Inuzuka Kiba gritted his teeth, looking at Naruto.
Sasuke had not yet returned.
And so, there was no 'attention-seeker' to draw fire away from Naruto.
Kiba, who always clamored about wanting to become Hokage and have everyone own a dog, couldn't hold back.
However, he only dared to complain to Shino in a low voice.
"How did I never notice before?"
"Naruto is the most arrogant one."
"Sasuke can't even compare to him!"
"Woof~" The little puppy Akamaru barked in a soft, baby-like voice.
"Akamaru, you think so too, right?"
The little puppy Akamaru immediately shut up.
Damn it!
"No, Naruto-kun isn't arrogant."
Shino, usually quiet, suddenly spoke.
Kiba was stunned for a moment, then looked at Shino with some confusion.
"Naruto-kun has never actively tried to show off; Sasuke is the one who likes to be in the limelight."
"Moreover, Naruto-kun is kind to people; only children tend to like someone like Sasuke more."
"Don't believe me? Take a look."
Saying that, Shino raised his chin slightly.
Kiba turned his head to look.
He saw the window filled with older female students.
Each of them was intently watching Naruto, who was currently studying.
Of course, there were also eye-to-eye confrontations with Ino and Sakura.
As for Hinata... they simply pretended not to see her.
"Ah~!".
"Damn it!"
"That guy... he's really enviable~!"
Inuzuka Kiba: "..."
Is it my turn to be embarrassed?
"No, no one cares about you," Shino said abruptly.
Kiba's eye twitched.
But when he looked at the chat room, Kiba felt even worse.
Indeed, no one in the chat room had mentioned him.
Shino didn't reply.
Instead, he turned back to look at Naruto, who was diligently studying with his head down.
That long golden hair made Shino pause for a moment.
"Indeed, just as Father said, Naruto-kun truly resembles that person."
"Resembles who?" Kiba asked.
Shino turned his head, said nothing more, and raised his hand; a small black insect crawled out from his sleeve.
'Was I discovered?'
'Has Naruto-kun's strength already reached this level?'
This black insect was intentionally sent by Shino to test him.
He never expected that Naruto would notice it before it even got close.
And...
'Hinata also hid a lot.'
The black insect told him.
He was noticed by Naruto immediately.
Then he was caught by Hinata.
Fortunately, Naruto knew he had no ill intent, otherwise this black insect might not have returned.
After retracting the black insect, Shino subconsciously looked back.
Their eyes met.
Naruto showed his signature gentle smile.
Shino nodded slightly.
Then, he slowly stood up and walked towards the corner of the classroom where the king sat.
Kiba was utterly stunned.
Shino, what are you doing?!
Don't challenge him just because you're envious of Naruto's popularity with women!
You'll get beaten badly!
However.
Soon, the worry on Kiba's face turned into an expression of disbelief.
What did he see?
Naruto actually smiled and even actively invited Shino to sit down.
Was this an invitation for Shino to join their small group?
Oh my goodness... The Naruto Gang was already overpoweringly strong; if Shino joined them...
It's over!
I won't be able to badmouth Naruto anymore!
He could detect Shino's insects himself, but others, even those senior students who were about to graduate, couldn't detect them!
In this way, the 'informants' of the Naruto Gang would cover the entire Ninja Academy!
Coupled with Hinata's Byakugan...
Gulp--
Kiba swallowed with difficulty.
"Woo woo..."
Akamaru sensed his master's emotional changes.
His tiny body began to tremble slightly.
After a long while.
Inuzuka Kiba took a deep breath.
He had made a decision.
Immediately after, he stood up with a solemn expression.
If you can't beat them, join them!
Ōnoki: "Good boy!"
Ōnoki: "The Inuzuka kid is quite smart, isn't he~!".
Kurotsuchi, on the other hand, said with a look of disgust: "Coward!"
Kiba's face turned red.
Inuzuka Kiba: "You do it if you can!"
Kurotsuchi: "I can't beat him."
Kurotsuchi: "But I won't give up and then wag my tail at Black-Framed Naruto."
Kiba: "???"
"She's right," Shino added from the side.
Kiba was a little nervous.
Mainly because Shino had heard everything he said just now.
However, as long as he grovels early and has a thick skin, it's as if he hasn't provoked the Naruto Gang at all!
No, I am part of the Naruto Gang myself!
Thinking of this.
Kiba smiled.
Ding-a-ling—
However, before he could go over, the class bell rang.
And Iruka's voice also sounded at the same time.
"Quiet down, everyone, it's time for class."
Kiba: "..."
Looking at Shino who had returned.
Kiba sighed, one step late, every step late.
"Iruka-sensei, Sasuke-kun... is he alright?"
"Yes, Iruka-sensei, Sasuke-kun, is he sick?"
"He hasn't been to class for two days."
"We've also heard about the Uchiha matter, is it true, Iruka-sensei?"
Someone spoke, and others immediately followed suit.
Iruka was silent for a moment.
Then he forced a strained smile.
"Sasuke-kun is fine, something happened with the Uchiha, and he needs to rest at home for a few more days."
"Everyone, don't worry about Sasuke-kun, Sasuke-kun will be back very soon."
The children from Ninja clans mostly knew, but the children from civilian families did not.
They only heard that something big had happened to the Uchiha.
Even the Konoha Military Police Force had new personnel.
And after this class.
The news of the Uchiha Clan's annihilation spread like wildfire, reaching the entire Ninja Academy within a single break.
After all, it's sometimes quite difficult to make children keep a secret and not gossip.
"The Uchiha Clan... that's the Uchiha Clan!"
"They were annihilated overnight?!"
"That's impossible, right?"
"Who cares about them, anyway, my parents really dislike the Uchiha Clan."
"That's right, besides, the newly appointed Konoha Military Police Force seems to be from Hokage-sama's clan, no wonder they're so good~!".
"But... the Uchiha... what about Sasuke-kun?"
"Shush~!".
"Everyone, don't discuss it so loudly."
"Mm-hmm, my dad seemed to say yesterday that Hokage-sama issued a ban, not allowing anyone to discuss the Uchiha matter."
"That's right, my dad also told me not to mention the Uchiha in front of Sasuke ever again!"
"Hiss... why does it feel somewhat similar to Naruto-kun?"
"Shush! Don't talk about these things anymore!"
"..."