The morning sun filtered through the high windows of the Ninja Academy, casting golden rays across the desks where the young shinobi of tomorrow sat restlessly.
The peaceful hum of birdsong outside was in sharp contrast to the grumbling and collective dissatisfaction bubbling within the classroom walls, creating a dissonance that filled the air with tension.
Iruka Umino stood at the front, arms folded sternly, chalk in hand, facing a sea of pouty faces.
His voice rang out clearly, cutting through the murmurs, "Alright, everyone! Due to the upcoming genin exams, today we'll have an extra class for advanced ninjutsu and team coordination drills."
A chorus of groans echoed through the room, the collective disapproval palpable.
Naruto Uzumaki was the loudest of them all, embodying the frustration shared by many.
"Ehhhhh?! Why do we gotta waste our day on extra classes? It's boring!" Naruto slammed his head onto the desk with exaggerated despair, drawing the attention of both classmates and the ever-patient Iruka.
Kiba Inuzuka joined in, slapping his desk in agreement. "Yeah! I had plans with Akamaru to go running through the forest today! We were going to scout for that new training area!"
Choji, on the other hand, munched calmly on his bag of seasoned chips, seemingly unfazed by the impending class. "As long as I can eat, I don't care," he said between bites, his voice muffled, not bothered in the slightest by his friends' plight.
Meanwhile, Shikamaru Nara had his head leaned back against his chair, arms crossed behind him.
His eyes flicked lazily toward the ceiling, a frown marring his usually relaxed expression.
"Troublesome," he muttered under his breath. "Something smells off today. Extra classes usually mean some big announcement or preparation... but thinking about it's a drag."
He closed his eyes, pondering what might lie ahead.
Sasuke Uchiha, sitting near the window, stared outside with his usual indifference, his face a mask of cool detachment.
Whatever thoughts churned behind those eyes remained unreadable, but the tension in the room seemed to roll off him like water.
In another corner, three different hearts beat in a syncopated rhythm of affection and rivalry.
Ino Yamanaka was leaning toward Sakura, a flush on her face as fierce as the heat of spring.
"You better not be staring at Gojo again, Forehead. He's mine," Ino declared with playful bravado, trying to assert her claim.
Sakura glared back defiantly. "In your dreams, Pig! Gojo-kun and I had eye contact yesterday—he smiled at me!" Her voice was a mix of pride and challenge.
Hinata Hyuga, quiet and blushing at the heated exchange, tried her best to intervene. "P-please, don't fight... G-Gojo-kun wouldn't like this..." Her soft voice barely rose above the clamor, but her urgent tone revealed the depth of her concern.
But the rivalry between Ino and Sakura only escalated with each proclamation.
"Back off!"
"No, you back off!"
Their voices layered and collided, creating a backdrop of chaos against Iruka's attempts to maintain order.
Meanwhile, on the far side of the room, Karin Uzumaki sat with her elbow propped on the desk, chin resting in her palm.
She watched the antics unfold, her expression one of careful observation. But something was different today.
Gojo's body was there—his posture relaxed, face calm as ever—but Karin's sharp eyes narrowed subtly in suspicion.
Clone.
The realization made her pout.
Normally, she would've latched herself to Gojo's side, arms tangled around his, but today she respected his wishes.
He had warned her—and not just her. All of them.
Stay away from my clones.
His voice echoed clearly in her mind, a stern reminder that resonated against the current atmosphere.
"They're not me," he had said seriously. "No touching, hugging, flirting, or kissing. Got it?"
Karin had blinked at him at first, confused. "But why?" she had asked, genuinely curious about the boundaries he was setting.
Then Gojo's expression had grown strange, a complicated mix of emotions crossing his features.
"Because... it's like cuckolding myself."
Karin hadn't understood at first, the concept foreign to her. But now, with a silent sigh, she sat quietly, deep in thought.
Real Gojo is real.
No clone can match his scent.
That warmth... that breath... only the real one has it.
She closed her eyes and smiled to herself, a warmth spreading in her chest.
She didn't need proof. Her senses were finely tuned.
If Madara Uchiha heard her explanation, he might have grit his teeth in frustration. He prided himself on identifying wood clones through battle instinct and chakra sensing.
But Karin?
She could do it just by fragrance.
If Madara heard this, he'd probably cough up blood, she thought with smug satisfaction, a small smirk appearing on her lips.
Meanwhile, Gojo's wood clone sat perfectly still, hands folded on the desk like a perfect student, embodying the essence of patience.
But inside, he was anything but calm.
This is stupid, the clone thought, a flicker of rebellion sparking within him.
Another internal voice chimed in, reflecting the clone's frustration.
Why does the main body think we're gonna steal his girls? We are him! We have his thoughts, his preferences!
Yet, the moment the real Gojo had stared down his clones with icy eyes and unleashed just a shred of his killing intent, all the wood clones had collectively shaken in fear.
"If any of you so much as breathe too close to my women, I'll personally turn you into kindling."
They had nodded like terrified schoolchildren, chastised and subjugated, their resolve crumbling under Gojo's fierce gaze.
Why god, thought one clone. Why is our main body so selfish and suspicious?
Another clone mentally grumbled, He even doubts his own mind. Aren't we basically him?
Despite their indignation, none dared protest against their creator.
Back in the classroom, Karin lifted her head and narrowed her eyes, her expression pensive.
Nope. Still a clone. Boring.
Ino and Sakura, still arguing in whispers, failed to notice her scrutiny, lost in their petty squabble.
Hinata, meanwhile, was fidgeting with her fingers, glancing toward Gojo's desk with a bashful expression.
I wonder if... if today he'll notice me again...
Iruka finally clapped his hands, bringing back the attention of the class that had started to spiral into chaos.
"Alright, alright! Settle down!" he commanded firmly. "This class is important preparation.
Think of it as a final polish before you're all assigned to real squads. You never know what might happen!"
His serious tone demanded their focus.
At those words, Shikamaru straightened slightly, curiosity piquing his interest.
"Tch. I knew it," he murmured, the gears in his mind turning as he considered the implications of what Iruka had said.
But Naruto and Kiba groaned in harmony, their enthusiasm dampened further by the weight of additional pressure.
Choji, still chewing on his snacks, raised a hand again, a hopeful look in his eyes. "Can we snack during class?"
Iruka sighed. "No, Choji."
The teacher's tone conveyed the finality of his decision, prompting a disappointed frown from Choji, who puffed his cheeks like a deflated balloon.
The wood clone of Gojo simply blinked and said nothing, his internal conflicts overriding any desire to contribute to the conversation.
Deep inside the village, the real Gojo stood on the rooftop of a tall building, arms crossed, overlooking the village streets below him.
He could see everything—his clone's memories flowing into his consciousness in real time, a constant stream of thoughts and frustrations.
He chuckled softly, enjoying the spectacle unfolding below.
"So they're all arguing over my clone again?" he said aloud, amused. "Really makes me glad I made the 'no clone touching' rule."
His lips curled into a smug smile, reveling in the chaos from a distance.
He looked down at his hand, pondering the authority he wielded over his creations.
"Still... the girls are getting more attached than I expected," he mused, scratching the back of his head in contemplation.
"I'll have to set boundaries... but not too hard. I like their attention."
A hint of mischief danced in his eyes at the thought of managing such affections.
Gojo smirked and vanished from the rooftop, leaping toward another destination with an effortless grace that spoke of his skill and confidence.
One more plan was in motion, one that would intertwine their fates even more.
And back in the classroom, chaos resumed—as always, with voices overlapping and laughter filling the air.
But the clone?
The clone sat in silence, whispering to himself, a mixture of longing and frustration coloring his thoughts.
Please, for the love of the Sage of Six Paths, let me go back to the earth. Let me be free...
And Karin?
She only glanced sideways and sighed, her heart heavy with understanding.
He even doubts his own clone. But that's okay... because only I know what the real Gojo smells like.
Her eyes sparkled with determination, knowing that beneath the layers of clones and chaos, the real connection they shared remained unbroken.
---
End of Chapter
To be continued...
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