A Worrier Playing Both Dad and Mom! Please Vote!!!

"N-nothing..."

Iruka took a deep breath.

"I know people your age can be very emotional, but you still need to know what matters most."

"To become an excellent ninja, you need more than a sharp mind and great strength. You also need a firm will and unwavering conviction."

"You've always had the highest score in Ninja Insights."

"But I have to wonder whether you truly understand what it means, or whether you've only memorized it by rote."

Sakura Haruno lowered her head too.

"I..."

Iruka sighed.

"Sakura, the Shinobi World isn't some playground. The Ninja Academy may protect you, but once you leave and become a real ninja, you'll face trials of steel and blood every day. In situations like that, the smallest difference can mean life or death..."

"Your grades have always been the best, but I hope you'll focus on improving your ninjutsu and combat skills, and on further strengthening your will. You shouldn't devote all your energy to romance..."

"B-but..."

"Iruka-sensei, some things aren't easy to just let go..."

Tears slipped down her cheeks again, beyond her control.

Iruka-sensei sighed.

"I understand."

"Ninjas can't truly be without feelings. But it's precisely because we have people we admire and people we want to protect that we should make ourselves stronger. That way, we can stay by their side and protect them..."

"Isn't that right?"

"I know you've always liked Sasuke, but I hope you'll become a better person for his sake..."

"Not the other way around!"

"Do you understand what I mean?"

"Sasuke is a genius ninja, and he's been through a terrible tragedy. He won't have the time or inclination to play at romance like other teenage boys and girls. What he needs is someone who understands him, empathizes with him, and can fight alongside him as his equal."

Sakura Haruno seemed only to half understand, but she wiped away her tears and nodded.

Iruka-sensei smiled faintly.

"If you want to be the person walking shoulder to shoulder with Sasuke..."

"Then work hard to become a better person..."

Sakura Haruno was deeply moved, and lowered her head in shame.

"I... I understand, Iruka-sensei..."

"Thank you..."

"I'll work even harder and become someone Sasuke-kun could love!"

Iruka-sensei nodded in satisfaction, then rubbed his nose and smiled awkwardly.

"It's a little embarrassing for someone like me to talk to teenagers about their love lives..."

"As long as you understand."

He stood up and turned to leave.

He'd just opened the door when he suddenly stopped, then turned back.

"One more thing, Sakura..."

"Naruto's had a hard time too. He's lonely and isolated, and everyone shuts him out. So I hope you..."

"Will be a little kinder to him..."

He gave a rueful smile, his expression complicated.

"But I'm not saying this as your teacher."

"It's just a personal request from me, Umino Iruka..."

With that, he sighed softly, shook his head, and gradually disappeared into the distance.

"Iruka-sensei..."

Sakura Haruno watched him leave, her heart in turmoil...

A Worrier Playing Both Dad and Mom! Please Vote!!!

Outside the office, Iruka-sensei scratched his head awkwardly.

"It's part of a teacher's job, sure, but..."

"Talking to a young girl about this kind of thing is a little beyond me..."

"I hope Sakura gives it some thought."

"Come to think of it, Naruto's been acting a little strange lately. Should I go check on him?"

Iruka-sensei hesitated.

The problem was, plenty of teachers and students had noticed how much attention he paid to Naruto...

Some people had even grown resentful about it.

But he couldn't help it. When he looked at Naruto, he seemed to see his younger self.

He couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

In the end, he couldn't resist following after him.

The sun was setting.

Iruka-sensei soon caught up with Naruto. At the moment, Naruto was doing weighted frog jumps while studying at the same time, so he couldn't move very fast.

"Naruto..."

Watching the boy's back as he sweated beneath the yellowing sunlight, Iruka-sensei couldn't help but feel shaken.

He'd seen how Naruto had changed in class.

But this was the first time he'd truly witnessed Naruto's efforts so directly...

Though dusk had fallen, the summer heat still lingered.

There was no wind today, and the whole village was filled with a hot, muggy dampness.

Naruto's sweat kept dripping, but the determination on his face was unlike anything Iruka had ever seen.

"335..."

"336..."

"Odd changes, even stays the same..."

"337..."

Iruka-sensei was stunned.

"He's studying while doing weighted frog jumps?!"

"Naruto, you..."

He didn't want to disturb him, so he simply followed quietly at a distance, watching him...

The streets of Konoha were crowded with pedestrians.

Aside from the occasional curious glance, most people seemed to have grown used to Naruto's hard work and the changes in him.

The looks of contempt and even hatred had gradually disappeared.

No one could keep mocking someone who persevered in working hard.

Maybe they could on the first day, or the second...

But not forever.

And even when some people still pointed at him and made sarcastic remarks, Naruto ignored them completely.

His mind was on nothing else. He was absorbed, even engrossed, in his training and studies.

A pleased smile appeared at the corner of Iruka-sensei's mouth.

Soon, Naruto passed Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

Iruka-sensei's heart stirred.

Ramen was Naruto's favorite food, and Ichiraku Ramen Shop was his favorite place to eat.

Yet Naruto didn't even look up.

Iruka-sensei was dumbfounded...

He followed Naruto all the way, and even when people nearby started pointing at him, Iruka didn't notice.

He'd forgotten that his behavior was a little creepy, even perverted...

"Has Naruto really become this disciplined?!"

"I can hardly believe it..."

To make sure, Iruka-sensei continued to trail him in secret.

At last, they reached Naruto's home. Naruto stopped doing frog jumps, wiped the sweat from his brow, and looked up at the last golden rays in the sky, a bright smile on his face.

He nodded and climbed up to the second floor.

Iruka-sensei didn't dare get too close. He looked around and spotted a utility pole across from the second floor, then silently climbed up it too...

Little did he know, the mantis stalked the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

There had actually been Anbu ninjas quietly watching over and protecting Naruto the whole time.

A few Anbu exchanged glances, then looked at Iruka, who was climbing the utility pole to peek, their expressions complicated.

"Ahem. Should we report this to the Third?"

"Forget it. Iruka isn't a bad guy..."

"Right. I remember the Hokage personally told Iruka to look after Naruto at the Ninja Academy, didn't he?"

"That's true, but isn't he paying a little too much attention to Naruto now..."

"He's just like a mom sending her kid to school for the first time..."

By then, Iruka had climbed to the top of the utility pole. He sneaked around to the far side to hide, then leaned out to peer through the window into Naruto's home with one eye.

"N-Naruto..."

"Is he cooking for himself?!"

Iruka was stunned. Knowing Naruto, this seemed utterly unbelievable!

Before, Naruto had eaten nothing but ramen or instant noodles.

But now, he was cooking for himself with great relish, and he'd become quite skilled at it...

There was meat, vegetables, eggs, and milk—a perfectly balanced meal...

"When did that brat get so good at this?"

"He's practically..."

"Someone else's kid..."

Iruka was both surprised and pleased.

After Naruto finished cooking, he actually started wolfing down his food while taking out...

A textbook?!

Studying while eating?!

Iruka's jaw nearly hit the ground...