Confidence!

Seeing that Neji was worried about her, Hinata was deeply touched.

"I think I can give it a try?"

"If I can't keep going, I'll say so."

Hinata stepped forward timidly and spoke in a quiet voice.

"Are you sure you want to try?"

"It hurts a lot!"

"And you'll get really hungry!"

Naruto spoke up.

Given Naruto's own experience, those were without a doubt the most important concerns to him.

The Naruto from before would never have dared to try this kind of training, even if he'd had the chance.

Because when he got hungry, he didn't have enough food...

"Mm, I want to try."

Hinata stepped forward resolutely.

"Don't worry."

"Hinata may be stronger than any of you realize."

As Sasuke spoke, chakra began to surge.

Then three Little White Worms shot toward the trio.

The familiar sensation prompted Neji and Naruto to sit cross-legged at once, focusing on the changes within their bodies.

At the same time, they began to refine their chakra.

Hinata, however, froze.

The tingling sensation in her body felt strangely pleasant.

"Ah..."

Hinata couldn't help letting out a soft moan.

She instinctively clapped a hand over her mouth, her cheeks flushing red.

"Hinata, if you think you can handle more, I'll prepare some more White Worms and send them into your body."

"They temper your cells and can help with training in Taijutsu, chakra refinement, and other areas."

"But since this is your first time, we need to find a suitable limit."

Sasuke gave her a brief explanation.

"Mm."

"I can handle it. Give me..."

Hinata bravely held out her hand, her adorable little face full of determination.

"All right, here I go."

"Bear with it a little. It'll hurt at first, but once you get used to it, it'll feel very pleasant."

With that, Sasuke released his chakra again.

Two White Worms entered Hinata's body.

The intense stimulation made Hinata shudder.

The chakra in her chakra pathways began to grow unstable.

Fortunately, Hinata's body was already far stronger than an ordinary person's, and she'd been getting plenty to eat lately.

She'd improved considerably.

Before long, she adapted to Sasuke's power.

Once he was done, Sasuke looked toward the edge of the training ground.

"They're here?"

"Poof!"

Sasuke formed a hand seal and used the Shadow Clone Technique.

"Stay with them. I'll go take care of things over there."

With that, Sasuke turned and walked out of the training ground.

As soon as he stepped outside, three masked ninja appeared before him.

"Uchiha Sasuke, you attacked students from the Ninja Academy in broad daylight while inside the village, leaving three of them seriously injured."

"Under the regulations established by the Konoha High Command, we are to take you back to Anbu for punishment."

"We advise you not to resist needlessly."

The Anbu member leading them spoke calmly.

"I'm not going."

Sasuke replied with an impassive expression.

"Sorry, but if you resist, we'll be forced to use—"

"Since when does Anbu get to reach this far?"

A brazen voice interrupted him.

Uchiha Natsume, Uchiha Ueda, and Uchiha Chu appeared.

The three of them wore armbands.

That was right: they hadn't come as members of the Uchiha clan, but as officers of the Military Police Force.

"Uchiha Natsume?"

"You should know that we—"

"I don't."

"If you want to take Sasuke away, show me the Hokage's order."

"Whatever the facts of the case, this falls under the jurisdiction of our Military Police Force."

Uchiha Natsume interrupted him again.

Uchiha Natsume had no goodwill toward Anbu.

Those guys did nothing but stand guard around the Third Hokage or cause trouble all over the place.

He had nothing but contempt for the sort of rats who operated in the shadows.

The Military Police Force made more enemies than Anbu precisely because its members used their real identities.

Nobody knew who the Anbu were.

People only associated Anbu with the Hokage.

And thanks to Hiruzen Sarutobi's efforts, Anbu's reputation wasn't quite as bad as it could have been.

"Uchiha Sasuke is coming with us today, no matter what."

"If you dare attack me inside the village, then—"

"Shing!"

Before the Anbu member leading them could finish, a flash of silver streaked past.

The mask on the Anbu member's face fell to the ground.

"Sanada So?"

"So it's you."

Uchiha Natsume stared at the man before him with an amused look.

He'd even called him by name.

Sanada So froze and quickly covered his face.

"Uchiha Natsume, do you know what you're doing?"

"What you're doing now has already—"

"The Konoha Military Police Force is carrying out its duties in accordance with Konoha's regulations!"

"Anbu members are deliberately obstructing us and trying to abuse their authority to interfere with the Military Police Force's regular duties."

"And you're using your position to threaten us!"

"Lord Sanada So, I hope that meets with your approval."

An unsettling smile appeared at the corner of Uchiha Natsume's mouth.

His Three-Tomoe Sharingan was already active.

A murderous aura began to gather around him.

After all, Uchiha Natsume had fought in two wars.

The blood on his hands and the killing intent around him were beyond anything these bullies could match.

"Let's go!"

Sanada So knew that there was no way they could take Uchiha Sasuke away today.

If they stayed, all they'd get was more humiliation at Uchiha Natsume's hands.

Worse, if they attracted a crowd, he might even lose his position in Anbu.

"Cowards!"

Watching the three disappear, Uchiha Natsume scoffed.

"Sasuke, are you all right?"

Only then did Uchiha Natsume turn around and look at Sasuke.

"I'm fine."

"Those guys are fine too. They won't die."

Facing Uchiha Natsume, Sasuke put on another innocent smile.

"You little rascal..."

"All right, go back and train with your friends."

"The clan will take care of the rest."

Uchiha Natsume liked this kid more and more.

Compared with Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Sasuke's talent and personality were both more to his liking.

Itachi was just... not very likable.

"Thank you, Lord Natsume."

After thanking him, Sasuke returned to the training ground.

That was right: Sasuke had known the Military Police Force was behind him, which was why he'd dared to act so brazenly.

When it came to a scuffle between children, even the Hokage couldn't do anything to Sasuke.

That was what it meant to have powerful people backing you.

As he enjoyed the security that came with it, Sasuke also considered how he could keep benefiting from the clan's generous support.

He needed to speed up his plans.

He wondered how things were going on his father's end...