[The image on the white screen begins to flicker.]
[After the incident involving the Forbidden Scroll, Uzumaki Naruto successfully earned the forehead protector symbolizing his status as a true ninja, presented to him by Iruka-sensei!]
[On the day of the class division, Naruto proudly wore his forehead protector, walking with an extra spring in his step.]
"Hey, Shikamaru! What do you think? My wristband looks pretty cool, right?" Naruto boasted with a grin.
Shikamaru glanced at him, a bit puzzled. Naruto had failed the graduation exam—so how did he end up with a forehead protector?
But seeing Naruto's joyful expression, Shikamaru decided not to question it.
"Too troublesome to ask anyway," he muttered to himself.
He had no intention of digging into the details—whatever happened, it was Naruto's story to tell.
---
Meanwhile, back in the classroom, chaos was already brewing.
Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino, and several other girls were fighting fiercely over who would get to sit next to Uchiha Sasuke.
Naruto, ever determined to win Sakura's attention, attempted to approach her. But she pushed him away mercilessly.
"What's so great about that cold, stuck-up Sasuke anyway?" Naruto fumed inwardly.
In a flash of frustration, Naruto leaped onto Sasuke's desk, crouching down to glare at him face to face.
Their noses were practically touching, tension crackling in the air like a prelude to a storm.
Sasuke wasn't one to back down from a challenge, especially not from the class dunce. He locked eyes with Naruto, equally fierce.
And then...
Naruto suddenly felt someone shove him from behind—hard.
Too quick to react.
And before anyone could register what was happening...
Their lips met.
Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke accidentally kissed in front of the entire classroom.
"Sasuke… Sasuke… FIRST KISS!"
"Naruto, you bastard!!!"
Sakura's scream rang out in the room like an explosion, followed closely by the outraged shrieks of other fangirls.
---
Reactions Begin to Erupt Across the Ninja World
Uzumaki Kushina: "???"
Uchiha Mikoto: "???"
Naruto's voice echoed awkwardly through the broadcast, trying to explain himself.
"Ahem... listen, I didn't mean to! Someone pushed me from behind!"
But Orochimaru, watching the scene with gleeful interest, couldn't help but stir the pot further.
"Oh my... Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun kissing? And someone helped by pushing their butts? This is getting entertaining."
Orochimaru always relished the chance to create chaos in Konoha. This incident was a feast for him.
Terumi Mei: "Embarrassing, yes... but still! Sasuke and Naruto are both handsome. It's actually kind of... pleasing to the eye~"
Fourth Raikage: "Fifth Mizukage! Is there any couple you don't support?"
Terumi Mei: "Of course not! I've sworn to spread love across the entire ninja world! Love conquers all!"
Jiraiya: "I must say, Mizukage-sama has deeply inspired me…"
Kakashi: "Looking forward to your next 'Make-Out' novel, Jiraiya-sama. Will it be based on the Mizukage?"
Jiraiya: "Naturally! She even sent me some reference photos—very helpful material!"
Kakashi: "Can I see those... for, uh, research?"
First Mizukage: Ahem "Can no one in Konoha discipline these wild kids?"
Senju Hashirama: "Hahahahaha!"
First Mizukage: "First Hokage, is that all you can say?!"
Uchiha Madara: "Why so bitter, Mizukage? Got a grudge against Konoha?"
First Mizukage: "..."
Hashirama: "Now, now. Madara, calm down. We're all part of the same ninja world. One big family!"
Madara: "Rin."
---
The Aftermath in the Classroom
Naruto watched the recording in horror. The screen had chosen that exact moment to zoom in on their accidental kiss. The frame was frozen, magnified, and utterly humiliating.
He wanted nothing more than for the earth to swallow him whole.
Across from him, Sasuke's expression was dark and unreadable. If he could move right now, he'd probably try to strangle Naruto on the spot just to prove his innocence.
Uchiha Itachi, watching from the shadows, frowned in concern.
"Have I failed Sasuke's upbringing?" he thought. "My health is deteriorating... If Sasuke is to carry on the Uchiha legacy, this sort of thing can't continue. No more distractions!"
He made a silent vow: once this public broadcast was over, he would sit down with Sasuke for a serious talk.
---
Namikaze Minato: "I'm sure this was just a misunderstanding. Didn't Naruto say he liked that girl, Sakura-chan?"
Uzumaki Kushina: "No! I prefer Hinata for our son!"
Kushina couldn't accept someone like Sakura—too violent and unstable. Her son deserved peace and kindness, not constant punches and shouting.
Minato wisely kept quiet. He knew better than to contradict Kushina when she had that look in her eyes.
After all, in the Uzumaki household, she was the one in charge.
---
Class Division Officially Begins
The oolong-like misunderstanding finally passed, and Iruka took the podium to announce the team formations.
He said a few routine words before handing out the notices.
As expected, the classic trio of Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji formed Team 10, led by Sarutobi Asuma.
Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino were grouped as Team 8, led by Yuhi Kurenai.
Finally, the most chaotic combination:
Team 7 – Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura. Their team leader?
Hatake Kakashi.
---
Political Tension Sparks
Orochimaru: "This division is interesting… Why are all the prominent clans of Konoha clustered under Sarutobi's influence?"
Terumi Mei: "You're right. 'Ino-Shika-Cho' is already a strategic powerhouse. Add in the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame? And Kurenai only just became a Jōnin recently... Why is she given such a powerful team?"
Orochimaru: "From what I know, Kurenai is romantically involved with Asuma. Their marriage is pretty much guaranteed."
That little revelation stirred unease among the watching crowd from various villages.
Yes, every village placed their prominent clans under the oversight of trusted people—but what Sarutobi Hiruzen had done seemed far too blatant.
Where was the opposition?
What about Shimura Danzō, who constantly opposed Sarutobi?
Surprisingly, Danzō was still present and hadn't been silenced.
He simply snorted coldly.
"These fools don't understand... While Sarutobi gathered Konoha's famous clans under his banner, all the 'equipment' of the Uchiha clan is under my control."
---
The power dynamics of the ninja world were always shifting—on the surface, friendships and camaraderie bloomed. But beneath the surface, rivalries, politics, and secrets shaped the fate of every village.
And right now, Uzumaki Naruto was still recovering from the trauma of his unintentional kiss with Sasuke—unaware of just how much more chaos awaited him.