However, something unexpected happened.
Intense longing, the hurt of being scolded by his grandfather, and a deep-rooted hostility toward ninja clashed violently in Inari's small chest.
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes brimming with tears yet burning with stubborn, indignant anger, and shrieked, "Who wants your food anyway!"
At the same time, he swung his arm hard, striking Naruto's bowl-holding wrist with a sharp smack!
The wooden bowl full of fish soup flew from Naruto's hand in an arc, scattering broth and fish everywhere before clattering onto the floor and rolling twice.
The sudden turn of events froze the air.
Naruto's classmates all set down their bowls and chopsticks and rose to their feet.
Their gazes instantly sharpened, and an invisible pressure spread through the room.
There was something strangely familiar about Inari's stubborn expression and misplaced anger.
He was just like those unreasonable idiots at the Ninja Academy who picked fights at random, only to be beaten into submission!
"It's because you ninja helped him that Gato is running rampant here!
You're all..."
Inari seemed ready to keep venting his anger and prejudice.
But his words abruptly stopped!
Because Naruto moved!
He bent down and picked up the bowl in one smooth motion, then swung his arm.
Thonk!
A dull impact sounded.
The wooden bowl that had just been knocked to the floor, now dusted with dirt, landed upside down on Inari's head like a ridiculous helmet, completely covering the little boy's head.
"What?"
Naruto narrowed his blue eyes slightly. His voice remained calm, so calm it was almost chilling, but the authority it carried pressed down on Inari like a physical weight.
"You think you can take your temper out on me just because I'm easygoing?"
He looked down at the child, who stood stunned beneath the