The Hatake Clan's training ground.
"All right! I really am a genius! I learned a Ninjutsu as difficult as the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique in no time!"
Naruto, who had created ten Shadow Clones in one go, looked immensely pleased with himself and couldn't resist showing off.
Smack!
Before he could enjoy his triumph, however, someone mercilessly slapped the back of his head. "What makes you a genius? You've been learning this for days, and your Shadow Clones are still all over the place. They don't even meet the standard for normal combat strength!"
"Shinichi, you're way too strict!"
Naruto protested, clutching his head.
"You little brat, what do you know? Better to sweat more on the training ground than bleed on the battlefield!"
Shinichi might have doted on the three children in everyday life, but he never indulged them during actual training. After all, this would affect their chances of surviving battles when they grew up. He couldn't afford to be careless in the slightest.
Especially with Naruto's heedless, reckless habit of charging at anyone he saw. Without his protagonist's plot armor, he would probably have died hundreds of times already!
"Idiot."
Watching Naruto get scolded from a short distance away, Sasuke couldn't help sneering.
"What did you say? I heard that, you bastard Sasuke!"
As these two friends with their love-hate relationship spent more time together, they quickly began getting on each other's nerves. In less than three days, they had already argued dozens of times.
"Who are you calling a bastard?"
"Are you deaf? You, obviously! Come fight me if you've got a problem with it!"
"You think I'm scared of you..."
"Sasuke, don't be like that."
Seeing Sasuke about to fight Naruto again, Itachi immediately pulled him back and shook his head helplessly.
It was strange.