"Nii-san?"
Sasuke noticed the subtle change in his brother's expression. Following Itachi's gaze, his eyes fell on a silver-haired, red-eyed boy around his own age.
He looked calm, sharp—too calm for a child.
Sasuke frowned.
Why would Nii-san know someone like that?
A faint unease welled up in his chest. His gaze toward Chiba hardened with a touch of hostility.
That was his Nii-san.
It was only natural.
Everyone knew the truth: the Uchiha clan was a family of brother complexes.
Madara and Izuna.
Itachi and Sasuke.
It was practically genetic.
Chiba met Sasuke's glare with mild amusement.
"Really? Already giving me that look?" he muttered under his breath, lips curving slightly.
He remembered the memes and jokes from his past life—Er Zhuzi and his legendary arrogance. Even now, seeing it firsthand was oddly nostalgic.
Among his peers, Sasuke was already a star—born of the prestigious Uchiha clan, gifted beyond compare. But to Chiba, who had fought countless projections in the [Duel Space], this young version of Sasuke was still far from threatening.
A limerick from his memory floated up:
Uchiha, the second son.
Itachi, almost done.
Faced Eight-Tails, nearly slain,
Fought Danzo, barely remained.
Met Madara—down again,
Clashed with Naruto, same refrain.
Clear skies fade, pride inflamed—
Lightning struck, limping he came.
Chiba couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Yeah, that's about right."
He turned his attention back to the academy.
The teachers were gathering near the gate. Among them was Umino Iruka, clipboard in hand, organizing the pre-admission testing.
The Entrance Test was about to begin.
Sasuke's eyes lingered on his brother for a moment longer before he looked away, feeling a quiet sting of frustration.
"…That boy. Sasuke, you could be friends with him," Itachi said gently, patting his brother's head.
"Friends?" Sasuke muttered. "I don't want to."
He turned away, pouting slightly, and crossed his arms.
The entrance test itself wasn't difficult.
It wasn't about combat or chakra refinement—those came later. Instead, it was designed to test physical strength and chakra potential by measuring the condition of one's meridians.
Family-born children often started training early, refining chakra before they even entered the academy. Commoners, however, didn't have that luxury.
If a child's meridians were too weak, they couldn't channel chakra properly—and thus, couldn't become a ninja.
Chiba, however, had no such concerns.
He had been training since age three and had inherited the [Uzumaki Clan Physique], strengthening him from the inside out.
This test was nothing but a formality.
The results would determine class placement—Elite Class and General Class.
Those from noble or shinobi families usually filled the elite seats, while commoners were often placed in general classes.
But this year…
That would change.
When the testing concluded, Chiba easily qualified for the Elite Class.
He exited the classroom, stretching slightly. For him, training wasn't just a routine—it was a part of life, like breathing. Missing even one day felt unnatural.
He was about to head to the training grounds when someone called out:
"Chiba!"
He turned.
A girl with a delicate face and short blonde hair stood before him. Her light blue hairpin shimmered under the sun, matching the gentle color of her eyes. She wore a beige sleeveless top and a lilac skirt.
Yamanaka Ino.
Chiba recognized her immediately—not just from memory of the original story, but from personal encounters.
The first time they met had been back in Konoha Year 51, during his first mission after unlocking the [Task System]. It had started with a lost flower-shaped wallet—hers.
Since then, their paths hadn't crossed often.
But Ino smiled brightly, as radiant as ever.
"We meet again," she said.
Behind her stood two familiar figures:
Nara Shikamaru, hands in pockets, eyes half-lidded with boredom.
Akimichi Chōji, munching quietly on a bag of potato chips, offering a friendly grin.
"Ino, who's that?" Shikamaru asked, glancing curiously at Chiba.
He could sense something—an aura of calm, maybe even maturity, that didn't belong to a six-year-old.
"Chiba, my good friend," Ino introduced proudly. "And this is Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chōji."
Chiba nodded politely. "Nice to meet you."
"Yeah… same," Shikamaru murmured, yawning.
The four of them walked together toward the school gate, chatting lightly, before parting ways.
Each had family waiting outside—except Chiba.
He turned down the road alone, mind already shifting toward training.
Every day mattered. Every bit of progress counted.
He had to become strong—strong enough to protect the people he cared about.
Because in this world, the weak had no say in their own fate.
In the distance, Ino–Shika–Chō rejoined their parents.
Yamanaka Inoichi watched the silver-haired boy disappearing into the street, his expression thoughtful.
A friend of Ino's, huh…?
He remembered that name—Chiba.
The boy had once completed a small mission involving their clan, earning quiet favor within the Yamanaka household.
That subtle goodwill, though small now, might someday shape the future in unexpected ways.