"Mm..."
Yamanaka Ino rested her head on her desk, staring blankly at Uzumaki Naruto's desk as the image of Naruto appearing in the flower shop replayed endlessly in her mind.
Was that really the same person? Even now, it was hard to imagine.
Her deskmate could not stand watching any longer and quietly asked, "Ino, your expression is pretty exaggerated. Are you okay!?"
"I'm fine!"
Yamanaka Ino shook her head, sat up, and stared blankly at her deskmate.
"Do you think... Uzumaki Naruto is handsome?"
Her deskmate froze for a moment, then waved her hand with a laugh.
"What nonsense are you talking about!? How could a Dead Last like him, so rustic and uncouth, possibly deserve the word handsome!?"
"There's only one great-looking guy in our class, and that's Second Pillar."
Yamanaka Ino frowned and looked toward Second Pillar, seated at the very front.
His handsome features and cold demeanor gave him the immediate impression of an icy, handsome guy.
But...
"It doesn't feel like he's as handsome as Uzumaki Naruto... Uzumaki Naruto's smile... is gentler, like the sun..."
Yamanaka Ino murmured to herself.
If Second Pillar's aura was like an iceberg,
then the Uzumaki Naruto who had appeared in the flower shop was like the sun itself, his warm rays making people feel incomparably comfortable.
Her deskmate grew a little nervous and reached over to touch Yamanaka Ino's forehead.
"She doesn't have a fever either..."
"Ino, how could you say something so ridiculous?"
"Second Pillar is hundreds of times more handsome than Uzumaki Naruto!"
Haruno Sakura, sitting nearby, perked up and loudly mocked, "Ino-pig, your taste is getting worse and worse. You actually managed to fall for that Dead Last, Uzumaki Naruto."
"I won't compete with you for him."
"Go pursue that Dead Last Uzumaki Naruto. Sasuke-kun is mine."
Yamanaka Ino could not be bothered with Haruno Sakura. She lay back on her desk and blankly stared at Uzumaki Naruto's desk.
"Naruto-kun... really is... so handsome..."
"..."
The students in the classroom all perked up at once.
Even Second Pillar, with his iceberg expression, could not resist pricking up his ears to listen carefully to Yamanaka Ino's muttering.
After listening.
Second Pillar frowned, his expression faintly displeased.
He did not care much about being handsome.
But... Uzumaki Naruto!?
That Dead Last who did nothing but fool around all day was more handsome than him? What a joke. Naruto was not even worth one of his little fingers.
"Shikamaru, do you think Naruto..." Crunch, crunch "...really became more handsome?"
Akimichi Choji ate chips as he looked at Shikamaru, mumbling, "Uzumaki Naruto became more handsome... No matter how I think about it, I can't picture that... Crunch, crunch..."
Nara Shikamaru lounged lazily in his chair with his eyes closed, his hands clasped behind his head. "Maybe Ino just lost her mind?"
Inuzuka Kiba nodded vigorously.
"That's right. How could Uzumaki Naruto possibly become more handsome than Second Pillar?"
"Right, Akamaru!"
The little white dog Akamaru barked twice.
Aburame Shino spoke in a low voice. Beneath his mask, he quietly said words only he could hear, "Don't say that, everyone."
"We're all friends. We should have a little more faith in Naruto-kun..."
Haruno Sakura sarcastically said, "I can't imagine it at all. How could an ugly duckling possibly turn into a swan!?"
"Ino-pig, you must have lost your mind."
"..."
The classroom buzzed with discussion, but they all conveyed the same sentiment.
That Uzumaki Naruto could not possibly be more handsome than Second Pillar.
Still, everyone had become a little curious.
What kind of change had Uzumaki Naruto undergone to make Yamanaka Ino act so lovestruck!?
"..."
Not long after.
The class bell rang.
Uzumaki Naruto arrived late, dressed in an orange short-sleeved shirt and a pale red coat, red eyeshadow around his eyes, and a jade necklace around his neck.
Facing the many youths who had all turned to look at him, Uzumaki Naruto stepped into the classroom. Somewhat surprised, he gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, was I late?"
Silence!!!
Absolute silence!!!
Deathly silence!!!
More than fifty students in the class stared wide-eyed at the beautiful blond boy who had entered.
Heavens!!!
Who was this!!!
Uzumaki Naruto!!!
How... was he so handsome!!!
Freshness carried a hint of elegance, elegance carried a hint of gentleness. He was simply like a young nobleman who had stepped out of a painting!!!
Especially when he smiled, he radiated warmth, as though one were facing the sun. Simply standing there, he brazenly stole everyone's gaze.
None of the students in the classroom even dared breathe, afraid of breaking this picture-perfect beauty.
The classroom, which held more than fifty people,
remained deathly silent for a full half minute, until half a minute later...
Smack!
A crisp sound shattered the classroom's silence.
Everyone turned to look, only to see that the small mirror in Haruno Sakura's hand had fallen to the floor.
Haruno Sakura completely ignored the mirror on the ground. She rubbed her eyes and stared blankly at the Uzumaki Naruto who had entered.
"Are you really... Uzumaki Naruto?"
The former Uzumaki Naruto
had worn old-fashioned, dirt-yellow clothes. With his long whiskers and unkempt appearance, he had looked like some ragged little brat no one wanted.
The current Uzumaki Naruto
was as handsome as a prince, his warm smile as refreshing as a spring breeze. He completely fit the standards of a dream lover.
If Uzumaki Naruto had not spoken first, there would have been no way to connect the handsome youth before them with Uzumaki Naruto.
Uzumaki Naruto chuckled.
"Really, you're all too much!"
"It's only been two days, and you can't even recognize me anymore!? Of course I'm Uzumaki Naruto—Uzumaki Naruto, whose dream is to become Hokage!"
Before you continue