Naruto, What's the point of being Hokage without you!

"N-nothing..."

Umino Iruka took a deep breath.

"I know that at your age, emotions fluctuate wildly, but you still need to distinguish what is important and what is trivial."

"To become an excellent ninja, you need more than just a sharp mind and powerful strength; you also need a firm will and tenacious conviction."

"Your score in Ninja Insights has always been the highest."

"But I highly doubt whether you have truly grasped their meaning, or if you have simply memorized them by rote."

Sakura Haruno lowered her head as well.

"I..."

Umino Iruka sighed.

"Sakura, this ninja world is not a playground. Ninja Academy may be able to shelter you for now, but once you leave and become a true ninja, you will face the trials of iron and blood every single day. In such situations, the difference between life and death lies in a fraction of a second..."

"Your academic grades have always been the best, but I hope you can focus on improving your ninjutsu and practical combat training, and temper your will more, rather than pouring all your energy into romantic feelings..."

"B-but..."

"Umino Iruka-sensei, some things aren't just something you can let go of just because you say so..."

Her tears slid down involuntarily once again.

Umino Iruka-sensei sighed.

"I understand."

"Ninjas cannot be truly heartless, but it is precisely because we have people we admire and people we want to protect that we must become stronger. Only then can we stay by their side and protect them..."

"Isn't that right?"

"I know you have always liked Sasuke, but I hope that it is for his sake that you strive to become a better person..."

"And not the other way around!"

"Do you understand what I mean?"

"Sasuke is a genius ninja who has suffered a very unfortunate past. A person like him would never have the heart to play at romance like other adolescent boys and girls. What he needs is someone who can understand him, empathize with him, fight alongside him, and keep pace with him."

Sakura Haruno listened, half-understanding, but she wiped away her tears and nodded.

Umino Iruka-sensei smiled slightly.

"If you want to be the person who walks shoulder-to-shoulder with Sasuke..."

"Then work hard to become better..."

Sakura Haruno was deeply moved, and she couldn't help but lower her head in shame.

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

"Thank you..."

"I will work even harder to become someone worthy of being liked by Sasuke-kun!"

Umino Iruka-sensei nodded with satisfaction, then rubbed his nose and smiled a bit sheepishly.

"For someone like me to be discussing the romantic problems of you young people, it really is quite awkward..."

"As long as you understand."

He stood up and turned to leave.

Just as he pushed open the Space Gate, his footsteps suddenly paused, and he looked back.

"Also, Sakura..."

"Naruto has had a very hard time, too. Lonely, desolate, and ostracized by everyone, so I hope you..."

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

He gave a bitter, complex smile.

"However, this is not a request from your teacher."

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

After saying this, he sighed softly, shook his head, and his figure gradually faded into the distance.

"Umino Iruka-sensei..."

Sakura Haruno watched his retreating back, her heart surging with turbulent, restless emotions...

Stepping outside the office, Umino Iruka-sensei scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Although it is one of a teacher's duties, but..."

"Talking to a young girl like this is still a bit beyond my capabilities..."

"I hope Sakura will think it over carefully."

"Right, that guy Naruto has been acting a bit strange lately. Should I go check on him?"

Iruka was feeling somewhat hesitant.

The reason was that many teachers and students could tell he was paying excessive attention to Naruto...

It even inevitably stirred up some dissatisfaction among others.

However, he had no choice; in Naruto, he seemed to see a reflection of his own past self.

He simply could not sit by and do nothing.

Thinking of this, he ultimately could not help but follow after him.

The sun was setting.

Iruka soon caught up to Naruto, as the boy was currently doing weighted frog jumps while practicing Dual-Tasking, making it impossible for him to move very quickly.

"Naruto..."

Watching the back of the boy drenched in sweat under the dim, golden sunlight, Iruka could not help but feel a jolt in his heart.

He had seen the changes in Naruto during class.

But this was the first time he had truly and intuitively felt the intensity of his efforts...

Although it was already dusk, the heat of Natsuhi had not yet dissipated.

Furthermore, there was no wind today, and the entire Konoha was filled with a stifling, humid air.

Naruto's sweat dripped continuously, but the expression on his face was one of determination that Iruka had never seen before.

"335..."

"336..."

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

"337..."

Iruka was shocked.

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

"Naruto, you guy..."

He could not bear to disturb him, so he followed quietly behind Naruto the whole way, watching him from afar...

The streets of Konoha were bustling with pedestrians.

However, aside from the occasional curious glance, many people seemed to have grown accustomed to Naruto's efforts and changes.

The looks of disdain and even hatred that were once there had slowly begun to disappear.

No one can persist in mocking someone who persists in their efforts.

For the first day, or the second, perhaps they might...

But it could not last forever.

Moreover, even if some people continued to point fingers and make sarcastic remarks, Naruto ignored it all completely.

He was single-minded, immersed, and even obsessed with his own training and studies.

A gratified smile appeared on the corner of Iruka's mouth.

Soon, Naruto passed by Ichiraku Ramen.

Iruka felt a stir in his heart.

This was Naruto's favorite food and his favorite place to eat.

Yet, Naruto did not even lift his head.

Iruka was dumbfounded...

Following him the whole way, Iruka did not even notice that people nearby were starting to point at him.

He had forgotten that his own actions were a bit creepy, or even perverted...

"Is that guy Naruto really that disciplined now?!"

"I find it hard to believe..."

To verify all of this, Iruka continued to follow him stealthily.

Finally arriving at his doorstep, Naruto stopped his frog jumps, wiped the sweat covering his forehead, and looked at the last sliver of twilight in the sky, revealing a brilliant smile.

He nodded and climbed up to the second floor.

Iruka dared not follow too closely; he scanned his surroundings and spotted a utility pole opposite the second floor, so he climbed up it silently...

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

In fact, there had been Anbu ninjas quietly monitoring and protecting Naruto the entire time.

Several Anbu exchanged glances, looking at each other with complex expressions as they watched Iruka climbing the utility pole to peek.

"Ahem, should we report this to the Third Hokage?"

"Forget it, Iruka isn't a bad person..."

"Yeah, I remember Iruka was personally tasked by the Hokage to look after Naruto at the Ninja Academy, right?"

"That was true before, but isn't his attention on Naruto a bit excessive now..."

"It's like a mother sending her kid to school for the first time..."

At this moment, Iruka had already climbed to the top of a utility pole, stealthily circling to the back to hide his figure, then tilted his head to peek with one eye, peering through the window into Naruto's home.

"Nar, Naruto that guy..."

"Cooking for himself?!"

Iruka was shocked beyond belief; based on his understanding of Naruto, this was simply a fantasy!

In the past, he would either eat ramen or instant noodles.

But now, he was actually eating his own cooking with great relish, and he was quite skilled at it...

There was meat, vegetables, eggs, and milk—the nutrition was perfectly balanced...

"This brat, when did he become so capable?"

"He's practically..."

"The kid from someone else's family..."

Iruka felt both surprised and gratified.

Once Naruto finished cooking, he actually started wolfing down his food while pulling out...

A textbook?!

Studying while eating?!

Iruka's jaw nearly hit the ground...