Chapter 41: End of the Class

"I see. With that, all the introductions are over," Iruka said, setting his hands firmly on his desk. "Now, let's talk basics. Being a shinobi isn't just about flashy jutsu or flashy weapons—it's about foundation."

His eyes flicked around the room, noting how each of his students absorbed his words differently.

'At least a few of them seem to care...' he thought with a soft sigh.

He launched into the lecture: chakra control, the three essential jutsu, and the hierarchical system of ninja ranks. His voice filled the classroom as he tried to impart the essence of what it meant to be a ninja.

But his eyes kept scanning.

Sasuke? Laser-focused, his dark eyes absorbing everything like a sponge.

Hinata? Quietly attentive, nodding with natural grace.

Shikamaru? He looked interested... but Iruka could practically see his mind drifting away, probably planning a cloud-watching session later.

Choji? The distinct sound of snacks crunching beneath the desk gave him away.

Kiba and Shino were in their own little world, with Kiba whispering something to his quiet friend. Shino, as usual, said nothing but gave nothing away.

And Naruto... Oh, Naruto. At first, he looked like he was trying. His body was tense, like he was fighting to stay awake. But eventually, his head drooped, his hands sliding from his face as his eyes fluttered, betraying him to the cruel clutches of sleep.

Iruka's eyebrow twitched. The boy's exhaustion was written all over him.

'This is worse than old man Hiruzen's speeches…' Naruto groaned internally.

And that was it. The battle was lost.

With a soft thud, Naruto's head hit the desk, his deep breathing signaling that his fight for consciousness was over.

The class snickered softly. Iruka's eye twitched in frustration.

"Not a park, Naruto!" he grumbled under his breath, but just as he prepared to call the boy out for his lack of discipline, something unexpected happened.

Karin sighed, rolling her eyes as she leaned over, effortlessly pulling Naruto's head onto her lap.

Naruto blinked awake, momentarily disoriented. His cheek rested against her warm thigh, and his heart skipped. "Karin, what are you doing?" he mumbled.

Karin simply ran her fingers gently through his red hair, her touch soothing. "You always push yourself too hard, Nii-san," she murmured. "Just rest for a little while."

For a moment, Naruto's mind froze. That familiar warmth, that gentle affection—something about it stirred memories he had long buried.

A tender flashback of Kushina, his mother, when she would cradle him like this, whispering soft words as she ran her fingers through his hair.

Naruto's throat tightened, and for once, he didn't fight it. He let himself be the child again. For just a moment, he let himself rest.

Iruka observed silently, his gaze softening as he watched the boy, so strong and yet so weary, let himself find solace.

"Maybe," Iruka mused, "maybe it's okay to let him rest just this once."

Class continued, but the moment of peace between the two redheads lingered in the air.

The bell rang, signaling lunch, and as the students began filing out of the room, Karin gently nudged Naruto awake. "Nii-san, it's lunch," she whispered, her voice light.

But Naruto, still half asleep, just buried his face deeper into her stomach with a contented sigh.

Karin smirked, shaking him again. "Wake up, or I'm eating your lunch."

Suddenly, Naruto shot up like a rocket, eyes wide with alarm. "Huh? What?!" His face was a mess of confusion before he realized what just happened.

Karin giggled at his panicked reaction. "I knew that would work."

Naruto grumbled under his breath. "You're evil."

"And you love me for it," she teased with a wink.

With a playful push, Karin stood, her legs still slightly numb from sitting too long. But before she could stumble, Naruto quickly caught her.

"I told you to move around a bit," he chuckled, steadying her.

She gave him a sheepish grin. "I guess you're right."

Naruto's eyes glowed green as he activated his Shōsen Jutsu, placing his hands over her legs. The tingling sensation spread, and Karin's legs no longer felt numb.

"You're amazing, Nii-san!" she exclaimed, flexing her legs with newfound freedom.

Naruto chuckled and gave her a wink. "Of course I am. Now, let's go grab something to eat."

The two of them strolled to the open air, where they found a shaded tree, their friends trickling in one by one.

Hinata, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Sakura, and Kiba all joined them, spreading out to enjoy their lunches together.

Karin, ever the playful one, picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and held it up to Naruto. "Nii-san, say 'ahh~'"

Naruto, with a shrug, opened his mouth. But just before he could swallow, Ino and Sakura both leaned in, offering bites of their lunches.

Naruto froze, staring at the two girls. Karin's glare could've melted steel.

The air grew tense.

Ino smirked. "Well, Naruto-kun, care for a taste of mine?"

Sakura, ever the sweetheart, added, "Try mine too, Naruto!"

Karin's lips curled into a small, frustrated pout, her arms crossed as she glared daggers at them.

Naruto, caught between two offers, glanced nervously at Karin. "Uh, thanks, but..."

Karin wasn't having it.

Hinata, watching from the sidelines, was torn. She wanted to offer something too, but she didn't want to make things more complicated than they already were.

Shikamaru sighed, leaning back and muttering, "Troublesome."

Sasuke simply snorted and rolled his eyes.

Finally, Naruto, with a nervous chuckle, accepted the food, careful not to upset the delicate balance of the moment. "Okay, okay, I get it. You're all awesome," he muttered.

The rest of lunch was filled with lighthearted teasing and laughs, until it was time to return to class.

Iruka, leading the group to the training grounds, gave a quick briefing. "Now we're going to test your shuriken throwing skills. Everyone, take turns at the targets!"

Excited murmurs filled the air as they all prepared for the real test of their ninja abilities.

Sasuke, of course, was a natural. His shuriken flew through the air with precision, each one finding its mark. The girls couldn't help but swoon.

Kiba tried his best, throwing with power, but a few missed. Shikamaru barely tried but still managed a few solid hits. Choji was too busy munching on snacks to fully focus.

Then it was Hinata's turn. Nervous but determined, she threw her shuriken—each one hitting the target with perfect aim.

Naruto's eyes lit up, and he cheered, "That's my friend, Hinata! Amazing!"

Her cheeks flushed a deep red, but her shy smile made Naruto's heart swell with pride.

The others followed, and it was Karin's turn next. With a confident smirk, she threw each shuriken, each one landing perfectly in the center of the target.

Naruto whistled. "You're on fire, Karin!"

And then... it was his turn.

With a slight grin, Naruto stepped up, his gaze locked on the distant bullseye. He threw his shuriken effortlessly, each one slamming into the target with deadly accuracy.

For a moment, there was stunned silence. Then the murmurs began.

"Whoa."

"He's amazing..."

Sasuke crossed his arms, a small frown forming. "Tch."

Iruka smiled. 'This class is something else.'

As the evaluation wrapped up, class was dismissed, and the students filed out.

But Naruto and Karin, with their sights set on something more exciting, didn't head straight home. They took a detour, making their way through the bustling streets of the entertainment district.

They stopped in front of a towering, extravagant building with a gleaming sign that read "Rāmen to Rūretto." This place wasn't just a gambling house—it was their domain.

Inside, the sounds of laughter, dice clinking, and coins spinning filled the air. It wasn't just a business. It was their home, a sanctuary where the thrills of life came alive.

And for Naruto and Karin, this was only the beginning.