Early morning. The sun had just risen above the rooftops of Konoha, its golden light spilling over the bustling village. Merchants opened their stalls, shinobi hurried to missions, and the scent of fresh breakfast filled the air.
Naruto stood before the mirror in his apartment, straightening the simple ninja-student uniform he'd been issued. "Not bad, " he said with a grin. "Guess I actually look the part now. " His reflection stared back—a small blond boy with determined blue eyes. The same face the villagers whispered about in disgust, but this time, his gaze was sharp and calm.
The day had come—the official start of classes at the Konoha Ninja Academy.
Naruto grabbed a rice ball from the counter and took a bite, then slung his small backpack over his shoulder. Inside were just a few notebooks, pencils, and a hidden stash of fish jerky from his last catch. He stepped out the door and locked it behind him.
As soon as he reached the street, the usual whispers began. "There he is—the demon fox kid. " "Ugh, can't the Hokage keep him out of sight? " "I heard he killed his own parents…"
Naruto walked past them silently. He didn't glare, didn't shout. He just ignored them completely. Their words were meaningless noise now. He had far greater goals than arguing with fools.
The Ninja Academy stood in the heart of the village—a proud, towering building marked with the Konoha symbol. Children from every clan and common family gathered at the entrance, some chattering excitedly, others trying to hide their nerves.
Naruto walked through the gate. The moment he appeared, the noise died down. Every head turned toward him. The crowd parted subconsciously, creating a gap two meters wide wherever he walked. Even kids who didn't know him by name had heard the rumors.
He could feel their eyes—fear, disgust, curiosity—but he didn't slow down. He just kept walking forward.
Inside the classroom, most of the seats were already filled. He scanned the room once and picked a corner seat by the window. Perfect—quiet and out of the way.
As he sat down, a few students whispered. "Is that… him? " "Yeah. The demon fox kid. " "Don't sit too close, what if he snaps? "
Naruto leaned back casually, resting his chin on his hand, and looked out the window with a faint smirk. He didn't even have to pretend anymore. Their fear amused him. If you're going to hate me, he thought, then hate me properly. When I rise above you all, I want you to choke on it.
Just then, a loud, cheerful voice broke the tension. "Hey! You're sitting in my spot! "
Naruto turned his head. A boy with black hair and confident eyes stood there, hands on his hips, a grin on his face. His clothes were neat but not fancy—clearly from a decent family, but not a clan heir.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Your spot? "
"Yeah! " the boy said proudly. "I sit by the window! I always do! "
Naruto tilted his head. "Funny. School just started today. "
The boy blinked. "Uh—well, I will always sit here! "
Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "You're pretty funny, you know that? "
The boy frowned for a second, then broke into a grin again. "Fine! You can have it today. I'll sit behind you. " He dropped into the seat behind Naruto and stuck out a hand. "I'm Iruka! What's your name? "
Naruto blinked in surprise. Wait—Iruka? The Iruka?
So this was him, years before he became a full instructor.
Naruto smiled faintly. "Uzumaki Naruto. "
Iruka repeated the name thoughtfully, then grinned. "Nice to meet ya, Naruto! "
Naruto couldn't help but smile back. Even as a kid, Iruka's warmth was genuine. No fear. No disgust. Just… friendliness. It felt strange, but not unwelcome.
Before the conversation could continue, a few more children entered the classroom—and the moment they did, the entire room seemed to brighten.
A group of girls squealed. "It's Sasuke-kun! " "Wow, he's so cool! "
Naruto turned his head slightly. A boy with jet-black hair and calm, sharp eyes walked in quietly. Even at this age, he already had that natural confidence that made people gravitate toward him.
Uchiha Sasuke. The last prodigy of the Uchiha clan—or rather, soon to be the last. The massacre hadn't happened yet.
Naruto studied him for a moment, then looked away. He had no interest in rivalry right now. Not yet.
As the teacher arrived and called roll, Naruto half-listened, half-focused on his chakra flow. His control had reached perfection—he could sense every movement in the room, every whisper, every flicker of energy.
He noticed something curious. A faint, subtle chakra signature was hiding outside the window.
ANBU.
Of course. The Hokage still didn't trust him completely. There was always someone watching.
Naruto's lips curved slightly. Keep watching, old man. The day will come when you can't anymore.
Class began with introductions, followed by the basic curriculum: the village's history, simple chakra theory, and the Will of Fire philosophy.
Naruto listened silently. Every time the instructor mentioned "the Will of Fire"—the ideology that said love for the village is love for all—Naruto's expression stayed calm, but deep down, he felt only irony.
He'd seen the truth behind those words. How the same "Will of Fire" was used to justify sacrifice, to silence dissent, to manipulate loyalty.
Still, he kept his mask on—the smile, the innocent look. He wouldn't give them any reason to suspect him.
When the bell finally rang, the kids rushed outside excitedly, forming groups to play and chat.
Naruto stayed seated. He wasn't in a hurry. He'd already begun observing the others—their personalities, habits, and strengths.
If he was going to build a future team someday, he needed to know everyone's potential early. And among them all, he already knew who his first real ally would be. A shy girl with lavender eyes, who occasionally peeked in from the hallway. Hyūga Hinata.
Naruto stood, stretched, and slung his bag over his shoulder. The first day of the Academy was over. For others, it was the beginning of childhood dreams. For him—it was the first step on the road to power.
He looked up at the sky outside, his blue eyes calm and steady. "Let's see how far I can go in this world. "