Apology

Chapter Thirty-Five

Apology

Ayato merely stared down the Chunin, as though he could not see the pressure radiating from him at all.

"I'm telling you, Sensei, Iruka Sensei didn't lie to you. I took down every one of your students myself. If you don't believe it, aren't your students lying right over there? Go ask them and you'll know."

The Chunin looked at Ayato with some surprise. Though he was not a combat ninja and knew his presence was nothing remarkable, the pressure he deliberately maintained was not something an ordinary child could withstand so easily.

Seeing that Ayato's expression had not changed at all, the Chunin felt that what Iruka had said was probably true. He could not help feeling envious. Iruka had taught a true prodigy!

Ayato glanced at the Chunin. Had the man deliberately tried to intimidate him? But Ayato had not felt any pressure at all. What kind of unbearable presence could a teacher who spent all year teaching at the academy possibly have?

"Even so, why did you do this?" The Chunin Sensei's tone weakened somewhat. Mainly because he felt he might not be in the right. He knew what kind of personalities those students had. If Iruka had acted, then no matter what, Iruka would have been at fault. But if Ayato had acted, that was different.

"This is what happened." Iruka then explained the situation to him.

After listening, the Chunin Sensei frowned. Based on what he knew about those students, they really might have done something like that. If it had only involved that monster, it would have been easier to handle, but...

"Is that really what happened?" the Chunin Sensei asked, looking at his own students, who had more or less managed to stand up and were standing there with their heads lowered, too afraid to leave.

The leader seemed about to say something, but then he suddenly saw Ayato calmly watching him. His heart clenched, and he lowered his head even further. In a timid voice, he said, "Y-Yes, that's what happened."

The Chunin Sensei did not know what to say. His face flushed red with anger. He was furious that these students had embarrassed him. Bullying younger students was bad enough, but they had even been beaten up. He felt too ashamed to call himself their teacher. Wouldn't he have to lower his head whenever he saw Iruka from now on?!

"You brats know you were wrong, so why are you still standing there? Get back to class!" The Chunin Sensei wanted to end this as quickly as possible. It was simply too humiliating.

"Wait!"

"Hm? What else do you want?" The Chunin Sensei looked at Ayato, suppressing his temper as he asked. Though he was displeased, he understood that with Ayato's talent, he would surely become someone important in the future. Even as a teacher, he could not afford to offend him.

"They did wrong and still haven't apologized." Ayato spoke calmly.

At once, those students grew dissatisfied.

"Why should we apologize to a monster?!"

However, the moment they finished speaking, they saw Ayato rubbing his fists as he looked at them. They immediately did not dare say another word, though the reluctance on their faces was obvious.

"Student, they've already been beaten up like this by you. Haven't you done anything wrong as well?" The Chunin Sensei glanced at Naruto, disgust flashing through his eyes. He did not want his students apologizing to this Demon Fox.

"Hah? Your students bullied younger kids, then got beaten by a younger kid like me, and somehow they're still in the right? Want to go to the principal and settle this properly? Let all the teachers come and see?" Ayato sneered at the Chunin Sensei. He had clearly seen the way the man looked at Naruto, and his impression of him worsened immediately. He did not think someone like this was fit to teach and guide children. The man disgraced the profession!

After hearing Ayato's words, the Chunin Sensei's expression turned ugly.

"Ayato, maybe..." Naruto tugged at Ayato's sleeve, not wanting to cause him trouble.

"Kawauchi Sensei, this is my opinion as well." Iruka stepped in front of Ayato at that moment. He had not considered this at first, but he felt that Ayato had done nothing wrong.

Besides, this was something he should have done himself. Ayato was still too impulsive. He was still young, and it would be bad if the other man held a grudge against him.

"Fine... fine!" Kawauchi Sensei gritted his teeth. His side was not in the right, so there was no way he could take this to be judged. Not only would every teacher laugh at his ability to teach, but there was also the principal—the Third Hokage. The suggestion this brat had made was simply impossible for him to accept.

At that moment, Kawauchi Sensei could not help glaring at those students. These Good-for-nothings had caused him all this trouble. He roared angrily, "What are you still standing there for? Go apologize!"

The students exchanged glances. They looked at the furious Kawauchi Sensei, then at the demon standing there with a smile as he watched them. None of them dared say anything. Reluctantly, they walked over to Naruto and began apologizing.

Naruto looked at the people apologizing to him, not knowing what to say for a moment. He could clearly feel how unwilling they were.

"Can they leave now?" Kawauchi Sensei looked at Ayato, who was standing behind Iruka, suppressing his anger.

"Of course they can." Iruka answered first. He could not let Kawauchi Sensei resent Ayato any further.

Kawauchi Sensei snorted coldly before leaving with his students.

After a long while.

Ayato looked at Naruto, who was still standing there blankly, lost in thought. After considering it for a moment, he said, "This time, they apologized because of me. But in the future, you'll have to rely on your own strength."

Naruto suddenly understood. His eyes lit up. That was right—this was exactly the goal he wanted to achieve. He nodded fiercely at Ayato. "I'll do it!"

Iruka smiled as he watched the scene. When Ino had come to tell him, he had been badly startled and rushed over immediately.

Then, when he arrived, he was startled again. Although his own students had been beaten too, he saw those students lying on the ground groaning and personally watched Ayato knock down the last one with just a few moves. He had nearly been scared to death. What if it had been his side at fault and they were punished?

Fortunately, Iruka later realized that Ayato had shown some restraint. Though they had all fallen to the ground, none of them were truly injured. They were just in pain.

What Iruka did not know was that Ayato had gained all this experience from beating up Naruto—only the roles had been reversed.

Seeing Naruto talking and laughing with them now, Iruka felt that this might not be a bad thing. After today, Naruto would probably have more than just Ayato as a friend in the class.

"All right, get back to class. If something like this happens again, make sure to tell a teacher right away."

"Okay!"

"Naruto, help Kiba up," Shikamaru's voice called out.

"Okay!" Naruto eagerly ran over to help Kiba. Though Naruto had taken more hits and harsher ones than Kiba, he was clearly more durable.

"Get lost! I don't need your help!" Kiba roared furiously.

"Kiba... Kiba-kun... swearing isn't very good..." Hinata said timidly.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Amid the laughter, they headed toward the First Grade classroom. Even Hinata, who was usually very shy, relaxed a little.