A Promise Between Men!

Inside the Uchiha Training Ground.

"Huh? It was actually this easy?"

Naruto and the Shadow Clones around him looked at one another, then burst into laughter in unison.

"I really am a genius, hahahaha!"

When Sasuke had first said he would teach him the Shadow Clone Technique, Naruto had been a little hesitant.

After all, the Shadow Clone Technique was a B-rank ninjutsu, while he could barely use even the basic E-rank Clone Technique at the Academy.

But to his surprise, the Shadow Clone Technique was even simpler than the basic Clone Technique. After receiving less than half an hour of instruction from Sasuke, he had already mastered it proficiently.

After being happy for a while, Naruto and the Shadow Clones around him all turned their eyes toward Sasuke, who still wore a calm expression. To his surprise, Sasuke did not mock him this time. Instead, he nodded slightly and said flatly:

"It seems you do have some talent. You are not as worthless as I thought. That does come as a surprise."

Sasuke calmly swept his gaze over the Shadow Clones around him.

Ten!

The maximum number of tangible clones the Shadow Clone Technique could create was ten, yet Naruto had reached the technique's limit on his very first attempt.

Sasuke had trained for more than three months and could now create ten tangible clones as well. But considering the strain on his body and mind, ten clones were a bit too much for him, so he usually created only around five to assist with his training.

Yet Naruto had created ten Shadow Clones in one go and still looked energetic and full of spirit.

Still, Sasuke could understand. For Naruto, ten Shadow Clones were child's play. In the original story, when he learned the enhanced forbidden version of the Shadow Clone Technique—the Multi Shadow Clone Technique—

On his first use, he had created a thousand clones and beaten Mizuki, then a Chunin instructor, into a cripple.

And according to the official databook, Naruto's limit was at least five thousand. At least!

Sasuke could not help sighing inwardly. Sometimes, comparing yourself to others really could drive you mad.

"Hehe!" Naruto scratched the back of his head awkwardly. It was the first time he had heard Sasuke praise him. Though it was not very obvious, he was still extremely happy.

"Um, Sasuke..." After being happy for a while, Naruto looked at him seriously and asked, "Why did you teach me this ninjutsu?"

Naruto's voice was tense and uneasy. For someone as lonely as him, what he wanted most was everyone's acknowledgment. And among those his age, the acknowledgment he desired most was Sasuke's!

Looking into Naruto's clear blue yet slightly nervous eyes, Sasuke fell silent for a moment. Rather than answer directly, he said, "The Shadow Clone Technique is a B-rank ninjutsu developed by the Second Hokage. It uses chakra to create tangible clones. They can move and fight just like the caster, possess independent consciousness apart from the caster's main body, and have a certain degree of resistance to attacks. They are usually used for reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and combat support."

"But recently, I discovered another use for it: assisting with training!"

"Assisting with training?" Naruto scratched his head, unable to understand.

"That's right." Sasuke nodded slightly and continued calmly. "When tangible clones are dispelled, their memories and experiences return to the main body. To a certain extent, that is equivalent to speeding up training."

"Huh!?"

Naruto froze at first, then seemed to realize something. His eyes lit up as he said excitedly, "Then won't my future training be ten times faster?"

Thinking back to what Sasuke had said earlier, Naruto understood why Sasuke had taught him the Shadow Clone Technique.

"You could say that, to a certain extent." Sasuke nodded. "But don't get happy too soon. Along with experience and memories, physical fatigue and mental strain also return."

Seeing Naruto nod as if he understood, Sasuke continued, "Just as I said before, if you want to catch up to me, you will have to put in ten times, even a hundred times, the effort!"

Naruto was not upset by this. Instead, he hurriedly asked with some delight, "Sasuke, do you consider me an opponent now?"

"No. You are still far from qualified to be my opponent, Naruto!" Sasuke said coldly. His indifferent gaze pierced like a sharp sword, like a basin of cold water poured over Naruto's head, instantly calming him down.

"Naruto, I admire your courage in tirelessly challenging me, but I despise those who overestimate themselves even more. So prove it to me with your sweat and passion, Uzumaki Naruto. If you can do that, then I, Second Pillar, will acknowledge you as my opponent."

Naruto's heart shook. He clenched his fists, and flames seemed to burn in his blue eyes as he said with utmost seriousness:

"I'll prove it to you. I swear it on Uzumaki Naruto's ninja way, Sasuke!"

With that, Naruto held out his fist and said with an incomparably solemn expression, "This is a promise between men!"

"Heh..." Sasuke chuckled softly. After remaining silent for a moment, he extended his fist as well.

Bang!

Their fists met!

Under the bright moonlight, in the training ground within the Uchiha Clan Compound, the two boys pressed their fists together and made their promise!

Inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, who had been silently watching, stroked his beard in satisfaction when he saw this scene, revealing a gratified smile.

Naruto left. After he left, the sensation of being watched from above also disappeared. After all, compared to Sasuke, the Third Hokage was more concerned with Naruto.

Sasuke had naturally known all along about the Third Hokage's gaze. Half of what he had done just now was an act, and the other half was sincere.

The sincerity was that he truly needed an opponent who could put pressure on him.

The act was to make the Third Hokage think he was merely closed-off on the surface, but inwardly someone who deeply longed for friendship and valued his companions.

That sort of persona would naturally appeal to the Third Hokage. It also suggested that he was relatively stable and easy to control.

Whether in the original timeline or this world, the Third Hokage had never forbidden or guarded against Sasuke's friendship with Naruto because of Sasuke's sensitive identity.

Instead, judging from the various details and memories of the original timeline, the Third Hokage had approved of the bond of friendship between them and had even deliberately encouraged it. To that end, he had specifically arranged for Naruto and Sasuke to be placed in the same class to deepen their bond.

Danzo's methods were usually brute-force oppression, intimidation, and coercion, while the Third Hokage was someone who liked to play the emotional card. And in this world, emotions were often even more fatal and difficult to unravel.

You could call the Third Hokage hypocritical, sanctimonious, full of crocodile tears, or even the mastermind behind everything, but it could not be denied that he truly felt guilty toward Sasuke and Naruto.

So, while the Third Hokage was alive, no matter how much trouble Naruto caused, he would suppress the matter.

Even when Sasuke acted like he wanted no one near him and remained completely immersed in revenge, unable to free himself, the Third Hokage did not mind. Instead, he deliberately guided Sasuke to make more friends and deepen his connection and bond with the village.

Of course, Sasuke would not completely trust what had been shown in the original timeline. His act of teaching Naruto the Shadow Clone Technique had actually been a test as well.