With both Minato and Kushina alive, Naruto's childhood changed completely.
As the Hokage's son, wherever Naruto went, the people of Konoha greeted him with warm, friendly smiles; the village's respect for the Fourth spread to his child and turned into open affection.
There was no tailed beast hidden inside him to worry about, so parents were happy to have their children make friends with Naruto.
Though many kids clustered around him, only a small circle truly matched his temperament — Shikamaru, Chōji, and Hinata were among those closest.
Naruto was still young and didn't have deep insight into people, but choosing friends is sometimes a matter of fate. Kind-hearted children naturally gravitate to one another.
Hinata had been Naruto's childhood playmate. Though she hadn't awakened the Byakugan yet, having watched her brother Shinichi train from an early age had sharpened her perception. She knew Naruto's strengths better than most.
Sasuke was clearly strong and had received formal ninja training; he was far ahead of most peers. Still, Hinata had confidence in Naruto. Like Sasuke, Naruto had begun training early — Kushina personally oversaw much of it so her son would be able to protect himself.
The Nine-Tails incident had left a permanent mark on Kushina; she feared being taken away by some hidden enemy, and her child was left vulnerable. So Kushina's upbringing of Naruto was strict; she wasn't as easygoing as Minato.
Naruto was tenacious. After being beaten up once while protecting Hinata, his pride and desire to get stronger burned even brighter.
For him, the logic was simple: to protect those he cared for, he had to become strong. That idea matched Kushina's, so Naruto never complained about the tough training.
Hinata watched Naruto's effort and, not wanting to fall behind (and wanting to spend more time with him), she began training herself.
Hinata's mind was simpler than Naruto's: she didn't yet know what "love" meant — she simply didn't want to be separated from her playmate. She'd seen how Shinichi's life revolved around training partners, so if she could be Naruto's training partner, she'd be close to him every day.
Hinata's focus on Naruto gave her an accurate read of his ability, and she loved seeing him shine. Of course, a little part of her urged Naruto to step into the ring because she didn't want anyone at school to outshine her Naruto.
Hearing the girls scream for Sasuke, Hinata's gaze toward Sasuke darkened with a dangerous light.
"I'll say it — Sasuke is outstanding!" Iruka praised evenly. "But Kiba, your effort was good too. Don't be discouraged. If you keep training, you'll get there."
Iruka used encouragement wisely — kids have thin skins. Kiba trudged back into the crowd, ashamed; Iruka clapped and continued.
"Anyone want to challenge Sasuke?" he asked. "Don't fear losing face or getting hurt. In a shinobi's life, defeats can be more serious than just bruises. If you choose to be a shinobi, prepare your mind now."
But after a while, no one stepped forward. Sasuke had just shown his skill, and most kids realized the gap between themselves and a prestigious clan child. Even Iruka's urging couldn't coax challengers.
When no one else volunteered, Naruto quietly raised his hand.
"I'll give it a try, Iruka-sensei," he said.
As soon as Naruto spoke, the crowd's attention snapped to him — the Hokage's son volunteering was worth watching. The kids knew Sasuke was from the noble Uchiha and Naruto was the Hokage's son; their match stirred real interest.
"Ah — Naruto," Iruka said. "If you want to try, go ahead."
Iruka had been overseeing the class carefully and knew which students demanded attention — the Hokage's son was the top priority. Seeing Naruto step out, Iruka tensed; he couldn't afford injuries on the first school day.
"No ninjutsu — only taijutsu," Iruka warned. "Announce your names, perform the opposing seals, and begin!"
For safety, Iruka banned ninjutsu — he knew some well-bred kids might already have D- or C-rank techniques. Restricting the match to taijutsu gave him control.
Naruto and Sasuke faced each other and sealed their opposition.
"Begin!"
They surged at each other instantly. Iruka's eyes widened — the speed was shocking. Their closing speed was similar, but Naruto's reflexes were a hair quicker. He struck first; Sasuke reacted, blocking with an open palm while sweeping his leg. Sasuke snapped into a defensive-to-offensive change in an instant.
Naruto's punch was caught; Sasuke grabbed Naruto's wrist and pinned it. Naruto leapt, split his legs in midair to evade a sweep, then used Sasuke's grip to swing and trip, slamming his shoulder into Sasuke's chest and hoisting him into a clean shoulder throw.
Sasuke flipped, rolled, and landed gracefully — not the clumsy fall the watching girls expected. The kids gasped at Sasuke's poise. Hinata's tiny fists clenched in triumph.
But Sasuke steadied himself and returned to the fray. The fight became a tense, evenly matched exchange. Naruto's reflexes and creativity clashed with Sasuke's skillful, varied style. Their match drew cheers from Hinata, Choji, Shikamaru, and the others; the girls crowded behind Sasuke.
After several minutes, Sasuke began to show signs of fatigue — his combos stuttered. Naruto, abundant in stamina, seized the moment and pressed the attack. A solid hit staggered Sasuke; Naruto followed with a muscular takedown and pinned him.
"Stop! That's the match!" Iruka called. Naruto had won. The cheering ring erupted; Hinata and the boys shouted; the girls assured Sasuke he was still "the best" even in defeat.
Sasuke rose, exchanged the Reconciliation Seal with Naruto, but all his attention was on Naruto. "I will surpass you," he vowed inwardly; their fight had exposed gaps he intended to close. The Uchiha name could not be tarnished.
Iruka's class continued with more sparring. He selected a mix of kids — noble-born and common — to see the differences. One match paired Hinata against Sakura Haruno.
Hinata, raised in a clan, was composed and confident. Sakura, from a non-ninja family, was more anxious but had excellent test scores and enough physical skill to qualify.
When Sakura hesitated, Hinata frowned; she didn't want to crush someone with no fighting spirit. Watching her classmates cheer Sakura on, Hinata's interest faded.
Sakura steadied herself and answered, "Sensei, I can do this!" Iruka encouraged her: Courage matters more than skill. They formed opposing seals.
Hinata's bearing changed—no trace of the "cute" look her mother had dressed her in. She launched a straightforward, powerful palm strike to Sakura's chest. Sakura tried to block, but was blasted backward, and Iruka had to leap and catch her as she skidded across the sand.
The children and even Naruto stared in surprise — the force behind Hinata's palm was extraordinary. Shinichi's little sister had surprising strength; perhaps she'd always eaten well and converted food into muscle. To Iruka and the kids, Hinata's blow was an eye-opener.
"Wow...so strong," murmured Sasuke, impressed despite himself. Given Hinata's lineage, her power made sense — the Hyūga were a famed ocular clan.
"Maybe this child is the strongest freshman," someone whispered.
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