Shikamaru's gaze froze for a moment before his expression relaxed.
"I just want to help you."
Naruto watched Choji on the field, who was only defending and not attacking, and replied calmly:
"I know. You've been helping me ever since the day we met. You're a friend I can rely on."
"But don't forget what those earrings on your ears symbolize. In that regard, Shikaku-senpai has done a great job."
Shikamaru's face turned pale. Naruto even knows about that?
He recalled their conversation in the library last year. Taking a deep breath, he asked:
"What's your real body busy with right now?"
Naruto's face showed a faintly amused expression.
"Are you trying to change the subject—or are you really just struggling to control your overflowing curiosity?"
Shikamaru sighed, waving a hand.
"Sigh… You saw through me. Honestly, I am curious… but yeah, I'm also trying to change the subject."
As Choji walked off the field toward them, Naruto also started moving. After taking a couple of steps, he turned back.
"I can tell you. But are you sure you want to know?"
Shikamaru hesitated, then smiled awkwardly and shook his head.
"Forget it. As a friend, I already know more than enough."
Riiiing~
Class was over.
Forest of Death – A Small Grove
Clang! Clang!
The sounds of clashing metal rang out from deep within the forest.
Ding-ding!
Effortlessly deflecting two kunai shot from the underbrush, Sasuke body-flickered onto a thick branch of a tall tree. No choice but to stay up in the trees. Naruto knows Earth Release—it's not safe on the ground.
Panting heavily, Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan—not because he lacked chakra, but because he was mentally exhausted.
"Damn it! When's the next attack?! That bastard Naruto is way too sneaky!"
Let's rewind to that morning.
After arriving at the Naka River training field, Sasuke had suggested a different training method. He felt it was unfair to always be up against a crowd of Naruto's shadow clones right from the start.
Naruto asked for his input, and Sasuke said that anything other than the usual method would be fine.
So Naruto brought him to the Forest of Death, proposing a jungle pursuit drill within a restricted area. He promised not to use his real body—only five shadow clones would engage.
Sasuke thought it sounded fun, especially since Naruto also vowed that none of the clones would use sensory ninjutsu to track him, and that unless it was a face-to-face encounter, the clones wouldn't use Earth Release to hide.
At first, things went well. Sasuke took down two clones with little effort. Fighting in a confined area like this, he felt he had an edge.
But soon, he realized he'd been too optimistic.
The remaining clones started using harassment tactics.
First, the three clones would appear briefly, bait Sasuke into attacking—and then dive underground. If Sasuke followed, he'd end up in mud pits or be ambushed by Head-Hunter Jutsu.
That was still manageable—he just needed to stay in the trees. Naruto's clones couldn't outlast him in chakra reserves.
But then, the tactics changed again.
They began throwing shuriken and kunai.
That forced Sasuke to reactivate his Sharingan. He knew all too well how dangerous Naruto's throwing techniques were.
Yet over time, he noticed something odd.
Many attacks seemed weak—some kunai didn't even reach him.
Still, Sasuke had to block each one seriously. He couldn't risk assuming they were fakes—what if Naruto was trying to lull him into lowering his guard?
Then things got worse.
The intervals between attacks became maddeningly unpredictable.
Sometimes they came in rapid succession.
Other times, there would be complete silence for 10 minutes, or even an hour, before a surprise assault.
If Sasuke made a move, the clones would retreat. But if he rested, they'd reappear and strike.
He couldn't even take a proper break.
Exhausted and mentally frayed, Sasuke had turned his Sharingan on and off several times. The whole experience was agonizingly dull and draining.
Looking up now, it had almost been an hour since the last attack.
It was probably after school by now.
Since morning, Sasuke had only eaten two military ration pills that Naruto gave him.
Naruto's waiting for me to surrender… dammit!
He felt cheated.
Naruto had said his real body wouldn't participate, which meant—he probably went back to the village for lunch!
Sasuke realized he had underestimated just how shameless Naruto could be.
It was pointless to keep this up.
He jumped down from the tree and shouted:
"I give up!"
The forest was dead silent.
It was as if Sasuke was the only person there.
His eye twitched.
"Come out, Naruto! I said I give up!"
No response.
A dreadful suspicion crossed his mind.
He clenched his jaw and sprinted toward the edge of the training zone.
Just as he was about to step past the boundary—
Swoosh!
Naruto appeared.
"Let's head back. Time to go."
Sasuke glared at him.
"You… you left the Forest of Death hours ago, didn't you?!"
Naruto nodded seriously.
"Yup. My real body wasn't fighting. What's wrong with leaving?"
Sasuke's face turned cold.
"What about your clones?"
Naruto grinned, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Them? They all ran out of chakra over an hour ago~"
Just as he finished speaking, the two returned to the small grove near the Naka River.
Sasuke stood still, glared at Naruto for a few seconds, then turned without a word and stomped off toward the riverbank.
Naruto chuckled and headed home.
After greeting Kurama and Muō in the seal space, he entered the Mirror World alone.
After Naruto left, Kurama propped its head on its paw and grinned.
"Heh! That Uchiha brat is way too naive."
Muō looked up.
"Kurama… do you have a grudge against Sasuke Uchiha?"
Kurama closed its eyes and snorted.
"What's that supposed to mean, Muō?"
Muō flicked its fluffy white tail and took a step back.
"Nothing, I just noticed you really seem to enjoy watching Sasuke get humiliated."
Kurama cracked open one eye.
"Hmph. Just don't become as annoying as Shukaku."
Muō's eyes rolled slightly, but it stayed quiet. It had long noticed Kurama's disdain for Sasuke, especially in the Mirror World, where Kurama seemed to relish fighting puppet versions of Sharingan users.
A Few Days Later – Grove Near the Naka River
Naruto and Sasuke clashed as they leapt from tree to tree.
Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as their lightning-infused blades collided.
Crack!
Sasuke's expression changed—his sword had cracked in several places.
Naruto stepped back, dispelled the lightning chakra from his blade, and said calmly:
"That sword's done. You should switch to one that conducts chakra better—like this one."
Sasuke frowned, dispersing the chakra from his own blade.
This had been the best ninja tool left at his house.
He had asked around at the Tool Pavilion, but those weapons were far too expensive.
Naruto casually flipped his sword and threw it.
Thunk!
The blade embedded itself in the ground in front of Sasuke, gleaming coldly.
Sasuke stared at it, then said with a conflicted expression:
"I can buy my own."
Naruto replied indifferently:
"That one's worth 200,000 ryō."
"What?! That expensive?!"
Sasuke was stunned. His monthly allowance was only 9,000 ryō.
Does Naruto have that kind of money?
No… based on what he knew, Naruto got a stipend from the Third Hokage.
So where was the rest coming from?
After a moment of hesitation, Sasuke asked:
"Where… where did you get the money?"
Naruto responded with a straight face:
"I earned it."
"How?"
Naruto's eyes gleamed.
"By killing and looting. Got it?"
Sasuke's face tightened.
"Wait… you mean—?!"
Naruto chuckled at Sasuke's expression. They'd been training this whole time, fighting nothing but wild beasts in the Forest of Death or sparring with clones.
As a shinobi, it was about time Sasuke saw some real blood.
Naruto unrolled a scroll. With a puff of smoke, a cloak and mask appeared on the ground.
"Put these on. We've got time. I'll take you to the bounty station—time to earn some cash."
Sasuke crouched, picked up the mask, and slipped it on.
"Bounty station?"
Naruto, already disguised, replied:
"Yup. It's a great place to make money. All five Great Nations have people working there—officially and in the shadows."
"There… whether you're alive or dead, you're still busy all the same."
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