Enough for ten pulls

"All right, everyone, go back to your seats."

The classroom door opened again, and a young teacher walked in. He wore a green ninja vest, his hair was tied up in a pineapple-shaped ponytail, and a horizontal scar crossed his face. Judging by the injury, even the bridge of his nose had clearly been cut through.

It was Iruka. With such distinctive features, Yecheng recognized him at a glance.

"I'm your teacher, Umino Iruka."

He looked around the room, and when he saw Naruto, the smile on his face visibly stiffened.

Although he had already seen his name on the class roster, although he had long been preparing himself mentally, at this very moment, when he actually saw him, Iruka still failed to control the revulsion that rose from deep within his heart.

At this point, he had yet to truly understand or accept Naruto.

Taking a deep breath, Iruka continued, "For the next six years, you'll be companions who study and improve together!

"For today's first lesson, let's introduce ourselves."

Everyone went up to the front in seating order.

Yecheng listened with an indifferent expression.

Aside from the nine members of Konoha's young talents, everyone here was an extra who hadn't even deserved a name in the original story. Who knew which roadside they would die on in the future?

There was no need to care about them.

Yet all their dreams were surprisingly unanimous: they all wanted to become Hokage.

He had to admit that the Third's promotion of the Will of Fire was quite effective. It had indeed greatly strengthened Konoha's cohesion.

"Hmph! The name's Kiba Inuzuka! Give up on your dreams, because I'm the one who's going to be Hokage!"

Kiba Inuzuka's lofty declaration immediately provoked everyone's outrage.

But he paid it no mind and returned to his seat on his own.

"What do you think, Shino? My introduction must've blown them away!"

Beside him, Shino Aburame spoke in a flat, almost robotic tone. "No, I just think you're very likely to get beaten to death."

Only then did Yecheng suddenly realize that someone like this had been hiding in the class. Even with the observational powers of his Six Eyes, he had inadvertently overlooked his presence!

Shino Aburame... he couldn't be underestimated!

"Sasuke Uchiha. I don't have any particular hobbies. I just want to become an outstanding ninja like my older brother."

After saying his piece, he gave a cold snort, lifted his chin, and walked down from the front.

"Wow! So handsome!"

"Sasuke-kun is so handsome!"

"..."

His handsome looks, coupled with his deliberate attempt to act cool, immediately captured the hearts of almost every girl in the class.

They all squealed over him, hoping to earn even the tiniest bit of Sasuke Uchiha's attention.

"Hmph. Annoying."

Sasuke remained completely unmoved. There was only room for Nii-san in his heart. Women would only slow down his sword draw.

Yecheng sighed inwardly. As a ninja, a tool of war, Itachi was indeed outstanding, but in another two years, Sasuke wouldn't think so anymore.

When the time comes, your Itachi Nii-san will give you one hell of a present!

"Tch, what's with that guy? What a show-off!"

Naruto said that aloud, but he couldn't help feeling envious deep down.

He wasn't envious that so many girls liked Sasuke, but that Sasuke could so easily earn other people's affection and attention.

Unlike him...

"Next."

Naruto walked up to the front.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki."

He adjusted the goggles on his forehead and grinned. "My favorite food is ramen, and my dream is to become Hokage!"

His voice rang with enthusiasm, but the classroom fell silent before erupting in laughter.

Naruto had an awful reputation among the public. Everyone believed he was the incarnation of the demon fox. How could someone like that possibly become Hokage?

At that moment, almost everyone in the class was mocking him for not knowing his place.

Looking as though he didn't care at all, Naruto strode down and returned to his seat.

Yecheng patted his shoulder and walked up to the front.

He chuckled and said, "A Hokage wouldn't laugh at other people's dreams. None of you lot can become Hokage anymore.

"I'm Yecheng. Remember it."

With that, he walked straight away from the front.

Sasuke Uchiha was startled by those words too, and looked Yecheng in the eye for the first time.

He wouldn't mock Naruto, because the Uchiha looked down on everyone equally. But when it came to strong people who dared to stand up and face others head-on, the Uchiha offered only recognition.

I, Sasuke Uchiha, acknowledge you!

"This guy..."

Kiba Inuzuka stared blankly at Yecheng, boundless passion rising in his heart. "Shino, this guy is my true best friend!"

Should I leave, then?

Shino Aburame grumbled inwardly, but he had long since grown used to his good friend's outlandish remarks.

Besides, he had little liking for the classmates who had just mocked Naruto either, so he kept his mouth shut and said nothing more.

They came from ninja clans and had heard a little about Naruto from their parents, so naturally, they wouldn't readily believe the supposed tale of him being the demon fox's incarnation. Nor did they hold much prejudice against Naruto himself.

But this Yecheng actually dared to defend Naruto in public. Wasn't he afraid the others would ostracize him too?

Interesting.

Choji Akimichi put down the potato chips in his hand and whispered, "Shikamaru, Yecheng is different from the others."

Propping his chin on one hand, Shikamaru glanced up at Choji, then looked at the faint smile on Yecheng's face and sighed.

"Man, what a drag..."

Even Choji, who usually cared about nothing but eating, had sensed it instinctively. How could he not understand?

He probably wouldn't have any peaceful days in the years ahead.

All he wanted was a quiet life. Why was it so difficult?

"Yecheng-kun..."

Hinata Hyuga's pretty face flushed. The scene before her was all too familiar.

Just a few days ago, Yecheng-kun had rescued her in exactly the same way.

He was still the same, unable to pretend he hadn't seen the injustice before him.

Oh no, why does it feel like my heart is beating faster and faster?

As the sound of her heartbeat reached her brain, Hinata's face grew even redder, and wisps of steam almost seemed to rise from her head.

"Ooh, so handsome, so handsome, so handsome!"

As though she had fallen under the spell of a hypnosis app, Ino Yamanaka gazed at Yecheng, hearts practically leaping from her eyes.

She liked him even more now!

Although the person involved this time was a boy, there was no doubt that Yecheng had once again stepped forward in the face of Naruto being bullied!

And she had witnessed it with her own eyes!

Experiencing it firsthand felt a hundred times more powerful than hearing about it from someone else!

Heavens, she didn't even dare imagine it. If Yecheng rescued her like that just once, she would probably fall for him on the spot!

The fact was, Naruto really had fallen for him on the spot.

The moment Yecheng returned to his seat, Naruto seized his hand, brimming with passion.

"Yecheng! When I become Hokage, I'll definitely appoint you Deputy Hokage!"

Yecheng discreetly pulled his hand free, then smiled and said, "You'll definitely become Hokage.

"But Konoha doesn't have a position called Deputy Hokage. Just give me some cushy job when the time comes, where I don't have to do anything all day and just collect my pay."

Huh? You can do that?

Naruto gaped. With his limited experience of society, he had never imagined there was such a way to live.

Weren't ninja all supposed to aim for success and making a name for themselves?

Shikamaru, sitting one row behind them, had his eyes light up at those words instead.

Yecheng, you... you're actually a kindred spirit?!

Yecheng sat in his seat, doing everything he could to keep himself from laughing aloud.

[You have become acquainted with Sasuke Uchiha, the second son of the Uchiha Clan's head. Affinity increased. Fate Points +18]

[You have become acquainted with Kiba Inuzuka, the Inuzuka Clan's heir. Affinity increased. Fate Points +7]

[You have become acquainted with the Akimichi Clan...]

[Your bond with Naruto Uzumaki has deepened. Affinity increased. Fate Points +24]

[Current Fate Points: 140]

[Current lifespan: 16]

With that one round of moves, he had saved up enough for ten pulls!