I rested in my room until I was called for dinner.
The minute I was I got up and headed to the dining room.
Arriving, I saw Mito already seated at the table. Along with Nawaki.
Tsunade's younger brother who is the same age as me. I also consider him my brother as well, and just like with Minato I'll do everything in my power to keep him alive. Because after being around these people for so long I no longer simply view them as characters in a story but as real people with lives. They have become people I care for and I'll be damned if I let them meet tragedy when it's in my power to stop it.
Taking my seat at the dinner table I flashed a smile in the direction of Mito and then Nawaki.
Then right after I did so Tsunade entered the dining room.
"Oh Tsunade-chan. Welcome back." Mito told her granddaughter. Since she just returned from a mission today.
"Welcome back sis." Nawaki spoke.
"Yes. Welcome back Tsunade." I told her.
But right after I finished doing so Tsunade came over and put my head in an arm hold. Which I can't break no matter how hard I struggle. Since even at this period in time Tsunade possesses her monstrous strength.
"Let me. What did I do?!" I cried. Doing my best to ignore the feeling of Tsunade breast pressing against my head.
'So soft.' I thought.
I'm glad my body is still that of a child otherwise this situation would be dangerous for me. Even if I have come to see Tsunade as a big sister since being reborn in this world.
"You know what you did Suzaku." Tsunade told me. "How many times have I told you, call me big sister." She spoke.
"Alright, alright, I am sorry. So please let me go." I said.
"Well ok. It seems you have learned your lesson." Tsunade spoke.
She then released me from the headlock and took her own seat at the table.
"Tsunade, must you always be so rough with Suzaku?" Mito asked.
"Hey there is no need to worry grandma. I know how far I can go with Suzaku without breaking him." Tsunade said.
Which doesn't make me feel any better in the slightest.
As if reading my thoughts, Nawaki began snickering.
When he did so I turned to him and flashed a grin. "I don't see why you are laughing, Nawaki. Didn't Tsunade give you a noogie the other day for saying she would end up an old hag?"
The moment I asked my question Nawaki stopped laughing, and I saw him visibly shiver.
Serves him right.
"Honestly Tsunade, why must you bully them so?" Mito asked.
"Again you are worrying for nothing grandma. They will face far worse once they become Shinobi." Tsunade said. "Speaking of which, are you two ready to attend the academy?"
The entrance exam for the academy takes place in two weeks.
Nawaki and I both nodded in agreement at Tsunade's words.
"We are ready big sis." Nawaki spoke.
"Yes. We are Tsun-" A glare from Tsunade stopped my words dead in their tracks. "-I mean. We are both ready to attend the academy, big sister."
Hearing me call her 'big sister' Tsunade changed her glare to a smile. "That's womderful to hear. Now then, let's eat."
So with that we all started eating.
Enjoying ourselves like any family would as we did so.
Finishing checking the contents of my bag I placed it around shoulders.
Two weeks have passed and today is the Shinobi Academy entrance ceremony. Meaning today is the day Nawaki and I start down the path of becoming Shinobi.
I can't wait.
Especially since after becoming a shinobi I'll be able to throw around fire, water, and other elements like it's nothing.
I truly cannot wait for that day.
My bag secure I left my room and headed towards the front door. Arriving I found Mito, Nawaki, and Tsunade standing there, waiting for me.
"Eh, what's going on?" I asked. Since I truly don't know.
Mito asked Nawaki and I if we wanted her to accompany us to the academy entrance ceremony weeks ago and we flat out refused her.
Not out of hate of anything, since we both love Mito and I see her as my grandmother, we just didn't want people crowding us.
Since that's generally what happens when the family goes out in a group.
Nawaki and I getting end up swarmed by hundreds of people when Mito and Tsunade are with us. That's why we decided to go to the academy alone today. To avoid all that.
"Why I am here to see you both off on your first day of school naturally." Mito spoke.
"And I am here to take you both to the first day of the academy." Tsunade said. Putting a smirk on her face as she did.
"What?" I questioned.
"But big sis don't you have a mission to do or something?" Nawaki asked.
"No." Tsunade spoke.
She then grabbed Nawaki and I by the back of our shirt collars. Then, using her left foot she opened the door and began walking.
"Hey, put us down!"
"Big sis, put me down."
Ignoring Nawaki and mine protest to do so.
"Have a good day at school, children." Mito said.
"We will." I replied.
Yes, even while being carried in the embarrassing position by Tsunade as are right now, I'm sure Nawaki and I will have a great first day of school.
As our group of three arrived at the Shinobi Academy, Tsunade finally put both Nawaki and I down.
Ignoring the looks our fellow classmates and their guardians were sending us, Nawaki and I said farewell to Tsunade and headed inside the academy using the front entrance.
The two of us then headed to the front desk. Where an older female shinobi was seated and waiting.
I can tell because I can sense her chakra and she has this look in her eyes I've only seen shinobi with.
"Yes, how may I help you two?" She asked.
"I am Suzaku Uzumaki." I told her. Taking out my student ID as I did.
"And I am Nawaki Senju." Nawaki spoke. Taking out his student ID exactly like I did.
We then showed them to the receptionist.
"Today is our first day and we are looking for our classroom." I explained.
"Yes, I see. Your classroom is located down the right hallway and is the third door." The receptionist explained.
Nodding at her words Nawaki and I headed to our classroom.
Arriving inside we saw several other students had already arrived before us.
Mikado included among them.
Along with a couple of my other friends. Since Minato is not the only one.
"Suzaku, good morning. The same to you." A female student spoke to us. A smile on her face.
She is my age with silver hair and deep blue eyes.
Her name is Chiya Hatake. A member of the Hatake clan and the younger cousin of Sakumo.
Who lost her parents on a mission just like I lost my father. Which actually bonded us as friends in the first place.
"Morning Chiya." I replied.
"Yep, morning Chiya." Nawaki said.
Once he did so I turned to the boy sitting on Chiya's left and greeted him as well. Since he is another one of my close friends.
"Morning Shikuro." I said to Shikuro Aburame. The father of that one ROOT operative from the Shippuden series and Shino's older brother figure, Torune Aburame.
Just like a typical Aburame he is wearing dark sunglasses and has a high shirt collar covering his mouth. But unlike most other Aburame he is wearing gloves. Since the members of his family within the Aburame clan house within their bodies a species of highly poisonous insects. Literally giving them the touch of death.
Due to this Shikuro is often avoided by the other children, except those belonging to the Aburame clan, so when I saw this I decided to befriend him.
Which worked out.
Since he's a pretty nice guy.
To my morning greeting Shikuro simply gave a curt nod.
After he did, Nawaki and I took our seats as I greeted Minato.
Then time passed as more and more students filed into the classroom until finally our teacher themselves entered the room.
A bald man who could give Saitama and Ikkaku from Bleach a run for their money.
"Greetings students, my name is Jiro Kato. I hold the rank of chunin. Glad to meet you all and I hope we get along during these next few years." Jiro spoke.
He then began the day's lesson.
Officially kicking off the entire class path to shinobi hood.
After the first day of school things at the academy settled into a rhythm.
In the morning we took classes centered around core subjects like reading, math, and history. While in the afternoon we focused on classes centered around physical activity like taijutsu sparring and shurikenjutsu.
All of which I got top marks in.
Minato as well.
The two of us began competing against each other to see who would come out as number one.
We pushed each other to improve and the same applied to our friends as well.
When the first month academy rankings came out Minato and I were tied for first place as the top Shinobi for the first-year students. While Nawaki was firmly in second place and Shikuro was sitting in fifth.
As for Chiya, she was ranked number one among the female students.
Things continued like this for two months, then one day everything changed.
My friends and I were chatting in class.
Then once sensei Jiro arrived we all got quiet and gave him our full attention. As did the rest of the students in the classroom.
"Good morning students, I know this is a little sudden but today we are getting a new student." Jiro explained.
When he did, soft murmurs sprang up across the entire room.
"Settle down now." Jiro spoke.
So the students did.
"Thank you." Jiro said. He then turned his gaze to the door. "You can enter now." He spoke.
The second after he did, the door opened and a person entered.
It was a girl our age with long red hair and purple eyes. A girl I recognized well.
Kushina Uzumaki.
