Sign in From Naruto

"Iruka."

Mizuki brought Xu Fan to the training grounds and greeted Iruka.

Xu Fan glanced around. Dozens of students were gathered here, and Uchiha Sasuke, naturally, was the center of attention. The female students, in particular, could barely take their eyes off him, their gazes filled with infatuation.

On the other hand, Naruto Uzumaki was isolated in a corner. Though he tried to act unaffected, he looked a bit forlorn.

After all, the current Naruto was only six or seven years old.

If someone were to film Naruto's daily life and upload it to a platform like Bilibili, the comments would likely be flooded with phrases like "Naruto, mommy loves you," "Protect our precious boy," or "I must support him!"

However, Hinata Hyūga, who was also in this class, wasn't present. It seemed she was still resting in the hospital, recovering from her ordeal.

"Ah, Mizuki."

Iruka turned around and acknowledged Mizuki, who was holding a book that looked like a grade record.

Soon, Iruka noticed Xu Fan standing beside Mizuki.

"You're the student the Third Hokage mentioned, right?" Iruka said with a warm smile.

Though it was unusual for a thirteen-year-old to enroll in the academy, Iruka didn't mind.

"Yeah," Xu Fan nodded, confirming his identity.

"Well, Iruka, I'll leave him in your care from today," Mizuki said, though he made no move to leave. "It's a practical class today, isn't it?"

"Yes. For ninjas, physical fitness is just as important as ninjutsu. It's even listed as one of the core aspects of combat—taijutsu," Iruka explained, though his words were directed more at Xu Fan.

"Alright," Iruka said, ending his small talk with Mizuki. He then waved his hand, signaling his students to gather around.

However, Naruto, who was supposed to stand next to Sasuke, was pushed aside by Sakura, who rushed to Sasuke's side.

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura greeted in a soft voice, only to find her rival, Ino, standing on Sasuke's other side.

"Ino-pig, why are you standing there?" Sakura hissed.

"I should be asking you that, forehead girl! That spot belongs to Naruto!" Ino shot back.

"Ahem."

Seeing the girls arguing over who should stand next to Sasuke, Iruka cleared his throat to stop them.

Sasuke, meanwhile, kept his hands in his pockets, looking completely indifferent.

"Are all schoolgirls this precocious nowadays?" Iruka thought to himself before addressing the class.

Starting today, Xu Fan would be joining their class as a new student.

"Introduce yourself, Senju-san," Iruka said with a smile.

He was less like a strict teacher and more like an approachable older brother.

However, Iruka had only recently become a chūnin instructor. In his efforts to fit in with his colleagues, he sometimes overlooked Naruto's struggles.

This time, for example, he simply ignored what had happened to Naruto.

"Sure," Xu Fan nodded and introduced himself to the class.

"My name is Senju Xu. I don't have any particular likes or dislikes. My dream is to become Hokage and revitalize the Senju clan."

In reality, Xu Fan knew very well that the Third Hokage had a habit of observing others through a crystal ball using a technique called the Telescope Technique. This allowed him to monitor people from a distance as long as he understood their chakra signature.

Normally, Hiruzen used this technique to keep an eye on Naruto, ensuring that nothing happened to the village's jinchūriki.

Now, with Xu Fan having revealed his chakra to Hiruzen and Naruto present in the class, Xu Fan suspected that Hiruzen was secretly observing them.

Therefore, his words were meant for Hiruzen's ears—to make his ambitions clear. He wanted to become Hokage and restore the Senju clan's glory.

Given his background, such a declaration was perfectly natural.

"The one who'll become Hokage is me, Naruto Uzumaki!" Naruto suddenly burst out from the crowd, pointing at Xu Fan and shouting.

His declaration, however, was met with laughter and ridicule from the other students.

"Hahaha, the demon fox wants to become Hokage? That joke never gets old!"

"Yeah, if Naruto can become Hokage, then I'm the God of Shinobi!"

"Exactly."

"Some people just have no self-awareness."

"You guys!" Naruto's face turned red as he shouted back, "I'll definitely become Hokage and earn the village's recognition!"

"That's enough, Naruto," Iruka sighed helplessly. Naruto had always been ostracized by the village, and as long as the Nine-Tails was sealed inside him, becoming Hokage would be nearly impossible.

Though it was harsh, Iruka believed it was better for Naruto to face reality.

"You..."

However, before Iruka could continue, Xu Fan interrupted.

"Then you'll have to work hard, Naruto," Xu Fan said with a smile.

Naruto froze, completely caught off guard.

He had declared his dream countless times, but every time, he was met with ridicule. The cold, dismissive looks from adults had become something he expected.

But here was someone who not only didn't laugh at him but even encouraged him.

The sincerity in Xu Fan's eyes and smile made Naruto feel as if his dream might actually be possible.

For a moment, Naruto stood frozen, his eyes glistening with tears.

"He's crying?" Xu Fan was momentarily stunned. In Naruto, the titular character was known for his resilience. No matter the setback, he always wore a big grin.

"Ah, it's nothing," Naruto sniffled, quickly rubbing his eyes. "It's just... sand. I got sand in my eyes."

Iruka, watching Naruto, felt a pang in his heart. He had never seen Naruto react this way before.

The other students, however, were confused.

"Since when did Naruto become a crybaby?" someone muttered.

"Ahem."

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Iruka decided to shift the focus.

"Well, since Senju-san is here, let's continue with the lesson," Iruka said, flipping through his grade book.

With Hinata absent today, there was an empty spot in the roster. Coincidentally, Sasuke was also present.

The Uchiha clan and the Senju clan—two legendary names.

"How about a little challenge, Senju-san?" Iruka suggested with a smile. "Why not try sparring with Sasuke, the top student in the class?"