The Ninja Academy provided lodging but no meals. After class, Qiushui didn't go straight back to the office. Instead, he stopped at a small shop outside the village to have lunch.
After eating his fill, he leisurely strolled back to the school.
Matsumoto Mie noticed Qiushui walk in and greeted him with a smile. "Teacher Qiushui, I passed by Class 1 of the 4th Grade this morning and noticed that not a single student was sleeping or skipping class. There were also a lot more students raising their hands to answer questions. It was completely different from before. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed this was your first time teaching."
Qiushui shook his head and modestly replied, "Not at all. Compared to a senior like you, Teacher Mie, I still have a long way to go."
Matsumoto Mie naturally knew Qiushui was just being polite, but who didn't like hearing a compliment?
In a good mood, she took out some of her treasured candy and offered it to Qiushui.
Qiushui accepted it and thanked her. Then, right in front of her, he unwrapped a piece and popped it into his mouth. It was so sweet.
Mizuki silently watched the scene from the side, and his heart soured.
It wasn't that he couldn't afford such a small treat. Matsumoto Mie occasionally gave him snacks, too. But the candy she'd just offered was from her favorite tin. He'd worked with her for years and still didn't know what it tasted like. A trace of jealousy toward Qiushui flickered in his eyes.
Iruka stood nearby, feeling somewhat wistful. He realized that perhaps he really wasn't suited to being a homeroom teacher. His earlier decision had been the right one.
Qiushui returned to his desk and sat down. He pulled a blank notebook from the drawer and took out a pen.
He planned to write a novel.
In his previous life, Qiushui had never seriously written a novel, but he'd read plenty—whether it was wish-fulfillment stories with domineering, invincible protagonists or harem novels about men surrounded by beautiful women.
As for this world's culture and entertainment... how to put it? It was barren, to say the least, with plenty of room to grow.
He had nothing much to do during lunch or when he didn't have classes, so he might as well write novels to pass the time. Maybe he could even earn some money and improve his living conditions down the road.
Thursday morning.
The first rays of sunlight had just climbed onto the windowsill when Ino Yamanaka woke up in her big bed with its pink sheets. She rubbed her eyes and lingered in bed for a few seconds before throwing off the covers and getting up.
At the washstand, she carefully groomed herself. She scrutinized her reflection in the mirror again and again, adjusting even the angle of the lock of hair over her forehead three times—slightly to the left, then to the right—until it sat just right.
She turned to one side to check her profile, then the other. Only after confirming that she looked flawless from every angle did she nod with satisfaction and head downstairs.
In the dining room, Yamanaka Inoichi and his wife were already seated at the table.
Hearing footsteps on the stairs, Yamanaka Inoichi immediately put down his chopsticks. A kind smile unique to doting fathers spread across his face, filled with affection, pride, and the unmistakable adoration he reserved for his precious daughter.
"Ino!" he called out warmly, raising a hand. "Come on over. Your mother specially made your favorite fried eggs and beef today. They're still hot!"
Ino's mother was Yamashita Chie, a plump, middle-aged woman of about thirty-five or thirty-six. At his words, she immediately went to the kitchen and brought out the fried eggs and beef.
Ino gave a soft "Mm" in response and slowly made her way to her seat. She picked up her chopsticks, put a small piece of beef in her mouth, and chewed. Then she poked at the fried egg. After only two or three bites, she set down her chopsticks and stood up.
The smile on Yamanaka Inoichi's face faltered. "Why did you eat so little? You've barely had a few bites."
"Dad, you don't understand..." Ino drew out the words and tilted her head. "If girls eat too much, they'll get fat. Then they'll lose their figure, and they won't look good."
Yamanaka Inoichi grew worried. "You still can't eat this little. You have classes and physical training at school. How can your body handle it on just a couple of bites?"
He'd become a father late in life, and he'd cherished this daughter ever since she was little. It pained him whenever she ate even one bite less.
Ino didn't reply. She just stuck out her tongue at her father and made a playful face before bouncing out the door.
Ino had barely gone a few steps from her front door when she spotted a familiar figure approaching in the distance.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, a meaningful smile curling her lips.
"Well, well..." she drawled, her tone carrying a hint of provocation. "If it isn't Sakura. How come you're always so punctual?"
They used to be the best of friends. They went shopping together, enjoyed good food together, and shared little secrets like any girls would.
But everything changed after they both fell for Uchiha Sasuke.
There was only one Sasuke between best friends and rivals, and now, whenever the two met, sparks were all that remained between them.
Sakura Haruno wasn't the sort to take an insult lying down.
Without breaking stride, she met Ino's gaze and shot back with equal bite, "What does it matter to you when I come to school? It's not your school. Who are you to tell me what to do?"
Ino was momentarily stumped, and her face flushed slightly. She immediately fired back, "I bet you're trying to get to school early so you can fawn over Sasuke!"
Sakura refused to back down. "Hmph. Aren't you doing the same thing?"
Their gazes locked, and sparks seemed to fly through the air.
The next second, they set off toward the school at the same time.
Calling it walking would've been generous. They shoved shoulder to shoulder, elbows silently jostling as neither was willing to give the other an inch.
They kept elbowing each other after entering the school gates.
They were still elbowing each other as they crossed the courtyard.
By the time they reached the entrance to the classroom building, both had nearly sped up at once. Whoever made it into the classroom first would get to see Sasuke first.
Ino dashed toward the classroom door. How could Sakura possibly let her get away with that? She immediately sped up and caught up. They reached the doorway almost simultaneously, then got stuck there.
Ino braced one arm against the doorframe and pushed Sakura's face with her other hand. "Four-eyes, my left foot crossed the threshold first. Let me in!" she mumbled.
Sakura refused to yield. She stuck one leg through the doorway and shoved half her body inside. "Ino Pig, my right hand reached in first. What gives you the right to go in ahead of me?" she wailed.
The two of them remained locked in a stalemate at the doorway, each pushing and shoving the other.
The students in the classroom had long since grown used to the sight. Ever since the second month of school, the two had been at it several times every week. Some glanced up before going back to chatting; others didn't even raise their eyes, as if the commotion at the door were just part of the daily background noise.
Just as the two were shoving each other with gusto, a voice suddenly came from behind them.
"Um... what are you two doing here?"
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