What is this...
Iruka's throat felt as if it were blocked by something intangible.
His gaze fell on the conspicuous cream cake on the tablecloth-covered table. The name written in fruit jam had several unlit candles beside it. The warm candlelight was already flickering in his mind.
The cake... was specially ordered, wasn't it?It... it should have been me caring for them.
But now, these children had remembered his birthday and even planned such a surprise.
His heart was wrapped in warmth, each beat carrying a sour throb. A wave of heat rushed to his sinuses, and he quickly gritted his teeth, desperately suppressing the emotion that was about to spiral out of control.
No... I absolutely cannot cry here! If I start blubbering in front of my students, my dignity as a teacher will be completely gone!
Iruka blinked hard, trying to make the moist heat recede. But the more he tried to control it, the stronger the warmth in his chest grew, almost to the point of bursting.
These kids... when did they start planning this?
His gaze swept over the students standing behind the table... Oh no, I'm really about to lose it.
"Alright! The candles have been blown out, now it's time for presents!"
Naruto clapped his hands excitedly, a brilliant smile on his face. His voice, filled with a youthful energy, echoed in the classroom, making the whole room's atmosphere more lively.
"Iruka-sensei, this is my birthday present. You'll definitely like it. It's the highest grade in Konoha!"
Kiba walked forward, holding a simple gift box. The box was tied with a slightly rough red ribbon, looking as if he had wrapped it himself.
Iruka stared at the gift box presented to him, his mind still replaying the scene from when he made his wish—in the flickering candlelight, the children's faces were bathed in a warm glow, and they sang the birthday song in unison. Their voices were out of tune, but it was the most beautiful song Iruka had ever heard.
How long has it been since I celebrated my birthday like this?
He was dazed for a moment before he reached out to take Kiba's gift. The moment his fingertips touched the box, they trembled slightly.
"...Thank you, Kiba."
His voice was soft but filled with genuine gratitude.
"That's not right, sensei. According to birthday rules, you're supposed to say that after you open the gift!"
Naruto interjected with a grin. Iruka smiled helplessly, nodded, and carefully unwrapped the paper.
Inside was a bag of dog food. And it was the most expensive brand from the Konoha pet store, with the words [For Top-Grade Ninja Hounds] printed on the packaging.
"Honestly, why would you give him that? Iruka-sensei doesn't even have a dog."
Shikamaru couldn't help but complain, shaking his head as he leaned lazily against the table.
But Kiba looked as if it were the most natural thing in the world, even retorting with conviction, "Well, that's simple, isn't it? Iruka-sensei just has to get a dog."
The classroom erupted in laughter. However, amidst the laughter, Iruka just lowered his head, his fingers gently stroking the logo on the dog food bag, a slight smile on his lips.
"Kiba, thank you for the gift. I really like it."
He was telling the truth.
Actually, Iruka knew today was his birthday. But ever since his parents had died in the Nine-Tails Rampage, no one had ever celebrated his birthday.
When he was little, he used to secretly hope that someone would remember, that someone would say "Happy Birthday" to him. But as the years passed, that small hope was gradually buried in a corner of his memory and eventually completely forgotten.
After he grew up, he didn't even care about this day anymore. Occasionally, when he saw his date of birth on the academy's records, he would just glance at it indifferently. But... even if someone just said "Happy Birthday" to him, Iruka would have been very happy, very satisfied.
"Alright! Next is my gift." Choji's round cheeks were flushed with excitement. He held a thick, carefully wrapped envelope in both hands.
Iruka took the envelope. The moment he opened it, the logo of Yakiniku Q caught his eye—it was two meal vouchers, with the words [All-You-Can-Eat Special Selection Beef for Five] written on them in bold letters.
"Choji... isn't this a bit too precious?"
"Just take it, sensei!" Choji waved his hand dismissively. "I have a lot of these! But they're all from my father for me to treat my friends..."
Then, Shikamaru let out a timely yawn and lazily stuffed a long, thin object wrapped in silk cloth into Iruka's hands.
"Don't expect much from mine. It's definitely not as grand as the Akimichi's."
After unwrapping the silk cloth—it was a sealing scroll.
"Just inject chakra to use it," Shikamaru explained with droopy eyelids. "The left formula is for ninja tools, the right is for documents, and I had someone add a fireproofing formula to the middle layer... what a drag. Here's the instruction manual."
Iruka realized that this seemingly casual gift was probably a custom-made item that Shikamaru had prepared a long time ago.
This guy, who was always complaining about things being a "drag," had actually lived "laziness" as a unique philosophy—just like his way of doing things, every step he took, he had already calculated the next ten.
Once he decided to do something, he had to do it to the best of his ability.
That's why even his gift was so... "Nara-style" thorough.
Iruka stared at the sealing scroll in his hand. He could feel Shikamaru's thoughtfulness—a ninja tool of this level was definitely not something just taken from a warehouse.
"This is a great help, Shikamaru," he looked up and gave Shikamaru a knowing smile. Shikamaru just gave a lazy wave of his hand.
At this time, Satsuki walked up with brisk steps. She held a long, dark blue wooden box. The box was hot-stamped with the Uchiha clan crest, exuding the noble air of a prestigious clan.
"Here," she said curtly, handing the box over.
When Iruka took the wooden box, he felt its weight. Opening it, he saw twelve finely crafted steel shuriken neatly arranged inside.
"As our teacher," Satsuki lifted her chin slightly, "you can't be lazy in your training. If you think that just because you're a teacher, you don't have to train... you'll bring shame to the Uchiha clan."
A classic tsundere statement. It was a kind gesture, but it had to be wrapped in a thorny shell. But Iruka noticed a strange hint of... resentment in Satsuki's eyes as she looked at him?
He didn't know, of course, that just ten minutes ago, he had interrupted a critical moment when a certain black-haired girl was about to hold her crush's hand.
"Thank you, I will make good use of them," Iruka said, closing the wooden box solemnly. Satsuki snorted lightly and walked back to Naruto's side.
"Well then..." Iruka looked at the pile of gifts in his arms. Dog food, barbecue vouchers, a sealing scroll, ninja tools... these unique gifts filled his chest with warmth. His gaze naturally fell on the last student.
Naruto held a beautifully wrapped square gift box in both hands, a brilliant smile on his face. He walked up in a few quick steps.
"Iruka-sensei! My gift is the best!"
Everyone looked at Naruto's gift, completely oblivious to Shino standing quietly to the side, holding a plain box.
-------
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