Thousand Jin Embrace Returns, Mei Terumi's Test (5,000-Word Mega Chapter, Please Subscribe)

"Naruto, please help me!"

Seeing the urgency in Sasuke's eyes, Naruto had no idea what was wrong with him. Could he have become obsessed with training and gone off the rails?!

Naruto discreetly pried Sasuke's hand off his own and asked with concern, "Sasuke, you're my friend. Of course I'll help if something's wrong. Don't rush. Let's sit down and talk it over."

As he spoke, Naruto pulled Sasuke over to sit on a tree stump.

Sasuke lowered his head. Only after a long while did he look up again, his eyes somewhat bloodshot, clearly from training day and night. He opened his mouth and said, "Naruto, I don't know what's going on, but these past few days, I've constantly felt an urgent need to grow stronger."

"I'm completely clear-headed. I definitely haven't gone insane or anything. I can feel that something very important is about to happen to me, so I need the corresponding strength to face it."

"But I've always been just short of Sage Mode. I can't seem to take that final step. So all I can think of is improving my Sharingan."

"And the way to improve my Sharingan depends on you, Naruto."

After Sasuke finished in one breath, Naruto fell silent. He knew what method Sasuke meant. During one of their sparring matches, Naruto had used a Spirit Passage Fist on Sasuke.

That Netherworld Passage strike was an attack aimed at the mind, much like a genjutsu. With a single punch, a person's mind could collapse. The thing they feared most would assault the victim's consciousness. If they could not endure it, their mind would scatter, turning them into an idiot.

And what Sasuke least wanted to face was the Uchiha Clan massacre. His beloved older brother had personally slaughtered their entire clan. For Sasuke,