After the training dinner, Naruto and Sasuke walked calmly to their respective homes. As they turned away from each other, Sasuke spoke out.
"Naruto...5 days from now. Meet me at Training ground 7."
Naruto Smirked. "I was gonna say the same thing."
Their night continued, each staying up to grind. Preparing for an important spar.
Day 1
Ink smeared across Naruto's fingers.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The tag in his hand sputtered, chakra dispersing unevenly before fading out completely.
"…Tch."
Failure.
Naruto didn't stop.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Poof—Poof—Poof—
Ten clones appeared in a loose circle, each already reaching for brush and paper.
"…I'm going to Ichiraku to get the skill buff from Ramen Worshipper. Stay here and grind."
They each had a gripe, complaint, moan, worry, sob story about the original getting ramen and them not but in the end they couldn't argue.
Day 2
"…Too shallow."
A tag cracked the moment chakra filled it.
"…Too much output."
Another burst apart, ink scattering.
Naruto adjusted his breathing, forcing his chakra to flow slower—more controlled.
"…Balance it."
He pressed again.
Again.
Again.
Then—
A pulse.
The seal stabilized, lines glowing faintly as chakra settled into place instead of tearing through it.
Naruto blinked.
"…Huh."
The tag held.
He went to slash at the tag with a kunai but a light blue barrier halted his knife for a moment before he ultimately slashed the tag.
"…Got it."
*Ping*
Replication of Barrier Tag Successful. User can now Craft Barrier Tags!
Fuinjustu LVL 3 (26/30) -> LVL4 (3/40)
Later That Day with Hinata
Naruto stood awkwardly in front of her, scratching the back of his head.
"…Oi."
Hinata looked up immediately.
"…Y-Yes, Naruto?"
He held out a tag.
"…Take it."
She blinked, confused.
"…W-What is it?"
"Barrier tag."
A pause.
"…Emergency use."
Hinata hesitated, hands half-raised.
"…I-I couldn't—"
Naruto gently but firmly pressed it into her palms.
"…You can."
A beat.
"…And you will."
Her fingers curled around it.
"…Thank you… Naruto."
*Ping*
+2 Charisma for charming a young princess!
Flash — Kiba & Akamaru
"…Oi, dog breath."
"…WHO YOU CALLIN—"
Naruto flicked a pair of tags at him mid-rant.
Kiba caught it instinctively.
"…What's this?"
"Barrier tags. Good to protect you and Akamaru from a solid hit. Don't waste it."
Naruto smirked.
"…It'll save your ass."
Kiba grinned.
"…Heh. Like I'd need it."
Akamaru barked in agreement.
Naruto snorted.
"…Yeah, yeah."
*Ping*
Manliness LVL Overload, +2 Charisma for taking care of you bro!
Flash — Choji
Naruto dropped the tag beside him while he was eating.
"…For when you go all-in."
Choji paused mid-bite.
He looked at the tag.
Then at Naruto.
"…I will."
Flash — Ino
Naruto tossed it lightly.
"Try not to panic when you use it."
Ino caught it, rolling her eyes.
"…Please."
A small smile.
"…But thanks."
Day 3–4
The process sharpened.
Practice Fuinjutsu and prepare for the Chuunin Exams.
Visit his classmates and dish out lifesaving tools
Today was Shikamaru and Sakura's turn
Nara Clan Compound
*Ping*
+3 Intelligence for discovering where all the genius's live
"Yo Shikamaru, you home!?" Called out Naruto from the front gate. A pair of gate guards, awoken from their nap ushered him in. He was led to the Nara clan heads quarters.
As he slid the Shoji doors to the side he witnessed Shikamaru in a meditative position playing a game of Shogi with his father.
Shikaku Nara glanced over silently, ushering Naruto to come over with a downturned hand. "Mind the noise Naruto, we're playing a game here."
Naruto understood, his social awareness light years ahead of where it would've been a month ago.
"Can you please give these to Shikamaru? It should help him in the upcoming Chuunin exam. Tell him to actually use them please. No use if his lazy ass forgets about them." He held out a barrier tag and a strength pill.
Shikaku's brow furrowed and nodded curtly. Damn kid was trying to help his son. He'd remember that.
Haruno Residence
Naruto knocked on his crush's door politely, her mother answering the door.
There was a slight grimace when Mrs. Haruno realized it was Naruto at the door but acquiesced when Naruto explained that he had something for Sakura for the upcoming Chuunin exams.
Mrs. Haruno explained that she was out training, hadn't been home for more than a few hours at most for all of the past few days.
"I understand ma'am. Can you please make sure she gets them then?" He said handing over a barrier tag and his final strength pill.
"Of course dear. I'm sure she'll be very grateful." Mrs. Haruno was conflicted. This boy was actually somewhat sweet.
Day 5 — Training Ground 7
The wind drifted low across the field.
Naruto and Sasuke stood across from each other.
Still.
Focused.
"…You've gotten faster," Sasuke said calmly.
Naruto cracked his neck.
"…You've got pink eye."
A pause.
A small chuckle.
*Ping*
+ 3 Charisma for making Sasuke laugh
They moved.
First Clash
Naruto shot forward first, his body blurring as wind chakra surged through his legs. The ground cracked slightly beneath his step as he closed the distance instantly, fist aimed straight for Sasuke's center.
Sasuke didn't panic.
His Sharingan spun, the left eye picking up exactly how to counter such a straightforward attack
Naruto's punch skimmed past his shoulder instead of landing cleanly.
Sasuke twisted his body mid-motion and drove a counter elbow toward Naruto's ribs.
Naruto POOFED out of existence. Sasuke whipped his head toward the treeline where he saw a bundle of wind chakra make its way toward him. He cartwheeled to the side sending a kunai flying toward the real Naruto's position.
"…Good read," Naruto muttered as he repositioned next to a particularly thick tree.
Sasuke didn't respond.
He was already moving.
Sasuke's hands blurred through seals.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
A spread of small fireballs burst forward. Naruto decided to use the tree next to him as cover, the seemingly random spread of fire would have nowhere to go but the rough bark before dissipating.
—but they weren't random.
The fireballs dispersed. However, hidden underneath were shuriken attached to wire, their trajectory curving as Sasuke guided them to pincer Naruto to the tree he was using as cover.
Naruto's eyes narrowed. Channeling wind natured chakra to his Flash Anklet he performed his own acrobatics. A makeshift split with his legs made him suddenly much too short to trap with wire. He sommersaulted, pushing off the tree into a mad dash blitzing Sasuke head on.
*50 Seconds Remaining* Shown brightly in his peripheral indicating his items remaining charge.
Hand signs blurred and a barrage of Gale Pierce assaulted Sasuke in rapid succession.
Sasuke used his own elemental jutsu, a stream of flame, to negate most of the blasts with sheer mass. All but one
He shifted his footing in an attempt to dodge but—
Too late.
A screech of air tore into his side drawing blood. Clutching his ribs he backpedaled to a safer distance.
Sasuke reached into his pouch and pulled out a bottle of oil, spreading it across the field in a wide range as he retreated. Naruto prepped his own item. Barrier tags.
He launched a handful of tags in a line heading toward Sasuke's location. The tags grew slick with oil but otherwise remained unharmed.
A wide stream of fire erupted from Sasuke's mouth, lighting up every inch of the field to hinder Naruto's quick advance.
Not knowing of Naruto's barrier tags, Sasuke expected the whole field to light ablaze, severely limiting Naruto's move speed advantage. The tags triggered in response to the fire chakra thrown at them. In a straight line leading directly to Sasuke there was no fire; the oil remained unlit as if physically incapable of igniting.
Just as the tags were about to give out Naruto's blurred form reached Sasuke, performing a jumping knee, lifting Sasuke off the ground
*20 Seconds Remaining*
Sasuke POOFED out of existence. Naruto looked around blindly, wondering how Sasuke had managed to sneak a clone during his rush. Using the visual obstruction from the smoke perfectly a kick came from Naruto's blind spot—low and fast.
Naruto barely jumped in time to avoid the low kick, finding himself floating in the air casting hand signs.
Before Naruto could finish, Sasuke followed up with a rapid combination—two punches and a flying spin kick designed to maximize damage from Naruto's jump.
Naruto's head jerked back and forth in response to the punches, just barely managing to get a hasty guard up in response to the kick. He still hit the ground hard but was able to hop away from Sasuke.
During his hop however, a weak blast of wind pushed his feet out from under him; Sasuke's palm lay outstretched. The final hand sign for Wind Release: Gale Pierce had come a second before.
Shocked, Naruto could only watch as his own technique was used against him. Again.
He thudded to the ground and could only roll as a rain of shuriken pierced his former position, two finding themselves in the small of his back.
"Ah Shibal" Naruto cried, pushing himself up into a hasty fighting stance. Sasuke, aiming to take advantage of the newfound weakness, rushed forward.
*5 Seconds Remaining*
Naruto gave ground—but not passively.
Blocking a knee to the chin with his forearms in a crossgaurd, he shifted his weight backwards, donkey kicking Sasuke back with both legs, blasting as much wind chakra as he could manage from his feet.
Sasuke's eyes flickered. Time seemed to slow as Naruto's feet, doused in chakra approached his stomach.
He saw it clearly. He could not avoid it due to their close proximity and his leg already being raised from his flying knee. The kicks connected.
Sasuke toppled across the ground, body ragdolling through his self-created inferno, eventually stopping in a roll next to a training stump.
He tried to inhale but the wind had been knocked out. Gasps and a strange grunt came out of Sasuke's mouth, the fight was over.
*Timer 0, Flash Anklet cooldown initiating*
Naruto approached, pulling out some normal bandages any ninja would carry.
Sasuke struggled to stand, Naruto placing his hand under his uninjured side steadying him. "…Chuunin Exams," Naruto said.
Sasuke glared at him, two tomoes spinning in each eye.
Silently, Naruto sat Sasuke down on a stump, taking a seat next to him. The bandages he was carrying RIIIPPPED as he tore of a strip and handed it to Sasuke. A second RIIP sounded as he used more and raised his shirt.
"I don't need your help."
Naruto smirked wider.
"…Oh shut up you bastard, help me with my back would ya?"
The wind passed between them. Sasuke dressed Naruto's wound, securing the bandage with a tight knot. Naruto did the same.
They both wordlessly stood up. Naruto initiated the seal of reconciliation. Sasuke stared down at his outstretched fingers. Seconds passed.
Two fingers joined Naruto's, clenching together in a firm connection.
Not rivalry alone. A budding brotherhood.
*Ping*
Rival Growth Link - Weak has grown in strength to Moderate
+4 Strength
+3 Agility
+2 Endurance
+3 Intelligence
+50 System Points
Another chime occured.
Hidden Quest - Help rival become strong enough to defeat a certain man
Hidden Sub-mission accomplished! Be the reason Sasuke advances his Sharingan abilities.
Rewards:
Perk: Uchiha's Personal Trainer!
When Sparring together, both user and Sasuke will experience a 25% experience boost to skills!
When facing the same opponent, all stats (including luck) for both individuals will receive a 10% boost!
+60 System Points!
Skill Upgrades!
Academy Taijutsu – LVL 5 (6/50) → LVL 5 (37/50)
Shadow Clone Jutsu – LVL 5 (45/50) → LVL 6 (17/60)
Wind Style: Cyclone LVL 4 (34/40) → LVL 5 (10/50)
Wind Release: Gale Pierce LVL 3 (5/30) → LVL 4 (1/40)
Inventory:
Damaged Uzumaki Record (Fragment)
1 Skill evolution stone
2 Soldier Pills - stamina/chakra boost at cost of extreme fatigue
5 Skill experience Packs (Small)
Flash Anklet - 20% move speed buff for 60 seconds, 300 second cooldown
Uzumaki Vital Surge Capsule: +50% END/AGI Special interaction. Massive chakra boost
Water Walking Scroll
A/N
Due to Naruto being able to make his own Minor Concussive seals, minor gravity seals, and barrier seals. I'll be removing them from his inventory. He will quite literally pull them out of his ass should he have a need for them.