area51novel Chapter 497, Item 2
Chapter 497, Item 2
Chapter 497, Second Stone
When Sasuke realized that no matter how hard he tried, there were people and things he couldn't get rid of, he lost interest.
So when he walked into the classroom and saw Naruto, who seemed to never know what frustration was, going around seeking approval with a newly revised badge name, he couldn't help but stop in his tracks.
"—You really haven't learned a single lesson."
"Have you already forgotten how you failed last time?"
"Those who sign now may still change their minds when it comes time to actually make a decision."
Several students lowered their heads. They were the ones who had withdrawn their signatures at the last minute last time.
Naruto glanced at the consent form in his hand, then at the classmates who were looking away.
"Yesterday, Dad told me..."
"People were willing to support us at first because they recognized our abilities. Later, they chose to give up because they had more important things to consider."
"Moreover, if this goes very smoothly, it's probably because it's not important at all."
"It's precisely because it's important that everyone is in a difficult position."
He looked at the classmates who had their heads down, and then at Sasuke.
"So it's okay."
After saying that, Naruto held up the autograph sheet again and loudly announced to the whole class, "I'm going to keep going until everyone agrees!"
Someone in the classroom muttered under their breath, "He's just spouting nonsense again." Then another voice chimed in, "The name is much shorter this time than last time, so it's not like you can't sign it."
"Yes, at least I can understand it now."
"Naruto, don't suddenly say such embarrassing things."
When things are laid out clearly and directly, the awkwardness caused by breaking a promise gradually dissipates in these trivial responses.
Sasuke did not speak again.
Naruto had already walked up to him with the autograph sheet in hand.
"Sasuke too. I'll make sure you sign your name on it properly."
The form was slapped onto the desk.
Sasuke looked at the new title above.
Swift as a flash. Skillful handiwork. Lightning-fast action.
Although there are still some affixes with unclear meanings, they are at least not completely unreadable.
"Where's the pen?"
Naruto's brain was clearly still processing the meaning of those two words.
Fu suddenly appeared from the side: "Here! Here!"
Sasuke signed the document.
"Sasuke, you—"
"Don't misunderstand. This one is just a bit better than the previous ones, so I have no reason to object."
He put the pen back on the table.
"Moreover, this is not free."
"In exchange, I want to know exactly what you were talking about that day."
3
The classroom fell silent.
Several girls instinctively wanted to speak. Sakura and Ino had already made eye contact, intending to use the same trick again to change the subject.
But Naruto's voice intercepted them first.
"We can't keep it a secret any longer."
He stood in front of Sasuke, his back to half the class, but he spoke to everyone.
"It is Sasuke's will to know this."
Naruto said earnestly.
The boys also started to speak.
Kiba crossed his arms: "Although Sasuke certainly doesn't want to hear about this—but continuing to keep it from him would be disrespectful."
"There should be limits to how much people can act recklessly."
Shino said, "That's true. If we're talking about the reasons, the right thing to do is to find out as soon as possible and seek solutions."
These words made Sasuke even more concerned.
What could possibly cause these people to treat me this way? Is it related to the Uchiha clan?
Seeing that no one was stopping him, Naruto said, "Brother Shuji said that Sasuke often has his period."
Sasuke was initially puzzled.
He certainly recognized the word. Therefore, while trying to understand the sentence, his brain subconsciously denied its existence.
Then, the knowledge reserves of the top students were put to use in a timely manner.
Uchiha Sasuke finally realized what he had heard.
He stood there, silent. His head was down, and his bangs covered his eyes.
Those previous events, at least, weren't baseless rumors, but rather statements of fact.
This rumor is completely unfounded.
Utter utter nonsense.
"That bastard!"
Sakura cautiously began, "Sasuke-kun—this is something that's innate, and supposedly it's not a problem—"
Ino chimed in, "Lady Tsunade is the best doctor; she'll definitely have a solution."
That's enough.
Sasuke, with his Sharingan on, said to Naruto, "That guy was right, wasn't he?"
Naruto involuntarily took a half step back: "Shuji-nii has already admitted it—Iruka-sensei, Shikamaru, and Choji heard it too."
He turned his head as if grasping at a straw: "Right, Shikamaru? Choji?"
Shikamaru, whose name was called, turned his face to the window, while Choji pretended not to hear.
Sasuke nodded with a cold smile.
The man had previously feigned innocence, saying something like, "How would I know if you don't even know yourself?"
It was at this moment that Iruka walked into the classroom.
Because it was so quiet, he immediately sensed that something was wrong and instinctively went to find Naruto's location.
Then he saw the blond boy standing opposite Sasuke.
He was about to ask what was going on, or perhaps separate the two of them, when he didn't expect Sasuke to walk right up to him after seeing him.
Those Sharingan eyes hadn't faded yet, giving his entire face a more menacing look.
"Iruka".
Iruka was now somewhat oblivious to this form of address that didn't sound like he was talking to a teacher at all.
"Yes, yes."
"You did hear that person admit it to themselves, right?"
Iruka immediately realized what Sasuke was saying: "This—this—"
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"You can testify, right? As a teacher, that's a basic requirement, isn't it?" Sasuke pressed.
Iruka Umino closed his eyes.
The last vestige of loyalty to his superior was locked in a final struggle against the fundamental principles of being a teacher.
"----yes."
Sasuke looked away and turned to Naruto.
"So, at noon, there shouldn't be any problem with you being witnesses, right? Naruto. And Shikamaru, Choji."
Naruto's Adam's apple bobbed; he sensed that the problem might be a bit serious.
"Are you scared? Coward?"
"—Who's scared!" Naruto shouted, "I'm not scared!"
Karin stood in the crowd, considering whether or not to find an opportunity to tip off someone.
But at this moment, Sakura and Ino were already watching her silently.
Sasuke then turned to the only person in the class who could do nothing to him.
"I need to check on my condition. Do you have a problem, Gaara?"
Gaara shook his head.
Sasuke then looked at Karin.
"If you think that man is incapable of handling this kind of thing, then go do what you want."
"The captain wouldn't be bothered by such things!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Karin regretted them.
Sasuke didn't say anything more and walked straight back to his seat.
During the morning class, Iruka seemed distracted. He guessed that today was probably his last day at the Ninja Academy.
When the lunch break bell rang, Iruka felt as if he were waiting for execution.
Sasuke was the first to stand up. He didn't rush to leave; he simply pushed his chair back into place and looked at Naruto.
Naruto got up at the same time.
Then came Shikamaru and Choji.
Seeing this, the others in Irukaban also stood up one after another.
Karin was still considering whether or not to sneak away.
"Karin also believes in Shuji-sama, right?"
"So it's okay if we don't need to do anything else, right?"
Karin was fearless, but at this moment, not only Sakura and Ino blocked her escape route, but the boys in Iruka's class who usually didn't get involved in these things were also subtly positioned to help her get away.
Shino Aburame said calmly, "At this time, standing by your comrades is something you have to do."
"You cannot leave me, Karin."
Is the only option to help the captain out of this predicament?
When Shuji arrived at the Ninja Academy, he could see a group of people blocking the door of his office from afar.
He recognized the first few: Sasuke, Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji. Next to them stood Iruka, his face contorted as if he were about to die. Behind him, almost the entire Iruka squad dispersed along both sides of the corridor.
Karin was about to speak when several girls rushed up and hugged her.
"It's not your class's turn yet, Iruka."
Before Iruka could answer, Sasuke spoke up.
"I didn't come here for that."
"You said before that you didn't know what happened. Now the witnesses are all there, Mr. Shuji."
Shuji looked at him, then at Naruto and Iruka.
"What is it?"
Sasuke's eye twitched, and his eyes reddened.
"You—" He didn't control his volume for the first word, then Sasuke lowered his voice, "You said I have my period, what's going on?"
Students immediately began whispering among themselves in the corridor.
Shuji remained unfazed: "That's not what I said."
Naruto immediately jumped up: "Shuji-nii just admitted it a week ago!"
Shikamaru sighed beside him, "Lord Shuji, there's no point in saying anything more now."
"Iruka-sensei!" Sasuke began summoning witnesses.
Iruka closed his eyes, temporarily surrendering his soul to a higher belief.
"Captain Shuji—I cannot violate the principles of being a teacher."
Shuji glanced at him.
That look in his eyes made Iruka realize that he could probably only ever reach the level of Chunin.
"I did tell Naruto about my period."
S
Sasuke's Sharingan widened in surprise.
"But given the circumstances at the time, if I had to name someone, it would be Naruto."
"He's usually noisy, but suddenly he'll go quiet and start yelling loudly by the river."
Shuji recalled the details.
"Sasuke must be on his period all the time!"
"This sentence is an extension of yourself, Naruto."
Shuji looked at Naruto.
"Do you need me to recount the scene again?"
Naruto opened his mouth, pointed at himself, then lowered his finger, then raised it again.
"————?"
"I...I—no—it wasn't you, Brother Shuji—"
His voice grew softer and softer.
Because the images in my mind are playing back frame by frame.
Two years ago. By the river. Sunset.
Sasuke——Menstrual Period————
The blond boy's face began to turn red at a visible speed.
"That—that—it really does seem to be me—no, but Brother Xiu, you didn't deny it! You did it on purpose—!"
The line of sight in the corridor began to shift.
Ino's knuckles made a crisp cracking sound.
Sakura's smile was more unsettling than ever.
"How dare you shift the blame for what you did onto Captain Naruto." Karin's voice pierced through the girls' embrace, her red hair seemingly burning in the sunlight.
Naruto looked around.
Irukaban's students were gathering around him.
"Misunderstanding, ahahaha, misunderstanding—but, it's not exactly wrong, right?" Naruto retreated while searching for an escape route.
"Hey, hey—everyone thinks so too, right?"
Karin was the first to rush towards him.
Hinata stood outside the crowd, clutching her collar with both hands, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but her voice was too soft.
Naruto took off running, but as soon as he took his first step, he was tripped by Kiba's outstretched foot. He fell to the ground and rolled half a circle.
"Teeth—you!"
Ya quickly withdrew his foot and turned his head away.
"Excuse me, Shuji-sama is looking this way."
Before Naruto could even get up from the ground, Sakura and Ino were already standing in front of him. Their shadows completely enveloped him.
"Naruto—" Ino smiled gently.
"You know what day it is today, right?" Sakura grabbed his collar. "It's your death day!"
Shuji stood at the office door, watching the blond boy being dragged away, then looked away.
Iruka was trying to sneak out of his sight.
"Iruka".
The homeroom teacher stood rooted to the spot.
Sasuke was still standing there, his Sharingan still open. His expression was somewhat blank, as if he had made up his mind to confront him, only to find that he had even accused the wrong person.
Shuji met his gaze.
"I've learned something interesting. Thank you, Sasuke."
Sasuke was immediately filled with a surge of passion.
Shame and anger surged in my chest, eventually coalescing into an indescribable burning sensation.
This scorching heat seemed to have found a natural outlet.
He felt something deep inside his eyes being touched.
A second Sharingan with a single tomoe appeared quietly on each of the two eyes.
"Oh my, so this can also stimulate eye power?" The man's malicious voice rang out, "Another thing to use as conversation starters."
"Finding the answer to a problem can also enhance one's pupil power; this is something worth savoring."
Sasuke gritted his teeth and forced out the sound.
"Please, that's about enough—it's time to stop."
"I won't pursue this matter further," Shuji waved his hand. "It's nice to have a break when you're overworking your brain. Next time something like this happens, Iruka, I'll forgive you a few more times."
The office door was opened and then closed.
Sasuke stood rooted to the spot, one hand pressed against his face. His improved eye power was nothing to be happy about.
Naruto's screams came from the end of the corridor.
Serves him right. He actually signed for that guy.
Next time, he'll make that blond idiot taste the same way.
No. Next time, he'll make that man taste the same way.
Sasuke Uchiha silently made a mental note of this debt.
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