Naruto Uzumaki's Counterattack

"You do you."

Teacher Beizawa said helplessly.

Naruto Uzumaki and Might Guy already knew each other, so he had no reason to stop it.

Besides, he hadn't done anything wrong—Hiruzen Sarutobi probably wouldn't blame him for this.

As for Minato Namikaze, all he could do was wish him luck.

Hopefully, when he saw his own son, he'd still recognize him.

"I am pretty happy."

Naruto Uzumaki said with a full smile. "Uncle Guy's been good to me, taught me a lot of useful stuff."

"You can ask him for advice on taijutsu."

Teacher Beizawa sighed at that.

This kid was pitiful—didn't even have many normal friends.

"Yeah!"

Naruto Uzumaki nodded, then asked, "Teacher Beizawa, can I start Tree Climbing Training now?"

Maybe it was the mutual attraction between Stand users, but he had a strange fixation on Sasuke Uchiha.

Anyway, he didn't want to fall behind him.

"Wait until you're first in Physical Training before you climb trees."

Teacher Beizawa thought for a moment, then asked, "You don't want to lose first place because of a moment's slacking, do you?"

"I get it!"

Naruto Uzumaki's fighting spirit was instantly ignited.

He'd take first in Physical Training and make everyone look at him differently.

"I'm going running!"

Naruto Uzumaki started jogging around the training ground again.

Teacher Beizawa's gaze fell on Yakumo Kurama not far away.

She was drenched in sweat but still stubbornly slow-jogging.

Teacher Beizawa nodded slightly.

Probably because kids in the ninja world matured early, their willpower was rock-solid.

In his past life, at six years old, he'd still been playing in the mud.

Teacher Beizawa looked away, turned, and walked to the tree to help Sasuke Uchiha and the others train.

He was already starting to feel stretched thin.

Now his hope rested on that mission of Naruto Uzumaki's.

With the Shadow Clone Technique, he could ease up a lot.

Two days passed in a flash, and soon it was Thursday's Combat Class.

On the Ninja Academy playground, students from First Year Class A trickled in one by one.

"Physical Training again. What a pain."

Shikamaru Nara said, hands behind his head, looking listless.

"Last time I lost to Sasuke by a hair. This time I'm starting over—I'm taking back everything that's mine!"

Kiba Inuzuka clenched his fist.

"Those are my lines!"

Naruto Uzumaki shouted. "First place is mine!"

"How could any of you beat Sasuke-kun?"

Sakura Haruno asked with a grin. "Right, Ino?"

"Yeah."

Ino Yamanaka said offhandedly.

She'd been busy training lately and hadn't bothered competing with Sakura Haruno over Sasuke Uchiha.

"...?"

Sakura Haruno noticed her dismissiveness.

Sasuke Uchiha gave a slight nod at that.

He really did think so.

No offense, but everyone here except Teacher Beizawa was destined to be his loser.

"This time's different! Teacher Beizawa taught me his running secrets!"

Naruto Uzumaki said smugly.

"Little Sasuke, easy pickings!"

"Just because Teacher Beizawa is strong doesn't mean you are."

Sasuke Uchiha replied calmly.

He knew Naruto had taken Beizawa's Running Training, but one week wouldn't make a difference. After all, looking at last time, there were eight ranks between them.

"Just you wait!"

Naruto shot back defiantly. "I'm gonna knock you to your knees!"

"Hey! I'm the one in second place!"

Kiba Inuzuka couldn't help but remind them. "Don't ignore me!"

"Teacher Beizawa's here!"

Ino Yamanaka perked up suddenly.

"Line up in order. Fifty laps first."

Beizawa stood on the track and cut straight to the point.

He quickly felt a very obvious stare.

He didn't need to guess who it was—Sasuke Uchiha.

"Ready... Go!"

Beizawa raised his voice.

The group charged out in an orderly fashion. Unlike last time, Naruto didn't sprint ahead immediately.

Sasuke glanced at him.

He didn't think Naruto could surpass him, but with Beizawa in mind, he figured he should take it seriously enough to avoid a slip-up.

Beizawa breathed steadily, running at the front.

He didn't look fast, but no one could catch up to him.

He had no idea what Sasuke was thinking. If he did, he'd tell him that when a stat monster mastered technique, they were unstoppable.

Same as last time, after fifty laps, most students couldn't keep going.

Ten more laps in, only Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga remained.

"What's going on?"

Sakura Haruno sat on the ground, confused. "How is Naruto still here?"

By this point last time, Naruto had long since collapsed.

"As expected of Teacher Beizawa."

Ino Yamanaka panted out.

"Is that running secret really that useful?"

Choji Akimichi asked in surprise.

"The secret's one thing, but the real key is Naruto's own strength."

Shikamaru Nara saw through it at once. "Last time, he burned himself out sprinting from the start, which wrecked his stamina."

Time ticked by, and the lap count hit seventy.

Sasuke Uchiha was gasping for air, feeling the weight in his body.

He looked at Beizawa ahead and gritted his teeth.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't catch up.

Forget it—Beizawa was a teacher with over a decade's advantage. Losing to him was normal. He just needed to take first place and... wait!

Sasuke suddenly heard breathing behind him.

Last time at seventy laps, everyone else had already dropped out.

He turned his head and found Naruto Uzumaki still there.

Something was off. Nine out of ten, something was seriously off.

What was going on? How was he still going?

Even Kiba and Shino had given up. Why was the guy who placed ninth last time still running?

And he looked way more relaxed than Sasuke.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Where had it gone wrong?

Just then, Naruto noticed Sasuke's lapse in focus.

Perfect chance! Time to go!

Naruto Uzumaki suddenly burst forth, surpassing him.

Sasuke Uchiha's breathing was completely thrown off, his steps loose, his reactions sluggish.

He watched helplessly as Naruto Uzumaki pulled further and further away.

Sasuke Uchiha had already reached his limit, and now that he couldn't muster another breath, he could no longer catch up.

"Hahaha! I'm first!"

Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fist and said excitedly, "This is youth!"

"...?"

Beizawa heard this and couldn't help pressing a hand to his forehead.

Damn it!

Another youth-obsessed guy!

Current Mission: Help Naruto Uzumaki achieve second place in Physical Training.

Mission Reward: Shadow Clone Technique.

The host has completed the mission. Reward issued.

Beizawa froze for a moment, then his expression shifted—no takebacks.

Well done, Naruto!