The moment the three of them pushed open the door, dozens of gazes shot toward them in unison from every corner of the classroom.
These gazes came from Genin of various ninja villages who had already taken their seats. Some leaned against the walls, some sat on the windowsills, and some crouched atop desks.
But all of them had cold eyes, carrying the vigilance of predators sizing up prey and undisguised killing intent. Even the air seemed to drop several degrees.
Sakura paused.
Instinctively, she shrank closer to Sasuke, her breathing quickening as her hand unconsciously clenched.
A Hidden Rain Village Genin with bandages wrapped around his face stared at Sakura for two seconds from the back of the classroom, then curled his lips into a less-than-friendly smile. Sakura's fingertips went slightly pale.
Naruto met those gazes without changing expression.
It was like walking into a noisy bar, glancing around at the rowdy drinkers by the counter, then continuing inside.
As he looked at this group, a word involuntarily surfaced in Naruto's mind.
A bunch of nobodies.
Just then, a figure appeared behind Sasuke.
"Sasuke!!"
A girl with a high golden ponytail suddenly wrapped her arms around Sasuke's neck from behind. The unexpected attack made Sasuke stagger half a step backward.
A vein twitched at Sasuke's temple.
As Sakura watched Ino hanging off Sasuke's back, her pink eyes instantly flared. She clenched her fists so hard that her knuckles cracked.
"Let go of Sasuke right now, you fat pig, Ino!!"
Sakura's shrill voice made several people sitting in the classroom corners instinctively shrink their necks.
Hearing that, Ino released Sasuke's neck and slowly turned toward Sakura. She planted her hands on her hips, her golden ponytail swinging behind her head in a provocative arc.
"Isn't this ugly Sakura, whose forehead