In Naruto's apartment, Cinaed and Naruto sat near each other, by their futons.
Kakashi slept soundly.
"So, are you e-excited for t-the academy?"
Naruto bounced up and down. "You bet I am! I'm gonna become the best Hokage ever, dattebayo!"
Cinaed smiled shyly. "I w-wonder if I'll make a-any f-friends..."
"You've got me, silly!" Naruto grinned.
The two children talked late into the night, gaining a precious person for each of them.
Cinaed and Naruto walked to the Academy together, talking about jutsu.
In Iruka's classroom, with whitewashed walls and bamboo floors, they sat near the back.
Umino Iruka, their instructor, came through the door as they sat down.
"Good morning, class!" he said pleasantly.
Few listened.
"I SAID, 'GOOD MORNING CLASS"!"
The room was immediately silent. The Big Head Jutsu was notoriously effective for that purpose.
"Excellent. Mizuki will now take attendance."
During lunch, Cinaed and Naruto sat together, near Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Uchiha Sasuke.
While shy, the group made friends quickly, and when Inuzuka Kiba came over to join them, they all played with Akamaru.
Soon, the group along with Aburame Shino and Hyuuga Hinata, began to practice together.
Naruto loved the Kawarimi and used it every chance she got.
Shikamaru napped.
Hinata practiced taijutsu with Kiba and Shino.
Sasuke got tips on the Goukakyuu no Jutsu from Cinaed.
And one day, someone brought in an introductory guide to sealing. Cinaed and Naruto took to sealing like a fish takes to water.
Everything was going well...Until the night of the Uchiha Massacre.