Corridors and courtyards stretched endlessly ahead.
They arrived at the westernmost floor of the Ninja Academy.
This was the gathering place for new students each year.
Nothing about it differed from the original depiction in the manga.
Naruto was led here by Iruka, the instructor responsible for this class. It was evident that this class had collected all of the standout freshmen of the year. Though there appeared to be a mix of children from both prestigious clans and ordinary backgrounds, the reality was more calculated—Iruka's class had been carefully composed to include the most promising new students of the year.
Naruto had been directly assigned to this classroom due to his unique and delicate identity.
And so, the moment Naruto stepped into the classroom, following closely behind Iruka—
The room was already filled with students.
As he glanced around, Naruto recognized many of the figures within—not from personal experience, but from the memories of the original manga. To Naruto in this new life, this was his first time seeing these individuals in person.
With the exception of one figure shrouded in white.
In reality, Naruto's eyes were instinctively drawn to her the moment he entered the room.
Short, neatly cut hair, soft and bright eyes, and a nervous expression.
A barely perceptible aura of unease surrounded her.
She was from one of Konoha's noble families—Hinata Hyuga, heiress of the Hyuga Clan.
Before his reincarnation, Naruto had always felt a deep affection for the Hyuga princess, whose gentleness was never mistaken for weakness.
And in this life, an encounter over a year ago had already etched a lasting impression on him.
"Hinata Hyuga…"
Staring at the girl's delicate face, no bigger than a palm, Naruto's gaze visibly softened.
As a Hyuga, even though her Byakugan had yet to awaken, Hinata's senses were sharper than most. The moment Naruto's eyes rested on her for just half a second, she became aware. When her head instinctively lifted and their eyes met, Hinata's gaze widened in surprise, her expression briefly frozen.
Naruto offered a faint smile and nodded.
A simple gesture.
Hinata's cheeks flushed a deep pink, steam almost visibly rising from her forehead. She quickly lowered her head again, her hair swaying and making her look even more endearing.
Naruto's expression grew gentler.
"Naruto, sit wherever you'd like," Iruka said softly, having quieted the class with a light tap on the desk. He hadn't noticed the brief, silent exchange between Naruto and Hinata.
"Yes, Iruka-sensei," Naruto replied immediately, walking along the edge of the room to the back, choosing a seat by the window.
There was no need for excess attention or interaction at this stage.
His status remained precarious.
Their childhood encounter may have passed unnoticed by Konoha's leadership and even Hinata's clan, but a deeper or more obvious connection now—regardless of intention—could draw unwanted scrutiny from both Konoha's higher-ups and Hyuga Hiashi, Hinata's strict father.
Until Naruto gained the power to protect himself, he had to tread carefully.
He had to act.
That was his top priority now.
As he took each step to the back of the room, this plan repeated in his mind:
Stay low.
Advance steadily.
Quietly strengthen his body and chakra as planned.
And eventually—attempt to confront the power sealed within him.
The Nine-Tails.
If he could establish contact, Naruto believed he had a chance at earning the Kyuubi's cooperation. After all, he knew the timeline. He had knowledge that gave him room to maneuver. The rest? Not something he needed to worry about just yet.
In this classroom sat many familiar faces from the manga—among them, the Twelve Konoha Genin. Excluding Naruto himself, eight were already present. Almost all hailed from prestigious clans—the next generation's elite.
In the original story, only Haruno Sakura and Rock Lee were true commoners.
Even Tenten, who seemed like a civilian-born ninja, often flaunted her wealth in battle. Clearly, she wasn't just an average girl. How could a child of commoners afford such expensive weapons and scrolls?
Regardless, none of them were important to Naruto right now.
He had no intention of getting close to them like in the original timeline.
He didn't just want to survive—he wanted more. Companions? Perhaps. But more likely, some of these people could become his enemies.
So at this stage—
Naruto kept his distance.
As he passed a dark-haired boy radiating an icy coolness—
Naruto's footsteps faltered, just briefly.
His gaze lingered for a moment.
But only for a moment.
Even the boy didn't notice.
Naruto continued walking and settled into the back row, choosing the seat farthest from everyone else.
"Sasuke Uchiha…"
He spoke no words.
His face remained expressionless.
The slight pause in his gaze when passing the Uchiha crest on the boy's back was brief but deliberate, a flicker of recognition surfacing from deep within.
At the front of the class, Iruka hadn't noticed Naruto's small hesitation.
But when he saw where Naruto chose to sit, a faint shift crossed his expression.
Only for a second.
Then his smile returned.
Clap, clap, clap.
He clapped his hands gently.
The room grew quiet.
"Everyone's here. Today marks your first day at the Ninja Academy. I'm your instructor, Umino Iruka. Congratulations. Over the next six years, you'll study all there is to know about becoming a ninja. That includes both physical combat and theory. To be a good ninja, you'll need both. I hope each of you will listen well and learn. With your teacher's guidance, when you graduate—you will be ready to become excellent shinobi!"
Iruka's voice remained calm and steady as he looked out over the thirty or forty children seated before him.