Peace in Konoha?
From Year 53 to Year 55 of Konoha's calendar, the village had been outwardly calm.
In the blink of an eye, Naruto was seven years old — finally of age to enter the Academy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had visited him once. Naruto's usual sunny smile had eased the weary Hokage's heart.
Over the past two years, tension between Hiruzen and Danzo had only deepened. Shisui's eyes were a constant thorn in Hiruzen's chest, but in the end, the Hokage relented. He allowed Danzo to retake control of Root and even hold a position as Elder.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan grew increasingly restless. Frequent meetings stirred unease, making the situation more unstable than ever.
Itachi, however, played his role well. He entered Anbu, rose quickly to the rank of Captain, and became the clan's newest prodigy — his reputation nearly rivaling Shisui's. But in truth, he was a double agent, reporting on both the clan and the Hokage.
And yet, Itachi was shaken.
He remembered Naruto's words from years ago. When the day comes and Danzo orders me to slaughter my own clan for Sasuke's sake… what will I do?
The old Itachi knew the answer. He would have followed that path to genocide without hesitation.
But the Itachi who had listened to Naruto's ideals, who had glimpsed another way… no longer felt trapped by that crushing burden. For the first time, he felt light.
On this morning, he walked Sasuke to the Academy's opening ceremony.
"Big brother, I'll be top of the class, just like you!"
Sasuke bounced along, his chest puffed out, arrogance radiating as he looked down on the other kids.
"I'll defeat every last one of them. I'll be number one. No one can stop me."
Pfft!
A burst of laughter cut through the air.
Sasuke spun around, scowling. A blond boy in a yellow coat, taller than him, was doubled over in laughter, clutching his stomach.
"Why are you laughing?!" Sasuke demanded.
"I saw a toad puffing itself up in the sky! Funniest thing I've ever seen! Hahaha!"
"What toad? Where?!" Sasuke snapped, looking around.
"Oh, too slow. It flew away."
It took Sasuke a moment to realize — he was being mocked. His anger boiled, but the blond boy had already walked off.
"Big brother! That guy's nasty! He called me a toad! Once combat training starts, I'll make him eat dirt!"
Itachi only smiled, letting Sasuke rant while his gaze lingered on the blond boy. His eyes narrowed with deep thought.
Uzumaki Naruto… the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. This child may be Konoha's greatest variable. I'll have to keep a close watch.
"Hinata! Over here!"
Naruto's voice rang out cheerfully as he waved both arms above his head.
Years of training — along with the daily red potion strengthening his body — had made him grow fast. He was already half a head taller than Sasuke and looked closer to nine than seven.
On the road, Hinata approached with her father, Hiashi, by her side.
At the sound of Naruto's call, her cheeks went pink. She risked a glance at Hiashi, but he only frowned, snorted coldly, and looked away. His face betrayed the pain of a father watching his precious daughter drawn to another.
He wanted to scold, to set down strict rules… yet when he looked at Hinata's blossoming face, he couldn't bear it.
At least I still have Hanabi, he thought grimly. I'll be strict with her. She won't fall behind her sister.
Hinata, seeing her father silent, broke into a run and slipped her hand into Naruto's.
"Naruto-kun… I'm so glad. From now on, we'll be together every day."
"Not every day," Naruto teased with a grin. "Haven't you heard? A little distance makes the heart grow fonder."
Hinata's cheeks flamed red.
Whispers rippled through the gathered parents.
"Who's that kid? Already holding hands with the Hyuga princess?""Isn't that the demon fox boy? He's grown so much… but stay away from him, son.""That hair, that smile… he looks just like—""The Hyuga clan, so openly close with the Jinchūriki… won't that anger Lord Hokage?""Maybe. But after the Cloud incident, Hokage can't push the Hyuga too far."
The looks thrown Naruto's way were mixed — suspicion, disdain, curiosity, even excitement.
But Naruto ignored them all. Chin held high, hand in hand with Hinata, he strode into the Academy like a proud young general marching to battle.
His time was coming.
A few more years.
And the stage of the shinobi world would be his to claim.
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