Naruto carried his bento box to the back of the classroom with a sincere smile, stopping in front of Shikamaru and Choji.
"You're Shikamaru and Choji, right? I'm Uzumaki Naruto. Want to have lunch together?"
Shikamaru raised his eyelids and slowly looked Naruto over. "Yeah, I know you. You were pretty impressive in taijutsu class yesterday."
His gaze passed over Naruto's shoulder, landing on Satsuki, who sat alone at her seat. "Aren't you going to eat with Satsuki?"
The atmosphere in the classroom subtly shifted. Many of the boys' gazes drifted unconsciously toward the empty seat beside Satsuki, but no one dared approach rashly. The strength Satsuki had displayed in taijutsu class yesterday had filled her peers with awe.
Naruto glanced back at Satsuki. "It's fine." He turned back with a smile. "I'll keep her company later. How should I put it..."
He scratched his cheek. "I just feel like you two are really nice people, and I wanted to get to know you."
Choji's hands, which had been unwrapping his lunch, suddenly froze. An incredulous look appeared on his face. Because of his build, he had been mocked by other children since he was young. Only Shikamaru had never looked down on him. Having someone proactively tell him, "You seem like a really nice person," was an utterly unprecedented experience.
Choji's voice carried a cautious note of probing. "Really?... Um, don't you think my figure is... a little plump?"
Naruto flashed a brilliant smile. "Plump? That build is perfect for you, isn't it?"
"I know, you're from the Akimichi clan, right?" Naruto said as he opened his own bento box. "For you, your build is a reserve of strength. Without any reserves, you wouldn't be able to send enemies flying."
Shikamaru felt somewhat gratified as he listened. Choji had