On the first day, I walked into the school.
Last night, after Mizuki, who was completely reduced to an ordinary person, was handed over to Third Hokage, Naruto clearly noticed that Iruka-sensei was in an extremely low mood, and his whole person was shrouded in an invisible haze.
Naruto completely understands Iruka's mood. Mizuki, a complete bastard, has been lurking next to Iruka as a "close friend" since he was a child. His disguise is superb and his deception is thorough and outrageous.
He does not really care about Iruka, he just wants to attract the attention of Third Hokage and act as a model image of "caring for orphans and companions".
What's even more disgusting is that Iruka suffered the deepest pain in his heart. He sacrificed his life in Kurama's chaos and was hailed as a heroic father, but it actually became the reason for Mizuki to be secretly jealous of Iruka!
Because in Konoha, the identity of the heroic orphan itself can bring a certain amount of attention and affection... Okay, Naruto still has some complaints.
However, Iruka is feeling down at the moment, not just because of the anger and sadness of being betrayed by a friend of many years. The deeper reason is self-blame.
Iruka was filled with fear and guilt after watching Mizuki reveal those vicious words to Naruto after taking off his disguise, and how he did not hesitate to throw the giant Shuriken to death.
He hated himself for not being able to see Mizuki's true face hidden under his smile earlier, so that Mizuki had the opportunity to take advantage of Naruto and almost put Naruto in an extremely dangerous situation. He felt that he had neglected his duty as a teacher.
In the end, it was Naruto who took the initiative to comfort the depressed Iruka. He patted Iruka's shoulder and said, "Okay, Iruka-sensei, stop feeling sad and blaming yourself for that scumbag. It's not worth it. Look, am I okay now?"
Listening to his comforting words in turn, Iruka's sinking feeling and guilt eased slightly.
In order to dispel this depressing atmosphere, the teachers decided to do something they were most familiar with and the most comforting thing before taking a complete rest - Naruto suggested with a smile.
"Let's go, Iruka-sensei, I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen! Just treat it as a midnight snack."
So, on the quiet street in the dead of night, the teacher walked into the small shop with warm lights and used a steaming bowl of barbecued pork Ramen to mark this night full of betrayal, reversal and final peace.
This is all I posted last night.
Now, all the graduates gather in the familiar classroom for the last time, and there is a complex atmosphere in the air that mixes a sense of separation with excitement and anticipation for the future.
Today, the most important thing that will determine their fate for a long time to come will be announced - the squad list.
Genin were discussing with great interest who they might be as teammates, and they were speculating on who would guide Jonin. Some boys couldn't help but secretly glance at the quiet black-haired girl in the corner of the classroom - Uchiha Satsuki.
When they saw that [Satsuki was still staying beside Jin Ren as usual, almost every step of the way, they involuntarily let out a disappointed "Tch..." and turned their heads angrily.
At this time, they couldn't help but have a bit of luck and fantasy in their hearts. Maybe... maybe they would break up these two guys who always stick together during class? What if... what if I can be paired up with Satsuki and get along day and night, maybe my chance will come?
If Naruto could listen to these thoughts, he would probably sigh helplessly. It is Second Pillar's appearance that is so attractive... Even if Satsuki barely spoke to them, his face alone could still keep these guys from giving up.
But at this moment, Naruto's attention was entirely on the girl beside him. He turned his head slightly and noticed that [Satsuki] seemed to be closer than usual, almost touching [his] arm.
And... he caught a subtle hint of uneasiness in her slightly pursed lips and occasional wandering eyes.
"Um...Naruto," Satsuki said with a hint of hesitation in his voice, "It's time for class soon... you... who do you want to be paired with?"
Naruto blurted out almost without any hesitation. "Then there's no need to say it? I think I'm in the same group as you."
These words instantly made Satsuki's eyes light up. She lowered her head slightly, trying to hide the uncontrollable upward curve of the corners of her mouth, "... that's also my fault. After all... in this class, you seem to be the only one qualified to be my teammate."
Naruto I'm not sure if this is considered a tsundere's speech. It sounds a bit middle-class and a little proud, but the tone is full of relieved softness.
However, the uneasiness deep in Satsuki's heart has not completely disappeared. Because from her understanding, the class list was said to be "randomly" assigned by Hokage and Jonin Commander after comprehensive consideration, which was full of uncertainty.
What if... what if I am really not assigned to the same team as Naruto...
When I thought that after becoming Ninja, I would start to perform various tasks, and that I might no longer be able to see Naruto every day like now, the panic of losing something important quietly spread again.
She subconsciously leaned closer to Naruto again, her voice carrying a hint of... a broken can-breaking determination?
"Naruto..."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"... If we are not divided into a group..." Satsuki raised his head, with an extremely serious and willful light in his eyes, "How about... we stay in the first grade?"
"...???"
Satsuki put on a serious expression saying "I'm not joking", she was really considering this option.
Anyway, Satsuki has made a unilateral decision in her heart. If there is no Naruto team, then this team... she doesn't want it!
Shikamaru Nara, who sneaked to the back corner of the classroom to rest because he thought it was too noisy, overheard the "shocking" conversation between Naruto and Satsuki, and couldn't help but feel numb.
He had long noticed that since the Uchiha Massacre email was sent a few years ago, Satsuki's dependence and clinginess on Naruto had increased exponentially, reaching a jaw-dropping level.
It is no longer simply inseparable, it has simply reached the level of "Siamese twins" - Naruto goes to the toilet, Satsuki has to wait not far outside the toilet, Naruto takes a rest when he is tired from training, Satsuki immediately handed over water and towels, and even sometimes Naruto just said a few words to Ya or Choji, and could feel the cold gaze coming from the direction of Satsuki...
To be honest, Shikamaru, just looking at this almost suffocating dependence and possessiveness as a bystander, felt a huge, breathless pressure coming on his face.
Just thinking about it made him feel extremely troubled, and he wanted to hide far away.
But... that guy Naruto actually seems to be enjoying it?!
Shikamaru glanced at the golden retriever next to him who didn't seem to think anything was wrong at all, and even occasionally took the initiative to rub Satsuki's hair. His heart was full of incomprehensible things.
Forget it... Anyway, they are consensual. It's better for me not to get involved in this troublesome love.
Shikamaru wisely decided to continue pretending to be dead and turned his attention to the window.
At this moment, the classroom door was pushed open, and Iruka-sensei walked in with a list. The noise in the classroom subsided instantly, and all eyes turned to the podium.
Iruka stood behind the podium, his eyes slowly swept across every familiar and young face in the audience, and began his last speech as their class teacher.
"From today on, you are no longer students of the Ninja Academy... you are already registered Konoha Ninja. However, you are only 'Genin'. In the future, there will be many difficulties that you cannot imagine..."
Iruka speaks slowly and seriously. The words are full of pride in seeing the children finally grow up, and also the reluctance to say goodbye, but more importantly, they are the deepest blessings from the heart.
He sincerely hoped that the students he taught would be able to bravely overcome all the trials and tribulations in the future with their own strength after embarking on this thorny road of Road to Ninja.
After the final instruction, the atmosphere in the classroom became solemn and full of expectation. Iruka calmed down and picked up the list in his hand that would determine everyone's future team membership.
"Then next, I will announce the class list. The students whose names are read out are members of the same team. There will be a designated instructor Jonin to lead you."
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