No Need for All That Trouble—Give Me Food and We're Friends

"Is that Naruto?"

Utatane Koharu watched a tall boy walk into the classroom with a pink backpack on his back and couldn't help commenting, "What terrible taste. He's actually carrying a pink backpack. It doesn't suit him at all."

"Cough, cough..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been smoking his pipe, immediately broke into a violent coughing fit at Utatane Koharu's merciless jab. With an unnatural expression, he said, "There's no need to focus on such trivial matters."

"This child has none of the Will of Fire. He also often hides in corners and never interacts with anyone. I'm afraid he might do something extreme," Utatane Koharu said, changing the subject.

"He hasn't done anything extreme so far," said the elderly, bespectacled Mitokado Homura.

"Hmph. Just because he hasn't done it yet doesn't mean he won't in the future." Shimura Danzō, with one hand and one eye wrapped in bandages, tapped his cane against the floor and continued:

"Hmph. I said long ago that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki should have been handed over to our Root. Brainwash him from childhood, give him all sorts of electric shocks and Cursed Seals, and he'd definitely become an outstanding Jinchuriki instead of this muscle-brained fool wandering all over the village."

"Besides, I heard that you actually approved that plot on Back Mountain for him to do some sort of farming. Hmph. He's already going astray at such a young age; he'll definitely turn out terribly when he grows up. Since he's still young, why not hand him over to me so I can correct his mistakes?"

"Enough. Stop talking. If you hadn't acted unnecessarily and leaked Naruto's identity as a Jinchuriki, he wouldn't have been treated so coldly by the villagers." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a long drag from his pipe and exhaled a cloud of white smoke. "And don't forget, he is Minato's child."

"As long as Naruto doesn't disrupt the village's development or harm its people, even if he has no Will of Fire, I will let him live out his life peacefully as an ordinary person."

"I owe that to Minato."

"Hmph, Hiruzen, your heart is always too soft. You'll regret this." Shimura Danzō snorted coldly, feeling somewhat regretful. If I had been the one holding the rear instead of Hiruzen back then, would Konoha have developed even better?!

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged glances at the two men's argument, but neither interrupted.

Though Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared indecisive on the surface, he was more ruthless than anyone when it came to doing things. For example, that major matter coming up next—it involved an entire clan. Heh heh.

The atmosphere fell silent for a time.

Inside the classroom,

Iruka-sensei and Mizuki-sensei entered the classroom side by side and walked up to the podium.

Iruka spoke first. "Well, I'm sure everyone knows that this assessment is very important. The Third Hokage also takes it seriously and is watching your outstanding performances, so please give it everything you've got."

"Good luck, everyone," Mizuki-sensei encouraged them as well.

"Yes, Iruka-sensei, Mizuki-sensei," the students answered in unison.

Seeing the confident expressions on the students' faces, Iruka felt quite satisfied. He then said, "Well then, when I call your name, come forward for your assessment."

Iruka glanced at his good friend Mizuki, who smiled and gestured for him to proceed as he pleased.

"Shikamaru Nara."

Iruka called the first student to be assessed.

The lazy-looking Shikamaru Nara rose from his seat, walked to the open space before the podium, and bowed to Iruka and Mizuki.

"Begin, Shikamaru. Perform the Substitution Technique, Clone Technique, and Transformation Jutsu once each."

"Yes, Sensei."

Shikamaru Nara began to perform them.

Once he was done, Iruka-sensei nodded without offering any comments, merely telling him to keep it up. The purpose of this assessment was only for the Third Hokage to observe Konoha's future ninja.

Iruka called the names one after another.

Those called left their seats and did their best to demonstrate what they had learned in class.

"Sasuke Uchiha."

Sasuke, the handsome Uchiha boy, walked out with a confident expression.

"Sasuke, good luck! You're the best!" Sakura Haruno loudly cheered him on.

"Sasuke, good luck! I'm rooting for you!" Ino Yamanaka naturally refused to be outdone.

The moment Sasuke appeared, the four observers in the Hokage Building finally showed a reaction. They all watched Sasuke's performance with serious expressions.

Sasuke's performance was naturally flawless. After demonstrating everything perfectly, he returned to his seat.

Shimura Danzō's gaze was distant, and no one knew what he was thinking.

"Naruto Uzumaki."

Iruka's voice broke the four men from their thoughts. They composed themselves and carefully observed Naruto's performance. However, Naruto's performance was no performance at all.

Substitution Technique? He couldn't do it.

Transformation Jutsu? He couldn't do it.

Clone Technique? He couldn't do that either.

In fact, even after half a year, he had yet to refine any Chakra.

"Hmph, see? I told you this is a complete waste of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's status." Shimura Danzō tapped his cane against the floor again and snorted coldly.

"Danzo, enough!" Hiruzen Sarutobi flared up in anger.

"Hmph..." Danzo snorted and turned to leave.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged glances. Today's observation was over, so they too bid Hiruzen Sarutobi farewell and left the Hokage Building.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained, puffing on his pipe as he sat there, no one knowing what he was thinking.

After the assessment, the students left the classroom one after another. School had ended early today, which counted as a perk for the assessment.

Choji Akimichi held snacks in his hands as he ate while walking home.

As he walked, he suddenly bumped into what felt like an iron wall. Looking up, he found that it wasn't an iron wall.

"It's Naruto!"

Choji Akimichi greeted him through a mouthful of food. He didn't dislike Naruto Uzumaki.

"It's me. Choji, let's be friends," Naruto said bluntly.

"Do you have food?" Choji Akimichi looked at Naruto and asked.

"Food? Of course I do." Naruto nodded.

Choji Akimichi said happily, "Then sure. If you give me food, we'll be good friends."

"That won't do. We're missing a step!" Naruto waved his hand and directly rejected Choji Akimichi's suggestion.

"What step?" Choji Akimichi's baby-fat face was full of confusion.

"It's this: we have a spar. If you lose, we'll be friends," Naruto said excitedly.

"A spar? You can't beat me." Choji Akimichi shook his head like a rattle, recalling Naruto's assessment. Naruto hadn't even refined Chakra yet, so how could he spar with him?

"Let's begin..."

Naruto shouted and immediately took up a fighting stance.

"..." Choji Akimichi couldn't really be bothered to fight, but seeing how eager Naruto was, he had no choice but to spar with him.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A moment later, Choji Akimichi lay on the ground with a bruised and swollen face, looking utterly baffled as he said, "There really was no need to make it so complicated. As long as you give me tasty food, we'll be friends."