Chapter 64: Menma: Naruto Increasingly Has the Aura of a Villain
Uzumaki Naruto packed his things and ran quickly to the Ninja Academy.
At this time, there were less than five minutes until class started. Most students were already waiting in the classroom.
Only a few parents who brought their children to school remained gathered at the school gate, surrounding the man named Mizuki, boasting about their children's achievements.
But upon seeing Naruto suddenly appear, those parents simultaneously dropped their smiles, their expressions turning cold.
The speed of that face change... Menma felt like giving them an award for fastest face change.
"That guy is late every day, yet still manages to hold the top spot in the grade? He must have cheated!"
"With that kind of study attitude, how could his theory scores possibly be perfect?!"
Looking at the Demon Fox Incarnation before them, the parents' gazes were unfriendly, their words filled with malice and doubt.
A student who was late two out of three days – parents like them, educated with the "Ninja Supremacy" ideology, couldn't possibly have a good impression.
Let alone the fact that he was the Demon Fox Incarnation who once caused Konoha heavy losses and the sacrifice of their relatives and friends.
"Don't say that. I believe Naruto has his reasons for coming to school so late."
Mizuki, a man with watery-white hair wearing a Chūnin vest, smiled and defended Naruto.
He then turned to Naruto with a smile: "Naruto, hurry up and get to class. Today is Teacher Iruka's lesson. If you're late, he won't let you off easy."
"Mm, thank you, Mizuki-sensei."
Uzumaki Naruto nodded politely with a gentle smile, then turned and left directly, without looking at anyone else.
Seeing Naruto's arrogant manner, the other parents' expressions became even more dissatisfied.
"This guy doesn't even understand basic courtesy, yet Teacher Mizuki, you defend him like this."
"I really don't get it. Why did Lord Hokage let him attend school, even placing him in the elite class."
The class taught by Teacher Iruka was the elite class.
Almost all students inside either had excellent scores on the entrance exam or came from major Konoha clans.
Their children couldn't even get into the elite class, by what right could this demon fox get in.
Besides, this guy is often late; his study attitude is clearly terrible.
They really didn't understand why Lord Hokage still insisted on placing such a dangerous student with a bad attitude in the elite class.
"Don't say that. Naruto hasn't had it easy living alone all these years. He has no elders; it's normal for his upbringing to be a bit lacking."
Mizuki just smiled upon hearing this, comforting them: "As for being placed in the elite class, perhaps it's because Lord Hokage is rather benevolent."
His tone was gentle as always, but the words coming out of his mouth were extremely vicious.
However, this greatly satisfied the several parents who felt somewhat sour.
Naruto, already a hundred meters away, still wore a smile, seemingly unfazed from beginning to end by those people's gossip and not angered.
But the slight pause in his step proved his heart wasn't that calm.
These villagers fooled by the Will of Fire... no matter how many times I see them, it's still nauseating.
But Naruto couldn't be bothered to argue with these idiots living in lies.
If he had to pay attention every time he encountered two or three insignificant passersby, wondering if they were speaking ill of him,
He'd probably tire himself to death.
Naruto focused his mind: "Menma-nii, is there something wrong with that guy named Mizuki?"
He knew that man named Mizuki always put on a hypocritical face towards him, clearly having impure motives, always pretending to be a nice guy.
Besides, his gaze clearly wasn't the resentment or loathing of Teacher Iruka and the Konoha villagers, but more like...
...the gaze one directs at prey.
Thinking this, Naruto couldn't help the corner of his mouth twitching.
Although I don't know how strong this guy is, even without using ninjutsu, he looks like he wouldn't last against one of my hands.
Don't know where he gets the courage to see me as prey.
"Just a discarded buffoon. But perhaps he can bring you some unexpected pleasant surprises."
Hearing Menma-nii's words, a trace of confusion flashed in Naruto's eyes, quickly replaced by understanding.
Unexpected pleasant surprise? Then I'll play along with that guy for a bit.
But those third-rate actor's clumsy skills... every time Naruto saw them, he felt like he couldn't bear to watch.
Shaking the useless thoughts from his head, he walked straight to the classroom door.
Click!
The instant Naruto pushed the door open and entered, everyone's attention in the classroom turned to him.
"Naruto, you're late ag—" (Typo likely meant 迟到 - chídào - late)
Ring ring ring~
Iruka had just shown anger when the class bell suddenly rang overhead.
It made his words catch in his throat, his face flushing red, stuck halfway.
"Sigh!"
Iruka held it in for a long moment before finally letting out a long sigh, shaking his head somewhat helplessly: "Don't arrive exactly on time or be late next time! Come in first!"
He had already figured things out now and no longer felt rejection towards this child.
Although his own parents also died in the Nine-Tails Rampage, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox was the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, and Uzumaki Naruto was Uzumaki Naruto.
He hated the Nine-Tails, not Uzumaki Naruto who imprisoned the Nine-Tails.
He, Iruka, as a Konoha teacher, would absolutely not be like others, transferring his hatred for the Nine-Tails onto an innocent child.
"Sorry, Iruka-sensei. I know I was wrong."
However, hearing Naruto's polite response, Iruka couldn't help the corner of his eye twitching.
Knows he's wrong, will still do it next time, right?
Faced with Naruto, who wouldn't yield to soft or hard tactics and still arrived exactly on time, he felt a headache coming on.
But even Lord Hokage couldn't manage him; what could an ordinary teacher like him do?
As Naruto walked towards his seat, he once again received the "fixed gaze salute" from all the students.
Their expressions varied, but most still held goodwill.
Especially those girls whose notions of love were just budding.
"Naruto, good morning!"
Ino beside him leaned over, greeting energetically.
Naruto returned a smile: "Good morning, Ino."
Compared to Sasuke who always wore a cold face, Naruto, with his gentle attitude and mature, neighborly older brother aura, clearly garnered the affection and trust of these girls more easily.
However, it wasn't like no one had caused trouble for Naruto during this time.
After all, there were quite a few hot-blooded youths who hadn't experienced society's harsh realities, including some fools wanting to deliver "justice" to the "demon fox".
However, before they could even act, they were scared into wetting their pants by a single look from Naruto.
Even if Naruto hadn't seen blood yet, the aura cultivated through long-term training wasn't something these brats just entering the Ninja Academy could withstand.
Not to mention he had a big fox inside him capable of tangling with a 'Kage', and an unfathomably mysterious Teacher Menma.
"Not bad. My teaching wasn't in vain."
Seeing the brats with varying expressions in the classroom, Menma also saw the "results" of Naruto, smiling gratifiedly.
In the final lesson before Naruto enrolled, Menma had taught him how to freely control his aura.
Looking now...
"Naruto increasingly has the aura and charisma of a villain."
(End of Chapter)
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