Chapter 32: Chapter 32
The simulated battle in Sasuke's mind was interrupted, her brows furrowing as she glanced down.
A somewhat unfamiliar figure quickly ran toward the school, seemingly avoiding her intentionally.
Sasuke considered chasing after them to issue a warning, but just as the thought crossed her mind, Naruto's voice came from behind her.
"Who was that? Shouting like that—so rude!"
"Hmph, just some classmate I'm not familiar with," Sasuke replied indifferently.
She had initially planned to tell Naruto that their classmates had already noticed her presence here. However, after reconsidering, she dismissed the idea. She was only Naruto's temporary fake girlfriend, so what did others' opinions matter to her?
With that thought, Sasuke brushed past Naruto and walked toward the staircase.
"Wait for me—I'll be done soon."
Naruto didn't mind that the class had discovered Sasuke was at his house. If anything, it might make it easier to carry out his plans.
Before long, Naruto came downstairs fully dressed, ready to head out with Sasuke.
On their way, Naruto handed Sasuke his remaining 110 taels of silver, asking her to buy two breakfasts.
But Sasuke refused.
"What's wrong? Didn't you refuse the Third Hokage's financial support?" Naruto asked, looking at Sasuke curiously.
"Hmph, he came to see me again last night."
Sasuke didn't seem inclined to elaborate, but Naruto could guess the general situation.
"Well, knowing how to adapt is a good thing," Naruto remarked.
He didn't know how much support the Third Hokage had given Sasuke, but it had to be more than what he received. "That money belonged to the Uchiha clan in the first place, so you're entitled to take it without guilt."
Passing by a breakfast stall, Sasuke casually bought two portions.
The two of them ate as they walked side by side.
The closer they got to the ninja academy, the more classmates they encountered. After yesterday's events, everyone was speculating about Sasuke and Naruto's relationship.
For now, though, it was all just speculation.
However, as the first classmate who had spotted Sasuke on Naruto's balcony returned to the classroom that morning, it caused an uproar.
The boys who admired Sasuke were gnashing their teeth in frustration, each one secretly plotting how to teach Naruto a lesson.
This allowed Naruto to effortlessly harvest a wave of negative emotions and shock points.
As Naruto and Sasuke entered the academy, they could feel the gazes from all directions.
Naruto couldn't help but marvel at how precocious the kids in the ninja world were.
How old are they, really? And yet all they think about is love and relationships.
"Sasuke, can I borrow 100 ryo? I'll pay you back after school," Naruto asked casually, expecting her to refuse in front of everyone to avoid suspicion.
To his surprise, Sasuke didn't hesitate. She reached into her pocket, pulled out a wad of silver bills, and handed him one.
Seeing the thick stack of money in Sasuke's hand, Naruto cursed the Third Hokage in his heart. Damn it, treating us orphans so differently? What a heartless old man!
"Thanks. Oh, you can head to class first—I'm going to set up a little stall and earn some extra cash."
Sasuke frowned slightly at his words.
Since they had agreed to cooperate, she was now Naruto's temporary girlfriend. She had assumed he would announce this to their classmates upon arriving at school. Who would've thought…
"Fine," Sasuke huffed softly before walking toward the classroom.
Naruto reminded her, "Don't forget the lines I taught you. Remember to say them, or I won't be able to pay you back after school."
"Hmph."
Seeing Sasuke cooperate so well, Naruto couldn't help but smile cunningly.
However, as he prepared to set up his stall, he realized he had forgotten to bring the pre-written signboard he'd prepared in advance.
Just as he was feeling stuck, a familiar figure came into view.
It was none other than the chubby boy he had dealt with yesterday, part of the infamous trio who liked to loiter in the grass.
"Yo, isn't this my dear desk mate? You're here so early—have you eaten yet?" Naruto asked with a cheerful grin, stepping forward to block the boy's path.
"Naruto, w-what do you want? I warn you, don't try anything here—this is school! I'll report you to Iruka-sensei if you do!" the chubby boy stammered nervously.
Naruto's sunny smile made him uneasy. Yesterday, he and his two older brothers had planned to teach Naruto a lesson, only for things to go disastrously wrong. Not only had Naruto beaten up his brothers, but he'd also dragged him into the mess.
"Oh? Report me to Iruka-sensei?" Naruto's smile widened. "In that case, should I tell Iruka-sensei about how you and your brothers tried to ambush me at the school gate yesterday?"
The boy froze at Naruto's words. "W-what do you want?"
Seeing the boy falter, Naruto waved dismissively. "We're classmates—no need to blow things out of proportion. Don't you agree?"
"Y-yeah, you're right. That's exactly what I think too," the boy stammered, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"Good. Now, hand over your notebook and pen."
"My notebook and pen?"
Though confused, the boy didn't dare argue. After all, he had already been punished by his parents for yesterday's incident and didn't want any more trouble. He quickly took out his notebook and pen.
Naruto flipped to a blank page, tore it out, and scribbled a few large characters: Paid Chess Matches.
Satisfied, Naruto handed the notebook and pen back to the boy with a grin. "Alright, we're even now."
Though he was about to explode with anger, the boy swallowed his frustration and stormed off to class.
With his makeshift sign in hand, Naruto took out a foldable shogi set he had exchanged for earlier and neatly set it up on the ground. He arranged a relatively simple endgame position before sticking his handwritten sign to a nearby tree.
Now, his stall was ready for business, waiting for wealthy "investors" to arrive.
Naruto adopted the demeanor of Jiang Taigong fishing, remaining unbothered as other students passed by, mocking the stall's sign.
These ordinary kids weren't his targets anyway. Their ridicule didn't faze him.
His true targets were the wealthier students from notable families: Choji, Shikamaru, Ino, Kiba, Shino, and Sakura. These heirs and merchant children had plenty of pocket money, making them perfect marks for Naruto's plan.
---
Meanwhile, Sasuke had just entered the classroom. A group of curious girls immediately swarmed around her, eager to ask questions.
"Sasuke, is it true that you and Naruto came to school together... you two are...?"
"Yeah, yeah! Sasuke, what's your relationship with Naruto?"
"Ahem... someone said they saw you on Naruto's second-floor balcony this morning... Hehe, Sasuke, are you really dating Naruto?"
In the past, Sasuke's unparalleled charm and demeanor overwhelmed the girls in their class, leaving them envious yet too intimidated to openly challenge her. But ever since Sasuke and Naruto's outing on the training ground yesterday, things had changed.
Now, several girls, faces brimming with curiosity and gossip, openly surrounded Sasuke and pressed her for answers.
Meanwhile, boys like Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino, who harbored an intense admiration for Sasuke, were visibly tense. If Sasuke publicly admitted a relationship with Naruto, it would shatter their hopes entirely.
Surrounded by a cluster of prying girls, Sasuke frowned. She had initially intended to ignore them and walk away. But recalling her arrangement with Naruto, she paused, composed herself, and made her declaration:
"Naruto surpasses all of you in excellence. Someone like him, I admire. If the conditions are right, I wouldn't say no."
Sasuke's cold, clear voice echoed through the classroom, silencing everyone.
For a moment, it felt as though the boys who admired Sasuke had been struck by lightning.
"No...!"
"How could this happen?"
"That loser? Better than us? Hmph... I don't believe it!"
Yamanaka Ino, clearly unable to accept this turn of events, muttered furiously:
"What makes Naruto better than me?"
But Sasuke, as if satisfied with fulfilling her obligation, returned to her seat with an indifferent expression, ignoring the turmoil she'd left in her wake.
Unwilling to give up, one of the boys called out, desperation tinging his voice:
"Sasuke... if I defeat Naruto, would you reconsider?"
"Yeah, Sasuke! Don't be fooled by Naruto's façade!"
At this, Sasuke smirked coldly, turning to glance at the two most flustered among them—Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura.
"If any of you can defeat him head-on, then I'll reconsider."
Her words, calm yet resolute, sent shockwaves through the classroom.
Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura, who had been practically trembling with despair, suddenly looked invigorated, as though an adrenaline shot had surged through them.
"Where is Naruto right now?"
"I challenge you, Naruto!"
The room was instantly abuzz with their declarations, while Sasuke, sitting calmly at her desk, remained as unbothered as ever.
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