Are There Some Things You Haven't Done?

After school,

The students left the classroom one after another.

"Hinata, let's go. School's over, let's head home together..." Her desk mate finished packing her bag and spoke to Hinata Hyuga.

"Um... um..."

"Um... you go on ahead. I have something to do..." Hinata Hyuga tightly gripped the hem of her clothes. It seemed to take all her strength to refuse her classmate's invitation to go home together.

"Alright, see you tomorrow." Her desk mate suspected nothing. Slipping on her backpack, she found another classmate to walk home with.

Watching her desk mate leave the classroom, Hinata Hyuga let out a breath of relief. After silently apologizing to herself, she secretly glanced in that direction and saw the tall boy stand up, preparing to leave the classroom.

"Phew..." Hinata Hyuga hurriedly turned back, not daring to sneak another look. She sat up straight, pretending nothing was wrong.

Only after Naruto passed by her seat did she gradually relax. She hurriedly packed up, then took a bottle of medicine from her desk and followed far behind Naruto, though she did not dare get too close.

She could only walk with her head lowered, occasionally stealing glances at the figure ahead from the corner of her eye.

At that moment, Hinata saw Iruka-sensei approaching from the other side. He called Naruto over, and the two stood there talking.

As they spoke, Naruto's body suddenly toppled forward...

Hinata's heart leaped into her throat.

He... he won't get hurt from falling, will he?

Fortunately, Iruka-sensei truly deserved to be a Chunin. Quick-eyed and quick-handed, he caught Naruto in his arms. The two stared at each other for a long time...

When Iruka-sensei finally let Naruto go, Hinata did not know why,

but she felt strangely unsettled inside.

Still, no matter what, she should thank Iruka-sensei. She lowered her head to look at the medicine in her hand, wondering, What excuse should I use to give this to him?

When she looked up again, Hinata saw Iruka-sensei take a medicine bottle from his pocket and hand it to Naruto...

He...

He already had medicine. Would he still want mine?

Hinata was caught in a dilemma, but before she could make a choice, Naruto waved to Iruka in the distance and strode out of the school.

Hinata Hyuga immediately stood there like a deflated ball, completely at a loss.

"Hey, you wide forehead, stop following Sasuke and me..." Ino Yamanaka's voice was incredibly loud.

"Hmph, you wild woman, I'm walking home. How am I following you? Does your family own this road?" Sakura Haruno refused to back down and immediately started arguing with Ino Yamanaka.

While they argued, the black-haired Uchiha boy had already disappeared from sight.

Watching Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno argue until their faces were red, Hinata felt a surge of envy. If only... if only I could be that bold too.

Envy was one thing, but when it came time to actually act, she could not help hesitating.

Because she cared too much.

She was afraid that the moment she spoke, she would lose everything.

For now, as long as I... as long as I can watch him from far away, from far away... that's enough.

Days passed one by one. Fortunately, Naruto only came to school with a bruised and swollen face for the first four or five days. After that, he never showed up bruised and swollen again.

No one else knew how many Spicy Lamb Trotters he had eaten during that time.

Enough said. Saying any more would only bring tears.

One day, Iruka came to the classroom and announced that there would be a small Transformation Jutsu test today, to see how much everyone had improved lately.

As soon as the news was announced, the classroom became lively. Everyone wanted to know what level they had reached and where they ranked in the class.

Under Iruka's direction, the entire class lined up.

"What is the Transformation Jutsu? Its purpose is to confuse the enemy and pass the fake off as real. Therefore, the Transformation Jutsu has two aspects. One is form: form is resemblance, the outward appearance. The other is spirit: spirit is temperament, an aura that radiates from within. Only by achieving both aspects can a Transformation Jutsu be considered qualified."

After his opening remarks, Iruka called out the first name for the test.

"Sasuke Uchiha!"

The black-haired Sasuke Uchiha looked calm and expressionless, as though a small test like this did not excite him in the slightest.

"Begin." Iruka also wanted to know how far this Uchiha boy had progressed.

"Poof..."

Sasuke Uchiha leaped out of the line and began forming hand seals. His hand seals did not seem especially fast, but they were exceptionally steady. Soon, another Iruka stood before Iruka.

Looking at Sasuke transformed into himself, Iruka felt as if he were looking into a mirror. He nodded and gave a satisfied evaluation. "Excellent, Sasuke. To practice the Transformation Jutsu to the level of form in just one month is very impressive. Keep it up, and strive to reach the level of spirit next month."

Sasuke showed neither joy nor disappointment at Iruka's praise. He even blamed himself inwardly for not working hard enough. If he had tried a little harder, perhaps he could have copied even the spirit. Then Iruka-sensei would not have been able to find a single fault.

Sasuke returned to the line. Hearing his classmates whisper praises like how amazing he was, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, though his heart remained calm.

"Sakura Haruno."

"Yes, Iruka-sensei." Sakura Haruno leaped forward, even turning around to give Ino Yamanaka a provocative look.

Ino Yamanaka glared right back at her.

"Transform."

Sakura Haruno formed hand seals and transformed into Iruka as well.

Iruka looked her over and commented, "Very good too. Just make your forehead a little narrower. Keep it up."

Hearing Iruka-sensei's words,

Sakura Haruno: (╬￣皿￣) Aaaah, Iruka-sensei, did you have to be so direct? Take this! Take this! Take this...

Sakura Haruno cursed Iruka-sensei hundreds of times in her heart, but said aloud, "Thank you, Iruka-sensei. I'll keep working hard."

Back in the line, Sakura Haruno indeed found Ino Yamanaka secretly laughing.

Sakura Haruno: Aaaah... It's all Iruka-sensei's fault! Take this! Take this! Take this, take this, take this...

Sakura Haruno could not help throwing hundreds more imaginary punches in her heart, only feeling satisfied after pounding Iruka-sensei into Iruka-chan.

"Ino Yamanaka."

"Choji Akimichi."

"Shikamaru Nara."

"Shino Aburame."

One student after another stepped forward for inspection, but up to this point, Iruka still felt Sasuke Uchiha was the best. As expected of a clan that possessed the Sharingan.

"Naruto Uzumaki."

When Iruka called that name, he was looking forward to seeing how far Naruto's studies had progressed.

Naruto stepped out of the line.

In the line, Hinata Hyuga clenched her fists and lowered her head, silently saying in her heart, Good luck, Naruto-kun.

"Transform."

Everyone heard Naruto Uzumaki shout loudly, and then...

there was no then.

Naruto was still Naruto.

Iruka strained his imagination to the limit and tentatively asked, "Naruto, did you transform into... yourself?"

"Hahaha... Iruka-sensei truly is a schoolteacher, a dignified Chunin. Your eye is really sharp. I did transform into myself. So, what do you think? Isn't it exactly the same?"

Naruto stood where he was, laughing heartily.

"You... you..." Iruka suppressed his soaring blood pressure and barely managed to force out a sentence.

"Wait for me in the office after school..."