Realizing the Training

"Combat training this afternoon!"

Iruka waved his hand and led the students to the training field.

But when it came time to assign sparring partners, Iruka found himself in a difficult spot.

Sparring partners were matched by ability and usually stayed the same.

But Naruto often skipped class, so he didn't have a regular partner.

Of the few other students without regular partners, everyone except Sasuke, who hadn't said anything, was unwilling to spar with Naruto.

They were afraid they'd get beaten to a pulp.

"Sasuke, are you okay with this?" Iruka asked, turning his gaze to Sasuke.

Sasuke folded his arms and said coldly, "I don't care."

I'll win either way.

Iruka looked at Naruto next. Naruto nodded. He's just Uchiha Sasuke. I can crush him with one hand.

"Good. You two are up first. Step forward."

Naruto and Sasuke stood facing each other.

"Make the Seal of Confrontation."

Without any trash talk, they silently formed the Seal of Confrontation.

"Begin!"

At Iruka's loud command, Naruto and Sasuke charged at each other, beginning a good, old-fashioned elementary-school Taijutsu match.

Naruto punched Sasuke, Sasuke kicked Naruto. Their fists and feet collided, and both stepped back before charging at each other again.

Iruka praised them. "They both have a solid grasp of the basics..."

They were nowhere near as good as him, a Chunin—or even a Genin.

But compared to the other students at the Ninja Academy, Naruto and Sasuke's Taijutsu was excellent.

Thud! Thud! Thud...

After more than a hundred exchanges, Sasuke was panting heavily. Naruto, on the other hand, had only broken a slight sweat.

Their stamina was clearly on completely different levels.

This isn't good. I'm going to lose if this keeps up!

The thought of losing to someone who skipped class all the time darkened Sasuke's expression. He crossed his arms in front of his chest to block Naruto's kick.

Thud!

Sasuke used the force to leap backward, his hands flashing through a series of seals as he took a deep breath.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Limited by his age and Chakra, the fireball wasn't very large or fast. Naruto avoided it with a single roll.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh...

A row of Kunai shot toward Naruto before he could get back up.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The Kunai struck Naruto with pinpoint accuracy, and the students around them screamed.

"He's killed him!"

Iruka called out, "Stay calm. Look closely..."

A cloud of white smoke flashed past, and "Naruto" turned into a log.

"Substitution Technique! When did he—?"

Sasuke stared in shock. Suddenly, he heard something cut through the air at his side. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a fist rapidly closing in.

With no time to think, Sasuke leaned back to dodge. The fist grazed his face.

Thump!

Both boys fell to the ground. Naruto landed on top of Sasuke and reached to grab him by the throat.

Sasuke caught Naruto by the wrist and strained to shove him off. Then he pinned Naruto beneath him and gritted his teeth. "You lose—"

"What are you dreaming about?" Naruto wrenched his wrist free and drove his elbow into Sasuke's chest. Then he flipped Sasuke over and took the upper position again.

"You're the one who should give up, Sasuke."

"This... is... impossible!"

Sasuke pushed Naruto away with all his strength, while Naruto struggled to pin him down.

They kept switching positions, rolling all over the training field.

The students watched in silence. The match had started out so spectacularly, but somehow it had ended up like this.

One student asked curiously, "Teacher, who do you think will win?"

Iruka considered it. "Probably Naruto. His stamina..."

The girls in the class strongly objected. "How could he possibly beat Sasuke? Sasuke's the best!"

The next moment, one of the boys shouted excitedly, "Look, it's over! Sasuke lost!"

Naruto held Sasuke by the throat and asked, "Do you give up?"

"I... Cough, cough, cough. I..."

Sasuke was exhausted and couldn't fight back. His eyes rolled back as Naruto choked him.

"Sasuke gives up! Naruto, you win. Let go of him before you hurt him!"

As he spoke, Iruka hurried over and told Naruto to release Sasuke at once.

Inside the Sealing Space, Kushina and Minato hurriedly called out too. "Even if you don't want to be friends with Sasuke, you shouldn't go this far. You're classmates."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I won't choke him to death... And who said I don't want to be friends with Sasuke? I'm going this hard precisely because I want to be friends with him."

Naruto let go and stood up. He reached down and pulled Sasuke to his feet, then said earnestly, "You may not be as good as me, but don't get discouraged. Lots of people aren't as good as me, and you're just one of them. You're nothing special."

Iruka was speechless. How had he never noticed before how conceited Naruto was?

Sasuke shook off Naruto's hand and touched the red marks on his neck. Staring at Naruto, he said coldly, "When I beat you next time, I hope you can still say that."

Sasuke hated losing, but he wasn't afraid of it.

After losing to Naruto, he calmly reviewed what he'd done right and wrong. He realized their skills were about equal, but Naruto had far more stamina. That was why he'd lost.

Sasuke thought deeply. "Improving my stamina will take more training, but it'll take a long time to see results. If I want to beat that guy as soon as possible, I'll have to focus on technique."

Throwing weapons, using Ninjutsu, fighting with Taijutsu...

Remembering Naruto's arrogant face, Sasuke wasted no time. He quickly drew up a training plan and began at once.

And so, on the desolate, lonely Uchiha Training Ground, a small figure kept practicing late into the night.

A week later.

The Ninja Academy.

Another combat training class.

Before Iruka could assign partners, Sasuke stepped forward and challenged Naruto.

"Do you dare?"

"Of course."

The two stood facing each other, then turned their heads in unison to look at Iruka.

"If you're both willing, I don't object. But I have one condition... friendship first, competition second. Don't let this hurt your relationship, and don't cause any serious injuries. Especially you, Naruto!"

Iruka glared fiercely at Naruto as he laid down the law. "Don't choke Sasuke!"

Naruto was about to explain, but Sasuke cut him off. "You're talking too much. He won't get the chance to choke me."

The skies are clear, the rain has stopped, and Sasuke thinks he's invincible again. Naruto found that rather amusing. "If I can get my hands around your neck, then..."

Sasuke declared defiantly, "Even if you choke me to death, I won't have any complaints!"

Naruto chuckled. "Iruka-sensei, you heard him. Make sure you testify for me later."

Iruka groaned. "No choking!"

Sasuke said impatiently, "Just start already!"

Iruka repeated, "No choking, either of you," then said, "Both of you, form the Seal of Confrontation... Now, begin!"

Thud! Thud! Thud...