Chapter 52: Lunch with a Tsundere
After all the students finished their self-introductions, Iruka finally began the first official lesson.
"Today we'll be learning the most fundamental ninja knowledge—chakra extraction and application."
Iruka picked up chalk and drew a simple diagram on the blackboard. "Chakra is energy produced from the 130 trillion cells in our spiritual and physical bodies, and it's the foundation for using ninjutsu..."
Naruto rested his chin on his hand, listening to Iruka's lecture. Though he had learned all this knowledge three years ago, sitting in this classroom now gave him a strange sense of nostalgia.
After explaining chakra and extraction methods, Iruka moved on to hand seals.
Naruto found the hand seal concept quite cool, though unfortunately in the later stages of the original series, it basically became "clap hands together and shout whatever you want." This ritualistic seal-forming method had become a rare sight instead.
The latter half of the lesson shifted to shinobi world history.
"Long ago, the shinobi world had no concept of hidden villages. Ninja fought each other in the name of their clans, with an average lifespan of less than thirty years..."
When discussing Konoha's founding history, Iruka only mentioned Senju Hashirama pacifying the chaos and establishing Konoha's achievements. He made no mention of the other founder—Uchiha Madara's deeds.
After the history lesson ended, sunlight slanted through the windows onto the desks. It was now noon, and Naruto enthusiastically opened his bento box while Satsuki unwrapped the lunch her mother had carefully prepared.
The two naturally began exchanging food—this had become their regular interaction.
At the other end of the classroom, several little boys huddled together whispering, occasionally glancing in their direction.
"Hey, did you guys see? Satsuki and that blonde..."
"Why is she eating with someone like that?"
"Should we... go invite her over?"
After an intense exchange of meaningful looks, one boy worked up the courage to approach. He deliberately straightened his back, trying to display his "elite bearing."
"Um..." He stood before Satsuki's desk, his voice unconsciously rising several pitches. "You're from the Uchiha clan, right?"
After swallowing the food in her mouth, Satsuki looked up. Under the sunlight, her dark eyes sparkled like gems, instantly making the approaching boy's face turn red.
"Yes." She replied briefly. "Is there something you need?"
The boy said nervously, "I, I heard that talented Uchiha children start training before entering the academy..."
Growing more confident as he spoke, "Want to come eat with us? We could exchange training insights! My dad's a jonin, and I started training before entering the ninja academy!"
As he spoke, he smugly glanced at Naruto. That's right, this was the method the children had devised—by only inviting Satsuki, they could have lunch with her while leaving Naruto out.
Satsuki replied in a calm tone, "No thank you, I already have a training partner."
Her tone wasn't exactly polite, but it couldn't be called distant either—just a very plain rejection. Even so, the little boy standing before the desk instantly turned bright red.
Being just a child with thin skin, after being rejected so directly, he could only lower his head and quickly walk away.
After that figure had gone far enough, Satsuki nonchalantly picked up her chopsticks and lifted a golden fried shrimp from her bento box, gently placing it in Naruto's lunch.
"Here, try this. Mom knew you've been taking care of me, so she made this especially for you."
---
This was naturally a lie.
In reality, Satsuki had actively requested her mother to make an extra portion. Mikoto had even shown a meaningful smile at the time, but there was no way she could honestly admit to something like that.
"Really? That's very kind of Mikoto-san." Naruto immediately picked up the fried shrimp and took a bite. The crispy coating made a clear crunching sound between his teeth, while the fresh, sweet shrimp meat melted on his tongue, making him involuntarily squint his eyes.
This was Naruto's assessment—delicious, much more delicious than his own cooking. He could only say, as expected of the Uchiha clan head's wife?
After finishing the fried shrimp, Naruto picked up some char siu pork from his own bento and placed it in Satsuki's bowl as an exchange. "Here, try my char siu. Though it definitely can't compare to your family's..."
"Oh right, I also prepared some sweets." Naruto pulled out a small bag from his backpack. Opening it revealed several bright red treats.
A derivative dish of candied hawthorn—candied cherry tomatoes.
Satsuki stared at those little tomatoes for two seconds before reaching out to take one. She gently bit into it, and the sweet flavor immediately spread across her tongue.
'He still remembers my favorite tomato dish...
Even though cooking is already so much work for him... he still specially made these...'
Satsuki ate the small tomatoes in tiny bites, her peripheral vision catching Naruto efficiently working through his bento with a bit of sauce stuck to the corner of his mouth. She instinctively wanted to reach out and wipe it off, but forcibly changed the motion halfway to handing him a napkin instead.
---
After their pleasant lunch ended, the afternoon arrived. The lesson venue moved from the classroom to the training ground for taijutsu class.
But the curriculum wasn't group running or anything like that—it was divided into sparring pairs.
"First sparring group: Uchiha Satsuki versus Uzumaki Naruto!"
Satsuki's eyes immediately lit up. What good luck, she thought, completely unaware this might have been deliberately arranged.
In her proud perception, only Naruto in the entire class was worthy of being her opponent.
The two walked to the center of the field as Iruka solemnly announced the rules. "No real ninja tools allowed. Stop at the first decisive moment." He looked at both of them. "Now, form the Seal of Confrontation."
Naruto and Satsuki simultaneously raised their hands, forming the standard Seal of Confrontation.
The students watching from the sidelines immediately grew restless. Several little boys crowded to the front row, their faces red and necks thick as they shouted.
"Satsuki! Do your best!"
"Show that guy your strength!"
"Satsuki-san! After you win, can you teach me shuriken?"
Satsuki turned a deaf ear to these noisy voices, her gaze remaining locked on Naruto. A gentle breeze passed by, lifting the hair over her forehead, her dark eyes full of focus.
Satsuki assumed a standard taijutsu starting stance. "I won't hold back."
Naruto smiled as he took his starting position. "I'll give it my all too."
Iruka's raised hand swung down sharply. "Begin!"
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