That evening, Sakura cooked herself dinner and, for once, didn't go out. She stayed in the wooden courtyard behind her house, sleeves rolled up, expression focused.
"First, gather chakra in the soles of your feet."
She closed her eyes and formed a seal, carefully drawing chakra downward.
"If it's too weak, there's no grip. Too strong, and it pushes you off. It has to be balanced."
She replayed Sasuke's words in her mind, checked each step, then tried again.
A few attempts later, she was standing steadily on the wooden fence.
"Oh… that was easier than I thought."
A grin spread across her face.
"Sasuke-kun was right. I really am good at chakra control."
She basked in the moment, then puffed out her chest.
"Hmph. Looks like I beat you this time, Ino."
Her excitement didn't fade. She moved on to the next step.
"Alright, next is—"
Sasuke had told her that water-walking came after tree-walking. But mastering the first so easily made Sakura overconfident. She skipped ahead.
She formed seals again, gathering chakra in her palm. A clear, trembling sphere of water appeared.
His voice echoed in her memory.
"Infuse chakra into water and change its shape. Make it move. When you can do that freely, your control is already excellent."
"And Sakura, start with something you like."
"Something I like…?"
Her cheeks warmed.
"Well, obviously… Sasuke-kun."
She tried to shape the water into his face.
Splash.
The sphere burst, soaking her clothes.
"Tch. Again."
Another sphere.
Splash.
Again.
Splash.
After several failures, she gave up on faces and tried simpler things: flowers, cats. None worked.
She bent over slightly, catching her breath. Repeated chakra molding was already tiring.
"…Guess I shouldn't skip steps."
She looked around the quiet yard, then sighed.
"There's no pond here."
It was late, and going out now would be awkward. Falling into a river at night was not an option.
"This is all Dad's fault," she muttered. "Some ninja he is."
She straightened.
"I'll start with the bathtub."
A few days later, Ninja Academy training grounds. Taijutsu class.
"Free practice," the instructor announced. "Pair up."
The moment the words left his mouth, Sasuke felt it.
That stare again.
He exhaled quietly.
Naruto.
"Sasuke, Sasuke, this time I—"
"Save it," Sasuke cut in. "If you want to get hit, come on."
Naruto clenched his fists. "Hmph. Try not to go down in one move."
He charged, throwing a straightforward punch. Crude, but fast. The air popped faintly.
Sasuke raised his hand.
Block.
A dull, heavy impact echoed.
"That's it?" Sasuke asked calmly.
Naruto tried to pull back but failed. Panic flickered. He swung with his other hand.
Sasuke released him.
Naruto's balance broke.
A sweeping kick took his legs out.
Before he hit the ground, Sasuke pivoted and drove a spinning kick into his face.
Naruto flew back and crashed into the dirt, dust exploding around him.
Sasuke stepped forward, arms folded.
"Your punches are sloppy. Your stance is loose. Your reactions are slow. None of it holds up."
Naruto pushed himself up, blood at the corner of his mouth. This time, he didn't rush in. He stared, searching.
"Oh?" Sasuke noted. "You're thinking now."
Naruto said nothing.
Sasuke turned away.
Naruto froze. "Hey—what are you doing? I haven't lost yet!"
"I'm done," Sasuke replied without looking back. "This is pointless."
"You scared?" Naruto shouted. "Admitting defeat?"
"Sure," Sasuke said flatly. "Let's call it that."
Naruto's frustration boiled over. He rushed forward—
Sasuke turned.
His eyes were cold.
Naruto stopped.
"I'm disappointed in you," Sasuke said. "A month has passed. You haven't improved at all. I study, you sleep in class. I train, you vandalize the Hokage Monument. You have the nerve to challenge me, but none of the resolve to prepare."
Naruto's mouth opened, then closed.
"When you start using your time to actually work," Sasuke continued, "then talk to me about challenges."
He turned and walked away.
Naruto stayed where he was, fists clenched, silent.