MC's POV
After declaring his arrest, I waited.
And as expected… he did not disappoint.
Rin stepped forward instead of stepping back. His eyes burned with that familiar protagonist fire.
"What is my crime?" he demanded loudly. "If supporting a companion is my crime, then I am guilty. Arrest me."
The classroom fell silent.
"If helping someone is my crime, then arrest me!"
His voice grew louder, dramatic.
"If stopping powerful people from bullying the weak is my crime—then arrest me!"
He roared the last sentence.
Some of the children looked moved.
Even the teacher hesitated.
Outside, I could sense faint chakra signatures — ANBU watching from the shadows.
Of course they were.
I responded calmly.
"There is no need to scream," I said evenly. "We can all hear you."
That single sentence broke his rhythm. He had built momentum with emotion and every one attention was attracted by me.
"Your crime," I continued, "is breaking the bones of fellow students over verbal arguments and refusing to comply with the Hokage's order."
The room quieted. He opened his mouth to argue ,but no words came immediately.
I pressed forward.
"And do not attempt to justify your actions as noble," I added. "Your actions were driven by selfish motives."
That caught him off guard.
"What selfish motives?" he demanded subconsciouly and the entire class leaned in.
Even Kushina looked confused.
Of course, I couldn't reveal too much myself. If I exposed knowledge beyond reason, suspicion would turn toward me.
So instead, I glanced at one of the chunin officers beside me.
He understood immediately.
We had already discussed this angle.
He stepped forward.
"Rin," the clan ninjas said sternly, "you did not help her out of justice. You helped her because of her beauty."
The classroom gasped softly.
"You are selective in who you protect," another member of my squad added. "There have been multiple bullying incidents in this academy. You never interfered. Yet you chose her."
A female ninja from my team folded her arms. "You already have a girl from clan constantly by your side. Yet you pursue another. That isn't justice. That's indulgence."
The impact was immediate.
Rin's expression faltered and Kushina froze. Mikoto's fingers tightened and seeing the right time i stepped forward slightly.
"You speak of companionship," I said calmly. "Since when have you helped any other classmate?"
I looked around the room deliberately.
The children hesitated at first.
Then one of them spoke.
"He never helped us…"
Another added, "He even beat people up for getting close to Mikoto."
Murmurs spread.
Rin looked stunned.
He likely avoided others simply to maintain distant from children but intention doesn't matter.
Interpretation does.
He never imagined his isolation could be twisted like this.
He clenched his fists.
For a moment, I thought he might stay silent but then he surprised me.
"So what?" he said loudly.
The room quieted again.
"Yes, I helped her because I like her," he declared boldly. "The moment I saw her, she was mine."
Before anyone could react, he grabbed Kushina's hand and pulled her into his arms.
Gasps filled the classroom.
Kushina's face turned bright red.
Mikoto stood frozen.
"Shameless…" someone whispered.
Then more voices joined.
"Shameless."
"Disgusting."
"Arrogant."
The earlier sympathy evaporated instantly.
Romantic defiance works in stories. Not in structured society.
Especially not when framed as possessiveness.
I watched quietly.
He thought boldness would reclaim control.
Instead, it isolated him further.