Time flew like a fleeting horse—more than twenty days had passed.
During this time, Shikamaru seemed to have come to some realizations and somehow ended up becoming friends with Naruto. Maybe it was because they got punished together for skipping class?
Naturally, this led to Chōji also becoming friends with Naruto.
Even though Inuzuka Kiba didn't have Akamaru yet, he too often wandered off during class hours and, with Naruto, Shikamaru, and Chōji, formed what people started calling the Skipping Class Four.
Even Natsuki and Shino, due to their relationship with Shikamaru and Chōji, occasionally tagged along with Naruto for river games or street wandering. Though not exactly close friends, they at least became familiar with each other.
To Naruto, school life now felt blissful.
He had a teacher who cared for him, friends who didn't discriminate against or hate him, and even a girl he liked. Every day was filled with laughter and fun. He was fully immersed in happiness.
Natsuki maintained his usual stance—he wasn't close to Naruto, but always treated him with friendliness.
And since his interactions with Naruto were purely due to Shikamaru and Chōji, surely Hiruzen or even Danzo wouldn't be dumb enough to suspect him of deliberately getting close to the jinchūriki.
But Natsuki didn't have time to worry about that.
He was focused on his training plan. While he couldn't grow stronger overnight, his progress each day was significant.
His physical strength had clearly improved, his chakra reserves steadily increased, and through consistent studying at school and the library, his body and mind were growing rapidly.
Tonight was the first of the month again—the second activation of the special laboratory state.
It was extremely important to Natsuki. He had already prepared his research project and was now double-checking every detail, hoping everything would go smoothly tonight.
Suddenly, noise erupted nearby, causing Natsuki to frown.
"What's going on?" he asked, clearly annoyed.
"It's at the school training field," Shino said as a bug returned to his fingertip, relaying what it had seen. "Seven second-year students are trying to bully Naruto. He's arguing with them now. Shikamaru, Chōji, and Kiba already rushed over to try and break it up."
Natsuki had a bad feeling. Not only was his train of thought interrupted, but he suspected this might turn into a fight.
If it was just Naruto getting into trouble, Natsuki wouldn't bother. But with Shikamaru and Chōji involved, they were bound to get dragged in—and as their friend, he couldn't just sit back.
Shino seemed to think the same and didn't object.
The two of them quickly left the classroom and ran straight for the training field.
By then, a crowd had gathered. Angry voices rang out—Naruto's indignant shouting and curses from others. Things like "damn fox demon" and "why don't you just die?" could be heard.
Technically, the Third Hokage had issued an order: no one was allowed to mention the "Nine-Tails" around Naruto, let alone bully him. Even students were included in this directive. But these second-year kids—who knows if they were just too angry or too dumb—were brazenly shouting it in public. Bold, to say the least.
Naruto was especially sensitive about being called the "fox demon." He didn't know how to respond. Surrounded by the scornful, disgusted eyes of the onlookers, he felt isolated all over again.
Just then, Chōji tried to step in. "Come on now, we're all classmates. No need to act ..."
But the leader of the second-years glared at him. "Shut up, you fat pig! Mind your own business, or I'll curse you out too!"
"F-fat pig?! Did you just call me a fat pig?!"
That hit Chōji's bottom line. His anger exploded—he charged forward and landed a punch right on the guy's nose, drawing blood.
That stirred the hornet's nest. The seven second-years flew into a rage and rushed at Chōji.
Shikamaru clicked his tongue, clearly irritated. "What a pain... don't these guys have better things to do?"
Even so, he ran toward the fray. When it came to his friends, he'd never back down. Anyone who insulted Chōji was asking for it.
Kiba, meanwhile, was thrilled. He charged in yelling, "Naruto, you coward! We're the ones helping you! These guys? Watch me knock 'em flat! You just stand there and enjoy the show!"
"Hmph! I'm not just gonna stand here!"
Naruto, moved to tears by his friends jumping in to help, shouted back with reddened eyes and charged in too, determined to beat the ones who insulted him.
But someone else was faster.
Just as one of the bigger kids raised his hand to hit Chōji, a dark blur flashed forward and grabbed the kid's wrist.
"Picking on someone smaller? I won't go easy on you!"
With a cold snort, Natsuki squeezed the boy's wrist, making him scream, then slapped him hard across the face, sending him staggering back.
Another boy lunged at Natsuki from behind—but was swiftly kicked down by Shino, who had arrived silently.
Seeing his friends join the fight, Shikamaru's confidence surged and he dove into the melee.
However, the seven second-year students were still older and bigger, with more strength and better brawling skills. Since chakra wasn't allowed, Shikamaru's group quickly fell behind.
Only Natsuki and Shino, thanks to their constant training, didn't flinch even when facing older opponents. In fact, they had the upper hand.
Truthfully, Natsuki could've taken down all seven alone. But he didn't. He deliberately took a few punches and kicks now and then. If he looked too capable, he might attract the attention of those lurking in the shadows.
Better safe than sorry. Who knew what those rats in the dark were thinking?
Caution kept the ship afloat for a thousand years.
Fortunately, the commotion was big enough to draw the attention of a teacher.
"What are you doing?! Fighting on school grounds? You think you're tough? I'm reporting this to the Hokage! Get ready for punishment!"
Iruka's voice boomed across the field, and the brawl immediately halted.
Even though the Hokage was just the village chief, he was also the highest authority—and a role model to many students and shinobi. If he found out about this fight, not only would it ruin their image, but there was also the risk of public reprimand. It would be humiliating.
Within ten minutes, the crowd had dispersed, leaving only the two sides of the fight behind.
Iruka was fuming. "Speak! Why were you fighting?!"
Natsuki stepped up first, raising his hand. "Reporting, sensei. Shino and I heard that second-years were bullying Shikamaru and the others, so we came to help. As soon as we got there, we saw them about to hit Chōji, so we stepped in. But they were aggressive and refused to back off. We had no choice but to fight."
Shino nodded firmly. "That's exactly what happened. You know me, sensei—I'm well-behaved. I don't fight."
Shikamaru chimed in. "You know me, sensei. I'm lazy and skip class sometimes, sure, but I've never argued or fought with classmates. They picked the fight. We just defended ourselves."
Chōji added, "Sensei, you know I only like eating. I don't like fighting."
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