Sakura and Ino Make Their Entrance

Iruka cleared his throat and introduced him, "This is Chiye Jun. From now on, he'll be everyone's new companion."

The moment Chiye Jun entered the classroom, he was swept by searchlight-like gazes.

"Eh, isn't he the blacksmith shop's apprentice? Why did he transfer into our class?"

"Yeah, I heard he dropped out before. He's the guy who can't even use the Three Basic Techniques."

"I heard from my dad that his mother is even a kabuki performer..."

Chiye Jun understood that most of the students in this class came from prominent clans or were gifted young prodigies.

It was only natural that his sudden appearance would cause surprise.

He merely smiled indifferently, flashing his white teeth, and immediately drew an uproar from the girls.

"Wow, he's so handsome!"

"He can rival Sasuke!"

"What a pity he's an orphan blacksmith..."

Chiye Jun's gaze happened to meet Sasuke's, so he gave him a friendly smile.

But!

Sasuke actually turned his head away expressionlessly.

His warm face had met a cold shoulder...

"Quiet. We'll start roll call now." Iruka took out the attendance sheet.

"Uchiha Sasuke."

"Here."

There was not a trace of warmth in Sasuke's voice. His face remained expressionless and calm.

Iruka sighed softly and looked back at the attendance sheet.

"Naruto Uzumaki."

The classroom suddenly became strangely quiet, as though that name were something special...

"Naruto Uzumaki?"

Iruka swept his eyes over the students below and, sure enough, did not find that brat.

Just then, there was a bang!

The classroom door was violently pulled open.

A blond boy appeared in the doorway, panting.

"Hehe... I'm late... sorry."

Haha!

Naruto!

Compared with the gloomy Sasuke, Chiye Jun liked Naruto more.

Hot-blooded, pure, cheerful, open-minded, carefree.

Chiye Jun happened to sit beside Naruto and greeted him with a smile.

The two hit it off at once, and by the end of one class, they had become familiar with each other.

The school's subjects included theoretical classes such as the history of the Five Great Nations, natural biology, astronomy and geography, and ninja rules.

There were also practical classes in basic ninjutsu, taijutsu, individual and group combat, tactics, and ninja tool training.

Aside from ninja tool training, today's classes were all dull and tedious theory lessons.

At last, school ended, and Iruka appeared at the classroom door.

"All right. Bring your protective gear tomorrow. We'll be having a taijutsu combat class."

After school.

The setting sun dyed the school gates with a pale red glow.

After saying goodbye to Naruto, Chiye Jun headed home alone.

"Chi... Chiye Jun..."

A timid voice suddenly called out to him.

Chiye Jun turned around and saw that it was the adorable Hinata.

Just like in the anime, she looked fresh and delicate, shyly twisting her fingers in front of her chest.

Chiye Jun loved this bashful expression of hers the most.

Seeing Chiye Jun stare blankly, Hinata blushed and said shyly, "It's me... I'm Hi, Hi, Hi..."

Chiye Jun gave a devastatingly charming smile. "Hinata Hyuga!"

Seeing that he actually remembered her name, Hinata broke into a happy smile.

"You saved me last time... I still haven't thanked you... Can I treat you to something to eat?"

Chiye Jun nodded. "Sure. We're heading the same way anyway!"

With that, he headed toward Leaf Street.

Hinata followed behind him timidly, like a little tail.

"What do you want to eat...?"

Chiye Jun thought about it. Naturally, it had to be the famous Ichiraku Ramen!

Leaf Street.

Ichiraku Ramen.

Chiye Jun ordered tonkotsu ramen, sashimi rice, and cheese-grilled squid cakes.

Hinata only ordered tuna and vegetable ramen.

When the noodles arrived, Hinata split apart her bamboo chopsticks and ate obediently.

Chiye Jun was in no hurry to eat. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and watched her.

She had a baby face, with obedient strands of hair falling over her forehead, eyes misted with watery haze, and flower-bud-pink lips.

She ate her noodles in small, quiet bites, then foolishly lifted the bowl to drink the broth.

Chiye Jun was suddenly entranced...

Who knew what he had been thinking at the time? He actually reached out and rubbed her hair.

That movement frightened Hinata silly. A strand of noodles hung at her lips, leaving her caught between swallowing and pulling it back in.

But...

A sweetness soon filled her heart. It was just that... she still hadn't eaten enough.

Chiye Jun happily began eating his ramen, but inwardly he laughed. Cute little Hinata, you really know how to pretend. Did you think I didn't know about your record of forty-six bowls? Haha.

After they finished eating, the two said goodbye.

Hinata returned home and lay on her snow-white bed.

Her thick lashes trembled as she hugged her pillow like a koala, unable to stop thinking about Chiye Jun...

After returning home, Chiye Jun entered the all-purpose space.

Tonight, he was going to improve the Great Fireball Technique!

Taijutsu could be trained in the forest, but ninjutsu involving water and fire was not suitable there.

The space, however, had a lake and a wide open area beside it.

It was the perfect place to train...

The next morning.

He did not get up early for morning training, because he had only slept for three hours the night before.

However, his Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique had been raised to god-tier!

When he arrived at school.

Today was Iruka's taijutsu combat class.

On the training field.

Uchiha Sasuke became the focus of the entire class.

Especially those starry-eyed girls—their gazes never left him for even a moment.

"All right, line up. The new student, stand to Sasuke's right!" Iruka blew his whistle.

Chiye Jun ran over to Sasuke's side.

Suddenly!

A pink-haired girl rushed over and shoved Chiye Jun aside.

Sakura Haruno...

"Sasuke-kun." Sakura greeted him softly.

Then she frowned when she noticed that her blond-haired rival was standing on Sasuke's other side.

"Hey, why are you standing next to Sasuke-kun?!"

The fiery Ino, on the other hand, threw an arm around Sasuke's neck.

"I should be asking you that! Your place should be next to that new student!"

"Go die, Ino-pig!"

"Ugly! Forehead girl!"

Chiye Jun was left staring in astonishment...

Fortunately, Iruka stopped them in time, while Sasuke wore a look as though none of this had anything to do with him.

Still, the two girls reached a consensus on one matter.

"Sasuke-kun is the most handsome!"

The most handsome?

Chiye Jun didn't think so.

Soon, a whole crowd of starry-eyed girls began shouting too, "Sasuke-kun is the most handsome!"

Chiye Jun could not help laughing inwardly.

They really haven't seen the world. There are plenty of handsome guys—Itachi, Kimimaro, Sasori of the Red Sand and his father, Yahiko, Minato Namikaze, Deidara, even that idiot Hidan...

But in his heart, the most handsome was still Kakashi without his mask. (Before anyone argues: Kakashi has removed his mask before... Watch episode 689 at 20:41. It shows the most original, authentic Kakashi, complete with a beauty mark. He's seriously handsome...)

"Next, the new student should introduce himself." Iruka smiled.

"My name is Chiye Jun. My greatest wish is to become Hokage."

The reason he said this was because he knew the Third Hokage was definitely observing him through a crystal ball.

He had deliberately said it for him to hear, making his stance and determination clear.

Naruto also said, "And me, Naruto Uzumaki! I'm a man who'll become Hokage someday!"

The whole field erupted with laughter.

"The dead last wants to become Hokage? Hahaha, that's hilarious!"

"Yeah, if Naruto can become Hokage, that'd be a miracle of epic proportions."

"That newcomer is just as clueless as him."

Sakura even shouted, "Sasuke-kun should be Hokage!"

"You people!"

Naruto's face turned red as he retorted forcefully, "I'll definitely surpass the Hokage and make everyone in the village acknowledge my strength!"

Seeing everyone's mockery and doubt, Chiye Jun could feel Naruto's inner pain.

So he said beside his ear, "You'll become the Seventh Hokage."

Naruto asked excitedly, "Is that true?"

Chiye Jun nodded.

People his age had always mocked and ridiculed him.

The adults were even more distant, looking at him with cold eyes as though he were some hated monster.

He had long since grown used to all of it.

But he had never expected this new student not only to refrain from mocking him, but to give him such great encouragement instead.

Naruto threw an arm around Chiye Jun.

Their friendship was officially established.