Shikigami Summoning in Konoha

Chapter 38: Anything Goes...

However, just as Naruto was mentioned, Naruto's voice could be heard nearby.

"Katsuragi!"

Katsuragi turned his head and saw Naruto rushing over, with a slightly flushed and hesitant Hinata following behind him.

Seeing Hinata, Katsuragi immediately bypassed Naruto, who was greeting him, and went to Hinata, concernedly asking, "Didn't I tell you to go home first? What are you doing here?"

"I... I wanted to come and help you, Katsuragi!"

Hearing Katsuragi's words, Hinata replied in a soft voice.

"Uh!" Katsuragi was taken aback for a moment, then patted Hinata's head and said with a smile, "It's okay, Shikamaru and Choji are here, you don't need to help!"

"Katsuragi, this guy..."

Not far away, Shikamaru, hearing this, hands in his pockets, muttered disapprovingly and then said to Iruka, "Iruka-sensei, let's get started. I want to go home early!"

"Okay!" Perhaps feeling the pain of being single, Iruka quickly responded and then shouted to Katsuragi, who was still chatting with Hinata, "Katsuragi! Hurry up and come over! We're starting to clean now!"

"Uh..."

Hearing Iruka's voice, Katsuragi apologetically said to Hinata, "Then you wait here for now, Hinata. I'll be done soon, just a moment!"

"Okay!" Hinata obediently nodded and stood by, watching Katsuragi and the others.

As Katsuragi passed by Naruto, he grabbed Naruto, who was sulking because he hadn't responded to his greeting, and said as they walked, "Since you're here, you might as well help out!"

"Hey! Katsuragi, I didn't sleep during class, I shouldn't be punished!"

Naruto protested wildly, but he couldn't break free from Katsuragi's hold.

"Hmph! I knew you'd eventually fall asleep, so consider this as laying a foundation, understand?"

Katsuragi even explained a bit to Naruto, causing Naruto to pause and scratch his head, then asked, "How did you know, Katsuragi?"

"Just a guess!"

Katsuragi made up an answer; he wouldn't tell Naruto that he had watched the entire Naruto series, and from what happened in the original, if Naruto had paid attention in class, he wouldn't have had the chance to vandalize the Hokage Rock.

"Katsuragi, you're so awesome!"

Katsuragi felt somewhat relieved that Naruto hadn't inherited the Fourth Hokage's intelligence; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to fool him.

Once they reached Iruka, Katsuragi immediately changed his expression to a pitiful one and said, "Iruka-sensei, Naruto said he would take my place, so can I rest a bit?"

"Nice try!" After observing Katsuragi for months, Iruka knew his character too well to believe him. He sternly said, "Surely you tricked Naruto into helping you!"

"This is your punishment, and no one else can substitute for you!"

"Uh..."

Facing the relentless Iruka, Katsuragi had no choice but to give up his act while internally cursing, "May you end up girlfriendless like Naruto in this lifetime! Hmph!"

Seeing Choji and Shikamaru start to move, Katsuragi sighed and began to clean up. Although Iruka had said no one could substitute, Katsuragi still pulled Naruto in to help, reasoning that four people could finish the job quicker than three.

Soon, since the training field wasn't very large, they quickly finished cleaning. Since Hinata was waiting, Katsuragi didn't slack off, which is why they finished so swiftly.

"Phew!"

Although it hadn't taken much effort, Katsuragi still acted as if he had been relieved of a great burden, then looked at the clean training ground and said to Iruka, "Is it okay now? Iruka-sensei, can we go?"

"Hold on!"

As Iruka called them to a stop, Katsuragi and the others looked puzzled.

"Well! Sleeping in class really shouldn't be such a big deal, and Naruto even came to help voluntarily!" Iruka, looking at them with a smile, said, "Let me treat you to a meal as compensation!"

"Wow! Long live Iruka-sensei!" Naruto was the first to shout with joy, always happy to be in lively company due to his lack of friends.

"What a drag!" Shikamaru, stretching his arms behind his head, sighed, although he said it was troublesome, he did not refuse.

"Iruka-sensei, can we eat anything?" Choji also looked eagerly at Iruka; after all the activity, he was starving, which made him even more excited than Naruto.

"Uh..." Hearing Choji's question, Iruka involuntarily touched his wallet, thinking about the salary he had just received. Considering the appetites of a few children, he said, "Anything you want, my treat!"

"Anything goes..."

This remark made Katsuragi hesitate for a moment, remembering a newly opened, expensive barbecue restaurant. Looking at Hinata, who was still looking at him, he asked, "Iruka-sensei, can I bring Hinata too?"

"Of course!"

"Great! I'll go call her over!" Katsuragi said happily, then ran over to Hinata to explain, and Hinata, always heeding Katsuragi's words, agreed without hesitation.

At Katsuragi's suggestion, the group headed to a distant barbecue restaurant. Upon seeing the luxurious and opulent décor, Iruka immediately regretted his offer but was more worried about whether he could afford the meal.

As it turned out, Iruka's worries were justified.

After that meal, Iruka never mentioned treating Katsuragi and the others again, and Choji deeply realized that one should not judge solely by appearances; who would have thought that two children could eat a month's worth of his salary?

Time flies, and before he knew it, Katsuragi had spent a whole year at school. During this time, he didn't become particularly close friends with the other top students, sticking mostly to Choji, Shikamaru, and Naruto.

Although he wasn't disliked by most as Naruto was, Katsuragi couldn't change that either, as most of the troublemaker kids were instructed by their parents not to interact with Naruto.

He couldn't change that, as he wasn't yet at a level to ignore the rules. Even if he could beat any student in the school, dealing with the ninja, especially the entire ANBU and the like, would be challenging.

Maybe one day, when he has surpassed everyone in strength, he could change some things, or perhaps it would be up to Naruto himself, as the destined child of prophecy and the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, Katsuragi believed Naruto could do it.

Of course, Katsuragi wasn't without his detractors; aside from those who secretly envied him, the most openly hostile was the once so-called "Prince Consort" Sasuke – and as for Hinata, Katsuragi refused to admit that the nickname had initially been intended for her.

"Katsuragi! I will surpass you in tomorrow's final exam!"

In the classroom, Sasuke, looking cool, addressed Katsuragi with words that were similar to what Ningci had once said. Yet, to this day, in their training at Hinata's house, Ningci had never once beaten him.

"Sure, sure! I believe in you! Good luck!"

Katsuragi encouraged him earnestly in front of the class, but the amusement in his eyes clearly showed that his thoughts were not quite aligned with his words.

End of Chapter 38