"Don't rush it, Sasuke. Walking on flowing water isn't like walking on still tree trunks. You have to constantly watch your chakra output."
Naruto stood steadily on the clear stream, its bed lined with smooth pebbles. The water flowed gently beneath his feet, creating ripples wherever it touched, yet not a single drop managed to soak his shoes.
Aside from the tree-climbing exercise, this task—walking on moving water—was another advanced training method to help with chakra control.
Of course, compared to Naruto, who had already mastered water-walking to the point that not even walking up a waterfall could get him wet, the current state of little Uchiha Sasuke—flailing to maintain his balance and occasionally dunking his feet into the stream—looked quite pitiful.
His clothes were mostly soaked through by the chill of the early autumn stream, and the spiky tufts of his hair had wilted into a droopy mess from multiple face-plants into the water. At a glance, he even looked a bit like his older brother did when he was young.
'Yeah… just like that. A bit more chakra. Steady now. That's it…'
While offering gentle, patient guidance based on experience, Naruto was multitasking. In his right hand, he held a round balloon, slowly channeling chakra into it while continuing to talk. As he poured in chakra little by little, he caused the water inside to begin rotating evenly. The balloon started to flatten but still didn't burst.
'Ugh… is this really all I can manage? Forget releasing a Rasengan one-handed—I can't even create a proper chaotic chakra swirl… Am I really stuck with that half-baked method using Shadow Clones?'
"YAHOO! I DID IT!"
Just as Naruto became absorbed in weighing his options, Sasuke's sudden cry of joy made him turn instinctively toward the sound—just in time to see Sasuke gleefully hopping across the surface of the stream.
'Kids really are so easy to please… Man, if only I could be like that, maybe I wouldn't be stressing over everything all the time…'
Despite the self-deprecating mutter, Naruto's eyes were filled with fondness and pride. Although Sasuke took longer to master this step, unlike Naruto, he didn't have the soul of an adult in a child's body. Compared to others his age, Sasuke was smart, hardworking, and didn't disgrace the Uchiha Clan's reputation for producing geniuses.
'If it weren't for that massacre… If he hadn't seen his beloved older brother murder their parents with his own eyes… this little fanboy might've grown up into a slightly tsundere version of me.'
As Naruto murmured to himself, Sasuke gradually composed himself, placing his hands on his hips with his chin tilted up slightly. His big, bright eyes sparkled as he looked at Naruto with the eager expression of a puppy seeking praise.
For reasons even Sasuke couldn't explain, despite Naruto appearing to be the same age, his mature behavior and patient instruction made Sasuke unconsciously associate him with his older brother. Though he never said it out loud, he found himself craving Naruto's approval more and more.
"Still a little rough… but honestly, you did great. Truly worthy of the Uchiha name."
Seeing the growing trust in Sasuke's eyes, Naruto found himself wondering just how high the odds were that a certain jealous older brother might one day fry him with Amaterasu. Smiling, he rose onto his toes and ruffled Sasuke's hair with his free hand.
"Nice job, Sasuke."
"Hehe, of course I did great!"
Overjoyed at the praise, Sasuke grinned even wider, squinting slightly as he unconsciously leaned into Naruto's palm.
"But… I'd suggest popping a Ration Pill now, Sasuke."
"Huh? Why?"
"You don't have as much chakra as I do. After all that training—and that little victory dance of yours—you're probably running low. Might not have enough left to stay standing on the water…"
As Sasuke frowned in confusion, Naruto's lips curled into a devilish grin. Sensing incoming doom, Sasuke felt a chill as Naruto watched his slowly sinking feet and added, feigning innocence:
"Let me guess… you're about to fall into the water in…"
"Right now! Hahahahahaha!"
Before Sasuke could react, his footing vanished, and he tumbled into the water with a splash. The cold stream surged around him as he flailed and splashed, shouting furiously at the friend who was now doubled over in laughter.
"Pbbth! Freak! Idiot! Dumbass Naruto! You couldn't have warned me earlier?!"
"Wahahaha! You're the one who didn't keep track of your chakra, Mr. Show-off! Don't blame me!"
SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!
Before Naruto could finish gloating, a wave of water hit him head-on. In the blink of an eye, his dry, composed appearance turned into that of a soaking-wet mess. After a brief pause, he rolled up his sleeves, putting on a mock-angry glare as he stared at the smirking little Uchiha in the stream.
"…Oh-ho! So that's how it is, huh Sasuke? You dare splash me? Sounds like mutiny!"
"Bleh! You started it! It's only fair! Why should I be the only one soaking wet? How's it feel, huh, Naruto? Isn't this stream icy cold? Hahahahaha!"
"Oho… got guts now, huh? Then allow me to graciously show you my power!"
With a playful glint in his eyes, Naruto released the chakra from his feet and let himself fall into the stream, where he immediately began a full-on splash war with Sasuke.
"Pfft! Is that all you've got, dumb Naruto?! Watch this! Hiyaaah!"
"Don't get cocky, that was just a warm-up! Try this one!"
"A-dah!"
"Yaaay!"
…
While Naruto and Sasuke laughed and splashed at each other like the kids they were, a white-haired old man stood quietly behind the bushes, watching them with a pipe in his hand. His gaze lingered on Naruto—filled with warmth and pride, but also tinged with guilt.
'Naruto… You're even stronger than I expected. And you've made a true friend…'
As he puffed on his pipe, the old man turned slightly, smiling gently as he spoke toward the dense forest ahead of him.
"…And just like your parents, you've grown into a fine ninja. Isn't that right… little one?"
"You know, hiding instead of coming to say hello is rude to your elders… or are you playing hide-and-seek with Grandpa?"
"…Hehe. So you noticed after all…"
The old man fell silent, smiling kindly at the trees. A few seconds later, another Naruto—completely dry and untouched by water—emerged from the forest, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"Nice to meet you… or maybe I should say, long time no see?"
"Grandpa Third Hokage."