Spring gave way to autumn, and another year slipped by. October 10th arrived – Konoha Calendar year 53. Naruto turned six.
For once, Naruto skipped his relentless training. Instead, he spent the morning preparing a small feast, laying it out on his table.
"Birthday?" Goku's voice echoed in his mind, "Happy Birthday Kid! I used to celebrate those with Chichi and Gohan... As I never knew what day mine is, as grandpa Gohan didn't used to celebrate birthday's. So I used to celebrate mine with theirs." Goku mused, tried to keep his tone light, but there was some sadness evident.
Like Naruto, Goku had lost his parents young, his planet destroyed. He'd landed on Earth, hit his head, and forgotten even their faces. He'd had Grandpa Gohan, who'd loved him... until Goku looked at the full moon, transformed, and accidentally killed him and now he has no way of meeting his only family left, his wife and a son, separated by Universe apart. Thinking it out, Goku's past sounded almost as bleak as Naruto's own.
"Let's celebrate it together, Happy birthday, Sensei," Naruto said, raising a cup of homemade grape juice.
"Haha. Happy birthday to you too, kid," Goku replied.
Naruto turned towards the window, lifting his cup slightly higher. "Happy birthday to you guys out there," he said out loud, addressing the unseen Anbu guards.
Outside, the leaves on a nearby branch rustled slightly, a silent acknowledgment. After a year, the Anbu captain watching him wasn't surprised Naruto could sense his presence. 'Minato-sensei's kid, and the Jinchuriki... bound to be exceptional,' the captain likely reasoned.
Naruto felt a measure of ease towards this particular guard. Unlike almost everyone else in Konoha, this Anbu radiated no malice towards him. Naruto even had a quiet suspicion about who might be behind the mask.
He reflected on the short list of people who didn't direct that familiar chill his way: Teuchi and Ayame at Ichiraku, Nekobaa, Hinata, Mikoto Uchiha and her serious husband... and now, maybe this Anbu captain. Six people. It wasn't many, but it was something.
In another week, Naruto was scheduled to start at the Ninja Academy. Konoha regulations required all children with ninja potential to enrol at age six. The decision hadn't come easily. Konoha's leadership had clashed over it, predictably.
Danzo still pushed for Root to take Naruto, to mold him into a weapon for Konoha. Homura and Koharu, the advisors, chimed in: "Danzo is right."
Hiruzen countered, insisting Naruto needed bonds, needed to experience village life and learn the Will of Fire, just as his mother Kushina had, finding her own connections (and Minato) at the Academy. The advisors, of course, agreed, "The Hokage is right."
Typical of the two, offered their usual measured agreement with whoever spoke last, contributing little substance.
Danzo wouldn't relent, convinced Hiruzen's path would waste the Jinchuriki's potential. But Hiruzen held firm, reminding everyone that Kushina, despite her own immense power and tragic past, thrived within the standard system. The argument ended, as many did, with Hiruzen playing his trump card: "I am the Hokage."
Danzo's resentment, particularly towards the Hokage title he felt was rightfully his, deepened. And so, Naruto had his admission notice.
---
The first day at the Academy wasn't quite the festival some parents made it out to be, but the grounds buzzed with activity. More students milled about than at a typical school, parents anxiously fussing over their children. Konoha only had one Academy, after all. Almost every child had an adult escort.
Except Naruto.
He approached the registration table, handing the form Hiruzen had given him to the Chunin instructor stationed there. The man had a distinctive horizontal scar across the bridge of his nose and gravity-defying brown hair pulled back. Iruka Umino.
Iruka glanced at the name, then looked up at Naruto, his eyes widening slightly. "Nine-" he started, catching himself. A faint flicker of darkness, that familiar coldness Naruto knew instantly as malice, emanated from the instructor. Naruto knew the story – Iruka's parents had died during the Nine-Tails attack years ago. The wound was clearly still raw.
"Can I register, sir?" Naruto asked politely.
"Yes," Iruka replied, his expression tight, the flicker of malice intensifying slightly. "Go on inside."
"Thanks," Naruto replied, politely turning toward the Academy without a backward glance.
Naruto offered a polite "Thank you" and headed towards the Academy building without a backward glance. He wasn't here to fix Iruka's issues. If the teacher came around, fine. If not, whatever. Frankly, if the Third hadn't insisted, he'd rather be training. The Turtle School exercises were addictive, he felt the pull of getting stronger with every session.
As he walked, ignoring the whispers and pointed fingers from other parents registering their children, Naruto occupied himself with his newfound ability: sensing Ki. He could get a rough feel for the energy signatures around him, the subtle differences between individuals. He knew it wasn't a perfect measure of combat strength, technique and experience mattered hugely, but it was fascinating.
He started mentally scoring everyone he saw.
'That one's a 30. Starfish-head bringing a kid with a big forehead.'
'That one's an 85. Big chubby guy, bringing a little chubby kid.'
'That one's a 66. Pineapple-head with a mini-pineapple.'
'That one's a 75. Kinda handsome for an old guy, bringing a little girl.'
'That one's a 70. Shaggy haired aunt with a dog bigger than she is.'
'That one's a 40... just a regular ninja.'
'That one's a 28...'
'Wait, that one's... 1, 2, 3... 77! Ki's fluctuating all over the place. A guy with big pair of sunglasses bringing a kid with little pair of sunglasses?'
Parents without strong clan ties generally felt weaker, below 50. Those from established clans felt stronger, mostly above, though there were variations. The kids his age? Most felt like baseline fives, barely registering.
Then, one signature spiked sharply, distinct from the others. 'Whoa. 99? No, maybe higher...' Naruto glanced over and saw him. Itachi Uchiha, the same older brother he'd seen at Nekobaa's, registering Sasuke. 'He's that strong? Okay...'
Naruto raised an eyebrow and shifted a few steps to the side, casually.
It wasn't that he was scared of Itachi. The guy was just nuts, so best to keep his distance.
Being strong wasn't scary. Being crazy wasn't scary.
But being crazy and strong at the same time? That was a whole other level.
He didn't want to catch whatever Itachi had.
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