As Danzo stormed out of the Hokage's office, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado followed, their expressions a mix of unease and relief. While they didn't share Danzo's ambitions, the situation with Naruto was undeniably complex. They had come to gather information, and now that they had it, they left the Hokage's office in contemplative silence.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, however, stayed behind with Kakashi. Once the room was cleared, he turned to his trusted Jōnin. "Kakashi, we need to discuss Naruto. There are things about his condition that you must understand before taking on Team 7."
Without waiting for a response, Hiruzen led Kakashi out of the office, heading toward Naruto's apartment.
---
Back at the Ninja Academy
In the classroom, Iruka had just finished announcing the team assignments. "The teachers leading your teams will meet you here this afternoon," he said. "Until then, you're dismissed for lunch."
The students erupted in excitement, some cheering while others groaned about their assigned teams.
Sakura turned toward Sasuke with a shy smile and tried to strike up a conversation. "Sasuke-kun, we're going to be teammates! Why don't we eat lunch together and get to know each other better?"
But Sasuke barely spared her a glance before leaping out of the classroom window without a word.
Naruto, who had been watching closely, seized the opportunity. "Sakura, if he doesn't want to go, how about I join you instead?" His hopeful grin spread across his face.
Sakura, however, shot him a disdainful look. "Sorry, Naruto. I need to find Sasuke. You can eat alone."
She dashed out of the room, leaving Naruto fuming.
"Damn it! It's always Sasuke!" he muttered under his breath, his fists clenched.
---
A New Invitation
Inuzuka Kiba, watching the scene unfold, approached Naruto with a mischievous grin, Akamaru perched on his head. "Naruto, forget about her. She's always chasing after that cold Sasuke. Why don't you join us for lunch instead?"
Naruto looked surprised but tempted. "Really?"
"Yeah," Kiba said confidently. "I'll even treat you to barbecue! It's a celebration—your graduation and all that."
Hinata, standing quietly behind Kiba, turned bright red at the mention of Naruto joining them. She grabbed onto the edge of a nearby desk for support, her knees trembling slightly.
Aburame Shino adjusted his sunglasses, mumbling something too softly for anyone to hear, but his tone seemed approving.
Naruto hesitated, torn between the rare offer of a barbecue feast and his deep desire to be closer to Sakura.
Just then, Ichiro's voice echoed in his mind. "Reject them. I have a plan to help you get closer to Sakura."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Really? What's the plan?"
"Trust me," Ichiro replied smoothly.
Determined, Naruto broke away from Kiba's grasp. "Sorry, Kiba. I just remembered something I need to do. Rain check on the barbecue, okay?"
Without waiting for a response, he darted out of the classroom, leaving Kiba scratching his head in confusion.
---
Ichiro's Preliminary Plan
In the quiet of Naruto's mind, Ichiro was carefully formulating his next move.
"Naruto's obsession with Sakura can be a powerful tool," Ichiro thought to himself. "If I orchestrate situations where he thinks he's growing closer to her but ultimately fails due to circumstances beyond his control, it will plant seeds of guilt and frustration. Later, when things fall apart entirely, the emotional blow will be devastating."
But Ichiro wasn't just thinking about Sakura. He began considering how other close figures in Naruto's life—Iruka, Hinata, even Sarutobi Hiruzen—could be used in his larger scheme.
"Loss, guilt, and self-doubt… those will be my tools."
For now, however, Ichiro decided to focus on Sakura.
---
Naruto's "Plan" in Action
Sasuke sat alone on the second-floor balcony of a nearby building, eating a piece of bread. His thoughts were consumed with Naruto.
After asking around the previous day, Sasuke had learned about Naruto's theft of the Sealed Book. He had attempted to sneak into the Sarutobi mansion himself that night, hoping to study the forbidden techniques.
But unlike Naruto, Sasuke had been caught by Anbu before he even got close to the entrance.
"Eccentric Hokage," Sasuke muttered to himself bitterly, crushing the bread in his hand. "They'll teach a loser like him but ignore me—an Uchiha. Is it because I'm his brother?"
Lost in his thoughts, Sasuke didn't notice Naruto sneaking up behind him with a rope.
---
Moments later, Sasuke found himself bound and gagged, muffled shouts escaping his lips.
Naruto grinned mischievously. "Just hold still for a bit, Sasuke. I promise I won't take too long!"
Sasuke glared at him, thrashing against the ropes.
"Relax!" Naruto said. "It's all for a good cause. You'll understand later!"
Transforming into Sasuke with a puff of smoke, Naruto leaped off the balcony with a gleeful laugh. "Time to meet Sakura!"
---
Afternoon Assignments
By the time Sasuke finally freed himself and returned to the classroom, his head was pounding.
Sakura, who normally would have rushed to his side, sat at her desk with her arms crossed, her face a mix of embarrassment and anger.
Naruto, meanwhile, had a massive bump on his head and was grinning like an idiot.
Sasuke glared at Naruto. "You won today," he muttered. "But don't get too comfortable. I'll catch up and make you pay for this."
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Uh… sorry about that. No hard feelings, right?"
Before Sasuke could respond, a tall man with dark, spiky hair and sunglasses walked into the classroom. His presence immediately silenced the room.
"Team 7, follow me," the man said curtly, gesturing for Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke to follow.
End of Chapter.
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