September, Year 54 of Konoha.

  Half a month had passed since the explosion in the Konoha Forest. Although the vilge was still under strict security, with patrolling Ninja visible on every street, the panic among the vilgers had mostly subsided.

  Therefore, Konoha ushered in the annual grand event - the opening of the Academy.

  It was a day filled with hope. Countless parents, dreaming of their children's bright futures, sent their kids to the Academy, hoping their sons would become kings and their daughters queens. It was like pnting a seed in spring, waiting for it to bloom and bear fruit six years ter.

  However, not all students would have the chance to become Ninjas. Even for those who did, many would only earn the title of Chunin on the day of their death. This was, after all, a world where bloodline reigned supreme.

  "Yawn~"

  In Naruto's house, inside his bedroom, Naruto stretched and woke up from his groggy state.

  He pulled back the curtains and gnced outside, where the sun was already shining brightly. In his half-asleep daze, he thought he saw a fsh of white hair disappearing into the trees.

  In the blink of an eye, it appeared outside his window.

  "Hey, One-Eyed Uncle, long time no see."

  Naruto greeted Kakashi with a smile.

  Kakashi, with his trademark deadpan expression, replied listlessly: "Today's the first day of the Academy. You're already te..."

  "Ah, well, I was too tired yesterday, so I slept in a bit."

  Naruto showed no sign of embarrassment. His schedule had been chaotic tely, spending every day in the seal space learning the Flying Thunder God Technique from Minato. He slept whenever he was exhausted, losing track of time.

  It must be said that the Flying Thunder God Technique was much harder than Sealing Techniques. Two weeks wasn't enough for him to fully master it.

  Kakashi remained silent, the two of them staring at each other for a moment. Then, Kakashi reached into his Ninja Pouch and pulled out a small yellow book, handing it to Naruto.

  "What is this?"

  Naruto took it curiously, only to find the cover depicted a man and a woman running toward each other with open arms. The bold red title at the top read: Icha-Icha Paradise.

  Naruto's mouth twitched, and he handed it back and said, "I don't read this stuff."

  Kakashi gave him a look that said, ‘Yeah, right.’ He had personally seen Naruto use a Transformation Technique to sneak into the adult section of a bookstore, specifically for this book. At first, Kakashi had been worried that it might be too mature for a kid, given some of the explicit content.

  But upon further reflection, aside from a few inappropriate scenes that are not suitable for children, the book was actually a rather profound piece of literature. He figured the pressure of vilge life had driven Naruto to seek soce in such material.

  ‘It is better to guide than to stop Naruto's curiosity in this regard, which will eventually lead him to go astray. At least Icha-Icha Paradise retively tame compared to other, more explicit works.’

  "If you want to read it, I can buy it for you. Just don't use Transformation Technique to sneak around. Some things are still too early for you."

  "Now hurry up and get to school."

  After saying this, Kakashi left the book on the windowsill and disappeared again.

  Naruto stared at the book, feeling like ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through his mind.

  ‘Kurama, you bastard!'

  Naruto grabbed the book, tossed it into the seal space, and hurled it at Kurama’s head.

  Yes, this book was exactly what Kurama asked to read. It was probably because seeing Kakashi reading it everywhere, the fox had grown curious and ended up getting hooked. Sometimes, Naruto really couldn't understand how a Tailed Beast's mind worked.

  "Gahaha, the test volume! That white-haired guy's not so bad after all."

  Kurama used its Chakra to catch the book mid-air, let out a strange ugh, and pced it on the ground to read with great interest.

  The other three in the seal space, Minato, Nono, and Shisui, couldn't help but twitch at the sight.

  ‘Was this really the Nine-Tails?’

  "Naruto, the Academy isn't bad. You might make some good friends there."

  Minato had also graduated from the Academy, and the Academy is the pce he had met Kushina, so he still held a fondness for the pce.

  "Yeah, I'll wash up and head over."

  Naruto replied perfunctorily. He didn't mind going to the Academy. After all, he could train in the seal space anywhere. By the time he mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, it would probably be close to the time of the Uchiha Massacre.

  ---

  Naruto quickly got ready and dressed.

  He wore a white hooded sweatshirt with bck patterns running from the sleeves to the shoulders, paired with loose knee-length shorts and bck Ninja Sandals, revealing his small toes.

  This outfit had been picked out by Minato, who said he had dressed simirly as a child. It was like a father-son matching set.

  Naruto didn't mind. He wasn't picky about clothes. He could even wear the orange jumpsuit from the original work if he had to.

  Looking at himself in the mirror, Naruto thought he looked pretty good. Without the inferiority complex he had in the original work, Naruto's natural features stood out. With Kushina's facial structure, Minato's golden hair, and sky-blue eyes, he was quite the little charmer. His newfound confidence only added to his appeal.

  "You look a lot like Yondaime-sama back then."

  Nono spoke up. Inside the seal space, they could all see what was happening outside.

  Minato, who had been watching his son with pride and satisfaction, was distracted by Nono's comment, so he asked curiously, "Director Nono, did you know me before?"

  He didn't recall meeting her when he was younger. The first time they met, Nono was already the director of the orphanage.

  Nono shook her head and smiled. "Yondaime-sama, I was a Root member."

  Minato nodded in understanding, then turned his attention back to his son. He thought to himself, ‘If Kushina were here, she'd be so happy. I wonder when Naruto would fully unlock the seal.’

  ---

  "… Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fmes of the Will of Fire burn eternally. These fmes will continue to illuminate the vilge and allow new leaves to sprout. In this vilge, you, the younger generation, are the hope of the future. We, the older generation, must trust and protect you, ensuring you grow up healthy and strong. Our sacrifices are not in vain. They will continue to protect you, shaping you into the pilrs that will carry the vilge's future."

  By the time Naruto arrived at the Ninja Academy, Hiruzen's speech was nearing its end.

  As Hiruzen concluded his speech, the young faces in the audience erupted with fervor. Some shouted passionately, others wept openly, and many loudly procimed their dreams, vowing to shed their st drop of blood for Konoha.

  ‘The ultimate Genjutsu… so terrifying.’

  Looking at the many children and parents who were like a group of demons dancing, Naruto couldn't help but compin in his heart. He then made his way toward the cssroom.

  He already knew which css he was assigned to, which is the so-called ‘elite css,’ just like in the original story. It was filled with the best young talents from the great cns, as well as exceptional civilian students.

  But just as he was about to enter, a voice called out to him.

  "Naruto, you’re te!"