"Cough, cough cough… Because I've already given it my all, and…"
"Losing to Naruto, I don't feel sad."
Ino couldn't help but feel a tremor in her heart.
A girl's thoughts truly are the strangest things in this world… Naruto also reacted.
"Ah—"
He rushed forward, looking at Hinata with great concern.
"Sorry, Hinata, I hit you too hard just now. Are you, are you alright?"
Hinata looked at Naruto, who was worried about her, and a sweet blush once again bloomed on her face.
She gently shook her head.
"I, I'm fine, Naruto-kun…"
At this moment, everyone else was still immersed in shock, unable to extricate themselves.
Iruka-sensei finally recovered with great difficulty.
"Cough cough, the winner is…"
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
"Both parties, make the Hand Seal of Reconciliation!"
Naruto and Hinata then walked back into the arena, facing each other, and extended two fingers, hooking them together like a pinky promise.
As Hinata and Naruto's fingers touched, her heart couldn't help but pound, and her face grew even redder.
Naruto, however, chuckled, a little embarrassed as he scratched his head.
Hinata also started to smile.
"Co-congratulations, Naruto-kun…"
"You're really strong too, Hinata!"
At this moment, everyone outside the arena gradually started to react.
"That, that Diao Che Wei Naruto actually defeated the Hyuga Clan's young lady?"
"That sparring match just now, Hyuga Hinata was already very impressive, wasn't she?"
"Indeed, with the Byakugan, which has the strongest perception, coupled with the Gentle Fist Eight Trigrams Palm, she was practically unassailable, but she still lost to that Uzumaki Naruto…"
"How, how is this possible?!"
"Was that Diao Che Wei possessed?!"
Sasuke gritted his teeth.
"Naruto…"
"Damn it, that guy has gotten stronger!"
"Sure enough, my training still isn't enough… far from enough!"
"I need to work twice as hard as before, no, ten times!"
"I will never let that Diao Che Wei surpass me!"
Sakura Haruno was even more dumbfounded.
"Is, is that Naruto?"
"How did he suddenly become so powerful…"
"And, even Hinata…"
She imagined if she had been the one fighting just now… perhaps… she also couldn't help but clench her fists.
"Damn it…"
Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Shino, were all equally bewildered, finding it hard to accept.
"Naruto, he doesn't seem like the old Naruto anymore…"
On the other side.
Rock Lee was incredibly excited, raising his hands and cheering with joy.
"Naruto! Well done!"
"This is true youth!"
Tenten's mouth was wide open: "Did he really defeat the Hyuga Clan's young lady, Hinata?"
"Uzumaki Naruto…"
She secretly glanced at Hyuga Neji.
At this moment, the expression on his face was very twisted, even… ferocious.
Tenten didn't know what had happened to Hyuga Neji.
However, at this moment, he looked terrifying.
Was it because of Naruto, or because of Hinata… or perhaps… because of both of them?
Hyuga Neji turned and left with resentment.
Rock Lee looked at his retreating back, his fists clenched.
"Naruto can make a name for himself, Neji, one day I will definitely defeat you fair and square!"
"I will…"
In the Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression also changed.
"That Naruto, has he really become this formidable?"
"It was just a Ninja Academy sparring match, but the power and skill he displayed already far exceed his age…"
Danzo Shimura behind him frowned deeply.
"What's terrifying isn't his strength…"
"That kid's fighting style is just like a seasoned Ninja who has been through countless battles!"
"What's going on?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled slightly: "Perhaps, this is what you call another kind of genius…"
"That Diao Che Wei? A genius?"
Danzo Shimura's voice was sinister and cold.
"Hiruzen, don't make me laugh."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: "I'm not joking. Naruto's current combat ability, let alone the Ninja Academy, even a graduated Genin, or even some Chunin might not be able to match him!"
"That guy, he might truly be a hidden genius!"
Danzo Shimura was silent for a moment, then snorted coldly, his figure disappearing back into the darkness.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked into the crystal ball, at Naruto, who was cheering and celebrating, and couldn't help but show a smile.
"What an incredible guy…"
"Naruto."
…At this moment, Naruto was enjoying the pleasure of being recognized by everyone for the first time.
He ran back and forth on the training ground, waving to the crowd as if he had won a world championship, laughing and shouting loudly.
Iruka-sensei couldn't help but rub his forehead.
"Naruto!"
"It's class time now, what are you doing yelling and running around there?!"
"Get back here!"
"Hmm? Naruto…"
Iruka-sensei suddenly froze, because… beneath Naruto's exaggerated laughter, he saw a tear in his eye… That was… Naruto's long-suppressed emotions, finally released for the first time… tears of both sadness and happiness.
Chapter 45: Sasuke's Only Concern? Please give me your monthly votes!!!
Iruka suddenly had tears in his eyes too.
Because he could deeply empathize with Naruto's feelings at this moment.
He also lost both parents and became an orphan at a young age. To gain recognition from others, or even just to have someone look at him a little longer, he would go so far as to make himself a clown and a laughingstock, relying on performing his clumsiness to elicit a laugh from others… Although he knew it was just mockery, he was too afraid of loneliness.
Just like Naruto now.
However, compared to himself, Naruto was able to repent, no longer relying on pranks to express himself, but truly making himself better and stronger. In that sense, he was far superior to his younger self.
Iruka-sensei secretly wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes.
He was genuinely proud of Naruto.
But he still carried out his duties as a teacher and called Naruto, who was still running around, back.
Because the Ninja sparring had just begun.
Although Naruto returned, he still couldn't help but be full of excited pride.
With his hands clasped behind his head, he grinned, revealing an overly brilliant smile.
Shikamaru and Choji patted his shoulders from left and right.
"Calm down, Naruto."
Iruka-sensei also coughed: "Cough cough, the next person to draw lots is…"
"Sakura."
Sakura Haruno nodded, walked forward, and took a slip of paper from the lottery box.
She opened it and glanced at it, instantly freezing in place.
"Sa, Sasuke-kun…"
Iruka-sensei glanced at her and couldn't help but sigh, rubbing his forehead.
"What a fated encounter…"
Uchiha Sasuke, however, was unfazed, still walking over with a cold expression.
Aside from Naruto, everyone else was indistinguishable in his eyes.
"Begin."
Sasuke said coldly.