"No, nothing..."
Iruka took a deep breath.
"I know at your age, your emotions fluctuate greatly, but you should still distinguish between what's important and what's not."
"To become an excellent Ninja, you not only need a clever mind and powerful strength, but also a firm will and unyielding belief."
"Your Ninja philosophy score has always been the highest."
"But I highly doubt whether you truly understand its meaning, or if you've just memorized it by rote."
Sakura Haruno also lowered her head.
"I..."
Iruka sighed.
"Sakura, this Ninja World is not some playground. The Ninja Academy might shelter you, but once you leave the Ninja Academy and become a true Ninja, you will face trials of iron and blood every day. In such situations, a hair's breadth can mean the difference between life and death..."
"Your academic performance has always been the best, but I hope you can focus on improving your Ninjutsu and practical combat training, and temper your will more, instead of putting all your energy into romantic feelings..."
"But, but..."
"Iruka-sensei, some things aren't easy to let go of..."
Her tears involuntarily streamed down again.
Iruka-sensei sighed.
"I understand."
"Ninja cannot be truly emotionless, but precisely because we have people we admire, people we want to protect, we should make ourselves stronger. Only then can we stay by their side, protecting them..."
"Isn't that right?"
"I know you've always liked Sasuke, but I hope you make yourself a better person precisely for him..."
"And not the other way around!"
"Do you understand what I mean?"
"Sasuke is a genius Ninja, and he has experienced many misfortunes. Such a person would never be in the mood to play romance games like adolescent boys and girls. What he needs is someone who can understand him, comprehend him, and fight alongside him, keeping pace with him."
Sakura Haruno listened, half-understanding, but still wiped away her tears and nodded.
Iruka-sensei smiled slightly.
"If you want to be the one who walks side by side with Sasuke..."
"Then work hard to make yourself better..."
Sakura Haruno was deeply moved and couldn't help but lower her head in shame.
"I... I understand, Iruka-sensei..."
"Thank you..."
"I will work even harder to become the person worthy of Sasuke-kun's affection!"
Iruka-sensei nodded with satisfaction, then rubbed his nose and chuckled a little awkwardly.
"For someone like me to discuss the emotional problems of you young boys and girls, it's really a bit awkward..."
"It's good that you understand."
He stood up, about to turn and leave.
Just as he pushed open the door, his steps suddenly paused, and then he turned his head.
"Also, Sakura..."
"Naruto also has a very hard time; he's lonely, dejected, and ostracized by everyone, so I hope you..."
"Can be a little nicer to him..."
He let out a bitter, complex smile.
"However, this is not a request from me as a teacher."
"It's just my personal request, Iruka Umino's..."
After saying this, he sighed softly, shook his head, and his figure gradually faded into the distance.
"Iruka-sensei..."
Sakura Haruno watched his retreating figure, her heart stirring with turbulent emotions... Chapter 40: The Worried Father and Mother! Please give me your monthly votes!!!
Iruka-sensei, who had walked out of the office door, scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.
"Although it's also one of a teacher's duties, but..."
"Talking to a young girl like this is still a bit beyond my capabilities..."
"I hope Sakura will think about it carefully."
"Oh, that Naruto guy has indeed been a bit strange recently. Should I go check on him?"
Iruka-sensei was a bit indecisive.
The reason was that many teachers and students could tell that he paid excessive attention to Naruto... which even caused some people's displeasure.
However, he couldn't help it; in Naruto, he seemed to see a reflection of his younger self.
He simply couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Thinking of this, he ultimately couldn't resist following him... The sun was setting.
Iruka-sensei quickly caught up with Naruto, as he was currently doing weighted frog jumps and also studying with Divided Attention, so he couldn't move very fast.
"Naruto..."
Looking at the figure of the young boy sweating profusely under the dim yellow sunlight, Iruka-sensei's heart couldn't help but tremble.
He had seen Naruto's changes in class.
But to truly feel his effort so directly was a first... Although it was already dusk, the summer heat had not yet ended.
And there was no wind today; a hot and humid atmosphere permeated the entire Village.
Naruto's sweat dripped continuously, but the expression on his face was one of determination Iruka had never seen before.
"335..."
"336..."
"Odd changes, even doesn't change..."
"337..."
Iruka-sensei was greatly alarmed.
"He's even studying while doing weighted frog jumps?!"
"Naruto, you guy..."
He couldn't bear to disturb him, so he just quietly, from a distance, followed behind Naruto, watching him... On the Konoha streets, pedestrians were like weaving.
However, apart from occasional curious glances, many people seemed to have grown accustomed to Naruto's efforts and changes.
The original disdainful or even hateful looks slowly disappeared.
No one can persistently ridicule someone who consistently works hard.
Perhaps on the first day, the second day... but it cannot continue indefinitely.
Moreover, even if some people were still pointing and sneering, Naruto completely ignored everything.
He was single-minded, immersed, even obsessed with his training and studies.
Iruka-sensei's lips curved into a relieved smile.
Soon, Naruto passed Ichiraku Ramen.
Iruka-sensei's heart skipped a beat.
This was Naruto's favorite food and his favorite restaurant.
However, Naruto didn't even lift his head.
Iruka-sensei was dumbfounded... Following him all the way, even the people nearby started pointing at him, but Iruka didn't notice at all.
He had forgotten that his actions were a bit creepy, even perverted... "That Naruto guy, has he really become this disciplined?!"
"I can hardly believe it..."
To verify all this, Iruka-sensei continued to secretly follow him.
Finally, at his doorstep, Naruto stopped his frog jumps, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked at the last faint yellow glow in the sky, revealing a brilliant smile.
He nodded and climbed up to the second floor.
Iruka-sensei dared not follow too closely. He looked around and found a utility pole opposite the second floor, so he quietly climbed up as well...
Little did he know, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
In fact, Anbu Ninja had always been secretly monitoring and protecting Naruto.
Several Anbu exchanged glances, looking at each other, all with somewhat complex expressions as they watched Iruka climbing the utility pole to peek.
"Ahem, should we report this to Lord Third Hokage?"
"Let's not, Iruka isn't a bad person..."
"Yes, I remember Iruka was the one Hokage-sama personally assigned to look after Naruto at the Ninja Academy, right?"
"He was, but now his attention to Naruto is perhaps a bit excessive..."
"It's almost like a mother sending her child to school for the first time..."
By this time, Iruka had climbed high up the utility pole, secretly going around to hide his figure, then tilted his head, revealing one eye, and looked into Naruto's house through the window.
"Na-Naruto that guy..."
"Is he cooking for himself?!"
Iruka was utterly shocked. From what he knew of Naruto, this was simply unbelievable!
The old Naruto either ate ramen or instant noodles.
But now, he was actually cooking for himself with great enjoyment, and very skillfully... There was meat, vegetables, eggs, and milk, a very balanced diet... "When did this brat become so capable?"
"He's practically..."
"Someone else's child..."
Iruka was both surprised and relieved.
When Naruto finished cooking, he actually took out... textbooks?!
Eating and studying at the same time?!
Iruka's jaw nearly dropped...