"Naruto, we're getting late."
My voice echoed through the apartment, calm but firm.
From the other room came a muffled, "Coming!"
I leaned against the wall near the door, arms crossed. He was always like this—slow in the mornings, even when he was excited. Maybe especially then.
The morning was colder than usual. Not in temperature—but in the way people moved. Stiff backs. Averted eyes. Forced smiles. The village breathed, but it didn't live.
As we neared the academy, the crowd thickened. Parents held their children close. Conversations hushed as we passed. I heard one woman's voice, too loud to be a whisper and too fake to be innocent:
"I still don't understand why the Hokage lets them in with the others..."
Them. That word again. Like we were objects. Curses given human shape.
Naruto didn't seem to notice—he rarely did. Or maybe he did and just refused to acknowledge it. Maybe that's his strength. Or maybe it's just denial.
We reached the academy gates and showed our passes to the guard, who didn't meet our eyes. He simply pointed us toward the training grounds.
Dozens of children stood around, most with their clan heads beside them. Ino, Shikamaru, Choji—surrounded by their fathers. Sakura with her parents, Kiba barked excitedly with Akamaru in his jacket. Shino stood stiffly by his father. Hinata barely raised her head, her father's gaze colder than the morning air.
then I saw Sasuke enter, walking beside his brother, Itachi Uchiha.
The genius of the Uchiha clan. Even some shinobi were murmuring about him.
A teacher called for silence. "Lord Hokage will be giving a welcome address."
Then came the woosh—and with it, the presence that silenced everything.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Children cheered. Shinobi nodded. The weight of his years pressed over the crowd like a blanket.
He smiled at all the students—but his eyes lingered on us longer than on anyone else.
A moment of quiet recognition.
He gave us a small nod.
I returned it, calm and measured.
Beside me, Naruto was already waving enthusiastically.
Hiruzen's smile deepened.
Hiruzen returned the gesture and began:
"Welcome to the Hidden Leaf Academy. Each of you carries the future of this village. You are more than just children—you are heirs to the Will of Fire, the spirit that binds us as one. Protect the village, protect each other, and never lose sight of the flame that burns within."
Applause followed.
I'd seen the Will of Fire. And I'd seen how quickly it went out when people feared the light it cast.
We were led into our classroom.
The "elite" class. Clan heirs. Future prodigies. Children with everything we weren't allowed to have—names that meant something, legacies not tainted by a sealed monster.
We sat in the back corner, near the window. It was quieter there. Easier to think. Easier to observe.
Then came Iruka Umino.
He had kind eyes, but his mouth was a line drawn in hesitation when he looked at us.
But he caught himself. Buried the instinct.
"Welcome," he said. "I'm Iruka Umino, your homeroom teacher. I'll be guiding you until graduation. If you want to become true shinobi—work hard. Push yourselves. Understand each other."
Understand.
Right.
Then came the introductions.
Each child stood. Names that echoed power—Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi, Hyuga.
Then Naruto stood.
And the room shifted.
The whispers came fast—ugly, soft, and sharp like kunai.
"That's the one."
"Mom said to stay away from him."
"Why is he even here?"
Iruka tensed. Then raised his voice:
"Silence. Let him speak."
Naruto didn't flinch. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki! And I'm gonna be Hokage one day! Believe it!"
Laughter erupted.
Not the kind that welcomes you. The kind that reminds you: you don't belong here.
Then it was my turn.
I stood slowly. Looked across the room,
"I'm Johan Uzumaki," I said. Calm. Cold. Controlled.
"I want to be a good shinobi, and to defend this village...
No one laughed.
But they whispered.
I sat down beside Naruto, who still smiled like nothing touched him.
Iruka cleared his throat. "Let's begin our first lesson—The History of Konoha. The Will of Fire."
I stared at the chalkboard as he began his speech.
All I could think was: Let the indoctrination begin.