"Sasuke is really amazing."
Sakura, with a ribbon tied in her hair, looked at Sasuke sitting in front of her, her eyes full of stars.
Handsome, from a good family, and strong. Unlike the other little boys who were childish, Sasuke was truly someone very, very likeable.
Being able to sit behind Sasuke was just wonderful!
It was just that...
Sakura glanced behind her with some annoyance. Why was it that the most popular guy in the Ninja Academy and the most detestable guy were sandwiching her, one in front and one behind?
Having Sasuke in front of me, Sakura, is enough!
Sasuke being in front attracted the gazes of numerous girls and made those childish, show-off boys unhappy.
However, when facing the guy behind her, everyone's gazes were consistent; without exception, they were all filled with disgust and disdain.
Even the Ninja Academy teachers, who could treat all classmates equally, would lose their composure only when facing Naruto, acting so cold, indifferent, and hostile, as if treating an enemy.
It was truly annoying. Every time Sakura felt those gazes directed behind her, she couldn't help but feel her scalp tingle.
It was hard for her to understand why one person could receive so much malice.
Sakura couldn't help but quietly peek back again, and then, in an instant, she was somewhat dazed.
Naruto sat behind her, ignoring those vicious gazes. He rested his chin on one hand, turning his head to look out the window.
Today, he wasn't wearing his goggles. His short golden hair, caressed by the breeze blowing in from the window, constantly brushed past his azure blue pupils.
At that moment, Sakura was surprised to discover that Naruto, whom everyone despised and loathed, was actually not the least bit inferior to Sasuke in looks.
Those beautiful pupils carried a lingering trace of melancholy, something that, in a flash, struck Haruno Sakura's heart hard.
So, so pitiful.
In that moment, Naruto, who had been constantly enduring malice seemingly from the entire world, suddenly ignited a part of Sakura's heart.
No, no, no, how can I think like this? I like Sasuke. How could I feel that a guy like Naruto looks quite good?!
Although for a split second Sakura felt that Naruto also had a charming moment that made it hard to look away, she quickly suppressed that throbbing in her heart.
Hating Naruto, loathing Naruto, and isolating Naruto seemed to be the correct options for the entire Ninja Academy.
She, Haruno Sakura, was just a small, ordinary child; how could she dare not follow the mainstream?
If people noticed that she, Haruno Sakura, had a shred of good will toward Naruto, she would likely become an object of isolation herself in an instant.
Indeed, liking Sasuke is best, because everyone likes Sasuke.
"Are you Uzumaki Naruto?"
At this moment, an unexpected figure appeared outside the classroom.
His forehead was also covered by something, hiding the ugly Caged Bird seal engraved on his body.
Dressed in plain white clothes, Hyuga Neji actually appeared outside the classroom, calling Uzumaki Naruto's name.
His appearance caused a sensation in the classroom.
After all, Hyuga Neji, like Uchiha Sasuke, was the number one student in his grade, a very powerful genius!
Moreover, Uchiha Sasuke was born into the Uchiha Clan, and Hyuga Neji was born into the Hyuga Clan. Both were one of the two great noble clans of Konoha, considered the two most powerful families in Konoha right now.
It was just that, why did the second-year genius senior come looking not for Uchiha Sasuke, but for Uzumaki Naruto, this annoying guy who refused to leave the Ninja Academy?
Naruto was somewhat surprised. Why would Hyuga Neji come looking for me?
In this school, he was currently hated by humans and dogs alike; no one wanted to be associated with him.
Look, Shikamaru, who was encouraged by his father to use his heart to distinguish whether Naruto was suitable to be friends with, hadn't changed yet.
The chubby Choji, who loved to eat, hadn't become friends with him either. Although Kiba felt somewhat indignant about Naruto's situation, he didn't dare to do anything.
Hinata... he didn't know why. Clearly, they hadn't met in childhood, so she shouldn't have those special feelings for him.
But every time Naruto looked at her, he would find her face quickly turning red; she simply didn't dare to look at him, nor did she dare to speak to him.
So, why would Neji look for him?
Naruto thought it over. The only thing that could link him to the Hyuga Clan now was Hyuga Shiro.
Could it be that Hyuga Shiro and Hyuga Neji were relatives?
Naruto nodded. Hyuga Neji looked at him, also unable to figure out how that person could get involved with the 'Demon Fox' everyone talked about.
Hyuga Neji walked straight into the classroom. Looking at Uzumaki Naruto in front of him, his eyes revealed a similarly immense loneliness and pain.
No, unlike Naruto, he felt this way because of the Caged Bird on his forehead.
"You should be able to guess why I came to find you. Uzumaki Naruto, do not drag others who are originally in pain into your painful fate."
There really is a connection. Is Hyuga Shiro an elder from the Branch House to Hyuga Neji?
Anyway, they don't look like cousins.
The Hyuga Neji before him hadn't had the Caged Bird engraved on his forehead for very long. He hadn't yet completely turned into that guy bound by fate who would appear later.
However, seeing that Neji seemed to want to warn him to voluntarily leave Hyuga Shiro and stay far away from her, Naruto suddenly felt a trace of anger.
It wasn't easy to find a target like Hyuga Shiro who can be conquered and is a gentle big sister. And you actually want me to sensibly leave Big Sister Shiro?
Besides, Naruto felt that after staying together for a bit longer, the smile on Hyuga Shiro's face and her cheerful appearance when teasing him were much more relaxed and free than the professional smile she showed him previously as a publishing house staff member!
Naruto, feeling a bit angry, looked at Neji in front of him—young, yet wearing a sorrow of being trapped by fate and somewhat at a loss—and rolled his eyes.
"I understand what you are saying.
But, isn't my meeting with her also an arrangement of fate? Shouldn't everything be destined?
So, do you want to fight against fate?"
Hearing Uzumaki Naruto's words, a flash of immense anger suddenly appeared on Hyuga Neji's face, which then quickly turned into a thick sorrow.
"Is this... fate?"