From a young age, Murata instilled two lessons in Kudo: the spirit to do his best in all his pursuits and the cunningness to keep his blades concealed. He understood that the shinobi world was ruled by how many cards one possessed, but a manipulative mind steered others away from you. He taught his son to be honest, to be attentive, and to know when to keep his thoughts sheathed or release them.
How to take risks and assess if some risks are worth taking. Some of these lessons would take time, but this journey was something necessary for his son. Murata was not a councilor; he was a merchant and a skilled merchant, so he understood people. He realized that shinobi, like every human, are people and his son ought to thoroughly understand that. Many schemes fail not because the plan is not feasible but rather that you did not understand the nature of the person or persons involved.
3 days later…Today was orientation day for the new students.
"Good luck, son," Murata said, patting his son on the shoulder. "I got this, Dad," Kudo replied. After saying goodbye to his mother, he left, running down the street as if the world were his to explore. Reaching the academy, a lot of people were gathered saying goodbye to their kids as they headed for the academy building. The Academy building was split into 8 floors, the lower 6 floors housing students from 1st year to 6th year. The 7th floor was for teachers and the 8th floor for the dean of the academy, Hiruzen.
The position of dean was always the Hokage in power. Getting to his classroom, class 1A, he knocked and went in. Inside the classroom, twenty or so students had already arrived. "Good morning." Kudo said to everyone, taken aback, they responded, "Good morning." Taking a seat, he looked over to the boy with a dog on his head, a boy in a coat with blacked out lenses, etc. At almost 8 am, "Bang!" the classroom door opened, and a yellow-haired kid rushed in, "Hoo, made it in time!" He heaved walking to the back of the class, a weird silence overcame the room, peculiar looks were thrown his way, and they made Naruto lose his calm stride somewhat.
At 8 am exactly, the door opened, gently, this time as a man came in. He was wearing the Konoha forehead protector, and he was a shinobi with a chunin vest on.Placing a stack of books, " Good morning. My name is Iruka Umino, a chunin of Konoha. I will be your teacher for your tenure in the academy, meaning for 6 years until you graduate, I will be your teacher. Now, introductions, each of you introduce yourselves."Iruka's no-nonsense demeanor scared others while being appreciated by some. One by the children introduced themselves until Naruto's turn came."I am Naruto Uzumaki, someday I will become the Hokage! Believe it!" His loud and boisterous voice was met initially with silence until, "Hahaha…" One kid from the middle benches roared in laughter, and that kid was Kudo Tanehiko.Bewildered, Naruto, Iruka, and everyone else looked at Kudo. Kudo, after a fit of laughter, drew his seat, launching a steady step on his table, "I, Kudo Tanehiko, acknowledge you as the most ambitious! You are henceforth my friend!" Both Naruto's and Kudo's brazenness took the class by storm, "Haha ha." Kaba, Shikamaru, and Choji burst out laughing. "Silence!" Iruka said, motioning for Naruto to sit down. While Murata's lessons were for Kudo's future, they had developed in him a tiny self- grand relation, nothing that hampered his intellect but was behavioral in a relaxed setting.
Naruto sat down, puzzled by the boy seated before him. No one had claimed to have him as a friend, and for as long as he could remember, he had been alone. With introductions over, the class settled into a learning rhythm. Sasuke occasionally looked at Kudo. He was strange. While he understood why everyone behaved like that around Naruto, he neither felt good nor bad about Naruto, just neutral. Kudo was the first person he had seen who had not shunned Naruto or avoided him like a plague.
After a short morning class, the students followed Iruka around the academy, taking in the sights. "Hello, I am Kudo Tanehiko. Nice to meet you." Sid Kudo, extending his hand to Naruto."I'm Naruto Uzumaki." He shook it, still bewildered, "What do you think about the academy? Have you found someone you like? Who is it? Why does everyone treat you like that? "Kudo asked questions like throwing out garbage. Naruto followed in wonder as they talked, following the crowd.As the day set, Kudo said his goodbye and ran home. He still felt energetic, and after 30 or so minutes, he reached home.
Konoha's village center was overcrowded, such that most buildings near the academy or hokage building were stores or ninja apartments. Most families lived in houses that extended outward from the outer center."I'm home!" Kudo shouted as soon as he came in, "Welcome back." Ina Tanehiko said, "How was your first day?" Ina asked, "I made friends, 4 actually." Kudo replied, "Who are they?" Ina sat on the couch, sitting Kudo alongside her, "Shikamaru Nara, Akimichi Choji, Kiba Inazuka AND…Naruto Uzumaki," he said in power fist. Ina's face tightened at Naruto's mention, a look that didn't escape his eyes.
"Mom, why does every treat him like that? Did he do something bad?" Kudo genuinely asked, "No, honey, it is just complicated. I will tell you when you grow up, okay. Just know that he is your friend and you should treat him as such, okay?" Ina squeezed his face as she spoke. "Just like dad taught me?" "Yeah, just like he taught you." Ina had no clue what Murata taught Kudo most of the time; she only knew it was good for him, and for her, it was enough. She trusted Murata and knew he strived to protect their little Kudo.