just Hinata.

Hinata had told Naruto that things within the Uchiha Clan had been unsettled lately, so Sasuke might not be able to come as often.

Her father had told her that.

And that had indeed been the case. Sasuke really had started coming less often.

"Naruto, my big brother hasn't had any time to spend with me lately. He always says, 'Next time,' and then something about forgiving him."

"And he hasn't been looking so good lately, either. He only smiles occasionally when he's with me."

Sasuke had told Naruto this recently, but it was a family matter, after all. With no parents of his own, Naruto could only comfort Sasuke.

"Once your brother finishes dealing with things, he'll definitely have time for you."

"Besides, you've still got me, your big bro."

"Make sure you train hard at home. Don't slack off and disgrace our Konoha F4."

Yep, Sasuke was currently the weakest member of the Konoha F4.

Over the past two years, the three little ones had occasionally trained in taijutsu, extracted chakra, and done things like that together.

Naruto usually practiced chakra control and techniques for generating power in taijutsu with his teacher at night.

During the day, he sparred and practiced with Hinata and Sasuke.

And that was how the Konoha F4 had come about.

Naruto Uzumaki ranked second, Hinata Hyuga ranked third, and Sasuke Uchiha came last.

Oh, who was in first place, you ask?

Hashirama smiled without a word inside the Sealing Space.

"Yahahahaha!"

Kurama was speechless and tossed a lump of chakra he didn't want at Hashirama.

Heh. Shameless bastard.

Back when Sasuke had pressed him about why three people were called the Konoha F4, Naruto had replied as though it were perfectly natural.

"Isn't it totally normal for the Konoha F4 to have three people? Right, Hinata?"

Naruto took Hinata by the arm, and Hinata blushed, stammering as she nodded.

Then Sasuke stopped asking.

Don't ask. If you did, the answer was that he'd had his fill.

Still, as he grew older, Naruto had successfully reached a height of 1.3 meters.

That was thanks to eating and drinking well every day, along with his friends' company.

Mainly, once those blockheaded villagers learned that Naruto had not only the Hokage's personal ANBU behind him but also the Uchiha and Hyuga, two of Konoha's prestigious clans, they pretty much stopped daring to refuse to sell him things.

Though the hateful looks remained, they were all afraid Naruto would call the police force on them.

After all, compared with the Nine-Tailed Fox, the Uchiha's Konoha Military Police Force now had a somewhat worse reputation in Konoha.

Although the Third had given several speeches and such, the villagers merely nodded on the surface. The discontent in their hearts had not diminished one bit.

Besides, the Nine-Tailed Fox wouldn't attack first unless you provoked him.

A child three years ago had done just that. Even his nasal bone had been broken, and a doctor at Konoha Hospital had set it afterward.

But the Konoha Military Police Force was different. Whenever they were unhappy, they could come straight over to inspect your shop.

If you were operating by the book, you were fine. If there were even a few minor oversights, you were finished.

They'd give you the full shutdown treatment and wipe out your shop.

All right, back to the present.

Naruto called out a reply, then sprang straight out of bed with a kip-up.

After a quick wash, he made himself a sandwich and ate it, then hurried off to school.

Quite a few villagers were taking their children to school to register. These children were all Naruto's age, though they all looked rather dim.

Tch, so they've got parents. What's the big deal?

Naruto grumbled inwardly, especially when he saw one child give him a disdainful look before jumping into his mother's arms.

Fine, I'll remember you. Just don't let me catch you slipping!

"Hey, hey, Naruto, calm down, calm down!"

Hashirama keenly picked up on Naruto's mood and hurried to soothe him.

"It's fine. I can't be bothered with him anyway."

Naruto curled his lip and continued toward the school.

Morning sunlight spilled over the earth, bringing a touch of gold to the world, especially the blond hair atop Naruto's head, which fluttered freely in the wind.

Naruto's hair had grown long. He usually tied it up with the hair tie Hinata had given him, making him look somewhat like Hashirama.

"Hey, Naruto!"

A familiar, haughty voice rang out beside Naruto as Sasuke walked over in a blue T-shirt.

His older brother, Itachi, was with him.

"Oh, Sasuke, what a coincidence."

Naruto greeted him.

"Good morning, Itachi."

With Itachi present, Naruto couldn't exactly grab Sasuke and dash off, so he could only pretend to be a polite child.

The tear-trough lines on Itachi's face were much deeper than two years ago. Clearly, he had spent no small amount of time worrying about the Uchiha Clan over those two years.

"Ah, Naruto. Good morning. Why don't you come with us?"

Seeing that Yugao hadn't appeared openly to take Naruto to school, Itachi more or less understood that she probably had a mission. Bringing Naruto along wasn't out of the question.

After all, he and Sasuke could keep each other company.

"Sure, let's go together."

One older boy and two younger ones set off together, soon reaching the gates of the Ninja Academy.

Inside the Ninja Academy, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked with satisfaction at the new students gathered outside, also spotting Naruto and the others among them.

"Iruka, you understood all my instructions, didn't you?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi addressed the man with a scar across his face standing before him.

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

A trace of bitterness rose in Iruka's heart. The task the Third had given him was to take extra care of Naruto Uzumaki at school, the boy the village called the Nine-Tailed Fox.

His parents had died in the Nine-Tails' Attack six years ago, and because of that, he already felt a trace of dislike for Naruto despite never having met him.

But he was a teacher, after all, and Lord Third Hokage had given his instructions. He would have to pay some extra attention to this "demon fox."

Prejudice ran deep, especially among those lower-class villagers and low-ranking Shinobi with limited knowledge. They didn't even know what a Jinchūriki was, which was why they were just as ignorant as the villagers.

Anyone whose clan had even a little inherited knowledge, or whose own strength was sufficient, could learn of Naruto's identity as a Jinchūriki.

That was why Naruto received special treatment at the Akimichi family's barbecue restaurant. After all, they knew Naruto wasn't the Nine-Tails, but the vessel in which the Nine-Tails was sealed.

So they didn't pile their hatred onto Naruto.

Coupled with Naruto's gradually lengthening blond hair and the Uzumaki surname, most ninja clans could guess a thing or two.

At this point, one had to marvel at how strong the Fourth Hokage's genes were, turning Naruto's hair outright blond.

Hilarious.