Why!

"What do you mean by that?"

"I feel that anyone who puts effort into anything shouldn't be mocked, so..."

Naruto Uzumaki asked back with a straight face, "What's so funny about that? You're the one who keeps making me laugh."

Isn't it you who keeps wanting to laugh, damn it?

How did it turn into me wanting to make you laugh?

"How boring."

Sasuke snorted coldly, not wanting to pay any more attention to the little blondie, and stepped away to leave.

Naruto Uzumaki reached out to block him, "Wait, are you just going to leave like this... putting aside the debt of saving your life, how are we going to settle the matter of you spying on my training?"

"Then what do you want?"

"What do you have?"

Sasuke thought seriously, then finally shook his head, "I don't have anything I can give you. The most valuable thing I have is my life, but I can't give you my life for the time being. I must kill That Man... If I am still alive after killing That Man, my life can be yours."

Inside the Sealing Space, Minato heard this and his expression froze, "That Man... does he mean Itachi?"

"They are biological brothers, yet they have reached this point..."

Kushina felt sorrow for Mikoto.

Outside, Naruto Uzumaki was almost amused to the point of anger upon hearing Sasuke's words.

Although I don't really want your repayment, is it really okay for you to be such a blatant deadbeat?

Sasuke also felt it wasn't right, but what other choice did he have?

He stiffened his neck and stayed silent; the price was what it was, take it or leave it.

When a person has no shame, they are invincible. Naruto Uzumaki felt helpless and sighed, "You win. I don't want your life, but I have one condition: you will be my sparring partner. How about it, do you agree?"

"Be a sparring partner?"

After careful consideration, Sasuke felt that being a sparring partner would be of great benefit to him and could improve his strength.

Rather than a condition, it was more appropriate to call it a reward.

"Why are you looking for me?" Sasuke looked vigilant; there is no such thing as a free lunch unless there is a greater scheme involved.

Naruto Uzumaki said as a matter of course, "Because I need a punching bag with enough substance. Although you are very weak, you are the most substantial punching bag below me."

Sasuke felt deeply humiliated, but his worries subsided, and he said coldly, "I agree."

The two chatted for a while and agreed on a time for training.

Just as they were about to part ways and go home to change clothes, Naruto Uzumaki's expression shifted slightly, and he said to Sasuke, "You leave first, I have something urgent to attend to."

Having said that, Naruto Uzumaki sat cross-legged on the spot, and his consciousness entered the Sealing Space.

The next second, Moon appeared.

Naruto Uzumaki asked with concern, "You were in such a hurry to contact me, did something happen?"

Moon shook her head and said, "It's not that something happened to me, it's that something happened to someone else..."

Two minutes later, Naruto Uzumaki opened his eyes, and Sasuke's figure came into view.

"Why haven't you left yet?"

Seeing Naruto Uzumaki's look of disgust, Sasuke gritted his teeth and said, "Whatever urgent matter you have, I'll help you."

The debt of saving his life was too heavy; he had to pay back what he could.

"You leaving immediately would be the best help you could give me."

Sasuke ignored him; he was determined to help with this matter today.

"Tch, fine. Whatever you see later, don't say a word. Pretend you didn't see anything. You keep this secret for me; if you don't keep it a secret, then I'll beat you until you do."

After speaking, Naruto Uzumaki walked to a nearby tree and knocked around, forcing out six Anbu ninjas.

The Anbu said impatiently, "Kid, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Nothing much, I just want you all to look into my eyes."

As he spoke, Naruto Uzumaki opened his Rinnegan and used the Genjutsu he had obtained from Izumi Uchiha's head, hypnotizing the six of them in an instant.

"Continue with your mission."

After dismissing the Anbu, Naruto Uzumaki reached out toward the one o'clock direction and used Banshō Ten'in.

The next moment, a White Zetsu was pulled out from the ground and flew into his hand with a bewildered expression.

"You've been monitoring me for two months and you're still not satisfied? Since that's the case, then you aren't going anywhere."

"Who exactly are you..."

Snap!

--Asura Path Armor!

The mechanical arm snapped the neck of the White Zetsu, and with a tilt of its head, the White Zetsu died.

Sasuke walked over and felt a chill run down his neck at the sight; he swallowed the words he had been about to ask, resolving in his heart never to speak a word of what he had seen today.

Glancing at Sasuke, Naruto ignored him and proceeded to cast Kamimusubi and Ukanomitama, resurrecting the White Zetsu.

"Continue your mission."

The White Zetsu obeyed the order, its body sinking into the earth and vanishing.

Afterward, Naruto performed the Shadow Clone technique and said to his clone, "Just in case, you stay here to handle the Third Hokage's inspection and..."

He turned his head to look at Sasuke.

Sasuke felt insulted and his face flushed red, "I wouldn't tell anyone even if I died!"

"That would be for the best."

After thinking for a few seconds, Naruto transformed into Gilgamesh.

Then, without waiting long, he was summoned away and disappeared from the spot.

Let us turn the time back five minutes.

--Land of Earth--

In a wilderness of towering rocks, the Moon, dressed in a purple kimono, strolled along when she suddenly heard the sound of weapons clashing in the distance.

"Another meaningless struggle between ninjas? How utterly boring..."

The Moon had no intention of investigating the unknown skirmish; she slightly increased her pace and continued forward.

Since parting ways with Naruto over two months ago, the Moon had encountered far too many incidents of bloodshed.

On average, one every few days, sometimes even several in a single day.

Those who saw the Moon and were struck by her beauty, those who killed to vent their stress, those who wiped out witnesses while executing missions, ninjas from rival villages killing on sight...

In short, for all sorts of messy reasons, it had devolved into ubiquitous conflict, which was truly tiresome.

Compared to this, the Teyvat Continent in the Moon's memory could almost be called a paradise.

Although there were conflicts, it was generally peaceful, and the friction between people was not as frequent as in this Ninja World.

"It's me, Director!! I'm Kabuto!! Don't you recognize me anymore? I'm Kabuto!!"

A miserable, despair-filled cry rang out, and the Moon paused her steps, her brows slightly furrowed.

Kabuto?

She had heard this name; among the big villains Naruto had marked for her to be careful of, Kabuto was one of them.

"Is it him?"

A flash of killing intent crossed the Moon's beautiful eyes.

A warrior should always press forward; compared to having to be constantly wary of a big villain, cutting him down with a single blade suited her personality better.

"Who... are you...?"

The blonde kunoichi lay on the ground, a gaping hole in her waist, blood flowing uncontrollably.

Mortally wounded and beyond saving.

She coughed up blood, looking with confusion at the white-haired youth who was currently trying to heal her.

Do we... know each other? Aren't we enemies? But why are you trying to heal me?

The white-haired youth remained motionless, kneeling on the ground, already plunged into despair.

"Why does the Director have absolutely no impression of me?! Why is this happening?!"

"If I don't even exist in the Director's memories?! Then what am I even supposed to be?!"