After taking a beating, Sasuke trained even harder.
"Qingwu, please help me train. I'm begging you."
He sought out Qingwu again, hoping for his guidance. That was Sasuke: for the sake of power, he could swallow his pride when he needed to.
"Me too~ Me too~ You're not getting stronger behind my back, you stuck-up Sasuke~" Naruto immediately shouted excitedly when he heard. "Qingwu, teach me too~"
"Please, help me train too." Sakura hurriedly bowed and asked as well. Inner Sakura: Damn it, Naruto beat me to it again~
"Hehe~ You can't leave me out of training, right, Akamaru?" Kiba was all for it too. Getting stronger had always been his goal. Akamaru: "Woof, woof~"
"Count me in~" Shino remained a man of few words.
"Ugh~ What a drag~" Shikamaru's face immediately fell. Why did everyone have to work so hard? How was he supposed to slack off now~ He was lazy, not a complete couch potato.
"Crunch~ Crunch~ If Shikamaru's going, so am I." Choji followed Shikamaru as always. Mm-hmm~ These chips are so good~
"Hmph~ No..."
Ino wrinkled her little nose in displeasure. "Qingwu finally got some time off to spend with us. You guys are so annoying~"
"Ino~" Gentle Hinata tugged at Ino's sleeve to soothe her, though she wanted Qingwu to spend more time with her too.
"All right, be good, Ino. It's fine. I can give them training assignments and still spend time with you." Qingwu gently rubbed Ino's head.
"Mm-hmm~"
Feeling the warmth on top of her head, Ino gradually grew less agitated.
Still, she looked at Qingwu unhappily, her eyes shining with Guang. "But I don't wanna~"
She clung to his arm and shook it, hoping he would comfort her a little more.
Holy crap~ My girlish heart! Qingwu screamed inwardly.
Who could resist this?
Hehe~ Even my father-in-law would get jealous if he saw this.
Ever seen anything like it~?
Qingwu smiled helplessly and gently patted Ino's hand. "Be good. Don't we get to see each other every day?"
"Besides, once you get stronger, you'll be better able to protect yourself and stay by my side." He encouraged her gently.
"How about you two just stay here with me?!"
"Hmm~"
Qingwu's words made Ino feel a little better, but she still pouted. "That won't do. We need to train too. Don't underestimate us, okay~
"We don't want to fall too far behind you either." Her gaze was resolute as she decided to work hard and improve. She was only being a little sulky; she still knew what mattered.
"Me too," Hinata said softly. "Qingwu~ We don't want to become a burden to you..." Her voice held a hint of shyness, but her eyes were utterly serious.
"Please train us."
To Ino and Hinata, Qingwu shone far too brightly now. They wanted to get closer to him, to one day stand at his side and help him. They knew that only by constantly working hard could they walk beside him.
"You two~" Moved, Qingwu drew both girls into his arms. With wives like these, what more could a husband ask for...?
"Aaah~ My eyes!"
"The sickening stink of romance."
"So why are we here watching them flaunt their love instead of getting some proper sleep...?"
"Crunch~ Crunch~"
"I'm so jealous~"
"..." Their friends had been force-fed a heaping helping of lovey-dovey sweetness.
"Sigh~"
Sakura and Naruto were terribly envious. When will Sasuke (Sakura) treat me like that? Sigh~
The young had yet to know the taste of sorrow...
Love filled their hearts~ Love filled their hearts~
"All right, let's all train together. That way, you can look out for each other."
And so Qingwu trained alongside his friends, teaching them all kinds of combat techniques. Their strength improved rapidly, and by their third year, they were all already at the level of the graduating class.
Sasuke might have been a little stronger, capable of taking on some seasoned Genin. Still, he was only nine, so his physical conditioning and strength were lacking, and there was a gap in his Taijutsu and combat experience...
Don't compare him to Itachi or Kakashi.
They had fought their way through actual battlefields.
"Good~ Good~ That's it... You've all improved a lot... You can rival the upperclassmen now..." Qingwu praised them with a smile. He had to give everyone some recognition and motivation.
Naruto immediately puffed up with pride. "Hahaha~ I knew it! The great Naruto is a genius! I'm the man who's going to become Hokage..." With his hands on his hips, he looked unbearably full of himself.
"Hehe~ I disagree. The one who'll become Hokage is yours truly, the great Inuzuka Kiba..." Kiba immediately shot back, thumping his chest loudly to prove he had what it took.
"Woof, woof~" Akamaru chimed in.
"I'm the one who'll become Hokage~" Unhappy, Naruto immediately glared back.
Kiba refused to back down. "I am."
Akamaru bared his teeth in support. "Grrr~"
One against two. The advantage is mine.
"Hmph~ I'm not scared of either of you." A flicker of envy crossed Naruto's eyes. Should he get a dog too? "Mark my words, the great Naruto will definitely become Hokage."
"Hahaha~"
What was so funny? Sasuke immediately rolled his eyes. "Idiot~"
Kiba and Akamaru withdrew in perfect unison to enjoy the show.
Shino?! He was crouched in a tree and had been watching for ages.
"You stuck-up Sasuke, what did you say?!" Naruto exploded. Seriously~ I haven't even come after you yet, and here you go again.
"Idiot~" Sasuke repeated. "Well? Did you hear me clearly? Dead Last~ Idiot~ Idiot~ Idiot~"
"Aaaah~ I'm so mad! You bastard, Sasuke, I challenge you to a duel!" Naruto immediately turned his sights on Sasuke. "I'm going to teach you a lesson."
Hehe~ I've improved so much, I can definitely beat that stuck-up Sasuke. Maybe Sakura will go on a date with me if she sees it.
Naruto had his own little scheme in mind.
"Dead Last, you think you can take me?! You're not worthy~" Sasuke sneered, folding his arms and narrowing his eyes.
Young Master Sasuke's signature pose activated.
That air of contempt.
Dialed all the way up.
"Aaaah~ You bastard! How dare you look down on me! I won't let you get away with this." The sight of that expression sent Naruto's anger boiling over, and he charged with his fist raised.
"Tch~ Like I'm scared of you." Sasuke immediately met his charge, and the two began fighting. For some reason, seeing this guy annoyed him, yet when he wasn't around, he missed him. Is there something wrong with me?
Little did he know, Naruto felt the same.
Maybe.
This was love.
Naruto thought, Why does looking at Sasuke feel just like looking at Sakura? Maybe this is the bond Qingwu talked about.
Yeah, that's it.
Sakura's eyes blazed. Aaaah~ Damn you, Naruto! Why does he get Sasuke's attention? I'm so jealous~
Inner Sakura: Haruno Sakura, you're useless! You can't even keep hold of your man. Get in there! Beat Naruto and take Sasuke-kun back~
"Heehee~ They're at it again." Ino had already joined Qingwu and Hinata, looking ready to enjoy the show.
Shikamaru yawned. "I really don't get where they find all that energy."
Choji: "Crunch~ Crunch~"
Qingwu watched with a cheerful smile. Indra and Ashura's love-hate rivalry—the cycle of fate had begun anew.
Fight all you want. These carefree days won't last much longer.
Honestly, he rather enjoyed watching them.
I'm definitely shipping Sasuke and Naruto.
One day not long afterward, the sun shone and a gentle breeze blew.
"True Self, can you hear me? I found the Moon Channel~"
Before you continue