Introduction at Ninja School

After the Third Hokage departed, the children at the Ninja School were ushered into their respective classrooms. Naruto Uzumaki entered his assigned room and spotted Hinata sitting quietly in the back row.

The students quickly noticed Naruto. The murmurs from the adults earlier had made it clear: this blond boy was the son of the Fourth Hokage. Even if these children didn't fully grasp the deeds of the Fourth Hokage, they knew he was a hero—a title that commanded respect and admiration. Naruto, the hero's son, was immediately seen in a favorable light.

"Uzumaki Naruto, sit here with me!"

"I've got some new comics; sit over here!"

"Naruto, come here, I'll share my snacks!"

The classroom erupted in chatter, with many students eager to befriend Naruto, hoping to boast about it later. The excitement was palpable, as students vied for the honor of sitting next to him. Amidst the clamor, Sasuke Uchiha glanced at Naruto with a look of disdain before turning to gaze out the window, lost in thought. Son of the Fourth Hokage? I'll surpass you, he silently vowed.

Meanwhile, Haruno Sakura was beside herself with excitement, shaking her friend Ino. "He's so handsome! Uchiha Sasuke is so handsome!" she exclaimed, as Ino fell into a similar state of admiration.

In the midst of the buzz, Hinata felt overshadowed. She buried her head in her arms, feeling a pang of discomfort as she heard the other students laughing and chatting with Naruto. He's so popular... he must have forgotten about me, she thought, feeling a sharp pang of sadness.

Naruto, noticing Hinata's subdued demeanor, managed to break away from his eager new friends. He approached Hinata's seat, the only empty one next to her. On her right sat Shikamaru, looking bored, and Chōji, munching on snacks. Naruto gently tapped Hinata's arm, smiling brightly. "Hello, my name is Uzumaki Naruto."

Hinata looked up, seeing Naruto's radiant smile. Memories of Naruto helping her when they were younger flashed in her mind—three different instances of him standing up for her. Overwhelmed, she momentarily forgot to respond, her usual shyness replaced by a dazed expression.

Seeing her stunned, Naruto waved a hand in front of her face. "Ah!" Hinata gasped, snapping back to reality. "So... sorry... I... I'm Hyuga... Hinata," she stammered, embarrassed. The embarrassment was too much; she fainted, her head slumping onto the desk.

Just then, Umino Iruka entered the classroom with a list in hand, his face tinged with a hint of sorrow. He caught sight of Naruto accidentally knocking out the Hyuga heiress and sighed inwardly. This is going to be a challenging few years, he thought.

Iruka had mixed feelings about Naruto. Initially, upon learning from the Third Hokage that Naruto was the Nine Tails Jinchūriki—the vessel for the beast that had killed his parents—Iruka had harbored deep resentment. But hearing the recent revelation about Naruto's lineage had left him stunned. The Fourth Hokage and his wife had sacrificed themselves to save the village, sealing the Nine Tails within their own son. This act had transformed Naruto's image in Iruka's eyes from a vessel of destruction to the offspring of the village's saviors.

Feeling a pang of guilt for his earlier coldness, Iruka resolved to treat Naruto to some ramen after school. For now, though, he needed to focus on introducing himself to his new students. Standing at the podium, he smiled warmly. "Alright, let's start class. I'll introduce myself first..."

"My name is Umino Iruka. I enjoy hot springs and Ichiraku Ramen, and I dislike donburi. My dream is for all of you to pass the exams and become ninjas."

Naruto, sitting in the back, struggled to keep his eyes open. The enthusiasm he initially felt about attending Ninja School had quickly faded into boredom. I'm reliving school all over again... if it weren't for Hinata, I wouldn't even bother staying, he thought, recalling the monotonous cycle of his previous life.

Feeling drowsy, Naruto lay his head on the desk, following Hinata's example. He drifted off, mentally retreating to the sealed space where the Nine Tails resided.

"Uzumaki Naruto?" Iruka's voice cut through his daydream. "Uzumaki Naruto!" he repeated, more firmly. Naruto groggily raised his head, blinking in confusion.

"Naruto Uzumaki, please come to the front and introduce yourself," Iruka instructed, already sensing the trouble Naruto might bring in the future.

Naruto shuffled to the front, pausing awkwardly. He hadn't paid attention to the others' introductions, so he whispered to Iruka, "What should I say?"

Iruka replied, "Your name, hobbies, and ideals."

Nodding, Naruto adjusted his clothes and announced, "My name is Uzumaki Naruto. My hobby is farming."

The statement caused a few heads to turn. Naruto wasn't lying; he'd spent years in the sealed space, cultivating an affinity for farming. The Third Hokage, observing through his crystal ball, almost tore his beard out in frustration. Naruto, why must you always surprise me? he thought, popping a hypertension pill as he listened.

"My ideal..." Naruto paused, not really caring for the role of Hokage. Konoha's a small place with a ton of responsibilities and a lousy paycheck, he thought. The original Naruto's dream to become Hokage seemed less appealing. Besides, look how little free time the Seventh Hokage had. No thanks.

After a brief contemplation, he continued, "My ideal is... to teach an uncle I know a lesson. And to beat all the hedgehogs."

Sasuke's eyebrows raised in confusion. Hedgehogs? The Third Hokage, on the other hand, felt a sense of relief. At least the kid has ambition, he mused, recalling Naruto's encounters with Kakashi and Gai. So that's it... he thought, laughing quietly to himself. Naruto wants to surpass them. Ambitious!

As Naruto returned to his seat, the Third Hokage relaxed slightly. No matter how strange his goals may seem, as long as Naruto strives to grow stronger, there's hope. He smiled, unknowingly pleased by the boy's unorthodox ambition.