Naruto is beaten black and blue by Sasuke

"Itachi, is everything you said true?"

Fugaku still found it hard to believe; if the person standing before him weren't his own son, he would have already kicked him out the door!

This was completely impossible!

Although he already knew yesterday that Zhou Cheng was surely extraordinary, the events of today only added another layer of mystery to him.

"What? So many exciting things happened after I left? If I had known, I wouldn't have gone back to the Ninja Academy!"

Itachi's expression changed the moment he heard this; how could he speak so righteously about skipping class?

"Sasuke, how could you skip class?"

"You are not allowed to do this again tomorrow!"

Hearing that Sasuke had actually skipped class, Fugaku's anger flared up.

Although the Ninja Academy only taught the basics and one couldn't learn much of real value there, it was still a school; since he was enrolled, he had to follow the rules.

"Brother, Father, the rewards I received over these past two days are worth months of hard training for others!"

"And it is all because of Brother Zhou Cheng that I even awakened the Sharingan!"

"These are things I could never encounter even after studying at the academy for years!"

Seeing the grim expressions on his brother's and father's faces, Sasuke felt no fear at all, speaking instead with righteous confidence.

Yet, for a moment, neither Itachi nor Fugaku could find the words to refute him!

Sending Sasuke to the academy was merely to comply with the village's wishes.

Otherwise, if he stayed at home and was taught by them personally, his growth rate would certainly not be slow!

Just then, a servant hurried over and knocked on the door:

"Lord Fugaku, Lord Iruka requests an audience!"

The three people in the living room were all surprised. Iruka?

What was he doing here?

Iruka was Sasuke's teacher at the Ninja Academy.

For him to come late at night, there must be something urgent!

"Show him in!"

Fugaku ordered indifferently. Once the servant's footsteps faded away, he looked at Sasuke:

"Go and brew another pot of tea!"

Sasuke let out a reluctant "Oh" and walked away slowly.

Itachi flicked him lightly on the forehead, making Sasuke wince and grimace in pain:

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! What are you doing, Brother?"

"He is your teacher; you must show respect!"

"Go!"

Sasuke made a face and walked out of the living room with the teapot.

Itachi and Fugaku both sat up straight, quietly waiting for Iruka's arrival.

Before long, the servant led a young man into the room.

There was a scar running across the bridge of his nose, though it did little to add to his presence.

"Clan Leader, Lord Itachi!"

"I apologize for the late-night intrusion, but I have come regarding Sasuke!"

Itachi frowned slightly; what kind of trouble had that kid caused at school again?

Fugaku was also stunned. Sasuke?

"What trouble did he cause at school this time?"

Iruka gathered his thoughts and spoke slowly:

"He has been challenging everyone at the academy!"

"Usually, scuffles between children are normal, but for some reason, Sasuke's strength has surged."

"He left his classmates beaten black and blue!"

"In just two days, his chakra levels have increased significantly; even without sleep or rest, that should be impossible."

"He keeps muttering about some 'Brother Zhou Cheng'."

"I am worried that he has been deceived by someone with ill intentions and is practicing forbidden techniques in secret, which is why I came tonight!"

Itachi and Fugaku realized the truth; so that was it!

That brat, showing off everywhere just because his strength had increased a little.

"So that's how it is!"

At this moment, Sasuke walked in carrying a teapot in both hands.

Seeing the strange atmosphere between his brother, his father, and his teacher, he couldn't help but shrink his neck.

Could the teacher be here to settle scores?

He nervously placed the teapot on the coffee table.

Fugaku gestured for him to serve, clearly lacking the tact to pour a cup for his own teacher:

"Aren't you going to pour a cup of tea for your teacher?"

Sasuke snapped out of his daze and immediately stood up to pour a cup for Iruka.

It wasn't Iruka he feared; as the son of the Uchiha Clan head who had awakened his Sharingan at seven, he possessed a pride of his own.

Iruka wasn't enough to make him feel intimidated.

He feared Itachi and Fugaku.

Fugaku was his father, always stern and humorless.

Itachi was his brother, whom Sasuke respected and loved!

"Sasuke, who exactly is Zhou Cheng?"

"Did he teach you a forbidden technique that can increase your chakra levels in a short amount of time?"

Iruka was merely a chunin, and his perspective was not particularly broad.

In his subconscious, chakra levels were built up over time; it was impossible for them to surge in the village within a short period.

Of course, certain bloodline limits were the exception!

But Sasuke's bloodline limit was only his eyes, and the Sharingan did not provide much help in increasing chakra capacity.

Itachi looked at Iruka with a very gentle expression; having such a responsible teacher for Sasuke was the best thing possible!

Good teachers and helpful friends were both indispensable in life!

When Zhou Cheng was mentioned, Sasuke immediately perked up and chattered away, leaving Iruka standing there with his mouth agape.

"Sasuke, lying is wrong!"

"How could such a person exist in this world!"

Iruka regained his composure, his expression turning stern immediately.

"I'm not lying, it's all true. Brother also knows Brother Zhou Cheng."

Iruka looked at Itachi in surprise, his eyes filled with confusion.

Sasuke was still young, so it wouldn't be strange for him to be deceived.

But you are a grown man—how could you be deceived too?

Itachi nodded seriously, indicating that he also knew Zhou Cheng:

"Sasuke is not lying; everything he said is true. Senior Zhou Cheng's character is worthy of our respect!"

"He seeks death, allowing people to attack him at will, and then he provides all sorts of rewards!"

"Sasuke's chakra levels came from the senior's rewards."

"I have received such rewards as well, and I am certain there are no side effects!"

Iruka was stunned. What kind of family was this, speaking up for someone even after being swindled?

"Clan Head Fugaku, are you not going to stop this?"

"Forbidden techniques are very dangerous; at best they cause serious injury, and at worst, they cost lives!"

Before Fugaku could speak, Sasuke retorted:

"We didn't learn any ninjutsu or forbidden techniques!"

"It was just a fruit!"

"A Chakra Fruit; eating it can increase one's chakra levels!"

Iruka was dumbfounded once again. A Chakra Fruit?

He had never heard of it, nor had he ever seen it!

No such fruit had ever appeared in the history of the ninja world!

"How can you eat things of unknown origin? What if it's poisonous..."

Itachi smiled and spoke up, "You are overthinking it!"

"Rest assured, I have eaten it too, and there are absolutely no side effects!"

"If you don't believe me, please come to the Uchiha Clan plaza tomorrow to observe!"

"Senior Zhou Cheng sets up an arena there every day!"

Iruka looked at Fugaku and found that his face expressed the same sentiment.

Could all of this be true? It's simply unbelievable!

No, I must go and see it tomorrow!

"By the way, Sasuke, you were too heavy-handed today!"

"Especially with Naruto; if I hadn't noticed in time, you would have seriously injured him!"

He said this on the surface, but in his heart, he was worried.

If they kept fighting, the Nine-Tails would come out!

Then things would really get out of hand!

"Sasuke, you skipped class and got into a fight at school!"

"I'm forbidding you from going to the arena tomorrow!"

Ah!

Sasuke was stunned; not letting him go to the arena was worse than killing him!

"Hmph, can the school increase my chakra reserves as much as I have in two days?"

"They only teach things to coddle children; it's completely useless!"

"After eating two Chakra Fruits, I am the strongest among my peers!"

"As for that guy Naruto, he's always chirping and is incredibly annoying, so I was a bit heavy-handed!"

Iruka looked at him in disbelief. Could two Chakra Fruits really have such an effect?

Tomorrow, I must go to that arena and see for myself.