Mizuki reached out and patted Naruto Uzumaki's head, smiling as he spoke.
He then pulled out his wallet, paying for both his own meal and Naruto's.
As a Ninja Academy teacher, Mizuki earned a decent, stable salary.
Sometimes, it was even higher than that of an average Chunin.
After all, not every month brought high-paying missions for Chunin, and higher rewards often came with greater risks.
"Mizuki-sensei, I won't let you down."
Naruto nodded vigorously. The disappointment he felt from Iruka Umino's coldness was completely washed away by Mizuki's kindness.
[Mizuki-sensei is so much better than Iruka-sensei.]
[Iruka-sensei hates me, but Mizuki-sensei seems to really like me.]
Chu Ran's subtle hints constantly guided Naruto's thoughts from within his subconscious.
Mizuki was one of the few true villains in the Hidden Leaf Village, a despicable and cunning schemer.
Swapping Naruto's mentor figure from Iruka to Mizuki was perhaps the outcome Chu Ran most desired.
On Mizuki's side, however, things were different.
As he turned away, the warm smile on his face twisted into a sinister grin.
This was his true nature, far from the kind facade he'd shown.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki… I'm sure he'll be quite useful in the future."
…
Three days later, Naruto had learned the names of most of his classmates at the Ninja Academy.
But in such a short time, few had spoken to him.
Each day after school, Naruto went to the library to pore over the Hidden Leaf Village's historical records.
He had gained a thorough understanding of events from the First Great Ninja War to the village's founding.
Today, he finally found a book that offered a glimpse into his origins: Bloodline Limits and Noble Clans.
Bloodline Limits were techniques passed down through genetic inheritance.
Typically, only those of the same bloodline could inherit them, making them unattainable to outsiders.
Among the Hidden Leaf's most prominent examples were the Hyuga and Uchiha clans.
"The Uchiha clan? That's Big Sis Izumi's surname."
"Her family is that amazing?"
Reading about the Uchiha clan's contributions, including their many heroes in the First Great Ninja War, Naruto's face lit up with admiration.
Soon, he found information on other villages' bloodline limits and noble clans.
One entry made his eyes widen.
The Uzumaki clan was a prestigious family from the Whirlpool Country's Hidden Whirlpool Village. They were renowned for their mastery of sealing techniques, priding themselves on their intricate and precise seals.
They also possessed naturally robust physiques. However, during the Great Ninja War, the Uzumaki clan, weakened by their small numbers, saw their country destroyed.
The surviving clan members were forced to scatter, living under assumed names.
The Hidden Leaf Village shared deep bonds with the Uzumaki clan. Even after the Uzumaki faded from the ninja world, Leaf ninjas continued to wear the Uzumaki spiral emblem on their uniforms.
This symbolized an enduring alliance with the Uzumaki and a tribute to the Whirlpool Country.
"The Uzumaki clan… Maybe my father was an Uzumaki, too."
Naruto's eyes sparkled as he began searching for more clues.
But no matter how hard he looked, the Hidden Leaf's records showed no male Uzumaki clan members.
This left Naruto feeling disheartened.
In recent records, there was only one Uzumaki mentioned: Kushina Uzumaki, who died in the Hidden Leaf Village five years ago during the Nine-Tails' rampage.
[Five years ago… That's when I was born.]
[Does the Nine-Tails' rampage have something to do with me?]
As Naruto grappled with these thoughts, Chu Ran's subtle prompting nudged him further.
But this snippet of information wasn't enough for Naruto to piece together the full truth.
"Should I just ask Grandpa Third?"
Naruto closed the book, a hint of hesitation on his face.
But he quickly shook his head. He knew that even if he asked, Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't give him a straight answer.
Without concrete information, even a five-year-old could tell that uncovering the truth was nearly impossible.
…
The next day was a holiday from the Ninja Academy.
Naruto didn't wake up early, lingering in bed for a while.
After getting up, he drank some milk, ate a piece of bread, and headed to his usual spot by the lake.
Looking at a large tree, Naruto drew a kunai and began throwing it.
He had scratched a target circle on the tree with a stone.
Occasionally, he came here to practice shuriken and kunai throwing.
For ninjas, kunai and shuriken were essential weapons, and accuracy was critical.
But Naruto didn't seem particularly skilled at shuriken techniques.
He had never hit the center of the target.
"Naruto, practicing shuriken?"
"That's not how you train with them."
As Naruto tossed another shuriken, a voice nearby made him light up with joy.
He didn't need to turn to know it was Izumi Uchiha.
"Big Sis Izumi!"
Naruto's face broke into a wide smile. He had been looking forward to seeing Izumi again for days.
"Congratulations, Naruto."
"You're officially a Ninja Academy student now."
Izumi reached out, ruffling Naruto's hair with a warm smile.
Only after enrolling in the Ninja Academy would students receive a ninja tool kit.
Since Naruto wasn't from a prominent clan, he only got his after starting school.
"Thank you, Big Sis Izumi."
"But what did you mean just now? Am I not using shuriken right?"
Naruto nodded with a grin but looked at the shuriken in his hand, puzzled.
He wanted to become stronger, more exceptional, to make more friends at the academy.
To earn everyone's acknowledgment, he needed to keep improving.
"You're not holding the shuriken correctly."
"When you throw, don't hesitate or overthink your aim."
"Unlike kunai, shuriken rely on the force of the wind."
"Like this."
Izumi explained as she drew three shuriken from her ninja tool pouch.
With a swift flick, the shuriken sliced through the air, their whistling sound echoing.
They flew with incredible speed, piercing the wind and landing in a neat row, dead center in Naruto's makeshift target.
"So cool!"