The Meaning of Companions

In the Konoha woods.

Uchiha Kei was happily eating Three-Color Dango.

Before him, three people were bound and gagged.

They were Naruto, bruised and swollen, Sasuke, with a nosebleed, and Sakura, with a vacant stare.

Naruto had completely forgotten the pain in his face, his eyes fixed on the Three-Color Dango in Uchiha Kei's hand.

So fragrant... so sweet...

It looks delicious!

Sasuke twitched his sore nose from time to time.

The result of the class assessment this time was hard for him to accept.

He wouldn't even mention not being able to defeat Uchiha Kei's shadow clones, as he was someone even his brother admired.

But when did Naruto become so strong?

Sasuke knew that under Uchiha Kei's tutelage, Naruto had long since left the ranks of dead last, and he thought he knew Naruto's true strength.

Stronger than him, but only by a limited amount.

Three years, only three years!

Naruto had actually mastered such a powerful ninjutsu!

When did he learn that dango?

Judging by the chakra amount, that dango just now was enough to kill him a thousand times over.

Sasuke's eyes eagerly looked towards Uchiha Kei.

If I follow him, I can become stronger!

Meanwhile, Sakura's mind was completely blank.

She couldn't accept today's outcome.

Uchiha Kei was one thing.

Why had Uzumaki Naruto become so strong?

Wasn't he the dead last of ten thousand years?

When did he gain his current strength?

Even Sasuke couldn't compare to him!

"Naruto, you performed very poorly today, you know?"

Holding the Three-Color Dango, Uchiha Kei ambled over to the three of them.

"Ninjas must maintain absolute composure when carrying out missions. I've taught you this."

Naruto remained unmoved, still staring longingly at the Three-Color Dango.

"But where did you show any composure today? The moment you saw Pink Girl in danger, your mind was in chaos, and you couldn't wait to jump out of the safety zone. Were you in such a hurry to die?"

Naruto reluctantly shifted his gaze from the Three-Color Dango.

"Composure is composure, but didn't you also say that a mission is not as important as a comrade?"

Uchiha Kei smiled and stuffed the Three-Color Dango into his mouth.

"That's what I said, but that statement has a premise."

Naruto chewed vigorously, looking at him with confusion.

A premise?

Why had Kei never mentioned it before?

"What do you consider a comrade?"

Naruto swallowed the Three-Color Dango in his mouth with difficulty.

"Aren't you my comrade?"

Uchiha Kei tapped his head. "Besides me."

Naruto hesitated and turned to look at Sasuke and Sakura.

"Aren't they also my comrades?"

Uchiha Kei shook his head. "They are not."

Sasuke froze, while Sakura's face showed anger.

"A comrade is someone you can trust with your back. When you are in danger, they will risk their lives to protect you."

Naruto tilted his head. "I was risking my life to protect Sakura just now."

"That's not called being a comrade, at best it's being a simp."

"You're a simp, you're a simp, you're the simp!"

Naruto's eyes widened in panic, baring his teeth as he yelled at Uchiha Kei.

He had spent three years with Kei and heard all sorts of new terms.

"Simp" was naturally no exception.

Not only that, but he also knew it wasn't a good word.

"Heh, simp, simp, chase until the end, and you'll have nothing."

Uchiha Kei ignored Naruto's bared teeth and spoke to himself.

Sasuke and Sakura watched the two bickering with blank expressions.

How did the atmosphere change so suddenly?

"Remember, as long as they are true comrades, the mission will never be more important than a comrade's life."

"Those who abandon their comrades for a mission are worse than dogs!"

The leaves on a tree not far away suddenly rustled.

Uchiha Kei looked up at the tree.

"Since you're here, come on out."

The scene fell silent.

Naruto and the other two stared at Uchiha Kei, completely bewildered.

Who was he talking to?

Was there anyone else besides them?

Just as Naruto was about to ask, a nimble figure leaped down from the tree.

Silver-white hair, a mask covering half his face, and a slanted Ninja Headband obscuring one eye.

"Kakashi, have you been here long?"

Uchiha Kei greeted him naturally.

He had spent three years in the Anbu and naturally knew Kakashi.

"Not too long, I just arrived."

Hatake Kakashi replied with feigned casualness.

However, Uchiha Kei noticed his inner turmoil from his stiff movements.

Uchiha Kei sighed.

Hatake Kakashi was a tragic figure in the entire Naruto World.

He lost his father in childhood, his friend in youth, and was betrayed by a friend he thought was dead in his prime.

Yet, even these tragic experiences did not defeat this Lord Kakashi.

Uchiha Kei had a good impression of Kakashi.

"Did you hear everything just now?"

Kakashi remained silent, simply standing there.

"About Senior Hatake..."

Kakashi raised his hand, interrupting his next words.

"I'm here today to tell you that from today onwards, you are no longer part of the Anbu."

After saying this, Kakashi threw out a piece of paper and vanished from his spot.

Taking the paper, Uchiha Kei shook his head.

Only he himself could overcome the matter of Hatake Sakumo.

Others would only add to his troubles.

He opened the paper and glanced at it; it was simply a notice announcing Uchiha Kei's departure from the Anbu.

Putting the paper away, Uchiha Kei looked at the three of them.

"Let's continue our previous topic."

Uchiha Kei paused.

"Of the three of you, Sasuke performed the best today."

Sasuke's expression brightened, but it was quickly replaced by arrogance.

He wiped the snot that was about to drip and listened intently to Uchiha Kei's next words.

"Although your strength is a bit lacking, your brain is a bit waterlogged, your movements are a bit clumsy, and your tactics are a bit naive..."

Sasuke's forehead was covered in black lines.

Was this supposed to be a compliment?

He just wanted to sing a song right now.

"Listen to me, thank you..."

"But!"

Uchiha Kei's tone suddenly changed.

"Why form teams of three? It's for you to cooperate with each other, not to cause trouble for each other."

Uchiha Kei's gaze flickered to Sakura.

Sakura was somewhat unconvinced, snorted coldly, and turned her head away.

It was only her first day after graduation.

She had no experience, so it was understandable.

Why was he targeting her like this?

It must be because of that damned Uzumaki Naruto.

Thinking of this, Sakura glared fiercely at Naruto.

Naruto was a bit confused.

Why are you looking at me like that? And so fierce...

I feel so wronged...

"Sasuke's strength lies in his cooperation with Naruto."

"Although this cooperation is too childish, it at least has that essence."

Sasuke's chest puffed up unconsciously, and he looked at Naruto proudly.

Naruto felt even more wronged.

It was one thing for Sakura to look at me like this, but what's with you, Erzhuzi?

If you have the guts, let's fight one on one!

"As for Haruno Sakura... Hmph."

Uchiha Kei let out a cold snort.

"Your performance today was utter garbage!"

Sakura's face turned even uglier.

"Naruto clearly tried to save you earlier, but you hit him without considering the situation, which slowed down his actions."

"This is foolishness!"

"Individual foolishness can be understood, but for individual foolishness to cause a comrade to get hurt, such a person..."

"Is not worthy of being a ninja!"

With that, Uchiha Kei grabbed the rope binding Sakura and threw her towards a nearby large tree, hanging her upside down.

"As punishment, you'll stay here today."

Sakura struggled frantically, her face filled with indignation.

"Why! Why are you doing this to me!"

"I didn't ask him to save me, he made that decision himself!"

"Let me go! Let me go!"

Uchiha Kei shook his head.

In the anime, Sakura was already annoying enough.

Who would have thought that in the real world, Sakura would be even more detestable.

Calling her big-chested and brainless would be an exaggeration.

After all, she didn't have big breasts...

He looked somewhat regretfully at the pitiful Erzhuzi.

This is your future wife, you know.

Erzhuzi.

You'll have a lot to deal with later.