The remaining sparring sessions seed utterly mundane in comparison. After Naruto and Satsuki's intense battle that rivaled actual ninja examinations, the other children's matches looked like child's play—a push here, a trip there, more like roughhousing than ninja training.
Satsuki stood on the sidelines observing coldly, ntally calculating that if she were to face any of these opponents, they probably wouldn't last even one round.
The only ones showing any promise were Shino and Kiba. Shino's fighting style was calm and precise—though still immature, every move hit its mark perfectly. Kiba was the complete opposite, charging in with wild swings like an excited puppy.
When it was Shikamaru's turn, he simply yawned and lazily raised his hand in surrender. "Ah—how troubleso. I give up."
Chouji followed suit, also declaring defeat with the reason that he didn't want to hurt anyone.
And so the afternoon classes ended in a flurry of playful chaos. School was out, and children poured from the classroom, quickly collected by waiting parents.
Naruto packed his things alone. He didn't have the luxury of being picked up by parents—after all, he was the protagonist template.
After this bit of dark humor at his own expense, Naruto was preparing to grab so ran at Ichiraku before heading ho when he suddenly noticed two figures blocking his path.
Under the setting sun, Satsuki stood with her head lowered, unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, her pale cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
Standing beside her was a particularly striking tall man—his black hair was perfectly grood, a jonin vest worn crisply on his fra. Most eye-catching were the red and white family crests embroidered on both shoulders of his vest.
The sa design as the one on the back of Satsuki's uniform—like a ping-pong paddle, but actually a fan representing the Uchiha clan emblem.
"You must be Naruto."
The authoritative voice instantly brought Naruto back to attention. He instinctively straightened up, his gaze shifting between Satsuki and the man. "Yes... may I ask..."
Satsuki quietly tugged at her father's sleeve, mumbling sothing softly. Watching this usually haughty second daughter now acting as timid as a quail, Naruto asked, "Are you... Satsuki's father?"
"Yes." Fugaku nodded slightly, his stern face showing no emotion. "Satsuki has ntioned you many tis."
It wasn't just "many tis"—that was putting it mildly.
Fugaku sighed inwardly. Ever since his daughter had t Naruto, every conversation inevitably revolved around "yesterday Naruto did this or that." From taijutsu matches to bento flavors, she could spend half a day describing even the blonde boy's smallest gestures.
"Satsuki says you've been training with her." Fugaku's tone unconsciously softened. "She's been in your care all this ti."
Naruto frantically waved his hands. "No, no, no! You're too kind!" He stole a glance at Satsuki, who looked ready to combust from embarrassnt. "Actually, Satsuki has helped a lot with training. Having a friend like her is my good fortune."
Fugaku gazed at the blonde boy before him, complex emotions flashing in his eyes. He was naturally aware of Naruto's true identity.
The orphan of his deceased friend Namikaze Minato, and simultaneously Konoha's most important war deterrent—the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki.
In the past, his wife Mikoto had been like sisters with Uzumaki Kushina, and he had placed all of the Uchiha clan's political chips on Namikaze Minato, fully supporting his candidacy for Hokage.
When Minato truly donned that Hokage hat, Fugaku had naively believed the Uchiha clan's position in Konoha was finally about to improve.
But fate was always so cruel.
---
The night Kushina gave birth, the Nine-Tails suddenly broke through its seal and attacked Konoha. What shocked Fugaku most was that in the beast's crimson pupils, a pair of Sharingan was clearly reflected—undeniable proof that an Uchiha clan mber had controlled the Nine-Tails.
After that day... Fugaku recalled bitterly.
The Fourth Hokage they had supported sacrificed himself, his wife's dear friend Kushina died, and Mikoto spent those days with red-rimd eyes. Worse still, Konoha's leadership began suspecting the Uchiha clan had a traitor.
No matter how Fugaku protested, the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails' eyes was irrefutable evidence. Eventually, the entire Uchiha clan was forced to relocate to the village outskirts.
The proud ninja within the clan grew increasingly dissatisfied, hawk factions gradually strengthened, even beginning to plot ard revolution. As clan head, Fugaku had to work tirelessly at each clan eting to appease these radicals while desperately waiting for an opportunity to return the Uchiha to Konoha's center.
Originally, he had placed his hopes on his extraordinarily gifted eldest daughter, Uchiha Itachi, expecting her to enter the Hokage's direct ANBU and gain the Uchiha a voice in village affairs.
But fate seed to love its jokes—the turning point actually appeared through his second daughter Satsuki, a child whose talent, while high, didn't match her sister's.
Fugaku still vividly rembered that afternoon several years ago.
When summoned by the Third Hokage and entering the Hokage's office alone, Sarutobi Hiruzen's first words made his blood run cold—
"Fugaku, I hear your second daughter has recently been in contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki."
Fugaku's spine imdiately tensed. Mikoto had ntioned more than once in private her desire to take in her deceased friend's son, to have Naruto call her godmother.
But this notion could only remain an unspoken fantasy. Given the Uchiha clan's sensitive position, it was an untouchable topic.
Just as Fugaku expected accusations, the old man's next words left him incredulous—if Fugaku had no objections, he supported Naruto and Satsuki making contact and forming bonds.
But the condition was that Fugaku couldn't interfere with their interactions, and other Uchiha clan mbers must not approach Naruto.
Fugaku imdiately understood the subtext.
This was Konoha giving the Uchiha an opportunity! As the Fourth's orphan and Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki, Naruto would inevitably enter the core of the Hokage faction in the future.
If Satsuki could establish deep bonds with him... wouldn't the Uchiha clan's chance finally co?!
The original calculation was perfect—have Satsuki build friendship with this future core figure of the Hokage faction, paving the way for the Uchiha clan. But seeing his daughter's blushing, head-lowered appearance now, had that "friendship" changed its nature?
This discovery should have made Fugaku ecstatic. For the current Uchiha clan, establishing such intimate relations with the future Hokage faction was a heaven-sent opportunity.
But as a father, the thought of using his daughter's feelings for political gain still left him sowhat uncomfortable.
Just then, Satsuki's finger gently tugged Fugaku's sleeve, her dark eyes now carrying urgency. Fugaku looked down to see his daughter signaling with her eyes for him to get to the main point quickly.
So what exactly had brought Fugaku to seek out Naruto? It turned out that when school ended earlier, Satsuki had noticed Naruto's solitary figure walking toward the gate.
Other children were led away happily by their parents' hands, while only that blonde boy stood alone at the school entrance. This scene made Satsuki's heart inexplicably tighten with a pang of sympathy.
That's right—Satsuki wanted to walk ho with Naruto. But she simply couldn't bring herself to voice such a simple invitation.
After much internal struggle, she could only turn to her father for help. However, proud as she was, she naturally wouldn't directly admit her good intentions. Satsuki specifically instructed her father not to say it was her idea to walk Naruto ho, but rather to claim it was to strengthen their friendship—having father suggest she escort Naruto ho.
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