Chapter 39: A New Partnership
Hearing Sasuke's words, Naruto paused for a moment, slightly surprised.
He hadn't expected that in order to get revenge and quickly improve his strength, Sasuke would put aside his pride and come to him.
What was even more unexpected was that Sasuke would be so sincere and honest—admitting his mistakes and speaking openly about his shortcomings.
Was this still the same Uchiha Sasuke who was so arrogant and believed himself to be a genius?
It seemed that Sasuke had been greatly affected by what he had experienced over the past few days. It had made him realize his own inadequacy and weakness.
That was why he had made up his mind and set aside his pride to ask Naruto for help.
Naruto looked at Sasuke, saw the firmness in his eyes, thought for a moment, and didn't rush to agree. Instead, he asked a key question:
"Why should I help you?"
Sasuke froze for a moment. When he heard Naruto's words, he suddenly realized something, as if waking from a start. At the same time, he lowered his head slightly, clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth in frustration.
Naruto was right.
Why should he help Sasuke?
Just because they were teammates?
That wasn't nearly enough.
They weren't relatives. And even before the genin exam, Sasuke had always looked down on Naruto.
He had thought Naruto was a complete failure—a dead-last who never made any progress, never worked hard at all, and was nothing but dead weight.
And yet now, the gap between them was this huge.
Sasuke lowered his head unwillingly, gritted his teeth, and turned around in frustration.
Just as he was about to leave, Naruto's voice suddenly sounded again:
"I can help you."
That voice was like hope rising from the abyss. Sasuke's eyes lit up. He spun around suddenly, his eyes wide open, looking at Naruto in disbelief and surprise.
Seeing Sasuke's excited expression, Naruto smiled and continued:
"However, as a reward for helping you, I need you to do something for me in the future."
Sasuke nodded repeatedly without hesitation. He said excitedly:
"Okay! I agree! No matter what it is, as long as it helps me get stronger, I'll do anything!"
Hearing Sasuke's answer, Naruto nodded in satisfaction.
This was the result of Naruto's careful consideration.
Judging from Sasuke's current performance and Naruto's assessment of him, Sasuke was talented and highly ambitious. And the arrogant, defiant boy had now grown.
His future achievements would definitely be higher than others imagined.
In Naruto's future revenge plan, he needed talents like this.
He needed people with talent, potential, and strength—people who could help Naruto accomplish great things.
That was why Naruto chose to help Sasuke.
Help Sasuke now, and gain a powerful ally in the future. And Sasuke had promised to do whatever was asked of him. This deal couldn't be any more cost-effective.
Thinking this, Naruto smiled and said lightly:
"Alright. Starting today, I'll do my best to help you train and improve your strength."
Hearing Naruto's words, Sasuke's face lit up with joy. He couldn't help but smile.
This was what he wanted most right now—to become stronger.
"Good!"
"Thank… thank you." Sasuke hesitated for a moment, then decided to say the words of gratitude.
Naruto nodded with a smile.
After the two had a brief conversation, they headed to the meeting place together.
At the gate of Konoha, little Sakura had been waiting there early.
This was the first time they were going to pick up missions by themselves, and little Sakura was very excited about it.
Seeing Naruto and Sasuke walking over together, little Sakura paused for a moment, looking at them in surprise. She was curious about when Naruto and Sasuke had started walking together like that.
What's more, the two of them were actually talking with each other. That surprised little Sakura even more.
"Naruto, Sasuke, what are you two…" Little Sakura looked at them in surprise and asked suspiciously.
Before little Sakura could finish speaking, Naruto interrupted her and said:
"Good morning, Sakura-chan. Let's go to the Third Hokage to pick up some commissions now."
Little Sakura paused for a moment, then nodded.
Naruto understood little Sakura's confusion, but he didn't have the patience to explain these things to her.
After seeing little Sakura nod, Naruto led little Sakura and Sasuke to the Hokage building.
The Hokage building in the early morning was still full of people.
Perhaps because Asuma had already mentioned the upcoming Chunin Exam last night, Ino and Hinata and their teams had also arrived at the Hokage building very early and diligently.
When Ino and Hinata saw Naruto and the others arrive, they immediately greeted them enthusiastically:
"Little Sakura! Naruto! Are you here to take some commissions?"
When Hinata saw Naruto, she lowered her head shyly and poked her fingers together, as if she was thinking about the wonderful experience from the night before.
Hearing Ino's words, little Sakura warmly greeted her back and started chatting with Ino.
Naruto saw the shy Hinata, smiled lightly, and walked over.
Seeing that only Naruto and his team were there, and that Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura's instructor Kakashi wasn't with them, Ino asked suspiciously:
"Where's your Jōnin instructor? Are the three of you here to pick up missions by yourselves?"
Little Sakura nodded, remembering Kakashi's unreliable words from the night before, and complained again:
"That's right. Kakashi-sensei left us to carry out missions by ourselves. So we have to pick them up and complete them on our own during this time."
Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi seemed to have already known the news for a while. They weren't surprised when they heard what little Sakura said.
Kurenai Yuhi's beautiful eyes moved. She thought for a moment and then suddenly said:
"Why don't you come with us to carry out some missions? With you joining in, the efficiency of completing missions will be faster. I'll personally explain the situation to the Third Hokage."
Little Sakura was about to reply, but before she could open her mouth, Naruto suddenly said lightly:
"No need, Kurenai-sensei. We can handle it ourselves."
Little Sakura paused. Hearing Naruto's polite refusal, she had no choice but to thank Kurenai Yuhi for her kindness.
Being rejected by Naruto, Kurenai also paused for a moment, slightly surprised. She took a deep look at Naruto.
She didn't say anything else. She just looked at Naruto, thought for a moment, and then nodded.
Naruto had his own reasons for rejecting Kurenai Yuhi. He was going to teach Sasuke how to train next. If something was exposed and Kurenai noticed it, the loss would outweigh the gain.
Naruto didn't know if Kurenai Yuhi would tell the Third Hokage about what she saw.
But just as Naruto finished thinking about it, he heard Kurenai Yuhi speak again:
"If you want to handle things on your own, that's fine."
"That's alright. You kids are capable. But I'll come check on you often in my free time. If you need any help, you can just ask me."
"As a Jōnin instructor of the village, I also have the responsibility to look after you a bit while Kakashi is away."
"And besides, compared to you, Hinata, Kiba, and the others need to train more diligently." Kurenai shot a glare at Kiba and the others and said with a light huff.