"Ino."
Sakura Haruno nudged Ino Yamanaka with her elbow.
"Is Shiki-kun here?"
Ino Yamanaka instinctively raised her head and asked groggily.
After learning about Shihui Aburame yesterday, she had gone home and asked her mother to teach her to cook.
It had gotten so late that she had not had enough sleep.
She had been catching up on sleep ever since she arrived.
Ino Yamanaka looked toward the door and immediately perked up.
Shihui Aburame and Hinata Hyuga walked in.
"How did Hinata beat me to it again?"
Ino Yamanaka muttered, quickly putting on a smile and waving to Shihui Aburame.
Hinata Hyuga did not notice her.
She kept her head lowered, her mind filled with nothing but radishes.
Only that could ease her stress.
Shihui Aburame glanced at Ino Yamanaka and nodded.
She immediately ran over.
"Good morning, Shiki-kun."
Ino Yamanaka smoothly launched into a conversation. "Last night, my mom and I... huh?"
Her eyes suddenly widened.
"Your hair got flattened."
Shihui Aburame reached out, but stopped just before touching her cheek and gave her a reminder instead.
Her hair had left marks on her forehead.
That was clearly from sleeping with her head on the desk.
"Thank you... Shiki-kun."
Ino Yamanaka took out a small mirror and looked, and both her cheeks immediately flushed red.
Shihui Aburame nodded and returned to his seat.
Ino Yamanaka did not follow him, embarrassed and shy.
Shihui Aburame had seen her looking less than her best, making her want to crawl into a hole.
Besides, she still had to fix her hair.
"Shiki!"
The voice arrived before its owner did.
The classroom instantly fell silent.
A week had passed since school started, but Naruto Uzumaki's situation still had not changed.
He no longer cared, though.
Because he had a friend now.
Naruto Uzumaki ran up to Shihui Aburame, looking hesitant.
"What is it?"
Shihui Aburame glanced at him and asked.
He could not hide his emotions at all and was far too easy to read.
"Yesterday, you told me about finding a teacher."
Naruto Uzumaki asked with some worry, "Will he hate me?"
Shihui Aburame fell silent, then shook his head.
Anyone might hate Naruto Uzumaki because of that supposed demon fox business.
But Might Guy would not.
When ordinary people saw him, they would usually ask a soul-searching question: What the hell is that nutcase doing?
In truth, the way he lived was quite enviable.
He paid no attention to what anyone thought and pursued his goal single-mindedly.
Only that could produce a Taijutsu ninja whom Madara Uchiha would declare, "I'm willing to call you the strongest."
That was exactly the spirit Naruto Uzumaki needed right now.
"Really?"
Naruto Uzumaki found it a little hard to believe.
"Really."
Shihui Aburame answered firmly.
"Hehe."
Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head and said, "Then see you after school."
Shino Aburame could not help smacking his lips.
Who's your actual little brother here?
Though he did not need a teacher.
As a ninja clan with secret techniques, the Aburame Clan's best teacher was their father, Shibi Aburame.
He now had to go home after school every day for special training to learn their secret insect-control techniques.
Meanwhile, Shihui Aburame had fallen far behind him because he was studying Medical Ninjutsu.
Sasuke Uchiha stared expressionlessly at the blackboard.
His entire body radiated an unapproachable air.
But inwardly, he was deeply conflicted.
At that moment, he was a little envious of Ino Yamanaka and Naruto Uzumaki, who could go and chat with Shihui Aburame whenever and wherever they wanted.
He could not. Though he had decided that morning to spar with Shihui Aburame more often, how to bring it up was a problem.
He had lost twice in a row, and challenging him again would make him look like he did not know his limits.
But saying something like "please teach me" was impossible, too.
He was a proud Uchiha.
If word got out, how could he save face?
Sasuke Uchiha lowered his gaze and saw the class schedule on his desk, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
There was a practical ninja tool throwing class that afternoon.
Before this, the classes had all been theoretical, such as calculating a kunai's parabolic trajectory.
Judging from his two fights with Shihui Aburame, Shihui excelled at Taijutsu and ninjutsu.
Ninja tool throwing was an Uchiha specialty.
Without even thinking about it, he knew he was better at it than Shihui.
The solution Sasuke Uchiha came up with was simple.
He would teach Shihui Aburame ninja tool throwing in exchange for more opportunities to spar with him.
Just what I'd expect of myself.
The corners of Sasuke Uchiha's mouth lifted slightly.
"Everyone, take out your textbooks."
Umino Iruka stepped up to the lectern and said, "Today, we'll continue with Konoha's history."
The classroom quieted down, leaving only the sound of turning pages.
"Last time, we discussed how Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi officially took over as Hokage when Konoha faced a crisis threatening its very survival."
Umino Iruka looked as though he had been there himself. "He mastered all of Konoha's ninjutsu and trained such powerful students as the Sannin. Under his leadership, Konoha flourished, and he was therefore hailed as the strongest Hokage..."
"Grandpa Third is amazing!"
Naruto Uzumaki could not help looking wistful.
Shihui Aburame adjusted his sunglasses.
You're right. This is Hiruzen Sarutobi, the strongest Hokage. Forgot the beginning, forgot the middle, forgot the end.
When the morning classes ended, a lovely figure appeared in front of him.
"Shiki-kun, I made this myself."
Ino Yamanaka held out a lunch box with both hands, her face expectant.
"Thank you."
Shihui Aburame nodded.
Ino Yamanaka breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ino."
Shino Aburame moved to the empty seat beside him.
Though it was too early to say so, he still had to show Ino Yamanaka this much consideration, since she might become his sister-in-law.
"Thank you."
Ino Yamanaka immediately beamed.
She sat beside Shihui Aburame and leaned closer until their shoulders touched.
Not far away, Hinata Hyuga stopped where she stood, holding her lunch box.
With Ino Yamanaka on his left and Naruto Uzumaki on his right, there was no room left for her.
"Hinata, come here."
Shihui Aburame paused, then added, "Shino, bring a stool."
Hinata Hyuga felt a surge of joy and hurried over at a trot.
"???"
Shino Aburame's face was full of question marks.
When I put up question marks, it's not because I have a problem. It's because you do.
Brother, you're my actual brother!
I treat you like my own brother, and you treat me like a cousin?
"Please have a seat, Miss Hinata."
Shino Aburame brought over a stool and set it in front of Hinata Hyuga, speaking expressionlessly.
Even "Miss"?
He must be pretty resentful.
Shihui Aburame smiled, unconcerned.
It was precisely because Shino was his little brother that he could order him around like this.
Ino Yamanaka smiled at Hinata Hyuga, then looked back at Shihui Aburame.
She said a little nervously, "This is my first time making a boxed lunch, so I don't know if it tastes good."
Hinata Hyuga froze slightly.
Making a boxed lunch?
A thought suddenly rose in her mind. I want to learn to make boxed lunches, too.
[Achieved Naruto Uzumaki's "And you, my friend, are the real fox spirit" achievement. Reward obtained: Moonlight Creeper.] [Moonlight Creeper: a rank-one Gu insect. At night, it shines cool and bright like moonlight, drawing the eye.]
What does that mean?
System, are you taking a shot at me?
Shihui Aburame opened Ino Yamanaka's lunch box expressionlessly.
Fried shrimp, meatballs, cabbage, grilled fish, and rice.
Meat and vegetables were paired together, full of a girl's delicate care.
Another chapter is coming right up. It's a new week, so please remember to keep reading, everyone! Whether this gets recommended depends on you all coming to the rescue! If you have any spare recommendation votes or monthly votes, please send them my way, too. Thank you!
(End of chapter)