Chapter 24: Women Will Only Slow Down My Training

---

Hokage's Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, looked at the bloodied Mizuki with an exasperated expression. He waved his hand, signaling the Anbu to take Mizuki away.

"Naruto, you did well—"

"I didn't do it, Sasuke did," Naruto interrupted.

Hiruzen pretended not to hear and continued, "In light of your performance this time, I've decided—"

"Oi, old man! I didn't do it! It was Sasuke!" Naruto raised his voice.

"I hereby grant you the rank of Genin—"

"AHH!!~~" Naruto yelled.

"SHUT UP!!!" Hiruzen roared, rubbing his temples. "If you keep yelling, I'll have to hold you accountable for stealing the Forbidden Scroll!!"

Naruto shut his mouth instantly. Instead, he turned to Sasuke and said, "Oi, Sasuke, let's go get some ramen later."

"No."

"Why not? Ramen's great!"

"I have training."

"Damn, you really do look stupid when you're shadowboxing."

"..."

Hiruzen felt a headache creeping up. He massaged his temples as black lines formed on his face. "Just leave already! Bring your photos for the Ninja Registry tomorrow!!"

"Got it, old man!" Naruto grinned, then turned back to Sasuke. "C'mon, Sasuke, let's go! I'll treat you, and you pay."

"Get lost."

The two bickered as they walked out of the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen sighed and turned to Iruka, who was still standing beside him, covered in bruises. "Mizuki's betrayal was an unfortunate event, but you handled it well. Get some rest, Iruka."

Once Iruka left, Hiruzen glanced at the crystal ball on his desk, deep in thought.

Naruto's ties to the village were still too weak. He needed someone to guide him.

"Summon Hatake Kakashi."

A voice echoed from the shadows. "Understood."

---

Two Days Later.

"Naruto! Wake up!" Izumi Uchiha, his self-proclaimed caretaker, pressed her fingers over his nose. "Today's your Genin orientation! Don't be late!"

"Mmm~ Don't mess with me, Hinata~" Naruto mumbled in his sleep.

Izumi's eye twitched. She grabbed a pillow and whacked him on the head. "You bastard! How dare you dream about another woman while I'm right here?!"

"Oi, what the hell?! Who hit me?!" Naruto sat up, rubbing his head. He blinked at Izumi's furious face. "Who am I? Where am I? What happened?"

Survival Rule #1: Admit nothing. Deny everything.

"Izumi, I was wrong! Please don't be mad~" Naruto tried his best puppy-eyed look.

"Hmph. Where did you go wrong?" Izumi crossed her arms.

"??" Naruto short-circuited for a second. Women all over the universe are the same.

"I was wrong for making my dear Izumi angry~"

"Breakfast is ready. You better hurry, or you'll be late."

Naruto exhaled in relief. Crisis averted.

---

At the Academy, Naruto slouched in his seat, already dozing off when Shikamaru walked up to him.

"Yo, why are you here? Today's just the team assignments for graduates."

Naruto tilted his head. "You see this thing?" He pointed at the forehead protector around his neck. "I didn't wanna come either, but what can I do? The Third Hokage begged me to be a ninja."

Shikamaru sighed. "Troublesome."

Behind them, Hinata Hyuga watched Naruto with bright eyes. Seeing him wearing a Konoha headband made her heart race. She couldn't stop staring.

Naruto, noticing her gaze, smirked and made a heart shape with his hands.

"I love you~"

Thud!

Hinata collapsed face-first onto the table.

Shikamaru clicked his tongue. "Seriously?"

At that moment, the classroom door swung open as Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno walked in simultaneously.

"I was here first!"

"No, I was!"

Then they spotted Naruto and Sasuke sitting nearby and immediately rushed over.

Ino beamed at Naruto. "Naruto-kun, what are you doing here? Today's just the Genin orientation."

Naruto pointed at his forehead protector. "I didn't wanna come, but someone wouldn't let me."

"That's great, Naruto!" Sakura grinned. "I knew you weren't weak." In her head, she cheered: Beauty is justice!

At this point, Naruto wasn't the same scruffy troublemaker from before.

He had inherited his ridiculously overpowered father's looks—without the whisker marks from the Nine-Tails. His hair wasn't the usual spiky mess but was styled smoothly, giving him a more mature charm.

He was bright, easygoing, and handsome. If not for his poor grades, Sasuke probably wouldn't be the most popular guy in school.

Even with bad grades, Naruto still had way too much attention from the girls.

"Oh~ I wanted to keep a low profile, but what can I do? My talent just won't let me~" Naruto sighed dramatically.

Sakura and Ino rolled their eyes. He's handsome, so everything he says is fine.

Sasuke, on the other hand, twitched slightly. Damn it… Why does that sound so reasonable?

---

Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's Office, a group of Jonin gathered around Hiruzen's crystal ball.

"So, this is the top student of this year's class?" One of them observed Sasuke. "A real Uchiha prodigy."

All eyes were on Sasuke—except for Kakashi Hatake, who was focused on Naruto.

Hiruzen's words echoed in Kakashi's mind:

"Kakashi, as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Naruto's bond with the village is still weak. I want you to take on an S-rank mission: guide him, train him, and help him find his place here."

Kakashi narrowed his visible eye, watching as Naruto made a heart at Hinata, causing her to pass out.

...This is going to be interesting.

---

Back in the classroom, Sasuke glanced at Sakura and Ino fawning over Naruto and scoffed.

"Hmph. Boring. Women will only slow down my training."

Naruto turned to him and rolled his eyes.

MDZZ (Madao Zettai Zetsumei) – Damn, this guy is hopeless!

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