At the training ground, several youths were devouring Sea King at with blissful faces.
If there was one part of their brutal daily routine that brought them joy, it was the post-training feast.
No one knew what kind of colossal creature this at ca from, but it was downright addictive.
Even better, after eating it, their bodies always felt warm and refreshed. The next morning, they would wake up full of energy, without a hint of soreness.
Naruto also chewed on a hunk of Sea King at while glancing at Yakushi Kabuto.
"Kabuto, any news on the person I asked you to find?"
Kabuto quickly swallowed his bite and respectfully replied,
"nma-dono, I used Orochimaru-sama's network to search for Zabuza, but he's excellent at hiding. So far, there's been no response."
Naruto wasn't surprised.
"Thanks. But keep searching."
"Yes. Serving nma-dono is never a burden," Kabuto said solemnly.
Naruto chuckled and looked at the grease-covered boys.
"Eat up. Tomorrow's training is going to double."
Imdiately, their expressions turned bitter. But grief quickly turned to gluttony as they stuffed their mouths full.
They needed to be full to survive the devil's training.
Amidst this atmosphere, Naruto noticed that Kimimaro no longer wore his usual cold expression. A subtle smile had ford on his face.
"Heh, I knew it. Kids are happiest when they have friends around."
Naruto grinned and grabbed another chunk of Sea King at.
Ti passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, six months went by.
Back in Konoha's Ninja Academy.
The blond youth leaned by the window, eyes closed, gazing toward the sky-piercing Azure Gate. He let out a sigh.
"Half a year… and it's still only this open?"
In front of him, the World Gate had only opened a palm-sized gap.
He could see the ocean beyond, but couldn't pass through yet. The gap had to be widened further.
"At this rate, when I get there, Luffy might already be Pirate King…"
Naruto couldn't help but complain inwardly.
Opening his eyes, he looked at the lethargic students in class, then turned his gaze to the streets outside.
Unlike usual, the atmosphere in Konoha recently was unusually grim.
Vendors had mostly stopped setting up their stalls.
Pedestrians were rare.
And the few Konoha shinobi who passed by wore heavy expressions, vanishing quickly toward their destinations.
Even the air felt heavy with tension.
Naruto had long grown used to this. He muttered to himself while sensing the area with Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki):
"It should be in the next couple of days…"
Though he hadn't directly involved himself with the Uchiha situation, he could sense the growing conflict.
After Shisui's death, the Uchiha had indeed behaved for a while.
But that didn't last.
Konoha's continued suppression gave rise to the hardliner faction, which began to influence the entire Uchiha clan.
Recently, the conflict between them and the village had intensified.
"What do you an by 'it should be soon'?"
Uchiha Sasuke approached with a puzzled expression.
Naruto snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Sasuke. He didn't answer the question, instead asking calmly:
"Sothing you need?"
Sasuke didn't pursue the topic. His gaze was firm as he declared:
"Uzumaki Naruto! I'm challenging you again! My brother taught a powerful new jutsu yesterday—this ti I'll definitely win!"
Before Naruto could respond, Sasuke quickly ford hand seals, afraid Naruto would attack first again.
Naruto watched Sasuke's movents with boredom.
Too slow.
In the ti it took him to finish those seals, Naruto could've already taken him down three tis.
Just as Sasuke completed the last hand sign, his chest puffed, and his cheeks swelled, preparing to breathe out fire—
Naruto extended one finger and poked his throat.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Sasuke instantly began to choke violently. Since the jutsu had already activated, every cough spewed fire.
The whole class scread and scattered in panic.
Naruto said lazily, "Too slow on the seals. And way too close. I can beat you with a finger."
Still coughing, Sasuke's eyes watered, and he cried out with a sobbing voice:
"You sneak attacked again…"
His voice trembled, on the verge of tears.
He had challenged Naruto five or six dozen tis already.
Each ti, he lost before even leaving the classroom.
Seeing Sasuke about to cry, the classroom's group of fangirls exploded.
Haruno Sakura stord over and slamd her hand on Naruto's desk.
"Uzumaki Naruto! Sasuke-kun is your classmate! How could you be so rough with him?!"
Yamanaka Ino followed up angrily.
"Forehead girl is right! Naruto, you owe Sasuke-kun an apology!"
The other fangirls joined in, turning the room into a chaotic market of complaints and scolding.
Naruto frowned but didn't release any killing intent—these fangirls had grown immune to it.
So, instead, he knocked gently on his desk.
Imdiately, a girl with long brown hair and a pale red outfit entered the room, her eyes cold as she looked at the noisy girls.
"What are you all doing?"
The fangirls froze in fear, staring at her.
"Isn't that Kurama Yakumo… the newly promoted Special Jōnin?"
"I heard her genjutsu is amazing… even beat her teacher, Yūhi Kurenai…"
"How is soone like her standing up for Naruto of all people? He's a total monster…"
"I heard it's because Naruto was the one who helped her overco her trauma…"
"What kind of trauma?"
"No idea, but they're really close…"
As the gossip swirled, Yakumo's gaze grew colder—especially toward Sakura.
Forming hand seals, she said icily:
"Are you all bullying Naruto-kun?"
Terrified, the fangirls stepped back in a panic.
"No! I just wanted him to apologize to Sasuke-kun…"
"He's a monster! Don't be fooled, Yakumo-san! He's the one bullying Sasuke-kun!"
"Iruka-sensei, help—!"
But no matter how they pleaded, Yakumo didn't stop her hand seals.
She said coldly,
"Genjutsu: Naraku no Mieru Jutsu (Hell Viewing Technique)!"
(End of Chapter)
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