Village Routine: Shadow Clones and Naruto's Breakdown

Konoha

Team 7's meeting point

"Damn it, Teacher Kakashi is late again...

I was all fired up to do a mission today!"

Looking at the sun already high in the sky, Naruto could no longer hold back his dissatisfaction and shouted.

What a huge blow that was to an energetic young man...

"Exactly, exactly...

If I'd known, I would've slept in a little longer for my beauty sleep."

Equally dissatisfied, Sakura first glanced at Sasuke. Only when she saw the irritation in his eyes did she raise her fist in agreement.

What she didn't know was that Sasuke wasn't frustrated because Kakashi was late at all!

"Naruto, can you teach me your Shadow Clone Technique...?"

After struggling with it for a while, Sasuke finally stepped forward and asked calmly under Naruto's puzzled gaze.

He was only one step away from completing his Rasengan training, and he didn't want to give up now.

If time allowed, Sasuke wouldn't mind slowly mastering a one-handed Rasengan.

But the Chunin Exams were imminent. Facing people like Orochimaru and Gaara, he had to become stronger!

"Huh?

Shadow Clones??"

Naruto looked astonished, unable to understand why Sasuke wanted to learn the Shadow Clone Technique.

Still, he wasn't about to miss this chance to show off in front of Sakura!

His eyes darted around as Naruto deliberately cleared his throat and straightened up.

"Sasuke...

The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique is an A-rank dangerous Forbidden Technique from the Scroll of Sealing.

Even I only mastered it thanks to good luck!

Even if you're a genius, you'll have a hard time learning this technique..."

With Sasuke's speechless expression before him, Naruto put on airs while sneaking glances at Sakura.

That smug look made Sasuke want to hit him with One Thousand Years of Death!!

Naruto really was both gutsy and shameless...

"Hmph, you don't need to worry about that.

Just tell me whether you'll teach me or not. I'm not begging you!"

Sasuke refused to indulge him, displaying an even more arrogant attitude as he demonstrated what it meant to eat soft rice with a hard attitude.

Uh, no...

He wasn't living off someone else. He was giving Naruto a chance to show off!

"Is that the attitude you have when asking someone to teach you??"

Naruto, who had already been prepared to put on a performance, immediately froze. Rubbing his head, he asked with a dark expression.

Who exactly was asking someone else for a favor here?!

"Forget it if you don't want to...

I was originally planning to treat you to meals for a month as payment.

Forget it. I'll just go ask Teacher Kakashi instead..."

How could Sasuke let Naruto keep showing off? He immediately changed his tune and retreated to advance.

If Naruto's version of the Shadow Clone Technique didn't require only one Hand Seal, he wouldn't have gone through this trouble.

"Treat me to meals for a month??

Don't say that! Who said I didn't want to?!

Sasuke, we're partners who acknowledge each other.

How could I refuse you? Hehehe...

I was joking. I was just joking...

You have to keep your word. Don't go back on it!"

Naruto's eyes shone as he hurriedly shouted in excitement. He couldn't miss out on Sasuke's monthly meal ticket.

If Teacher Kakashi got there first, he wouldn't get anything...

A whole month! He would eat every delicious feast he'd previously been too reluctant to buy.

"Huh? Treating you for a month??

Naruto, don't you dare take advantage of this to make any excessive demands!"

Seeing Naruto practically drooling, Sakura hurriedly shouted, trying to stop him from taking advantage of Sasuke.

At the same time, she secretly shot Sasuke a dissatisfied look.

Sasuke-kun was good in every way, except he spent money far too freely...

Especially when the other person was Naruto instead of her. It was infuriating!

"Ah... haha...

Of course not. Sakura, how could you think that of me..."

Having his thoughts seen through, Naruto laughed awkwardly and secretly decided he had to eat Sasuke broke.

Excessive demands?

Heh heh, when the time came, he'd make Sasuke understand what excessive really meant!!

"Then we'll start today...

After the mission ends, you'll teach me the Shadow Clone Technique."

Sasuke had no idea about Naruto's sinister thoughts and nodded calmly in confirmation.

If he knew what Naruto was thinking, he would definitely scoff at it...

A sucker? How could that be possible!!

"Yo~~

Sorry, I got lost again today by accident..."

Kakashi's voice suddenly appeared, interrupting Sakura just as she was about to speak. Sasuke and the other two simultaneously turned toward the red torii gate.

"Liar..."

"Liar..."

The next instant, Naruto and Sakura pointed at Kakashi and shouted furiously in unison.

They had heard that insincere excuse far too many times!

"Yo, you all look pretty motivated...

Then I hereby announce that today's mission is weeding the Herb Garden.

A long-awaited D-rank Mission!"

Kakashi leaped down beside the three of them and spoke calmly, directly ignoring the two's anger.

"Weeding??

What's with that...

I was expecting some high-level, exciting mission. This is way too lame!"

Naruto's face fell as he was the first to jump up in protest. This was completely different from what he had imagined!

"Idiot, the Land of Waves mission was just an exception.

D-rank Missions are your normal missions. Let's go..."

Kakashi frowned and loudly rebuked him. Because of the changes to the Land of Waves mission, he had made the decision on his own to bring Naruto and Sasuke on a dangerous A-rank mission!

The Third Hokage hadn't said much, but there was no way he would let them leave the village for the time being!

They still wanted more exciting missions?

What were they thinking...

Ten minutes later

"Sasuke, now I'll show you the might of the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique..."

Having regained his fighting spirit, Naruto looked at the lush green Herb Garden and formed Hand Seals as he called out.

This was his moment to prove his worth!!

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique..."

Following Naruto's explosive shout, dozens of Naruto clones appeared with a series of loud pops...

"Go! Let's finish the mission in one go..."

Under Sasuke and Sakura's speechless gazes, Naruto waved grandly and took the lead in charging toward the Herb Garden.

Dozens of clones instantly swarmed in, dividing up the entire garden as they lowered their heads and worked hard...

"Uh? Is he trying to show off?

Or is he helping us finish the mission??"

Looking at the Herb Garden, where there wasn't even room to set foot, Sakura's beautiful eyes froze as she asked with a strange expression.

"Tch, let him do whatever he wants..."

Sasuke shrugged and complained weakly. It was just as well—he didn't want to waste time pulling weeds either.

*[Naruto...

How is this supposed to build team spirit??

Still, this works too. While he's still full of energy, they can complete a few more D-rank Missions.

That should be enough to let them catch up to this Joint Exams...]*

Kakashi, who was reading Icha Icha Paradise, heard Naruto's commotion. He looked up and silently grumbled to himself.

A few minutes later

"Hehehe...

It's all done, ma'am...

What do you think? I was fast, right!!"

Naruto stood smugly before the client as he spoke, while throwing Sasuke and Sakura a boastful look.

This was the power of his Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!!

"Hey, you...

What exactly are you so proud of??

Fast? It's because you were too fast that I didn't have time to stop you.

You brat, you pulled out all the medicinal herbs I painstakingly planted...

I told you to pull the weeds, the weeds!!"

The client, an older woman, glared viciously at Naruto and roared, then smashed her fist into him without holding back.

"Ah~~~"

After Naruto let out a heart-wrenching scream, his right eye became a black eye.

His body was still being relentlessly pummeled by the woman...

"Idiot..."

"This moron..."

Sasuke and Sakura held back their laughter as they mercilessly struck Naruto down, causing his fragile mentality to collapse again.

This wasn't the result he wanted...