The next day, inside the Ninja Academy.
Last night, after handing Mizuki, who had completely become an ordinary person, over to the Third Hokage, Naruto clearly noticed that Iruka Sensei's mood was exceptionally low, and he was enveloped by an invisible layer of gloom.
Naruto completely understood Iruka's feelings. Mizuki, that out-and-out scoundrel, had been lurking by Iruka's side since childhood as a "close friend," his disguise so exquisite, his deception so thorough, it was infuriating.
He didn't genuinely care about Iruka; he merely wanted to attract the attention of the Third Hokage, playing the role of a model student who "cared for his orphaned companion."
Even more disgusting was that Iruka's deepest pain—his parents, who sacrificed themselves during the Nine-Tails Attack and were hailed as heroes—actually became Mizuki's secret reason for envying Iruka!
Because in Konoha, the status of a hero's orphan itself could bring a certain amount of attention and sympathy... well, Naruto still had some complaints.
However, Iruka's current low spirits were not just from the anger and sadness of being betrayed by a long-time friend. The deeper reason was self-reproach.
After seeing Mizuki shed his disguise and utter those vicious words to Naruto, along with the ferocious look on his face as he unhesitatingly threw a giant shuriken to kill him, Iruka's heart was filled with fear and guilt.
He hated himself for not seeing through Mizuki's true face hidden behind his smile sooner, which allowed Mizuki to use Naruto and almost put Naruto in an extremely dangerous situation. He felt that as a teacher, he had failed.
In the end, it was Naruto who took the initiative to comfort the dejected Iruka. He patted Iruka's shoulder, "Alright, Iruka Sensei, don't be sad or blame yourself for a scumbag like that, it's not worth it at all. Look, aren't I fine now?"
Listening to him comfort him in return, the heaviness and guilt in Iruka's heart finally lessened a little.
To dispel the oppressive atmosphere, the teacher and student decided to do something they were most familiar with and found most comforting before resting completely—Naruto suggested with a smile.
"Let's go, Iruka Sensei, I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen! Consider it a late-night snack."
And so, on the quiet streets late at night, the teacher and student walked towards the small shop with its warm lights, using a steaming bowl of char siu ramen to bring a close to this night filled with betrayal, reversal, and eventual peace.
That was everything that happened last night.
By now, all the graduates were gathered for the last time in their familiar classroom, the air filled with a complex atmosphere of both farewell and excited anticipation for the future.
Today, an important announcement that would determine their fate for a long time to come—the team assignments—was about to be made.
The Genin eagerly discussed who their teammates might be, guessing who their Jonin instructor would be. Some boys couldn't help but secretly glance at the quiet black-haired girl in the corner of the classroom—Uchiha Satsuki.
But when they saw Satsuki still clinging to the blonde boy as usual, almost inseparable, they all simultaneously let out a disappointed "Tch..." and turned their heads away dejectedly.
At the same time, a glimmer of hopeful fantasy arose in their hearts, maybe... maybe the team assignments would separate these two who were always sticking together? What if... what if I could be assigned to the same team as Satsuki, and with constant interaction, maybe my chance would come?
If Naruto could hear these thoughts, he would probably only sigh helplessly, "As expected of Nizhu Zi's attractive looks... even if Satsuki barely spoke to them, just her face is enough to keep these guys from giving up."
But at this moment, Naruto's attention was entirely on the girl beside him. He slightly tilted his head and noticed that Satsuki seemed to be leaning closer than usual, almost touching his arm.
And... from her slightly pursed lips and occasionally flickering eyes, he caught a hint of subtle unease.
"Um... Naruto," Satsuki's voice held a trace of hesitation, "Team assignments are coming up soon... who... who do you want to be on a team with?"
Naruto barely thought about it, blurting out without hesitation, "Does that even need to be said? Of course, I want to be on a team with you."
This sentence instantly made Satsuki's eyes light up. She slightly lowered her head, trying to hide the uncontrollable curve of her lips, "...That's obvious. After all... in this class, it seems only you are qualified to be my teammate."
Naruto wasn't quite sure if this counted as tsundere talk; it sounded a bit chuunibyou, a little proud, but her tone was entirely soft with relief.
However, the trace of unease deep in Satsuki's heart had not completely disappeared. Because, from what she understood, team assignments were supposedly "randomly" allocated after comprehensive consideration by the Hokage and the Jonin class, full of uncertainty.
What if... what if she really wasn't assigned to the same team as Naruto... The thought of starting various missions after becoming a Ninja, and possibly no longer being able to see Naruto every day like now, made a sense of panic, like losing something important, quietly spread again.
She subconsciously leaned closer to Naruto again, her voice carrying a hint of... desperate resolve?
"Naruto..."
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"...If we're not assigned to the same team..." Satsuki looked up, her eyes holding an extremely serious, willful glint, "How about... we stay back a year?"
"...???"
Satsuki put on a serious expression that said, "I'm not kidding"; she was genuinely considering this option.
Anyway, Satsuki had already unilaterally decided in her heart that if it was a team without Naruto, then that team... she didn't want it!
Nara Shikamaru, who had slipped to the back corner of the classroom to rest because it was too noisy in the front, inadvertently overheard the "shocking" conversation between Naruto and Satsuki and couldn't help but feel a prickle on his scalp.
He had noticed long ago that ever since the Uchiha clan massacre a few years ago, Satsuki's dependence on and clinginess to Naruto had skyrocketed exponentially, reaching an astonishing degree.
It was no longer simply being inseparable; it had reached the level of "conjoined twins"—when Naruto went to the bathroom, Satsuki would wait not far outside the bathroom; when Naruto was tired from training and rested, Satsuki would immediately hand him water and a towel; sometimes, even when Naruto just spoke a few more words with Kiba or Choji, he could feel a cold, almost tangible stare from Satsuki's direction... To be honest, this almost suffocating dependence and possessiveness, Shikamaru, just watching as an outsider, felt a huge, overwhelming pressure coming at him.
It made him just think about it and feel it was extremely troublesome, wishing he could stay far away.
But... Naruto, that guy, seemed to be enjoying it?!
Shikamaru glanced at the blonde next to him, who seemed to find nothing wrong and even occasionally took the initiative to ruffle Satsuki's hair, his heart filled with incomprehension.
Forget it... anyway, they're both willing, so it's better if I don't get involved in such troublesome matters.
Shikamaru wisely decided to continue playing dead and turned his attention to the window.
Just then, the classroom door opened, and Iruka Sensei walked in with a list. The noise in the classroom instantly subsided, and all eyes focused on the podium.
Iruka stood behind the podium, his gaze slowly sweeping over every familiar and young face below, beginning his last speech as their homeroom teacher.
"From today onwards, you are no longer students of the Ninja Academy... You are registered Konoha Ninja. However, you are only 'Genin' for now, and on the path ahead, there will be many, many difficulties you cannot imagine..."
Iruka spoke slowly and seriously. His words were filled with pride at seeing the children finally grow up, and also reluctance at their impending separation, but more than that, it was his heartfelt, deepest blessings.
He sincerely hoped that these students he had taught, after embarking on this thorny path of a Ninja, would be able to bravely overcome all future trials and hardships with their own strength.
After the final earnest advice, the atmosphere in the classroom became somewhat solemn and full of anticipation. Iruka composed himself and picked up the list in his hand that would determine everyone's future team assignments.
"Now, I will announce the team assignments. The students whose names are called will be members of the same team, and then a designated Jonin instructor will lead you."