Sasuke's Provocation

"You've all learned it?"

Naruto looked at the others around him, who were neither anxious nor curious, and asked casually.

"No. The old man never taught me."

Shikamaru explained.

Once Naruto spoke up, the others started chatting casually as well.

They had no particular opinion of Naruto and knew nothing of his identity.

Besides, Shikamaru and the others had been advised by their parents that Naruto's parents had been friends with theirs.

With Shikamaru's intelligence, he naturally understood what his father meant: help Naruto out when they could. Besides, Naruto was mature and unlike the other little brats, which suited Shikamaru just fine.

Only then did Naruto learn about their situation.

No one understood chakra better than their clans did.

Every one of these clans had been passed down for centuries. In the past, they had no choice, but now that it was peacetime, there was no need to rush.

Overworking a child's body was harmful, so none of them had learned to refine chakra yet. Even Hinata was only practicing the basics.

Naruto nodded after hearing that. As expected, none of them were fools.

Wartime was one thing, but in peacetime, there was naturally no need to overtax their bodies.

Moreover, students entering the academy had already had their aptitude tested, so there was no such thing as someone being unable to refine chakra.

Even someone like Rock Lee had chakra within his body. He simply lacked sufficient spiritual energy and could not use ninjutsu.

Thus, how quickly someone could refine chakra basically revealed their aptitude.

After all, for people without bloodlines, the amount of chakra they possessed had nothing to do with their aptitude.

Refining chakra was simple, and before long, someone had successfully refined it.

"Naruto, aren't you going to try?"

Shikamaru looked at Naruto curiously.

"Not interested."

Naruto shook his head. His chakra was all in his dantian; he only needed to release a tiny bit later.

"Don't tell me you can't refine any?" Sasuke Uchiha sneered.

For some reason, seeing Naruto acting so smug made him deeply annoyed.

Naruto could not be bothered to respond.

Of course, he also knew that because of Indra's influence, Sasuke was bound to get entangled with him.

Naruto had no desire to get passionate with him.

As for the Ashura chakra within his body, he had already found it with Twin Hands.

But because of the Sage of Six Paths, Naruto did not dare do anything yet, afraid that the Sage of Six Paths might discover it.

"What's with that expression? Want to compete?" Feeling ignored, Sasuke Uchiha grew angry.

Shikamaru was speechless. At the same time, he instinctively took a few steps back. He had no interest in getting involved in something so pointless.

"Sasuke is so handsome."

"That Naruto is handsome too."

On the other side, several girls had gathered into a little group.

The moment Sakura saw Sasuke, she thought he was handsome.

And Sasuke now was cold, proud, and handsome, without that gloomy air about him.

Ino had noticed Naruto as well.

Although Naruto looked quite ordinary on the surface.

As a cultivator, though, the air about him was indeed difficult to conceal. Naruto himself had noticed this, but unless one returned to a state of simplicity, it was difficult to change one's bearing.

Naruto was helpless about it too. Fortunately, the people here had little exposure to such things, so it had not drawn anyone else's attention.

"You win."

Naruto could not be bothered to argue with him.

"You bastard, what do you mean by that? Are you looking down on me?"

Sasuke still refused to let it go.

Naruto was speechless.

Naruto raised a finger.

A thread of chakra was released from within him.

In an instant, a violent wind swirled up from the ground, and blue chakra became visible to the naked eye.

"Damn it, how is that possible?" Sasuke Uchiha's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

This scene drew everyone else's attention as well.

"How is that possible? Such immense chakra?"

"How can he have such powerful chakra?"

"No way."

Everyone stared at him in shock.

Even Shikamaru and the others were somewhat stunned.

At the same time.

Inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage was observing the scene through a crystal ball.

Seeing the chakra Naruto had unleashed, he nodded in satisfaction.

"This child is impressive. As expected of Kushina and Minato's son."

The Third Hokage took a satisfied puff of smoke.

With Uzumaki clan blood, having such a quantity of chakra was perfectly normal.

Not to mention that both Minato and Kushina had been Kage-level ninja.

Minato's chakra reserves were small, but that was only in comparison to ordinary people. One had to remember that Minato could use Sage Mode.

And the prerequisite for beginning Sage Mode training was possessing immense chakra.

"Excellent aptitude. Hiruzen, hand this child over to me for training, and he will definitely become the finest weapon."

At that moment, Danzo, seated in the corner, could not help speaking up.

With their experience, they naturally understood the advantages of possessing immense chakra.

It could be said that this was Kage-level potential.

"Forget it. Naruto is Minato's son. I will never hand him over to you for training." The Third Hokage rolled his eyes at him.

He knew exactly what his old companion was thinking.

Leaving Naruto's identity aside, the Nine-Tails alone was a nuclear weapon. How could he possibly hand such a weapon over for someone else to control?

From the first Nine-Tails jinchuriki to the third, it was clear that the Nine-Tails had always remained in the hands of the Hokage Faction.

"Hiruzen, the Nine-Tails will be wasted in your hands sooner or later. A qualified weapon does not need emotions."

Danzo's face darkened. In his eyes, the Nine-Tails was nothing more than a weapon.

The Third Hokage could not be bothered to say more, but inwardly, he looked down on his old companion.

Someone who could not see the larger situation would never reach the highest position.

Back at the academy.

Naruto withdrew his chakra once more.

He gave Sasuke a faint glance.

Sasuke's little face flushed red, but he could not say a word.

A loss was a loss. There was nothing to say about it.

"Don't get cocky. Next time, I'll definitely defeat you."

Unwilling to accept it, Sasuke left behind those harsh words.

Naruto ignored him. He had no interest in a child's antics.

Time passed quickly, and school let out in the afternoon.

Naruto left.

After returning home, Naruto began cooking.

At the same time, he considered whether he should start researching something else.

Should I stir up a little trouble? With Twin Hands, it feels pretty unsatisfying not to do anything.

Naruto narrowed his eyes as his thoughts raced.

He had sensed the surveillance today as well.

His first thought was that the old Third Hokage had too much free time.

He had to find something for him to do.

And at this time, the only thing that could give the Third Hokage a headache was the Uchiha clan.

Should he go find something for him to worry about?

Konoha could not be too peaceful. Otherwise, those people's attention would turn toward him.

As long as the Uchiha clan remained a threat, no one would pay attention to the Nine-Tails jinchuriki.

With that thought, he already had an opportunity in mind.

Meanwhile, Sasuke Uchiha returned home in a thoroughly unhappy mood.

"What's wrong, Sasuke?"

Seeing his younger brother's expression, Itachi Uchiha immediately grew tense. He thought his little brother had been bullied at school, and his brows furrowed.