After Kiba Inuzuka finished speaking, he was still glaring at Sasuke Uchiha!
Kiba felt like Sasuke's earlier words had straight-up insulted his character.
What, you think you're the only one who's Hirofumi's good buddy, Sasuke?!
If we're talking about who came first, you're the last one to join the crew, aren't you?!
And now you're throwing shade at us like you're some big shot?!
It was pretty clear that, aside from Kiba, Sasuke's words had rubbed everyone else at the table the wrong way...
Well, everyone except Sakura Haruno!
Because in Sakura's eyes, Sasuke was the only one who mattered.
Right now, Sakura was clenching her fists tightly.
If Sasuke's decided to stand by Hirofumi's side, then I'm obviously gonna stand there too, no question!
Among the group, the calmest one, Shikamaru Nara, tapped the table lightly.
"Kiba, chill out a bit! I'm sure Sasuke didn't mean anything by it. At the very least, what he said was for Hirofumi's sake!
We've all spent six years together at the Ninja Academy, and I believe the bonds we've built are rock-solid!
Even Neji, Lee, and Tenten, who are a year ahead of us, have long since become our friends—our brothers!
I remember something Hirofumi once said: What are brothers? Brothers are the ones who share the good times and the tough times!
Hirofumi, I don't care what's going on in your head, but to me, you're always my friend—my brother. If you still see me as a friend, as a brother, then stop saying that distant, formal crap!
I know Danzo's got a ton of power in the village. He's not just an elder; he's got an entire division under his thumb!
But if he tries to come after you, it's like he's coming after me, Shikamaru Nara! The Nara clan isn't exactly a pushover either!
If this was before, I wouldn't have said something like this. It's kinda cocky, honestly...
But we're about to graduate soon, and we'll all be ninjas!
To put it bluntly, a few years from now, when my dad steps down, I'll be the next head of the Nara clan! My words carry some weight with my family and with my dad!"
After Shikamaru finished, the whole room went quiet. Choji Akimichi dumped his entire stash of snacks onto the table!
"I don't get all the complicated stuff," Choji said. "All I know is, my snacks are only for you guys!!!"
Shino Aburame, who usually faded into the background, spoke up softly...
"Shikamaru, you're acting like you're the only one who's gonna be the next clan head. I've got some pull with my dad too, you know."
Even though Shino didn't say much, his stance was crystal clear.
Ino Yamanaka stood up, slamming her hands on the table!
"Hirofumi!!! I... I... Anyway, you get how I feel, right?!!"
After blurting that out, Ino's face turned bright red. The fearless energy she'd had a second ago vanished, and she plopped back into her seat like a shy quail, head down, too embarrassed to look at Hirofumi.
"This is what youth is all about!!!"
Rock Lee, just like Naruto Uzumaki, leapt onto his chair!
"Everyone!!! This moment reminds me of the friendship between Guy-sensei and Kakashi-senpai!!! As Guy-sensei's student, I always keep his words close to my heart: We train as ninjas to protect the people we care about!!!
Because!!! This is what YOUTH is all about!!!!"
Seeing Lee's over-the-top antics, Tenten sighed and rubbed her forehead. Lee was great in every way, except for when he got like this—completely unhinged!
And just like Guy-sensei, he'd occasionally go off the rails...
But, well, you couldn't deny—this was youth!
As she thought about it, Tenten's cheeks flushed slightly as she glanced at Neji Hyuga sitting next to her.
But Neji didn't notice her blush. His gaze was fixed on Hirofumi...
Back when Hirofumi first joined the Ninja Academy, he'd kicked open their classroom door and boldly declared he'd take on the strongest kid in the class.
That led to a fight, and from then on, the two would spar every few days, always ending up bruised and battered.
But over time, they became friends. They'd eat together, train together, and Hirofumi even introduced Neji to a group of kids a year younger, including his little sister.
What Neji remembered most, though, was the day he graduated last year...
That day, he'd finally earned his ninja headband, covering the Caged Bird seal on his forehead!
And on that same day, Hirofumi gave him a song...
"I'm like a lone bird in the forest,
Looking up at the moon, who knows my solitude?
These blood-stained feathers don't beg to fate,
Falling only makes me soar higher..."
Hirofumi had told him the song was called "Bird in the Forest" and that he'd written it just for Neji. That jerk! Neji had gone home that night and cried alone for hours...
As Neji was lost in his memories, Hinata Hyuga stood tall, her Byakugan glowing with a strange light as she looked at Naruto, who was still standing on his chair!
In Hinata's eyes, Naruto seemed to have a filter over him, practically radiating brilliance!
I... I have to be strong too! I have to be like Naruto! I need to speak my mind loudly! I need to stand bravely by his side!!!
BAM!! Hinata clenched her teeth, mustered her courage, and slammed her hand on the table!
"Enough!! Naruto's absolutely right! If we're all friends, then stop saying that distant stuff!
Hirofumi-kun! Whatever trouble you're in, just tell us! Since we're all friends, please don't say hurtful things like that anymore!!!"
Hirofumi was dumbfounded. He'd just been messing around a little, so why was everyone reacting this strongly?!
And honestly, it was kinda scary! Why did it feel like they were about to nominate him for Hokage or something?!
Sure, pulling off an underdog victory sounded thrilling, but they hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy yet!
And Hinata, what's with you?! Your whole character's falling apart!
Is this ninja world I transmigrated into even the real one?! Am I stuck in some Infinite Tsukuyomi version of it?!
He'd already noticed before that Hinata sometimes gave off this unintentional "yakuza princess" vibe. Could his transmigration have caused some kind of ripple effect?!