Sasuke, of course, wouldn't grasp the intricate connection between the chakras of Indra and Asura. To him, aside from the man he wished to kill, there were only two individuals in this world who held any special significance: Naruto and Hirofumi.
Hirofumi couldn't shake the feeling that Sasuke's attitude toward him had shifted somewhat. He noticed it wasn't just him; Naruto had also mentioned experiencing some indescribable changes—not once, but twice: once yesterday and once today.
Furthermore, Madara's demeanor toward him seemed altered, a contrast to the way he had treated Hirofumi when he had first summoned him.
All of this led Hirofumi to ponder something intriguing: could it be linked to him having gained Indra's chakra?
In the original storyline, the reincarnation of Indra and Asura's chakra had given rise to two iconic pairs of best friends at the pinnacle of the ninja world: Madara and Hashirama, as well as Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke. These pairs epitomized both love and conflict.
Now that Hirofumi had Indra's chakra, did that position him as a sort of third wheel? Was he unintentionally inserting himself into the complex love-hate relationship between Naruto and Sasuke?
The mere thought made Hirofumi glance over at Naruto and Sasuke, but he quickly shook his head. He had no interest in that kind of relationship as he was more than happy to let the two of them navigate their passionate entanglements.
After all, Hirofumi was a guy who liked girls.
With that thought in mind, his gaze landed on Ino, who was still holding a bouquet of flowers. Their eyes met, and Ino blushed slightly, lowering her gaze to the ground.
Look, look. It seemed he was still quite charming after all!
Hirofumi had long sensed Ino's little crush on him. Yet, being in ninja school, he wasn't inclined to act on it just yet. He thought everything could wait until after graduation.
In fact, Ino had much to recommend her. She was strikingly beautiful, slender, and among the new generation of Konoha, her looks were undeniably top-notch.
Moreover, not only was she gorgeous, but her family background was impressive as well. Her father, Inoichi Yamanaka, was the head of the Yamanaka clan, making her a quintessential rich girl. Marrying her would be like hitting the jackpot in life.
Additionally, the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans were all interconnected, resembling one big family. If he could marry Ino in the future, it would mean gaining the support of three clans—a considerable advantage for his ultimate goal of gaining control over Konoha Village.
While Hirofumi was lost in thought, he noticed Ino, still shyly holding the bouquet, walking toward him.
"Hirofumi, this is for you… it's flowers I grew myself. I hope you like them…"
As she spoke, Ino extended the flowers toward him, her head bowed slightly, clearly too nervous to meet his eyes.
Hirofumi was momentarily stunned since he hadn't expected her to take such an initiative. He reached out and accepted the flowers, their delicate petals brushing against his fingertips.
"Thank you, Ino… I really like your flowers, but—"
Hearing the shift in Hirofumi's tone, Ino's heart tightened. Although she had always harbored feelings for him, this was the first time she had ever given him flowers.
This decision had stemmed from overhearing her parents' conversation; her father had once recounted how, in his youth, he had given flowers to her mother, ultimately winning her heart.
Inspired by that memory, Ino had chosen the most beautiful flowers she had grown to bring to school for Hirofumi. But what did he mean by "but…"? Did Hirofumi not want to accept the flowers?
Before she could voice her concern, Hirofumi continued, "But… while these flowers are beautiful, they can't compare to your beauty. In my eyes, Ino, you are far more stunning than any flower…"
Ino's face flushed a deep crimson, akin to a furnace, and steam seemed to rise from her forehead.
Hirofumi was taken aback. He had previously thought this special ability to produce steam was exclusive to Hinata Hyuga, who had shown similar signs of nervousness multiple times around Naruto.
In that moment, he envied Naruto, thinking, "What is this? Isn't this the legendary 'steam princess'?"
But now… did he somehow possess that effect too?
Overwhelmed by Hirofumi's words, Ino became so flustered that she couldn't even respond, stumbling back to her seat in a daze.
Watching Ino's panicked retreat, Hirofumi felt a sense of satisfaction. But again, everything could wait until after graduation as the innocent love between boys and girls was undeniably beautiful.
When Iruka-sensei entered the classroom, a gradual hush fell over the excited chatter...
"Class, today we will organize a practical training session. This is your final year in ninja school, and once you graduate, you will become real ninjas, so practical training is essential. In the morning, we'll review cultural subjects, and in the afternoon, we'll start practical training…"
As Iruka-sensei's words settled in, excitement rippled through the classroom. After all, practical training meant less time spent in lectures.
Sasuke turned to Hirofumi, a fire igniting in his eyes. He knew Hirofumi had posed the biggest threat to him in past practical training sessions. This time, he would not lose...
However, at that moment, Hirofumi had already laid his head on the desk, appearing to fall asleep. Or rather, he had not truly fallen asleep but had entered the summoning space.
Iruka-sensei surveyed his students and couldn't help but sigh...
Although his students were immensely talented, they could be quite difficult to manage.
The "sleeping squad" included Naruto Uzumaki, Shikamaru, and Kiba...
Then there was Choji, who was perpetually munching on snacks.
Sasuke, the cold and aloof one, rarely interacted with others.
In contrast, Sakura and Ino were love-struck, one forever focused on Sasuke and the other on Hirofumi.
And let's not forget the almost invisible Shino Aburame…
Iruka wondered why Shino had such a low presence, to the point that he often overlooked him. Such a terrifyingly low presence made him seem like a natural-born ninja.
'Eh? Who was I just thinking about...? Forget it, let's continue the class.'