[Uchiha Clan Grounds]
Uchiha Sasuke opened his eyes from a dream.
In a daze, after a moment of confusion, an expression of anticipation appeared on his face.
Because he just remembered, his older brother Uchiha Itachi had promised him yesterday that he would take him to school today.
Sasuke hurriedly changed his clothes, washed up, and ran into the living room. Looking around, he asked Uchiha Mikoto, who was preparing breakfast, "Where's big brother? He's not sleeping in, is he?"
Looking at the anxious yet excited expression on Sasuke's face, Uchiha Mikoto couldn't help but want to tease him.
She deliberately showed a displeased expression and gave a light snort, "Honestly, Sasuke only cares about his brother, not the slightest bit about his mother. And to think I got up so early to make you breakfast."
Sasuke's expression turned a little awkward at those words, and he looked apologetically at Uchiha Mikoto, "I'm sorry, Mom."
"Hmph, Mommy is very angry right now!"
As Uchiha Mikoto carried breakfast out, she gently knocked Sasuke on the head with her hand.
"Ow!"
Sasuke pretended to be in pain and held his head, "Mom, you hit too hard!"
"Don't be dramatic!"
Uchiha Mikoto couldn't help but laugh at Sasuke's expression, "I didn't use any force at all."
"Mom's not angry anymore?"
Sasuke obediently sat in his seat.
Uchiha Mikoto rubbed Sasuke's head, her face returning to a gentle look, "Then today your punishment is to drink an extra cup of milk."
"Okay, Mom!"
Sasuke held a cup of milk and drank it in one gulp.
"Drink more slowly," Uchiha Mikoto couldn't help but remind him, then poured him another cup.
Sasuke's face once again showed an expectant look, "Mom, big brother, he…"
"Your brother got up early and went out."
"Went… went out?"
Sasuke's expression visibly drooped, but although he felt very disappointed, he quickly adjusted himself.
Because he was already used to it.
But Uchiha Mikoto's face showed a gentle smile as she softly patted Sasuke's hair, "Your brother said he'll be back before you leave."
"Really?", Sasuke's eyes lit up again.
"When has Mom ever lied to you?"
"That's great!", Sasuke happily picked up a rice ball and started eating.
Uchiha Mikoto looked at her youngest son warmly, but she couldn't help the doubt rising in her heart.
Uchiha Itachi had been acting a little too differently lately.
He left early and returned late every day, just like Fugaku. She had no idea what he was busy with.
But once, when she returned home, she accidentally saw Itachi, who had used a transformation technique, talking to some clansmen.
Even though she couldn't see through the transformation jutsu, as a mother, she knew her son very well.
From some subtle unique habits, she could confirm his identity.
'This can be considered a good thing.'
'Itachi has already started thinking from the clan's perspective.'
Unlike before, when he only stood from the village's standpoint and didn't care at all about the clan's opinions.
While it wasn't wrong to stand with the village, he should at least consider the clan a little too.
However, the only bad part was that Itachi had also been in contact with the clan's hawks during this time.
Itachi now seemed to be supporting the clan's coup.
A trace of worry appeared on Uchiha Mikoto's face.
She had never concerned herself with the clan's coup plans. No matter what Uchiha Fugaku wanted to do, she would support him unconditionally.
That was her duty as a wife.
But she didn't want her children to be involved. That was a mother's instinct.
Click!
The door was pushed open from the outside, and Uchiha Itachi walked in.
"I'm back."
"Big brother!"
The moment Sasuke saw Uchiha Itachi, his expression turned incredibly joyful.
"Welcome back, Itachi," Uchiha Mikoto smiled again.
Uchiha Itachi looked at Sasuke with a smile, "Sasuke, have you finished breakfast?"
"Already finished!", Sasuke looked a little excited.
"Then let's go! I saw quite a few kids already there on the way here."
"Okay!", Sasuke happily responded.
But as he was heading out the door, he suddenly stopped.
He turned to look at Uchiha Mikoto, who was waving at him, and then ran back.
"Sasuke?"
Sasuke grabbed Uchiha Mikoto's hand.
"Can Mom come with us?"
———
Today was a day full of hope.
All grades started school on this day.
Every household brought their children to school.
By the time Aoba and the others arrived at the school gate, it was full of students and parents, lively and bustling.
It was truly a scene brimming with vibrant life.
Every parent had a smile on their face, but many of the children wore gloomy expressions.
"Still as lively as ever," Tsunade, Shizune, and Uzuki Yugao all sighed with emotion, as they were all graduates of the ninja academy.
"Aoba!"
A ninja still wearing a ninja vest walked toward them.
"Uncle?"
"Teacher?"
Aoba and Uzuki Yugao both looked surprised. The person was Hayame.
"Didn't you have a mission?", Aoba remembered that he had been told the man had an important mission these days and wouldn't be able to come, but unexpectedly, he still showed up.
"The first day of school is a very important day. I rushed back after finishing the mission early," Hayame smiled and patted Aoba's head. He still remembered how, on Aoba's first day of school, he had come with Aoba's father.
Back then, they relied on the small inheritance left by their parents, living frugally just to graduate from the academy.
'Now this kid had reached school age too.'
"Lady Tsunade," Hayame also greeted Tsunade.
"Jonin Shirakumo," Tsunade nodded in response.
As the group was chatting at the school gate—
"Aoba!", Another voice rang out at the same time.
A blonde-haired boy came running toward them quickly, and everyone around instinctively made way.
Finally, the blonde boy stopped right in front of them.
"Aoba, you guys came really early," Naruto scratched his head and grinned foolishly.
"Why are your dark circles so heavy?"
"I couldn't sleep last night, so I just kept doing push-ups. Not sure when I fell asleep."
Dark circles that heavy, yet still full of energy.
Aoba couldn't help but widen his mouth in awe. No wonder he was from the Uzumaki clan.
"Aoba-kun!" ×4
This time, four voices rang out at once.
Looking back, it was Tenten and the other three girls, along with their parents. It looked like they had met on the way.
As for Sasuke, who was still being coddled by his big brother and mom off to the side, Aoba naturally ignored him.
If it were the usual, and he was alone facing this crowd, Aoba might've chickened out a bit, but not today. He stood firm.
As Tenten and the others ran over to surround him, the Hyuga Hiashi group also came over politely to greet him…
Tsunade behind him gave a nod of greeting.
"Lady Tsunade."
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