On the Eve of Graduation

Before this, Lu Yu had only wanted to be the ultimate couch potato. After all, there was nothing he couldn't handle with a single punch.

Danzo, Obito, Uchiha Madara, and the like could all be dealt with in one punch if they dared show their faces.

But after the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Lu Yu's thinking had changed a little.

As Lu Yu stared blankly at the lake, Naruto came over with a solemn expression and said seriously:

"Boss Lu Yu, I've finished all the training you assigned me. Next..."

Naruto's words interrupted Lu Yu's thoughts. He came back to his senses and knew what Naruto was thinking just by looking at his expression.

The Uchiha Clan Massacre had probably affected Naruto. Seeing Sasuke like that had suddenly made the Crown Prince want to become stronger.

"Mm, that's a great idea. Since Sasuke won't be here for the next few days, I'll give you some special training."

Lu Yu readily agreed, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes. He continued:

"Go home and get some good rest tonight. Come back here tomorrow morning, and I'll teach you something good."

The next morning, by the lakeside in Konoha Back Mountain.

Looking at Naruto's expectant face, Lu Yu chuckled.

"Actually, the special training is pretty simple. Here, you have to learn this jutsu by the end of today."

Naruto took the slip of paper Lu Yu handed him and opened it curiously. His face lit up with delight.

"Whoa, it's the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu! But... Boss, you know I'm the worst at the Clone Technique. This..."

Lu Yu shoved his hands into his pockets, reverting to his couch-potato self, and said irresponsibly:

"You'll have to figure out how to overcome that yourself. If you haven't learned it by sunset, you know what'll happen..."

Hearing the ominous tone in Lu Yu's voice, Naruto shivered. It was as if he'd just heard something terrifying. He smiled ingratiatingly.

"Don't worry, Boss. It's just the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu. One day is plenty."

Lu Yu lay comfortably in his recliner, eyes half closed as he enjoyed the breeze. He already had a complete plan in mind.

It all started with Naruto learning the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.

That way, it wouldn't be a waste that he'd stayed up half the night to copy the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu from the Scroll of Seals especially for Naruto.

Time flew by, and four years passed in the blink of an eye. The time had come to leave the Ninja Academy.

As usual, Sasuke and Naruto arrived early at the lake in Konoha Back Mountain.

Naruto glanced at Sasuke and said provocatively:

"I'm definitely not losing to you today, you jerk Sasuke."

"Tch. You've been saying that for years, and I've yet to see you win."

Sasuke shot Naruto a disdainful look, picked up a boulder as tall as a person, and ran up the mountain with it.

"Yaaah! You jerk Sasuke, just you wait!"

Naruto hurriedly picked up the person-sized boulder beside him and chased after Sasuke, looking unwilling to concede defeat.

Watching the two troublemakers race up the mountain, Lu Yu nodded with a chuckle.

Over the past four years, the special training he'd given them had greatly improved both of them in every way. Their upcoming team assignment would surely come as a surprise to Kakashi.

With him and Naruto by Sasuke's side, Sasuke had indeed changed somewhat from before. Overall, though, he was still mentally healthy and hadn't turned into the old Sasuke.

After washing his face, Lu Yu stretched comfortably, packed up his fishing rod, prepared his bait, and began another lazy day of fishing.

"Yawn..."

Enjoying the morning breeze as he lay in the new recliner Naruto and Sasuke had made for him, Lu Yu yawned. Sleepiness washed over him, and just as he was about to close his eyes for a nap, a pleasant fragrance drifted over.

Then a pair of soft, delicate hands began gently massaging his shoulders.

Feeling the pleasant pressure on his shoulders, Lu Yu opened his eyes and saw Hinata's faintly flushed face. He smiled.

"Hinata, you're here early today."

At the sight of Lu Yu's devastating smile, Hinata couldn't help staring for a moment. A deep blush spread across her face, and even her hands stopped moving. Like a startled little rabbit, she murmured softly:

"Y-yes, Lu Yu."

Hinata bit her lip, trying not to faint. Shyly, she pointed to the lunchbox on the table beside Lu Yu and added in a quiet voice:

"Lu Yu, breakfast."

Seeing how cute and shy Hinata was made Lu Yu feel great.

Especially when he noticed her dark blue hair had almost reached her shoulders. A rare hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes.

A year ago, Lu Yu had casually mentioned that he liked girls with long, flowing hair. Hinata had heard him, and ever since then, she'd started growing hers out.

What a treasure of a girl!

Feeling even more shy under Lu Yu's gaze, Hinata hurried to the table and opened the lunchbox for him.

"Lu Yu, try the breakfast I made for you today..."

Lu Yu opened the lunchbox. Seeing all his favorite dishes inside, he dug in without hesitation.

Three minutes later, Lu Yu finished breakfast with a satisfied look. Hinata asked expectantly:

"Lu Yu, how does it taste?"

Lu Yu chuckled and gently patted Hinata's head.

"Mm, it tastes like happiness..."