louisehourcade Chapter 64 Bait
Chapter 64 Bait
In the evening, Iruka returned home. It wasn't actually that late; the sky outside the window was just beginning to turn dark blue, and only a few streetlights were lit in the distance. But with nothing to do, he went to bed early.
In the darkness, thoughts, like vines breaking free of their restraints, spread wildly. Two images recurred in my mind—the moment the calamity struck when I was a child, the Nine-Tails' pupils etched into the depths of my memory like a brand.
For nearly a year, I've remembered that blond boy in the classroom, on the playground, the curve of his eyes when he smiled, and his defiant pout when he was scolded...
Without realizing it, he recalled the Third Hokage's words. It was because of that order that he became a teacher, and became Naruto's teacher.
"Iruka, I can understand how you feel... but Naruto is actually the same kind of person as you in some ways. He doesn't know what parental love is, and the villagers avoid him because of that incident."
"Furthermore, Naruto's mental state is not ideal. Because of loneliness, this child is mature beyond his years. If an ordinary child were to be ostracized and rejected like this, he might do something foolish to attract attention."
"But... this child has distanced himself from those who actively rejected him, completely shutting out malice from his heart... but that doesn't mean he's gotten used to being alone..."
The Third Hokage entrusted him with the care of Naruto, asking him to become his teacher. Iruka remembered that he had felt an overwhelming sense of resistance at the time. He knew the truth about the Nine-Tails—the ferocious beast that had killed his parents was sealed within the body of the child before him.
Unlike the other villagers, Iruka knew very well that Naruto was not some kind of demon fox incarnation, but just an innocent person who was caught up in that disaster.
He did nothing wrong; he was just an innocent child from beginning to end... But even though he knew this so clearly, Iruka still didn't know how to face Naruto.
When I first became a teacher, every time I saw that blond figure in the classroom, the image of the Nine-Tailed Fox would uncontrollably pop into my mind. Its ferocious outline was like a thorn, piercing my thoughts.
What were my emotions at that time?
There may be fear, or there may be an unconscious sense of alienation. But besides these, there is another emotion weighing heavily on my heart.
I feel guilty.
Even though she knew he was right, and even though she knew he was just a child, she still couldn't help but secretly transfer her hatred for Kurama onto him... Every time she thought about this, Iruka felt guilty and panicked. At that time, Iruka even doubted whether someone like her was even qualified to be a teacher.
Someone once told him, "If you don't open your heart, the other person won't open their heart either."
Later, Iruka tried to slowly approach Naruto. It can only be said that this child was so sensible that it was heartbreaking—even though Iruka couldn't help but look at him with a hint of resentment at first, Naruto always looked at his less-than-perfect teacher with genuine respect in his eyes.
And so, he began to respond to Naruto's greetings and actively interact with him in class. As the days went by, without realizing it, their relationship evolved beyond that of teacher and student, developing into something akin to friendship.
During their time together, Iruka didn't even realize that his feelings for Naruto had long since outweighed his fear of Kurama.
Therefore, he always felt a pang of regret—if only he had accepted Naruto's kindness sooner. And now, what should he do to truly do something for this child?
"Iruka...Iruka!"
Suddenly, a voice exploded in my mind—not my own chaotic thoughts, but a clear and distinct voice that rang right next to my ear!
"That voice... Lord Hokage?!"
Iruka sat bolt upright in bed. He immediately recognized the voice—it was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi! Could it be… a long-range sound transmission ninjutsu?
"There's been an emergency. Go to the Ninja Academy right now. Naruto and Sasuke are there. They seem to be forming the Opposing Hand Seals. If this continues, something bad might happen."
Naruto and Satsuki... at the Ninja Academy? And they're going to spar? Iruka instantly recalled Naruto's words after school: "Playing house all the time won't make you a strong ninja. Goodbye, teacher!"
A surge of anger welled up inside him—these two guys hadn't listened to a single word of his advice!
At this moment, Iruka had no desire to sleep at all. He hurriedly grabbed the Chunin vest next to him, put it on, put on his shoes, and rushed out the door.
"Naruto! You idiot!"
He roared as he sprinted toward the ninja academy, the night wind whistling past his ears, hoping he could make it in time.
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"Honestly, why hasn't Iruka-sensei arrived yet? Could it be that he can't even handle this small matter that I asked the Third Hokage to do?"
The training ground was deserted. Naruto and Sasuke stood in the center of the open space where they had practiced taijutsu during the day. There was no sign of them forming opposing hand seals in preparation for sparring.
Clearly, what the Third Hokage just said was a bait to lure Iruka here.
A gentle evening breeze blew by, carrying the faint fragrance of fallen cherry blossoms. Satsuki tucked a stray hair behind her ear and suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible coquettishness.
"Hey... Naruto, don't you feel a bit cold right now?"
Naruto paused for a moment, then raised his hand to touch his arm. "Hmm? It's alright. The cherry blossom season just ended, and the nights aren't too cold; it's quite warm."
"I see..." Satsuki responded, but her gaze unconsciously fell on Naruto's hands, which were tucked into his pockets. "Um... I feel like my hands are a little cold. Boys are so nice; they don't seem impolite even when they put their hands in their pockets..."
As she spoke, she quietly shook her hand.
Naruto looked around—besides the two of them, there wasn't a single patrolling ninja on the entire training ground; only the streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow in the distance. "Ah, what's the big deal? There's nobody here right now. Even if I put my hands in my pockets, who's going to say anything? It's okay not to follow those formalities."
This idiot...does he really have to be so blunt?
Satsuki muttered to herself, but maintained a calm expression, her tone carrying a hint of sighing, "That won't do. As members of the Uchiha clan, how can we so easily abandon our pride?"
"It's a bit cold... Someone's hands are in their pockets, they look so warm, that's nice..."
Erzhuzi, what's so cold about someone who plays with fire techniques?
Naruto, of course, saw through Sasuke's intention—she just wanted a handshake, right? Teasing a tsundere has to be done in moderation. Teasing her occasionally is fine, but if you really make her angry, it will be hard to coax her back.
Thinking this, Naruto reluctantly pulled his right hand out of his pocket. He offered it to Satsuki, trying to sound casual. "Would you like to shake my hand? Sorry, I'm not wearing gloves right now, so this is the only way."
Zuo Yue caught a glimpse of his outstretched hand out of the corner of her eye, and the corners of her mouth almost curled into a smile, but she quickly suppressed it, deliberately feigning reluctance. "Yeah... it seems like there's no other way... so..."
She was about to place her slightly cool hand on it—
"Naruto! Satsuki! You two!"
Suddenly, Iruka's angry voice rang out from not far away. Satsuki's movements stopped abruptly, his whole body stiffened, and his outstretched hand hung in mid-air.
Naruto's eyes lit up, and he quickly withdrew his hand. "Great! Iruka-sensei is here! Let's go, Sasuke!"
With that, he turned and ran towards the teaching building. Zuo Yue watched his retreating figure, slowly lowered her hand, her fingertips still feeling the emptiness of not touching the ground, and felt a little annoyed at being interrupted—but she suppressed it and quickly followed Naruto's footsteps.