"Hahaha... Naruto-kun, nice work! Those boys who never grow up deserved to be taught a lesson!"
"Naruto-kun is so cool. I like him so much~"
"Could you tell me, please~ Were you actually hiding your strength all this time, Naruto-kun?"
"Want to walk home together after school tonight, Naruto-kun? I have lots of pretty little dresses in my room~ I'll put one on for you."
"...Huh? Don't boys like toys more?"
"I think so... Then why don't you come to my house, Naruto-kun? My little brother has lots of toys in his room. I can ask him to bring them out for you to play with."
"..."
Girls had always admired the strong and handsome.
Naruto was both.
Naturally, some girls had fallen for him.
"Do you two want to test my limits too?"
Naruto raised his eyelids slightly.
He only glanced at them.
The two little lackeys at the fat boy's sides were instantly terrified.
They shook their heads frantically.
"No, no!"
"Big Brother Naruto, let's talk this out. Just let us off like we're nothing."
Were they crazy?
They couldn't even beat the fat kid.
There was no way they could take on Naruto.
That would just be asking for trouble.
"It's lively in here today. Hey... Yushang, what happened to your hand?"
Iruka walked into the classroom with a class roster in hand, looking a little confused.
Yushang was the fat boy's name.
And now, because his hand had been dislocated,
he lay on the floor, howling in pain.
Tears and snot ran together,
covering his whole face.
He looked utterly miserable.
The fat boy had taught everyone a lesson.
He'd shown them exactly what it meant to be terrible at something and still insist on doing it!
"Teacher Iruka, you're finally here. Naruto was the one who attacked first."
As the saying went, the wicked always accused others first.
When the two lackeys saw their teacher arrive, they immediately ran back over.
"That's right, that's right. You have to stand up for us!"
Iruka set the class roster on the lectern, then hurried over to the fat boy.
He crouched down and reset the bone that had slipped out of place!
Crack—
"Ah!!!!"
Another bloodcurdling scream.
Having to go through it twice in a row—
the fat boy swore he never wanted to experience that agony again.
Iruka asked sternly,
"Naruto, what happened?"
It was true that Naruto had managed to release four Shadow Clones at once yesterday.
But... having talent wasn't an excuse to bully your classmates.
Ino Yamanaka, seated near the front, raised her slender hand.
"Teacher, Yushang was the one who deliberately picked a fight with Naruto-kun first~"
"Naruto-kun isn't playing pranks today, but these childish boys still tried to force him to keep doing them."
"Teacher, you be the judge. Were they right to do that?"
Huh???
What the heck?!
Naruto wasn't playing pranks today?
No wonder Iruka had felt something was missing when he walked in.
Oh... it was the eraser that usually fell from above the door.
It happened every few days.
Fortunately, it hadn't happened today, or he would've been hit.
When Iruka had walked in, he'd been in a great mood and completely off guard.
"That's right, teacher. What happened is exactly as Yamanaka said. I can vouch for it!"
"I can vouch for it too. You're just too gentle with the boys, Teacher Iruka. If you don't teach them a proper lesson, they'll soon think they can do whatever they want."
"Naruto-kun did nothing wrong! I can vouch for him. We all saw exactly what happened."
"..."
The girls spoke up at once,
vouching for Naruto.
Naruto didn't seem annoying to them today!
In fact, they even liked him a little!
They liked his handsome face, without those strange whisker marks.
They liked his unexpectedly impressive strength!
They also liked the mature air about him.
Girls of their age
couldn't stand boys who spent all day fooling around.
A boy like Naruto was just their type.
Iruka awkwardly scratched his head.
"So that's what happened... Sorry, Naruto. I was wrong to blame you."
"It's fine. I'm used to it."
Naruto grinned, revealing a sunny, handsome smile.
"Wow!!! He's so handsome! Naruto-kun has changed so much today, hasn't he?"
"Shikamaru, please slap me as hard as you can."
"Why, Choji?"
"I want to see if I'm dreaming. Naruto's become so popular, and it's making me miserable~ How are we supposed to have fun playing in the mud together now?"
"...Oh, give it a rest. I'm not happy about it either, but we should accept reality. This is the most reasonable outcome right now."
"..."
Iruka returned to the lectern and tapped on the desk.
"Quiet, quiet!"
"Teacher's here today to tell you about the team assignments."
As soon as Iruka finished speaking,
the classroom erupted again.
"Teacher, I want to be on the same team as Naruto-kun!"
"Me too! I hope you'll grant my wish!"
"Xiaoya's so bold. But Naruto-kun really is handsome now. Teacher, I want to be on his team too."
"..."
Hinata's little face turned red. She looked at Naruto shyly and said in a soft voice, "Being on the same team as Naruto-kun sounds pretty nice."
"I'm definitely going to try for this chance!"
Ino Yamanaka brushed the side-swept bangs from her forehead. "Teacher, put me on Naruto-kun's team."
"Ah~?? Ino, you..."
Sakura Haruno stammered, completely bewildered.
Was this really the same rival who'd always competed with her over Sasuke?
Had she really switched sides so quickly?
Sakura Haruno had to admit that Naruto was handsome now, and seemed much more manly.
But the change in him overnight was too drastic.
She hadn't quite gotten used to it yet.
B-But Naruto used to be my admirer.
If he keeps chasing after me...
Then maybe... maybe there's still a chance for us to be together.
Sakura Haruno's cheeks flushed as she shyly turned her gaze toward Naruto.
Then, as if she'd been caught doing something wrong,
she guiltily turned her little head away.
Ino Yamanaka shrugged without a care.
"Don't you always get annoyed when I compete with you over Sasuke? Starting today, I won't fight you for him anymore. I'm going after Naruto-kun!"
Her tone was resolute.
No...
I... I want to go after Naruto too...
Ah, forget it!
Hmph, what a shallow woman. No matter how strong Naruto is, he still can't compare to Sasuke's mastery of ninjutsu and Shurikenjutsu!!!
J-Just wait. You'll regret it!
Sakura Haruno thought, feeling inexplicably jealous.
Before you continue