"All right, everyone. You can take a break." Iruka said.
"Yeah!" the students responded.
Iruka understood this because he had also been a student. 'Break time, dismissal time, and holidays—those are the things that get many students excited.'
"Don't forget, after this, there's shuriken throwing practice." Iruka reminded them.
"Yes, sensei!" his students replied. Iruka then left the classroom.
"..."
Usually, when there was a new student in the class, they would swarm the new student during break time and ask lots of questions. But that didn't happen this time.
Why?
Because Souji was talking to Naruto, they even looked like they already knew each other.
"Hey, Sakura. Why don't you approach him and ask him something?" Ino asked Sakura.
"Huh? No, I'm not interested." Sakura refused. Of course, she didn't want to admit that she was also curious.
"Ugh..." Ino groaned.
Usually, Ino wouldn't think twice about things like this and would just do it, but today, she was feeling hesitant.
"Ino, don't tell me. Are you embarrassed?" Sakura asked.
"Huh? What are you saying, Sakura?"
"Embarrassed." Sakura said again.
"I'm not."
"Prove it." Sakura said.
"Huh? You're underestimating me."
Ino pulled Shikamaru's hand. "Shika, come with me."
Shikamaru, who was about to go to sleep, was surprised when Ino pulled him.
"Oi, oi, Ino. What are you doing?" He said, annoyed.
Ino turned around and looked at him sharply. "Shut up and follow me. If not, I'll tell Aunt Yoshino that you often fall asleep in practice class."
"Ugh, so troublesome..." Shikamaru muttered, feeling annoyed and helpless.
Ino pulled Shikamaru closer to Souji and Naruto.
Shikamaru saw where Ino was taking him and felt a bad premonition.
Ino greeted Souji, who was standing next to her. "Um, hello." she said.
Souji, who had heard her, turned his gaze to Ino. "Oh? Hello. Is there something?" He asked with a smile.
Badum Badum
"Um... E-etto... Shikamaru wants to talk to you." said Ino, pushing him forward.
"Huh?" Shikamaru was surprised by what Ino did. 'It's like i thought.'
"..."
Shikamaru scratched his dry throat. "Nara Shikamaru."
"Bond, James Bond."
"Huh?"
"I mean, Souji. Just Souji."
"Uh, okay..."
"... "
The two of them fell silent. Naruto, who had been watching, also fell silent.
But before Shikamaru could speak, Ino cut him off. "Eh? Souji-kun, didn't you say in front of the class earlier that your name was Tendou Souji?"
Shikamaru, relieved that Ino had spoken, also just realized it.
"Oh, that? It's a gift from heaven. I don't come from any clan." Souji explained.
"..."
"A gift from heaven?" Shikamaru asked.
"Yes," Souji replied.
"Dad, when did you get it?" Naruto asked, also curious.
"Huh? Dad?" Ino asked, confused.
Shikamaru, who had overheard this, narrowed his eyes. 'I thought so. I wasn't mistaken.'
Yes, the person who "accidentally" heard Naruto call Souji "Dad." In the previous chapter, it was Shikamaru.
"Last night, a grandfather came into my dream and gave me the name Tendou. He said he came from heaven, and his name was Morgan Freeman." Souji boasted to Naruto.
"Eh? Really?" Naruto continued. "Wow, I hope I have the same dream as you, Dad."
"Well, who knows." Souji said.
"Wait a minute, Souji-kun. Did Naruto just call you 'Dad'?" Ino asked curiously.
Not only were Ino and Shikamaru curious, but the students eavesdropping on their conversation were too.
"Oh, that's because I'm Naruto's father." Souji replied.
"..."
"Eh!?"
"..."
Souji then explained to Ino and Shikamaru, making them feel sorry for Naruto and amazed by Souji.
[Ding.]
[Target Harem detected.]
"..."
[Do you want to add Yamanaka Ino to the list?]
[Yes/No]
"..."
'Hm... Yes?'
[Target registered.]
[Yamanaka Ino: Heart: 30%
Mood: Happy.
Thoughts: He's handsome and caring. He's better than Sasuke.
Lust: Not yet available.
Satisfaction: Not yet available.]
"..."
"But Naruto... Do you mind calling Souji 'Dad'?" Ino asked Naruto.
Naruto shook his head. "I don't mind." he said.
Their conversation flowed smoothly from there, and Ino brought Chōji into it.
"..."
"..."
"All right, kids. For those whose names are called, please come forward." said Iruka.
"Akimichi Chōji."
"Yes, Sensei."
Choji came forward and took the prepared shuriken.
He threw them one by one.
"..."
"6/10."
And so on.
"Souji."
Now it was Souji's turn.
"Come on, Dad. You can do it." Naruto said, encouraging him.
Thanks to Souji's explanation in class, the other students knew the truth about him being Naruto's father, so they took it in stride.
Iruka was confused at first, but Ino explained it to him, which softened his view of Naruto and made him admire Souji.
Iruka hated Kyubi too, but he still had common sense and knew the truth from the Third Hokage.
Had Iruka known that Souji's parents had also died in the incident, he might have prostrated himself to Souji. Not only did Souji not hate Naruto, he also cared for him deeply.
"Naruto, didn't I tell you? This is the first time I've thrown a shuriken, so don't have too high of expectations for me."
"Hehehe, it doesn't matter. Even if your score is below mine later, you're still my dad."
Twitch
Souji's face twitched upon hearing that.
"Hm? Is that so..."
"Sensei, can you give me some time to get used to it? This is the first time I've thrown a shuriken." he said.
"Eh? How was it in your previous class?" Iruka asked.
"Ah?" Yes, Souji had forgotten about that.
"I forgot, Sensei."
Iruka sighed. "Souji, I can't give you the time, but I can show you how to throw a shuriken correctly. Do you want that?"
"Please help me, Sensei." Souji said. Iruka gave Souji an example. He pinched the shuriken with two fingers, holding the back with his thumb. Then, he threw it.
"..."
Stuck
The shuriken stuck perfectly on its target.
Clap Clap
The other students clapped.
'Not bad, but my Onii-chan is better.' thought Sasuke.
"Now, Souji. It's your turn."
Souji took the shuriken, followed Iruka's example, and threw it.
"..."
His shuriken missed.
Iruka encouraged him and offered some guidance. Naruto and Ino also supported Souji.
However, the other students were different. Most of the male students laughed at Souji.
"Heh? I thought he was great. It turns out he's just a loser."
Ino wanted to hit him after hearing that, but fortunately, Naruto and Shikamaru stopped her.
Those who had laughed at and insulted Souji shut their mouths and stayed away.
'Women are scary.' thought Shikamaru and the other male students.
"..."
Souji continued his practice.
"5/10."
Iruka nodded his head and said, "Don't give up. Practice hard."
"Thank you, Sensei," Souji said.
"Good job, Souji," Ino said.
"Thank you, Ino."
"It's nothing." Ino responded awkwardly.
"So, what about my score, Naruto?"
"Eh? That? Hmm, yes, that's good." Naruto said, also feeling awkward.
"Is that so? I hope your score will be much higher than mine because if not..." Souji continued. "The filling for the onigiri and croquettes for the next three days is full of vegetables."
"WHAT?!" Naruto panicked when he heard that.
"Ugh..." Naruto held his head in frustration. Then, he fell silent.
"..."
"Yosh!" Naruto shouted enthusiastically.
"Just you wait! I'll get a higher score than before, Ttebayo!" Naruto said.
Souji whispered to Shikamaru, "What was Naruto's score on the last practice test?"
"2/10" Shikamaru replied. Shikamaru replied.
"... "
"Really?" Souji thought in disbelief.
"Uzumaki Naruto." Iruka called out.
"Yes, Sensei!"
Naruto stepped forward and took the provided shuriken.
He prepared, then threw his shuriken.
"..."
"3/10."
"Yatta!" Naruto cheered happily.
Cough
"Naruto, you know? Your score is below mine." Souji said.
"Ah?" Naruto had forgotten about it.
"..."
"But since your score has improved, I'll reduce the vegetables."
Hearing that, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief.
"Souji-kun, do you cook for yourself?" Ino asked.
Before Souji could answer, Naruto cut him off, saying, "Dad's cooking is delicious!"
"Eh? Um... In that case, can I try some for lunch?" Ino added, "Don't worry, I'll give you my portion too."
"Of course." Souji replied.
"Can I come too?" Choji asked.
"Of course, Choji. And you too, Shikamaru." Souji said.
"Thank you." Choji and Shikamaru replied.
"..."
"Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke stepped forward when he heard his name called. Of course, the voices of Sasuke's fans could not be forgotten.
The male students who saw this could only scoff with annoyance and envy. They couldn't do anything, especially since they didn't have Sasuke's abilities and talents.
Sasuke took the provided shuriken.
He prepared, then threw his shuriken.
"..."
Stuck.
One shuriken stuck, followed by another.
Stuck Stuck Stuck
"..."
"10/10."
"Woah..."
They were all amazed by Sasuke's skills.
"Haha, as expected of the Uchiha clan." One of the students said, and the others agreed.
As for Sasuke's fans?
As usual, they praised him and did not hesitate to shout.
Sasuke ignored them, which made them even crazier. Fortunately, Iruka managed to stop them. He even shuddered in horror. And let's not forget Souji, Naruto, Chōji, and Shikamaru. They stood a little further away, feeling horrified.
"They're crazy." Ino said.
The four of them nodded in agreement.
"But Ino, aren't you also part of them?" Choji asked.
In silence, Souji, Naruto, and Shikamaru retreated a little further, leaving Choji alone with Ino, whose head was bowed and whose hands were clenched tightly.
"C-H-O-J-I."
"Huh? Wait, Ino?! Ahhhh!" Choji screamed as he became a punching bag for Ino.
"..."
"Rest in peace, Choji." They thought to themselves.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
In the Hokage's office.
Bang
Danzo entered without knocking on the door and slammed it shut.
"Hiruzen!"
Hiruzen, who was enjoying a cigarette, choked on it because he was startled by Danzo.
Cough Cough
Hiruzen coughed uncontrollably. Danzo remained silent, letting Hiruzen suffer. He even hoped that Hiruzen would die from his own cigarette smoke.
'Heh, if Hiruzen dies, then the Hokage's seat will fall into my hands.' Danzo fantasized.
But it seemed the world didn't side with Danzo because Hiruzen was still alive.
Hiruzen glared at Danzo. "What now, Danzo?!"
Without saying anything, Danzo threw a scroll at Hiruzen.
Hiruzen caught it and examined it first, he didn't know if his friend had placed a dangerous seal to kill him.
Twitch
Danzo's face twitched when he saw what Hiruzen was doing.
After confirming that the scroll was safe, Hiruzen opened it and read its contents. Then, he closed the scroll and placed it on the table.
"So, what's the problem?" Hiruzen asked.
"The problem is with that orphan boy, Hiruzen. Are you sure he's not a spy from another village?"
"Stop your nonsense, Danzo! He's the orphan of the village hero, not a spy!"
"Where does your conviction come from, Hiruzen? Data can be altered. Information can be changed too!"
Hiruzen took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"My conviction comes from the Will of Fire, as does Souji's."
"Don't joke with me, Hiruzen. I don't trust that boy." Danzo then added, "If you don't want to keep the boy away, that's fine, but I want him to join ROOT."
"Don't joke with me, Danzo! I won't give him to you." Hiruzen then added, "When he graduates from the academy, I'll make him my student. So don't even think about taking him to ROOT."
"Hiruzen!" Danzo said angrily, "If that's the case, let my ROOT members watch him."
Bang
Hiruzen slammed his desk. "Enough, Danzo! I already have ANBU to watch him. You don't need to think about it!"
"Don't need to think about it? You say? This is a matter of village security!" Danzo replied.
"My Anbu are enough for that!"
"How can you be so sure?!" Huh?"
"Because I am the Hokage!"
"Hiruzen! You'll regret this!"
Bang
Danzo slammed the door on his way out of Hiruzen's office.
After seeing Danzo leave, Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn't know why, but his emotions always flared up whenever his friend came to his office.
Perhaps this was one of the arguments he had with Danzo that made him so fiery.
'Heh, Danzo. You'll never know, a human's potential is far greater than that of a tool.' Hiruzen thought to himself.
Then, Hiruzen summoned his Anbu.
Swish
An Anbu appeared.
"Besides watching Naruto, watch Souji. If any ROOT members approach him, get rid of them." Hiruzen said firmly, he couldn't let Konoha's future wither before it could grow strong.
He didn't want to regret it if something happened to Souji because of his negligence.
'The lives of a few ROOT members are not comparable to Souji's.' Hiruzen thought to himself.
"Yes." The Anbu responded and then disappeared.
Swish
'The man who walks the path of heaven and will rule over everything, huh?'
"..."
'That kid has style.' Hiruzen thought to himself.
"..."
"..."