After thanking Iruka-sensei, Sasuke gently declined his offer and left the Academy.
Iruka watched the two figures disappear into the distance and sighed inwardly.
It seems Sasuke still hasn't emerged from the shadow of his clan's destruction. He rejects even the goodwill of others without hesitation. With such a closed-off state of mind, it'll be hard for him to see the light again.
As for Naruto, Iruka sensed something strange.
Normally, if he offered to treat him to a meal, that boy would definitely agree without a second thought and bleed him dry.
Yet today, he did not say a single word.
He left everything for Sasuke to decide.
Well, perhaps Naruto had grown up and learned to consider his friend's feelings.
Unable to figure it out,
Iruka could only think of that possibility.
He had yet to realize that "Naruto" was not Naruto at all, but a Naruto created by Sasuke's Shadow Clone and Transformation Jutsu. If Iruka had known, he surely would have flown into a rage.
After all, he had always placed great hopes on Naruto.
As Sasuke and "Naruto" walked back toward the Breeding Farm, he failed to notice that two stalkers were following them from behind.
After following them for a while, the two stalkers stopped.
They looked at each other and saw the disappointment in each other's eyes.
Just moments ago, Sakura and Ino had learned from Choji that on the day of the Summer Festival, Sasuke, Naruto, Hinata, Choji, and Shikamaru would be going to the temple together to watch fireworks.
As for why Choji had told Ino,
There was no special reason.
A single bag of chips had done the trick.
"Ah, I really want to go watch fireworks with them too. Every Summer Festival, I always go with my mom. I'm