Finding Neji

Having finished his training for the day, Uzumaki Menma wandered the streets of Konoha alone.

At their usual spot, Uzumaki Menma successfully found Naruto.

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto waited for quite a while, but none of their friends came to meet up with them.

Their friends were all training at home now, and only one or two of them occasionally had time to come out and play.

Naruto sat on a swing, swaying as he asked, "Menma, looks like it's just the two of us again today. Where should we go?"

Uzumaki Menma thought for a moment and immediately made a decision. "Let's go find Neji! We haven't seen Neji in ages. I kind of miss him."

Naruto asked doubtfully, "But isn't Neji in school?"

Uzumaki Menma put his hands on his hips and said righteously, "So what if he's in school? Does being in school mean we can't go find him?"

Naruto jumped down from the swing. "You're right! Then let's go find Neji!"

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto headed toward the Ninja Academy.

Outside the Ninja Academy.

Uzumaki Menma closed his eyes and activated Mind's Eye of the Kagura, immediately locking onto Neji's location.

After ending Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Uzumaki Menma beckoned to Naruto. "I found Neji. Follow me!"

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto snuck into the Ninja Academy and made their way smoothly to the classroom where Neji was.

The two quietly raised their little heads and peered through the classroom window, spotting Neji inside.

At that moment, Neji sat at his desk with his head lowered, engrossed in whatever he was reading.

Meanwhile, the teacher was lecturing from the podium.

Naruto asked quietly, "Menma, how are we supposed to let Neji know we're here?"

"Watch me!"

Uzumaki Menma directly summoned the Nine Masked Beasts: Golden Snake.

"Golden Snake, quietly go over to Neji. Don't let anyone spot you."

Having received Uzumaki Menma's order, Golden Snake slithered into the classroom.

"You really do have a way, Menma. Once Neji sees Golden Snake, he'll definitely know we're here."

Uzumaki Menma proudly lifted his chin. "Of course!"

Golden Snake slithered to Neji's feet and bumped him with its snake head.

However, Neji was so absorbed in his book that he failed to notice Golden Snake.

With no other choice, Golden Snake slithered up Neji's leg and onto his body.

Just as Neji was about to turn the page, he suddenly saw Golden Snake and jolted in fright.

Luckily, Neji covered his mouth quickly enough and barely stopped himself from crying out.

Seeing Golden Snake, Neji looked toward the window in disbelief.

Sure enough.

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto were outside the window, waving at him.

Neji suddenly felt a sharp pain in his trigeminal nerve.

Were these two sick in the head?

Why were they looking for him while he was in class?

Because Neji had suddenly jolted, he inevitably made a little noise.

A girl turned to look at Neji and spotted Golden Snake on him.

"Ah!"

An ear-splitting scream echoed throughout the entire classroom.

The teacher at the podium was so startled by the scream that the chalk fell from his hand. He asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

The girl pointed at Golden Snake on Neji. "A snake... There's a snake!"

Neji sprang to his feet. "Teacher, I'll go release the snake right away!"

Before the teacher could react, Neji had already run out of the classroom.

The teacher did not think much of it. After all, Neji was a good student in his eyes.

After leaving the classroom, Neji pulled Uzumaki Menma and Naruto out of the Ninja Academy with a dark expression. Hands on his hips, he demanded, "What did you two come looking for me for?"

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto affectionately draped their arms over Neji's shoulders. "We missed you, that's all."

Neji shook his shoulders, shaking off Uzumaki Menma and Naruto's hands.

"Cut it out, you two! Let me guess, everyone else had something to do, while you two had nothing to do, so you decided to come torment me, right?!"

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto laughed awkwardly. "Neji, you really are smart."

Neji sighed. Knowing Uzumaki Menma and Naruto really was his "good fortune."

Now that he was already out here, if he tried to go back... Uzumaki Menma and Naruto definitely would not let him return.

Why was it so hard to quietly read for a while and learn something?

Sharp-eyed Naruto suddenly noticed the corner of a small book sticking out of Neji's pocket. He asked curiously, "Neji, what were you reading in class just now? You were so focused. Was it this book?"

Naruto reached out and pulled the book from Neji's pocket.

Seeing Naruto about to open it, Neji's face immediately twisted in panic. "Don't open it!"

However, Neji was still a step too late, and Naruto flipped it open.

The contents immediately captured Naruto's attention.

Uzumaki Menma also looked over curiously.

Inside were scantily clad beauties with curvy figures.

Uzumaki Menma nudged Neji with his elbow and teased, "So you stopped peeping and started reading books instead? Not bad taste—they're all beauties."

Neji's face turned bright red. He snatched Make-Out Paradise from Naruto's hands while Naruto was still absorbed in it and stuffed it back into his pocket.

Naruto, whose enjoyment had been interrupted just as things were getting interesting, immediately became unhappy and began pestering Neji. "Neji, don't be so stingy! Let me read it!"

Neji said stiffly, "There's nothing worth reading! You're not allowed to tell anyone about this!"

Naruto's eyes rolled, and he immediately came up with an idea. "Fine, I won't tell anyone if you let me read that book."

Neji's expression froze. "You're taking advantage of the situation!"

Uzumaki Menma chimed in, "Good friends are supposed to share. I really want to read it too, Neji. We promise we won't tell anyone. Only the three of us will know!"

Looking at the pedestrians coming and going around them, Neji finally gave in. "Come with me. Don't read it here. There are too many people."

Neji led Uzumaki Menma and Naruto to an empty alley and handed his treasured Make-Out Paradise to them.

As he handed it over, Neji did not forget to remind them, "Be careful with it. This book isn't sold to anyone under eighteen. I went through a lot of trouble to buy it from the bookstore!"

"We know, we know. You're so naggy."

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto impatiently opened Make-Out Paradise and began reading.

Naruto exclaimed, "Wow, that's huge! Doesn't she get tired walking around like that?"

After thinking for a moment, Uzumaki Menma answered, "Probably not. Maybe it's like Choji. Choji is chubby, but he's really agile."

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto began commenting on the characters in Make-Out Paradise.

Neji suddenly felt an unbearable itch in his heart and wanted to join their discussion too.

In the end, Neji could not resist and joined the discussion.

"Your taste is terrible! Hurry and look at page twenty-four. That beauty is the real knockout!"