Chapter 48: Teacher, I Want to Graduate
As everyone knows, classrooms on the first day of school are always particularly noisy.
Until the classroom door was gently pushed open.
A brown-haired young man walked in, wearing a neat green chunin uniform. The long scar across his face should have looked menacing, but it was softened by his gentle smile.
He stood somewhat nervously at the podium, clearing his throat twice: "Ahem... Hello everyone."
The children gradually quieted down, pairs of curious eyes looking at him in unison.
"I'm your homeroom teacher, Umino Iruka." His voice trembled initially but quickly steadied. "From today forward, I'll be accompanying everyone in learning the basics of being a ninja."
Iruka's gaze swept across the young faces below as he picked up chalk to write his name on the blackboard.
"Now let's start from the first row. Please come up to introduce yourselves one by one." His gaze swept gently across the classroom. "Don't be nervous—just say your name and what you like."
The first to take the stage was the Akimichi chubby boy, who honestly scratched his head: "I... I'm Akimichi Choji... I like eating barbecue most..." Before he could finish, his stomach rumbled loudly, causing the whole class to burst into laughter.
Next was the Yamanaka girl, who gracefully curtsied: "I'm Yamanaka Ino. I like flower arranging most."
When it was the Hyuga family's Hinata's turn, the little girl kept her head down throughout, mumbling: "Hi... Hyuga Hinata..." Her pale face flushed red as her index fingers unconsciously poked together. "I like... I like..." Before finishing, she covered her face and ran back down.
The Nara kid slowly shuffled onto the platform, yawning: "Nara Shikamaru... what a drag..." Only after Iruka's meaningful look did he reluctantly add: "...I like watching clouds."
...
Throughout this, Sasuko maintained an aloof posture, resting her chin on one hand while gazing out the window, as if all the classroom commotion had nothing to do with her.
Only when Naruko beside her bounced onto the platform did she slightly turn her head, sparing a bit of attention.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruko!" The blonde girl's energetic voice rang through the classroom. "I love Ichiraku ramen!" She placed her hands on her hips, her face beaming with sincere, adorable smiles. "I hope to become good friends with everyone!"
Whispered discussions immediately arose below.
"That's her..."
"Mom said she's..."
"That fox demon brat..."
"She looks so cute when she smiles..."
Naruko stood on the platform, her azure eyes scanning every face below.
She heard those whispers clearly, but today there wasn't a trace of gloom on her small face.
Because Sasuko sat below watching her, and Yu had promised to pick her up after school—that was enough.
When Sasuko's turn came, the classroom instantly fell silent. They'd been repeatedly warned by their elders never, ever to provoke this beautiful Uchiha girl.
"Go Sasuko!"
In the complete silence, only Naruko's clear cheering voice stood out. She cupped her hands around her mouth, her blue eyes full of encouragement.
Sasuko coldly surveyed the classroom, completely indifferent to those fearful gazes.
All she wanted now was to quickly end this boring self-introduction so she could hurry to dismissal time and see Yu coming to pick her up.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuko."
Her cold voice echoed in the classroom. After the briefest possible self-introduction, she walked straight back to her seat, continuing to turn toward the window, leaving the whole class with a proud profile.
The entire classroom fell into an eerie silence.
Iruka quickly tried to smooth things over and liven the atmosphere: "Ha... haha... Sasuko is really... unique!" He laughed dryly twice, hurriedly pointing to the next child. "Then, next student please come up..."
Only when the next child nervously walked to the platform did the classroom atmosphere gradually warm up again.
When the last child ran back to their seat with a red face, Iruka clapped his hands with relief: "Everyone performed wonderfully!" He looked around the classroom, asking gently: "Does anyone have questions for the teacher?"
To everyone's surprise, the first to raise her small hand was actually Sasuko, who'd been cold-faced throughout.
Even Iruka was stunned.
"Al... alright, what's Sasuko's question?" Iruka tried to maintain his professional smile while his heart raced.
Sasuko sat upright in her seat, her dark eyes flashing with sharpness beyond her years:
"Teacher Iruka,"
"How can I graduate from ninja academy fastest?"
The classroom immediately exploded—who asks about graduation on their first day of school?
"Why is she asking this..."
"Truly from the Uchiha family..."
"So amazing..."
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Iruka's forehead. He wiped his brow with a bitter smile: "Well... first you need to complete all course assessments..."
He secretly glanced at Sasuko, discovering the little girl was seriously taking notes in a small notebook, making his skin crawl—this child was serious!
Naruko blinked her big eyes beside them, looking between Iruka and Sasuko before suddenly raising her hand high: "Teacher, teacher! Then I want to graduate with Sasuko too!"
When Iruka's gaze fell on Naruko, complex emotions flashed in his eyes, but were quickly covered by his gentle smile.
He cleared his throat and continued explaining: "And you also need to pass graduation exams. Generally it takes about five years to complete all courses..."
A soft "crack" suddenly came from below.
The pencil in Sasuko's hand had somehow snapped, her delicate face scrunched up with furrowed brows.
Five years? That long? This wouldn't do!
"However!" Iruka keenly noticed Sasuko's expression change and quickly added:
"If students have special talents or complete all courses early, with special approval from the Hokage, they can take graduation exams early..."
After hearing Iruka's explanation, Sasuko's furrowed brows finally relaxed slightly, barely accepting this answer.
Iruka on the platform secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his cold sweat finally receding.
He clearly remembered the Hokage specially calling him to her office with repeated warnings: "That Uchiha girl—you'd better take good care of her..."
The image of Lady Tsunade crushing the desk corner was still vivid in his mind.
If this young lady caused a scene about dropping out on the first day, he'd be in for trouble.
"Alright students," Iruka quickly skipped the question period, forcing himself to calmly open his lesson plan. "Now let's begin our first lesson..."
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