NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22: Chapter 22
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Chapter 22: The Beginning of Love
Ryosuke didn't enjoy the benefits brought by class and power in his previous life when he entered school, but in this life, he felt it very keenly.
Whether it was the teacher filling out the form at the gate or the one guiding them after they entered the school, they were all extremely enthusiastic and caring.
Now, as they came to the playground, they also received special treatment.
And this kind of treatment wasn't from adults, but from these children.
There was no assigned seating on the playground; it was first-come, first-served. However, those who lined up earlier all sat quietly in the back. Only family members like Ryosuke and his friends would go directly to the front rows.
At the forefront were the Hyuga, Uchiha, Sarutobi, and other major clans. Next were secondary clans like the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi. After them came some small or civilian families.
Without the influence of adults, these precocious children naturally distinguished between levels.
"Hyuga Ryosuke?"
A puzzled voice sounded beside Ryosuke. Turning around, he saw Yamanaka Ino, whom he had met once in the park, sitting behind him.
"Hello."
Ryosuke nodded politely in response to her greeting.
Then she shifted her gaze slightly and greeted Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji, and Haruno Sakura beside her respectively.
This group of four seemed to have a very good relationship. Even Sakura Haruno, who came from an ordinary ninja family, joined them and moved to the front row.
Sitting next to him, Hinata was obviously more familiar with the four of them than Ryosuke, and also turned around to greet them.
"I've heard Hinata mention you occasionally, but apart from that time in the park, I've never had the chance to meet you or get to know you." Ino spoke cheerfully, sounding very familiar.
"I'm sorry, the training plan my father set for me is always not completed on time, so I can only use my days off to catch up," Ryosuke replied casually, offering a reason.
He had been hiding at home and rarely went out even on his days off when he had no practice tasks.
But Hinata was different. She occasionally went out on her days off and wandered around the village.
On the side, Shikamaru half-narrowed his lazy eyes and asked, "You even need to use your rest days to catch up on progress. The Hyuga clan leader must be very strict with you, right?"
"Yes, my father is very strict with me," Ryosuke nodded with a smile. "He hopes that I can make up for Hyuga Hinata's shortcomings and become a sword in her hand."
"Really…" Shikamaru withdrew his probing gaze.
He was no stranger to Ryosuke.
That eye contact from afar in the park left a deep impression on him, and he always felt that this person was not simple.
According to the information given by the clan, Hyuga Ryosuke was chosen by Hyuga Hiashi to be his son-in-law because of his good talent.
Just now, Ryosuke gave a casual answer, and Shikamaru thought that this guy was trying to hide his incompetence, but now it seemed that he was just too sensitive.
Just a child, what is there to hide?
With a smile on his face the entire time, Ryosuke answered Shikamaru's question before casually striking up a conversation with the others, hoping to foster friendships among his future classmates.
They chatted about some teachers at school and some plans after graduation.
Hinata was nearby, interjecting from time to time.
But most of the time, he still maintained a silent attitude, pretending to be a master.
Family members were all around, and seeing them chatting in a small group, they started to speak up and join in the conversation.
Compared to the happy group of people here, Uchiha Sasuke, who was only one seat away from them, seemed to be excluded and looked very lonely.
He did not speak, and no one else around him took the initiative to talk to him.
On the way, Ryosuke took some time to observe. Sasuke, who was still a child, was obviously not used to such an atmosphere. Although he pretended to be cold, some subtle movements of his body showed a hint of anxiety.
"Hokage-sama is here."
This atmosphere continued until someone shouted from behind, and the group of people who were discussing in a low voice around Ryosuke finally quieted down.
He was wearing red clothes, a white robe, and a Hokage hat.
A somewhat hunched figure strolled from the entrance of the playground, walking up the steps step by step to the platform in front of Ryosuke.
Sarutobi Hiruzen!
On the wrinkled face covered with age spots, the cloudy eyes scanned the crowd below.
It had been five years since Ryosuke came to this world, and this was not the first time he had seen Sarutobi Hiruzen. As the Hokage, he often attended various activities in the village and even occasionally visited the Hyuga family.
But this was the first time in such a long time that he observed Sarutobi Hiruzen up close.
To be honest, the first impression he gave Ryosuke was not that he was imposing or powerful, but rather… very old.
Really… too old.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was already in his sixties, was much older than many old people of the same age.
His hunched body was a little thin because his various body functions had begun to age and degenerate. If Ryosuke hadn't understood the plot and knew that Sarutobi Hiruzen could at least live until his disciple Orochimaru came to kill him, he would have thought that this guy would die tomorrow.
The pressure from this village has caused him to overdraw his life prematurely.
It is hard to imagine how he could live with such a body until Naruto graduated, until Orochimaru launched his invasion plan on Konoha, and even have the strength to fight Orochimaru.
"I am Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage of Konoha Village and also the the Head of this school."
A hoarse voice sounded, and the smile on his face was very kind.
Sarutobi Hiruzen first introduced himself, his eyes scanning the crowd as he spoke.
Under Ryosuke's observation, he stayed on Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuga Hinata and Shikamaru for a few seconds, and then quickly moved to the back rows of the crowd.
"Naruto, come to the front."
Instead of starting his speech right away, he suddenly spoke and shouted to Naruto, who was standing alone in the last row of the crowd.
The entire playground suddenly became quiet, and everyone turned their heads and looked at Uzumaki Naruto in the last row.
These gazes were very complicated, some were filled with hatred, some were filled with doubt, and more were filled with disdain.
In the last row, Uzumaki Naruto looked a little overwhelmed.
"Come sit in the front. You can hear more clearly."
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved at him kindly.
Then, under the gazes of so many people, Uzumaki Naruto stood up with some fear, and with everyone making way for him with complicated looks, he brought his chair to the front row and sat down next to Uchiha Sasuke.
"You should be behind me."
In this case, Uchiha Sasuke's focus was strange, which Ryosuke had not expected.
Are you thinking about competing for first place at this time? It's just one seat.
But then, Ryosuke could clearly sense a change in Naruto's mood.
The two men's eyes met in the air. Uchiha Sasuke's eyes were full of disdain and arrogance, while Naruto's eyes were full of confusion.
Then his eyes moved to the side, scanning everyone in the front rows, and then he was stunned.
"Don't you feel hatred and alienation from Uchiha Sasuke and us..."
Ryosuke guessed the reason for his daze.
With the Uzumaki clan in his blood and the Nine-Tails in his body, Naruto was born with a strong sense of perception and could sense the hostility of those around him.
(End of this chapter)
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