Konoha Era 60

It was late summer of Konoha Era year 45.

Not long after the end of the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha was hit by several significant disturbances.

First, Uzumaki Clan, who also serves as the Anbu Chief and is known as the "Disaster of Konoha, "Uzumaki Katsuki broke into the Uchiha Clan's Naka Shrine, causing quite a commotion.

Afterwards, it was also Uzumaki Katsuki completed the replacement of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, creating the legend of a body that could contain two Tailed Beasts, and his fearsome reputation spread rapidly like the flu throughout the Shinobi World.

After that, this restless natural disaster finally got married. His wife was a woman from the Uchiha Clan, and not through an arranged marriage, but through a normal wedding ceremony, which shocked countless people.

But.

After their marriage, the troublesome Konoha calamities finally calmed down, which greatly relieved the Fourth Hokage's headaches.

In the Shinobi World, many people quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Second Shinobi War and Third Shinobi War broke out one after another, in a very short period of time, and almost the entire Shinobi World was drawn into the flames of war. After experiencing two consecutive world-scale wars, this land finally had a chance to catch its breath.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it has been 60 years of the Konoha Era.

For fifteen years, Konoha enjoyed peace and tranquility.

Ninja Academy.

"... Naruto Uzumaki... Naruto Uzumaki..."

On the podium, Iruka's forehead veins bulged and his lips twitched, clearly indicating that he was extremely angry.

"That guy... skipping class again!" Iruka turned his gaze to the short-haired red-haired boy sitting in the center of the first row. "Shuyuan, do you know where that idiot Naruto went?"

"Huh? Why are you asking me again? I'm not that stupid nanny."

The boy named Shuyuan rolled his eyes.

"Aren't you cousins? Who else should I ask if not you?"

Iruka glared at him and said matter-of-factly.

"Huh? That's true... what a load of rubbish." Uzumaki Shuyuan clicked her tongue. "Nobody says cousins have to play together, right? Besides, Iruka-sensei, even if that idiot comes to class, he'll still be sleeping on his desk. If he doesn't come, it saves you some chalk!"

Iruka's lips twitched with anger at this twisted logic.

But that's the reality, and classes have already started. It's impossible to leave the students in the classroom just to go find Naruto. It seems... I'll have to do a home visit after school. I can't delay any longer; graduation is just around the corner, and if this continues, Naruto's attendance rate will be far from sufficient.

After class.

"Hey, Shuyuan, did Iruka-sensei not take attendance today?"

A blond, blue-eyed boy suddenly darted out and sprawled on the table in Shuyuan.

"... Roll call? Of course they'd take roll call! How many classes have you skipped this month? How could Iruka-sensei not take roll call? By the way, Naruto, where have you been gallivanting off to this time?"

"Oh no! Oh no!" The blond boy was completely oblivious to Shuyuan's question, cold sweat pouring down his face as he muttered incessantly, "I'm doomed, I'm totally finished this time! Iruka-sensei said last time that if I skip class again, he'll come to my home!!! My mom's going to break my legs!!!"

A mournful cry echoed through the classroom, but most people glanced at it and then looked away.

"Wow! Then you're really finished this time, Aunt Kushina... Hehe." Shuyuan immediately showed a look of sympathy.

"Naruto, you're so noisy!"

Perhaps unable to bear Naruto's mournful cries, a voice as cold as a sword pierced from behind.

Near the window, the black-haired boy in the second row looked over with displeasure, his icy face filled with annoyance.

"Huh? Sasuke, do you want to fight?"

Naruto's mournful cries stopped abruptly. He glanced sideways at the other person, looking at them defiantly.

"An idiot is an idiot. Is fighting all he thinks about? Humph! A true moron indeed."

Sasuke Uchiha curled his lip in disdain.

"Sasuke, you bastard! Come on, let's go outside and have a one-on-one fight."

"You think you can just go like that? Who do you think you are? You idiot?"

The two clashed again, their sharp edges clashing once more.

"Ugh! Here we go again."

"How many times has this happened this month? Don't you find it troublesome?"

"Absolutely not, they're like oil and water! It's such a pity they're both so handsome. If they could be together... hehehehe!!!"

A cacophony of whispers filled the classroom; though some strange remarks were mixed in, the majority were lamentations.

Shuyuan's brows furrowed, his heart heavy as if weighed down by a weight. What kind of arduous life did he have to endure? Why was he always destined to deal with this kind of mess...?

"Naruto, behave yourself! Aren't you tired of fighting Tenten? Practical training is coming up soon. You can fight all you want on the training field, just don't cause trouble in the classroom." Shuyuan grabbed Naruto's collar tightly with her right hand and pressed him against the table.

If he lets go, this guy will definitely rush up and fight Sasuke.

"Also, Sasuke, you know Naruto is an idiot, just ignore him."

"Hmph, whatever, as long as he doesn't make a sound."

Sasuke and Shuyuan stared at each other for two seconds, then Sasuke snorted and turned his head to look out the window.

"Ugh! This is so troublesome..."

With a heavy sigh, Shuyuan felt utterly exhausted. He was fed up with having to clean up after these two every single day, but he couldn't just ignore it. His father had told him to get along well with them at school, since they were relatives after all.

"Shuyuan- kun is so handsome!"

"Mmm, and it feels very reliable!"

The girls screamed and stared at them with infatuated eyes.

"You're really popular, Shuyuan," the boy with the pineapple-shaped haircut said lazily.

"Stop teasing me, Shikamaru. If possible, I don't want to get involved in this kind of thing at all... It's so monotonous and boring, I really don't know what's wrong with these two idiots."

"Haha, you've worked hard."

Shikamaru Nara smiled knowingly. He also hated trouble, so he could understand Shuyuan's helplessness.

"Shikamaru, Shuyuan, it's about time to head to the training grounds. If we're late, we'll be punished again. Kaguya- sensei is known for her ruthlessness." A round boy, carrying a large bag of potato chips and eating non-stop, walked over, completely filling the narrow corridor that could only accommodate three people.

Shuyuan blinked, looked at the blocked exit, and her lips twitched.

"Um, Choji, you and Shikamaru go first, Naruto and I will follow shortly."

"Oh... then you'd better watch your time. If you're late, Kaguya- sensei won't hold back at all."

Shikamaru gave Shuyuan a sympathetic look, and then left the classroom one after the other with Choji. (To be continued)