Naruto was training at Konoha's Training Ground, standing there panting on ground already riddled with craters.
"Not enough. I'm still not strong enough."
"Yeyu has already become the Fifth Hokage, while I... I still can't even beat Sasuke."
If anyone else heard Naruto say that, they would surely be speechless.
Was Sasuke really someone who could be defeated so easily?
"Stop training. There's an S-rank mission. Want to go?"
Just as Naruto was muttering about how he could not even beat Sasuke, Sasuke suddenly appeared before him.
Naruto froze for a moment, then looked up at Sasuke. "An S-rank mission?"
Sasuke nodded.
Naruto asked, "You and me together? Then how will the mission count?"
Naruto needed to build up his mission record now. He wanted to become a Jonin sooner and catch up to Sasuke sooner.
At the very least, he needed to catch up to Sasuke in ninja rank.
Seeing Naruto like this, Sasuke was somewhat speechless. "That depends on how well you complete the mission."
Naruto said, "Don't worry. I'll definitely surpass you soon."
Sasuke said nothing.
The next moment, he vanished from before Naruto, turning into a streak of purple lightning.
Naruto looked at the lingering wisps of lightning and frowned. "Is that elementalization?"
"That guy was showing off on purpose, wasn't he?"
Naruto was very displeased.
Sasuke had mastered many powerful ninjutsu. Naruto had been afraid of Yeyu, so he had never considered asking Yeyu to teach him before.
But Sasuke had dared to do it. Now, the enormous gap between them proved that his momentary cowardice back then had been a mistake.
He should have asked Yeyu to teach him back then.
Yet Sasuke, the most aloof one of all, had actually asked Yeyu to teach him.
The gap between them had now grown immense.