At the Ninja Academy gate, after a brief greeting between the Namikaze family and the Uchiha family, everyone moved inside once the school gates opened.
Minato Namikaze was the Hokage, and today was the Academy's entrance ceremony; he had been invited to give a speech to the new students.
In past years, it was usually the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who addressed the Academy — after all, the school occupies a special place in Konoha: apart from a few scions of great clans, most children who want to be shinobi have attended the Academy in their youth.
Appearing before the Academy students is also a way for leaders to reinforce their standing.
This year, with Minato's authority growing, the Third had gradually stepped out of the limelight. Danzo, the most powerful of the council, had been reassigned to the Cloud front and would be away for some time.
The remaining councilors still had rank, but their political weight had waned; with Hiruzen and Danzo less active, others could not exert much influence on Minato.
As his power stabilized, Minato naturally had the bandwidth to appear more publicly and solidify his position.
"At last, Sasuke — that man over there is our village's Fourth Hokage," Fugaku said to his son. "You're in the same class as his son, Namikaze Naruto. Make sure to get along."
The Academy entrance is as much a social occasion for parents as it is a school ceremony. It's an opportunity to introduce one's child to important families and the network. Fugaku lingered a little at the gate, wanting Sasuke to meet as many people as possible.
Connections matter in any world, and even the Uchiha benefit from a good relationship with the Hokage.
Sasuke, six years old, took his father's words to heart in his own way. When Fugaku said Naruto was his peer, Sasuke replied, "Father, don't worry — I will never lose to him!" Fugaku smiled at that fierce resolve and encouraged him.
Having a genius older brother — Itachi — inevitably set a standard against which Sasuke would be compared. Even when learning the Fireball technique, Itachi only needed to watch once to reproduce it perfectly; Sasuke took far longer. Still, Sasuke had talent and a burning wish to prove himself on his own merits. For him, the Academy was the first arena to do that.
The crowd at the gate thinned as parents led their children toward their classrooms. Fugaku greeted other prominent clan heads — families like Nara and Yamanaka — while Sasuke kept watching for one face: Namikaze Naruto. For Sasuke, Naruto's background made him the most fitting rival.
When some figures appeared down the road, Fugaku stepped forward, smiling. Hiashi Hyūga and his household approached. Fugaku introduced Sasuke to the Hyūga head and invited the boy to greet him.
Sasuke bowed politely. Hiashi returned the courtesy warmly and introduced his children: "This is my son Shinichi, and my daughter Hinata. Hinata will be in the same class as you — you two should get along."
Adults' small talk often reads like a ceremony. Hinata nodded slightly at Sasuke: she had heard of the Uchiha's name.
The debate over which clan—Uchiha or Hyūga—was Konoha's foremost family was a common one. When Itachi's reputation grew, Shinichi had sometimes been compared to him. But Shinichi kept to himself and rarely took missions; over time, Itachi's fame overshadowed such talk.
Hinata was not the quiet, gentle child many assumed. Since starting training, she'd shown drive and competitiveness; seeing Sasuke at the gate, she already felt that spark of rivalry.
After the introductions, the adults walked together toward the school. On the sports ground, Minato stood atop a platform and spoke about the "Will of Fire," planting the seed of love for the village and comrades in the children.
Parents circled the ground: some listened earnestly; others chatted with friends. The event's real focus, however, was the children.
"Look — that blond boy in front is the Hokage's son!" some teachers whispered. "We'll be teaching him. Pressure's on."
This year's freshman class included many scions of powerful families; teachers felt the weight of that responsibility. Iruka, the young teacher, listened with a blank face. By order of the Third Hokage, he'd been assigned as homeroom teacher for Class One — the class featuring the most talented and well-born pupils. For a new teacher, it was a daunting posting.
Iruka worried, but Hiruzen encouraged him: Stay kind and earnest, and the kids will respect you. Iruka believed him.
Outside the field, Hinata's mother, Hanako, watched Iruka with concern. The Hyūga had done their homework about future classmates and teachers — while Hinata was of the branch house, she was still the clan head's daughter; family care would not slacken. Hanako hoped an experienced instructor might be chosen, but Hiashi calmly reassured her. Hiruzen had appointed Iruka, and that carried weight — the politics between Minato and Hiruzen ran deeper than appearances.
Shinichi, lost in thought during the ceremony, looked pensive. Hanako nudged him and teased, "Why don't you go to the Academy for a couple of years?" Shinichi smiled and declined — that life was not for him.
Minato's speech was short and precise. After the ceremony, the children began orientation classes. For many, this was their first taste of real training. The Academy's barriers mean most entrants had already received some preparation; only a few truly untrained children made it in.
Iruka's first lesson was simple: he led the children outdoors and introduced them to the concept of the Reconciliation Seal and its origins. The tale itself wasn't thrilling to children, so Iruka quickly arranged a sparring exercise.
Rather than choosing fighters himself, Iruka asked for volunteers. Many untrained kids hesitated, while those eager to show off raised their hands. Among them was Uchiha Sasuke.
Iruka picked him out: "What's your name?"
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke! Iruka-sensei."
Sasuke stepped forward with an air of cool confidence. Just then, a spiky-haired boy barged in and volunteered aggressively — a small dog clinging to his head barked instantly. It was Inuzuka Kiba.
Iruka had wanted to test the Hokage's son, Naruto, but Kiba's interruption changed the flow. Iruka didn't mind. "All right — you, then. What's your name?"
"Kiba! Inuzuka Kiba!"
Kiba took his stance opposite Sasuke. Iruka reminded both to announce their names and form the Reconciliation Seal to start. The rules mattered.
Kiba lunged first, a fist aimed at Sasuke's face. He resented Sasuke's looks. Kiba was fast beyond most children — clearly trained — but Sasuke was quicker. As the punch neared, Sasuke leaned back, kicked Kiba's elbow with his left foot, spun, and struck Kiba's shoulder with his right. Before Kiba could react, Sasuke swept his leg across Kiba's calves. Kiba crashed into the ground with a dull thud.
"Enough! Sasuke wins. Form the Reconciliation Seal."
The crowd cheered. Kiba's face flushed with embarrassment. The untrained kids gossiped about Sasuke's coolness; those who'd seen real training looked at him differently.
"Naruto, step up — you can win this," Hinata whispered, tugging at Naruto's sleeve. Since entering the Academy, Hinata had stuck close to Naruto; whenever Naruto gathered friends, she joined without reserve. Around Naruto clustered kids who liked him — a small group with him at the center.
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