The most confused person of all was Iruka himself.
He stared blankly at the identical "himself" standing below the podium.
It wasn't that top students like Sasuke or Sakura couldn't pull off something like that.
But Naruto was different. He had never been this obedient before.
After the initial shock faded, Iruka simply assumed Naruto was acting a little more normally today.
After all, Naruto had always been good at the Transformation Jutsu—especially that self-created Sexy Jutsu of his…
Naruto quickly released the Transformation Jutsu. Without waiting for Iruka to say anything further, he turned and walked straight back to his seat.
He ignored all the shocked and puzzled stares around him.
Naruto couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Reactions like this were only interesting the first time you experienced them.
Iruka, who had watched Naruto grow up since childhood, sensed the change most clearly. Still, he recovered quickly and cleared his throat.
"Ahem… good. Very good, Naruto. You've improved a lot. Next—Uchiha Sasuke!"
Sasuke stepped forward with a slight frown. When he stood before Iruka, he glanced back at Naruto, sizing him up.
Naruto didn't even look at him.
He rested his chin on one hand, staring out the window as if what had just happened had nothing to do with him.
"Hey, Shikamaru. Don't you think Naruto's acting different today?" Kiba asked, turning to the lazy-looking boy behind him.
"Yeah, definitely different. For once, he didn't use the Sexy Jutsu in public," Shikamaru replied casually.
"No, I mean just now! I hadn't even said anything yet, and he acted like he already knew what I was going to say!"
Kiba twitched.
That said… Naruto's Sexy Jutsu really was impressive.
"I could've guessed what you were about to say too. Maybe he just got lucky," Shikamaru shrugged, clearly unwilling to dwell on it.
Of course he'd noticed Naruto's change. But what did it have to do with him?
Did it interfere with his afternoon nap?
Then why waste brainpower thinking about it?
Chōji seemed to share a similar mindset.
He kept quietly stuffing potato chips into his mouth. A full stomach meant better performance when using the Transformation Jutsu.
Soon, under Iruka's supervision, the entire class lined up and performed the Transformation Jutsu one by one.
Perfect replication earned praise.
Any flaw earned a verbal beating.
"What have you been learning all these years? You can't even remember what I look like? What are you going to do after you graduate from the Academy?!"
After the review concluded, Iruka resumed regular lessons.
Throughout it all, Naruto remained in a peculiar state.
No sleeping.
No pranks.
Just sitting quietly.
Sometimes he looked at the familiar figure of Iruka at the podium.
Sometimes at his classmates—some paying attention, others daydreaming.
Occasionally, he would lock eyes with a certain short-haired girl—
Only for her entire face to flush red before she hurriedly looked away.
The bell rang.
"Ding ding ding—"
Next period was outdoor practical training, so most of the class rushed out in a swarm.
Naruto didn't hurry.
He planned to leave last.
He didn't start plotting pranks like in his first life.
Instead, he walked slowly to the training field and found a patch of grass where the sunlight was just right—not too noisy, not too exposed.
He lay back with his hands behind his head.
The sky was as blue as ever. A few white clouds drifted lazily overhead.
From a distance came the shouts of another class practicing taijutsu, and faint lecture voices drifting from the adjacent building.
He had heard these sounds thousands of times.
At the beginning of each cycle, when he had been furious, restless, or desperate to find a way to break the loop, these sounds had grated on him—nothing but distractions.
But this time…
Remembering Orochimaru's words about looking back on unworthy things, Naruto tried to do something different.
He tried to think about nothing.
Not the loop.
Not solutions.
Not obligations.
Just listening.
Just watching.
Strangely enough, the exhaustion that had weighed on him for so long eased—if only slightly, in this state of complete relaxation.
He didn't suddenly perceive some grand "overlooked truth."
But his body did relax.
He lay there quietly until the bell for the final afternoon class rang.
---
On the training grounds, the other students had already assembled by the time Naruto jogged over.
At least his mood felt a little lighter.
And he'd already chosen his next point of focus—
Mizuki.
"Today we're reviewing shuriken throwing!" Iruka announced. "Target is the center of the dummy twenty meters away. Line up and take turns!"
As he spoke, his gaze drifted unconsciously toward the blond boy who had just joined at the end of the line.
Naruto leaned against a wooden post, wearing his usual indifferent expression, eyes unfocused as if daydreaming.
One by one, students stepped forward.
Sasuke naturally hit every bullseye. His movements were clean and precise, drawing suppressed squeals from the girls.
He walked back coolly—
But his eyes flicked toward Naruto again.
Why isn't he provoking me today?
Shikamaru yawned. "What a drag…"
Yet still delivered a solid performance.
When it was Hinata's turn, she noticed Naruto watching her. Her hands trembled slightly from nervousness—but surprisingly, she still achieved a respectable result.
Afterward, she quickly retreated into the crowd, face flushed, sneaking glances at him.
Finally, it was Naruto's turn.
Iruka inhaled slowly.
Let's see what he's planning this time.
All eyes turned toward Naruto.
He walked to the front at an unhurried pace.
He didn't even assume the standard throwing stance.
Holding several training shuriken loosely in his hand, memories from countless cycles flashed calmly through his mind.
"As long as I fail the graduation exam…"
"...and can't graduate, Mizuki will approach me about stealing the Scroll of Seals."
"So I don't need to deliberately perform badly like in my first life."
Nor did he need to deliberately show off like in certain cycles—hitting not only the bullseye but the board behind it, or throwing with his non-dominant hand just to attract attention.
This time—
Just perform normally.
Naruto casually flicked his wrist.
"Swish, swish, swish—!"
Several shuriken shot forward almost simultaneously.
They traced five clean arcs through the air—
"Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!"
Nearly simultaneous impacts rang out.
Each shuriken struck dead center on five separate targets twenty meters away.
No deviation.
No flashy movements.
No follow-up glance.
As if completing something as natural as breathing.
Silence fell over the field.
Even Sasuke's pupils contracted slightly.
Throwing five shuriken so casually—and striking five separate bullseyes—
That went beyond mere proficiency.
It showed an almost frightening level of control.
…Is that really Naruto?
Kiba's jaw dropped.
"You're definitely a substitute transformed into him!"
"Where'd you hide the real Naruto?!"
"Give Naruto back!"