Epidemic Otitis (Laugh)

Office.

Kushina and Konan occupied Katsuki's mahogany desk, watching Naruto and Suzuran's movements while holding their crystal balls.

"Smack!"

Katsuki sat on the sofa and snapped her fingers.

The Spirit Severing Barrier.

An invisible force spread out, and the space where Katsuki and Itachi were together was as if separated from the outside world by a hazy veil. Although Kushina and Konan's lips could be seen moving, no sound could be heard.

An invisible and intangible barrier blocked their senses, but Konan wisely refrained from asking or listening. Instead, she and Kushina observed Suzuran's appearance through the crystal ball.

I have a feeling that Suzuran's dual personality has undergone some changes.

"Is that all?"

"The Commander-in-Chief has given me a task: I need to investigate the Sand Ninja Envoy."

Itachi got straight to the point and explained his purpose.

"Investigating those headscarves? Oh ho, that's quite a bold move!" Katsuki stroked her smooth chin. "The headscarves are on a campus tour, so... that's why they came to me?"

"After all, this is Ninja Academy; it wouldn't look good if we started fighting."

Itachi nodded. Without Katsuki's permission, no one dared to cause trouble at the Ninja Academy, including himself.

His senses were very sharp, Sharingan was developed to an extremely high level, almost reaching the limit of the Mitsudomoe stage. Therefore, he could see Katsuki's terrifying aura. Although Mizuki seemed to be trying her best to conceal it, it was still a powerful presence to someone with keen senses.

The one sitting on the sofa is not human, but a disaster in human skin.

He had never felt such terrifying and oppressive power from anyone else. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and the retired White Fang were all no match for the monster in front of him who looked like he was only twenty years old.

"I'm so glad you guys thought of everything!" Katsuki smiled and patted the sofa armrest. After a few seconds of thought, she said, "In that case, let's wait until after class! It's still class time now. If some accident disrupts the course, it'll be a hassle to reschedule make-up classes!"

"Understood. We will follow your wishes and make our move after all the students have left the school." Itachi nodded without hesitation, showing no intention of objecting.

"I feel bad about what you're saying... How about this? I'll help you out. There are quite a few troublesome guys in the Sand Village delegation!"

"I would be most grateful if Lord Katsuki could lend a helping hand."

"Ugh! I told you to relax, don't take it so seriously, you're making me nervous! But... what happened? Why are you investigating those headscarves?"

"That's a long story..."

Time flies.

The quiz is coming to an end.

"Taste my iron fist, as fierce as a storm!!!"

A dozen punches came from all directions. The exhausted boy was mercilessly beaten by Naruto until he passed out. His face was so disfigured that it looked like a sauce shop had been opened.

"The victor is... Naruto Uzumaki."

Shuyuan delivered the final verdict.

"You idiot, you didn't have to beat him up so badly!"

Looking at her classmate lying on the ground, Shuyuan glared at Naruto with a wry smile. Although he looked miserable, he was actually just suffering from superficial injuries and no bones were broken. He would be fine after a good night's sleep.

"It's finally over... It's already this late!"

Shikamaru, who was sitting on the ground, rubbed his eyes and looked at the reddish clouds on the horizon.

The quiz is now over. The losers are huddled in a corner of the training field, the gloomy atmosphere so intense it seems to have stripped away all color from their surroundings.

"Poor guys... Luckily we have Suzuran-chan, we made it to shore in the first round."

Ino pulled Suzuran-chan into her arms, rubbing her chest against Suzuran-chan's face, and immediately revealed a satisfied, silly smile.

Shikamaru gave up on fighting Kiba, and Ino easily defeated Choji, securing a 2-1 victory for Naruto's team. Naruto's team, on the other hand, had to compete with the other three losers' teams and the bye team for the last three surviving spots.

Because the teeth were almost completely worn down, and Naruto wasn't afraid of exhaustion, the two of them managed to win their matches this time, surviving with a score of 2-0 and avoiding that tragic end.

"It's over, it's over, Suzuran, let's go home! I wonder what Mom made for dinner tonight? I hope there's a big fried pork chop... Let's grab some fried meat patties on the way home! It's on me..."

Naruto stretched and walked over, calling out to Suzuran as he went.

"Go home?"

"Hmm... I must have misheard. That idiot Naruto actually said he wanted to go home with Suzuran-chan!"

"What a coincidence! I feel like my hearing has been deteriorating lately. How about we go to Konoha Hospital together? I hope it's nothing serious."

"Take me with you! I want to go too!"

"Me too, me too... Oh dear, it seems everyone's caught the recent Epidemic Otitis!"

The boys huddled together and whispered among themselves.

"Eh!! Epidemic Otitis? What is that? It sounds terrifying. My ears sometimes itch terribly too. Everyone, I want to go too..." Naruto was startled by more than a dozen fierce, demonic glares before he could finish speaking.

"Pooh!"

Tooth spat out a mouthful of saliva.

"You're a normal person... go to hell!"

"Woof woof!!"

Akamaru barked twice in response to its master's call.

Naruto's eye twitched as he looked at Kiba and the other boys, who exuded a strong sense of youth, with a puzzled expression. He couldn't understand why they were being ostracized.

"Epidemic Otitis, pfft!! Hahaha!!! This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing..."

Shuyuan watched Naruto, who was lost in confusion, and couldn't help but clutch her stomach and chuckle softly.

Epidemic Otitis... This is absolutely the first time I've ever heard of such a thing. It's amazing that these guys could come up with such a bizarre name.

"Utterly foolish! To actually believe such absurd nonsense, Naruto, you really should go to the hospital... Look at your brain that's missing a screw, you'd better buy some brain powder to make up for it." Sasuke slowly walked off the field, his disdainful gaze sweeping over Naruto.

"Wild... mystery? That doesn't seem right, wild... what was it again?"

Naruto, focused on his own affairs, felt as if Sasuke's cold gaze was a gentle breeze; all his attention was on the obscure word Sasuke had mentioned.

"That's absurd! Can't you pay attention in class? Forget everything else, you can't even read properly! It's so embarrassing!"

"Hehe! Ridiculous, right? I'll remember that." Naruto chuckled and scratched his head. "Speaking of which, what does this mean?"

"Hey, what are you laughing at if you don't even know what it means?"

Shuyuan sighed helplessly, patted her head, and thought, "This child is such a worry!" (To be continued)