Chapter:- 47

In a thriving village, where lush trees adorned the town, all its inhabitants diligently performed their respective duties. The younger residents divided their time between attending academies, be it the shinobi academy or civilian institutions. After all, the path of becoming a shinobi to serve the village was a matter of personal choice.

Let's focus on a particular area, where an eight-year-old boy drew our attention. His features included blonde hair, azure eyes, and intriguing marks on his cheeks resembling feline whiskers. The boy was clad in long dark pants and an orange jacket with a distinct red swirl on his back, as well as on his right leg and back pocket. He carried essential shinobi gear. Most notably, his hands and lower arms were completely wrapped in bandages.

Uzumaki Naruto sported a proud expression, donning his freshly acquired headband. He had just earned the title of Genin, a significant achievement earned through years of unwavering dedication, hard work, and the sacrifice of blood and tears. As he departed from the academy, a wide grin stretched across his face. He reveled in the knowledge that this marked his initial stride toward becoming a full-fledged shinobi, proving himself worthy of the village, and fulfilling the promises he had made to his father...

Perhaps even stepping out from his father's shadow...

"One-chan, you did it!" Naruto's reverie was interrupted when a red blur collided with him. He instinctively extended his arms to embrace a four-year-old girl with long red hair, dressed in an orange kimono. "You're the best!" squealed the little girl, her big blue eyes brimming with love and admiration as she gazed at her older brother. Her excitement only grew upon spotting the gleaming headband adorning the blonde's forehead. "What did you have to do? How many cool jutsus did you use? Did you fight anyone?" The young redhead bombarded her elder brother with an endless stream of questions, eliciting nothing but smiles from Naruto.

"Natsumi-chan, please calm down, or your brother won't have a chance to respond." A nearby female voice belonged to Uchiha Mikoto, a beautiful woman with dark hair and fair skin, characterized by the deep, dark eyes typical of the Uchiha clan. She was dressed in purple attire with a brown apron, showcasing a slim figure and graceful curves that would make others envious. With a maternal smile, the black-haired woman watched the affectionate sibling hug.

"Stop bothering Aniki, Dobe," a four-year-old girl named Satsuki Uchiha, holding her older brother's hand, intervened. She had straight, dark hair reaching her shoulders, with two strands framing her face. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were bright and dark. She wore a blue high-necked t-shirt and white shorts.

Upon hearing the insult from the younger Uchiha, Natsumi shot her a hateful glare. "Shut up, Teme, or you'll regret it!" Naruto's older brother intervened, grabbing Natsumi's collar to prevent her from attacking the little Uchiha. The young Uchiha merely snorted and approached the blonde, breaking free from her mother's side and hugging Naruto's waist tightly.

"Congratulations, Aniki," Satsuki chimed in, hugging the one she considered her second older brother, after Itachi. The latter stood nearby, wearing dark clothing and a Jounin vest.

"Congratulations, Naruto. Father apologizes for not being able to attend, but he had an urgent meeting with the Uchiha police forces," spoke the eldest son of the current clan head, calmly extending his hand to shake Naruto's. Naruto was still holding his younger sister and was embraced by Satsuki, who cast mocking glances at Natsumi, struggling under her brother's grip as she tried to break free and confront the girl who was hugging her older brother.

"Thank you, Itachi…" Naruto gave a firm squeeze to the older Uchiha, his gaze shifting to the trees where he spotted a relaxed Shishui leaning on a branch, offering a casual greeting. "Thank you, Sensei." Naruto smiled at his teacher, who reciprocated with a nod of approval before lowering his gaze. Gently, Naruto released his younger sister and used his right hand to caress the little Uchiha's hair, causing her to smile even more and tighten her arms around him.

"How about we celebrate with dinner?" Mikoto's offer excited the younger girls, and they eagerly nodded in agreement. However, before they could leave, the sound of footsteps reached their ears.

Approaching the small group in front of the academy at a leisurely pace was a striking woman. She possessed blood-red hair, bright violet eyes, and a fair complexion. Her hourglass figure even surpassed the older Uchiha, featuring a well-endowed chest, a slender waist, and generous hips. She wore tight leggings that accentuated her arms and cleavage. Over the leggings, she sported a dark Jounin vest and red pants with white accents. At her left hip, a katana with a dark handle and a red swirl engraving dangled. Finally, she wore a white headband adorned with red flames and a red hat featuring the Fire Kenji on the front. This was Uzumaki Kushina, the Gondaime Hokage.

"Naruto…" She smiled faintly as the red-haired Kage approached her son, and he met his mother in the same manner. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves, which floated down around the two Uzumakis as they locked eyes. "An Uzumaki..."

"... never gives up," Naruto, the younger blonde, said with a more serious expression, mirroring the demeanor of his older redhead counterpart.

"Now that you're a shinobi, many challenges and dangers await you, son. You're not just a soldier for this village; you're a pillar, a protector for the people who are part of Konoha's great family... Are you ready for what lies ahead?" The Uchihas and Natsumi observed from a distance, watching the scene unfold and listening to their current leader's question addressed to the younger blonde.

With determination, Naruto struck his right fist over his heart and bowed before his mother—or rather, his Hokage. His eyes gleamed with resolve as he looked up at the Kage, who patiently awaited his response. "I am ready to give my life to protect my home. I promise, by my ninja path, that I will not fail, Hokage-sama. I will never break a promise!" With a resolute shout, he lowered his head until his forehead touched the ground.

A thin smile graced Kushina's lips as she approached her son, gently caressing his hair with affection. "I know you won't, my dear. After all, you never give up, right?"

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