After doing housework all night, Naruto finally collapsed into sleep just before dawn.
In a half-dreaming state, he had a dream.
In that dream, he had a father and mother, and also Senior Natsuki. But soon, they all turned into giant bowls of Ichiraku Ramen.
Naruto reached out to grab them—
And fell flat off the bed.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he got ready to wash up.
Through his blurry vision, he saw a figure standing inside his house.
Naruto let out a startled cry.
When he looked carefully, he realized it was the Third Hokage.
"Grandpa Third, what are you doing here?"
"Naruto, I came to see you. I heard you made some new friends yesterday?" The Third Hokage spoke with a kindly smile.
"Ehehe, you could say that! Grandpa Third, you mean Senior Natsuki, right? He's Sasuke's clansman—he asked me to play with Sasuke more."
"He's just like you, Grandpa Third! He took me to eat Ichiraku Ramen, and even told Sasuke to buy me a bunch of clothes!"
Naruto eagerly shared his happiness with the grandfatherly Hokage, who listened with patience and a gentle smile.
The Hokage chuckled warmly. "And what did your Senior Natsuki say to you?"
"Oh! He told me to get along well with Sasuke and not be naughty."
Naruto slapped his forehead. "Grandpa Third, look at this!"
He pulled out the clothes Sasuke had picked out for him yesterday and tried them on, posing awkwardly.
"Do I look good?"
"Yes, yes, you look good."
After confirming that Natsuki hadn't tried to instill anything strange into Naruto, the Third Hokage relaxed. He chatted a bit more before pulling out 5,000 ryō.
"Naruto, you're growing up now. Tomorrow you'll be starting school. From now on, you'll need to listen to your teachers. Take this 5,000 ryō for your living expenses."
Naruto blinked in confusion as he held the money. "Grandpa Third, why are you giving me so much?"
The Hokage smiled gently. "Once you're in the Academy, you'll need to buy ninja tools and such—that costs money. Don't spend it recklessly."
Naruto was deeply moved. "Thank you, Grandpa Third! When I grow up, I'll definitely repay you!"
"Hahaha, I'll remember those words. Now go get ready for tomorrow's enrollment. I need to go."
"Okay! Hehe!" Naruto couldn't stop grinning, his life suddenly feeling so much happier.
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha compound.
"Serve your teacher some tea."
Sasuke didn't really understand the formal concept of apprenticeship, but he didn't dislike Natsuki either.
So under Fugaku's urging, today he officially became Natsuki's disciple.
Fugaku had originally planned to invite some friends for a proper ceremony, but Natsuki, who disliked formalities, refused.
In his words, "Sharing a cup of tea is enough for a master-disciple bond."
How much Sasuke could learn would depend entirely on himself.
After the tea, Fugaku quickly left.
Though no longer overseeing the Police Force, with the clan's compound devastated, the Uchiha had much rebuilding to do. Most of Fugaku's time went into organizing reconstruction.
Of course, that was just on the surface.
Behind the scenes, Fugaku was discreetly recruiting skilled people for future development.
Once Fugaku left, it was just Sasuke and Natsuki staring at each other.
"Teacher, what are you going to teach me today?"
Natsuki scratched his head. Truthfully, he hadn't really planned out how to teach Sasuke.
But since Sasuke would be attending the Academy soon, it was better to let the school handle the basics.
At most, he could give Sasuke some extra training to accelerate his growth—
and, importantly, break him out of that show-off habit.
Natsuki cleared his throat. "Sasuke, since you've called me teacher, I'll start formally instructing you from today."
"Yes, Teacher!" Sasuke sat upright and stiff.
Natsuki waved him down. "I don't like such rigid manners. No need to be so stiff. Just treat me like a friend."
"Okay, Teacher." Sasuke relaxed and shifted into a more casual posture.
"Now, let me test you a bit."
Sasuke gave a cool look. "Go ahead, Teacher. I'm really strong."
Natsuki led him into the empty courtyard.
"Alright then, attack me with everything you've got. Use shuriken, kunai, fire release—whatever you have. Attack me with the intent to kill."
Sasuke had known there'd be a test today, so he'd come prepared with his ninja tools pouch.
"Teacher, I'm coming!" He crouched low, pulled out shuriken, and struck a fighting stance.
Natsuki gestured for him to begin.
Sasuke threw two shuriken with impressive accuracy.
But Natsuki simply tilted his head aside, letting them whistle past without moving an inch.
When the shuriken failed, Sasuke charged in with a flurry of moves—what could be called the "Uchiha-Style Taijutsu."
Natsuki casually blocked everything with one hand.
After all, Uchiha taijutsu was practically made to look flashy.
With their Sharingan and refined body coordination, Uchiha combat was elegant, like dancing on a blade's edge.
But Sasuke was too young—his body was weak, and he hadn't awakened his Sharingan.
To Natsuki, his attacks looked like a clumsy gym routine full of glaring openings.
He simply punched Sasuke in the stomach.
Sasuke froze, staggered back several steps, and dropped to his knees, coughing up spit before regaining his breath.
"Still far too weak, Sasuke." Natsuki's light words were enough to ignite Sasuke's fighting spirit.
Determined, Sasuke formed hand seals:
Snake → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Horse → Tiger!
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
He puffed his chest and spewed forth a massive wave of flame.
The air shimmered red with heat. This was the jutsu even his father had praised him for.
But before he could finish, Natsuki had already slipped around the fire wall and chopped him on the neck.
"Cough—cough—!"
Sasuke's Great Fireball was cut short as he nearly choked, coughing violently for a long while.
Natsuki stood with arms crossed, watching him.
"Teacher…" Sasuke's voice trembled slightly, unsure of what his teacher thought of him.
Natsuki thought for a moment, then decided to be strict.
Under Sasuke's anxious gaze, his face hardened.
"Utterly pathetic. Sasuke, is this all you've learned? What was Itachi teaching you—playing ninja games?"
"Who told you to use Fire Release like that? What was that just now? A firework display?"
"I'm sorry, Teacher." Sasuke lowered his head in dejection. He hadn't expected to win, but he at least wanted his teacher's approval—
only to be told he was worthless.
"Do you know where you lost?" Natsuki asked.
Sasuke opened his mouth, then silently lowered his head again.
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