Early the next morning, Kushina held Naruto's hand as they entered the Uchiha clan's district.
"Mom, look!"
Naruto pointed into the distance.
Kushina followed the direction he pointed and saw a brand-new building standing at the end of the street.
It was a three-story teaching building, its wide windows reflecting the blue sky and white clouds.
In front of the building was an open plaza paved with smooth stone slabs.
"So that's the Uchiha clan's Ninja Academy?"
"It's way bigger than Leaf's school."
Naruto lifted his small face, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Kushina nodded.
"Let's go."
Crossing the plaza and approaching the teaching building, Kushina truly felt the scale of the school.
A total of six teaching buildings stood neatly in rows.
Behind them was a spacious training field.
The ground was covered with fine, soft sand, and it was equipped with climbing frames, horizontal bars, balance beams, and various other training facilities.
At the edge of the field was also an artificial lake, its water clear and clean.
Several cherry blossom trees were planted by the lakeside. Although it wasn't the blooming season yet, their branches were lush, casting a patch of green shade.
Kushina couldn't help but sigh inwardly… this kind of school was indeed far more impressive than Leaf's Ninja Academy.
That guy Gento really didn't hold back on the investment.
At the entrance of the teaching building, quite a few parents were already leading their children inside.
Those children ranged from as young as five to six or seven years old, all with curiosity and excitement about the unknown on their faces.
The parents chatted in small groups.
Occasionally, some glanced at Kushina and Naruto, but there was none of the familiar disgust or rejection; just a few curious looks before they returned to their own matters.
Kushina felt a slight sense of relief.
At that moment, Gento walked out from the teaching building.
He was wearing a dark blue set of the Uchiha clan head's formal attire, the collar slightly open to reveal the black tight-fitting clothing underneath.
The belt at his waist outlined his lean, muscular build, his broad shoulders and narrow waist appearing especially upright under the morning light.
His black hair fell casually in loose strands, making his sharply defined face look even more handsome.
He walked over with steady steps, exuding the calm bearing of someone long accustomed to a position of authority.
Gento stopped in front of Kushina, his gaze lingering on her for a brief moment.
Today, Kushina wore a simple white short-sleeved top, revealing a stretch of fair neck.
Below, she wore a dark blue long skirt, the soft fabric outlining her slender waist and the full, rounded curve of her hips.
Her long red hair draped casually over her shoulders.
At that moment, she looked up at Gento slightly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush; whether from the sunlight or something else, it was hard to tell.
Gento nodded at her, then bent down to look at Naruto, a gentle smile appearing on his face:
"Naruto, are you ready?"
Naruto nodded vigorously:
"I'm ready!"
Gento smiled, straightened up, and beckoned to a female ninja behind him.
The kunoichi stepped forward.
She wore a dark Jonin flak jacket, her long black hair tied into a neat high ponytail. Her features were sharp, and her gaze was keen.
She stepped forward and gave Gento a small bow:
"Clan Head."
"This is Naruto Uzumaki. From now on, he will be a student in your class."
Gento patted Naruto's shoulder.
"Naruto, from now on, you must listen to Uchiha Seika-sensei."
Naruto looked up at Seika, then gave a deep bow:
"Hello, Sensei!"
Uchiha Seika nodded:
"Mhm, good manners."
She looked at Gento:
"Clan Head, I'll take him to the class."
Gento nodded and said to Naruto:
"Go with your teacher. Study well."
Naruto responded and turned to follow Seika into the teaching building.
...
At this moment, over twenty children from Class One, First Year were already standing in several rows on the training ground by the field.
Each of them had curiosity and excitement written all over their faces.
Seika brought Naruto to the front of the group.
"Everyone, quiet down."
She clapped her hands, and the twenty-odd children immediately stopped whispering and all looked at her in unison.
Seika pointed to Naruto beside her:
"This is a new classmate, Naruto Uzumaki. Starting today, he will be a member of our class."
She looked at Naruto:
"Come, introduce yourself."
Naruto stood at the front, looking at the children his own age.
They were all looking at him. There was no disgust, no rejection; only curiosity and freshness.
He took a deep breath and said loudly:
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki! I like eating ramen! What I hate the most is waiting three minutes for instant noodles!"
"My dream is to become Hokage! To gain everyone's recognition!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the children immediately started discussing among themselves.
"He doesn't seem to be from the Uchiha clan."
"Uzumaki? That surname is so rare!"
"His hair is so strange… it's blond!"
There was no mockery, no cold stares, no malice… only simple curiosity and discussion.
Naruto stood there blankly, watching the children about his age chatter about him.
The way they looked at him held no disdain, no fear, none of that uncomfortable strangeness that made his whole body tense.
It was just like looking at an ordinary classmate.
This feeling… he had never experienced it before.
Seika nodded in satisfaction:
"Alright, quiet down. Naruto, go find a spot over there and stand in line."
Naruto nodded and walked into the group.
As he walked, he looked around at these new classmates.
Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to someone.
It was a boy wearing a dark blue high-collared shirt, standing at the very edge of the line.
Unlike the other children around him who were curiously looking around, this boy had an indifferent expression, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.
His features were delicate, his skin fair, and his black hair slightly spiked.
Yet in his eyes, there was a kind of maturity that didn't match his age.
Naruto stared at him curiously several times, but the boy didn't even lift his eyelids, as if Naruto didn't exist at all.
For some reason, Naruto found himself drawn to him.
"Hey!"
Naruto walked over to his side, tilting his head as he looked at him:
"Did you even hear my introduction?"
The boy acted as if he hadn't heard anything, as though Naruto didn't exist at all.
Naruto frowned, leaned closer, and said loudly:
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki!"
...
In the distance, Gento stood with his arms crossed, watching the scene on the training ground, a smile appearing on his face.
Sasuke and Naruto…
The gears of fate had probably already begun to turn.
Kushina stood beside Gento. Watching Naruto's deflated expression after being ignored, she couldn't help but laugh.
She had originally been worried–worried that Naruto would be isolated and bullied here just like in the village.
But now it seemed those worries were unnecessary.
"Let's go too."
Gento turned around and led Kushina toward his office.
Entering the office, Gento immediately closed the door.
Kushina looked around and asked:
"Um… what exactly does the onboarding training involve? What do I need to prepare?"
Gento didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward and suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Kushina's body stiffened slightly.
She could feel the warmth from that hand; warm and firm.
She didn't pull away.
"Kushina."
Kushina raised her head and met his gaze.
Those black eyes were fixed on her, carrying a kind of burning, direct intensity.
"I want to give Naruto a complete family."
Kushina's heart skipped violently.
"You… what are you saying…"
Her voice trembled slightly as she instinctively tried to lower her head, but his other hand gently lifted her chin.
"I'm saying, I want to be Naruto's father. I want to be your husband."
Kushina's breathing became unsteady.
She knew this day would come sooner or later.
All these years, the way Gento treated her, the way he treated Naruto… she had seen it all and remembered it in her heart.
She could feel his feelings.
But she had always been avoiding it, always dodging.
Now, she truly had no way to avoid it anymore.
"I… I can't…"
Gento directly said:
"Why not?"
"Naruto still has to grow up. He needs a father, he needs a complete family. And I…"
He paused:
"I want you."
Kushina opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that she couldn't say anything at all.
Gento looked at her like that, then gently pulled her into his arms and whispered softly into her ear:
"Kushina, accept me."
Her body stiffened for a moment, then slowly softened.
Gento knew the time had come. He gently lifted her face and leaned down to kiss her.
"Mmm!"
Kushina's muffled voice came out:
Her hands instinctively pressed against Gento's chest, yet she didn't push him away.
After a long while, their lips parted.
She gasped for breath, her face flushed as she scolded:
"Mmm… you… bastard…"
"Didn't you say you were going to give me onboarding training?"
Gento smiled:
"Mm, I am a bastard."
As he spoke, the arm wrapped around Kushina began to wander restlessly.
"Mm~!"
Kushina couldn't help but let out a soft moan.
Gento's breathing suddenly grew heavy.
He directly and roughly pressed Kushina down onto the office desk.
Pinned against the desk, Kushina's long hair scattered, her clothes slightly disheveled.
She immediately realized what Gento was about to do and cried out in alarm:
"Don't! Not here!"
"This is the office!"
"Someone might pass by!"
...
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