Naruto, What's the point of being Hokage without you!

Sasuke shook his head.

I've been paying too much attention to that dead-last...

However...

He really isn't as weak as everyone imagines him to be...

Damn it!

Sasuke gazed at the ninja scrolls lying quietly on the ground nearby.

No, I cannot just stop here.

He gritted his teeth and pulled out a new scroll.

"C-rank Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, and also C-rank Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique?"

"Although they are both C-rank like the Great Fireball Technique, the difficulty is significantly higher..."

"It's not just about the technique; the requirements for chakra volume are also very high..."

Sasuke hesitated for a moment.

Learning more powerful ninjutsu was certainly the right path.

But sometimes, exceeding one's own limits not only fails to bring improvement but can actually damage the body and hinder future training.

However, just then.

A sudden gust of night wind blew past, ruffling Sasuke's clothes and hair.

Sasuke was suddenly struck by an ominous premonition.

He looked up toward another direction in Konoha.

That place was exactly where he had gone yesterday...

Naruto's home.

"Naruto..."

Why do I suddenly have such a bad feeling...

A sense of alarm suddenly rose in Sasuke's heart.

That guy... he seems to be getting stronger every day, every night, every single moment!

"Hmph."

Sasuke clenched his fists and opened the scroll anyway.

Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.

Even though his chakra and stamina were completely exhausted, Sasuke did not stop for a second; he gritted his teeth and immediately began practicing according to the contents of the scroll.

"Naruto, I will definitely fight you again, and then..."

"I will thoroughly defeat you and make you admit your loss!"

Soon, Sasuke's stubborn voice echoed across the training grounds of the Uchiha Compound in the dead of night.

"Fire Release! Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

"Damn it..."

"Fire Release! Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

The next day.

As luck would have it, today's class at the Ninja Academy was dedicated to sparring practice.

Naruto froze, then was overjoyed, unable to help but raise his arms and cheer.

"Awesome! Hooray!"

Iruka frowned and said, "Naruto, what are you so excited about?"

Naruto looked at Sasuke without any hesitation, his fists clenched with confidence.

"Because..."

"Today, I'm going to defeat Sasuke fair and square!"

Suddenly, everyone couldn't help but freeze, all turning their gazes toward Sasuke in unison.

Sasuke's expression, however, remained as cold as ever.

He had already guessed Naruto's reaction.

And...

He felt the same way; his fighting spirit had long been ignited, and he was eager to give it a try!

"Hmph, dead-last, don't overestimate yourself!"

"What did you say, you bastard Sasuke?!"

Iruka could not help but press a hand to his forehead and sigh.

"You two, can you please be quiet for a moment?"

Naruto and Sasuke finally huffed, turning their heads away in unison.

Ino Yamanaka stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Hinata at that moment.

Since Sakura was ignoring her and her apology had been to no avail, Ino felt there was nothing more she could do.

"They... they really are in sync, those two..."

Hinata also blushed and said, "Mm..."

Sakura thought of what Iruka had said yesterday and had originally wanted to change her opinion of Naruto, but seeing his arrogant attitude toward Sasuke, she still felt a surge of anger.

Changing one's temperament was easier said than done.

Iruka coughed and said in a deep voice, "The sparring sessions at the Ninja Academy are, of course, for practical combat, but more importantly, they are for mutual learning and improvement."

"They are not for you to settle personal grudges."

"Naruto, Sasuke, for the sake of fairness, the sparring matchups are drawn by lot. I would never intentionally make the two of you fight!"

"...Oh."

"Hmph."

Iruka sighed. "Alright, Naruto, you draw first."

Under the curious gazes of everyone, Naruto stepped forward, fumbled around in the drawing box for a while, and prayed silently in his heart.

Sasuke, Sasuke... I want Sasuke...

He finally settled on a slip and whipped his hand up.

"It's decided!"

Iruka took it and glanced at it, his expression changing instantly!

"This... this is..."

Naruto saw Iruka's expression and couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

Could it be...

Is it really Sasuke?!

Iruka turned the slip around to show everyone.

The name on it was...

"Hinata Hyuga."

"Ah--"

Naruto and Hinata both dropped their jaws in shock.

Sasuke Uchiha, however, furrowed his brows.

Clearly, he had also been eager for this battle against Naruto.

Iruka saw what the two of them were thinking.

"Ahem, sparring is meant to be a form of training, not a brawl!"

"The results of the draw must be respected."

"Now, Naruto, Hinata, get ready to begin!"

Although disappointed and helpless, Naruto could only nod. "Yes, Iruka-sensei."

Hinata, however, blushed deeply, lowered her head, and gave a soft response.

Ino Yamanaka, standing in the crowd, couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Hinata glanced at her, knowing she was being teased, and her face turned even redder.

Shikamaru, standing to the side, let out a yawn.

Choji, meanwhile, secretly asked while snacking, "Ino, what are you laughing at?"

Although Ino didn't want to associate with these two hopeless cases, the relationship between their three families was unique; the Ino-Shika-Cho had long since become the backbone of Konoha.

Because of their fathers, Ino had been familiar with these two since she was a child.

Ino rolled her eyes at them. "You wouldn't understand even if I told you!"

"One only knows how to eat, and the other only knows how to sleep."

Choji didn't mind. "Heh, don't be like that. Everyone saw it the other day when Sakura tried to hit Naruto and Hinata stepped in front of him."

"Hinata must really like Naruto, right?"

Ino was taken aback.

"Oh? Who would have thought you had such a sensitive side?"

"He's way better than Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru rubbed his sleepy eyes. "Choji has always been the type who looks rough on the outside but is delicate on the inside."

"As for me..."

"I don't understand women, and I don't want to. It's such a drag..."

Ino shook her head vigorously. "You deserve to be single for the rest of your life."

Shikamaru chuckled. "Thanks, thanks. To me, that sounds like a blessing."

Ino: "..."

She couldn't help but glance at Sakura again, seeing her eyes wide and unblinking, clearly just as interested in these two.

"Sakura..."

At this moment, Naruto and Hinata had already walked to the center of the arena, standing in confrontation.

Iruka shouted, "Form the Seal of Confrontation. After the sparring ends, form the Seal of Reconciliation."

Naruto and Hinata both formed the Seal of Confrontation.

"Na-Naruto-kun... please go easy on me..."

Naruto gave a sly grin. "Hinata, even though you've helped me a lot, I won't be holding back!"

Hinata lowered her head, blushing, but nodded with determination.

"I... I feel the same way..."

"Begin sparring!"

Following Iruka's command.

The battle, watched by all, erupted in an instant.