Return to the Academy

Sasuke was relieved that he hadn't attempted more than 5 kgs. His body was still too weak, and he felt exhausted.

'I doubt there's another kid with the willpower to complete this routine,' he thought.

After taking a bath, he felt disappointed with his wardrobe.

'There's no way I can wear these shorts. The kid had a strange taste in clothes.'

Sasuke checked Itachi's wardrobe and was much more satisfied.

'Dear brother, you even know how to dress. The more I find out about you, the more I want to use you.'

Wearing Itachi's black long pants and a black shirt, Sasuke left for the academy.

---

He reached the academy five minutes before the lessons started. Most of the students were already seated, but two girls were waiting next to the door, arguing. Upon seeing Sasuke, they immediately stopped and greeted him.

"Good morning, Sasuke-kun," they both said simultaneously, blushing. The blonde girl added, "Sasuke, the new clothes suit you very well."

For the first time since the start of the academy, Sasuke replied, "Good morning, Ino and Sakura, and thank you for the compliment, Ino."

The two girls turned red and stared at him with surprised expressions. Sasuke entered the classroom, and saw a row with three available seats was next to each other. He chose the middle one. The girls remained at the door still shocked and blushing. Sasuke greeted other classmates, surprising them as well. After a minute, the girls came in front of him and started arguing.

"Ino, pig, it's clear that Sasuke likes me more. I will sit next to him."

"Forehead, I am the one he greeted first. He said, 'Good Morning Ino and Sakura.' Can't you see his priorities?"

"That's because your name is shorter. It would be harder to say Sakura and Ino."

'I thought that if I sit in the middle, the problem would be solved, but I guess they are stupider than I thought,' Sasuke thought and immediately said, "Sakura, Ino."

Immediately, both girls stopped and looked at him.

"There's no need to argue. There are two available seats next to me. Sakura, come to the left, and Ino, come to the right," Sasuke said, thinking, "It's better to tell them exactly where to sit to avoid all possible arguments."

After his words, all the noise in the classroom stopped, and everyone stared at him with shock. The two girls were too red and proceeded to sit next to him. The silence lasted about 15 seconds.

"Troublesome," a boy with a ponytail said, breaking the silence. The girls were still blushed and didn't talk until Iruka-sensei came into the class.

After checking the students and seeing Sasuke, he said, "Sasuke, it's good to have you back."

Sasuke smiled and replied, "Thank you, Iruka-sensei. It's nice to be back."

Iruka was taken aback for a second, and the entire class stared at him again.

'The boy was too anti-social. In normal circumstances, my change would be too sudden, but I already have the perfect excuse,' Sasuke thought.

Iruka continued with the first lesson, which was history. Sasuke put a leaf on his forehead and started the balancing exercise. The previous host was already used to it, and the only reason he hadn't reached the three hours mark was that he kept losing concentration due to his immaturity. Sasuke also started reading the history book. When Iruka finished explaining the current chapter and started asking the first questions, Sasuke had already finished half the book. Iruka kept giving him strange glances, the same as the rest of the classroom when he put the leaf on his forehead, but nobody said anything. Sasuke raised his hand for all the questions and asked several of them.

In the middle of the questions, the classroom door swung open with so much force that it almost broke. A blonde boy stepped in and said, "Sorry, Iruka-sensei, my alarm didn't work." Without waiting for a reply, he immediately scanned the room and saw Sasuke next to Sakura with a leaf on his forehead.

Iruka's expression changed to anger, but before he could reply, the boy went in front of Sasuke and said, "You leafhead, why are you sitting next to Sakura-chan?"

"NARUTOOOOO," a very angry Iruka shouted, and at the same time, Sakura stared at him with hate.

"Not only do you come late and interrupt the class, but you even talk badly to your classmate in front of me. Sit down right now, and you will spend your break in detention with me."

Naruto glared at Sasuke and then went to an empty seat. Sasuke ignored him and kept answering questions.

---

After each lesson, there was a five-minute break. After history, the class had math and then basic chakra theory. After three hours of theory, there was yet another break. Sasuke already knew everything about math and chakra theory, so during the classes, he continued studying other books of the curriculum. During the break, Iruka approached him and asked him to go into the office to talk with him. When they both sat opposite each other, Iruka said, "Sasuke, how long can you keep the leaf? It's already been three hours, and you seem like you don't have any difficulty with it."

"I don't really know, Iruka-sensei. This is the first time that I'm testing my limit. In the past, I always stopped the exercise because of my impatience. However, now I have a goal and I can't afford to be weak."

Iruka was surprised by Sasuke's honesty and maturity. Hokage told him to keep an eye on him and report his progress, but the kid seemed like a different person.

"Sasuke, you are not weak. In fact, you are the strongest student in class. What is your new goal?" Iruka asked with curiosity.

"My goal is to become Hokage," Sasuke said with confidence.

Iruka stared at him strangely with confusion. Sasuke saw the confusion and continued, "Even though my brother was powerful, it is unacceptable that the village didn't take measures to avoid situations like these after the Kyubi attack. It is crystal clear to me that there is a problem with the leadership. Konoha has become a joke in the Elemental Nations. I can't let the village that my clan created together with Senju continue being a joke. I will restore my clan, and as Hokage, I will make sure that all our citizens can feel safe and secure."

Iruka was shocked by the reply. He wanted to disagree about the leadership, but he couldn't.

"I understand. It's good that you have set your priorities straight. If you prove to me that you are serious about this, I will help you as much as I can to achieve your dream. I have lost my family in the Kyubi attack, and I can relate. If you need any help, don't be afraid to ask, even after school," Iruka said, touched.

"Thank you very much, Iruka-sensei. I am disappointed in the leadership of our village, but I am glad that the village has ninjas like you and Yamanaka-sama who are willing to help me" Sasuke said with a smile and little tears next to his eyes. His voice was low and filled with embarrassment. Sasuke also had to let the leaf fall to show the sincerity of his feelings. If he still kept his concentration it would be strange. 

Iruka smiled back and embraced him. Sasuke reluctantly embraced him back.

---

After the break, it was time to run around the academy. Sasuke was exhausted from the morning training, but he still had to maintain his image as the top student. He was first, but Naruto was almost next to him and kept glaring at him.

Sasuke had already placed the leaf back on his forehead, and it was much more challenging to maintain while running.

"Leafhead loser, I won't lose to you," Naruto said while panting.

Sasuke looked at him as usual, but this time he replied, "What is your problem with me?"

Naruto looked at him with shock. Sasuke never talked to him in the past. He always glared at him angrily and at most called him "dobe."

"You talked to me!" Naruto said, still shocked.

"Is this so strange? You seem to have a problem with me, and I want to know why."

Naruto was confused but happy. 'Finally, a person in class who talks to me normally' he thought. However, he was still jealous.

"My problem is that you sit next to Sakura-chan, leafhead," Naruto said angrily.

"Naruto, Sakura wanted to sit next to me. She is my classmate, and I was polite. It would be rude if I had said no. If you want to sit next to Sakura, you need to come to class earlier and ask her."

It's been a long time since Naruto was so shocked. Sasuke said his name and again talked to him normally. Naruto heard his reply carefully, and he couldn't find anything to say.

Sasuke continued. "Also, I don't like to be called leafhead. If you want to have a conversation with me, you have to call me by my name."

'He wants to talk with me again!' Naruto thought happily and nodded.

When the running ended, Sasuke barely managed to take the first place from Naruto. 

Next, it was time for taijutsu.