The next day.
After Naruto, who had become a big eater, happily finished the meal prepared by Rhine's mother, he specifically packed a bento box, contentedly logged out of the Underground City, and returned to Konoha Village.
He had promised Iruka Umino last night, so he had to attend the Ninja Academy today.
This was his first day of school since transmigrating as Naruto.
Ninja Academy, tiered classroom.
A group of Ninja prospective candidates were chattering, discussing yesterday's Ninja game, or gossiping about topics like which boy was the most handsome or which girl was the most popular.
When Naruto walked into the classroom, the boys were all stunned at the same time.
The air seemed to freeze.
After a brief silence, they continued their conversations, treating Naruto like air, as if he didn't exist.
The previous Naruto, being thick-skinned and always carefree, wouldn't have noticed these anomalies.
If it were a normal person, they would have probably realized long ago that they were being excluded!
Naruto's expression was normal; he stood at the podium with his hands in his pockets, surveying the entire class.
Sasuke, Hyuga Hinata, Ino Yamanaka...
Familiar yet unfamiliar faces came into view.
Sasuke, that kid, must have already experienced the Uchiha clan massacre, turning him into a deeply resentful avenger, vowing to kill the unfilial Uchiha.
Ino Yamanaka still had her characteristic side bangs and long golden hair tied up in a high ponytail at the back of her head. Her pretty face still held some childishness, but it was already clear she was a rare beauty in the making, with a sunny disposition, though it was hard to tell if it was arrogance or confidence.
Compared to the timid, unconfident, and easily shy Hyuga Hinata, Ino Yamanaka certainly attracted more attention.
Of course.
For Naruto, these were not flaws.
Ino Yamanaka was everyone's Ino Yamanaka, but Hyuga Hinata was Naruto's Hyuga Hinata.
That was the difference.
When Naruto looked at Hyuga Hinata, Hyuga Hinata was also secretly looking at him.
Their gazes met, and Naruto returned a smile, causing Hyuga Hinata to instantly blush crimson, her head tilting back, then quickly lowering, her two fingers secretly poking under the desk, like a child caught by a parent stealing candy.
With her white eyes and blue hair, she always wore the same long top and pants, appearing exceptionally conservative.
Her face was a bit round, still childish and not fully developed, quiet and cute.
Seemingly sensing that Naruto's gaze was still on her, Hyuga Hinata's head dropped lower and lower, almost like an ostrich burying its head in the desk.
"Hinata is as shy as ever."
"If I told her I wanted to marry her in the future, Hinata would probably faint on the spot from shyness." Naruto chuckled inwardly.
His gaze swept past, selectively ignoring a certain pink-haired, broad-foreheaded girl.
"Seriously... What is Naruto up to now?"
Sakura Haruno rested her chin on one hand, full of suspicion, and eyed Naruto with slight displeasure.
Immediately, she turned her head to look at Sasuke, who was sitting in the corner with his hands crossed, palms supporting his chin, and her mind began to fantasize, pondering how to get Sasuke's first kiss.
While other classmates thought Naruto was about to play a prank, he did nothing and walked down from the podium.
Back row by the window, the king's homeland.
Naruto chose a seat in the back row by the window and sat down.
The first class was math, combining parabolas with throwing Ninja tools like kunai and shuriken.
Naruto found it boring and incomprehensible, like listening to a foreign language.
Most students found it equally incomprehensible, except for a top student like Sakura Haruno, who listened with great interest, her pen scratching "swish swish" as she took notes.
Naruto's only interest was counting the birds outside the window and overlooking the other students on the playground having practical combat lessons, just to pass the time.
Occasionally, he would also notice Hinata's glances at him.
"This is so boring. Classes really should be handled by a Shadow Clone."
Naruto twirled his pen to relieve boredom.
He often caught Hinata's gaze and looked back, each time making Hinata blush and lower her head.
Finally, lunch break arrived. The students in the class used various methods to rush to the commissary to grab food. There were even instances of fights over a piece of yakisoba bread, creating a scene similar to a Ninja War.
Some students also brought their own bento boxes and ate quietly in the classroom or on the school grounds.
As for the Ninja Academy cafeteria?
Not even dogs would eat there!
Who knew which wealthy Konoha Village family had the catering contract.
Sakura Haruno took out her lunch box from under her desk. When she opened it, she instinctively covered it with both hands, looking left and right, seemingly searching for someone's figure, being cautious.
"Huh, Naruto isn't here?"
Not seeing Naruto, Sakura Haruno was a bit surprised.
Usually, he would often snatch her bento to eat.
Sakura Haruno was suspicious.
The next moment, she pushed the thought aside. Seeing Sasuke sitting alone on a stool, a lovesick persona immediately appeared in her mind.
"Hehe, without Naruto, the big light bulb, it's just me and Sasuke in our two-person world~"
Sakura Haruno had just picked up her lunch box, ready to go find Sasuke.
A crowd of girls swarmed around, asking Sasuke all sorts of questions, like chirping orioles and swallows, inviting him to have lunch together.
"Damn it! These lovesick girls!"
Seeing this, Sakura Haruno clenched her fists, gritting her teeth, veins bulging on her temples.
After Sasuke coldly dismissed everyone, Sakura Haruno finally approached him, asking gently and demurely, "Sas... Sasuke... I brought a bento, do you want to eat together...?"
"No need."
Before she could finish speaking,
Sasuke grabbed the rice ball he had bought earlier from under his desk, stood up, and left, his demeanor icy.
Sakura Haruno froze, not feeling defeated, but rather thinking Sasuke was so cool.
...
School building, rooftop.
"Oh, found it."
As soon as the bell rang, Naruto, who had used the Instantaneous Body Technique to leave the classroom, had already bought most of the bread from the commissary, faster than everyone else.
Many people were destined to cry today at noon because they had no food.
After buying bread, Naruto went to look for Hinata and finally found her on the building's rooftop.
At this time, Hyuga Hinata was eating pineapple bread.
Seeing Naruto approach, she hastily hid the bread behind her, took out a small lunch box and placed it on her lap, lowering her head, and asked shyly and timidly, "Nar... Naruto..."
"Why... are... you here?"
"To find you."
Naruto sat down casually next to Hyuga Hinata, smiling as he replied, "To eat lunch with you."
Hinata noticed Naruto was very close to her, and her cheeks flushed "poof" crimson, the blush spreading to her ears exposed from her short hair.
"Why... with me... eat lunch..."
Hinata's voice was soft and as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
"Because..."
Naruto was about to say "I like you," but thinking of Hinata's shy personality, he feared she might faint on the spot, so he quickly changed his words: "No reason, hurry up and eat, the food will get cold."
"Oh... Mm..."
Hinata nodded obediently and dutifully opened her lunch box lid.
Her bento was very simple.
It didn't match the status of a Hyuga Clan young lady at all.
Inside the black outside, red inside square box, there was a small portion of white rice.
The white rice was spread flat, with a plum in the middle, and a few bright green broccoli florets next to the rice.
It didn't look appetizing at all.
Like a diet meal.
"Just this much?"
"Hyuga Hiashi, do you want to starve your daughter to death?!"