New Generation: Konoha 12

Early the next morning, Naruto went to school with Tenten.

Tenten's little mouth never stopped moving along the way.

"Naruto, I think you could open a breakfast shop. You can make anything. These Soup Dumplings are so good, I could eat them one after another..."

They had just arrived at the school entrance.

"Yo, morning, Naruto-kun~"

When he turned around, he saw a gray figure walking... crawling over on its hands while upside down?

Perhaps realizing it was awkward to talk like that, the figure sprang to his feet.

He was drenched in sweat, and even his gray training outfit was soaked through.

With thick brows and round eyes, he gave Naruto a thumbs-up.

Strange looks immediately came from all around them.

Tenten rolled her eyes.

"Morning, Rock Lee."

Naruto nodded with a faint smile.

This hardworking genius filled every place he was with Hot-Blooded passion and youth.

Still, Rock Lee had talent of his own.

If an ordinary person trained like this, they would probably be crippled within days.

Yet he could always maintain peak condition.

"How many laps did you run today?"

"Ten laps!"

Rock Lee Responded excitedly.

He had been admitted to the academy because of his exceptional physical fitness.

Thus, lacking the talent to control Chakra, he could only develop in taijutsu.

That was why he had always suffered discrimination and ridicule from the other children.

But some people were different.

For example, Naruto, and Tenten, the classmate he had only met later because of Naruto.

Although Naruto was a year younger than him, Naruto felt like an older brother to him.

"It's useless. No matter how hard a dead last works, he's still a dead last. Face reality."

Just then, a cold voice rang out.

Though there was no malice in his words, they still made people uncomfortable.

"Neji!"

The moment Rock Lee saw him, his fighting spirit surged.

"I'm ready. During today's taijutsu test, I'll challenge you again!"

After saying that, he struck his signature pose once more.

By this point, Rock Lee had already caught the eye of the green-clad uncle, Might Guy.

Other than not yet wearing that limp green bodysuit, everything was so familiar.

"Hmph."

Neji snorted and said nothing more. He glanced at Naruto beside Tenten, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"A first-year?"

"I can tell. You're strong."

"What's your name?"

"Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Neji, why are you putting on that smug face so early in the morning?"

"But I have to admit, you've got good eyes. Naruto is obviously much stronger than you, the Hyūga genius."

Before Naruto could say anything, Tenten stepped forward.

Neji said nothing else. He merely looked seriously at Naruto. "My name is Hyuga Neji."

After Naruto nodded, he turned and left.

Rock Lee also said goodbye to Naruto, then jogged after Neji.

"All right, Little Brother. Remember to wait for me after school. If Mom hadn't woken me up today, were you planning to run off by yourself again?"

Naruto spread his hands innocently.

"I'm upstairs. If anyone dares bully you, come upstairs and call for me."

As she spoke, she pulled Naruto into the school.

"Class 1-1... Your classroom is over there. I'm heading up first, or I'll be late."

"Remember, don't leave after school. Wait for me!"

Tenten fiercely tapped Naruto on the forehead.

Then she smiled and ran upstairs.

"Wow, it's him! I noticed him yesterday. He's so handsome!"

"He just stands there and does nothing, yet he still looks ridiculously handsome."

"I think he's better-looking than Sasuke, who always likes sticking his hands in his pockets and acting cool~"

The moment he entered the classroom, the girls who had been paying attention to their classmates' looks noticed him.

"Over here, Naruto~!"

"Hey, hey, watch your image, Ino. Don't scare Naruto."

Shikamaru yawned, but Ino's shout instantly chased away his sleepiness.

Beside him, Choji was eating Potato Chips and waved at Naruto too.

Naruto noticed an inconspicuous figure in the corner.

After Ino called out to him, she, who had originally been hesitating over where to sit,

quietly walked toward the seat behind Ino.

Naruto did not refuse.

Rather than sit beside a bunch of kids who understood nothing and would hate him because of what their parents said,

he might as well sit beside the heirs of the great Ninja Clans.

"Morning, Shikamaru, Choji."

"Morning, Naruto." x2

"Have some Potato Chips."

Naruto smiled faintly and took one.

At that moment, Ino immediately sat down on Naruto's left.

She really was a beauty who loved boldly and hated fiercely.

The moment she sat down, she grabbed Naruto's arm.

"Morning, Naruto~"

"Morning."

After saying that, Naruto turned around and looked at the Byakugan Princess, who had lowered her head in embarrassment.

"It's you. Did you manage to find your way home?"

"Mm... I did..."

Hinata's face immediately turned bright red.

Ino abruptly turned around and glared at Hinata with hostility.

Then she froze. Th-this was just one sentence, and she was already blushing like that?

So cute~

Even cuter than Sakura-chan!

"You're Hyuga Hinata of the Hyūga Clan?"

"Mm."

Hinata answered softly.

"Come sit with us."

Shikamaru immediately slumped over his desk. "Women are such a pain."

"Ino-Shika-Cho not sitting together... We're probably the only generation like this."

"It's fine, Shikamaru. Naruto isn't an outsider."

The moment Choji finished speaking,

Iruka clapped his hands at the podium.

"Has everyone chosen their seats?"

"Remember your seats. Don't fight over seats in the future, okay?"

"Now, let's begin with introductions."

"My name is Umino Iruka. I'm a Chunin, and my dream is to become a teacher."

"I like Ichiraku Ramen, dislike kelp, and my hobby is..."

"As you can see, my dream has come true. From now on, teacher will guide you through your time at the Ninja Academy~"

"Now that teacher's introduction is over, it's the students' turn. We'll start from the first row."

Then Inuzuka Kiba from the first row stood up with a laugh.

"My name is Inuzuka Kiba, and this is Akamaru!"

"I..."

Naruto had no interest in listening to the introductions.

Although his gaze was fixed on Inuzuka Kiba, who was introducing himself,

his mind was already focused on the leaf in his hand.

He had already mastered Wind Style Chakra Nature Transformation.

But that still had not met his expectations.

He needed to control the speed at which he cut the leaf.

So focused on training was he that he did not notice Ino beside him had already finished introducing herself.

She had boldly declared that the person she liked was her deskmate.

Yet Naruto had not heard it at all—or rather, he had not noticed.

"Naruto, it's your turn."

With her little face red, Ino nudged Naruto.

She had long noticed that Naruto was distracted.

Her introduction just now had been meant for the girls in the class to hear.

Naruto came back to his senses, stood up, gave a simple and straightforward introduction, then sat back down.

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto. My dream is to become Hokage. Please take care of me."

"It's him! My Dad told me not to get close to him!"

"Yeah, my mom said so too. She said he's an ominous person!"

"Hmph, you all know, right?"

"That guy is a monster! He got lots of people killed!"

"Huh? Then how can he be so shameless? He still dares say his dream is to become Hokage..."

Once someone started it, the classmates who had already been somewhat jealous of Naruto's looks immediately began whispering.

"Shut your filthy mouths!"

"If you've got the guts, go say that to the Third Hokage!"

Furious, Ino slammed her hand on the desk and shouted at them.

She had seen how Naruto was treated three years ago.

She could not understand those adults at all, and she felt wronged and indignant on behalf of young Naruto.

As Ino's voice fell, the classroom grew much quieter.

At that moment, Iruka said, "All right, quiet down."

"Next person, continue with your introduction."

After saying that, Iruka gave Naruto a complicated look.

Deep in his eyes, there was still a trace of disgust.

Yet he was conflicted as well.

"Even the teacher is like this?"

Ino was immediately disappointed.

When it was Hinata's turn to introduce herself, she stood up. After saying her name, her cheeks reddened when she reached the things she liked.

In the end, Iruka could only tell her to sit down, but Hinata suddenly said:

"I hate people talking badly about others behind their backs!"

After saying that, she sat down with a red face and secretly glanced at Naruto.

After the introductions ended, Iruka clapped his hands and wrote the two large characters for ninja on the blackboard.

Then he began teaching.

The first lesson was about what was needed to become a ninja.

Finally, he began explaining the most basic thing.

The Chakra Extraction Technique.

The children from the great Ninja Clans had all already learned these things.

"Next, students, try practicing the Chakra Extraction Technique. Those who have already completed their Chakra Extraction Technique training can use this time to reinforce it."