Chapter 6: Interaction and Pair up

The following day, Itsuki returned to the academy, feeling more settled but still mindful of his situation. The previous day had gone better than expected, but he knew it was only the beginning. Today, he would face more interactions with his peers—people who had already formed friendships over the past two years. Despite his mental adjustment to this world, he couldn't ignore the fact that he was still, in many ways, the "new kid."

As he walked through the academy gates, a few students glanced at him, some offering polite nods, while others observed him with curiosity. He maintained his composure, acknowledging them without overextending himself. It wasn't long before he spotted Naruto again, this time talking animatedly with a girl who had short, dark blue hair—Hinata Hyūga. She glanced shyly at Naruto, occasionally sneaking glances at Itsuki as well.

Naruto noticed him and waved, calling out. "Itsuki! Over here!"

With a quiet sigh, Itsuki walked over, his usual calm expression in place. He hadn't expected to integrate with the other students so soon, but Naruto's outgoing nature left little room for retreat.

"Hinata, this is Itsuki Tanaka, the new guy I was telling you about!" Naruto said with a grin. "He's pretty cool, even though he's new to the academy."

Hinata blushed, her pale eyes flickering nervously between Itsuki and Naruto. "H-hello, Itsuki," she stammered, her voice barely audible.

"Nice to meet you, Hinata," Itsuki responded politely, offering a slight smile. He could see the unease in her body language and decided not to press the conversation too far.

Naruto, however, had no such reservations. "You know, Itsuki, Hinata is super quiet, but she's really strong. Her family has this special technique where they can see through things with their eyes!" He tapped his temple as if to emphasize the point.

Maybe Hinata Likes you Naruto hahaha.

Huh? Me? Hinata Like me, that's impossible, Tanaka. Do you know she's the Princess of Hyuga Clan, right, Hinata?

Naruto Look at Hinata Blushing deeply and didn't answer while Naruto being an idiot not knowing why Hinata Blushing.

Naruto Leaning in Hinata. Hinata, why are you Blushing? Are you having a fever, Hinata?

While Hinata not knowing what to do by having Naruto so close to her.

Itsuki tap Naruto's shoulder.

Naruto Don't keep searching for gold you might loose the Diamond

Huh?? What did that mean, Tanaka?

What I meant is don't try keep searching for Gold and you Might loose the Diamond. Since Diamond is more Valuable and expensive than Gold

I don't get it, Tanaka. Naruto scratching his head while thinking what it meant

*What an idiot

What did you say, Tanaka?

Ohhh, Nothing I was just talking to myself, Naruto.

Itsuki found it interesting. He knew, of course, how Hinata like Naruto a lot and how Idiot Naruto was for liking someone who didn't really like him or won't ever gave him a chance, Itsuki try changing the subject."That sounds impressive,Hinata " he said, genuinely curious. "Your clan must put a lot of value on those skills."

Hinata nodded, still avoiding eye contact, but she seemed slightly more at ease. "Yes… we do."

Before the conversation could continue, another voice chimed in. "Hey, Naruto, stop dragging people into your chaos."

Itsuki turned to see Sasuke Uchiha approaching, his hands in his pockets and his eyes sharp, but there was no malice in his tone. He simply gave Itsuki a measured look. "Tanaka, right?"

Itsuki nodded. "That's right."

Sasuke eyed him for a moment, as if evaluating him. "You've got some nerve, joining the academy late," he remarked. "But you don't seem like an idiot, at least."

Naruto scoffed. "Sasuke, you always act so high and mighty. Itsuki's cool, okay? Besides, not everyone had to join when you did."

Sasuke didn't respond immediately. He shifted his focus back to Itsuki, then shrugged. "We'll see how 'cool' you are once we start training."

It wasn't a hostile challenge, but more of an invitation—a way to measure Itsuki's abilities. Itsuki had expected this. He knew Sasuke would eventually test him, just like he had done with everyone else.

"I look forward to it," Itsuki replied calmly. He wasn't one to back down from a challenge, but he also knew not to provoke unnecessary conflict.

Satisfied, Sasuke gave a small nod before walking past them, leaving Naruto to huff in frustration. "That guy… He's always acting like he's better than everyone."

Hinata giggled softly at Naruto's reaction, and even Itsuki couldn't help but smile at the familiar dynamic between the two rivals. In many ways, it was exactly like what he had seen in the anime. But living it firsthand made it all the more surreal.

As they made their way to the classroom, more students started noticing Itsuki's presence. Kiba Inuzuka, with his wild brown hair and the small white dog Akamaru perched on his head, was the next to approach.

"So, you're the new guy everyone's talking about, huh?" Kiba said, his tone curious but friendly. "I'm Kiba, and this here is Akamaru." He pointed to the dog, who barked happily in greeting.

"I've heard," Itsuki said, nodding at Akamaru with a soft smile. "Nice to meet you both."

Kiba grinned, clearly satisfied with Itsuki's response. "You any good with taijutsu or ninjutsu? 'Cause I'm always up for a little sparring."

Before Itsuki could answer, another voice interjected. "You can't just go around challenging people the moment you meet them, Kiba."

Itsuki turned to see Shikamaru Nara, the lazy genius of the class, standing nearby with his hands in his pockets, his eyes half-closed as if he were already bored with the conversation. "It's such a drag having to fight all the time," Shikamaru added with a sigh.

"Ah, come on, Shikamaru!" Kiba protested. "It's not like I was gonna fight him right here. I just want to see what he's made of."

Itsuki chuckled softly, already feeling a bit more comfortable around these people. "I'll keep that in mind," he told Kiba. "But maybe after we've had some more training."

Kiba seemed satisfied with that answer and walked off, with Akamaru yapping in approval. Shikamaru lingered for a moment, giving Itsuki a thoughtful look. "You seem pretty calm for a new guy," he said. "Most people would be a little more nervous coming in this late."

Itsuki shrugged slightly. "I've had time to get used to things."

Shikamaru nodded, though he looked like he was barely awake. "Well, don't let Kiba drag you into too many fights. He's always looking for trouble."

With that, Shikamaru ambled away, leaving Itsuki to breathe a little easier. He had navigated his first real day of interactions with his new classmates, and while it hadn't been overwhelming, it was clear that they were all curious about him.

As the day continued, he found himself slipping into the routines of the academy. The lessons were challenging, but not beyond his grasp. He was aware of the stares he received from time to time, especially from those who were still trying to figure him out. But, for the most part, he managed to keep a low profile.

In one of the afternoon classes, Iruka assigned a group exercise, pairing students together for basic sparring drills. Itsuki was partnered with none other than Sasuke.

"You better keep up," Sasuke said, his tone competitive but not unkind.

Itsuki gave a small nod. "I'll do my best."

As they moved through the drills, Itsuki realized just how far behind he was in terms of formal training. Sasuke's movements were sharp, precise—years of experience showing in every strike. Itsuki, on the other hand, was still learning to balance his new body's potential. But even though he wasn't as skilled yet, he compensated with focus and adaptability. He watched Sasuke's moves carefully, noting the intricacies of his taijutsu form and how he applied pressure during each strike.

By the end of the session, Itsuki was panting from exertion, but Sasuke remained as composed as ever. "Not bad," Sasuke said, barely breaking a sweat. "You've got a long way to go, but you're not hopeless."

Tanaka thought: Even though copying his move but with the lack of experience and stamina it's pointless.

"Thanks," Itsuki replied, though he knew he had a lot of catching up to do.

As they wrapped up for the day, Sasuke glanced over at him. "We'll see what you're really made of soon enough."

It was a statement, not a challenge, but it carried weight. Itsuki understood that this was only the beginning. His journey had only just started, and while he had adjusted to life in this world, there were still many trials ahead.

But one thing was certain—he wouldn't be facing them alone.