What to Do When You Haven't Done Your Homework

The next morning, Hanfu headed to the Ninja Academy in high spirits, with his little brother in tow.

Although he had practiced Ninja Tool Throwing for over two hours last night, he had also completely mastered it, so Hanfu was in a good mood.

"Big brother, I want to learn how to throw kunai."

Gekko Hayate suddenly spoke up, asking eagerly. Hanfu's display last night had truly amazed him.

"You want to learn that?"

Hanfu instinctively wanted to refuse. It wasn't that he was keeping it to himself; it was just that his little brother's talent was limited. Even if he devoted himself entirely to Konoha-Style Kenjutsu, he would ultimately only become a Special Jonin. If he split his attention with other things, wouldn't that hold him back even more?

But then he thought about it again and realized that his little brother was already attending the Ninja Academy. Even if Hanfu didn't teach him, the teachers there would teach him these things next semester.

Besides, Ninja Tool Throwing, trap-making, tracking, and Anti-Tracking were all basic skills every ninja needed. Even if they took up some of Gekko Hayate's time, his little brother still had to learn them. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to get by in the Shinobi World.

So Hanfu nodded. "Sure, but for now, you can only practice with wooden kunai."

"Okay, got it!"

Gekko Hayate was thrilled.

When they arrived at the Ninja Academy, the two of them went their separate ways.

Hanfu returned to his classroom, only to be stopped by Anko as soon as he walked in.

"Hanfu, we're having a picnic after school!" Anko said with a grin.

"Can I skip it?" Hanfu asked.

"Sure. You've already paid, anyway." Anko looked delighted.

"Then... I guess I'll go."

Hanfu sighed. He mainly couldn't bear to part with his Pocket Money.

Besides, the Ninja Academy let out at three thirty in the afternoon. He could walk his little brother home in half an hour, then meet up with Anko and the others. There'd be enough time.

"Then it's settled!"

Anko was just about to turn and leave when she glanced back at the bruise on Hanfu's face and asked, "Hanfu, is your injury all right?"

"It's nothing, just a little bruise. It'll be gone in a couple of days," Hanfu replied.

"Then I'm relieved." Anko patted her chest, then skipped away.

"Relieved? What does she mean by that?" Hanfu eyed her suspiciously.

After taking his seat, Hanfu rested his chin in his hands and let out a long yawn. His eyes drooping, he began to doze off.

"Hanfu, Hanfu!"

He didn't know how much time had passed when a voice suddenly jolted him awake. Still groggy, he heard, "Where's your homework?"

"Huh? Oh, homework." Hanfu opened his bleary eyes and rubbed them, still not quite with it. "What homework?"

Standing in front of Hanfu, collecting homework, was Ito Nipan, a fellow student who dreamed of becoming a chef and was studying hard at the Ninja Academy to achieve it.

"The five-hundred-word essay on Ninja Tool Throwing!"

Ito Nipan slammed the stack of homework books in his hands onto the desk, gritting his teeth. "You didn't forget, did you? We only got this assignment because of you!"

"Uh..."

Hanfu's eyelid twitched.

He'd remembered when he got home last night, but then his mother had grilled him, and he'd gotten so nervous that he forgot. After that, he'd spent over two hours practicing Ninja Tool Throwing, so the homework had completely slipped his mind!

"Ha, I remember now. I left my homework at home!" Hanfu said with a regretful look. "Sorry, sorry. Um, Ito Nipan, how about I bring it tomorrow?"

"Who are you calling fat? I'm plump, not fat. I'll definitely slim down when I'm older!" Ito Nipan roared.

"Yes, yes. When Ito Nipan grows up, he'll slim down until he's as thin as a streak of lightning!" Hanfu coaxed.

"That's more like it."

Ito Nipan snorted. "Turn in your homework or don't. I'll tell the teacher exactly what happened."

"Don't be like that, Ito Nipan. I'm not refusing to hand it in; I left it at home!" Hanfu pleaded. "How about I write it right now?"

Ito Nipan shook his head. "No. I have to hand them in now. Are you turning yours in or not?"

"Even a thousand miles of mountains and rivers can't stop kindness. Can't you give me a chance?"

"No."

Ito Nipan fumed. "We didn't even have homework yesterday. But you made us all stay home and do assignments, and then you, you, you..."

"Instigator?" Hanfu prompted.

"Right, you were the instigator, and you didn't even do the homework. Gekko Hayate, you're shameless!" Ito Nipan raged.

By now, everyone in the classroom had arrived. Hearing the commotion at the back, one by one they turned to stare at Hanfu without expression. The atmosphere grew rather tense.

Hanfu noticed that even Aburame Yui, the student with the least presence, was looking at him. It put him under a lot of pressure.

"Hanfu, do you really think that's okay?"

Iruka gazed at him with a pitiful expression. "It took me two hours to finish the homework yesterday."

"Yeah, it took me two and a half hours!"

"It's all Gekko Hayate's fault!"

"And he didn't even do it. What a shameless jerk!"

"Beat him up!"

Anko raised her Right Hand excitedly and shouted at the top of her voice.

Hanfu stared at Anko in disbelief. He understood now—the one who had egged everyone on to beat him up yesterday had been Anko!

No wonder she'd said she was relieved just now. So she'd been the one stirring everyone up behind the scenes!

Hanfu glared angrily at Anko.

When Anko realized she'd been exposed, she quickly sat upright and flashed him a smile, dimples and all, hoping her cuteness would get her off the hook.

"The teacher's here!"

Ito Nipan's eyes suddenly lit up. He picked up the homework books from the desk, then trotted over to the classroom door to report, "Teacher, everyone turned in yesterday's homework except Gekko Hayate."

"Hm?"

Kashima Isamu froze. If he remembered correctly, hadn't Hanfu been the one to remind him to assign the homework yesterday?

What was this kid up to?

Kashima Isamu gestured for Ito Nipan to put the homework books on the teacher's desk.

"Hanfu."

Kashima Isamu walked up to the front of the classroom and asked seriously, "Where's your homework?"

Hanfu rose from his seat. His classmates all turned to look at him, their eager expressions like people settling in to watch a movie on TV.

"Teacher, yesterday I... yesterday I... got beaten up!"

Hanfu suddenly put on an expression of Grief and Indignation.

At that moment, the students watching him all looked away in perfect unison. They sat bolt upright, gazing straight ahead. Anko was the most conspicuous of them all.

"Beaten up?" Kashima Isamu glanced at the bruise on Hanfu's face and frowned. "Who beat you?"

"I didn't get a good look before I was hit," Hanfu replied.

Hanfu deliberately didn't reveal the truth, because he knew the person who had hit him would surely stand up for him and distract Kashima Isamu.

Sure enough, the moment Hanfu finished speaking, Anko sprang to her feet. "Teacher, Hanfu must not have been able to do his homework because he got beaten up."

"That's right, teacher. Please forgive Hanfu this once."

"Just let him turn in a new essay today!"

The "culprits" in the class eagerly spoke up to defend Hanfu and plead his case, their expressions sincere and their voices earnest. In their hearts, however, they were all cursing him.

That Gekko Hayate was such a crafty little bastard!

No, I can't let this go. I'll have to beat him up again this afternoon!

Gekko Hayate was utterly shameless!