Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too tsundere

The sparring continued on the field, but seeing this, Iruka finally called a halt. "Alright, that's enough for this sparring session!" If it dragged on any longer, the other students wouldn't be able to train at all.

Ultimately, the contest ended in a draw. Upon hearing the result, both Naruto and Satsuki showed obvious dissatisfaction—of course, Naruto's expression was mostly feigned.

The two followed instructions and formed a reconciliation seal. Afterward, they walked back to the stands together, leaving the training ground bustling with activity again behind them.

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As all the practice sessions ended, the sun was already beginning to set. Iruka clapped his hands and announced that school was over. The children immediately cheered and packed up their things, and the noise surged toward the school gate like a tide.

Most of the children were quickly picked up by their waiting parents at the school gate. Some rushed into their parents' arms and snuggled up, while others excitedly talked about the funny things that happened at school. Laughter and cheerful voices drifted into the air as the children walked away.

Iruka stood there watching this scene, a faint sense of loneliness welling up inside him, tinged with an indescribable emptiness.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a figure at the school gate—Naruto was still standing there, his back to him, seemingly talking to Uchiha Satsuki beside him. Satsuki had his head slightly turned, and the two were very close, clearly engrossed in their conversation.

Was he chatting with a friend because no one was coming to pick him up? Iruka's heart skipped a beat. This child, like himself, probably came home to an empty house.

With that thought in mind, he walked towards the school gate, having already made up his mind—he would invite Naruto to have a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen, just like last time. At least, he could let the boy experience a bit more liveliness before going home.

As Iruka approached the two people with their backs to him, he could vaguely hear their conversation.

"Seriously, Iruka-sensei is worrying way too much. Without being able to use ninjutsu, we can't really enjoy the fight."

"That's right, he doesn't even allow the use of ninja tools. Doesn't he know that throwing techniques are the Uchiha's forte? Otherwise, you might not be my match."

"Huh? You've got quite the nerve. You should know that I've almost mastered the ninjutsu scrolls the Third Hokage gave me. I can even use the Water Dragon Bullet Technique, which is basically only used by Jonin, skillfully now."

"With your tortoise-like hand seal speed?"

"What's wrong, Erzhuzi? You're really not convinced, aren't you? How about we find a place and have a full-on contest? Let's see who's stronger."

"Hmph, that's exactly what I was thinking too. Let's find a place then..."

As Iruka listened to their conversation, he felt a lump in his throat and almost couldn't catch his breath—these two guys weren't listening to a word he said!

"Hey, koro!"

Iruka's voice suddenly exploded beside them, filled with suppressed anger. Naruto and Satsuki were startled and hurriedly turned around, their faces still showing surprise, only to meet Iruka's angry glare.

"I...Iruka-sensei?" Naruto shrank back, and Satsuki, unusually, also restrained his arrogance, his eyes darting away.

"You two big idiots! Didn't you listen to a single thing I said?!"

Iruka's voice suddenly rose, "I've already said, those ninjutsu techniques are too dangerous for your age! And you want to use real ninja tools? Do you want to become ninjas with wounds that can't heal? The meaning of being a ninja isn't about who has the most powerful ninjutsu or the sharpest ninja tools! It's about knowing how to control your power, about protecting those important to you, not about indulging in momentary pleasure! If something happens during sparring, how will you carry out missions in the future? Do you think a ninja's growth is based on this kind of reckless competition? It's utter nonsense!"

Iruka's nagging continued, seemingly without end. Perhaps he was indeed suited to be a teacher; his patience was unmatched by most.

However, Naruto suddenly interrupted Iruka. "Ugh, this is so annoying, I know... but..."

He gave Iruka a bright smile, "You can't become a powerful ninja by just playing house all the time. Goodbye, teacher."

After saying that, Naruto grabbed Satsuki's wrist and ran. Satsuki complied and didn't struggle. The two rushed towards the school gate.

Hey! You two, stop right there!

"No way! See you tomorrow, teacher!" Naruto shouted without turning his head, not stopping in his tracks. Iruka didn't see the "planned" expression on Naruto's face.

"You bastard! You little brat who'll get your comeuppance!"

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(Thanks to Giorno Giovanna's boss for the amazing verification! Four updates tomorrow!)

Chapter 64 Bait

In the evening, Iruka returned home. It wasn't actually that late; the sky outside the window was just beginning to turn dark blue, and only a few streetlights were lit in the distance. But with nothing to do, he went to bed early.

In the darkness, thoughts, like vines breaking free of their restraints, spread wildly. Two images echoed repeatedly in my mind—the moment when the calamity struck during my childhood, the Nine-Tails' pupils etched into the depths of my memory like a brand.

For nearly a year, I've remembered that blond boy in the classroom, on the playground, the curve of his eyes when he smiled, and his defiant pout when he was scolded...

Without realizing it, he recalled the Third Hokage's words. It was because of that order that he became a teacher, and became Naruto's teacher.

“Iruka, I can understand how you feel... but Naruto is actually the same kind of person as you in some ways. He doesn’t know what parental love is, and the people in the village avoid him because of that.”

"Furthermore, Naruto's mental state is not ideal. Because of loneliness, this child is mature beyond his years. If an ordinary child were to be ostracized and rejected like this, he might do something foolish to attract attention."

"But... this child has distanced himself from those who actively rejected him, completely shutting out any malice from his heart... but that doesn't mean he's gotten used to being alone..."

The Third Hokage entrusted Iruka with the care of Naruto, asking him to become his teacher. Iruka remembered that he had felt an overwhelming sense of resistance at the time. He knew the truth about the Nine-Tails—the ferocious beast that had killed his parents was sealed within the body of the child before him.

Unlike the other villagers, Iruka knew very well that Naruto was not some kind of demon fox incarnation, but just an innocent person who was caught up in that disaster.

He did nothing wrong; he was just an innocent child from beginning to end... But even though he knew this so clearly, Iruka still didn't know how to face Naruto.

When I first became a teacher, every time I saw that blonde figure in the classroom, the image of the Nine-Tailed Fox would uncontrollably pop into my mind. Its ferocious outline was like a thorn, piercing my thoughts.

What were my emotions at that time?

There may be fear, or there may be an unconscious sense of alienation. But besides these, there is another emotion weighing heavily on my heart.

Blame yourself.

Even though she knew he was right, and even though she knew he was just a child, she still couldn't help but secretly transfer her hatred for Kurama onto him... Every time she thought about this, Iruka felt guilty and panicked. At that time, Iruka even doubted whether someone like her was even qualified to be a teacher.

Someone once told him, "If you don't open your heart, the other person won't open their heart either."

Later, Iruka tried to slowly approach Naruto. It can only be said that this child was so sensible that it was heartbreaking—even though Iruka couldn't help but look at him with a hint of resentment at first, Naruto always looked at his less-than-perfect teacher with genuine respect in his eyes.

And so, he began to respond to Naruto's greetings and actively interact with him in class. As the days went by, their relationship gradually deepened beyond that of teacher and student, developing into something akin to friendship.

During their time together, Iruka didn't even realize that his feelings for Naruto had long since outweighed his fear of Kurama.

Therefore, he always felt a pang of regret—if only he had accepted Naruto's kindness sooner. And now, what should he do to truly help this child?

"Iruka...Iruka!"

Suddenly, a voice exploded in my mind—not my own chaotic thoughts, but a clear and distinct voice that rang right next to my ear!

"That voice... Lord Hokage?!"

Iruka sat bolt upright in bed. He immediately recognized the voice—it was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi! Could it be… a long-range sound transmission ninjutsu?

“There’s been an emergency. Go to the Ninja Academy right now. Naruto and Sasuke are there. They seem to be forming the Opposing Hand Seal. If this continues, something bad might happen.”

Naruto and Satsuki... at the Ninja Academy? And they're going to spar? Iruka instantly recalled Naruto's words after school: "Playing house all the time won't make you a strong ninja. Goodbye, teacher."

A surge of anger welled up inside him—these two guys hadn't listened to a single word of his advice!

At this moment, Iruka had no desire to sleep at all. He hurriedly grabbed the Chunin vest next to him, put it on, put on his shoes, and rushed out the door.

"Naruto! You idiot!"

He roared as he sprinted toward the ninja academy, the night wind whistling past his ears, hoping he could make it in time.

-----

"Honestly, why hasn't Iruka-sensei arrived yet? Could it be that he can't even handle such a small matter like the one I asked the Third Hokage to do?"

The training ground was empty. Naruto and Sasuke stood in the center of the open space where they had practiced taijutsu during the day. There was no sign of them forming any opposing hand seals in preparation for sparring.

Clearly, what the Third Hokage just said was a bait to lure Iruka here.

A gentle evening breeze blew by, carrying the faint fragrance of fallen cherry blossoms. Satsuki tucked a stray hair behind her ear and suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible coquettishness.

"Hey... Naruto, don't you think it's a bit cold right now?"

Naruto paused for a moment, then raised his hand to touch his arm. "Hmm? It's alright. The cherry blossom season just ended not long ago, and the nights aren't too cold; it's quite warm."

“I see…” Satsuki responded, but her gaze unconsciously fell on Naruto’s hands, which were tucked into his pockets. “Um… I feel like my hands are a little cold. Boys are so nice; even if they put their hands in their pockets, it doesn’t seem impolite…”

As she spoke, she quietly shook her hand.

Naruto looked around—besides the two of them, there wasn't a single patrolling ninja on the entire training ground; only the streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow in the distance. "Ah, what's the big deal? There's nobody here right now. Even if I put my hands in my pockets, who's going to say anything? It's okay not to follow those formalities."

This idiot...does he really have to be so blunt?

Satsuki muttered to herself, but maintained a calm expression on her face, her tone carrying a hint of sighing, "That won't do. As members of the Uchiha clan, how can we so easily abandon our pride?"

"It's a bit cold... Someone's hands are in their pockets, they look so warm, that's nice..."

You, Erzhuzi, are you cold because you play with fire jutsu?

Naruto, of course, saw through Sasuke's intention—she just wanted a handshake, right? Teasing a tsundere has to be done in moderation. Teasing her occasionally is fine, but if you really make her angry, it will be hard to coax her back.

Thinking this, Naruto reluctantly pulled his right hand out of his pocket. He offered it to Satsuki, trying to sound natural. "Would you like to shake my hand? Sorry, I'm not wearing gloves right now, so this is the only way."

Zuo Yue caught a glimpse of his outstretched hand out of the corner of her eye, and the corners of her mouth almost turned up in a smile, but she quickly suppressed it, deliberately feigning a reluctant expression. "Yeah... it seems like there's no other way besides this... then..."

She was about to place her slightly cool hand on it—

"Naruto! Satsuki! You two!"

Suddenly, Iruka's angry voice rang out from not far away. Satsuki's movements stopped abruptly, his whole body stiffened, and his outstretched hand hung in mid-air.

Naruto's eyes lit up, and he quickly withdrew his hand. "Great! Iruka-sensei is here! Let's go, Sasuke!"

With that, he turned and ran towards the teaching building. Zuo Yue watched his retreating figure, slowly lowered her hand, her fingertips still feeling the emptiness of not touching the ground, and felt a little annoyed at being interrupted—but she suppressed it and quickly followed Naruto's footsteps.

Chapter 65 Surprise

"Naruto! Satsuki! Stop right there!"

Iruka's voice, filled with urgency, trailed behind, "You two, come with me right now and apologize to the Hokage!"

"No way!" Naruto said without turning his head. "The Third Hokage isn't that petty; he definitely knows we didn't really cause any trouble!"

"You problem student! Stop right now!" Iruka raised his voice in anger, a vein throbbing on his forehead. "Do you know how scary that was? I thought you were really going to spar secretly in the school! Where have you forgotten the rules of the Ninja Academy? This is utter nonsense!"

In the school building corridor, footsteps, shouts, and the light, quick running and jumping of teenagers mingled together. As Iruka chased after them, a weight lifted from his heart—thank goodness…they didn't actually fight.

But then, a wave of fear washed over him. What if the Third Hokage hadn't notified him in time? These two were sparring without any restraint. What if they had actually started fighting and set the Ninja Academy on fire? What if someone had suffered a serious, irreparable injury?

If that were to happen, Iruka would never be able to forgive himself.

"Listen up!" Iruka gritted his teeth and quickened his pace. "I'll reflect on this with you! It's my responsibility for not teaching you rules properly! But you'd better stop right now, Naruto!"

"Never!"

Naruto abruptly turned into a classroom next door. For some reason, the lights were still on in this classroom, even though it was so late—it was their classroom. Satsuki followed closely behind and also slipped inside.

"You little bastard..."

Iruka pushed open the classroom door, but the rest of his rebuke caught in his throat, and he abruptly stopped. The scene before him was something he had never imagined—

The rectangular desks in the classroom were covered with clean tablecloths and piled high with various snacks and foods, including brightly packaged potato chips, small pieces of fruit, and several boxes of exquisite-looking pastries.

In the very center of the table sat a large cream cake with "Teacher Iruka" written on it in jam, and several candles were stuck in the middle, though they hadn't been lit yet.

Naruto, Satsuki, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino—six children—stood side by side behind the table. Shikamaru yawned habitually, Choji secretly clutched a bag of potato chips, Kiba's Akamaru wagged its tail, and Satsuki lowered his eyes slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

At the back of the classroom, a simple banner was hung, with words cut out from colored paper: "Happy Birthday, Teacher Iruka."

"Happy birthday, teacher!" Naruto was the first to jump out, shouting energetically at Iruka, his eyes shining like stars. "You didn't expect that, did you? Even the Third Hokage had to ask me to help deliver the message!"

Iruka stared at the scene before him, his mouth opening and closing involuntarily, but no sound came out. The food on the table steamed gently, and the children's smiling faces were bathed in warm light.

"Happy birthday, teacher." Shikamaru and the others also spoke up, their voices not loud, but filled with sincere wishes.

Naruto grinned and leaned closer, teasing, "Teacher, I originally wanted to do one of those surprises where the lights suddenly come on after the lights are off, but I was worried that when you were chasing us earlier, you might just jump out the window and go around to the back, and then the surprise would be ruined. You don't mind, do you?"

"Hey, what's wrong? I didn't know teachers could make that kind of face."

Seeing Iruka's expression, Kiba teased him mercilessly, and Akamaru immediately barked as if in agreement.

Iruka finally snapped out of his daze, his lips moved, and he stammered, "Naruto...you...so you mean...everything just now...was..."

"That's right! It was all a trap to lure Iruka-sensei into the classroom!" Naruto said with a smile, his tone full of smug satisfaction.

The next moment, Iruka felt all the tension in his body suddenly relax. The anxiety he felt while running all the way, the panic of thinking they were going to secretly practice, and the fear that Naruto would cause trouble and be punished again all vanished. It was just a prank. He didn't cause any trouble. That's great... This kid just wanted to give a surprise.

He wanted to sternly reprimand him for "nonsense"—even the Hokage had been dragged into this—but seeing the smile in Naruto's eyes, the words that came out were just dry utterances.

"Naruto... how did you know it was my birthday today?"

"It's simple! I sneaked into the teachers' archives. Stealth is a required course for any ninja!"

"What?! You!..."

Hearing this, Iruka's anger, which he had just suppressed, almost surged up again—but before he could utter the reprimand, he suddenly felt a burning sensation in his eyes, and something warm welled up uncontrollably, covering them with a thin layer of mist.

He had heard other teachers say that some thoughtful students would secretly remember their teachers' birthdays and prepare small surprises for them on that day. At the time, he always felt that such things were far removed from his own life—he always felt that he was not a qualified teacher, that he had been prejudiced against Naruto, and that he often neglected his students. He never imagined that he himself would have such a moment.

He glanced at Naruto, who was still waiting for praise, then at Satsuki, Shikamaru, and the others who were silently smiling beside him. His heart felt warm and tender, as if it were being soaked in lukewarm water. He had so much to say to them—thank them for their kindness, apologize for not being more attentive in the past, tell them how surprised he was… But a thousand words stuck in his throat, and in the end, only a choked sob escaped his lips.