Chapter 22: The Beginning of Love
Chapter 22: The Beginning of Love
In his past life, Ryosuke never experienced the privileges that came with status and power at school. But in this life, he could feel it—clearly.
Whether it was the teacher at the school gate checking their names or the one guiding them through the entrance, everyone was unusually friendly and attentive.
Even now, at the school playground, the difference in treatment was obvious.
Surprisingly, it wasn't just the adults who showed this behavior—it was the kids, too.
The playground seats didn't have assigned names and were meant to be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Still, the students who arrived earlier were quietly seated in the back, leaving the front rows open—reserved, in practice, for children from powerful clans like Ryosuke and his friends.
At the very front sat members of the Hyuga, Uchiha, and Sarutobi clans.
Behind them were the secondary clans—Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi, and others.
Further back were smaller clans, followed by regular ninja families, and finally, ordinary civilians.
Without any direction from the adults, these sharp, prematurely mature children instinctively separated themselves by clan hierarchy.
"Hyuga Ryosuke?" A curious voice spoke up beside him.
Ryosuke turned and saw Yamanaka Ino, the girl he'd briefly met at the park, now sitting right behind him.
"Hey," Ryosuke said with a polite nod.
He then shifted his gaze slightly and greeted Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji, and Haruno Sakura sitting beside her.
The four of them clearly had a good relationship—even Sakura, who came from an ordinary ninja family, had been accepted into their little group and moved up to the front rows with them.
Sitting next to Ryosuke, Hinata was more familiar with the four than he was and turned around to greet them as well.
"I've heard Hinata mention you a few times," Ino said casually. "But aside from that time in the park, we never really got the chance to meet."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Ryosuke replied, smiling. "My father's training schedule is brutal. I end up using my rest days to catch up on everything."
In truth, he rarely went out, even on days off—unless it was for practice. Hinata, on the other hand, would occasionally stroll through the village when she had free time.
From the side, Shikamaru squinted lazily at Ryosuke. "You gotta train even on your off days? Damn… sounds like the Hyuga clan head is seriously strict with you."
"He is," Ryosuke said with a shrug. "He wants me to make up for Hinata's shortcomings—to be the sword in her hand."
"Hmm…" Shikamaru muttered, withdrawing his gaze.
He wasn't unfamiliar with Ryosuke.
That brief eye contact they'd shared in the park left a strong impression on him. He'd had a gut feeling that Ryosuke wasn't just any kid.
The clan's reports said Hyuga Hiashi had chosen Ryosuke as his daughter's fiancé due to his talent. Earlier, Shikamaru had assumed Ryosuke's calm reply was just a cover-up for some lack of skill, but now… he wasn't so sure. Maybe he was just being overly cautious.
He's just a kid. What's there to hide? Shikamaru thought.
Ryosuke kept a friendly smile throughout, joining in on casual conversation and trying to build a good relationship with his soon-to-be classmates. They chatted about teachers, school rumors, and even what they hoped to do after graduation.
Hinata sat quietly beside him, occasionally chiming in, but mostly kept to herself—playing the calm, mysterious type.
Parents and clan members stood nearby, watching the group bond. A few joined in the conversation with warm smiles.
But just a seat away from them, Uchiha Sasuke sat alone—excluded, silent, and visibly distant. No one spoke to him, and he didn't speak to anyone.
Ryosuke had observed him during the walk over. Despite his cold expression, Sasuke's small body movements betrayed his nervousness. He clearly wasn't used to this kind of setting.
Then someone shouted from the back, "Hokage-sama is here!"
The conversations abruptly halted.
A figure dressed in red, draped with a white Hokage robe and hat, slowly stepped onto the stage at the front of the playground.
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
His hunched frame climbed the steps steadily, his face weathered and wrinkled, age spots scattered across his skin. His cloudy eyes swept across the crowd with a gentle gaze.
It had been five years since Ryosuke arrived in this world. Though this wasn't his first time seeing the Hokage—Hiruzen often attended events and occasionally visited the Hyuga compound—it was the first time Ryosuke had studied him up close.
And honestly? He didn't feel imposing at all.
The strongest impression Hiruzen gave was… old.
Really old.
He looked far older than others his age. His thin frame, his slow steps—everything screamed that his body was nearing its limit. If Ryosuke didn't already know the story, he might've believed the guy wouldn't live to see tomorrow.
The sheer burden of the village had drained his life.
It's hard to believe this guy will survive until Orochimaru attacks. Even harder to believe he'll fight him head-on.
"I am Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage of Konoha Village," the old man spoke, voice hoarse but kind. "I'm also the principal of this school."
As he spoke, his eyes scanned the crowd once again.
Ryosuke noticed his gaze linger briefly on Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuga Hinata, and Nara Shikamaru before moving on to the back rows.
"...Naruto, come up front."
The crowd went still.
Every head turned toward the back row, where Uzumaki Naruto sat alone.
The stares were sharp—some filled with hatred, others with judgment, most with disdain.
Naruto fidgeted, clearly unsure of what to do.
"You'll hear better from the front," Sarutobi said gently, waving him forward.
Under dozens of eyes, Naruto slowly stood up and, chair in hand, awkwardly made his way through the crowd. Students stepped aside—some reluctantly—as he passed.
He sat down next to Sasuke in the front row.
"You're supposed to sit behind me," Sasuke muttered coldly.
Of all things to focus on, Ryosuke hadn't expected that.
Seriously? You're worried about seating order? he thought, raising an eyebrow.
Still, Ryosuke noticed Naruto's mood shift almost immediately.
Naruto glanced at Sasuke, then let his eyes drift over everyone sitting nearby. When his gaze landed on Ryosuke and the others, he froze.
He senses it too... Ryosuke thought.
With the Uzumaki bloodline and the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, Naruto's sensory perception was naturally sharp. He could feel the negativity radiating off everyone—hatred, alienation.
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