For a time, Iruka's emotions were... complicated.
Teachers and students stared at each other for a full ten minutes, the atmosphere thick with shared understanding. Some strange sense of camaraderie bloomed in the silence.
Without realizing it, their relationship had deepened.
After all, one of life's great bonding experiences was getting beaten up together.
After the prolonged mutual staring, every eye in the classroom naturally drifted toward Naruto. They found him sitting ramrod straight at his desk, face expressionless and cold, the very picture of a diligent student ready to absorb knowledge.
Everyone's gazes carried a hint of resentment.
Everyone except Hinata.
Hinata looked at Naruto without any complaint, but something felt off. Naruto's cold, distant expression seemed wrong somehow.
Normally, when she dared to look at him this directly, her heartbeat would accelerate involuntarily. Her face would grow hot. She'd eventually squeak in embarrassment and bury her face in her hands, unable to look at him anymore.
But this Naruto didn't trigger that reaction.
The Naruto who came to school today isn't the real Naruto.
The thought crystallized in her mind. I should visit the farm after school and see the real one.
"Alright, everyone, let's begin class." Iruka cleared his throat, desperate to break the awkward atmosphere. He picked up his textbook and launched into his lecture.
The class felt torturous, but eventually dismissal arrived.
"That's all for this morning," Iruka announced with poorly concealed relief. "Regarding the Transformation Jutsu, please practice diligently at home."
He watched the students begin their usual routine—saying goodbye to Naruto before filing out. When Naruto and Sasuke shouldered their backpacks, Iruka finally stopped them.
"Naruto, wait a moment. I need to speak with you."
Two identical cold expressions turned toward him. "What is it, Iruka-sensei?" 'Naruto' asked flatly.
"Uh..." Iruka felt thrown by Naruto's detached tone. Why does he sound like Sasuke? But his face hurt too much to pursue that line of thought. "I want to introduce you to a friend of mine."
"Alright, Iruka-sensei. You can introduce me this afternoon." 'Naruto' nodded to Sasuke and left without further comment.
Iruka watched him go, doubt creeping into his mind. That reaction isn't Naruto at all.
Normally, wouldn't Naruto be thrilled? Excited to meet a new friend immediately?
"Iruka."
A gentle, clear voice called from behind him.
Iruka turned, his confused expression melting into a welcoming smile. "Mizuki."
"So." Mizuki studied Iruka's bruised face, his green Academy instructor vest crisp and neat. "Are you going to tell me how you actually injured yourself?"
"Ahem." Iruka coughed awkwardly. "It was, uh... one of those really unusual falls. You know the kind—where you trip and slide several meters forward along flat ground?"
Mizuki's expression clearly said I don't believe you for a second, but he didn't press. "Didn't you mention yesterday that you'd introduce me to a friend? Where are they?"
He glanced around the empty hallway.
"This afternoon," Iruka said. "He only has time later."
Must be someone important. Such a tight schedule. Mizuki's smile widened internally. He'd been so good to Iruka over the years. Finally, it was time for his friend to repay that kindness.
Iruka didn't realize that behind Mizuki's gentle face lurked calculating thoughts about useful connections. He only knew that Mizuki had been kind to him in childhood—when many people excluded and ostracized him, Mizuki had stood up and become his friend.
For that, Iruka felt deep gratitude. He wanted to share every good thing with Mizuki.
When Sasuke's shadow clone returned to the farm and relayed Iruka's message to the real Naruto, Sasuke's expression was priceless. The moment he'd seen Iruka's bruised face that morning, he'd known exactly who was responsible.
And now Iruka wanted to introduce a friend to Naruto.
That friend must have a grudge against Iruka-sensei. Probably a rival for this year's job evaluation.
After hearing Sasuke's report, genuine admiration crossed Naruto's face. "Iruka-sensei truly is a good teacher. He knows his students' dreams and spares no effort helping them achieve those goals."
"Such an excellent teacher deserves a meal."
"I'll go to school this afternoon and meet whoever Iruka-sensei wants to introduce me to."
Sasuke's shadow clone dispersed. The original Sasuke, freshly tortured by Naruto's training regimen, was currently refining chakra. He'd discovered that after applying the medicine, while his body absorbed the treatment, his chakra refinement became significantly faster.
If he continued at this pace, he'd be ready to face Itachi much sooner than expected.
A soft voice interrupted Naruto's thoughts.
He turned to find Hinata standing outside the courtyard gate, her pale eyes fixed on him.
The moment Hinata saw him, her heartbeat accelerated and her face grew warm. This is the real Naruto-kun.
"Oh, Hinata! Come in, come in."
Naruto's surprise was genuine and delighted. "Don't leave after you're here—stay for lunch! I'll slaughter an extra sheep. One of them just happened to suffer from heat stroke."
"Ah... y-yes, Naruto-kun." Hinata couldn't refuse him.
Naruto felt genuinely pleased that Hinata had agreed. Eating with someone who had a proper appetite like hers made meals so much more enjoyable.
Unlike Sasuke, who only ate two bowls of rice. Like some kind of delicate flower.
They sat together on a wooden bench. Brilliant sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead, casting irregular patterns of light and shadow across their backs.
"Naruto-kun... that wasn't you who went to school this morning, was it?"
Hinata looked at him, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Ah, Hinata really is amazing!" Naruto grinned. "You're right—that wasn't me. It was Sasuke's shadow clone. Both Sasuke and I are training here. We only use shadow clones to attend school."
"The knowledge taught at the Academy doesn't really help us much anymore."
Naruto spoke honestly. He followed the path of Ultimate Taijutsu—he didn't need to learn ninjutsu except for passing the graduation exam, which he could probably manage in a single day of study.
As for Sasuke, attending school was even less necessary. He came from a prominent clan and had access to superior training. Plus, Naruto had already shared all of his father Minato's and mother Kushina's techniques and experience with him.
There was simply no reason for either of them to waste time in a classroom.
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