Konoha Notes

Chapter 398 The End of the Term for Students

After Shuji left without a word after his defeat to Hinata, Naruto entered a state that even he himself felt unfamiliar with.

My feverish mind suddenly cooled down.

The feeling of losing to Sasuke, Choji, and Kiba didn't even begin to take hold, but after losing to Hinata, it intensified.

That's the feeling, like I'm really bad at this.

Driven by this feeling, Naruto calmed down and focused on practicing, no longer thinking about proving himself to Shuuji.

And so, he himself didn't know how much time had passed, until Shuji came to find Gaara. He subconsciously waved to the people on the teaching building and received a response.

The heavy stone in his chest shattered silently.

My breathing became easy again.

Inertia kept him focused.

Until the bell rang for the end of a get out of class, Iruka announced the upcoming final exam before leaving.

He only realized it then.

This semester is coming to an end.

"Hey hey hey! An exam!?"

"Idiot," Shikamaru said, "You just noticed?"

"Ugh! I don't feel anything at all!" Naruto clutched his head, his golden hair a mess from being ruffled. "How did finals suddenly start?!"

A few soft laughs rang out in the classroom.

Then, he stood up and pointed at Shikamaru: "But! I'm not stupid, Shikamaru! Just you wait and see, this time, I will definitely—surpass you!"

Shikamaru, his eyelids drooping, said, "Oh, good luck then."

"Ah! You're looking down on me again, aren't you, Shikamaru!"

"This is so troublesome..." Shikamaru sighed. "Hey, are you completely oblivious to the changes in yourself lately?"

"After working so hard for so long, isn't it only right that you get a result that surpasses mine?"

Anyway, his goal has always been just to pass safely, so it's not surprising that he's been surpassed.

Naruto paused for a moment, then chuckled and turned again, this time pointing at Sasuke: "Sasuke! You better watch out! I won't lose this time!"

Sasuke Uchiha turned his gaze away from the window, gave him a brief, indifferent glance, said nothing, and then turned back. The heavy weight of worry between his brows left him with no energy left to respond to Naruto's provocation.

Even though he only received a glance, Naruto was in a great mood. He looked around the classroom and noticed that Omoi was lying on the table not far away, muttering something to himself.

"What's wrong with him?" Naruto nudged Shikamaru with his elbow.

"Have you forgotten how long they've been in Konoha, Naruto?" Shikamaru asked in return.

"Hmm..." Naruto tried to recall, "It's been... a year, hasn't it?"

Shikamaru said, "They should probably head back soon."

go back?

Naruto walked up to Omoi, bent down, and looked directly at him with his blue eyes: "Hey, Omoi, are you guys really going back this time?"

Omoi seemed startled, his eyes filled with obvious frustration: "Ah... Naruto. Yes... the school year is over, and Atsui and the others are all going back to the village."

His voice grew softer and softer, and his head drooped even lower.

Seeing his expression, Naruto racked his brains for words: "Hey, don't be so downcast! Even though you always think of strange things and love to ramble on, but... but I'll remember you!"

He had expected to see Omoi moved, but to his surprise, Omoi showed an even more desperate expression upon hearing this.

"The problem is... Karui and I can't go back for the time being!" Omoi's voice was almost choked with sobs. "Lord Samui's latest order requires the two of us to stay in Konoha and join the special training program!"

"Huh?" Naruto didn't react for a moment.

Omoi, however, had already started muttering to himself: "I thought I could go back in six months, but then it was extended by another six months, and now it's going to be extended again..."

"We'll have to go to a special training camp. Will we be treated as Konoha ninjas...? What if Konoha sends us on missions..."

"Wait a minute!" Naruto finally understood. "You bastard! What is this?! You're just showing off!"

Omoi ignored him and continued muttering, "If I become too popular and people keep asking for autographs, how do I politely refuse..."

Naruto angrily returned to his seat, slumped down heavily, and was about to say something to Gaara when he suddenly realized something.

Exchange student... needs to go back...

Gaara is also an exchange student from Sunagakure. Will he return to Sunagakure someday?

This thought came to him without warning, and Naruto stopped in his tracks as he was about to search for Gaara.

For the rest of the time, he was somewhat absent-minded, until the school bell rang. Gaara got up, gestured to Naruto, and then went to participate in the special training class.

Naruto watched his figure disappear behind the door, but instead of rushing to the training ground for extra practice as usual, he did not do so.

He slowly packed his schoolbag, then followed like a tail behind Shikamaru and Choji, who were about to waste time under the shade of the trees by the playground.

Choji munched on potato chips, while Shikamaru rested his hands behind his head, gazing at the clouds drifting lazily across the sky. The three of them wandered aimlessly along the edge of the playground.

After walking for a while, Naruto finally couldn't help but speak in a muffled voice: "Hey, Shikamaru."

"Ok?"

"Gaara... won't he return to Sunagakure someday?" Shikamaru replied, "Isn't that a given?"

“He is from Sunagakure and possesses such power. Sunagakure cannot allow him to remain in Konoha indefinitely. When the time comes, he will naturally have to return.”

"The time has come... When is it?" Naruto pressed.

Shikamaru shrugged: "Who knows. Maybe like Omoi and the others, they'll be delayed due to some mission or arrangement. Maybe they'll leave early for some other reason."

He was preparing Naruto for the worst-case scenario.

“After all, they are from outside the village, anything is possible. Besides, Naruto, Sunagakure did something like breaking the agreement and becoming an enemy of Konoha two years ago.”

"At that time, my father rushed to the front line overnight because of this incident to assist Lord Shuji in defeating Sunagakure."

"so……"

"Shikamaru!"

Choji suddenly stopped and shoved Shikamaru.

Shikamaru stumbled from the push and looked at Choji in surprise.

"You..." Choji's voice was muffled because he still had potato chips in his mouth, but his eyes were serious. "You shouldn't have said that."

"I'm just stating the facts," Shikamaru said, frowning.

"That won't work either!" Choji's face rarely showed disapproval.

"Cooperation doesn't mean the past didn't exist, nor does it guarantee a safe future. I'm just telling Naruto not to be so naive..."

"That's not right!"

The two boys pushed and shoved each other, arguing on the edge of the playground.

Although the movement wasn't forceful, it left Naruto, who was standing nearby, even more bewildered.

He looked at Shikamaru, then at Choji, his lips moved, but he said nothing.

Finally, he lowered his head, silently turned around, and left the two who were still arguing, unknowingly walking to the vicinity of the Hokage Building.

He lingered downstairs, circling around and around, but didn't have the courage to go up.

"Hey, Naruto, what are you doing wandering around here?"

Tsunade walked out of the building and glanced at Naruto.

"What? Here to see Xiu Si again? Want to join the special training program?"

"No, no!" Naruto quickly waved his hands. "Fifth Hokage, that... Gaara... Sunagakure..."

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but then he became incoherent.

Tsunade looked at him and said, "Would you be more agreeable if I called Shuji over?"

Naruto hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

“Fifth Generation Sister…” he asked, “Will the people of Sunagakure… one day become our enemies?”

Tsunade was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I don't know."

Naruto hadn't expected this answer: "You...you didn't even know that the Fifth Hokage was the Hokage?"

"I don't know," Tsunade said frankly.

“However, if it were Shuuji, he would definitely say that, right—” She cleared her throat, mimicking someone’s tone, “What Sunagakure thinks is completely unimportant. As long as they don’t do that, that’s enough.”

Naruto blinked.

Tsunade said, "That's right. Instead of thinking so much, why worry about whether your friends will become your enemies?"

"It would be better to cherish this friendship, hold onto the bond between you, and let the trust between you become the cornerstone that prevents you from easily choosing the path of hostility even if you have disagreements in the future."

“A person who wants to become Hokage.” She gazed at Naruto’s eyes, which were beginning to focus again, “can’t lack the awareness to create possibilities through their own actions.”

The blond boy's eyes suddenly lit up, and all his confusion and unease seemed to be blown away by a strong wind.

He turned and ran towards the ninja academy.

Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips, watching the energetic figure run away quickly, a smile of mixed relief and emotion on her face.

A calm male voice came from behind. Shuji had already walked down the stairs and was standing in the doorway.

"what happened?"

"Ah, it feels so good to be teaching the next generation," Tsunade said.

"Is it too late to reflect on my education of Miss Shizune now?"

Tsunade immediately frowned.

"No, what I should reflect on is that as the Hokage, I was too kind to that bastard."

After saying that, she stepped forward, grabbed Shuji by the back of his collar, and dragged him into the Hokage Building without any politeness.

"Mind your image..."

"Stop arguing! Get back to work!"

(End of this chapter)