Grouping

This time, Sakura and Ino came panting into the classroom. The two of them had raced each other on the way there.

Even after entering the classroom, they were still arguing over who had come in first and who had come in second.

This sort of relationship, one that only looked like a rivalry, couldn't be called a true competitive partnership. True partners liked helping each other improve. But Sakura and Ino only wanted their rival to do worse than they did. They had no interest in a mutually beneficial, win-win arrangement.

Just look at Might Guy and Kakashi. How many times had Might Guy clearly beaten Kakashi in a "duel," only to admit defeat because of Kakashi's "questionable arguments (flirting)"? Afterward, he'd train even harder. Now that was a competitive partnership.

Naruto, sitting beside Yashui, saw Sakura and immediately blushed. He gazed at her with a lovestruck expression, but Sakura paid him no mind. She was much more interested in Sasuke than in Naruto.

The two lovestruck girls spotted Sasuke, and their eyes immediately turned into five-pointed stars.

"I got into the classroom first. I'm sitting next to Sasuke."

"No, I did. I'm sitting next to Sasuke."

Their argument soon drew the attention of their classmates. Judging by their reactions, they were already used to Sakura and Ino bickering like this. And they always argued over Sasuke.

Other than cheering them on and watching the commotion, the onlookers did nothing. As the saying went, onlookers never minded if things got out of hand. Kids in the world of Naruto really did love stirring up trouble.

"Honestly, what's so great about that Sasuke guy?" Naruto glanced at Sasuke.

Sasuke had no interest in this argument over him. Whoever won or lost, it made no difference to him, so he couldn't be bothered to waste his energy on it.

"Thump! Thump!"

Naruto suddenly stepped onto Sasuke's desk and glared at him.

Seeing Naruto do that, Sakura and Ino turned their attention outward and united against him.

"Sasuke, teach Naruto a lesson!"

"Naruto, how could you do that?"

Naruto's reasoning was simple: he just wanted to show off in front of the person he liked. And now, before he'd even had the chance to show off, the girl he liked had already given him an earful.

Sakura's scolding left Naruto terribly embarrassed. He wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it.

But embarrassment was one thing. If he backed down here, how could he ever show his face in the ninja world again?

So Naruto didn't retreat. Instead, he leaned even closer and stared hard at Sasuke.

Although Sasuke didn't seem interested in Naruto, he'd already come to see him as a worthy opponent. He often observed Naruto. Naruto wasn't good at ninjutsu or genjutsu, but his stamina and basic Taijutsu were among the best in the class. Fighting someone like that wouldn't be beneath Sasuke.

And so Naruto and Sasuke locked eyes. They stared into each other's eyes, sparks and lightning crackling between them.

"Ah, sorry about that." A classmate accidentally poked Naruto in the butt, catching him off guard and throwing him off balance. His body pitched forward under the pull of gravity.

"I'm really sorry." The classmate was Fujiwara Shiro, who had passed the exam yesterday. But there was no point remembering the name of some bit character.

Fujiwara Shiro's mistake wasn't a big deal. Naruto and Sasuke's problem was.

Unable to keep his balance, Naruto's face landed right against Sasuke's. Of course, the two boys' lips touched, too. Considering Naruto's weight and the fact that he managed to stay upright after the kiss, Naruto and Sasuke might just have been gay...

"..."

You might have thought the teacher had suddenly walked into the classroom. As soon as it happened, the whole room fell into an oddly unnatural silence.

After a brief pause, cries of shock erupted. Sakura and Ino were practically on the verge of a breakdown, while Naruto...