"Naruto, were you messing with me yesterday?! Where's the training method you promised? Where is it? How come I can't find it?!"
Sasuke's face flushed red as he spoke in exasperation.
Naruto's Puppet Shadow Clone shrugged.
"Your comprehension's just bad. How's that my fault?"
That's right, the one who'd gathered here was one of Naruto's Puppet Shadow Clones.
Sending his Puppet Shadow Clone in his place was no different in any practical sense.
As long as the Puppet Shadow Clone didn't suffer a fatal injury,
it could take a few punches and kicks
without any problem.
It wouldn't disappear.
As long as he didn't say anything, nobody could tell it was a Shadow Clone.
Sakura Haruno was stuck between the two of them, feeling utterly miserable.
She stepped in to play peacemaker.
"Um... you two, calm down a little. Kakashi-sensei still has a mission for us to do today."
Naruto and Sasuke paid her no attention whatsoever.
Sasuke pulled out Jiraiya's book and laughed in a fit of anger. "Heh... my comprehension's bad? Why don't you admit that there's actually nothing in here about the way to get stronger you mentioned?!"
He'd stayed up all night, reading through the entire book several times.
Aside from all the stuff that, whenever he thought about it at that moment,
made him feel inexplicably embarrassed,
the whole book
had absolutely nothing to do with training.
Maybe... that stuff really was the training method after all...
That was just Sasuke's guess.
But he was even more convinced that Naruto was pulling his leg!
Naruto shrugged. "If there's nothing in there, how did I use that ninjutsu yesterday?"
Go on, let your imagination run wild, Sasuke.
The more you think about it, the better.
After this, Sasuke's mind was probably going to explode.
Sasuke's expression stiffened at his words.
That's right... wait...
If there wasn't, how had Naruto gotten so strong?
He wouldn't lie to me!
It's not like there's anything I have that he'd want to trick me for.
Sasuke bit his lip, his face flushed as he stared straight at Naruto.
What the hell?!!
Naruto had a bad feeling.
Suddenly, a chill ran down his back.
Sasuke, don't you dare get the wrong idea.
I only like girls!
You and I are never happening!
"The book says training with a guy is more effective."
For the sake of getting stronger,
Sasuke gathered his courage and said it!
Holy crap!
Jiraiya really was a shameless pervert.
This world had gone mad.
Mice... were bridesmaids for cats.
That didn't make sense.
Jiraiya's tastes should've been pretty consistent.
He liked young girls, eighteen-year-olds.
Had I transmigrated into some fake ninja world?
"Are you nuts?! Get lost, now!"
Naruto snapped.
Training with a monster?
Have you lost your mind?
If you're into fencing, Sasuke, go find Rock Lee.
Don't come looking for me.
Naruto had only skimmed Jiraiya's book.
He didn't remember seeing anything like that in it.
"I don't care! You're the one who brought it, and you're the one who told me about the training method. I don't care! You have to train with me!"
Remembering the humiliating scene from the day before,
Sasuke felt a surge of anger.
Naruto, so you were hiding your strength. Fine.
But you toyed with me, too. Did you think that was fun?
Now Sasuke didn't care about saving face if it meant gaining power.
Naruto pursed his lips.
He was considering whether to beat Sasuke up
and teach him why flowers were red~
"Sasuke, what training book did Naruto give you? Can I see it?"
Sakura Haruno asked.
It wasn't that she really wanted to read it.
They were supposed to be a three-person team, but she was the only one being left out.
It made her feel more than a little uncomfortable.
Huh?
Sakura Haruno, are you trying to seize your future, too?
Naruto glanced at Sakura Haruno in surprise.
If you are, just tell me.
I've still got a few books here.
Oh... right. The other Puppet Shadow Clones each had a book and were out around the village looking for someone fated to find one.
He didn't have any books left.
Sasuke put the book away. "Get lost. There's nothing worth seeing!"
Sakura Haruno looked at Naruto sadly.
Naruto couldn't even be bothered to talk to her.
He simply ignored her.
Sakura Haruno felt a sharp pang in her heart.
"Yo... you guys are early today. You haven't forgotten our deal from yesterday, have you?"
Kakashi had one hand in his pocket and raised the other to greet the three of them.
Sakura Haruno responded, "I remember. I haven't eaten anything this morning."
Sasuke nodded to show that he hadn't eaten either.
Naruto smiled without saying a word.
What can I say? You believed the nonsense Pervert Kakashi fed you!
The ninja village's full of tricks. You two should just go back to the countryside.
Sigh... there's nothing you can do now. You'll just have to wait and go hungry.
Come to think of it, he'd used Pervert Kakashi's money yesterday
to take care of his own business.
Judging by what the shopkeeper had said,
Kakashi had left quite a bit of money at her bookstore.
Even Kakashi himself had forgotten about it.
Suddenly, someone hurried over.
It was Kakashi Hatake...
"Good. Then I won't waste time with any more explanations."
"Put your lunches down, then go over to that big open space. I have a mission for you."
Aside from Naruto, Sakura Haruno and Sasuke had both brought lunchboxes.
Sakura Haruno raised an eyebrow slightly and asked with concern, "Naruto, you didn't bring lunch?"
Deep down, she did want to share some of hers with Naruto.
But only if Naruto went back to the way he used to be, chasing after her.
Then she'd agree.
If you're not going to fawn over me, why should I share my food with you?
"Why do you care?"
Naruto replied indifferently.
Sorry!
Naruto would never be a lovesick puppy again.
He'd more or less figured out what Sakura Haruno was thinking.
It wasn't hard to guess if he looked at it from her perspective.
Sakura Haruno was probably panicking right now!
The boy who used to worship her suddenly had some real ability,
and had stopped chasing after her.
That tiny bit of pride and sense of accomplishment she'd felt vanished in an instant.
She felt lost,
as if she'd misplaced something important, but not all that important.
The more Naruto acted like she didn't matter,
the worse Sakura Haruno felt.
Hmph--
So what if you'd beaten up a few kids who were a little stronger than average?
It's not like you're Sasuke. You can't use a Shuriken or ninjutsu.
What's there to be so smug about?
The three of them arrived at a fairly spacious area.
Kakashi pulled a pair of small bells from his pocket.
"Use any means and any methods you like. You can use Shuriken, or any ninjutsu you've already learned to use."
"In short, do whatever it takes to snatch the bells from me."
"Whoever fails to get a bell won't be allowed to eat lunch!"
Before you continue