The Nine-Tails' Training Guidelines

Rock Lee froze. When he opened his eyes, he saw Naruto with his hands behind his head, grinning at him and showing his pearly whites. There was no trace of his earlier drowsiness.

"Huh?"

"I thought it was something serious. Friends don't need to be so formal. Just ask!"

Naruto chuckled. Looking at him, Rock Lee felt his vision blur. He couldn't help wiping his eyes, thanking Naruto over and over.

"Naruto! Rock Lee! Even standing out here as punishment, you two are still so noisy... huh? Sasuke-kun, you're here?"

The classroom door slid open with a swish, and Iruka leaned out, his face livid. But before he could give the two disobedient students a proper scolding, he spotted the figure approaching down the corridor.

Naruto, who had noticed him long before, turned with a smile and called out, "Yo, Sasuke! You finally came to school!"

Sasuke still sported his cool look of a dark blue short-sleeved shirt and shorts. His handsome face wore a cold, distant expression, but there was a change in his gaze as he looked at Naruto that he couldn't quite hide.

"Yeah..." Sasuke answered softly, then looked away from the two idiots serving their punishment. He nodded to Iruka and entered the classroom.

"You two, come inside too." Watching Sasuke return silently to his seat, Iruka's anger largely subsided, and he beckoned Naruto and Rock Lee inside.

During the lesson that followed, Naruto forced himself to stay alert. With countless little nudges from Hinata's fingers beneath the desk, he finally managed to hold out without falling asleep and survived Iruka's class.

As soon as the bell rang, Naruto slumped forward in the classroom and began snoring away.

Sasuke, who had just stood up to go over and ask Naruto something, sat back down.

*That night,