NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: Chapter 4 - Exam
Exams day.
'Luckily, I managed to sleep… Haah… I think I can pull off the Bunshin Jutsu one more time before I collapse.'
Sabuko stood before the classroom, eyes fixed on the Chūnin at the front. The man silently scanned a clipboard, occasionally glancing at the students seated and waiting their turn.
His gaze settled on the Chūnin.
'I see. He's the one calling students in when it's their time. They leave the room to perform the Bunshin Jutsu in front of Iruka and... Mizuki, I think. His co-examiner. If they pull it off, they graduate.'
'…If I'm not mistaken, that's also the guy who lets Naruto steal the Kage Bunshin scroll, right? And then gets absolutely wrecked afterward.'
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then softened.
'Alright. No need to take any wild risks or disrupt the main plot. I've got a surefire plan to learn Kage Bunshin without getting dragged into a fight I want no part of. I initially thought maybe I could train with Naruto using the scroll, but I don't have to put myself at risk like that. All I have to really do is learn it from Naruto AFTER he learned the Kage Bunshin.'
'... And I just know how to earn his favor.' His fist clenched in excitement.
'That aside...'
"Say," Sabuko leaned toward Takos. "Where's that Yuhi girl you're always crushing on? Not in our classroom?"
'I thought I'd run into her at least once by now…'
"...Why do you ask?" Takos replied, eyes narrowing.
"No reason. Just figured if we're on the same team, she should be studying with us, right?" Sabuko shrugged, then turned his head toward him.
"Besides, why the look? I gave you my word, didn't I? She's all yours." Sabuko added.
Takos said nothing, but his glare sharpened.
'What's his problem—?'
"Next! Sabuko Kanto!" the Chūnin called out.
'I guess that's my cue.'
Sabuko shifted his gaze from Takos to the front of the room, then stood and made his way down the stairs, passing row after row of indifferent students who didn't even glance in his direction.
Not a single member of the main cast spared him a look.
'I really am a mob character, huh?'
He exited the classroom and stepped into the exam room, where Mizuki and Iruka sat at the front, eyes fixed on him.
He looked at Iruka and smirked.
'But… woah. I'm actually getting closer to a main-cast character. Iruka-sensei from Naruto just called my name… That's highkey so cool.'
"You seem happy. I hope for your sake that's confidence," Iruka noted as Sabuko approached.
"Yes, sir!—Erh, I mean, Sensei!"
A few seconds later...
Sabuko returned to his seat as the chunin continued calling names.
"...."
Neither of them said a word at first.
"...Thanks," Sabuko muttered. Takos flinched.
"For teaching me. I passed."
"...."
"We had a deal, after all," Takos replied.
"Yep. Yuhi's yours…" Sabuko sighed, lowering his head into his crossed arms, worn out.
Takos looked at him for a moment, brow furrowed.
"...Yuhi-chan… she's not studying with us because," Takos began.
"...?"
'Finally willing to spill it, huh?'
"She's a Jōnin, and we're going to be her Genin team.... Her full name's Kurenai Yuhi. There's another girl that'll be assigned with us."
'...'
'...Oh.' Sabuko's eyebrow rose.
'I pictured Yuhi as another timid Hinata that's with us in this class, but it's actually KURENAI-sensei... a Jōnin-rank—like Kakashi? Dude...'
He patted Takos's shoulder. 'Kinda proud of you, man. She's a good pick.'
"W-what—?!" Takos jerked back.
"Oh, nothing. Just recognizing a fellow mommy lover."
"M-MOMMY LOVER!?" He swatted Sabuko's hand away, face blazing. "J-Just because she's older doesn't make her a mom! She's single—single!—and she still looks as gorgeous as she did at eighteen! Being twenty-seven doesn't mean I'm out of her league!"
"Relax, dude. I'm not judging. Tip of the day, though—never mention age around women." Sabuko leaned back, smiling. "It's really rude."
"Hmph, see, Shikamaru?" Ino called from the row ahead, flipping her hair. "There are sensible guys in this class besides Sasuke-kun after all."
Sabuko's heart skipped a beat.
'Holy crap, a main-cast character just spoke about me…'
"Huh? Why're you talking to me like I care about stuff like that..." Shikamaru replied. Annoyed.
Ino and Shikamaru resumed chatting. Takos leaned closer. "I-I see, that is sensible?"
"Anyway... Yeah. Remember her birthday, but never spell out her age on the cake or remind her how old she is. Trust me—rude move." Sabuko continued; and noticed a few classmates glancing over as he spoke.
'Is basic etiquette really that shocking to you kids?'
"Is that stuff really true, Hinata?" Kiba casually asked her.
"I... Uhm... Not... Really sure..." She murmured as she looked down.
'... Well, they ARE kids, after all.'
"T-thanks, man. I don't even know what to say…" Takos murmured.
"Say nothing," Sabuko sighed, lids heavy. "We had a deal, right?"
Takos blinked. "Ri… right. Thanks, Sabuko."
Sabuko fought to stay conscious.
'Damn… can't sleep yet. Have to learn Kage Bunshin. Body's wrecked—chakra reserves on fumes after that last Bunshin + whole night of training… Stay awake…'
He pressed his fingernail's tip into his thumb—sharp sting, a bead of blood.
'Just a little longer, body… hold on… There's just one thing I must do to gain Naruto's favor. If I don't do it now, Kage Bunshin will be much farther away...'
Everything after that went by in a blur.
Iruka and Mizuki congratulated everyone for passing — everyone except Naruto who, following the main plot events, failed. Parents waited outside, all smiles and cheers.
He was alone on that swing. He had only a few minutes before Mizuki came to pick him up.
'It's now or never...!!'
Sabuko stumbled through the academy halls, fighting to stay upright.
Takos followed, concerned. "Dude…!? You good!?"
"I'M FINE!! HANDLE MY PARENTS IF THEY GET HERE!" he growled, eyes fixed forward, his body screaming in protest with every step.
Takos slowed, watching as Sabuko pushed through the doors and out toward the park — the place where all the kids were meeting their parents, basking in praise and hugs.
"Mommy's proud of you..." one parent cooed.
"Tonight, Daddy's treating you to anything you want!" said another.
"We're so proud of you, honey..."
'Parents, parents, proud, proud... fuck all of them,' Sabuko thought, teeth gritted as he weaved through the crowd.
"Naruto's all by himself..." someone whispered.
"Stay away from him, sweetie. He's dangerous."
Sabuko's fists tightened.
"You shouldn't associate with that boy."
"He's a bad kid."
Sabuko took a deep breath.
'I'm here just to use him... I don't really care much about what's going on with his life. Because I know he was born privileged — with a bijuu in his body. This show preaches about overcoming obstacles, about climbing to greatness from nothing — but this kid was practically handed everything since birth. So I really couldn't care less about how he's treated throughout, since I know it'll all turn out fine...' Sabuko thought to himself.
"Just a troublemaker."
"A symbol of misfortune."
"Everything wrong with this village..."
"A ruffian."
'But...!!'
Sabuko's fists clenched harder with every word.
'Right now... He's just... a KID, you dumbasses!'
"He's the only one who failed, right? Expected of him..."
"Imagine if someone like him became a Ninja."
"Pft, I know."
Sabuko shoved past them, eyes locking on Naruto — alone on the swing.
"H-Hey! Kid! What are you doing?" a parent called out as Sabuko staggered forward.
'He just… doesn't want to be alone. That's why he acts out. That's why he pulls all that attention-seeking crap. Can't you see that!?'
Shikamaru turned, alongside Ino and Choji. "Hm?"
"Huh?" Sakura muttered, holding her parents' hands. "Someone's… going toward Naruto?"
'The only reason he ever wanted to be Hokage wasn't for power. It was so people would see him. So they'd love him. So he wouldn't have to sit alone on that damn swing while everyone else basked in their parents' warmth.'
"Hey, that's... Sabuko, right? What's he doing going over to Naruto?" Ino muttered.
"Rare for you to remember someone's name, Ino." Choji commented as he chowed down on a snack.
"W-what are you even saying?!" She blushed, "I don't really care about anyone but Sasuke-kun!"
'Naruto didn't care about the title. Hell, I doubt he even cared about the village.'
'He's just an immature brat who saw how everyone sucks the Hokage's dick and wanted a piece of that recognition… He just wanted to belong.'
"Na...ruto...!" He called out.
Sabuko staggered two steps closer — the only one out of that whole crowd.
"H... Huh?" Naruto looked up from the swing, confused. "Who are—"
Sabuko grabbed both his shoulders, using him to keep himself standing.
"You... are... not... as bad... as they say... Naruto..." he said with a trembling voice, smiling through half-lidded eyes on the brink of collapse.
Naruto's eyes widened. He gasped — utterly stunned.
"You... just... wanted people to notice you... I did... I noticed... that you worked... hard... That you were... hurting... from being alone... all the time..."
"...!!"
Naruto's lips trembled.
"...!" Sakura gasped. Hinata looked away, biting her lip in shame. One by one, everyone — students, parents — stopped and stared.
"It's not your... fault... that people... Look down on you... It's not your fault that... You failed... the exam... You did... nothing... w-wrong..."
Sabuko swayed.
'Fuck... I'm... losing consciousness...'
"It's not your fault... That you're... Alone..."
"So... Let's... Be... Friends..."
His eyelids shut. The world turned black. He could faintly feel his body slam against the ground.
"S-SABUKO!!" A woman's voice, firm and panicked.
'M-must be my mom... Whatever...'
'I did what I had to do. Now... I'll definitely learn... the Kage Bunshin no... Jutsu...'
'And get... My foxgirl... mommy domme harem... With huge cocks...'