The Uchiha Clan Leader's estate was brightly lit, glowing like daylight. A giant round dining table stood at the center, stacked high with all kinds of delicious food—an abundant spread that looked more like a New Year's feast.
And it didn't stop there. Uchiha Mikoto was still busy in the kitchen, smiling as she cooked nonstop. Even her eldest son, Uchiha Itachi, had been pulled in to help, moving smoothly and efficiently at her side.
As for Uchiha Fugaku?
You'd think he'd be sitting comfortably at the table like Naruto and Sasuke, waiting to enjoy the meal?
"Dear, can you hurry it up already? The boys haven't eaten at home in forever. What if they go hungry because you're too slow?"
"A-Ah, coming! Right away!"
The truth was, now that their kids had returned home after a full year, the once-respected head of the household had seen his status drop drastically. His average cooking skills were no match for his wife's overflowing maternal instincts, and she kept calling him back and forth, too worried the kids wouldn't like his food to let him protest. So Fugaku was reduced to a kitchen servant, ferrying dishes back and forth without a single word of complaint.
Still, judging from his beaming face and indulgent tone, it was clear—this couple was happily playing their part in this domestic comedy.
As waves of delicious aroma kept wafting from the kitchen, the dishes on the table had already piled into a literal mountain. Yet Fugaku still came out carrying more, as if determined to fill every inch of the giant dining table to its absolute limit before even thinking of stopping.
"…Wait a sec… did I get the date wrong? Isn't it… not New Year's today?"
Sasuke stared blankly at the towering hill of food in front of him. His jaw had gone from slightly surprised to full-on dislocated, hanging open until it nearly touched his knee. It wasn't until a long pause later that he finally came to and awkwardly popped it back in, then nudged the equally dumbstruck Naruto beside him.
"This is just because we came home? Isn't this way too over the top? Is Mom trying to use up a week—no, a month's worth of ingredients all in one night?!"
"Don't ask me, man… I was about to ask you the same thing…"
Naruto rubbed the drool from his lips, seduced by the smell, and stared with admiration at the tireless figure in the kitchen.
From sashimi to cold dishes, cooked meats, soups, vegetables—every single dish so far was completely unique, without a single repeat. 'This… this is the power of a housewife?'
'More accurately, this is the power of maternal love... You two little brats haven't been home in over a year. Mikoto's probably trying to make up for every festival and meal you missed—tonight, all at once.'
Their little whispered exchange happened to be overheard by Fugaku, who had just returned with another plate. He smiled warmly as he explained, then paused a moment before adding with a teasing twinkle in his eye.
"Honestly, this 'dinner' is even grander than the luxury banquet Mikoto and I had when we got married. Oh, and just so you know—every single dish here is packed with Mikoto's love. So, the two of you better eat up. Every last bite!"
'So that's why… no wonder Mom…'
Sasuke finally understood, and feeling more at ease, he reached for a hot, steaming rice ball to tide himself over—but almost dropped it when he heard what came next.
"Wait—waitwaitwait, eat all of it?! Just the two of us?! That's not even possible! Dad, aren't you guys eating too?!"
"Look at the time. We already ate. This mountain here? All yours."
"Y-Yeah, but still…"
Sasuke glanced sideways at the enormous stack of food on the table—twice his height, at least.
Even though the familiar aromas made his stomach grumble and his mouth water, this amount of food was just… impossible!
'Even if I stuff myself until I can't move, there's no way Naruto and I can eat this all!'
The mere idea of never getting to eat his mother's cooking again had him panicking, cheeks puffed out, on the verge of tears. He scratched his head, trying to think of a way out.
"No way, I just can't! We'll never finish all this!"
"Oh? What kind of man gives up so easily, huh?"
Thanks to Naruto's efforts over the past year, the once-strict, distant image of Fugaku had softened. These days, he wasn't just smiling more—he'd even started joking around with his sons from time to time. Like now, acting all serious just to tease his youngest.
"You know, your mom's been cooking nonstop for you two. If you don't finish everything and make her sad… she might never cook for you again—oof?! Who?! Who just—?!"
Fugaku's playful teasing was cut short by a sharp thunk to the back of his head. He rubbed the spot and spun around, fuming—only for his voice to shrink into a sheepish chuckle when he saw who it was.
Wearing an apron, hair tied up neatly in a bun, Uchiha Mikoto stood there, smiling sweetly while lightly waving a spatula in her hand. Yeah, it was definitely that spatula that had just had a close encounter with the back of his skull.
"Aha… ha… dear… you look beautiful today…"
"Mm-hmm? You got a problem with something?" she said with a smile that could slice steel. "Remind me—who was scaring the boys with talk of never eating again? Want to start cooking every day yourself?"
"No no no, big misunderstanding! Let me explain—"
Fugaku's soul shriveled. He regretted teasing the kids while his wife was in full-on Mama Bear mode. And then—his eyes landed on the guilty party.
There was Naruto, giggling behind Mikoto, barely hiding his smug delight.
"So it was you, you little brat! I can't believe you'd sell me out! After all the bonding we did! Naruto! We'll settle this later!"
"Blehhh~ Who told you to bully Sasuke? I call that self-defense~"
Naruto sauntered out from behind Mikoto and made a ridiculous face at Fugaku, sticking out his tongue.
"Why you little punk… What's wrong with a dad teasing his own kid? And you had to go snitch?! Wanna see what happens when—?!"
But before Fugaku could launch into his fake scolding, Naruto beat him to it.
"Boohoo~ Auntie!"
In a flash of melodramatic brilliance, Naruto's eyes welled up with crocodile tears. He tugged Mikoto's apron, trembling like a kicked puppy.
"Auntie, he scared me again… s-so scary…"
"There, there, it's okay, Naruto."
Mikoto, blinded by motherly instinct, didn't catch the act at all. Her gentle voice cooed as she comforted him.
"Uncle was just playing. He wouldn't hurt you. Right, dear?"
"Ugh…?! Naruto Uzumaki! That's low! Do you even count as a man anymore?!"
Realizing he was losing this battle, Fugaku tried to rally. He used his old trick—the same bait he used on Minato back in the day.
"A real man wouldn't go tattling to my wife! Be a man—settle it one-on-one!"
Unfortunately, that trick didn't work on Naruto.
Fugaku had forgotten—Minato was an honest guy. Naruto, on the other hand…
Naruto tilted his head innocently.
"Did I ever say I was a man?"
He poked his head out from behind Mikoto again, face pure and angelic.
"Uncle, please look closely. I'm just a little underage b-o-y. I'm definitely not a man yet~"
"…Tch… I… I…"
Fugaku was speechless. His mouth twitched uncontrollably as Naruto once again disappeared behind Mikoto, peeking out smugly.
"I don't care! Anyway—"
"Hmm? Anyway what? The boys finally come home and this is how you treat them? Where's your dignity as a father?"
Mikoto stood with hands on hips, mock glaring, though her eyes sparkled. She tugged Fugaku's ear playfully.
"I was wondering why you weren't bringing out more food… so you were out here scaring them with dirty jokes! Shame on you! The boys are still so young—don't you worry about corrupting them?"
With Naruto and Sasuke watching them wide-eyed, Mikoto's motherly aura intensified. She leaned close, smiling sweetly.
"And now… you've scared Sasuke and Naruto into tears. Our kids just got home—and you already made them cry. Impressive.
So… how about a nice long reunion with the couch tonight? Hmm?"
"Ow ow ow! Okay okay! I'm sorry! I really am!"
"That depends on how you behave from now on. If I catch you scaring them again… you're sleeping on the couch for a week!"
"W-Wait, dear, come on—"
"Two weeks."
"Wait—!"
"Three."
"Okay I'll shut up now…!"
"Hmph. Good boy."
"…Ugh…"
—
Eventually, only Fugaku and Mikoto remained by the dining table, bickering playfully like newlyweds.
Meanwhile, Naruto, Sasuke, and Itachi—who had wandered out with a kitchen apron still on—sat silently off to the side, emotionless, quietly eating… dog food.
"…Big bro, I'm not dreaming, am I? That guy being bossed around by Mom… that's really our dad?"
"Maybe… probably… I guess…"
"Man… forget dinner. I'm already full from all this dog food."
"Dog food? What's that? Something you feed to puppies?"
"Yeah. It's what you feed us single dogs."
"…????????"
It wasn't until after dinner that Naruto and Sasuke finally learned the real reason behind the massive feast.
Yes, it was to welcome them home after a year of being away.
But more importantly—it was to prepare their bento for the next day.
Of course, there was no way the two of them could eat that much alone. Mikoto had intentionally made extra, and packaged it all into perfectly portioned, neatly wrapped, mouth-watering lunch boxes.
Each box was meant to be shared with their peers—to help make a good first impression.
And as for which peers?
And why they needed to make a good impression?
Well… Jiraiya forgot to mention a tiny detail after their training wrapped up:
The so-called "rest and relaxation period" wasn't just meant for lazing around at home.
In fact, the original plan all along… was for the two of them to enroll in the Ninja Academy.
After more than a year of intense training, not only had their strength improved drastically, but their age had finally reached the minimum entry requirement for admission.
And tomorrow—just so happened to be the official registration day for the new pre-academy class.
Naturally, when they first heard the news, both Naruto and Sasuke objected furiously.
They argued that it was a waste of valuable training time.
Especially Naruto—he knew full well what the Ninja Academy was like.
Study hard for years just to learn the basic Clone and Transformation Jutsu?
Please.
He already knew Transformation Jutsu, and even the far more advanced Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.
It was totally beneath him.
But of course, Jiraiya had long predicted their reaction.
So he'd already prepared the perfect bribes.
For Sasuke, the bait was simple:
Fugaku had been instructed to promise that he could walk to and from school with his big brother every day.
And just like that, the little bro-con was sold.
Sasuke didn't even stop to think that with his brother's talent, Itachi might graduate from the Academy long before him…
And as for Naruto's bait?
Well…
"You really don't wanna go to school, huh, Naruto?"
"Hmph! That kind of childish place? No thanks—"
"But I heard the Hyuga Clan's heiress is enrolling this year too."
"…"
"Also, the Third Hokage said if you behave and go to school like a good boy…
he'll put you two in the same class~"
"…Tch. W-Weak bribery like that won't work on me. I, Naruto Uzumaki, would never—"
"And you'll be seatmates, too~"
"PLEASE LET ME ENROLL! SIGN ME UP! RIGHT NOW, ASAP, THANK YOU!"
And that's how it went.
Naruto had long since expected this part of the story, thanks to his memories of the original plot.
He also understood that going to the Academy would make it easier to get close to the rest of the future Konoha 12 and build those relationships early.
That said, his plan had originally been to transfer in later—as a first-year—so he could spend another year or two polishing his strength first.
But now?
Now he'd given up all shame and jumped straight into the pre-academy class.
Why?
You guessed it—
Faced with the temptation of seeing his future wife up close every single day, the so-called Crown Prince's self-control just evaporated.
Any sense of pride or dignity went poof—like a fart in the wind.
And thus, an innocent little Sasuke became the unfortunate collateral damage…
Naruto didn't realize it, but ever since Fugaku had witnessed his eager, desperate expression after hearing he'd be sitting next to Hinata, the man's inner resentment had only grown deeper.
'If only Sasuke were a girl… how perfect that would've been…'
'With how close they are, they could've had an arranged marriage by now…'
'And I wouldn't have to give away such a perfect son-in-law to the Hyuga Clan…'
'Sigh. Maybe… maybe I really should consider having another daughter with Mikoto…'
From that day on, Fugaku began staring at Sasuke with an increasingly intense look of regret and sorrow.
Poor Sasuke—he thought he'd disappointed his dad somehow.
And so, in training, he worked himself to the bone trying to earn his approval.
But no matter how hard he worked…
no matter how much praise he earned…
he could never make that weird, melancholic look in his father's eyes disappear.
Over time, little Sasuke became more and more confused…
and occasionally…
he even began to question his own existence.