"Sensei, wake up." The voice called again, but Naruto wasn't budging.
"NARUTO-SENSEI!" The voice shouted, finally jolting the blonde awake.
"I'm up! I'm up!" he exclaimed, literally jumping as his eyes flew open. He found Rin staring at him, her expression cold and serious, but he could sense a hint of concern beneath it.
"I received a call from the reception desk," Rin said, her tone firm. "They said someone was waiting for me. I didn't expect it to be you, Sensei." She adjusted her glasses with. "How are you feeling? Is your left hand any better? Did Himuro-san clear you?"
"My left hand's a lot better...as for Sena's clearance..." Naruto looked away, unable to meet her eyes.
Rin let out a small sigh, almost imperceptible, and rubbed her forehead.
"I'll overlook it this time, but only because we have something important to discuss. Don't make a habit of this, Sensei."
Naruto chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm not sure I can promise that, Rin-chan."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something softer in them before she quickly masked it. "You shouldn't be so familiar...you remind me too much of her." She shook her head slightly, her voice returning to its usual seriousness. "Let's talk somewhere else. The students are starting to gather."
Naruto glanced around as Rin turned to lead the way. Sure enough, students were beginning to gather, sneaking glances at him.
He waved at them before they scurried off in embarrassment for being caught.
'Hmm, maybe I should trim my hair now that I've got a job...' the blonde mused as he followed the acting president.
They walked past the reception desk and stepped into the elevator. The sensation was new to Naruto, but he quickly adjusted to it. When they exited, the two arrived at a massive office. Rin didn't stop there, gesturing for him to follow her to the observation deck, where the view took the blonde by surprise.
Since they were so high up, Naruto had an unobstructed view of a sprawling urban city that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. Skyscrapers pierced the sky, their glass facades reflecting the sunlight, while massive bridges connected multiple islands visible from his vantage point. The city buzzed with life, a sprawling metropolis that was both awe-inspiring and slightly intimidating.
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Rin stood on his side, her posture as composed as ever before turning to face him. "I hereby formally greet you, Sensei. Welcome to Kivotos. This is where you'll be working from now on."
Naruto gazed at the view, clearly impressed. "I have to be honest, I never thought I'd see something like this..."
Rin turned her head slightly to look at him, her expression softening for just a moment.
