The early morning sunlight trickled through the Akimichi compound's wide windows, casting golden lines across Choji's room. He stood before the mirror, fastening the Leaf Village forehead protector around his waist like a sash. The familiar symbol rested snugly against his hip, fluttering lightly as he turned, admiring himself.
He wasn't slim—far from it—but he was noticeably smaller than a week ago. His round face still bore the joy of a feast, but there was a sharper glint in his eyes now, a purpose that hadn't been there before.
From the corner of the room, his new straw hat sat perched on a hook.
His hand brushed its brim, and a small smile curled on his lips. A memory flickered.
—
It had been three days ago. Ino had dragged him along to deliver a bouquet to an old couple living near the outer market. "You owe me for eating all my mom's cinnamon dumplings, pig," she'd teased, tossing him a basket of roses.
Choji groaned but followed.
They were halfway through the delivery when he saw it: a straw hat hanging in the window of a general store. Simple, worn by time, but nearly identical to one he remembered from… another life. Something stirred. A sunlit deck, the smell of salt air, laughter…
He stopped walking.
Ino looked back and followed his gaze. "You like that hat?"
He didn't answer, just stared.
"You should buy it," she said casually, but her voice was softer than usual.
"I don't know…"
"Just do it. You're acting like it's calling you or something."
And maybe it was.
He bought it, hesitant but driven, clutching the hat like a treasure. The shopkeeper smiled strangely as if he understood something Choji couldn't explain.
That night, he hung it in his room. A symbol. A beginning.
—
Now, Choji placed the straw hat atop his head. It felt… right.
Outside, the world buzzed with quiet excitement—it was the day of team assignments. He stepped out just in time to hear his father's deep voice from the kitchen.
"You got everything?"
"Yeah," Choji replied, grinning.
Choza narrowed his eyes, noticing the sash-like headband. "Hmph. That's new."
"Feels more me."
A pause. Then Choza folded his arms. "And Naruto? You dragged him into training too?"
Choji laughed, his belly shaking. "Of course! He's my friend, after all!"
From the hallway, Yomiko's voice chimed in. "That's my boy!"
—
Two days earlier…
Choji had met Naruto near the training grounds. The two had clicked instantly—like fire meeting fireworks. They trained together, laughed endlessly, and ate until their stomachs hurt. Shikamaru, the ever-tired bystander, had been roped in too.
"I can't believe I'm awake before sunrise again," Shikamaru grumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Two idiots. One with a bottomless stomach, the other with a bottomless chakra reserve. And a mother who won't let me sleep in. How unfair is this world…"
Choji smacked him playfully on the back. "C'mon! You love it."
"Tch."
They discovered that Naruto had passed the exam using a perfect clone—after failing dozens of times. Shikamaru had even offered suggestions on how to improve control, though he denied it outright afterward.
That night, Naruto was invited to dinner.
He had hesitated, nervous, unsure. But when Choji said, "You're my friend, so of course you're coming," the walls Naruto always carried cracked. At the dinner table, surrounded by food, laughter, and warmth, he cried.
"I've… never had this," he choked, tears falling. "Not really…"
Choji's mom hugged him like he was her own.
—
Now, Choji walked with Naruto and Shikamaru toward the academy, the straw hat bobbing with each step.
"Let's get our teams!" Naruto cheered, leaping ahead.
"I hope they put me on a team that lets me sleep…" Shikamaru muttered.
"Shut up, you love us."
"Tch."
They arrived just in time for chaos.
Inside, Sakura turned the moment she saw Naruto. "Why are YOU here?! You stole the headband, didn't you?!"
Naruto puffed his chest. "Nope! I learned the clone jutsu. Ask Iruka-sensei!"
"Ugh. Whatever! Move! I want to sit next to Sasuke-kun!"
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he turned toward the cool, brooding Uchiha.
"What's so special about him anyway?" Naruto muttered, jumping onto the desk, glaring.
A sudden push—from behind or from fate—launched Naruto forward.
SMACK.
Lips collided.
Silence.
Sakura screamed. "NARUTO, YOU PERVERT!"
Ino's jaw dropped.
Even Hinata gasped, her face scarlet, but inside she screamed, That should've been me…
And then it happened.
Choji fell to the floor, laughing so hard he couldn't breathe. He rolled, kicked his feet, wheezing with joy.
"OH NO—MY FIRST KISS WAS STOLEN BY A GUY!!" Naruto wailed.
Shikamaru tried to hold it in but failed. "That… is the most troublesome thing I've ever seen."
Choji suddenly stood, wiped fake tears, and clasped his hands together. "Sasuke-kun…" he said in the most dramatic tone possible.
Shikamaru stepped up beside him, placing a hand over his chest. "Naruto-kun… why didn't you wait for me?"
Their performance was so absurd, so perfectly timed, even the teachers watching through the cracked door burst into laughter.
Outside, peering through his crystal ball, Hiruzen's pipe fell from his lips.
"Did… did Choji just say Sasuke-kun?" he muttered.
Beside him, Kakashi chuckled. "That's one way to break the tension."
Asuma and Kurenai laughed quietly, watching the scene unfold below.
Back in the classroom, even Sasuke cracked the tiniest smirk. Sakura was too busy yelling to notice.
Choji, tears still in his eyes, patted Naruto's back. "Sorry, buddy. But that was legendary."
"You guys SUCK!" Naruto howled.
And then, Iruka walked in, clearing his throat.
"Alright! Settle down! Team placements will begin."
Ino and Sakura exchanged glares, clearly praying they'd land with Sasuke.
Hinata snuck glances at Naruto, cheeks glowing.
Choji adjusted his straw hat, heart still light from laughter, his soul lighter from the bonds he'd formed.
He didn't know what team he'd end up on, but for the first time, he wasn't scared of being just a background character.
He had his hat.
He had his will.
And most of all—he had friends.
—
End of Chapter 4
The story has just started to be clear I haven't thought who his love interest would be so tell me who you want it to be I was thinking someone his age maybe Ino she has Nami vibes idk you all tell me