"Uchiha Obito?"
Obito heard the voice, turned his head, and looked surprised when he saw Sora. "Huh? You know me?"
"I've heard of you." Sora smiled. "First year, Class C, right?"
Obito's eyes lit up. "That's right. I am the future Hokage, Uchiha Obito."
'Just like in the original, passionate and simple minded.'
Seeing that Sora did not speak, Obito took the initiative to come closer. "Hey, which class are you in? I feel like you look familiar."
"First year, Class B. Sora."
"Oh. You're that guy with the strong taijutsu." Obito slapped his forehead. "I heard Ryota mention you. He said you..."
Halfway through his sentence, Obito suddenly got stuck, scratching his head awkwardly.
Sora raised an eyebrow. "He said I what?"
"Uh... He said you..." Obito hemmed and hawed, finally sighing. "Forget it. That guy has a bad temper. Don't take what he says to heart."
The corner of Sora's mouth lifted slightly, and he smiled. "Don't worry. I'm not that petty. I'm not some villain either."
Obito breathed a sigh of relief, then became excited again. "Right. Do you want to go eat dango together? My treat."
Sora shook his head. "Next time. I need to go back to the orphanage first."
"The orphanage?" Obito was stunned for a moment, then patted his chest. "Then I'll walk you back. I know this area super well."
"..."
Sora originally intended to refuse, but looking at Obito's enthusiastic expression, he ultimately nodded.
The two walked side by side under the setting sun. Obito chattered all the way about interesting things at school, while Sora occasionally responded with a few words.
...
Two weeks later, early on a weekend morning, Sora was sweating profusely doing push ups on the training ground.
"Nine hundred ninety eight, nine hundred ninety nine, one thousand."
Sora stood up panting heavily, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Today is the day Nonō returns. I wonder how her mission went. I hope she didn't get hurt."
Whoosh.
At that moment, a black figure appeared silently behind him.
"Sora, the Hokage wishes to see you." A cold voice came.
Sora's heart skipped a beat. He turned around and saw a ninja wearing a grey bear mask standing to the side.
ANBU.
"Who are you?" Sora feigned vigilance and asked.
In Konoha, ordinary villagers and even many low ranking ninja knew little about the ANBU. A six year old Sora could not possibly know about the existence of the ANBU.
"I am the Hokage's personal guard."
"The Hokage wishes to see you. Follow me."
Grey Bear spoke again.
Sora pretended to size him up, then nodded. "Okay. To the Hokage Building?"
Grey Bear nodded, turned, and led the way.
'The Azure Dragon Fruit ability shouldn't have been exposed. I only train at night, and I wrap myself in bandages.'
'Then why does Sarutobi Hiruzen want to see me?'
Various thoughts flashed through Sora's mind along the way. He ultimately concluded it was likely due to his previous fight with Uchiha Takumi that had drawn Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention. After all, Sora was less than seven years old and could trade blows with a Uchiha Chunin, even if the other was going easy on him.
'But that was two weeks ago. It's illogical to summon me only today.'
'Whatever. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'll know when I see Sarutobi Hiruzen.'
...
Inside the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen held a pipe in his mouth, his gaze profound as he looked at the report in his hand.
The report detailed Sora's daily routine over the past two weeks. Wake up at 5 a.m., morning training for two hours, care for the other orphans. After morning classes at the Ninja Academy, go directly to the training ground to practice taijutsu. After school in the afternoon, train under Might Duy. He even trains more at night.
Flipping to the last page of the report in his hand was the comment from Sora's homeroom teacher, Yamada Kenichi. "He gets along well with others. Though his chakra talent is average, his studies are exceptionally diligent, and his taijutsu is excellent."
Beneath the comment, a line of small text was written. "His dream is to become strong to protect those important to him."
It was exactly Sora's self introduction on the first day of school.
"This little one is good soil for the Will of Fire." Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured softly.
Creak.
The office door was gently pushed open. Grey Bear brought Sora inside.
"Hokage sama, Sora has been brought." After speaking, Grey Bear vanished with a Body Flicker.
Sora stood in the center of the office, looking nervously at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Sora, no need to be nervous." Sarutobi Hiruzen showed a kindly smile, pointing to the chair opposite him. "Sit."
Sora gave a slight bow, then sat down. "Hokage sama, did you need to see me for something?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke, speaking slowly. "I heard you have been training very hard recently."
Sora nodded. "Yes. I want to become strong as soon as possible."
"Why?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
Sora was silent for a moment, then said seriously. "To protect the people important to me."
A hint of appreciation flashed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes. "A good answer. Then, do you know what kind of blood flows in your veins?"
'Blood? What blood could I have? Could it be that my white hair means I have Hatake Sakumo's bloodline?'
Sora shook his head blankly. "I don't quite understand what you mean."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled, took a file from a drawer, and pushed it in front of Sora. "Your records show you come from a village on the border of the Land of Whirlpools. That area was one of the settlements of the Uzumaki clan."
Sora looked down at the file. On it were written the words 'Suspected Uzumaki lineage'.
Sarutobi Hiruzen continued immediately. "Your physique is different from ordinary people. You can withstand high intensity training. This is not something an ordinary child can do."
"I have Uzumaki clan blood?"
Sora looked up and said in surprise. He genuinely was surprised. Having crossed into the Naruto world for nearly two years, he only now discovered he actually had the Sage Body lineage of the Uzumaki clan.
'Then shouldn't I be called Uzumaki Sora?'
A thought flashed through Sora's mind but quickly vanished. When he crossed over, he had no memories of the original body's owner, so he was still more accustomed to his previous life's name.
"So that's how it is. No wonder I felt my recovery ability was stronger than most people's."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction. "The Uzumaki clan are allies of Konoha. Their bloodline represents powerful vitality and chakra potential. Although your bloodline may be somewhat diluted, it is still worthy of nurturing."
Sora suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the term 'allies' from Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth and said respectfully. "Thank you for your recognition, Hokage sama."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe, speaking slowly. "Sora, I have seen the battle report of your fight with Uchiha Takumi. To be able to exchange blows with a Chunin at age six shows great potential."
"Therefore, I have decided to place you on the ANBU observation list early. Once you graduate from the Ninja Academy, you can be directly promoted to Chunin and join the ANBU training program."
Sora was startled inwardly and pretended to ask. "ANBU? Hokage sama, what is that?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at his bewildered expression and explained.
"The ANBU is a special force directly under the Hokage. They are responsible for carrying out the most confidential, most dangerous missions. Assassinating rogue ninja, protecting important personnel, gathering intelligence, and so on."
"ANBU members wear masks to conceal their identities. Their actions are only under the orders of the Hokage. They are Konoha's sharpest blade and also its most hidden shield."
"The one who brought you to see me just now was an ANBU member. Code name 'Grey Bear'."