Challenge Sasuke? (1/2)

"Mizuki."

Mizuki brought Xu Fan to the training grounds and greeted Iruka.

Xu Fan looked around. Dozens of students had gathered here, and Sasuke Uchiha was naturally the center of attention.

The female students in particular could hardly take their eyes off Sasuke, utterly smitten.

Naruto Uzumaki, on the other hand, had been isolated in a corner.

Though he himself did not seem to mind, he still looked somewhat lonely.

At the end of the day, Naruto Uzumaki was only six or seven years old.

If someone filmed the current Naruto in a vlog and uploaded it to Bilibili, the screen would probably fill with comments like, "Naruto, Naruto, let Mommy hug you," "Protect our best prince," and "I need to get in there."

However, Hinata, who was also in this class, was absent.

It seemed her body had yet to recover, and she was resting at the hospital.

"Ah, Mizuki."

Iruka turned around and responded to Mizuki. He was holding a notebook that looked like it was meant for recording grades.

Before long, Iruka noticed Xu Fan standing beside Mizuki as well.

"You must be the student Lord Third Hokage mentioned, right?" Iruka said with a smile.

Although it was strange for someone to enter the Ninja Academy at thirteen, Iruka did not mind it.

"Mm." Xu Fan nodded, confirming it was him.

"All right, Iruka. From today onward, I'm leaving him to you." Mizuki emphasized, though he showed no intention of leaving. "Today is practical combat class, huh?"

"That's right. For a ninja, physical ability is also a very important part. It is even listed as one of the tactics of ninja combat—taijutsu," Iruka explained.

In truth, though, he was saying this for Xu Fan's benefit.

"All right." Iruka ended his chat with Mizuki and waved for his students to come over and line up.

However, Naruto, who should have been standing beside Sasuke, was shoved aside by Sakura as she rushed over.

"Sasuke," Sakura greeted Sasuke softly, only to discover that her rival Ino had taken up a position on Sasuke's other side.

"Ino-pig, why are you standing there?"

"I should be asking you that, Forehead Girl. That spot was supposed to be Naruto's."

"Ahem."

Seeing the girls arguing again over who should stand beside Sasuke, Iruka could only clear his throat to stop them.

Sasuke, meanwhile, kept both hands in his pockets, looking as though it had nothing to do with him.

Are girls these days really this mature already?

Iruka could not help complaining inwardly before explaining the current situation to everyone.

Starting today, Xu Fan would join them as a transfer student and study at the Ninja Academy.

"Introduce yourself, Senju," Iruka said with a smile.

Rather than a homeroom teacher, he seemed more like a friendly older brother next door.

However, Iruka at this time had only recently become a Chunin instructor. In order to maintain good relationships with his students, he would distance himself from Naruto in certain matters.

For example, this time, he had simply ignored Naruto's situation.

"Mm." Xu Fan nodded, then introduced himself to the others.

"My name is Senju Xu. There is nothing I particularly like, and nothing I particularly dislike. My dream is to become Hokage, then restore the Senju Clan."

In truth, Xu Fan knew very well that the Third Hokage had a hobby.

Whenever he had nothing to do, he would sit in his office and observe others through the Crystal Ball.

From what Xu Fan knew, this was a ninjutsu called the Telescope Technique. As long as one understood the target's Chakra nature, one could observe them from a great distance.

Under normal circumstances, the Third Hokage used this ninjutsu to watch Naruto's every move, ensuring that nothing happened to him as a Jinchuriki.

And now, not only had Xu Fan displayed his Chakra to Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Naruto was here as well.

If he was not mistaken, Hiruzen Sarutobi was probably watching in secret right now.

So these words were actually meant for Hiruzen Sarutobi to hear.

They were meant to make him understand Xu Fan's position: to become Hokage and restore the Senju Clan.

And given his identity, such words were perfectly normal.

"The one who's going to become Hokage is me, Naruto Uzumaki!"

Naruto suddenly popped out from the crowd, pointed at Xu Fan, and shouted.

Yet his words only drew laughter from the others.

"Hahaha, the dead last wants to become Hokage? That joke never gets old."

"Yeah. If Naruto can become Hokage, then wouldn't I be able to become the God of Shinobi?"

"Exactly, exactly."

"What a guy with no self-awareness."

"You people!" Naruto's face immediately turned red at their laughter, and he began shouting back. "I'll definitely become Hokage and earn the village's acknowledgment!"

"That's enough, Naruto." Iruka sighed helplessly. The Hokage had always been the most respected person in the village.

And as long as the demon fox remained inside Naruto Uzumaki, he could never become Hokage.

Though it was cruel to say so, it would be better to make him face reality.

"You..."

However, just as Iruka was about to say something, Xu Fan directly interrupted him.

"Then work hard, Naruto," Xu Fan said with a smile.

Naruto froze, completely caught off guard.

He had declared his dream more than once.

But every time he did, all he received was ridicule. The looks from the adults in particular were filled with coldness and distance.

He had long grown used to such things.

Yet who would have thought that the person standing before him not only did not laugh at him, but even encouraged him to work hard?

Especially Xu Fan's eyes and smile, as though he truly believed Naruto had a chance to become Hokage.

For a moment, Naruto Uzumaki stood blankly before Xu Fan, tears faintly glimmering in his eyes.

Crying?

Xu Fan was stunned as well. In Naruto, Naruto could be said to be incredibly tough. No matter what setbacks he faced, he was supposed to keep laughing carelessly.

"Ah, it's nothing." Naruto sniffed and hurriedly rubbed his eyes. "It's sand. There's sand in my eyes."

Watching Naruto from the side, Iruka felt as if something had fiercely gripped his heart.

The other students, on the other hand, could not quite understand what was happening.

Since when had Naruto become someone who cried so easily?

"Ahem."

Seeing that the atmosphere had become awkward, Iruka could only shift everyone's attention.

"All right. Since Senju has arrived, let's continue class."

Then, Iruka flipped through the grade sheet.

Since Hinata had taken leave today, there happened to be an empty spot on the sheet.

And at the moment, there was exactly one extra Sasuke.

The Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan...

"Would you like to give it a try, Senju?" Iruka said with a smile. "Challenge Sasuke, the top-ranked student."