"Naruto..."
Inside the Ninja Academy classroom.
Uzumaki Naruto was fast asleep, sprawled across his desk, when a soft, pleasant voice called out to him. Groggily, he lifted his head and saw the face of the girl who constantly occupied his thoughts.
The morning sunlight streamed through the window, outlining her delicate face. Pink hair, neatly clipped back, shifted slightly as her bangs brushed her forehead. Her bright green eyes glanced down at him, filled with a gentle warmth that made his heart pound.
"Sa... Sakura-chan?!"
Drool slipped from Naruto's mouth.
He wasn't sure if it was from sleep—or from seeing his goddess smile at him like that.
"Are you awake?" Sakura asked softly.
Naruto's heart nearly burst with joy. Why was Sakura suddenly being so kind? Could it be that she had finally discovered his charm? Had she finally fallen for him?!
He nodded furiously.
"Awake! I'm awake, Sakura-chan!"
Sakura chuckled softly—then her fist came swinging down.
**Bang!**
Naruto went flying with a crash, smashing through a row of desks before landing in a heap on the floor.
The entire classroom roared with laughter.
"Ahhh—!"
Naruto clutched his face in pain, tears welling in his eyes.
"S-Sakura-chan... why did you hit me?!"
Hands on her hips, Sakura huffed. "I told you—I was going to Sasuke-kun's side! But you were sleeping like a dead pig, blocking the way. I called and called, but you wouldn't wake up! Serves you right!"
She stepped over the fallen desks, instantly brightening up when she reached Uchiha Sasuke, her expression soft and radiant.
"Sasuke-kun! I brought you homemade rice balls. Do you want to try them? I made them myself!"
Sasuke coldly snorted and turned away, eyes fixed on the window, completely ignoring her.
Naruto clenched his fists in frustration.
"Damn Sasuke! Always acting cool, showing off... why does Sakura like a guy like that?!"
Instead of blaming Sakura for the punch, Naruto rolled up his sleeves and stormed toward Sasuke.
The girls screamed.
"Naruto! Stay away from Sasuke-kun!"
"You idiot! What are you trying to do?!"
Naruto marched up to Sasuke, their foreheads nearly touching.
Sasuke's eyes gleamed with disdain.
"Diao Che Wei, are you looking to die?"
The insult made Naruto burn with anger.
"What did you say, you bastard?! If you're so tough, fight me!"
But before he could swing, Sakura's fist smashed into his forehead again.
**Bang!**
Naruto flew across the classroom once more.
"What are you doing, Naruto?! Stay away from Sasuke-kun!"
Groaning, Naruto rubbed his swollen forehead, staring at Sakura miserably.
"Sakura... you..."
The classroom filled with laughter again. No one helped him. Everyone just pointed and whispered.
Naruto forced himself back up, fists trembling, bitterness welling inside. This loneliness, this pain—it was something he had already grown used to... or rather, forced himself to endure.
"Hmph! One day, I'll be Hokage—and make all of you acknowledge me!"
His dreams were his only shield. His hope, his only comfort.
He wasn't brilliant, but he wasn't clueless, either. He could feel it—that icy resentment from the entire village. Not just indifference... hatred.
But why? What had he done wrong?
Still, even Sakura—rough and dismissive as she was—spoke to him. For Naruto, who'd grown up ignored and despised, even that was a luxury.
At that moment, Sakura, Ino, and the other girls huddled cheerfully around Sasuke. The boys laughed among themselves, in their own groups.
Only Naruto stood alone.
He lowered his eyes, sadness flickering inside him—but quickly forced it away. Plastering a grin onto his face, he shoved his hands behind his neck and strode out, kicking open the classroom door.
The noise inside faded.
The laughter didn't belong to his world.
"...Why does no one care about me?"
He kicked a pebble across the playground with all his strength.
**Bang!**
It clattered against a wooden bucket filled with brushes and paint. Naruto's eyes suddenly lit up. Smacking his fist into his palm, he exclaimed—
"I've got it!"
Soon, atop the Hokage Rock, Naruto gleefully painted mustaches on the great stone faces. He stepped back, admiring his handiwork.
"Perfect! Now even the Fourth Hokage-sama looks amazing with whiskers!"
Then suddenly—
"Uzu! Ma! Ki! Na! Ru! To!"
Naruto froze, his back stiffening. Slowly, he turned—
"Iruka-sensei?!"
The teacher's face was twisted in fury.
"It's class time! What are you doing here?!"
Naruto laughed nervously. "I-I'm creating great art! Don't you think it's got style? Especially the Fourth Hokage-sama, that's my masterpiece!"
Iruka's voice thundered. "Clean this off immediately! Then get back to class with me!"
Naruto pouted, but he obeyed.
On their way back, Iruka sighed. "Naruto... I understand. You want people to notice you. But pranks like this won't give you recognition. Shouldn't you study harder? Train harder?"
Naruto quickly said, "I *am* trying hard, Iruka-sensei! But... no matter how much I practice, I just can't pick it up! Compared to that bastard Sasuke, I'm not even as good as any of my classmates..."