"Naruto, do you really want to challenge me?"
As they walked home, Lin Feng glanced at Naruto beside him and asked with a smile.
"Of course! If I can beat you, Sasuke, everyone will acknowledge me!"
Naruto thrust out a fist and answered bluntly, without trying to hide his feelings.
Lin Feng wasn't surprised by Naruto's answer. He understood why Naruto wanted everyone's recognition. Naruto was an orphan who had grown up surrounded by cold stares and loneliness. After entering the Ninja Academy, he'd desperately wanted to change his situation and prove himself.
"Naruto, I'll accept your challenge. But first, you have to graduate from the Ninja Academy and become a Genin in three months, just like me."
After a moment's thought, Lin Feng looked at Naruto and said with a smile.
"What? Become a Genin? In three months?"
"How is that possible?"
The news seemed to shock Naruto so much that he immediately shouted. By the time he reached the last few words, his voice was trembling.
Naruto wasn't very clever, but he knew perfectly well that becoming a Genin in just three months was nearly impossible.
"That's right. I plan to become a Genin in three months. If I'm a Genin and you're still a student at the Ninja Academy, you won't be qualified to challenge me!"
Lin Feng calmly replied, looking at Naruto's stunned expression.
"Sasuke, are you sure you can become a Genin in three months? Aren't only sixth-year students allowed to graduate and become Genin?"
Naruto didn't quite believe Lin Feng could do it, and challenged him.
"Of course I'm sure!"
Lin Feng smiled and nodded.
Once he mastered Shadow Clone, his training speed would increase several times over. Meeting the graduation requirements in three months wouldn't be difficult for him.
The biggest obstacle might be the Konoha High Command refusing to let him graduate, but with Itachi as an example, that probably wouldn't be too much of a problem.
"Sasuke, you..."
Lin Feng's confidence left Naruto momentarily speechless.
Looking at the stunned Naruto, Lin Feng said seriously, "Naruto, as long as you work hard enough, you can accomplish anything you want in this world. If a little difficulty makes you too afraid to even try, you'll always be a coward!"
"Oh, right!" He paused briefly, then added with a teasing smile, "Sakura's also planning to graduate from the Ninja Academy in three months. She accepted the challenge, just like me!"
"What? Sakura... wants to graduate from the Ninja Academy in just three months too?"
Naruto was stunned all over again.
"That's right. Naruto, if you want everyone to acknowledge you, you have to prove yourself. Words alone aren't enough. If you can't even beat Sakura..."
"Then you can spend the rest of your life with your tail between your legs!"
"Living a miserable life forever!"
With his goal almost within reach, Lin Feng taunted Naruto mercilessly.
As soon as Sasuke finished speaking, Naruto's body began to tremble violently. His whisker-like markings gave his face a terrifyingly fierce expression...
Though the villagers had always treated Naruto with coldness and rejection, he had his own principles and pride. Sasuke's last two remarks had struck a nerve.
"Sasuke! You bastard!"
"I, Naruto, am not afraid of any hardship or challenge. I can graduate from the Ninja Academy in three months too!"
His teeth chattering, Naruto clenched his fists, his dark eyes seeming to burn with flames.
Having gotten the result he wanted, Lin Feng casually patted Naruto on the shoulder and said with a smile, "A man keeps his word, right?"
"Hmph, spare me!"
"I'm going home to train. In three months, I'll show you how I beat you!"
Naruto brushed Lin Feng's hand away and spun around. After tossing out those words, he quickly stormed off.
Watching Naruto's retreating figure, Lin Feng's lips curved into a smile.
"Give it your all, Naruto!"
With that, Lin Feng didn't linger. He turned and headed toward the Uchiha Clan district.
After the Nine-Tails Incident, the Konoha High Command had moved the Uchiha Clan district from the center of Konoha to a remote corner of the village, so it took Lin Feng quite a while to walk home.
When he saw the familiar clan crest, the Gunbai, everywhere along the street, Lin Feng knew he was almost home.
"Sasuke!"
After wandering around the street curiously for a while, Lin Feng was about to head home for dinner when a loud voice rang out from behind him.
Hearing it, Lin Feng turned around and saw Shisui Uchiha standing behind him. He wore a dark, high-collared short-sleeved shirt and carried a katana on his back.
"Shisui!"
Lin Feng greeted him with a smile.
Lin Feng had planned to seek out Shisui Uchiha after spending a few days getting familiar with Konoha. He hadn't expected Shisui to show up on his own, and that excited him.
"Sasuke, how are things at the Ninja Academy?"
Shisui Uchiha patted Lin Feng's shoulder and asked with concern.
"What they teach at the Ninja Academy is too basic. I plan to graduate as soon as possible."
Lin Feng shrugged and answered honestly.
"Itachi graduated from the Ninja Academy in just one year. If you want to follow in your brother's footsteps, you'll have to work twice as hard!"
Hearing that, Shisui Uchiha smiled and encouraged him.
"Mm..." Lin Feng nodded, then suddenly asked, "Shisui, could you teach me the Body Flicker Technique?"
Any technique that enabled high-speed movement could be considered a Body Flicker Technique. That included high-speed Taijutsu, elemental ninjutsu, and Space-Time Ninjutsu. Shisui Uchiha knew two types of Body Flicker Techniques: one that could be used directly, the Taijutsu Body Flicker, and another that required Hand Seals, the ninjutsu Body Flicker.
"Why do you want to learn the Body Flicker Technique, Sasuke?"
Caught off guard by Lin Feng's request, Shisui Uchiha paused, then asked in return.
"The Body Flicker Technique is a must-learn for any ninja. It can deliver a fatal blow in battle, and even if you can't win, it's a great way to escape!"
A smile appeared on Lin Feng's face as he explained what he thought of the Body Flicker Technique.
"Heh, you're clever, Sasuke. The Taijutsu Body Flicker is simple and practical, but other ninja often overlook it..."
Shisui Uchiha smiled and nodded, clearly agreeing with Lin Feng's assessment.
"So, Shisui, teach me the Body Flicker Technique. No matter how difficult the training is, I'll work hard to master it."
Looking at Shisui Uchiha, Lin Feng made his determination clear.
"Then I'll start by teaching you the simplest Taijutsu Body Flicker. Once you've mastered it, you can learn the more advanced ninjutsu Body Flicker."
Shisui Uchiha was kind by nature and didn't hesitate for long before agreeing to Lin Feng's request.
"Great! Then let's not waste any time. Let's get started!"
With Lin Feng's current abilities, the most basic and simplest Body Flicker Technique was the best place to start. Excited, he called out.
"Come on, let's go to the woods. There's a good place to train there."
Shisui Uchiha patted Lin Feng on the shoulder and smiled.
"Mm!"
Lin Feng nodded and followed Shisui Uchiha toward the woods.