Chapter 288: SasuNaru: It's Over, My First Kiss is Gone

Chapter 288: SasuNaru: It's Over, My First Kiss is Gone

Haneda brought Kakashi along and used the Flying Thunder God to instantly teleport to the ninja academy.

At the time, classes were still ongoing, and the two strolled across the playground unnoticed.

They stopped at a patch of grass.

Kakashi glanced at the grass and reminisced about his training days, recalling how a goggle-wearing underachiever used to sit there often.

Pointing at the grass, Kakashi said with some nostalgia:

"The training grounds have changed a lot. I remember there used to be a tree here, perfectly shading the grass below. It was really cool and comfortable."

"Back then, during outdoor training, you and Obito would often sit here slacking off."

"Oh, and you'd always just sit and watch me train—so lazy."

Haneda walked to the grass and touched the white tiles set into it.

The tiles had been renovated, pure white and patternless, accentuating the flowers planted in the grass.

Haneda sat down, gazing forward. No one was around; only Kakashi sat by his side.

"At that time, there were also lots of girls watching you, blushing and shy, hiding under the tree or behind wooden posts to sneak glances."

"They admired you, adored you, and even gave you a nickname—'Lord Kaka.'"

Kakashi chuckled lightly and said, "Weren't you the same?"

"You received tons of love letters, never opened a single one. Oh, wait—Obito secretly opened some and even helped himself to a lot of the small gifts meant for you."

Thinking of Obito acting as an intermediary and taking girls' gifts, Haneda couldn't help but laugh:

"Him… haha… he just loved taking advantage of me and claimed he was helping me choose a girlfriend."

"And yet, by the time we graduated, he hadn't chosen a single one. Meanwhile, he probably stashed away hundreds of gifts!"

Recalling Obito's antics, Kakashi laughed along but soon fell silent, bowing his head slightly.

Ding, ding, ding…

The urgent sound of the school bell rang, signaling the end of class.

Many students leaned against the balcony rails in the corridor, chatting with friends while looking out into the distance.

Haneda and Kakashi, still sitting on the playground, were quickly noticed.

One was an Uchiha with unparalleled looks and the Hokage robe, easily recognizable as Konoha's Hokage.

The other, with silver hair, a mask, and a mysterious gray cloak, exuded an aura of cool detachment.

A group of girls stretched their necks over the rails, their eyes practically sparkling, fangirling loudly:

"Hokage-sama! Kakashi-sama! They're even more handsome than the rumors say!!"

"I can't take it anymore! They're a hundred times better than the photos! What girl could resist this level of temptation?!"

...

Haneda and Kakashi turned to look at the school building, which was now swarming with students.

Some waved enthusiastically, calling out to them. One particularly enthusiastic fangirl almost fell from the balcony, only to be caught just in time by a friend.

Haneda smiled and said, "Being popular—it's just like when we were kids, huh?"

"Even more intense than back then. They adore you even more now," Kakashi added.

Seeing the students rushing toward them, ready to surround him, Haneda, being the Hokage, naturally couldn't allow himself to be mobbed. He prepared to teleport away.

With a wave to the students, a teacher suddenly appeared beside Haneda, using Body Flicker.

"Hokage-sama, are you here for an inspection?!"

It was the teacher's first time seeing the Hokage up close, and their voice stammered with nervousness.

"Just casually looking around, but I accidentally got noticed," Haneda replied with a smile.

By this point, the students had fully crowded the playground. The arriving teachers quickly formed a circle, blocking the students from getting too close.

On the rooftop of the school building, Kimimaro looked down at the dense crowd below and couldn't help but comment:

"A bunch of fangirls, disturbing Haneda-sama."

Beside him, Haku tilted his head and asked curiously, "Isn't Haneda-sama being popular a good thing?"

"Don't tell me you're jealous, Kimimaro?"

"Idiot! I'm just worried someone might slip in and attempt to attack Haneda-sama!"

Just as Kimimaro spoke, a boy with spiky blond hair, wearing goggles and a black T-shirt, charged at Haneda with a punch.

Haneda easily caught him.

As the boy was restrained, another boy, ignoring the teachers' attempts to stop him, rushed in shouting:

"Naruto, you complete idiot!!!"

"Help me, Sasuke!!!"

The one attempting to ambush Haneda was none other than Naruto, with Sasuke rushing in as his "ally."

Kakashi instantly Body Flickered in front of Sasuke, extending a leg to trip him.

Distracted by his desire to stop Naruto, Sasuke stumbled and fell straight onto Naruto.

Naruto and Sasuke stared wide-eyed at each other as their lips met.

"Pfft! Bleh!"

Both immediately turned away, furiously spitting, wiping their lips repeatedly on their shirts.

But no matter how much they tried to clean themselves, it was futile. Dejected, Naruto and Sasuke sat on the ground, backs to each other, sighing:

"It's over… my first kiss is gone!!"

Watching this scene unfold, Haneda felt an odd sense of déjà vu.

He glanced at the real culprit, Kakashi, who was now sitting on the grass tiles, nonchalantly reading a book.

Noticing Haneda's gaze, Kakashi lowered his book slightly and gave an innocent look.

Haneda, seeing Kakashi's Oscar-worthy performance, could barely suppress the urge to call him a drama king.

"Naruto! I'm going to kill you!!!"

"No, Sasuke! I didn't even say anything yet!!!"

"Shut up! You wicked Uzumaki Naruto, I'll deal with you myself…"

Seeing Sasuke pull out a kunai, Haneda feared the boy might actually use it. He quickly teleported in front of Naruto, intercepting Sasuke.

Grabbing Sasuke's wrist and disarming him, Haneda flicked Sasuke lightly on the forehead.

"Where'd you learn that phrase 'wicked by nature,' Sasuke?"

"You're too young to be saying such things!"

Chastised, Sasuke looked pitifully at Haneda.

He had learned it from Haneda himself...

But noticing Naruto smirking, Sasuke immediately glared at him, their eyes locking in another staredown.

To be fair, Haneda turned to reprimand Naruto too:

"And you! At your age, you should be setting a better example!"

"Running wild in front of so many people—you think this is your home?!"

"Hmph! I'm going to challenge you, Uncle Haneda, in front of the whole school!!"

"Once I win, the position of Sixth Hokage will belong to Naruto Uzumaki!!!"

Unfilial!

Absolutely unfilial!

Naruto was just as audacious as Asuma!

Haneda fumed. He was Naruto's guardian, and here was the boy plotting to dethrone him in broad daylight!

Suddenly, Haneda heard muffled laughter.

The sound came from the grass. Kakashi was hiding behind his book, laughing uncontrollably.

Haneda was furious.

"Baka!!!"

He smacked Naruto on the head three times, leaving three lumps stacked like a tower, taller than his hair.

Feeling the sharp, stinging pain, Naruto quickly called on his newest partner—Kurama!