Cangwu didn't dodge. He let Naruto lock him from behind.
"Not bad. You've improved. At least you know to use your head now."
The Naruto shadow clone restraining Cangwu from behind heard his praise and said smugly, "Teacher Cangwu, let's see you dodge this!"
"First, I used Shadow Clone Jutsu to distract you, then secretly sent one of them around behind you."
Whoosh—
While the Naruto behind him was speaking, the other clones charged forward all at once.
They pinned Cangwu firmly in place.
At the same time, two shadow clones leaped high into the air.
"Teacher Cangwu, you kicked me in the butt twice earlier. This is payback!"
"Take this!"
Sakura, hiding in the shadows, froze for a moment. "Naruto's pretty capable!"
The corner of Sasuke's mouth lifted before he even noticed.
This idiot can actually use a feint. Maybe he's not completely beyond saving.
Sasuke was ready to step in at any moment.
By then, Naruto's shadow clones had also reached Cangwu.
"Let me beat you to a pulp!"
Thud—!!!
After a muffled impact—
Naruto was dumbfounded.
"Strange... How did that happen?"
Watching the real Naruto fly backward, the shadow clones were baffled.
"The one who got hit... was Naruto?!" Sasuke's pupils contracted.
This time, he was sure Cangwu hadn't moved at all.
Yet Naruto's fist had passed right through him.
"What on earth is going on?"
Just then—
Cangwu suddenly formed hand seals.
With a loud bang—
A huge cloud of white smoke billowed up.
When the smoke cleared—
All that remained on the field was the real Naruto, lying on the ground with a lump on his head, along with his many shadow clones.
"Wait!"
"There's one too many people!"
"Damn it... Teacher Cangwu used Transformation Jutsu!"
"You're Teacher Cangwu, aren't you?!"
"Get him!"
"You're the one who's Teacher Cangwu, aren't you?!"
"..."
After a bout of heated arguing and chaotic fighting—
The real Naruto suddenly came to his senses.
"Dispel the jutsu first!"
Once he dispelled Shadow Clone Jutsu—
Only he remained on the field.
His vision was a little blurry.
He looked around at the empty clearing.
Naruto's bruised and swollen face turned utterly gloomy.
Pinkie: Naruto is such a loser.
Uchiha Sasuke: Should I say he's bad at math... or just not very bright?
Cangwu had obviously just used chakra to create a huge cloud of white smoke.
Then he'd used the Glint-Glint Fruit's power to teleport away.
Suddenly, a dazzling flash of light caught Naruto, who wore an utterly dejected expression.
He turned to look.
His face immediately lit up with delight. "The bell~!"
Without hesitation, he lunged toward it.
He must've left in such a hurry that he forgot it~
Teacher Cangwu, the bell is mine~!
You smug Sasuke, I won this match~!
Completely off guard, Naruto threw himself at it.
The moment he bent down—
Whoosh—
A sound cut through the air.
The next instant, a snare looped around Naruto's feet, leaving him hanging upside down.
"What is this?!"
Naruto wriggled in midair like a caterpillar.
Sasuke's face was full of exasperation.
It's obviously a trap! What an idiot!
But... what exactly happened just now?
That man... how could he have such a bizarre ability?
An opponent like that... doesn't have a single opening!
Buzz—
A golden flash streaked past.
"Don't fall for such an obvious trap."
"This isn't ninja make-believe."
"Naruto, if we were enemies, you'd have died dozens of times by now."
As he spoke, Cangwu waved a hand.
The crude mechanism in the tree shifted.
With a series of clacks, another loop of rope wound around Naruto's neck.
"If you can't figure out how to escape in ten minutes, the rope around your feet will snap."
"Then the rope around your neck will strangle you."
Hearing that he'd be strangled, Naruto froze.
"No! Teacher Cangwu!"
"We're enemies now..."
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Now!
Sasuke had finally found an opening.
As the fireball drew closer—
Naruto's face filled with disbelief.
Boom—!!!
The fireball exploded.
Cangwu disappeared.
Naruto: "..."
"You bastard!!!"
"Are you trying to kill me?!"
"Idiot, shut up!" Sasuke snorted.
Naruto was so furious his face twisted. He hurried over.
Sasuke ignored him. "This idiot... Where did Cangwu go now?!"
That strange intangibility, just like a Phantom Clone...
And speed as fast as Body Flicker Technique.
What a pain... Hmm?!
Sasuke froze.
He couldn't believe Naruto could be this stupid.
Sakura was dumbfounded too.
Naruto lunged at Sasuke and knocked him to the ground.
He raised his fist to punch Sasuke.
"Idiot!"
"You nearly killed me, and you still dare call me an idiot?!"
Naruto's fist was about to come down.
Suddenly, a heavy punch landed on his head.
"Ah—!!!"
Splat—
"Idiot! Sasuke's Great Fireball Technique looked like it was attacking Teacher Cangwu, but he was actually saving you!" Sakura said, looking annoyed.
White smoke still curled from her fist.
But soon, she realized something was wrong.
At a time like this, wasn't Naruto supposed to grin stupidly and apologize?
Why... Huh?
Sakura looked down.
That punch of hers had knocked Naruto flat.
By sheer bad luck... he'd landed on Sasuke beneath him.
That made twice now.
Sakura: "..."
She was furious and embarrassed, and also felt a little guilty and jealous.
I'm sorry... Sasuke-kun, I didn't mean to... Damn it, Naruto, this is the second time you've stolen Sasuke's first kiss... Sob...
Their eyes met.
Naruto and Sasuke both froze.
One, two, three...
After a full ten seconds, they pushed each other away at the same time.
"Urgh—!!!" x2
They both retched.
Then they glared viciously at each other.
"Urgh—!!!" x2
"I'm going to kill you... Naruto!"
"I'm the one who's going to... Sasuke!"
"Urgh..."
Sakura stood between them.
She was caught in the middle.
This time, she didn't dare say a word.
After all... she was the one who'd started it.
Elsewhere—
Behind a tree, Cangwu sat boredly on a rock.
He naturally had no interest in watching two grown men kiss.
Bonds... It really was a good word.
Friendship, love, and even bromance could all be described as bonds.
And judging by the original story... Naruto and Sasuke clearly shared something beyond friendship... bromance... and the same went for Gaara's feelings for Naruto.
"Honestly... your team really is... Ahem. I didn't expect you to master so many tricks I didn't even know about in such a short time."
"You've grown stronger, Cangwu."
A pleasant voice sounded beside Cangwu.
A curvaceous figure, exquisite features, and eyes like rubies.
"Grown stronger?"
"That's one way to put it."
"Don't you have to evaluate the Eighth Squad?"
Cangwu turned his head slightly and looked up at her.
The lock opened of its own accord.
A hint of annoyance appeared on Yūhi Kurenai's lovely face.
Then she squeezed her legs together and sat beside Cangwu.
Blushing, she reached out a slender finger and lightly tapped Cangwu on the forehead.
"Honestly... Your strength has become unfamiliar, and your personality has changed so much, too... I suppose power really can change a person's personality."
Before you continue