"Alright, class," Iruka's voice cut through the lively chatter, his tone commanding yet patient, as he stepped to the front of the room. Behind him, the large classroom windows framed a serene view of Konoha's streets, bustling with villagers going about their day. The sunlight streaming in created golden patches on the worn wooden floor, a reminder of the village's enduring warmth and simplicity.
"Today's lesson is on strategy and teamwork," Iruka continued, tapping the chalkboard behind him where
"Strategy = Survival" was scrawled in bold white letters.
"A shinobi isn't just strong—they need to be smart, adaptable, and capable of working seamlessly with others."
The air in the room shifted slightly as the class quieted down, the gravity of his words settling in. A few students leaned forward, their curiosity piqued, while others—like Shikamaru—continued to rest their chins on their hands, looking bored but listening nonetheless.
Naruto, however, broke the moment with an exaggerated groan.
"Why can't we do something cool, like learning a super awesome jutsu?" He threw his hands into the air for emphasis before dramatically slumping forward until his forehead hit the desk with a resounding thud.
The room rippled with muffled laughter. Outside, the faint clang of a blacksmith hammering away on kunai echoed through the village, mingling with the distant chatter of vendors calling out their wares. It was a stark contrast to Naruto's endless quest for attention, but one that somehow fit the rhythm of Konoha perfectly.
Iruka let out a soft sigh, rubbing his temples as if this was the hundredth time he'd heard the same complaint—and it probably was.
"Naruto," he began, his voice steady but tinged with a weary fondness,
"missions require more than just flashy techniques. Strategy and teamwork will keep you alive out there. Trust me, one day you'll thank me for this."
Naruto peeked up from his desk, his blue eyes glinting with skepticism.
"Teamwork's just a fancy way of saying, 'Let someone else take the glory,'" he muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.
This earned a chorus of chuckles from the class. Kiba grinned broadly, elbowing Shino, who barely reacted save for a faint twitch behind his sunglasses. Sakura rolled her eyes, muttering something about Naruto being a hopeless idiot, while Sasuke glanced over with a barely noticeable smirk, his fingers idly twirling a pencil.
Iruka crossed his arms, his expression softening into a small smile despite himself.
"Naruto, if your idea of teamwork is letting everyone else clean up your messes, you've already fallen into a trap."
The class erupted into genuine laughter this time. Even Hinata, seated quietly near the back, giggled softly into her hands. Shikamaru leaned back in his chair with an amused sigh, muttering,
"Too troublesome…" but wearing the faintest of smiles.
Amid the noise, Tomaru sat silently in the middle of the room, his gaze drifting toward the windows. Beyond the glass, the Hokage Monument stood proudly, its carved faces weathered yet steadfast, watching over the village. The sight reminded him of the generations of shinobi who had walked these same halls, honing their skills before stepping into the dangerous, unpredictable world beyond.
He shifted his attention back to the room, his eyes scanning his classmates. Naruto's antics may have disrupted the lesson, but Tomaru couldn't deny the energy Naruto brought into every room he entered. It was chaotic, but it gave the Academy a kind of charm—one that made the grind of daily lessons bearable.
—
As Iruka began assigning partners for the day's exercise, Tomaru felt a pang of anxiety twist in his gut. He hadn't fully adjusted to the routine yet, the memory of his past life still clinging to him like a shadow. He forced himself to focus as his name was called.
"Tomaru, you'll be working with Naruto today," Iruka announced, moving on without missing a beat.
Naruto's face lit up with a wide grin. He slid into the seat beside Tomaru, dropping down with the enthusiasm of someone who had just won a prize.
"Guess you're stuck with me," he said, eyes sparkling with a mixture of mischief and excitement.
Tomaru shrugged, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk.
"Could be worse."
Iruka handed out the exercise sheets, filled with hypothetical mission scenarios. The task was straightforward: come up with a plan to retrieve an item from an enemy camp without being detected. Naruto scanned the paper briefly before slapping it down on the desk.
"So, what's the plan? Wing it and hope for the best?" Naruto asked, half-joking, half-serious.
Tomaru shot him a dry look.
"That's one way to fail. Let's try thinking it through first."
Naruto groaned, but there was a hint of something in his eyes—a spark of interest, as if he was willing to give it a shot despite his initial reluctance. They bent over the paper together, and Tomaru began to outline a strategy.
---
The classroom was filled with the soft murmur of voices as pairs worked through their scenarios. Tomaru noticed Sasuke and Shikamaru, both silent but intensely focused, their expressions almost mirroring each other's concentration. Ino and Sakura were locked in a heated debate, while Kiba and Hinata quietly discussed their plan, Akamaru barking in agreement every now and then.
Midway through the exercise, Naruto's hand shot out, tapping the page with sudden enthusiasm.
"Wait a minute! Wouldn't it be smarter to use a decoy here? If the enemy's distracted, we could sneak in and grab the objective while they're looking the other way."
Tomaru paused, surprised. He hadn't expected Naruto to come up with such a clever tactic.
"That's… actually a good idea," he admitted, a note of genuine praise in his voice.
Naruto's face lit up like the sun breaking through clouds. He puffed out his chest, grinning from ear to ear.
"Of course it is! I've got plenty of good ideas if people would just listen to me!"
Tomaru nodded, jotting down the suggestion with a smile.
*Maybe there's more to Naruto's chaotic energy than meets the eye,* he mused.
"Then let's refine it and make it work."
---
When it was their turn to present, Tomaru nudged Naruto forward, giving him a slight nod. Naruto took a deep breath and began explaining their strategy. At first, his voice was shaky, but as he got into it, his natural confidence shone through. He outlined their plan with surprising clarity, his hands gesturing animatedly as he spoke.
Iruka listened intently, nodding along. When Naruto finished, he gave them both an approving smile.
"Not bad, Naruto. You and Tomaru came up with a solid strategy. It shows good teamwork and creative thinking."
Naruto's face lit up with pride, his earlier frustration forgotten. He turned to Tomaru, giving him a playful punch on the arm.
"See? I told you I had good ideas!"
Tomaru smirked, rubbing his arm exaggeratedly.
"You did. Next time, try sharing them sooner."
"You're not as boring as I thought," Naruto declared, slapping Tomaru on the back in a friendly, if slightly painful, manner.
Tomaru chuckled, his expression amused.
"Thanks… I think?"
Naruto grinned, his eyes sparkling with challenge.
"Next time we spar, I'm gonna beat you. Just you wait!"
Tomaru laughed, the sound light and genuine.
"I'll hold you to that," he said, watching as Naruto sprinted off, already shouting about ramen to anyone who would listen.
—
Tomaru leaned against the tree, enjoying the soft rustling of leaves in the afternoon breeze. Or at least, he tried to. Ino's unrelenting stare was impossible to ignore, breaking through the tranquil setting like a kunai through paper.
"What's wrong, Ino?" he asked finally, turning his gaze toward her.
Ino's lips curled into a sly smile, the mischief in her eyes unmistakable.
"Do you know something, Tomaru?"
"What?" he replied cautiously, already bracing himself for whatever she was about to say.
"You're handsome," she said, her tone so casual it almost made him think he'd misheard her.
Tomaru blinked, his composure slipping as the words registered.
"Huh?"
"You're handsome," Ino repeated, taking a deliberate step closer, her voice light but playful.
"I… uh… am I?" Tomaru stammered, scratching the back of his neck, completely caught off guard.
Ino tilted her head, her expression one of mock innocence.
"You're *handsome,*" she repeated with deliberate emphasis, savoring every second of his flustered reaction.
Tomaru shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, his mind racing for an appropriate response.
"Well, uh… thanks, Ino. You're… pretty too," he mumbled awkwardly, his words tumbling out unpolished.
"You're my type," she announced suddenly, her voice striking like a kunai thrown with precision.
Tomaru's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat.
"What?!"
"You. Are. My. Type," she said again, dragging the words out teasingly slow, her grin stretching wider.
"How?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, unsure if she was serious or just enjoying his discomfort.
Ino began counting on her fingers, as if ticking off a list.
"I like your face. Your hairstyle…"
Tomaru raised an eyebrow.
"Uh… okay…" Tomaru muttered, trying to gauge where this was going.
"I like your skin tone. I like your eyes—"
"Ino!" he exclaimed, his face heating as he waved his hands to stop her. But she wasn't done.
"I like your lips," she continued, leaning forward slightly, her gaze roaming over his face with the precision of an artist critiquing a masterpiece.
"Ino…" Tomaru groaned, dragging out her name like a plea.
"I like your eyebrows… and your nose…"
Tomaru slapped a hand over his face, his voice rising in mock panic.
"Ino, stop!"
"You look cute," she added, her teasing grin widening.
"Okay, okay! You're cute too!" he said quickly, waving his hands as though that would deflect her words but his tone exasperated yet tinged with embarrassment.
Ino's eyes sparkled with victory.
"You're sexy," she added dramatically, clearly savoring his reaction as his face turned crimson.
Tomaru groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
"Girl, please…" (Stop)
Ino burst into laughter, doubling over as she clutched her stomach. Her delighted giggles echoed through the clearing, blending with the rustling leaves.
Tomaru sighed heavily, throwing his hands up in mock surrender.
"Alright, Ino. I'm sorry for teasing you before, okay? Are we even now?"
"Hmph." Ino huffed, crossing her arms and pretending to pout.
"Not even close. But I'll consider forgiving you… for now."
He laughed nervously but quickly turned serious.
"Ino… I actually like you, but…"
Her teasing demeanor faltered slightly, her cheeks turning a faint pink as she leaned closer, her voice quieter.
"But…?"
"But I don't like little girls," he said with a playful smirk, leaning back just enough to enjoy her reaction.
Ino froze, her expression flipping from curious to mortified as the words hit. Her blush deepened, and she pulled back sharply, her jaw dropping.
"W-WHAT?! Little girl?!"
Tomaru laughed openly, the tension dissolving into humor as he held up his hands in mock defense.
"Just saying the truth!"
Ino puffed her cheeks in indignation, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
"I'll show you young, Tomaru! Just wait—"
She spun on her heel with a dramatic flounce, her hair swishing behind her as she marched away. Despite the exaggerated anger in her steps, Tomaru caught the small, triumphant smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
He shook his head, a grin spreading across his face as he leaned back against the tree.