Mizuki had spent hours preparing this lecture on the "Will of Fire." He'd even rehearsed his inspirational hand gestures in the mirror. But now, just as he was hitting his dramatic climax
"Ahem."
A single raised hand.
Mizuki's eye twitched.
It was him.
Yuto Hayashi, the kid who usually slept through class like it was a ninja meditation technique, was now staring at him with the dead-eyed focus of a shinobi who'd just spotted a weakness.
Mizuki forced a smile. "Yes hayashi kun? Something unclear about the Will of Fire?"
Yuto shook his head. "No, sensei. Your explanation was deeply moving."
'As moving as a parked car'
At this moment, all eyes in the classroom were on Yuto including. Only Shikamaru sensed something amiss.
'Troublesome. Since when does he volunteer? This'll be nuclear.'
He knew his friend all too well. Yuto wasn't the type to raise his hand and draw attention in class. This sudden change in behavior made Shikamaru certain something outrageous was about to happen.
Mizuki's smile strained. "Then?"
Sure enough.
The next second, Yuto hesitantly asked, "Mizuki-sensei, do you remember what you did the day before yesterday?"
"What?" Mizuki was still processing the question.
"On the riverbank that afternoon, you were bending over a red koi fish, performing 'aerobic respiration'..." As Yuto spoke, he even mimicked the motion with his hands. "I was just curious, what exactly were you doing?"
Silence. Deafening silence.
The students' expressions morphed into a mix of shock, horror, and disbelief as they stared at Mizuki. This seemingly refined teacher had actually...?!
Mizuki's face cycled through the entire emotional spectrum before settling on mortified rage. And who could blame him?
Getting caught doing something that bizarre by a student was beyond humiliating. For someone as image-conscious as Mizuki, Yuuto's bombshell was nothing short of devastating.
"H-how did you know I MEAN PREPOSTEROUS!" he spluttered, slamming the podium. "SIT. DOWN. YUTO HAYASHI"
"Yes, sir,"
Yuto plopped down obediently as a golden notification flashed before his eyes
[ MISSION COMPLETE!]
[REWARD: 20 YEARS' WORTH OF CHAKRA!]
'Chakra?!'Holy crap—this "Choice System" could actually grant chakra directly?!'
Twenty years' worth meant his reserves had just skyrocketed to a 30-year-old's level.
Feeling the surging energy coursing through his veins, Yuto took a deep breath. Though he'd just gotten a power boost, he couldn't bring himself to celebrate yet.
"Hey!" Naruto's oblivious voice cut through the tension as he turned to Shikamaru. "What's 'aerobic respiration on a red koi' supposed to mean?"
"Shut it!" Shikamaru tried to intervene, but it was too late.
"Uzumaki Naruto! Hayashi yuto! Both of you GET OUT!" Mizuki's face flushed crimson with rage as he roared.
"But—"
Naruto barely got a word in before Yuto dragged him out of the classroom.
"Sorry," Yuto apologized, feeling guilty for dragging Naruto into this.
"Nah, it's fine!" Naruto waved it off, still burning with curiosity. "But seriously, what's 'gill-resusci-thingy'?"
"Don't ask. You're too young," Yuto patted his shoulder, gazing solemnly at the sky.
"Pfft—as if you're old enough," Kushina's voice chimed in sarcastically.
"Different standards," Yuto replied with a smug smile.
"Oh?"
"I'm the guy who confessed to his best friend's mom. This is child's play for me."
"And you're proud of that?!" Kushina's eye twitched.
"Not proud. Just... resigned," Yuto deadpanned, his fish-eyed stare brimming with faux wisdom.
Kushina sighed. "That curse of yours is seriously messed up."
"Yep," Yuto sighed, not wanting to reopen old wounds.
A short while later, Shikamaru slumped against the wall beside them.
"Shika! You got expelled too?!" Naruto asked shikamaru with a shit eating grin
"It's Shikamaru." He replied with a smug smile " And no, the classroom's stuffy. Unlike some drama queens.I chose to walk out myself"
"A true friend! Sacrificing my dignity for your mom was worth it!" Yuto added grinning
"I WILL SHADOW-STRANGLE YOU IN YOUR SLEEP" Shikamaru said while his shadow wriggled like a worm.
Meanwhile, inside the classroom, Mizuki's face was stormy. His accidental admission had just torpedoed his reputation, career, and future in Konoha.
'That damn Hayashi Yuto had to die. And that demon brat Naruto too!'
He itched to storm out and decapitate them both with a kunai but a sliver of restraint held him back. Revenge would come, but not now.
There was only one path left...Mizuki resolved to contact that man tonight.
Later that night in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed his pipe kindly.
"Iruka, how's Naruto behaving in class lately?"
Normally, Iruka would cheerfully recount Naruto's antics. Today, however, his expression was complicated.
"Something happened?" Hiruzen's instincts kicked in.
"Lord Third, during today's Will of Fire class..." Iruka averted his gaze. "Mizuki kicked Naruto out."
"Oh?" Hiruzen relaxed slightly. Naruto getting ejected was practically routine.
Still, he feigned concern. "What happened?"
"According to the students, it started with Yuto kun." Iruka hesitated. "He exposed Mizuki's... embarrassing secret in front of the class."
"Yuto? Hayashi Yuto?" Hiruzen knew all of Naruto's friends. Yuto was unremarkable neither a genius nor a dropout. Just average.
"Yes." Iruka's face reddened. "He publicly asked Mizuki why he was... performing "aerobic respiration"on a red carp by the riverbank."
*Clunk.* Hiruzen's pipe hit the desk.
"On a... fish?!"
"Apparently, Mizuki's first response was, 'How do you know?!' before denying it."
Hiruzen gripped the edge of his desk, inhaling sharply.
'On a fish. We really should screen the academy teachers better'
**Bonus scene. **
System Mechanics Deep Dive
[Romantic Life Choice System]
[UPCOMING QUESTS:
1. Survive Mizuki's Revenge (Reward: Stealth Jutsu)
2. Resolve Shikamaru's Nickname Trauma (Reward: Shadow Clone Blueprints)
3. Explain Fish CPR to Naruto (Penalty: Permanent "Gill-Breather" Nickname)]
Yuto sighed. 'Why couldn't I get a normal power-up system?'
____
***Bonus ending Alternate reality***
*Ichiraku Ramen – Evening*
Naruto was mid-slurp when Yuto casually dropped the bombshell
"So, I may have told Hinata you like it when girls step on you."
Naruto chokes on noodles"WHAT?!"*
Shikamaru without looking up from his bowl"Troublesome."
Yuto "Relax! It was for a system quest!" He flashed a golden notification:
[MISSION: SPREAD ONE 1 EMBARRASSING RUMOR ABOUT A FRIEND]
[REWARD: 50% OFF ICHIRAKU COUPON]
Naruto grabbing Yifeng's collar "YOU SOLD MY DIGNITY FOR DISCOUNT RAMEN?!"
Teuchi leaned over the counter" Yo be fair… it's really good ramen."
Ayame nodding)" We do have a loyalty program..."
Hinata suddenly appeared behind them, eyes gleaming "N-Naruto-kun… I-I brought sturdy sandals today…"
Naruto whirling around) "Yuto YOU'RE DEAD MEAT"
Yuto is already halfway out the door, stealing Naruto's untouched pork slice "WORTH IT!"
And thus began the chaotic noodle fueled chase through Konoha as Shikamaru sighs and steals Naruto's abandoned bowl.