Naruto's Cheat

By the Naka River.

Hanfu watched Naruto, Karin, and Hinata clumsily trading blows on the river, utterly bored. Their constant chatter was making him sleepy.

At one point, Hanfu suddenly sensed a familiar presence. He perked up and looked back, only to see a short, frail figure trudging away like a walking corpse.

The boy wore a purple jacket, with a Pokeball emblazoned on the back of his vest. Add in his short stature and sharply defined hair...

Uchiha Sasuke?

What was he doing here?

Why had he left without saying a word?

Why did his back look so lonely, like a little stray dog?

Hanfu's head filled with questions, but he shook them away. Sasuke isn't my responsibility. I can't do anything about it.

"Teacher Hanfu!"

By then, Naruto, Karin, and Hinata had finished their little scuffle.

With a bruised and swollen face, Naruto ran back across the water, bursting with energy. "I won!!"

"Oh, really?" Hanfu looked at Karin and Hinata. They were standing on the water, hands on their knees as they panted heavily, exhausted.

Was that what you called winning?

I couldn't even bring myself to point it out!

"Teacher Hanfu, now can you teach me the Shadow Clone Technique?" Naruto looked at him hopefully.

Teaching him the Shadow Clone Technique was no problem... Hanfu smiled. "Of course. Watch carefully."

Hanfu pressed his index and middle fingers together on both hands, crossed them, and formed the Ram Seal. He called, "Shadow Clone Technique!"

Poof!

A puff of smoke appeared, and a perfect copy of Hanfu stood beside him.

"Did you see that?" Hanfu asked, then casually dispelled the clone.

Naruto looked conflicted. He had seen it—but actually, he'd known for years that the Shadow Clone Technique required the Ram Seal. Knowing that didn't mean he could