**Chapter 3: Sakura's First Kiss**
*Yawn...*
Wearing a nightcap, Naruto yawned sleepily, his eyes still half-closed.
*Ugh... Is it morning already?*
Shaking off the lingering grogginess, Naruto climbed out of bed, summoned a water sphere to wash his face, and sat down at the table.
*Huh... Expired already?*
Holding up the spoiled milk carton, Naruto sighed. *Oh well, I'll just go to Ichiraku for ramen.*
He grabbed his headband from the side and tied it around his forehead, a small thrill bubbling inside him. *Now I'm a full-fledged ninja, ready to take on anything!*
After quickly devouring a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku, Naruto rushed toward the Ninja Academy.
*Whew, there are so many people here.*
Entering the classroom, Naruto's eyes darted around, taking in the scene.
"Hey, Naruto, what are you doing here? Today's the graduation briefing for the new ninja."
Kiba, Akamaru perched on his head, strolled over and asked Naruto with a puzzled look.
"Look here, see this?"
Naruto pointed to his forehead.
"Uh, you graduated too?" Kiba asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.
"Duh," Naruto snapped irritably.
"Hmm... I can't believe it," Kiba muttered, his face like he'd seen a ghost as he shuffled away mumbling.
"Tch, weirdo," Naruto scoffed, glancing disdainfully at Kiba before plopping down in a random seat.
"Hey, Naruto! This is my seat! Move!"
Just as Naruto was about to doze off from boredom, a sweet but sharp voice rang out.
"Uh... Sakura?" Naruto looked up at Sakura, her delicate face flushed with anger. *How did I manage to piss her off again?*
"What are you staring at, you idiot? Get out of my seat!" Sakura waved her pink fist at him threateningly.
"Damn it! Why should I move?" Naruto's temper flared. *Is this girl crazy? Coming to pick a fight with me this early in the morning.*
"You dare talk back, you jerk?" Sakura's long, pink hair seemed to sway slightly, even though there was no wind.
"Tch, boring."
A voice so arrogant it made you want to beat the speaker senseless rang out beside them.
"Ah... Sasuke, it's not like that... Naruto, he..." Sakura stammered, glancing in a particular direction.
"Tch, so it's that cool-guy poser," Naruto finally realized.
"Sakura, you wanted to sit here because of Sasuke, right?" Naruto's voice carried a hint of annoyance. "Look at my face—how handsome and stylish, how full of depth! How could Sasuke, that clueless poser, even compare?"
"Naruto, are you asking for a death wish? Talking about Sasuke like that..." Sakura clenched her fists, glaring menacingly at him.
"Ah..."
But the next moment, Sakura's body suddenly tilted toward Naruto.
*Could it be?* Naruto thought narcissistically. *Is Sakura so captivated by my handsome face that she wants to throw herself into my arms right away?*
"Ah... I'm sorry..." a delicate voice murmured.
But the next instant, the speaker froze in shock, and Sakura and Naruto stared in stunned silence.
Feeling the soft touch on his lips, accompanied by the faint scent of cherry blossoms and a maiden's fragrance, and with Sakura's pretty face so close, Naruto savored the moment while his heart trembled. *Will Sakura kill me when she snaps out of it?*
*Better make a quick escape. After all, I'm the one who knocked Sakura over.*
Behind Sakura, Ino crept away, blending into the crowd.
"Ah... Naruto... my first kiss! I'm going to kill you!"
Half a minute later, Sakura jolted awake as if from a dream, her scream nearly piercing the roof.
"Ah... it wasn't my fault!"
With a desperate cry, Naruto leaped from his seat and began fleeing for his life.
"Tch, boring."
Sasuke maintained his usual deadpan expression, as if someone owed him millions.
"Ah... *thump!*"
A few minutes later, another delicate shriek was followed by the sound of something hitting the ground.
Clutching Sakura, who had fallen on top of him, Naruto felt her softness pressing against him from every angle. One thought raced through his mind: *This time, I'm really done for...*
"Welcome everyone to today's graduation briefing."
Standing at the podium, Iruka held up a sheet of paper listing the team assignments and announced, "Alright, let's get started."
"Oh..." Naruto responded listlessly, his dark circles under his eyes even more pronounced. Every bone in his body felt like it was about to shatter.
"Sakura might be violent, but her figure and skin are absolutely flawless," Naruto mused, a wistful expression on his face.
"You really are a masochist, kid..." the Nine-Tailed Beast's mocking voice echoed in his mind.
"Shut up, you loser! What do you know about women anyway?" Naruto retorted, his mental scorn palpable.
"Damn you! How dare you say I don't have a wife? Let me tell you, I'm going to build a massive harem one day!" The Nine-Tailed Beast's voice erupted in fury, startling Naruto. *Is this guy going to lose it right here?*
But the next moment, the Nine-Tailed Beast's tone turned lecherous. "Back in the day, those shapely fox beauties... their tails... that soft, fluffy texture..."
"Hey, Nine-Tailed Beast, are you going into heat or something?"
Imagining the Nine-Tailed Beast's lecherous expression sent a chill down Naruto's spine. He quickly dismissed the beast, letting it indulge in its fantasies.
"...Team Seven: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha..." Iruka announced loudly.
"Oh, already my turn? Time flies," Naruto yawned, remarking lazily.
"Ugh! Why do I have to be on the same team as Naruto?" Sakura groaned in frustration.
"Uh... I'm doomed," Naruto muttered weakly, glancing at Sakura. Her glare made his scalp tingle with dread.
*The days ahead...* Naruto thought with a mix of despair and sudden determination. *Looks like I have no choice but to win Sakura over. Destiny... fate...*
Labeling his intentions with shameless audacity, Naruto's eyes gleamed with a strange light. *Soon, Sakura will lie gently in my arms...*
Following the Nine-Tailed Beast's lead, Naruto's mind began to wander into fantasies of its own.
*Sigh... birds of a feather...*