After the first day
(3rd PoV)
The first day of the academy was over, and parents came to pick up their children. Naruto and Shiori stayed behind to practice their accuracy with shuriken and kunai, while everyone else left.
"Dad! See, Shiori-chan gifted me the second volume of Pokemon!"
A kid exclaimed as he happily told his parents that he got a gift.
The parents became uncomfortable, picked their kids, and left. Thankfully, Naruto and Shiori weren't there to see their reactions.
As Itachi came to get Sasuke, he noticed that Sasuke was very frustrated, and looking towards the training ground of the academy.
"What happened, Sasuke?"
Sasuke showed him his mouth, and a tooth was missing.
"Well, all of your teeth will fall and eventually be replaced by new, stronger ones. No need to worry about that."
"I lost against that guy! I couldn't even see it before he defeated me in the spar, and my tooth was missing... I just won in shuriken and kunai accuracy against him."
"Well, there is always someone stronger than you. You just have to train harder, isn't it right?"
"Then train me instead of always saying 'another time'!"
Itachi put Sasuke on his shoulders, sighing with a smile on his face.
"I am free today."
"Yay! And nii-san-"
"Hmm?"
"Please don't tell father that I lost. He will get angry!"
"I don't think so. And Sasuke, it's okay to lose sometimes. And if someone is better than you, isn't it good that you will get a friend and rival?"
"But you never lost against someone your age!"
"Well, so aren't you lucky that you can make friends?"
"No. He is a weird guy. I don't like him!"
"What's his name?"
"Naruto."
Itachi got intrigued by that. But decided to not show interest in it. He was an Uchiha, and he shouldn't show interest in the Jinchuriki, especially since he has awakened the Mangekyo recently.
"And that shopkeeper girl was saying that she is Naruto's wife."
"Oh?"
"Just like you and Izumi will in the future."
Itachi almost tripped at a rock on the street.
"There is nothing like that."
"Huh? But mom was saying that you will marry her."
"She was just joking."
"Really?"
"Really."
Sasuke stared suspiciously at Itachi, and decided he will think about it later. Right now, he has to prepare for the scolding he will get from his father.
Which never came. Only a look of disappointment, which hurt more than a scolding.
"I will be heading to the Police Office."
Taking his bento, Fugaku left the house, leaving Sasuke sad and frustrated.
'Dammit! Why am I such a failure!'
*********
Choza was plenty surprised when Chouji told him that he made new friends on the first day of academy. For Chouji, it was difficult to make friends besides Shikamaru as everyone called him names like fatso, so it was surprising that he made not only one, but two friends on the first day.
One was the strongest in the class, Naruto. Choza didn't know how to feel about that. He had lost about 1/4th of his clan fighting against Kyuubi because of their Expansion Jutsu, and Akimichi clan had great losses due to their restaurants destroyed. Will Chouji be safe?
He will meet Shikaku tonight for some advice.
But when he heard that Shiori, the seer girl, giving him delicious chicken and sweet, and asking to sell the recipe to Akimichi clan, he quickly felt some of his worries washing away. New and delicious food? He quickly told Chouji to bring her home whenever she wants.
*********
"Dad."
"Hmm?"
Shikamaru and Shikaku were relaxing, watching the evening clouds, when Shikamaru asked something.
"Do you know Naruto?"
"Why are you asking?"
"For some reason, others were scared of him, saying that their parents told them to keep their distance from him."
"Oh? And what do you think?"
"...He didn't seem to be that bad. He was just weird. Calling that troublesome important woman his wife and all. He was just incredibly strong."
Shikaku blinked. What had lead Shikamaru to call the seer girl 'troublesome 'important' woman'?
"Who are you talking about?"
"Shiori, that purple haired girl who has drawn my, Chouji and Ino's posters. In which I am smoking. Something must be important about her. Otherwise, you would have just hired any other artist, who could draw better than a 3-4 year old."
Shikaku smiled at Shikamaru. He will definitely become even smarter than him.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"...I will tolerate them, as long as they don't disturb my sleep. Atleast, they said that sleeping is important. They are definitely smarter and less troublesome than Ino."
Shikaku smiled.
"Then do as you see fit. See the situation for yourself, and don't let the parents of others' influence your decision in a bad way."
"Yeah. What a drag."
Though Shikamaru would rather watch clouds than playing with Chouji's new friends.
*********
"Sakura, what happened?"
Mebuki and Hizashi were surprised as Sakura was no longer hiding her forehead, and even had a headband, hair-pin and some sort of decoration on her forehead.
They always told her that she looked cute and the forehead didn't make her ugly in the slightest, but children take the complements of parents way less seriously than the taunts of neighborhood kids.
Sakura had become very shy because of it, but the Sakura right now looked completely different. She was smiling cheerfully and hugging Kizashi's legs, while giggling like a happy child.
"I made a friend! And look, she made me pretty! And even said that my big forehead is cute and it means that I have a bigger brain!"
Sakura's parents sighed in relief. She finally found a friend.
"So, what's the name of your friend?"
"Her name is Shiori, you know, the author of Shin-chan and Snake's Nest! Look, she even gifted us the new volume of Pokemon! She was even the best among girls in the test! And she is super strong!"
Sakura's parents flinched at that name.
The Demon's sacrifice.
They have heard from the neighbor, who has heard from a ninja, that she was chosen as the sacrifice for the Kyuubi kid. The poor girl was taking care of him, and out of sympathy, everyone purchased her mangas. Maybe she will atleast die as a princess.
It was forbidden to talk about it, of course. But it's not like the ninjas keep an eye on every civilian and inside their homes.
But what if, she dies before becoming the sacrifice, and Sakura is chosen next because she is her friend!?
T-they will have to talk to the sensei about this!
"Sakura, please stay away from her, okay?"
"Huh!? Why!? She is so nice! Look! She even made me pretty like this!"
"Sakura, please listen to your mom, okay? She is telling you for your own good."
"Mebuki-"
"Shut up Kizashi!"
And Kizashi shut himself up. He just didn't think it was good to separate Sakura from her friend who brought out smile and confidence in her, even if she is the Demon's sacrifice.
"I hate you! I will keep being her friend!"
"Young lady-"
And Sakura ran away and locked herself in her room, crying loudly.
"Waaaaah!"
"Look Mebuki, you made her cry. Shouldn't you be thanking Shiori-chan instead of trying to break their new friendship?"
"But Kiza-"
"We will meet with Sakura's sensei tomorrow. And think about what to do after that."
"But- fine! But you are sleeping on the couch today!"
"Hey! What did I do!?"
--------------------------
In some household, a blonde girl hugged her father.
"Daddy! Naruto is so cool!"