Called Out

Returning to the classroom from Shin Kiyono's office, Houka and Uchiha Obito were met with the enthusiastic applause of heroes!

Without any warning or hesitation, a sea of familiar yet youthful faces appeared before Houka's eyes.

Asuma Sarutobi, Ibiki, Tobitake Tonbo, Kurenai Yuhi, and of course, Uchiha Obito's dream girl, Rin Nohara!

Wait!

Come to think of it, in the original story, Kurenai Yuhi possessed a heroic spirit and a demeanor that didn't lose to any man, but as a child, wasn't she just a bit too cute?!

At this moment, Kurenai Yuhi was only six years old, at the peak of her cuteness. With shoulder-length black hair and a chubby, baby-faced look, her large, innocent, and slightly dazed red eyes blinked like an elf's—she was absolutely adorable!

Even an old veteran like Houka felt the urge to ruthlessly squish her... cheeks. They were so round and cute.

On the other hand, Uchiha Obito's goddess, Rin, had markings on her cheeks that, in Houka's opinion, somewhat detracted from her beauty. However, in the world of Naruto, many ninjas wore such markings, like the Inuzuka Clan, so Houka didn't feel it was his place to comment.

Following his memories, he sat down at his desk. Houka looked left and right, only to realize he couldn't even name the two children sitting next to him!

Moreover, they didn't appear in the original story, so they were either nobodies or background characters. Still, he didn't look down on them; just as he was about to greet them properly to rekindle some long-lost desk-mate camaraderie, they fired the first shot.

"Hmph, people from the Uchiha Clan are truly rude, being late on the very first day of school!"

"An arrogant clan, hmph!"

Houka was dumbfounded. Alright, you guys can go back to being background characters; I won't bother you anymore.

"Obito, seriously, you're late every single time!" In the row in front, Rin Nohara had already walked over to Uchiha Obito's side, hands on her hips, scolding him fiercely.

Uchiha Obito held up both hands, awkwardly trying to explain something, but it clearly didn't make Rin happy.

Nearby, Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others were all watching Uchiha Obito.

Because he often helped elderly ladies cross the street, Uchiha Obito had successfully earned a lifetime achievement award for helping others. Even though his grades were poor, his popularity in the class was much better than Houka's.

After all, the former Houka had been very arrogant, looking down on everyone. The fact that he hadn't even remembered the names of his two desk-mates was proof enough, and combined with his poor grades, he basically had no friends in class.

Houka shook his head with a bitter smile, only to catch sight of a slightly jealous face in the corner.

Jealousy?

A six-year-old brat feeling jealous?

Could it be that he, like Uchiha Obito, had been precocious since he was in the womb?

Following the child's gaze, Houka discovered that the object of his jealousy was actually Asuma Sarutobi!

Uh, this was awkward.

If you liked Rin and were jealous of Uchiha Obito, that would be understandable, but why be jealous of Asuma Sarutobi?

The guy just happened to be born into a good family, being the son of the Third Hokage and the biggest "second-generation fire" in Konoha, spending his days walking two dogs and flirting with women on the street—what was so great about that?

Was it really worth being jealous over?

As Houka thought about it, he actually felt a bit jealous himself and almost couldn't help but cast a jealous look at Asuma Sarutobi.

However, this face did look somewhat familiar, and with the white hair... Kakashi? No, Kakashi had already graduated.

Houka squinted, guessing he must have seen him in the original story, but he couldn't recall it for the moment. One thing was certain: this guy was definitely a background character, the kind that wouldn't last more than three episodes.

"Hey, let me ask you something." Houka couldn't help but ask his desk-mate on the right.

"What?" The desk-mate glared at him, annoyed.

"What's that guy's name?" Houka gestured with his chin.

The desk-mate was only six, after all. Upon hearing this, he looked over and instinctively replied, "That's Mizuki, you idiot."

Mizuki?

Mizuki?

Houka suddenly realized.

"So it's him."

"We've been classmates for a year, and you don't even remember his name? The Uchiha Clan is just too arrogant!" The desk-mate glared at Houka with great indignation.

"Oh my, I am so sorry. And, uh, what was your name again?" Houka wore a look of minor embarrassment.

"..." The desk-mate's eye twitched; he was likely having a mental breakdown. "You don't need to know my name, idiot!"

Houka shrugged and turned away. Suit yourself. I'm a transmigrator; if you don't suck up to me, how do you expect to get ahead? Keep dreaming!

Still, Mizuki?

Heh, how interesting.

In the original story, Mizuki was a rogue ninja with a very strong sense of jealousy. Right at the beginning, he lured young Naruto into doing bad things, only to be beaten into the ground by a furious Naruto. Rumor had it his butt was swollen, and he ended up locked in Konoha Prison.

I just didn't expect that six-year-old Mizuki would already be showing such an ugly personality.

Amidst the noise, Shin Kiyono walked into the classroom. His piercing eyes scanned the room, and the classroom instantly fell into an eerie silence.

"Very good. Today is the first day of school, students..."

Shin Kiyono stood on the podium with the air of a successful man, as if possessed by Jack Ma, waving both hands to point out the landscape and stir up the masses, dismissing the heroes of the past!

Finally, Shin Kiyono recited the "Will of Fire" once more before stopping, looking as if he still had more to say.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!

This was, of course, not the overwhelmed Mizuki rushing up to slap Shin Kiyono in the face, but rather his teary-eyed classmates desperately applauding to hide their excitement.

Shin Kiyono was very satisfied that his speech had received such enthusiastic affirmation; he gave a light cough and continued, "Just two months ago, student Kakashi successfully passed the graduation exam, breaking the record for the youngest graduate since the founding of the Ninja Academy!"

Clap, clap, clap!

It was Kakashi's little fan, Rin Nohara, who couldn't help but applaud.

Uchiha Obito looked over with a sullen face, his head metaphorically covered in a lush, green meadow.

This made Uchiha Houka think of a song.

'I fell in love with a wild horse, and my head is full of grasslands.'

Shin Kiyono affirmed Kakashi's achievements while admonishing all the students present to take Kakashi as a role model, to study hard and improve every day, to strive for all-around development in morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetics, and labor, and to make their due contributions to the three modernizations of Konoha...

Throughout the morning, the entire class just sat there listening to Shin Kiyono recount Kakashi's deeds, and Kakashi's halo of genius completely shrouded everyone in the classroom.

Uchiha Houka, in particular, received mysterious looks of contempt from other students from time to time.

It seemed his glorious achievement from last semester, where he challenged Kakashi only to be kicked unconscious by the latter, was still fresh in their memories.

I'm really catching strays just by sitting here.

Uchiha Houka sighed.

"Here, I must also specifically criticize student Uchiha Houka!"

On the podium, Shin Kiyono's gaze suddenly landed on Uchiha Houka.

And the students in the class, at the very first moment, coordinated by turning their heads to look at him.