The seven second-year students heard this and were so angry their faces turned red.
Well, you guys are throwing the blame around like crazy, are you saying you did nothing wrong?
Even if we were the ones who cursed the fox demon first, the one who threw the first punch was this dead fatty!
Iruka's sharp gaze fell upon the seven second-year students, who immediately shrank their necks.
Children are naturally afraid of teachers, especially since teachers have the power to report them to the Hokage, so they didn't dare to misbehave.
Finally, the leader weakly explained: "Iruka-sensei, actually, a few of us lost to Neji Hyuga in a sparring match during a previous class and were feeling upset.
Just then, we saw the fox... *cough cough*, we saw this little blond kid passing by and, disliking him, cursed at him a couple of times.
Then this fat pig *cough cough*, this chip-eating classmate came out to mediate, and we got angry and cursed at him.
We didn't expect him to just start fighting.
They really were the ones who started it!"
Iruka stared at this person for a while, confirmed that he was telling the truth, and roughly understood the situation.
For a moment, he rubbed his temples, his head aching.
Students fighting is actually a small matter, which can be resolved with some guidance and punishment, but Iruka wanted to be a good teacher and wanted to try hard to guide these children well.
Especially since this matter involved Naruto, it wasn't so simple.
He said sternly: "I will report this matter to Lord Hokage.
How it should be handled is for Lord Hokage to decide.
Before reporting, let me ask one thing: do you know you were wrong?"
The seven second-year students quickly nodded: "Sensei, we know we were wrong!"
Xia Mu, however, looked directly at Iruka, his voice not weak at all: "Sensei, fighting at school is wrong, but I will not admit fault.
Shikamaru and Choji are my friends, and they will be my comrades after graduation.
If they are bullied, I will absolutely not stand by and watch."
Shino said with his hands in his pockets: "Same."
Shikamaru scratched his head: "Tch!
What a drag!
Iruka-sensei, whether it's right or wrong aside for now, you should go tell Lord Hokage first."
Choji, Inuzuka Kiba, and Naruto also had expressions of not wanting to admit fault, especially Choji.
The other party called him a fat pig; it was only natural for him to hit them, so he wasn't wrong.
Iruka's headache worsened.
In the end, he could only punish these few by making them do handstands, while he himself went to the Hokage Building.
Inside the Hokage Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the scene at the school training ground through the Telescope Technique using the large crystal ball, and casually took out the student roster from a drawer.
As for Shikamaru, Choji, Inuzuka Kiba, and Shino, Sarutobi Hiruzen was naturally familiar with them, as they were all children from prominent clans.
However, this Xia Mu was someone he had noticed for the first time.
Now looking through Xia Mu's file, he didn't find anything unusual; he was just an ordinary orphan with some talent in Ninja Tools throwing, but otherwise, he was just average.
However, the fact that this Xia Mu could become friends with so many children from prominent clans and now say such words meant either he was deliberately trying to gain favor, or he was truly righteous.
This was difficult to judge, and he would have to ask Iruka.
Of course, he was just a mere six-year-old child, so there wasn't much worth speculating about.
Just then, Iruka arrived and quickly recounted the incident.
"Lord Hokage, that's the situation.
How do you think this fighting incident should be handled?
If possible, I hope it will be handled seriously so they can recognize their mistakes."
"Hmm, Iruka, your intention is good, but you can't just arbitrarily decide who is right or wrong."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke slowly, not in a hurry at all, "Iruka, what do you think of these children?
For example, this one named Xia Mu, he's quite loyal.
When he becomes a Ninja, he should cherish his comrades, right?"
Iruka immediately recalled memories related to Xia Mu: "Speaking of which, this Xia Mu is usually quite well-behaved, and he's very serious in class.
After class, he's very proactive in studying and often goes to the library to read.
He's also very active in outdoor classes and performs well in Kunai and shuriken throwing.
His sudden fighting today and refusal to admit fault really surprised me."
Sarutobi Hiruzen listened and nodded repeatedly.
He didn't find anything strange about Xia Mu, so he moved on.
It was just throwing techniques; no matter how good he was, it was useless.
The Uchiha could surpass him just by activating their eyes, so he wasn't a genius worth paying attention to.
The fact that he could be friends with so many children from clans should be due to his personality.
He thought about it and decided that it would be better to punish them, otherwise it would be troublesome if other students followed suit in the future.
So he decided: "Iruka, go back and punish them by making them run ten thousand meters and copy the Will of Fire ten times.
Hand in the copied Will of Fire within five days; if the handwriting is messy, they have to recopy it."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Iruka received the order and left in a hurry.
Not long after, the office door was slammed open, and a middle-aged man with a bandaged right eye and a bandaged right arm rushed in, speaking aggressively:
"Hiruzen, you know, right?
The Jinchuriki went crazy and fought!
Quickly, listen to me, hand him over to me to train, otherwise, it will be troublesome when he loses control!
As long as you hand him over to me, I will definitely train him into an excellent war machine!"
"Danzo, that's enough!" Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a serious expression, "Naruto didn't go crazy, and he didn't lose control!"
Danzo Shimura ignored him and continued: "Hiruzen, why are you so stubborn?!
How can a Jinchuriki not go crazy?
You can't control him like this.
When the Nine-Tails erupts again someday, you will have unavoidable responsibility!"
"Shut up, Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
"You!
Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
Bang!
Danzo Shimura slammed the door and left angrily.
Xia Mu didn't know about the dramatic scene of "you'll regret it, I'm the Hokage" in the Hokage Office.
He pretended to grit his teeth and do a handstand, but in reality, he was observing the seven second-year students.
These people said they lost to Neji Hyuga in a sparring match and, feeling upset, happened to run into Naruto, which is why they took their anger out on him.
It turns out Naruto was implicated because of his future brother-in-law.
But, Neji Hyuga?
He didn't know how strong he was now, and he didn't know if he could beat him.
Among the Konoha 12, only Team Guy was one year ahead, and all three of them had the worst fates: Neji Hyuga died, Tenten remained single, and Rock Lee's strength likely stagnated due to the injury he sustained during the Chunin Exams.
In contrast, everyone in Naruto's generation lived better than the last.
It's really impossible to compare people.
Just then, Naruto suddenly spoke: "Choji, Shikamaru, Kiba, Xia Mu, thank you for helping me."
Xia Mu rolled his eyes: "I was helping Shikamaru and Choji.
Also, you forgot Shino."
Naruto was startled and indeed saw Shino muttering to himself nearby.
He immediately felt awkward.
It wasn't his fault; it was all because Shino's presence was too low, so he hadn't noticed.
So he quickly apologized: "Sorry, Shino, and thank you too."
Shino muttered: "As expected, Naruto didn't notice me.
I clearly helped a lot."
Naruto didn't know how to respond for a moment, but he was still very happy.
Although it seemed like Xia Mu and Shino came to help Shikamaru and Choji, they also indirectly helped him, didn't they?