You Blind Dog Licker

Honestly, Naruto rarely noticed Hinata.

One reason was her introverted personality, making her almost invisible. Another was her appearance and style, which weren't particularly striking, just endearingly cute.

But seeing Hinata blush so deeply, it was clear her decision wasn't easy. He naturally wouldn't refuse someone's kindness.

If he ate it, he'd repay her later.

"Thank you, classmate Hinata."

Naruto reached out to take the bento box, but Hinata seemed frozen. When her icy-cold hand touched his, she flinched as if startled and pulled her hand back, letting him take it.

Naruto placed the box on the table and scooted over on the bench. "Please, sit."

Hinata stared at the bench for a long moment before slowly sitting down, keeping her distance and her head bowed, not daring to look at Naruto. "Thank you... for accepting my invitation, classmate Naruto."

Naruto felt as if he were the one treating her. Considering her shy nature, he didn't stand on ceremony and opened the lid, intending to use it as a bowl.

Inside were various dishes like sushi, sea bream chunks, sweet shrimp, and teriyaki eel, all neatly arranged in colorful rows. At the bottom were rice, pickles, and vegetables.

The cutlery included a pair of serving chopsticks, personal chopsticks, and a spoon.

Naruto was wondering how to divide the rice.

Hinata directly pushed the rice container towards Naruto. "You eat, I don't like rice."

Naruto let out a hearty laugh, picked up the serving chopsticks, and began to eat heartily.

He, Uzumaki Naruto, would remember this friendship.

Hinata also ate in small bites, a slight smile playing on her lips.

While things were harmonious here, Haruno Sakura's efforts were fruitless. No matter how she tried to persuade him, Sasuke ignored her, quietly eating his onigiri.

Seeing Naruto chatting and laughing with Hinata, eating even better than she was, made her feel even worse.

She gritted her teeth and thought: Only someone with no upbringing like Naruto would eat anything anyone gives him! Sasuke is so much better, pure and untouched. It's just too hard to win him over.

Lunchtime ended, and the graduating students returned to their classrooms in groups. Naruto had finished everything and thanked Hinata again.

Hinata's actions always gave a sense of unhurried grace, and her smile was reserved. She picked up the heavy bento box and left, her steps seeming to float above the ground.

Soon, the Jonin instructors for each class arrived one after another and, after Iruka's introductions, led their students away.

Only Team 7, where Naruto was, had their teacher still absent.

The classroom became empty and quiet.

The three classmates didn't speak. Since the roster was announced, they hadn't even exchanged a greeting.

Iruka couldn't help but wonder if the class assignments were a mistake. After all, classmates were supposed to be the closest comrades in the future.

Time passed, and the shadows cast by the indoor windows slowly shifted outside, turning into the long shadows of the school building.

Iruka received his work assignments, solemnly warned Naruto and Sasuke not to fight, and then left to attend to his duties.

The three remained silent.

Haruno Sakura sat directly behind Naruto, with Sasuke to her left. Although she tried to maintain a ladylike appearance, she was internally fuming and itching to lash out.

This Naruto! Why isn't he talking to me yet? Do I have to be the one to approach him? No way!

And Sasuke still ignores me! Waaah!

Naruto remained unmoved. As a man of dignity, if these two ungrateful people didn't give him a pleasant look, why should he show them any favor?

However, out of the magnanimity of a strong person, he decided to break the stalemate and turned to look directly into Haruno Sakura's eyes.

"I don't understand. In terms of looks, strength, or character, in what way am I not superior to this pretty boy? Yet you, a sycophant, are blind and chase him instead of me?"

Naruto calmly faced the fact that he had pursued Haruno Sakura in the past.

Haruno Sakura was stunned and couldn't even react in time to get angry. "Naruto, what are you talking about?"

Her secret of fawning over Sasuke exposed, she panicked. She didn't dare to turn her head to the left, afraid of seeing his indifferent gaze.

Looking into Naruto's determined sky-blue eyes, she felt at a loss for the first time.

Naruto: "I've made myself very clear, literally. If you didn't understand, I can repeat and explain it again."

"No! Don't say anymore!" Haruno Sakura screamed, clenching her fists.

THUMP!

Sasuke leaped up, landing swiftly on the table, and positioned himself between Naruto and Haruno Sakura, like a cool moonbeam illuminating Sakura's chaotic heart.

She was almost moved to tears. Was Sasuke saving the damsel in distress? He really did care...

"You think you're stronger than me?" Sasuke's cold voice rang out, his gaze towards Naruto filled with pure competitive spirit.

CRACK!

Haruno Sakura's heart shattered. She felt as if she could truly hear the sound of her heart breaking.

Tears began to drip down, more and more, forming two streams that flowed out of the classroom.

But her wrist was suddenly grabbed by Naruto. "Wait for the teacher, where are you going?"

Seeing Naruto not respond, and instead paying attention to that clueless, big-foreheaded girl, Sasuke's expression grew even more sullen.

Haruno Sakura felt a sliver of comfort, but her temper made her shove his hand away forcefully. "Let go of me!"

Naruto let go. He never forced women. The incident with his sworn brother, the white-haired man, was a lesson learned.

Haruno Sakura's entire face crumpled. No one stopped her as she ran toward the classroom door.

Just then, the door was pulled open.

Kakashi, the white-haired man with dead fish eyes, walked into the classroom, scratching the back of his head. "It's been so long since I've been to school, I even got lost... Huh? What are you guys doing?"

Seeing her teacher arrive, Haruno Sakura's good student instincts made her stop in her tracks, though she was still crying.

Kakashi observed the situation closely. Drawing on his extensive experience reading "Icha Icha Paradise," he accurately deduced the answer.

Two boys dueled for love, the girl couldn't stop them, and didn't know how to choose, so she tearfully fled.

"Youth is truly beautiful..." Kakashi gently placed a hand on Haruno Sakura's shoulder.

"It's just the two of you left, right? I definitely won't mistake you. Come with me, I'm the... your instructor."

Naruto stepped into the hallway. Sasuke, however, was quickly leaping across the desks. He glanced at Naruto, as if to prove his agility.

Naruto found it childish, competing over such trivial things.

But how could he refuse a challenge! If they wanted to compete, then let them compete!

He decisively jumped off the desk and charged from the second-to-last row toward the door.

Sasuke moved first, so he paused, waiting until Naruto was on the same horizontal line as him before accelerating.

Heeding Iruka's warning, the two did not engage in physical conflict, purely competing in speed.

Up, down, up, down.

Kakashi's listless single eye even perked up with interest.

But with another glance, he lowered his head, because the outcome was clear. Naruto's steps were fast and powerful, his jumps longer.

In a matter of seconds, he pulled ahead of Sasuke by two body lengths, landing in front of him first.

When Sasuke landed, the look in his eyes as he regarded Naruto truly became serious, his hands clenched into fists.

Naruto, however, didn't look at him, walking on his own.

The four of them left the classroom and went up to the rooftop.

Wide archways with banners bearing the character "Heaven" stood connected, with two rows of neatly trimmed trees planted beneath them. Their branches and leaves just managed to peek through the gaps between the arches.

Kakashi leaned against the rooftop railing, gesturing for the three of them to sit on the steps. "Everyone, introduce yourselves first."

Naruto didn't hesitate. While the other two were quiet, he spoke up first. "My surname is Uzumaki, my given name is Naruto. I'll be thirteen next month."

Kakashi blinked. "That's it? What else? Hobbies, aspirations?"

Haruno Sakura said with a resentful gaze, "His hobby is pranks! His aspiration is to shout every day, unrealistically, that he's going to surpass all the previous Hokage!"

Naruto didn't retort. Instead, he felt a sense of nostalgia.

The mouth beneath Kakashi's mask pursed into a smile. The reality was indeed as he had thought.

The girl knew Naruto well; they must have been childhood friends. Sasuke, as expected, was likely the unattainable beauty who appeared out of nowhere.

Who would he choose?

Haruno Sakura glanced sideways. "Teacher, you still haven't told us your name."