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

"Cough, cough... because I have already given it my all, and besides..."

"I don't feel sad about losing to Naruto Uzumaki."

Ino couldn't help but tremble inwardly.

A girl's heart really is the strangest thing in this world...

Naruto Uzumaki also reacted.

"Ah--"

He hurriedly stepped forward, looking at Hinata with immense concern.

"Sorry Hinata, I went too hard just now. Are, are you okay?"

Watching Naruto Uzumaki worry about her, a sweet blush flew across Hinata's face once more.

She shook her head gently.

"I, I'm fine, Naruto-kun..."

At this moment, everyone else was still immersed in shock, unable to pull themselves away.

Iruka finally managed to snap back to reality.

"Ahem, the winner is..."

"Naruto Uzumaki!"

"Both sides, perform the Seal of Reconciliation!"

Only then did Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata return to the center of the arena, standing face to face, extending two fingers to hook them together like a pinky swear.

As Hinata and Naruto Uzumaki's fingers touched, her heart couldn't help but race, and her face turned even redder.

Naruto Uzumaki, however, just gave a silly grin and scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Hinata laughed as well.

"Con, congratulations, Naruto-kun..."

"You were really strong too, Hinata!"

Only now did everyone outside the arena gradually begin to react.

"Tha, that dead-last Naruto Uzumaki actually defeated the young lady of the Hyuga Clan?"

"In that sparring match just now, wasn't Hinata already very impressive?"

"Indeed, with the Byakugan, which has the strongest insight, combined with the Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Palms, she was practically flawless, yet she still lost to that Naruto Uzumaki..."

"Ho, how is this possible?!"

"Has that dead-last been possessed by someone else?!"

Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"Naruto Uzumaki..."

"Damn it, that guy has become even stronger!"

"As expected, my training is still not enough... far from enough!"

"I must work twice as hard as before, no, ten times!"

"I will never let that dead-last surpass me!"

Sakura Haruno was even more dumbfounded.

"Is, is that really Naruto Uzumaki?"

"How did he suddenly become so strong..."

"And even Hinata..."

She imagined if she had been the one facing him just now...

I'm afraid...

She couldn't help but clench her fists.

"Damn it..."

Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino were equally stunned, finding it hard to accept.

"Naruto Uzumaki doesn't seem like the same person he was before..."

On the other side.

Rock Lee was incredibly excited, raising his hands high and cheering with joy.

"Naruto Uzumaki! Well done!"

"This is what true youth is all about!"

Tenten's mouth hung wide open: "Did he really defeat Hinata, the young lady of the Hyuga Clan?"

"Naruto Uzumaki..."

She stole a glance at Neji Hyuga.

At this moment, the expression on his face was deeply twisted, one might even call it...

Ferocious.

Tenten had no idea what had happened to Neji Hyuga.

Yet, he looked terrifying right now.

She didn't know if it was because of Naruto, or because of Hinata...

Or perhaps...

Because of the two of them?

Neji Hyuga turned and stalked away in resentment.

Rock Lee watched his retreating back, his fists clenched tight.

"Naruto can shock the world, but Neji, one day I will definitely defeat you fair and square!"

"I definitely will..."

Inside the Hokage office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression also shifted.

"That guy Naruto, has he really become this formidable?"

"It was just a sparring match at the Ninja Academy, but the power and technique he displayed have long since surpassed his age..."

Behind him, Shimura Danzō furrowed his brows.

"What's terrifying isn't his strength..."

"That brat's combat style is just like that of a veteran ninja who has been through countless battles!"

"How is that even possible?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled faintly: "Perhaps, this is what you call another kind of genius..."

"That dead-last? A genius?"

Shimura Danzō's voice was eerie and cold.

"Hiruzen, don't make me laugh."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said: "I am not joking. Naruto's current combat ability, let alone the Ninja Academy, even graduated Genin, or perhaps some Chunin, might not be able to compare to him!"

"That guy might truly be a hidden genius!"

Shimura Danzō fell silent for a moment, then let out a cold snort, his figure vanishing back into the darkness.

Sarutobi Hiruzen gazed at the Crystal Ball, watching Naruto cheering and celebrating, and couldn't help but reveal a smile.

"What an incredible guy..."

"Naruto."

At this very moment, Naruto was enjoying the thrill of being acknowledged by everyone for the first time.

He ran around the training ground, waving to the crowd as if he had won a world championship, laughing and cheering loudly.

Iruka couldn't help but cover his face with his hand.

"Naruto!"

"It's class time right now, what are you doing running around and shouting like that!"

"Get back here this instant!"

"Hm? Naruto..."

Iruka suddenly froze, because...

Beneath Naruto's exaggerated laughter, he saw a single tear at the corner of his eye...

That was...

The tear of sorrow and happiness that Naruto had kept suppressed in his heart, finally finding a small release for the first time.

Iruka suddenly felt his own eyes welling up with tears.

Because he could empathize with Naruto's feelings at this moment all too well.

He had also lost both parents and become an orphan at a young age. To gain recognition from others, or even just to make them look at him, he had been willing to turn himself into a clown and a laughingstock, relying on performing his own clumsiness to trade for a smile from others...

Even though he knew it was nothing but mockery, he was too afraid of loneliness.

Just like Naruto was now.

But compared to himself, Naruto had been able to wake up to reality, no longer relying on pranks to express himself, but instead truly making himself better and stronger. Come to think of it, he was far more outstanding than he had been in his own youth.

Iruka secretly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

He felt genuinely proud and honored for Naruto.

However, he still carried out his duties as a teacher and called back Naruto, who was still running around everywhere.

Because the ninja sparring match had only just begun.

Although Naruto returned, he couldn't help but look full of excitement and smugness.

With his hands clasped behind his head, he grinned, revealing an overly brilliant smile.

Shikamaru and Choji patted him on the shoulders, one on each side.

"Calm down, Naruto."

Iruka also coughed, "Ahem, the next person to draw lots is..."

"Sakura."

Sakura Haruno nodded, stepped forward, and took a slip of paper from the lottery box.

She opened it, took one look, and was instantly stunned in place.

"Sa, Sasuke-kun..."

Iruka glanced at it and couldn't help but sigh while rubbing his forehead.

"What a twisted fate..."

Sasuke Uchiha, however, didn't care and walked over with his usual indifferent expression.

Apart from Naruto, no one else made any difference in his eyes.

"Let's begin."

Sasuke said coldly.