bigabreads Chapter 126 Class Assignment
Chapter 126 Class Assignment
"We're going to be divided into different classes..."
Iruka began reading the crucial class assignment list. Sakura Haruno's feelings were complicated. She glanced at Uchiha Satsuki, who was sitting not far away, whispering something to Naruto...
I used to fantasize about being in the same class as her... After all, Satsuki is both amazing and beautiful...
But as soon as that thought crossed my mind, another feeling of reluctance welled up inside me. However, if we're separated into different classes, I'm afraid I'll have to part ways with Ino...
Because Sakura is a girl in this timeline, Sakura and Ino Yamanaka did not become bitter enemies like in the original work due to their rivalry for Sasuke.
Although they occasionally have some minor competition, they have generally maintained a pretty good friendship.
"Ino, who do you want to be with...?"
Sakura was about to turn around and quietly ask Ino who she wanted to be paired with when she was surprised to find Ino with her eyes closed, her hands clasped together in front of her chest, and her mouth constantly and rapidly muttering something.
"I won't team up with Naruto... I won't team up with Satsuki... I won't team up with Naruto... I won't team up with Satsuki..."
"Ino? What are you doing?" Sakura was completely baffled by her friend's strange behavior.
Just then, Iruka on the podium called out a familiar name.
"Team 7, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno..."
Sakura looked towards the podium, but at the very moment her name and Naruto's name were pronounced—
An extremely sudden and bone-chilling coldness, like an invisible needle, suddenly pierced her back!
Sakura suddenly shuddered, unable to describe the feeling... It was as if she were being watched by something extremely terrifying hidden in the shadows, filled with an indescribable sense of oppression!
What happened?!
Sakura instinctively tensed up, panicking as she tried to turn her head to find the source of this terrifying threat—but Iruka's next words rang out clearly.
"—And, Uchiha Satsuki."
Huh?!
Sakura... she really got grouped with Satsuki?! The immense joy of being in the same class as the person she admired instantly dispelled the eerie sense of threat, sending Sakura's emotions soaring from the bottom to the top like a rollercoaster ride!
Almost at the same instant the name "Uchiha Satsuki" was uttered, the suffocating coldness that had locked onto her receded like a tide, disappearing without a trace.
Sakura blinked blankly, not having had time to think about what that strange feeling was all about, before she was overwhelmed by immense joy.
"That's great, Ino! Me and Satsuki...!"
Sakura immediately turned around, eager to share this immense joy with her best friend. However, she saw Ino looking at her with an extremely complicated expression.
In those eyes, there was relief at having just escaped a great calamity, but even more so... was a deep... pity?
"Sakura... listen carefully."
Ino reached out and grabbed Sakura's shoulders tightly, her expression more solemn and serious than ever before.
Startled by her friend's sudden seriousness, Sakura instinctively replied, "Yes...?"
"Absolutely! Absolutely! Don't get too close to Naruto! Especially... don't appear next to him and Sasuke when they're together! Otherwise... something absolutely terrible will happen!"
"Huh? Naruto? Why?" Sakura was completely bewildered. "Naruto doesn't seem like the type to..."
"Just listen to me! Trust me!" Ino interrupted Sakura's questions, tightening her grip even more. "For your safety! Remember that!"
On the other hand, unlike the anxious Ino, Uchiha Satsuki's worst fears did not come true. When she heard her name linked closely with Naruto, the huge weight in her heart finally lifted.
She rarely showed such a joyful expression. She turned slightly to the side and whispered something to Naruto beside her, her eyes and brows brimming with undisguised delight. Naruto responded with a smile.
On the podium, Iruka was oblivious to the little incidents happening below the stage and continued reading the class assignment list.
"Team 8: Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame."
"..."
"Team 10: Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji."
Upon hearing that her teammates were Nara Shikamaru, the laziest guy in the class, and Choji, the chubby boy, Ino couldn't help but purse her lips, feeling a surge of displeasure.
Ugh... honestly, why are it these two...?
But this displeasure was quickly replaced by a stronger emotion: the relief of surviving a disaster.
Oh well... It's a bit boring, but it's still much safer than... much safer than being separated from those two guys!
------
After that, it was time to wait for their respective Jonin instructors to come and claim their new team members. As each name was called, the number of students in the classroom gradually decreased.
Slowly, those familiar faces reappeared one by one.
With a cigarette dangling from his mouth and looking like a middle-aged man, Sarutobi Asuma pushed open the door and casually waved in the direction of Team 10. "Team 10, let's go."
He then led Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi out of the classroom. Before leaving, Ino turned back and gave Sakura a "good luck" look.
Immediately after, the aloof and elegant Kurenai Yuhi walked in, her gaze landing precisely on the three members of Class 8. "Class 8, come with me."
Hinata Hyuga responded softly and quickly followed, while Kiba Inuzuka shouted energetically, "Ooh!" Shino Aburame silently pushed up his sunglasses.
The other minor students, whose names I don't know, were also taken away one after another by their respective instructors, Jonin.
Soon, the once noisy classroom was left with only three people—Naruto Uzumaki, Satsuki Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.
Sakura looked at Satsuki's cool and beautiful profile sitting in the front row, took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and with a slight blush on her face, took the initiative to go up and start a conversation.
"Um... Satsuki-kun, after the Jonin instructor arrives later... how about we go have lunch together? It'll be... a celebration of us being assigned to the same class, and also a chance to get to know each other..."
Before she could finish speaking, Zuoyue refused without even turning her head.
"No need. I have something to do later."
"Huh?" Sakura didn't expect to be rejected so decisively, and quickly tried to salvage the situation, "But...we're about to be fighting side by side in the same team, shouldn't we get to know each other and build some chemistry now...?"
"Not interested."
Zuo Yue's tone remained indifferent, "Teamwork and such can be cultivated during missions. You just need to make sure you don't hold us back during future missions."
Satsuki was indeed feeling troubled. She had initially worried that this girl named Haruno Sakura might have some inappropriate thoughts about Naruto.
As a result, this guy had been trying to talk to her since the beginning, and his overly enthusiastic and focused attitude made Satsuki feel a little annoyed and... wary?
Naruto, meanwhile, silently watched this scene. The Sasuke before him, radiating an aura of coldness that kept others at bay, was the familiar "Uchiha Sasuke" from the original work in his normal state.
She only shows this attitude to people other than herself, Uncle Fugaku, and Aunt Mikoto.
Only at times like these can Naruto clearly see the proud shadow of the original work in Satsuki.
Uh...did I go a little too far?