Chapter 49: School Life
On the first day of school, Sasuko displayed amazing enthusiasm for learning.
Those dark eyes remained fixed on Iruka's every move. Every basic jutsu hand seal sequence, every detail of ninja regulations—she meticulously recorded everything in her notebook, her small face serious as she feared missing any detail.
This made Iruka particularly nervous during class, afraid of saying even one wrong word.
"Chakra is formed by physical energy and spiritual energy..." Sasuko quietly repeated the key points, her slender fingers tracing hand seal gestures in the air, not even letting break time go to waste.
Naruko beside her had originally been doodling aimlessly on paper—having lived alone for so long, she was used to a free and easy pace and couldn't muster any interest in boring classes.
But seeing her deskmate so serious, she unconsciously straightened up too.
"Sasuko, is this seal formed like this?" Naruko clumsily gestured, earning a disdainful look from Sasuko.
"Dummy, spread your fingers more." Though Sasuko spoke with disdain, she still reached out to adjust Naruko's hand position. "Watch carefully—I'll only demonstrate once."
Like this, under Sasuko's subtle influence, the usually restless Naruko miraculously listened seriously through the entire class.
When Iruka announced the end of class, Naruko excitedly held up her doodle-covered notebook: "Sasuko, look! I wrote it all down!"
Sasuko glanced over and snorted lightly: "Your handwriting is terrible."
Naruko: "Hehe"
...
During breaks, the boys in class unconsciously stole glances at the window-side seats.
There sat two girls with completely different styles yet equally dazzling—one a blonde, blue-eyed little sun with a brilliant smile, the other a black-haired little moon with an aloof temperament.
"Hey, look at that Uchiha girl..."
"Naruko looks so cute..."
Scattered discussions rose and fell among the boys.
Several bold ones wanted to approach and chat, but wilted instantly upon meeting Sasuko's cold gaze.
The little girl only needed a light glance—her innate proud aura made the boys retreat.
Naruko remained completely oblivious, enthusiastically sharing her notes with Sasuko.
Finally, one boy worked up courage and tentatively moved a few steps closer, only to have Sasuko shoot him such a cold look that he immediately stood at attention.
This time Naruko noticed the commotion and was about to greet him with a bright smile when Sasuko grabbed her sleeve: "Dummy, focus on practicing hand seals."
"Oh..." Naruko obediently sat properly, still blinking apologetically at him.
A group of little boys hid behind their textbooks, peeking secretly with eyes full of regret.
Though Sasuko was delicately beautiful, her ice-cold aura formed an invisible barrier that kept them at bay.
"Naruko said she wanted to be friends with everyone..."
"But Sasuko looks so scary..."
"Guess we can only wait until Sasuko's not around." Several boys nodded in agreement.
(Note: The major Konoha families knew more about the Nine-Tails incident, so they weren't as rejecting toward Naruto as ordinary villagers)
Unfortunately, right up until dismissal, Naruko remained like a cheerful little tail, sticking closely to Sasuko's side.
Whenever Sasuko frowned at her, she'd immediately bloom with a brilliant smile, showing two cute dimples that made it impossible to drive her away.
And though Sasuko always looked impatient, she never actually chased Naruko off, only occasionally snorting dismissively: "So noisy."
Finally, the urgent dismissal bell rang.
Sasuko was almost the first to stand up with a "whoosh," supporting herself on the windowsill to look outside, her dark eyes sparkling with anticipation—she couldn't wait to confirm if that familiar figure was already waiting outside.
Iruka on the platform was making final reminders: "Everyone be careful on your way home, don't..." Before he finished, cheers were already rising throughout the classroom.
Without waiting for Iruka to finish, Sasuko shot out of the classroom like an arrow released from a bow. Her light figure swiftly moved through the corridor, black hair flowing behind her.
"Sasuko! Wait for me!" Naruko frantically packed her bag and stumbled after her.
Iruka watched the two girls rush out one after the other and shook his head helplessly.
Yu leaned against the most conspicuous cherry blossom tree at the school gate, his tall figure particularly striking in the sunset.
To make it easier for Sasuko to find him, he'd specifically worn a dark blue high-collared kimono today, making his skin appear even fairer. His handsome profile drew frequent glances from passing young women.
"Um... excuse me..." A girl with a ponytail worked up courage to approach, nervously twisting her clothes. "Could... could we get acquainted?"
Yu politely smiled and shook his head: "Sorry, I'm waiting for someone." His voice was gentle but carried an unapproachable distance.
Just then—
"Yu!"
A clear call came from the distance.
Sasuko rushed to the school gate, taking in this scene completely.
The little girl's face immediately fell, her lips pressed into a straight line, her dark eyes conveying one message—I'm not happy.
Yu turned to see Sasuko's indignant appearance, amusement flashing in his eyes.
After nodding politely to the girl who'd approached him, he strode toward Sasuko, naturally taking her small backpack: "School's out?"
Sasuko awkwardly turned her head away, her small nose tilted high: "Hmph, seems I interrupted Yu's good time?"
Naruko caught up breathlessly, looking between them in confusion: "What's wrong? What happened?"
Yu couldn't help but ruffle Sasuko's hair, withdrawing his hand before she could explode: "Let's go. Today I'll take you both for dango."
Yu held Naruko's hand with one of his and Sasuko's with the other, slowly leaving the campus.
Whispered discussions came from behind them:
"So he was here to pick up his sisters..." one girl sighed disappointedly.
"Oh my, that smile just now..." another girl cupped her cheeks, her eyes nearly turning heart-shaped. "If only he'd smile at me like that once..."
Someone in the crowd suddenly had an idea: "Hey, does anyone know which class those two little girls are in?"
This immediately caused a stir.
Several clever girls were already quietly inquiring about Naruko and Sasuko's class information, using the banner of "wanting to befriend cute underclassmen" to get their hands on their brother.
***
20+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces