Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't knock on the door again.
He just stood outside for a while, listening by the corner of the wall—sounds of knife chopping on the cutting board, soup simmering, and the aroma of meat wafting through.
Compared to Naruto beginning to have his own thoughts, what was happening right now felt like an even higher threshold to accept.
The place that once only housed the Jinchuriki was starting to have the feeling of a "home."
Sarutobi Hiruzen comforted himself.
This wasn't a bad thing.
After all, he had once hoped for this very thing—that Naruto could be well, and if the Fourth Hokage saw this scene, he would be pleased.
But… why was there still a bit of unease?
Maybe it was because he understood Naruto too little.
He turned and left.
He decided to observe carefully during this period.
The Jinchuriki must not go astray.
Naruto Uzumaki had changed a lot.
His classmates at the Ninja Academy noticed it first.
The boy who had been disliked just a few days ago suddenly became less annoying.
The most obvious change was in his appearance.
Previously, Naruto always wore a dirty, high-collared orange tracksuit—earthy, sloppy, and ugly.
But now, he finally took off that tracksuit.
He wore a plain white hoodie with no patterns or decorations, complementing his blonde hair. On the lower half, he wore gray cropped pants, giving off a clean, sunny vibe.
"That Uzumaki guy looks a lot better now," Yamanaka Ino said suddenly during lunch as she pulled Haruno Sakura to eat together.
Sakura followed her gaze.
Naruto looked the same as usual—at least to her eyes—still sitting alone and eating lunch by himself.
"He even made his own lunch?" She quickly noticed something strange—Naruto was holding a lunchbox! Though the side dishes and rice weren't as refined as those made by her parents, it looked like it might taste pretty good?
Yamanaka Ino hesitated, "I don't think so? He used to just eat bread, right?"
She wasn't sure.
Before this time, who cared about that Uzumaki guy?
"Even if he looks a bit better, he's still no match for Sasuke," Sakura crossed her arms and looked past Naruto toward Uchiha Sasuke sitting not far away. "A loser is always a loser. Maybe this is just some new trick he came up with to get attention."
She didn't like Naruto.
Yamanaka Ino shook her head without replying but inwardly didn't fully agree with Sakura.
Compared to the students, the Ninja Academy teachers noticed some inner changes in Naruto more clearly.
He had started to study seriously!
No longer skipping class, no longer sleeping, and excelling in homework.
From a "loser" to an "excellent student" almost overnight.
However, most teachers still disliked him, even more so now—because the story about Naruto "hitting" the convenience store owner had spread, and he wasn't punished at all. The Third Hokage was even "biased" toward Naruto, forcing nearby stores to do business with him.
They shared the same thoughts as Sakura.
They thought this brat couldn't possibly study well and would only have a three-minute enthusiasm.
Besides, with graduation approaching, what was the point of pretending?
Naruto really became deeply interested in ninja knowledge.
Before, he thought it was all boring. Teachers didn't encourage him, classmates didn't welcome him, so he had no motivation to study.
But after returning from the Mao Spiritual Academy—
Looking at the textbooks again, everything felt fresh.
His understanding and definition of "chakra," basic physics knowledge, the use of the Three Bodies Technique…
Although chakra and spiritual energy are fundamentally different forces—one originating from the body, the other from the soul—the techniques to use them were the same.
"Spirit Veins"—a technique taught at Mao Spiritual Academy to sense and identify spiritual energy—could also be performed through chakra, allowing him to recognize people nearby by their chakra aura even without seeing them.
After understanding the basics of demon path techniques and a few training sessions, he could successfully perform them.
Of course, the parts involving the "Will of the Village" in the books were still dull, boring, and meaningless.
On the last class of the new week—
Iruka knocked hard on the podium.
"One week left until the graduation exam, and you will become real ninjas."
"So today is combat practice."
"Everyone gather at the training field."
The class groaned.
Compared to training and combat classes, they preferred theory lessons.
The latter were boring but allowed slacking off without teachers complaining.
The former meant actual physical training afterward.
Nobody wanted to run three kilometers!
But the students still obediently left their seats, either climbing out windows or walking out doors, heading to the training field.
After organizing into formation, they all sat around the training ground.
"Is there anyone volunteering?" Iruka raised his hand.
Naruto immediately stood up, "Iruka-sensei, I want to do combat practice with Uchiha Sasuke."
His tone was firm.
These days, neither teachers nor classmates had changed their views on him.
He knew very well he lacked a chance—a chance for teachers and classmates to understand his change.
And now, that moment was here.
Iruka was about to refuse.
Although Naruto was improving, he was clearly not on the same level as Uchiha Sasuke.
But before he could say no—
The Third Hokage's recent instructions flashed through his mind.
He hurriedly changed his mind, "Alright, since Naruto insists, Uchiha Sasuke, come and spar with Naruto."
The students were surprised.
Iruka wouldn't normally agree so easily to Naruto's nonsense.
Uchiha Sasuke stood coldly, and together with Naruto, walked to the center of the field.
"First combat practice."
"Uzumaki Naruto versus Uchiha Sasuke."
"Begin!"
Iruka picked up his notebook and stepped outside the field to announce the start.
The battle didn't erupt immediately.
Uchiha Sasuke stood with hands in his pockets, looking coldly at the opponent.
"Uzumaki Naruto, you will never be my match."
"We carry different burdens."
"Someone like you doesn't have the talent to compare with me."
"Iruka-sensei should have assigned me a more valuable opponent."
The girls cheered loudly.
Naruto said nothing.
Chakra gathered at his feet, exploding outward. His shadow stretched like a line the instant Uchiha Sasuke finished speaking.
A flash of gold—
The cheers sounded as if celebrating this very moment.
Uchiha Sasuke's eyes widened.
So fast!
In a flawless version!
He barely raised his hand, forming a cross in front of him.
But Naruto's hand had already grabbed his face and slammed down hard.
"Talent?"
"Is that something you need to brag about?"
With a loud crash, dust and debris swirled around, mixed with Naruto's calm voice.
He raised one fist, while his other hand reached behind his waist, fingers hooking two kunai.
His punch smashed the dust.
"Crack"—a piece of hard wood was knocked away.
A substitution jutsu.
A chakra signature was quickly moving in the smoke.
Naruto was not surprised at all. To his eyes, ribbons fluttered—representing chakra auras.
There were two ribbons for Uchiha Sasuke.
One slipped secretly around the crowd to his back; the other boldly charged from the left.
He waved his hand.
Kunai shot toward the two directions.
"You've improved some, but you're still far behind me," Sasuke's voice came from the left.
Naruto ignored it, not even glancing left.
That was a clone.
The real Sasuke—
He reached out and grabbed the thicker chakra aura behind him, turning around.
Sure enough, behind him stood Uchiha Sasuke, face dirty and forehead bleeding, unable to dodge the first hit, looking extremely battered, throwing a kunai.
Clang!
But since that was so—
That kunai clashed midair with the one Naruto had shot earlier, both falling to the ground.
The left clone was shot and dissolved into mist by another kunai.
Sasuke's eyes showed shock.
How did he notice?!
He had just used substitution jutsu to escape the first hit, then deployed the clone jutsu.
He even made the clone speak to distract.
And Naruto didn't even glance?
Just trusted that he was behind him?
While his thoughts raced—
Another flash of golden light.
Naruto stepped forward, one hand chopping down, the other reaching behind his waist.
This time, Sasuke was prepared—both hands not in his pockets—barely keeping up with the speed, raising his hands to block.
But—
An attack suddenly came from the feet, hooking his calf and shifting his center of gravity.
Naruto easily toppled Sasuke.
Boom, he fell to the ground.
Sasuke tried to move again.
A slight pain at his neck—a worn-out, no longer sharp kunai pressed against his throat.
"You lost, Uchiha Sasuke," Naruto said softly, declaring the result.
Uchiha Sasuke was unwilling but did not argue.
He looked at Naruto, shocked and confused.
He couldn't understand how this loser could improve so much in just a few days.
Iruka and the other students were also incredulous.
Uchiha Sasuke… had lost.
Naruto straightened his back, calmly looking at Sasuke.
"You carry heavy burdens."
"But that's no reason to look down on your opponent."
"You're not a strong person yet."
"You have no right to look down on others from above."
Sasuke bit his teeth, clenched his fists.
He lowered his head.
Could he really lose to a loser?
Naruto paused briefly, then raised his voice—not just to Sasuke, but also to Iruka-sensei and his classmates.
"The result is obvious."
"I am not a loser."
"I am also a genius."
(End of chapter)