"So that's how it is!" Naruto scratched the back of his head in realization. He had seen the Police Force before shinobi patrolling the streets and arresting troublemakers but he never thought much about it.
If Uncle Fugaku was the head of the Police Force, then he must be someone really important.
While the four of them were chatting, two more adults arrived, each with a child in tow.
It was Shikaku Nara and Choza Akimichi, both familiar faces.
When they saw Fugaku talking casually with Kakashi, and even more surprising, with Naruto, they couldn't hold back their curiosity any longer. They immediately came over to see what was happening.
After all, everyone here had once fought alongside the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. They weren't just comrades; they were close friends.
So why should only Kakashi and Fugaku get to chat with Naruto?
Choji, standing beside his father, glanced first at Naruto, then at Sasuke. After a moment of hesitation, he opened a fresh bag of potato chips and held it out. "Want some chips?"
Naruto and Sasuke blinked at the offer.
Strictly speaking, neither of them really had friends.
Naruto always said Sasuke was his first friend, but wasn't it the same for Sasuke? To Sasuke, Naruto was the first person who ever reached out to him, too.
That was why this simple gesture of kindness from Choji caught them completely off guard.
"Potato chips are really good, you know." Choji's voice carried a mix of shyness and sincerity.
"Thanks!" Naruto looked at him with genuine gratitude and reached into the bag, pulling out a chip.
Sasuke, seeing this, followed his example. After offering a quiet "thank you," he also took one and placed it in his mouth.
They had eaten chips before, of course, but for some reason the ones offered by Choji tasted different better.
Choji's round face broke into a smile when he saw them accept. "Then from now on, we're friends, right?"
Naruto and Sasuke glanced at each other. Both were sensitive kids, able to see the honesty shining in Choji's eyes. Without hesitation, they nodded together.
"This is Shikamaru," Choji added, pointing at the boy next to him. "He's one of my best friends."
Shikamaru yawned, his lazy expression unchanged. "Troublesome… but yeah, it's nice to meet you two." Despite his words, his eyes showed that he meant it.
Watching their children so easily build bonds with Naruto warmed the hearts of Shikaku and Choza.
Their friendship with the Fourth Hokage would now pass on to the next generation.
Before long, the massive gates of the Ninja Academy creaked open. The entrance ceremony was about to begin.
"All new students entering this year, please line up and proceed inside. Parents, wait outside the gates," a chūnin instructor called loudly from the doorway.
Naruto and the others quickly formed a line, stepping forward into the Academy grounds.
As the children disappeared inside, Fugaku's eyes suddenly sharpened. His Sharingan spun to life as he turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi, let's talk in private. There's something important you need to hear."
A bead of sweat slid down Kakashi's forehead. Was that really necessary? Sharingan just to start a conversation?
Shikaku and Choza exchanged glances, then smiled knowingly. "Kakashi, we have a few things to discuss with you too. Why don't we all go together?"
Tch. So unfair. Who said Kakashi could have Naruto all to himself?
Inside the Academy, rows of instructors in chūnin uniforms stood at attention, their posture perfectly straight. Their strict and orderly presence immediately silenced the excited chatter of the children.
"The entrance exam will be simple," one bespectacled instructor explained. "There are two parts: a physical endurance test and a chakra refinement test."
He raised a stopwatch. "For the physical test, you will run three laps around the training field within five minutes. As for chakra refinement, we will teach you the method. As long as you succeed within three days, you will pass."
The children shuffled nervously as he barked the first order.
"Everyone, onto the track. Begin when I say 'start'!"
The moment the word left his lips, dozens of children sprinted forward.
But immediately, two figures broke ahead of the group Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.
The supervising instructors glanced at each other, murmuring in low voices.
"Look at the crest on that boy's back. Uchiha clan, right?"
"Yeah. Word is, the younger son of the Uchiha leader is starting this year."
"Then that must be him. But what about the blond kid next to him?"
"Isn't that… the monster?"
"You mean him? The Nine-Tails brat?"
"No way. He's that fast?"
"They don't call him a monster for nothing. Power like that is only natural."
"Still… why would the Hokage allow someone like him into the Academy?"
"Shut it. Are you planning to question the Hokage's decisions?"
"...I just wonder which unlucky teacher will have to deal with him as a student."
Naruto glanced sideways at Sasuke, who was keeping pace right beside him. Then he glanced back at the shrinking crowd behind them and grinned.
"Not bad, Sasuke. Looks like you've been training." His voice was casual, unaffected by the exertion of running.
Sasuke gave a short, proud hum. "I've trained with my brother before."
Still, the effort showed in his breathing. Keeping this speed required his full focus. Yet when he looked at Naruto, the boy was running as if it were nothing at all, still smiling.
He's holding back for me… isn't he?
Grinding his teeth, Sasuke pushed himself harder, picking up speed. But Naruto matched him effortlessly, never falling behind.
Choji puffed along further back, already sweating. He glanced at the two figures vanishing in the distance and let out a gasp of awe. "Wow. Naruto and Sasuke are crazy fast."
"Don't bother comparing," Shikamaru muttered, keeping a steady pace. "Let's just keep our rhythm. Racing them is too much of a hassle."
Choji nodded. He might be on the heavier side, but his stamina wasn't bad at all. It wasn't just empty weight he had been trained since childhood like all clan heirs.
For them, even chakra refinement wasn't a challenge. They had already mastered it before setting foot in the Academy.
The real target of this second test was the children from non-shinobi families, who had never trained before.
That had always been the purpose of the Academy. It was the Second Hokage's dream to make shinobi accessible to ordinary citizens. His reforms allowed the Academy to act as a bridge, giving commoners the chance to rise in the ninja world.
Other villages eventually copied Konoha's model, imitating its structure and rules.
By the time five minutes ended, most of the students crossed the finish line successfully. A few, however, lagged behind, collapsing in exhaustion before completing the required distance.
Those children lost their qualification to continue.
If their bodies couldn't handle even this level of endurance, they would never be able to refine chakra. After all, chakra required a balance of physical energy and spiritual energy. A body too weak would never produce it.
The instructors made their notes, quietly moving the failed students aside. There was no need to waste anyone's time.
The next stage would begin soon: chakra refinement.