Konoha: After the Diary Was Exposed, the Female Ninja Fell Apart

Not long ago,

a Mysterious Diary had suddenly appeared before Otsutsuki Kaguya.

At first, she had been excited. But when she learned that the diary could do nothing to help her break the seal, her spirits sank once more.

She tossed it aside.

Before long, though,

she picked it up again.

She had no interest in prying into other people's private lives, but after thousands of years of boredom, she opened the diary anyway.

The entries were scattered, and much of what they said made little sense to her.

So,

most of the time, Otsutsuki Kaguya only gave it a quick glance.

As for the prompts that sounded in her mind, she scoffed at them.

Double her Chakra?

Double her Physical Fitness?

Hmph!

A trick to fool insects, nothing more.

She refused to believe

that this thing could double both her Chakra and her Physical Fitness!

If it were true,

she would even become Naruto Uzumaki's wife!

"I wonder how Black Zetsu is doing now."

Otsutsuki Kaguya sighed.

She had granted Black Zetsu eternal life.

But

whether he could actually help her break the seal was another matter.

Whatever happened,

all her hopes now rested on Black Zetsu.

Konoha.

In a broad stretch of farmland,

Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno crouched behind some bushes, watching a wild boar ravage the crops ahead of them. Their expressions were grim.

"Target spotted. Requesting permission to engage!"

Sasuke Uchiha spoke softly into his headset.

"Permission granted. Be careful!"

"Go!"

At the voice in his headset, Sasuke Uchiha charged out first.

At the same time,

he pulled several Shuriken from his Ninja Tool Pouch and hurled them at the boar.

"Roar!"

Sensing danger, the boar howled and bolted in another direction.

"You're not getting away!"

Sakura Haruno used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared in front of it.

"Take this!"

With a shout, Sakura raised a thick tree trunk she had found somewhere and slammed it into the boar.

Bang!

The trunk split in two, and the boar went flying.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Boom!

A fireball several meters across swallowed the boar whole.

Soon,

the smell of roasted meat drifted through the air.

"Mission complete."

After dealing with the boar, Sasuke Uchiha glanced at Naruto Uzumaki, who hadn't gotten a chance to do anything.

His eyes

were full of pride.

On this mission,

he had completely outshone Naruto.

Hmph!

Idiot Naruto.

You're still a long way from catching up to me.

Unfortunately,

Naruto Uzumaki showed no particular reaction, which took some of the fun out of it for Sasuke Uchiha.

"Nice work, Sasuke."

Kakashi Hatake came over and patted Sasuke on the shoulder.

Praise from their Guiding Jonin made Sasuke Uchiha look even more smug.

"Don't lose heart, Naruto."

"If you keep trying to catch up, you might still get to see my back someday."

Sasuke Uchiha grinned at Naruto Uzumaki.

Ever since the bell test, he and Naruto Uzumaki had gotten along well.

Of course,

more importantly,

lately,

Sasuke had been stealing all of Naruto's thunder.

Seeing Naruto roll his eyes put Sasuke Uchiha in an even better mood. He turned to Kakashi Hatake.

"Kakashi, we've been doing these D-rank missions catching cats and dogs for ages. Can we take on something harder?"

"Well... I'll ask Lord Hokage."

Kakashi Hatake thought it over before answering.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke had gotten used to working together, and all three were capable. They really could take on a more difficult mission.

"Naruto, you haven't been doing so well lately. Don't hold me back next time."

Naruto Uzumaki was getting tired of watching Sasuke show off.

The sun comes out after a little rain, and you think you're hot stuff again, Sasuke?

I let it slide, and you just keep going.

"Listen, Sasuke. I'm not even interested in these missions. They're child's play."

"But since Kakashi's decided to take on harder missions, I guess it's time I told you the truth."

"I'm just a Shadow Clone. No point pretending otherwise."

"You're the one who needs to catch up. Otherwise, you won't even get to see my back."

With that, Naruto Uzumaki formed Hand Seals.

The next second,

his entire body vanished in a puff of white smoke.

"..."

Sasuke Uchiha stared, stunned.

What?

A Shadow Clone?

"Kakashi-sensei, what's going on?!"

Sasuke Uchiha turned to Kakashi Hatake and demanded an answer.

"Well... I just remembered there's a lost black cat I need to help."

With that, Kakashi Hatake used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared.

He had no intention of sticking around while the kid vented his hurt and frustration at him.

"Those two bastards!"

When Kakashi vanished, Sasuke Uchiha turned his gaze on Sakura Haruno.

"Sasuke, it's just as you saw. The Naruto who's been doing missions with you lately was only a Shadow Clone."

Seeing Sasuke Uchiha staring at her, Sakura Haruno gave him a brief explanation.

"Hey!"

"What do you people think these missions are?"

"Using a Shadow Clone to carry them out? You've got to be kidding me!"

Sasuke Uchiha asked through gritted teeth.

"Sasuke, Naruto only needs one Shadow Clone to handle these D-rank missions."

Sakura Haruno lifted her chin proudly.

"Even so, you should've at least told me."

"We didn't tell you because we didn't want to put too much pressure on you."

"Besides... what would you have done if you'd known?"

"If you can guarantee that a Shadow Clone could complete these missions for you, then you can do the same."

Sakura Haruno snorted at Sasuke Uchiha's questions, then turned and left.

Now,

she had no feelings for Sasuke Uchiha at all.

Naruto was the man she would adore for the rest of her life!

"Damn those bastards!"

The truth made Sasuke Uchiha so furious he nearly passed out.

He felt like a girl whose feelings had been toyed with by a scumbag.

That bastard Naruto...

He'd fooled me with a Shadow Clone all this time!