Uzumaki the One-Man-Army

Outside the Hokage's Office, afternoon.

Shikamaru, Choji, and Naruto stood there as punishment, looked at each other, and instantly laughed so hard snot bubbles came out of their noses.

Whenever Choji laughed, he revealed his one remaining front tooth. Seeing that, Naruto laughed even harder.

Other than that, both of them were bruised and swollen.

Choji had it worse. Huge welts had already risen at the corners of his eyes and mouth. Shikamaru's face was a little less severe, only slightly bruised, making it look like he had taken fewer hits.

As for Naruto, the hem of his clothes was slightly dirty.

"Why, Naruto?" Choji asked, his swollen mouth making his words muffled.

"Why what?"

"Why are the two of us like this, while you look like nothing happened?" Shikamaru continued weakly from beside Choji.

"Hahaha. I've got a secret trick for group fights. Otherwise, how do you think I survived on my own all these years?"

What secret trick was there? It was all raw strength.

With his strength, dealing with a few kids was a piece of cake.

Seeing them like this, Naruto was actually quite touched. He held up two fingers and promised, "Twice."

"Awesome!" ×2

"We didn't help just because of the grilled fish," Choji emphasized.

"Of course. It's because we're friends."

"Lord Hokage, he's a Nine-Tails Fox! He..." For some reason, a shrill voice suddenly came from inside.

Bang, bang, bang!

Before the words could finish, they were drowned out by a tremendous crash, leaving the three standing outside unable to hear what was said inside.

Nine-Tails Fox?

That name tugged at all three of their nerves.

"Naruto."

Naruto looked up and saw the two staring at him with concern. He grinned and said generously, "It's fine. Ignore it. Just ignore it."

Did they think he was still three or four years old? After all these years, he had long since gotten used to it.

"Iruka, take them back first." The old Hokage's voice came from inside again.

As his voice fell, Iruka walked out from within.

"You three..."

Iruka swept his gaze over the three in turn, finally stopping on Naruto.

The discrimination against Naruto from those people inside made even him, an outsider to this incident, feel deeply uncomfortable.

Had Naruto faced this kind of treatment ever since he was little?

His conversation with Kakashi yesterday had reminded Iruka why he had become a teacher in Konoha in the first place.

Therefore, even when facing Naruto, even when facing the Nine-Tails that had once killed his parents within Naruto, kind-hearted Iruka was still prepared to open his heart and try to face and accept Naruto properly.

Because Naruto was his student, and also the first great test of Iruka's teaching career.

"Naruto, your teacher owes you an apology."

"Huh?" Naruto looked up and met Iruka's eyes directly.

In his perception, the coldness and indifference had long vanished, replaced by a trace of warmth.

"Why are you apologizing to me?" Naruto found it rather strange. He did not think Iruka had done anything wrong.

Choji and Shikamaru pricked up their ears. They were curious too.

"Because I neglected you before. From now on, I'll definitely care for you more," Iruka said sincerely. The teacher who had previously taught him to respond to Naruto with indifference was the renowned teacher who had taught Itachi, but Itachi Uchiha had already slaughtered his clan and defected from the village. Iruka did not want Naruto to do something like that in the future.

So Iruka decisively changed his approach, choosing to teach Naruto in his own way—trading sincerity for sincerity.

Care for him more? Well... maybe not.

Although having one more person who cared about him would be nice, Naruto felt that extra attention from his homeroom teacher was perhaps better forgotten.

"To show my sincerity, I've decided to take you three out for ramen."

"Awesome!"

Before Naruto could react, Choji had already jumped up.

"Not now!" Iruka suddenly transformed from a friend back into a homeroom teacher and emphasized, "Now! Immediately! At once! Go back to class."

"Eh!?"

Hearing that they still had to go back to class, the three drooped their heads in perfect unison.

Ninja Academy, Class One.

Class One had long since been in an uproar. Or rather, the whole school had.

Uzumaki Naruto's record of taking on seven opponents alone was quite impressive. It shocked a considerable number of elementary school students and sent his popularity soaring for a time.

Unfortunately, Uzumaki Naruto had not actually defeated any of those seven. He had merely held them off, or the sensation would have been even greater.

But being only a first-year student and managing to hold off seven fourth-years was already outstanding enough.

After that battle, Naruto instantly gained a number of honorary titles.

Things like Uzumaki the One-Man-Army and Uzumaki the Staller.

However, Naruto knew nothing about any of this.

Before afternoon classes even began, Naruto returned to his loyal Class One.

The moment he sat down, Naruto noticed something different. Everyone was looking at him in a new light.

As soon as class ended, quite a few boys gathered around him, all asking about the battle.

Naruto looked around. Shikamaru and Choji had both gone to the hospital to get bandaged up and rest, leaving him as the only member of the informed trio.

"I can tell you, but anyone sitting close has to buy a bag of chips and a bottle of cola." After collecting enough admission fees, Naruto began telling the story.

During it, he glanced at Sasuke and found Sasuke secretly watching him. It seemed that even Uchiha Sasuke, the protagonist himself, now viewed him differently.

Naruto thought this small matter would end there. Elementary school students' enthusiasm would last a day or two at most, then some new gossip would come along and steal the Ninja Academy headlines.

Yet someone else actually came to challenge him.

"You said your name was what?"

Looking at the thick-browed guy before him, whose every movement resembled Bruce Lee, Naruto was full of question marks.

"Are you Uzumaki the One-Man-Army from First-Year Class One?

I am Rock Lee from the second year, and I hereby challenge a genius like you!" Rock Lee struck a fighting stance, his gaze firm and his eyes fierce.

"Very well. You win."

Leaving those words behind, Naruto walked straight past him.

He was still waiting to eat ramen with Teacher Iruka. Where would he find the time for another fight?

Besides, this went against his low-profile school policy.

"Huh?"

Watching Uzumaki Naruto walk away, Rock Lee scratched his head in bewilderment.

Had he done something wrong somewhere?

Next time—next time, he would definitely attack first. That way, the other party would have no excuse to run away.

The next day, during breakfast, Shikamaru asked his father about Naruto.

"Dad, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Why does everyone avoid Naruto like the plague? Did he do something?"

"What do you think of Naruto?"

Shikamaru was stumped by his father's question. After thinking for a moment, he answered, "What... what do I think? I've never really thought about it, but that guy is pretty interesting. He's great at fishing, and the grilled fish he makes is delicious—really, really delicious.

I wouldn't exactly have excluded him before, but I also didn't really want to be close friends with him. But after tasting his grilled fish, I wanted to become good friends with him."

"I see. Just do what you want to do."

His father did not say much, but Shikamaru had already understood what he meant.

"Is that so?" Shikamaru nodded, becoming more certain of his decision.

There are too many big shots in the group. Even new books entering the archive can earn several hundred a day. It's terrifying—what am I, a little newbie earning only a few dozen a day, supposed to do?

So I've decided: extra chapters in exchange for support.

Any future extra chapters will be released at this time. This newbie is asking for support—recommendation votes, monthly votes, investments, anything is fine.