In the early morning, sunlight bathed the wide streets of Konoha, and the air was filled with a fresh, crisp scent.
Furin and Sasuke walked side by side down the broad avenue, heading toward the Ninja Academy.
Sasuke was in an exceptionally relaxed mood today. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his steps carried a hint of joyful spring. He couldn't help but glance down at Furin walking beside him. The little one's pink, tender face looked just like a freshly peeled hard-boiled egg—white with a rosy flush, practically a living porcelain doll.
A wave of satisfaction washed over him, and Sasuke felt like he was simply the happiest older brother in the entire world.
He could already imagine the expressions on his classmates' faces when they saw Furin: envy, jealousy, maybe even shooting sparks! After all, he had such a cute little sister, and they had nothing!
"Hmph, I have a little sister, and you don't."
Sasuke's heart swelled with pride. Thinking of his classmates—especially that loser Naruto—he figured they would be instantly struck dumb with envy the moment they laid eyes on Furin.
Yet, his thoughts were not entirely consumed by happiness. A second thought brought a flicker of wariness to Sasuke's mind.
Everyone in class was bound to like Furin, but that also meant trouble, take that Sakura for instance... Remembering how Sakura had picked on Furin when she brought lunch that one time, leaving Furin crying and hiding in his arms, Sasuke felt a sudden surge of protectiveness.
Furin, entirely unaware that Sasuke had just simulated dozens of scenarios for protecting her in his mind, merely caught sight of his periodic goofy grins and couldn't help rolling her Byakugan.
"Brother, what are you doing?" Furin tugged at Sasuke's sleeve, her tone carrying a trace of disdain.
"Ahem, it's nothing."
Sasuke snapped back to reality, trying to cover up his inner melodrama.
Clearing his throat, Sasuke spoke in a somewhat unnatural tone: "I was just thinking that once we get to school later, you might become the center of attention for everyone."
"Huh?" Furin tilted her head, not understanding.
Sasuke explained with deadpan seriousness: "You're so cute, a lot of people are definitely going to want to make friends with you. By then, the boys will be scrambling to hand you snacks, and the girls will be swarming around you. Hmph, just thinking about it is troublesome."
Furin was utterly speechless. "Brother, your imagination is running way wild. I'm not a celebrity. Besides, this isn't even a bad thing—I get to eat and drink for free."
Hearing this, Sasuke felt all the more convinced that he needed to keep a close eye on Furin.
Stepping up his pace slightly to walk shoulder to shoulder with Furin, Sasuke said with a serious expression: "No matter what, Furin, if anyone bullies you, you have to tell me. Your brother will back you up right away."
"Got it, got it."
Furin waved a hand dismissively. "Besides, Brother, I'm Uchiha Furin! A real adult doesn't need to be protected!Sasuke's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help retort: "Do adults act spoiled with their brothers and say things like, 'Sasuke-brother, I want this,' or 'Sasuke-brother, get that for me'?""
Furin's cheeks flushed red, and she glared at him. "That's just how family members get along! What do you know!"
Bickering all the way, the two of them unconsciously arrived before the gates of the Ninja Academy.
Furin looked at the bustling students at the entrance, a wave of excitement welling up inside. "Ninja Academy... here I come!"
Arriving outside the classroom door, Furin peeked cautiously through the crack. The classroom was a noisy mess, but Iruka, the teacher currently lecturing, looked exceptionally energetic. Furin raised her small hand and gave the door a gentle knock.
"Tap, tap."
"Come in." Iruka's voice rang out inside the classroom.
As the door slowly opened, the classroom instantly fell silent. Stepping through from outside was a silver-haired, red-eyed little girl. She wore a little white dress, her delicate face pink and tender, radiating an air of obedience and innocence.
Seeing this sight, Iruka couldn't help inwardly marveling: "She looks like a well-behaved and sensible child; she'll definitely save me a lot of trouble."
"New student, welcome to our class," Iruka said with a broad smile. "Why don't you introduce yourself first?"
Furin nodded, walking briskly up to the podium as her long silver-white hair swayed gently with her movements. The students beneath the podium instantly erupted.
"Oh gosh! Such a cute girl!" The boys all lifted their heads, stars sparkling in their eyes.
At that moment, the previously drowsy Shikamaru couldn't help opening one eye, muttering to himself, "What a drag... though, she really is pretty cute."
Inuzuka Kiba stared at Furin's little face with mounting excitement. "She looks like she really likes dogs! I've gotta get Akamaru to play with her."
As for the girls, while not as dramatic as the boys, they too began whispering among themselves in secret. "Her face is so tiny, just like a porcelain doll!" One of the girls couldn't resist the urge to reach out and touch Furin's cheek.
Naruto stared at Furin, his eyes shining like a pair of lightbulbs, his spirits so buoyant he felt like jumping up. "Furin! She actually came to our class! Now I won't be lonely anymore!"
Sakura massaged her temples, looking somewhat troubled. "Why is it this brat? Is she going to follow Sasuke around every single day?" The mere thought that she might lose her chances at spending time alone with Sasuke made Sakura feel utterly exhausted.
Furin, standing on the podium, remained entirely oblivious to the reactions below. She stood up straight and spoke in a sweet voice: "Hello everyone, my name is Uchiha Furin, and I'm Sasuke's little sister. What I like is spending time with my family, and there's nothing I hate. That's all."
A few short sentences were enough to spark another wave of commotion in the classroom.
"Sasuke's little sister?! Damn it, the guy actually has such a cute little sister! All the girls in our class chase after him already, and now there's an extra one? Why is my life so miserable?!" The boys gritted their teeth, flames of jealousy burning fiercely.
"Sasuke-kun's little sister? Doesn't that make her my future sister-in-law?! I've gotta get on her good side!" The girls exchanged meaningful glances, already plotting how to get close to Furin.
"All right, everyone quiet down." Iruka tapped the desk, signaling the students to calm themselves. "Furin, go find a seat for yourself."
Furin nodded, stepped down from the podium, and swept her gaze across the classroom.
Sasuke immediately stood up, intending to find some secluded spot to sit, but Furin's eyes had already landed in Naruto's direction. Seeing Naruto waving at her with intense excitement, she raised a finger and pointed at the empty seat right next to him.
"Brother, let's sit over there."
Sasuke frowned slightly. "Furin, that guy is a loser—"
Before he could finish, he saw Furin's ruby-like eyes blink with a hint of spoiled pleading.
With no other choice, Sasuke had to nod. "Fine."
The two of them walked toward Naruto. Naruto was about to lose his mind with joy; seeing Furin walk closer and closer, he assumed she was going to sit right beside him and shouted out in excitement, "Furin! Come on, come on! There's a seat right here—"
Yet when Furin came to a halt, Naruto's expression transformed instantly from anticipation to utter bewilderment—because Sasuke plopped down right beside him, looking down at him from above.
"Loser, what do you think you're doing?" Sasuke spoke coldly, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Huh? No... well... I..." Naruto stammered, unable to form words. He glanced surreptitiously at Furin, only to find that she had already seated herself on Sasuke's other side, smiling and nodding in his direction.
"Ah! She really sat next to me!" Naruto's spirit instantly revived, and the corners of his mouth split into a grin. Even though Sasuke sat blocking the middle like an iceberg, he still felt incomparably happy.Standing nearby, Furin couldn't help snickering inwardly, though she still put on a deadpan expression and said, "Naruto-elder brother, thanks for saving us a spot!"
Naruto scratched the back of his head, looking thoroughly embarrassed.
"Hehe, just doing my job."
Sasuke let out a cold snort. "Loser, don't get full of yourself." Then he murmured softly to Furin, "Don't go around calling him 'brother' anymore; it'll lower your IQ."
Naruto slammed his desk in fury. "What did you say, Sasuke?! Let's settle this one-on-one if you've got the guts!"
"Hmph." Sasuke didn't even lift his head, making it abundantly clear he had no intention of engaging with him.
Watching the two of them bicker, Furin knew for certain: this trip to the Ninja Academy was definitely not going to be a waste of time.