Four Defeats of Sasuke

Since it was getting late, Team 7 decided to escort the old drunkard on his way the next morning. For now, they each headed home.

"Naruto, wait."

Naruto was walking down the street when Iruka's voice suddenly came from behind him.

He turned and smiled at Iruka. "Oh, it's you, Iruka-sensei."

"Naruto, where are you headed?" Iruka asked as he walked up to him.

"To eat, then train," Naruto replied. He had a fair idea why Iruka had come.

"You really do work hard, Naruto," Iruka said. Then he looked at him seriously. "Are you still angry about what Kakashi did two months ago?"

Naruto thought fast. Rather than smile or pretend he did not care, he pouted like a sulking child. "Hmph! I'm not angry at Kakashi-sensei!"

Seeing him like that, Iruka felt reassured. He had taught Naruto for six years and knew him well. If Naruto could react this way, he was no longer taking it to heart.

"Then why do you keep slacking off when you're on missions with Kakashi?" Iruka asked.

"Well, the missions are boring, and they cut into my training!" Naruto complained, lips pursed. "But don't worry, Iruka-sensei. I'll take things seriously from now on!"

"Phew. Good." Iruka patted Naruto on the head. "Come on, let's get Ichiraku Ramen again. After we eat, I'll help you train some more!"

"Really? Iruka-sensei, you're the best!" Naruto threw his arms around Iruka and shouted with joy. This time, his excitement was genuine.

Iruka really had been good to him. For the past two months, he had sacrificed a great deal of his own time to help Naruto train in Ninjutsu.

Iruka was only a Chunin, but he could easily teach Naruto basic elemental Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu.

Thanks to Iruka's patient instruction, Naruto's strength had grown by leaps and bounds over those two months. He had fully mastered C-rank Wind Release, Water Release, and Earth Release techniques, along with basic Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Ninja Tool Throwing Technique, and Substitution Technique.

He had brought all of them to a proficient level.

Every time he trained, he used his masterclass Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and the vast Chakra granted by his god-tier Uzumaki Clan Sage Body to create fifty Shadow Clones at once. He trained fifty times faster than anyone else!

Two months of his training equaled eight years for someone else!

The speed was terrifying!

After two months, his strength had reached Chunin level, and he could fight Iruka to a standstill.

If his foundation had not been so poor, with so little learned during his six years at the Ninja Academy, he would have reached Elite Chunin level long ago.

His Personal Status Panel now showed:

Host: Naruto Uzumaki (Sunglasses Man)

Age: 12

Strength: Chunin

Chakra attributes: Yang, wind, water, earth (granted by Sage Body)

Bloodlines:

Uzumaki Clan Sage Body (Level 4, god-tier bloodline)

Deidara's Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai (Level 1)

Skills:

Uzumaki Clan Sage Body innate abilities (masterclass): Huge Chakra Amount, Adamantine Sealing Chains, Kagura's Mind's Eye, Physical Healing, Fuinjutsu Talent

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, Clone Technique, Substitution Technique, exceptional Chakra control, Flying Thunder God Technique...

C-Rank Wind Release Ninjutsu, C-Rank Earth Release Ninjutsu, C-Rank Water Release Ninjutsu.

Items:

One [Bloodline Upgrade Scroll]

In truth, there were not many C-rank elemental techniques, and they were not especially powerful. Unfortunately, those were all Iruka-sensei knew. Naruto wanted to learn B-rank techniques from Kakashi, but Kakashi would not teach him.

And if Anbu Ninja were not watching him constantly, with the Third Hokage occasionally spying on him through the Crystal Ball, he would have become much more practiced with Explosion Release Ninjutsu and the Flying Thunder God Technique.

That only made Naruto more eager for a chance to leave on a mission.

Fortunately, the Land of Waves mission would begin tomorrow. Once he was out in the wider world, his freedom would grow enormously!

After eating at Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto returned to the Training Ground. This time, he had not asked Iruka-sensei to come, because tonight he was going to fight Sasuke.

He wanted not only to test his current strength, but also to make progress on the system's Long-Term Mission, [Seven Defeats of Sasuke].

He had been challenging Sasuke throughout this time, only to be turned down again and again. Today, just before their Land of Waves mission, Sasuke had finally agreed.

"Sasuke, I've been waiting for this day for ages! Hahaha!" Naruto laughed, hands on his hips.

"Hmph! So have I. There's no way you'll beat me this time!" Sasuke stood across from him, looking as cool as ever.

"First, Taijutsu!" Naruto wasted no more words. He drew a Kunai and charged at Sasuke.

The two immediately clashed at close range.

Sasuke's Taijutsu was strong enough to have earned Kakashi's approval, but after all his training, Naruto's was nothing like it used to be.

They fought for a hundred exchanges, each wielding a Kunai, before breaking apart, both panting. Naruto grinned at Sasuke.

In Taijutsu, they were evenly matched.

"Second, elemental techniques!"

As soon as Naruto spoke, Sasuke formed Hand Seals and spat out a mass of flame.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"

Naruto answered with Hand Seals of his own. A huge torrent burst from his mouth and extinguished the fireball. Water met fire, and white mist quickly spread between them, blocking their view.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Naruto formed Hand Seals fast. His second technique followed the instant his Water Release ended.

A whirlwind shot from his mouth, swept away the mist, and rushed straight toward Sasuke.

Sasuke had expected an attack like this. After using Fire Release, he had already started dodging to the side, leaving Naruto's Wind Release to strike empty ground.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

Sasuke raced to Naruto's left. By the time he stopped, he had finished the Hand Seals for his second Fire Release technique, and several fireballs flew straight at Naruto.

Naruto seemed too slow to react and took a direct hit. But an instant later, he vanished with a pop and a puff of smoke. It had only been a Shadow Clone.

Sasuke frowned and ran sideways again. He knew how troublesome Naruto's Shadow Clones could be and had prepared for them.

Besides staying alert, he kept moving so Naruto could not attack him from below with Earth Release.

"Haha! Sasuke, check out my big move!"

Dozens of Narutos spoke from every direction at once. Sasuke looked around uneasily and saw dozens of whirlwinds carrying torrents of water. They spun like rushing rapids as they closed in on him from all sides!

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"

Dozens of Shadow Clones worked in pairs, combining Wind Release and Water Release into a coordinated Ninjutsu attack that surrounded Sasuke!

"Hmph!" Sasuke's expression darkened. This was exactly what he had feared: Naruto overwhelming him with his enormous Chakra reserves and sheer number of Shadow Clones.

He could not understand why Naruto had so much Chakra! Unfortunately, the Uchiha Clan was not known for its Chakra reserves.

Sasuke searched desperately for a way out, but he only knew Fire Release Ninjutsu. He could not even use the Body Flicker Technique. Unable to block the attack or escape, he raised his arms in front of his chest and braced himself to endure it.

"Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique!"

A voice came from nearby. Sasuke looked down and saw a ridge of earth rising from the ground and racing toward him. When it reached his feet, two hands emerged from the soil and pulled him underground, saving him from the attack.

"Sasuke, you lost again! Haha!"

Ding! [Long-term Achievement Quest: Defeat Sasuke Seven Times!] Progress: 4/7. Keep it up, host.