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The start of a new term is, for most students, a complex knot of emotions—equal parts dread and anticipation. The dread stems from the sudden death of vacation freedom and the return to the regimented rhythm of school life. The anticipation, however, lies in the reunion: the chance to swap holiday stories and play with friends once more.
Naruto remained entirely indifferent to both. He had no circle of friends he was desperate to rejoin, and the Academy's standard curriculum held all the intellectual challenge of a children's nursery rhyme. His time was far too valuable to be wasted on elementary lectures.
To maximize his efficiency, Naruto had left four Shadow Clones at his apartment. Each was bent single-mindedly over the forbidden sealing scroll—reading, cross-referencing, and memorizing the intricate runes. His original self attended class solely to maintain appearances and to be present for practical exercises or unexpected developments.
Without the higher-order Taju Kage Bunshin (Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu), even Naruto's vast Uzumaki reserves had limits. He had discovered through rigorous testing that five was his current threshold for stability. Beyond that, the chakra distribution became erratic, producing defective clones with half-capacity intellect and fragile physical forms. Four clones studying in the safety of his undisturbed home while the original sat in class was the optimal tactical configuration.
Furthermore, the Academy's primary focus—the Three Basic Techniques (Substitution, Transformation, and Illusionary Clones)—was a stage Naruto had long since surpassed. It was a crucial distinction: the standard Bunshin taught in school was a mere optical illusion. Naruto, however, utilized the B-rank Kage Bunshin, which produced solid duplicates capable of independent thought and physical impact.
Ironically, Naruto hadn't learned this advanced art from a teacher. He had won it off Inuzuka Kiba in a calculated wager. Because the Inuzuka clan fought in tandem with their canine partners, they utilized Shadow Clones early in their training to coordinate complex maneuvers. Kiba, however, had no idea that his "pupil" had already far outstripped him in finesse and chakra efficiency.
Naruto swung his backpack over his shoulder and stepped into the clamorous classroom. By habit, he headed for the back row, taking the seat by the window. Sunlight pooled across the desk, offering a panoramic view of the training grounds. More importantly, this seat was effectively his private territory; few classmates cared to sit near the boy they called the "Demon Fox," inadvertently granting him a pocket of quiet for his own meditations.
He had barely stashed two bags of chips in his drawer when a loud, carefree voice shattered his peace.
"Yo! You're here early, Naruto!"
Naruto turned to see the trademark spiky hair and the energetic, wild grin of Inuzuka Kiba. Kiba was one of the few who treated Naruto with a blunt, refreshing honesty, ignoring the rumors that terrified the others. At this stage, Kiba had yet to be paired with his partner, Akamaru, so he often practiced his clan's coordination drills using a Shadow Clone as a stand-in for a ninken.
"You're early yourself, Kiba," Naruto answered with a relaxed smile, patting the seat beside him.
Today, Naruto hadn't bothered with the concealer; the six whisker marks were visible, though Kiba's eyes lingered instead on Naruto's hair.
"Why the long hair, man?" Kiba asked, leaning back. "You used to keep it short."
Naruto instinctively ran a hand through the golden locks. In truth, he had simply been too preoccupied with developing Wood Release and decoding the Myojinmon to remember a haircut. But he offered a more "suitably ambitious" excuse for the public.
"Take a look at the Hokage Rock," Naruto said with a straight face. "The First and the Fourth didn't have short hair. Even the Second and the Third only look like they have short hair because it spikes up so much. I'm just modeling myself after the greats."
Kiba blinked, absorbing the lofty logic, before his expression shifted into a frown of suspicion. "Wait... don't tell me the village barber refused to cut your hair again?"
He clicked his tongue, his hand tightening into a fist. "Tch! That old man is asking for a bite. Turning away guaranteed business? Maybe I'll have the village strays 'visit' his shop a little more often."
Crude as the sentiment was, the blunt show of loyalty warmed Naruto. He realized Kiba was more than just a loudmouth; he was a boy who fought back against the village's quiet cruelty in his own way.
"So the rumor about the barber being chased down the street by a pack of dogs... that was actually you?" Naruto asked, half-laughing. He'd heard the story through the grapevine but hadn't connected the culprit.
"So what?" Kiba didn't deny it. He nudged Naruto with an elbow, a cocky, satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "Pretty loyal of me, right? No one pushes my classmates around and gets away with it. He needed a lesson."
He leaned in closer, whispering with a sly wink. "I can't use the clan-trained dogs to nip at villagers—that'd get my Mom in trouble. But the strays? Those ownerless mutts wandering the alleys? If they take a dislike to someone, who's going to blame me?"
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