After encountering Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Shizune in Daming Prefecture, Lin Yu naturally lost his other thoughts and left Daming Prefecture the next morning, joining the procession of a fragrant tour.
The death of Kazuma also alarmed the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, who ordered a thorough investigation of the perpetrator.
Asuma and Jiriku's resignation requests were rejected. With Kazuma's death not yet determined, how could the Daimyo dare to weaken his personal guard? What if the target was himself?
Asuma sat dejectedly in the corridor, his face etched with a night's worth of regret.
He shouldn't have participated in the selection for the Twelve Guardian Shinobi. Not only did he fail to achieve his goal, but he also gave away his most precious possession. What a sin!
"Asuma, don't worry, there will be a way."
Jiriku, seeing Asuma's worried expression, reached out and gently patted his shoulder. After last night's events, Jiriku had also let down all his defenses against Asuma.
Asuma glanced at Jiriku's shiny bald head, and the beautiful image of Kurenai in his mind became increasingly blurred. Tears welled up uncontrollably again.
"Kurenai, I'm so sorry!"
"Asuma, we'll be able to leave here sooner or later," Jiriku comforted him, mistaking Asuma's sadness for grief over the Daimyo's refusal.
Asuma desperately wanted to push Jiriku away, but the strangeness behind him reminded him of last night's absurd and intense experience.
Asuma shivered, slapped away Jiriku's broad, rough hand, and said, "Don't touch me!"
After speaking, Asuma regretted it. His words sounded so much like a woman's, completely unbefitting his appearance with a mustache.
Asuma added, "Everything that happened last night was an accident. There can never be anything between us!"
Jiriku said aggrievedly, "Asuma, I'm just concerned about you. I know your background is much stronger than mine, but I'm still young, and who knows what the future holds."
After speaking, Jiriku stood up and walked towards the training room. He needed to train even harder, otherwise, the scenario of two lovers being forcibly separated by their families would befall him.
He, Jiriku! Will charge for love!
Asuma looked at Jiriku's broad back and his determined expression, his heart filled with mixed emotions. His face twisted as he longed to roar to the sky.
What a sin!
...
Konoha Village, Ninja Academy.
*Bang!*
As the harsh whistle sounded, Iruka looked at the cold kid on the other side and said, "The winner is Uchiha Sasuke!"
"Damn it! I haven't lost yet!"
The blond Naruto got up from the ground, with a very obvious footprint on his backside.
Iruka immediately reprimanded, "Naruto! Losing is losing. This is just a sparring match, not a real combat exercise."
"Damn it, Sasuke, did you hear that? I let you win. In a real fight, you'd be no match for me!"
Sasuke sneered, "In my eyes, you're just a dead last. No matter how many times you come, the result will be the same."
"What did you say!" Naruto immediately lunged at Sasuke again and they fought, but it was mostly Naruto getting beaten.
"You two, do you not take me seriously!"
Iruka grabbed Naruto and Sasuke and separated them, blowing his whistle forcefully and shouting sternly, "The match is over. You two, form the Reconciliation Seal!"
"Tch!"
Naruto and Sasuke both turned their heads away, looking like troublemakers.
In normal times, they might be friends, but in competition, neither of them would yield to the other, both seeing the other as their biggest rival.
Under Iruka's fierce gaze, the two reluctantly formed the Reconciliation Seal.
"Alright, you two, go down. Next is Hyuga Hinata versus Haruno Sakura. Please..."
Naruto kicked stones, returning to the team dejectedly. He would never admit that he lost to Sasuke, even though he was slightly inferior in taijutsu.
But Naruto felt that he could fight all day and would definitely wear Sasuke out!
He wouldn't lose!
Sasuke also returned to the team with a cold face. Ever since his brother and father had ganged up on him, Sasuke's personality had become a bit strange. Sometimes he was incredibly aloof, and other times he was as usual.
Naruto poked Sasuke in front of him and whispered, "Are you scared to fight me again in the woods after school!"
"Not interested!" Sasuke's mouth didn't even move, his voice seemed to come from his nostrils, very cold.
Naruto teased, "Sasuke, are you scared? You can admit it if you are!"
Sasuke turned around and said, "Boring. I have no interest in meaningless struggles."
"How is this a meaningless struggle!"
As Naruto and Sasuke argued, a series of gasps suddenly erupted from the surroundings, as if surprised by the outcome.
"The winner is Hyuga Hinata!"
"You two, form the Reconciliation Seal."
Hinata weakly extended her soft little hand and clasped Sakura's. A hint of timidity appeared on her fair, delicate face, and she whispered, "I'm sorry, I, I haven't quite mastered my strength."
"No, it's fine..."
Looking at the frail and cute girl in front of her, Sakura could only force an awkward smile, while Sakura's inner self was roaring: What did this girl eat to grow so strong!
"It's truly unexpected, such a frail Hinata managed to defeat that violent girl Sakura."
As Sakura's best friend and confidante, Ino knew Sakura's violent tendencies very well but was surprised that she was defeated by Hinata. It was incredible.
Sakura returned to the team, covering her backside, looking quite dishevelled.
Why!
A cute girl like Hinata would hit her butt. It was so embarrassing!
"Hee hee hee."
Facing Ino who was winking at her, Sakura could only snort and lower her hand, forcing herself to look more natural.
"Alright, everyone, ten minutes break. We'll continue in ten minutes." Iruka blew his whistle, indicating free time.
"Teacher Iruka, can I ask you something?"
"Naruto, what mischief are you up to again!" Iruka did not show any favoritism towards Naruto because he was the Hokage's son. He had received instructions from the Hokage to be "harsh" on Naruto!
Naruto scratched his head and said, "I'm really not up to anything this time. I just want to ask Teacher Iruka about someone."
Iruka asked doubtfully, "Asking me about someone, is he also a student at the Ninja Academy?"
Naruto shook his head and said, "It's Sasuke's brother, Uchiha Itachi."
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Iruka frowned and asked, "Naruto, why do you want to inquire about him?"
"Heh heh, Teacher Iruka, don't you think Sasuke has been acting strangely lately? I think it's definitely because of his brother. I haven't seen Sasuke's brother pick him up from school recently."
"Is that so?" Iruka thought that Sasuke had been studying very diligently lately, and he always got full marks on theoretical tests, unlike the blond kid in front of him who always failed!
Iruka sighed and said, "Well, actually, I don't know much."
"The genius ninja of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Itachi, graduated early after completing all assessments in just one year. Before him, only Hatake Kakashi had achieved this. Now there's one more."
"Graduated from the Ninja Academy in one year?" Naruto muttered to himself, then asked, "Teacher Iruka, how many years does one attend the Ninja Academy?"
"Six years, meaning when you are twelve years old."
Iruka held up his finger to Naruto and said, "During the war, graduation was every three years, but now it's peacetime, and there's no need to send young ninjas to the battlefield anymore, so it's been relaxed. However!"
"If you fail the graduation assessment, you'll be held back, Naruto, you need to be careful!"
Naruto put his hands on his hips and said, "Who are you underestimating! I, Uzumaki Naruto, will graduate early next year. I'll make everyone look at me with new eyes!"