Konoha Notes.

Chapter 463 Irukaban

The sunlight illuminated the classroom brightly.

Chalk dust floated in the light, and the writing on the blackboard was clear and distinct.

The weather was excessively good, without a single cloud, yet the air inside the classroom was unusually humid and moved exceptionally slowly.

Iruka put down the textbook he was holding.

It's too quiet.

The children's minds seemed to have wandered elsewhere, leaving only their bodies still sitting properly in their chairs.

Occasionally, you could hear people whispering, but the voices were so soft that they only made the surroundings feel more oppressive.

When was the last time I felt this way?

Ah, yes. It was the same the first time Captain Shuji came to observe the class. Standing there, he couldn't even utter a complete sentence. And today?

The captain seems to be at the ninja academy today. Could he be here again?

Mr. Unno's gaze quietly swept over the back row of the classroom, then moved to the window.

The corridor was empty.

That person wouldn't do anything sneaky, but Iruka still couldn't help thinking about it.

Is it because the students have become aware of his presence that they are behaving this way?

That concludes the morning classes.

Hearing this news, surely he should be happier, right? Mr. Umino hoped in his heart. Cheers, shouts, and runs! But all he received in response were scattered, listless replies.

"……knew."

Iruka was puzzled and found himself momentarily dispirited, so he walked out of the classroom somewhat dejectedly.

Inside the classroom, students took out their lunchboxes one after another. The soft sound of lids being opened, the clinking of chopsticks.

These usually lively and engaging activities seemed unusually rare today.

Fu moved quickly to Naruto's side.

"Naruto! Naruto! What did you bring today?"

The blond boy took out the bento box and lifted the lid.

This isn't the neat, orderly style of Temari's dishes, where each side dish is placed separately.

The bento box in front of me contained a generous amount of rice, topped with slightly charred fish pieces, and surrounded by golden-brown tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet) and glistening boiled shiitake mushrooms, with bright green spinach filling the gaps.

"Wow! It's different from ours!" Fu waved in Gaara's direction. "Gaara, come quick!"

The red-haired boy walked over quietly, his gaze lingering on the bento box for a moment.

Fu had already taken out her chopsticks.

Choji peeked over from the side: "It smells so good..."

Shikamaru slowly followed, saying, "Eh... it does look different."

These noises made Ino's stomach rumble. She had only eaten one piece of candy since morning, so she reached into her schoolbag, only to find her fingertips touching the hard corners of her textbooks and stationery.

Oh, right, there are no bento boxes today.

My mood became even more depressed, and I started thinking about my parents in the hospital again.

Ino.

Karin was holding a bento box, while Shion waited on the side.

"I didn't bring a lunchbox today," Ino said softly.

"Let's eat together," Karin said, holding up her lunchbox. "I brought a lot today."

"I don't want to eat too much for lunch either," Ziyuan said.

Ino felt a warmth in her heart from her friends' thoughtfulness, and she tried to make her voice cheerful: "I was just feeling a bit craving bread." With that, she got up: "I'll go buy one, I'll be right back."

Karin and Shion immediately followed suit: "Let's go together."

Sakura heard what Ino said and immediately tried to take something out of her bag, but she didn't finish the action until the three girls left the classroom.

The group of four that always traveled together became three.

Sakura wasn't the only one to notice this.

Low voices gradually rose in the classroom.

"Ino didn't bring a lunchbox today..."

"Sakura isn't with us."

"Is it because of what happened yesterday? Naruto still..."

The speaker lowered their voice even further, which only drew more attention.

"Is it about Sasuke inviting you to be his apprentice?"

"Sakura accepted, and Ino seems to have said she'll consider it..."

"And that's how it turned out today."

The murmurs grew louder. Some people looked at Sasuke, who was sitting alone. The black-haired boy took out his food, ignoring the noise around him.

"The secret service is really amazing now, isn't it?"

"I heard the new building is really impressive..."

"I'm so envious to be invited by Sasuke-kun."

Several girls nudged and pushed each other, and finally someone mustered up the courage to walk towards Sasuke. Her steps were hesitant, but urged on by her companions, she still walked to his table.

"Sasuke-kun... um, can we apply for the internship at the Secretariat?"

Sasuke said, "The secret service is recruiting, but they need to pass an assessment."

"Assessment? What kind of assessment?"

"I don't know. Go directly to the secret service office or the Konoha office."

The girl blushed and retreated into the crowd, unable to hide her excitement: "Sasuke-kun talked to me!"

"I wish we could work together..."

"Will there be more opportunities?"

Another girl walked over, asking similar questions, and Sasuke's answers were similar as well. Not long, not short, every word was correct, but every word also carried a sense of distance.

Then more voices emerged.

Did Naruto say Sasuke was wrong this morning?

"On what grounds does he say that...?"

"Could it be jealousy? After all, Sasuke-kun is so popular."

"Exactly, minding your own business."

Naruto didn't stand up and loudly refute these statements; he used to, but now he no longer had the urge to do so.

He looked at Sakura, who was sitting in her original seat with her head down.

Fu was unhappy.

She put down her chopsticks, stood up, and put her hands on her hips: "Hey! What are you talking about?!"

The voice was clear and loud, instantly drowning out the scattered chatter.

"Naruto wouldn't be jealous!" Fu said angrily. "He performed at the opening ceremony! He's better than all of you!" "So what..." someone muttered quietly.

"How was it?" Fu turned and walked a few steps around the classroom, then suddenly made a face. "Hehe! Who wants a job in the secretariat? Staring at documents all day, so boring!"

Several classmates were amused by her.

Other topics started to emerge. A few boys chimed in, their tone carrying the deliberate attempt by teenagers to appear mature. "Exactly, if you can't become a truly excellent ninja, there's no point in going there."

"I heard that working overtime all the time is very tiring."

"Wouldn't it be better to just focus on the mission?"

These discussions initially carried a joking and compromising tone. But soon, the tide quietly turned.

"However, Naruto's statement that Sasuke is wrong seems to make some sense..." a boy said.

These words were like a small pebble thrown into the water, which had just begun to calm.

"Sasuke just gave them a chance. It's their own fault for not handling their friendship well, right?" a girl immediately retorted.

"But, if Sasuke-kun could consider it more, or put it more clearly..."

"Why should Sasuke-kun think so much? He's already very busy with work and studies!"

The argument grew louder, no longer whispers, but a clash of opinions and emotions. The two sides' voices collided, gradually dividing the classroom into two camps: one believing Sasuke's actions were beyond reproach, and the other feeling he should at least have been more considerate of his comrades' feelings. Ultimately, the side supporting Sasuke's actions had the loudest voice.

But Sasuke only felt annoyed listening to it.

Superficial adulation, blind protection, meaningless screaming and liking... these voices piled up together, not only failing to make him feel recognized, but also making the unease in his heart even clearer.

What he wants is valuable recognition, well-founded affirmation, not this kind of noise based on appearance or popularity.

Sakura sat in her seat, her bento box still unopened. She heard people speaking up for Sasuke, and she also heard people criticizing him. She felt she should say something, but she hadn't stood up yet.

Just then, Naruto stood up.

He didn't raise his voice; in fact, he was even calmer than when he usually spoke.

But it was precisely this unusual quiet demeanor that attracted even more attention.

"Everyone."

Blue eyes swept across the classroom; those eyes, always brimming with playful brilliance, now appeared exceptionally serious.

"Let's stop arguing about this."

"Sasuke..." Naruto hesitated, "I don't know what the right thing to do is. But arguing between comrades over something like this—that in itself is definitely wrong."

He spoke slowly, without waving his arms or raising his voice, simply standing there, looking at everyone with his blue eyes. Hinata looked at Naruto, a faint blush rising on her fair face.

Kiba exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, Naruto, when did you start saying things like that?"

Shino Aburame agreed: "Indeed, as for why..."

He was still speaking, but his words were drowned out by other voices.

"Naruto is right..."

"We really shouldn't have argued."

"But Sasuke-kun did nothing wrong!"

Fu hugged Naruto and spun him around, exclaiming, "Wow, that's amazing! That was beautiful, Naruto!"

"Hey... Fu, haha... let me go!"

Gaara nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his turquoise eyes.

Shikamaru sighed, "He's actually learned to show off, Naruto..." As he spoke, he couldn't help but laugh.

The voices began to mingle again. Some praised Naruto for suddenly becoming reliable, some were still debating right and wrong, and some had already changed the subject. The air in the classroom finally began to circulate, though it was still somewhat stagnant, at least it wasn't so heavy anymore.

Sasuke stood up at that moment.

He didn't look at anyone, but simply packed his lunchbox and walked towards the classroom door.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura finally stood up and chased after him in a few steps.

"I'm so sorry, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura's voice was urgent. "If it weren't for me..."

Sasuke stopped and turned around.

"It's alright."

"Huh?"

I said, it has nothing to do with you.

Sakura was stunned for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief; Sasuke didn't blame her.

"I...I'll work hard in the secret service!" she said immediately, her voice regaining its strength. "And I'll prove how important this opportunity is! I'll also talk to Naruto and tell him to stop talking nonsense, and then..."

Sasuke looked at the girl who was trying hard to express her opinion.

Her eyes shone with determination, longing, and an urgent desire to prove herself.

But behind this brilliance, there are still those same things: the pursuit of the symbol of Sasuke, the confirmation of their own position, and the... understatement of the matter of friendship.

"You're annoying."

Three words calmly interrupted Sakura's words.

Sakura's voice abruptly stopped.

Her eyes widened, as if she hadn't understood the sentence. The expression on her face went from anxious to bewildered, and then gradually crumbled.

Sasuke had already looked away and continued walking towards the other end of the corridor.

Sakura stood still, in the same posture she had been in when she spoke. The sunlight shone on her, but she felt no warmth.

My mood went from low to slightly up, but now it has completely plummeted to rock bottom.

Sasuke stopped at the corner of the corridor.

Shuji stood there, followed by Ebisu carrying a stack of files. The two had clearly witnessed what had just happened.

Faced with those dark eyes, Sasuke couldn't help but lower his gaze.

"Mr. Shuuji."

"That's rather harsh, Sasuke."

The voice was steady, even gentle. But it was precisely this gentleness that caused the emotions Sasuke had been unable to conceal to surge up completely. He looked up, his face revealing the disappointment that was typical of someone his age, a disappointment that he couldn't completely hide.

Ebisu spoke up at the opportune moment: "Lord Shuji, I'll go to the archives first."

"Thank you for your help, Ebisu-sensei."

Ebisu left.

Shuji walked to an empty teachers' lounge next door and pushed open the door.

Sasuke followed him inside.

The boy stood ramrod straight, but the pride and indifference in his eyes had vanished, replaced by confusion and a hint of resentment he would never easily show. "What did I do wrong, Mr. Shuji?"

The voice was lower than usual.

"If inviting my companions was the right decision, why did things turn out this way? If I did nothing wrong, why are those voices defending me... only making me more annoyed?"

"Doing the right thing doesn't always lead to the right result—even something as simple as this?"

If what he did was right, why did Naruto receive more recognition? Why did Sakura's following hurt Ino? Why did those voices shouting "Sasuke-kun is right" only leave him feeling empty?

Shuji did not answer immediately.

He sat down on the sofa, gesturing for Sasuke to sit as well. The boy hesitated for a moment, then sat down in the chair opposite him, his back still straight. "The right thing," Shuuji said slowly, "can sometimes hurt people. Not because the thing itself is wrong." He looked at Sasuke: "But do you think you're wrong?"

Sasuke shook his head. He didn't think he was wrong. Giving a choice without forcing anyone—what was wrong with that?

"Is it still not thorough enough?"

The boy was bewildered. Wasn't it thorough enough? What would constitute thoroughness? Was he to be responsible for everyone's feelings? To bear the responsibility for the fluctuations in every relationship?

"Or," Shuji continued, "the problem isn't just about the matter itself?"

Sasuke remained silent. Was it not just about the event itself...?

"After school today," Shuji said, "don't go to the secret service yet, wait for me a moment."

Sasuke raised his head.

"Let me think... There's someone who also did many things that others considered controversial, but he's an extremely important figure in Konoha." "He's probably more suited than me to tell you what's coming next, Sasuke."