Transcending Realities: A Journey to Reclaim Home

After class and practicals, the academy grounds slowly emptied as students left. I, along with Hinata, Sakura, and Ino, made my way out, eager for the day ahead.

Meanwhile, at the Hokage's office, things were about to get more serious.

Iruka entered the room, bowing before Hokage Hiruzen, who sat behind his desk, smoking as usual. There were three others present—Danzo and two of the village elders. Iruka handed over the student test results.

"Here are the results of the practical test, Hokage-sama," Iruka said, bowing once more.

Hiruzen took the files, flipping through them briefly. "You've done a good job, Iruka."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Iruka replied, sensing the tension in the room. He bowed and quickly exited, knowing better than to linger when elders are involved.

Hiruzen scanned through the student profiles, his eyes narrowing when he reached my file. "Naruto already strong enough to defeat Sasuke in a single move, huh?" he muttered to himself.

Danzo, ever watchful, leaned forward. "Hiruzen, he's becoming too powerful too quickly. As a jinchūriki, he poses a risk. He should be placed under Root's supervision. He's at least at the level of an elite Chūnin already."

Hiruzen's expression hardened. "Danzo, you know very well I would never allow that. Naruto is like a grandson to me, and Kushina would have your head if anything happened to him."

"You'll regret this decision, Hiruzen," Danzo warned ominously.

Hiruzen waved off the comment. "Let's focus on the real issue here—the Uchiha clan. Their patience is wearing thin, and that's something we need to handle carefully."

The conversation shifted toward the growing unrest among the Uchiha, but thoughts of me lingered in Hiruzen's mind.

---

At home, I was in a rush, preparing for my outing with the girls after our first day of class. I was excited for what was essentially our first date.

"Naruto, how was your academy day?" Mom asked, watching me as I hurried to get ready.

"It was good, Mom, but I've got to leave soon!" I replied while tying my sandals.

"Where are you going?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I promised the girls a party for our first day of class. You could say it's like a date," I said with a grin, trying to downplay it.

Kushina chuckled softly, crossing her arms. "Ara ara, my son is growing up so fast, already taking girls on dates!" She teased, pulling me into a warm hug.

I hugged her back. "Mom, I really need to go now. I'll see you later!"

"Okay, take care and have fun," she said, letting me go with a smile as I dashed out the door, ready for my first real "date."

I soon met up with the girls, who were all dressed in their best outfits. Hinata wore a soft gray kimono, looking beautiful, though not quite the breathtaking figure I knew she'd grow into. Sakura was in a pink dress, and Ino sported a purple one, both looking vibrant in their own way.

"Hello, guys! You all look beautiful, absolutely gorgeous! I'm jealous of your future husbands," I said with excitement, grinning widely.

"Thanks, Naruto. You look really handsome too," they replied in unison, blushing from my compliment.

Although they looked lovely, it was still in that youthful, childlike way. But today was a big step forward for me. I had my mind set on my future, and today I would start to bring that dream closer. By the end of this day, I would make them my girlfriends, taking the first real step toward realizing my ultimate dream.

We began walking through the streets, enjoying each other's company and taking in the vibrant atmosphere of the village. The warm lights of the shops and the bustling sounds of people filled the air as we traveled through nearly every corner. As the sun started to set and hunger began to settle in, we made our way to Ichiraku Ramen, one of my favorite spots.

When we entered the shop, we spotted the familiar figure of the elderly owner, his eyes almost always closed, yet sharp enough to recognize me.

"Hello, Uncle! How are you?" I greeted cheerfully.

"I'm fine, Naruto. How about you?" he replied with a smile.

"I'm doing well. We came for your special ramen today."

He chuckled. "Oh, you brought some beautiful girls with you this time."

"Is that unusual?" I asked with a grin.

He smiled knowingly. "The usual—four bowls?"

"Yes, please," I said as we found our seats and waited.

The mouthwatering aroma of miso ramen soon filled the air, making us even hungrier. When the bowls arrived, we eagerly dug in, savoring every bite of the delicious ramen. After finishing, we paid our bill.

"Bye, Uncle!" I waved as we left.

"Take care of the girls, Naruto," he called after us.

"I will!" I shouted back with a smile, and we headed toward the park, our next stop for the evening.