Konoha.
Classes at the Konoha Ninja Academy had ended.
The Hokage's directly subordinate Anbu continued to monitor Naruto every day.
Naruto had shown no unusual behavior all this time.
It was only that Naruto and Sasuke had grown increasingly close. Every day, Naruto would walk Sasuke home before heading back himself.
Today was no different. Naruto and Sasuke chatted and laughed all the way, and Naruto followed Sasuke into the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
The Anbu could only stand dumbly outside.
The Third Hokage had ordered them not to enter the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
Fortunately, Naruto never stayed long. After seeing Sasuke inside, he would come back out within a few minutes.
After returning home, Naruto would obediently do his homework and train, giving the Anbu little cause for concern.
What they did not know was...
Uchiha Clan Grounds.
"Ah..."
"Heh..."
More than a dozen Narutos were gripping balloons and exerting force. The balloons were filled with water, and the water balloons warped into all kinds of shapes.
Meanwhile, Sasuke raced across the surface of the pond in the courtyard.
After reaching the other side, he came to an abrupt stop, then sprinted back and forth.
After only a few rounds of such explosive training, Sasuke collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.
Watching Naruto's pile of clones still wrestling with water balloons in the distance, Sasuke could not help feeling a trace of envy in his eyes.
But he quickly turned his head away and looked toward the water.
In the reflection, one tomoe in each of Sasuke's eyes slowly turned.
A smile tugged at Sasuke's lips before he suppressed it.
After resting briefly, he immediately climbed back up and resumed training.
Fugaku stood on high ground with his arms folded, watching the two train.
Shamu truly had an eye for