"Why did sensei leave again?"
On the Training Ground, Naruto lay on the ground, calling out bored.
Beside him, a flicker of sothing unusual passed through Shikamaru's eyes, and he said vaguely, "No choice, sensei is the head teacher after all, and sotis he even has to go on missions."
"How tiring," Naruto murmured, lying on the ground.
His teacher seed very busy. He had to teach classes and also tutor them after school. On regular weekends and holidays, he even had to leave the village for missions.
Choji, standing nearby, opened his mouth as if to say sothing.
Ino, seeing this, imdiately covered Choji's mouth and pulled him to the side. She looked at Choji very dangerously, raising a finger to signal him to shut up.
Choji, with his mouth covered, quickly nodded, indicating he understood.
Naruto asked, "Strange, why didn't Hinata co today either?"
Hearing this, Ino quickly replied, "Hinata said her clan had sothing to do today, so she wouldn't be coming."
"Really?" Naruto looked puzzled, a bit suspicious as he looked at the others.
He felt like everyone was acting strange today, but he couldn't pinpoint what was odd.
Shikamaru noticed Naruto's gaze, stood up, dusted himself off, and spoke, "Alright, Naruto, let's train first. We need to get ho early later."
Sothing was off, very off.
Seeing Shikamaru's behavior, Naruto grew even more suspicious.
Shikamaru was usually sluggish when it ca to training. Even if he had changed later, he wouldn't be this active today.
Naruto's eyes remained fixed on Shikamaru, trying to discern sothing. Shikamaru, a bit troubled by his miscalculation, subtly gestured to Sasuke with his eyes.
Sasuke, seeing this, nodded and scoffed, "Loser, are you no good today? I'm almost done, and you're still sitting there?"
Hearing this, Naruto couldn't accept it and imdiately retorted, "You're the one who's no good! Stinky Sasuke!"
Sasuke shrugged and ignored him.
Shikamaru, however, secretly gave him a big thumbs-up in his heart.
Indeed, when it ca to attracting Naruto's attention, it had to be Sasuke.
...
"Sensei, is it really okay for us to hide this from Naruto-kun?"
At Naruto's ho, Hinata asked with a conflicted expression.
Shinji, hearing this from the kitchen, poked out half his body and replied, "It's fine, Hinata. This kind of thing is ant to be a surprise. Otherwise, it loses its aning."
"By the way, Hinata, you can wait for Shikamaru to co over before dealing with those things." Shinji said, pointing to a pile of items next to Hinata.
"No need, sensei, I can do it." Hinata shook her head and began to decorate Naruto's room with even more effort.
Naruto-kun, I will complete most of your surprise!
Shinji, seeing this, could only retract his body, his ladle continuously stirring in the pot.
"I wonder if the seasoning packet that Teuchi-san gave is correct, why does it feel like sothing's missing?"
Bang—
The door opened and then imdiately closed. Shinji's Shadow Clone entered, saying, "Main body, I've brought back everything you asked for."
As he spoke, he put down a bag from a Konoha clothing store.
Shinji in the kitchen said without turning his head, "Okay."
The Shadow Clone, seeing this, said no more and imdiately dispelled itself.
Hinata, sitting in the living room, had a puzzled expression.
Why did Shinji's Shadow Clone feel different from the others?
—
Around eight in the evening, Naruto, covered in dust and utterly exhausted, walked ho.
"Everyone was really strange today."
Shikamaru had said he had to leave early in the middle of training. Next were Ino and Choji, leaving only Sasuke by his side until training ended.
But when he invited Sasuke to Ichiraku Ran, Sasuke refused. He said his family was waiting for him to return.
Naruto himself lost the mood to eat and could only walk ho alone under the moonlight.
Slowly climbing the stairs, he pulled out a key from his pocket.
Click—
The sound of the key turning was exceptionally clear at this mont.
Naruto entered the entryway dejectedly, bending down to take off his shoes. The entire room was pitch black, appearing excessively quiet. This was also why Naruto never liked coming ho, there was no one.
Every day, he wished he could wake up early, either to go to school or to the training ground. As long as he wasn't alone at ho, it was fine.
"Hmm?"
Naruto, who had just taken off his shoes, sniffed repeatedly, murmuring, "This sll is... Miso Chashu Ran?"
Clatter—
The lights in the room suddenly turned on.
Naruto, who had just straightened up and wanted to investigate, was dazzled by the sudden light.
"Who!" He shouted loudly, reaching for the ninja tool pouch behind him.
"Naruto, happy birthday!"
A familiar voice interrupted Naruto's actions. He looked up and was stunned.
Shinji, who should have been out on a mission, stood at the entrance to the genkan, a warm smile on his face.
And Hinata, who had said her clan had sothing to do, now stood beside him holding a cake, her face flushed, speaking shyly, "Naruto-kun, happy birthday."
"Happy birthday, Naruto!" Shikamaru and Choji quickly ca to Naruto's side, saying this while hoisting him up and moving towards the room.
Sasuke, anwhile, leaned against the wall next to Shinji, arms crossed, and said faintly, "Loser, wipe your snot, and happy birthday."
"Ahhhhh... sensei! And everyone!" Naruto finally couldn't control his expression, and tears stread down his face.
Shikamaru and Choji, who had been holding Naruto with joyful expressions, were bewildered, and even Sasuke was at a loss.
Who would have thought Naruto would suddenly burst into tears?
Shinji stepped forward, knelt down, and gently ruffled Naruto's hair, speaking softly, "Alright, Naruto, today is your birthday, and didn't you promise you wouldn't cry?"
"Thank you, sensei... and everyone."
Hearing Shinji's words, Naruto, who had forcibly held back, said to everyone with a choked voice.
"Alright, blow out the candles first, or they'll lt soon." Shikamaru said, pointing to the cake in Hinata's hands.
"Naruto-kun, please." Hinata raised her arm, speaking to Naruto.
"Rember to make a wish." Shinji reminded.
"Yes, sensei."
Naruto nodded in response, then closed his eyes and blew at the candles on the cake.
"Happy birthday, Naruto!" Shikamaru and the others shouted loudly.
"Thank you, everyone!" Naruto said.
Shinji chuckled and shook his head, then walked to the kitchen, brought out ran, and called out.
"Co eat!"
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