I'm Iruka, and I'll be your teacher while you're at this academy. Now that we've all introduced ourselves, let's dive into our first lesson. I'll give you a sneak peek of what you'll be learning over the next few years here.
He began the class with an introduction to the history of the Ninja world and a bit about Ninjutsu. For most of the students, this was all new information. But for Naruto and Sasuke, it was stuff they already knew. They were ahead of the game, having learned a lot more already. In fact, Sasuke and Naruto could perform some basic Jutsus, and Naruto had even begun mastering his unique eyes and Limitless techniques, thanks to the teachings from Kushina and the clan's scroll left by Minato.
For Naruto and Sasuke, the introductions were just a recap of things they already knew. But despite that, Naruto paid close attention in class. He even asked questions on behalf of his classmates, who were too shy to speak up. After class, Naruto took the time to help some of them understand the material better. This friendly gesture quickly earned him many fans and friends, which came naturally to him.
Even though Sasuke wasn't as outgoing as Naruto, he also managed to make some friends. With that, the first day at the academy wrapped up, and Naruto and Sasuke headed home together.
When Naruto got home, he was greeted warmly by Kushina. She had already prepared lunch for them.
As they sat down at the dining table to eat, Kushina asked, "So, how was your first day at the academy?"
Naruto gave a huge smile , as he looked up, "It was awesome. Although, I knew most of the things taught in class, I made a lot of friends. So it was great," He said , again returning to his eating.
"Good. That's my boy. Work hard and one day you will become just like your dad," She said with a smile.
"Yeah." Naruto said with mouthful of food, "By The way, when will he return !? I can't wait to meet him again,"
"He will return soon. You know he is in Anbu, he has to do a lot of work."
"I know." Naruto said , with a bit sad expression as he looked down a bit.
"Now don't be sad, I asked Mikoto, she said, Itachi will return tomorrow." Kushina replied with a smile.
At the same time, the sad face of Naruto changed into one of the brightest smile he could have, "Finally!"
"Now, don't get too excited and finish your food first now." Kushina said with a bit strict tone.
After that they continued their lunch with some light conversion about Naruto's day in the academy and all.
The Next Day, after returning from Academy, Naruto came back home and quickly freshen himself up , took his lunch and directly headed for the Sasuke's house, or the Uchiha Compound, as it's called, with Kushina, as Kushina also went to meet with Mikoto as well.
"Hi." Naruto said to Sasuke, standing outside , as if waiting for him to arrive, running inside with Kushina following him from behind, "Slow down, he is not running away anywhere." She said, following behind as she was approached by Mikoto at the same time as well.
"Where is Itachi !? He hasn't arrived yet !?" Kushina asked to Mikoto.
"No, not yet." Replied Mikoto ,as their conversation then turned to more of their other casual day to day discussion.
Naruto skidded to a stop in front of Sasuke, nearly tripping over his own sandals. "Bet Itachi's gonna make us do shuriken drills again," he groaned, flopping onto the Uchiha porch. "My fingers still have blisters from last time!"
Sasuke smirked, leaning against a wooden pillar. "You're the one who tried catching a kunai mid-air like an idiot."
"Hey! It worked once!"
"Boys."
Fugaku's voice cut through their chatter. He stood framed in the doorway, his Uchiha clan robe pristine. Naruto snapped upright, hands behind his back. "G-Good afternoon, Mr. Fugaku!"
Sasuke straightened too, though his eyes stayed glued to the ground. "Father."
Fugaku's gaze lingered on Naruto's grass-stained clothes. "I trust you're both prepared for tonight. Itachi's return isn't an excuse for sloppiness." His tone softened just a fraction. "And Naruto… Mikoto's making dango. Wash your hands first."
Before Naruto could reply, a familiar voice floated over the garden wall.
"Am I interrupting strategy talks?"
Itachi leaned against the gate, his Anbu armor swapped for a simple black shirt. Sasuke's face lit up. "Nii-san!"
Naruto bounded over, nearly colliding with a stone lantern. "You said you'd teach us the shuriken style next! No take-backs!"
Itachi chuckled, ruffling both boys' hair. "I see someone's been practicing." He nodded at the training logs behind them—fresh kunai marks peppered the wood. "Sasuke's form's improved. You've been helping him, Naruto?"
"Helping? He keeps stealing my kunai when I'm not—"
"Liar! You used mine to skewer tomatoes yesterday!"
Fugaku cleared his throat loudly. "Enough. Itachi—the Hokage wants your mission report by sunset."
Itachi nodded, steering the boys toward the training field. "Plenty of time. Let's see if you two can hit moving targets without bickering this time."
---
Naruto and Sasuke followed Itachi to the training grounds, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the field. Naruto's excitement was palpable, his energy practically bouncing off the trees. Sasuke walked beside him, more composed but with a quiet eagerness in his eyes.
Itachi stopped in the center of the field, turning to face them with a small smile. "Alright. Let's start with something basic. Shurikenjutsu. Show me what you've got."
Sasuke stepped forward first, pulling a handful of shuriken from his pouch. With precise movements, he threw them one after another, each one embedding itself neatly in the center of a target.
"Not bad," Itachi said, nodding. "Your aim's improved, Sasuke. But you're telegraphing your throws. Try to make your movements smoother."
Sasuke nodded, stepping back to watch Naruto.
Naruto stepped up, grinning as he pulled out his own shuriken. He took a deep breath, focusing on the targets. His first throw went wide, hitting the edge of the target instead of the center. He frowned but quickly shook it off.
"Don't overthink it," Itachi advised. "It's not just about your hand—use your whole body. Feel the motion, and let it flow."
Naruto nodded, his eyes narrowing in concentration. His next throw was better, the shuriken hitting closer to the center. By the third throw, he was hitting the bullseye consistently.
"Better," Itachi said, a hint of approval in his voice. "Keep practicing. Remember, consistency is key."
After shurikenjutsu, they moved on to taijutsu drills. Itachi demonstrated a series of fluid movements, his strikes and blocks executed with effortless precision. Naruto watched intently, mimicking every motion as closely as he could.
"Good," Itachi said, correcting Naruto's stance slightly. "You're fast, but speed without control is wasted. Focus on balance and form."
Naruto nodded, his movements becoming more controlled with each repetition. Sasuke practiced nearby, his own form already polished but sharpening further under Itachi's watchful eye.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Itachi called for a break. The three of them sat under the shade of a tree, Naruto and Sasuke catching their breath.
"You've both improved," Itachi said, handing them each a water flask. "But remember, training isn't just about techniques. It's about discipline, patience, and understanding your strengths and weaknesses."
Naruto took a long drink, then grinned. "You're the best, Itachi-nii! I'm gonna train even harder so I can be just like you one day!"
Itachi chuckled, ruffling Naruto's hair. "You've got the determination, Naruto. Just keep at it. And Sasuke—" He turned to his younger brother. "You've got talent, but don't let it make you complacent. Always strive to be better."
Sasuke nodded, a small, determined smile on his face. "I will, Nii-san."
As the evening deepened, Itachi stood, brushing the dust off his clothes. "Alright, that's enough for today. You both did well. Let's head back—Mother's probably waiting with dinner."
The three of them walked back to the Uchiha compound, Naruto chattering excitedly about everything he'd learned. Sasuke listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a comment.
When they arrived, Mikoto greeted them at the door with a warm smile. "There you are! I was about to send someone to fetch you."
"Sorry, Mother," Itachi said. "We lost track of time."
Mikoto waved it off. "Come inside. Dinner's ready."
As they sat down to eat, Naruto couldn't stop smiling. "Thanks for training us, Itachi-nii. I'm gonna practice everything again tomorrow!"
Itachi gave a small nod. "I'm counting on you, Naruto. And Sasuke—keep up the good work."