Mastered the Shadow Clone Technique on His Own! A True Genius! Please Vote!

Iruka-sensei knew how stubborn he could be.

"Both of you, form the Seal of Confrontation."

Sakura's expression was complicated. Uneasy, she gazed at the face that had filled her life—and even her dreams—and didn't know what to do.

Just then, Iruka-sensei's words came back to her.

"If you like someone, you should work on becoming a better person. That way, you'll be more worthy of standing by his side."

Iruka-sensei...

was right.

She had to give it everything she had!

Because it was Sasuke, she wanted his recognition all the more!

With that thought, she immediately formed the Seal of Confrontation and said solemnly,

"Sasuke-kun, please go easy on me!"

Sasuke merely gave a cold snort.

At Iruka-sensei's command,

"Begin!"

Sakura Haruno shouted and charged straight at Sasuke, throwing a hard punch!

But...

Thump—

Sasuke didn't move an inch. He simply leaned aside to dodge the punch, then drove his elbow into Sakura's back, knocking her to the ground.

The fight was over before it had even begun.

"Sakura..."

Ino couldn't help crying out.

Even though Sakura had treated her that way, they had been friends for years. A friendship like that couldn't just be thrown away.

Naruto was startled, too.

"Sakura-chan..."

But at that moment, his thoughts were focused less on Sakura Haruno herself

and more on Sasuke's strength.

That last move had looked effortless, but it had showcased his perception, timing, technique, moves, and strength to perfection.

Much as he hated to admit it...

That jerk Sasuke really was impressive!

Naruto clenched his fists, too.

Iruka-sensei furrowed his brow and stepped forward to help Sakura Haruno up.

"Are you all right, Sakura?"

Sakura Haruno's face was full of shame and sadness. She shook her head and stood up again, but she no longer dared to look at Sasuke.

"I-I'm fine..."

"Iruka-sensei, I lost..."

Iruka-sensei sighed.

"Sasuke wins."

"Now form the Seal of Reconciliation!"

But Sakura Haruno had already run off, and Sasuke was only too happy to skip the Seal of Reconciliation. He snorted and left the ring as well.

Iruka-sensei could only shake his head helplessly.

"The next pair to draw lots is..."

"Shikamaru..."

"Shikamaru! Wake up!"

"...Huh?!"

Naruto was still the star of the day's sparring matches.

His match against Hinata had truly stunned everyone, making them see the dead-last in a whole new light.

Even people they passed on the road looked at Naruto differently now.

Naruto strutted along proudly, chest out and head held high like a rooster.

Suddenly,

"Naruto."

"Hm? Iruka-sensei!"

Naruto was overjoyed. "Ano sa, ano sa, Iruka-sensei, I did great today, right?!"

Iruka-sensei couldn't help smiling.

"Yeah, you did really well."

Naruto burst out laughing.

"But..."

"Don't get too full of yourself. You've still got a long way to go."

Naruto didn't think much of it. "Ah, I know, Iruka-sensei!"

"School's already out. Why are you still nagging me..."

"Hm? What did you say, Naruto?!"

"Ah... Nothing, nothing..."

Iruka-sensei ruffled his hair as punishment.

"Oh, right, Naruto..."

"To celebrate your improvement, how about I treat you to some Ichiraku Ramen?"

Naruto froze for a moment, then immediately jumped for joy.

"Really?"

"That's great!"

"Long live Iruka-sensei!"

"But..."

He didn't even need to hear the system's warning to know.

"I have to frog-jump there with weights on."

Iruka-sensei: "..."

Behind them, Ino and Hinata watched the two of them walk away.

"Iruka-sensei really does play favorites with Naruto..."

Ino crossed her arms and huffed.

"He's never treated me to ramen!"

Hinata smiled gently, but a trace of sadness soon crept across her face.

"Because..."

"Naruto is all alone. Other than Iruka-sensei, there's no one else to treat him to a meal..."

Ino's heart stirred. She sighed and nodded.

"That's true."

"But Hinata, Naruto stole the show today, and you ended up as the stepping stone that made him shine..."

"Even so, you're amazing, too..."

"And not just a little—you're amazing in a way no one would've expected. You really made everyone think you were hiding your true abilities."

Hinata shook her head, unconcerned.

"I did my best."

"N-Naruto-kun really is stronger than me..."

"I'm already happy with how things turned out."

Ino patted her gently on the head.

"Honestly, you're such a silly girl."

Just then, they saw Sakura Haruno walking by alone.

She seemed less arrogant and irritable now. Like a defeated rooster, she trudged along with her head bowed, as if she had lost all her spirit and strength.

"Sakura..."

Ino called out to her, but Sakura Haruno didn't respond.

"She lost to Sasuke-kun in one move. She must've taken quite a hit..."

Hinata shook her head.

"I-I don't think Sakura is upset because she lost..."

"Sasuke is so strong. It's normal for anyone to lose to him..."

"Yeah, that's true..."

Ino rubbed her chin, puzzled.

"Then why do you think she's upset, Hinata?"

Hinata lowered her voice.

"Maybe Sakura's upset because Sasuke didn't look at her even once..."

Ino's heart stirred.

So that was it...

"But if we're being honest, Sasuke-kun doesn't look at anyone anyway..."

Hinata gave a complicated smile.

"No..."

"There's just one person Sasuke seems strangely interested in..."

Ino suddenly understood. "Y-You mean..."

"Naruto?!"

Chapter 46: Mastered the Shadow Clone Technique on His Own! A True Genius! Please Vote!

Ino understood what Hinata meant.

She sighed. "So Naruto is the only one Sasuke cares about?"

"That makes the rest of us pretty pathetic..."

Hinata let out a quiet giggle.

"Actually, Naruto-kun cares about Sasuke, too..."