On the rooftop of Konoha Hospital.
Fierce winds howled past.
Sasuke Uchiha stared gloomily at his heavily bandaged hands.
His scarlet Two-Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly.
The jealousy and helplessness within him threw his mind off balance.
The information from a few days earlier kept replaying in his head.
Naruto, that perennial dead last, had actually taken down the Jonin Kabuto Yakushi in one hit with a hand-seal-free ninjutsu called the Rasengan.
Even harder for him to accept was Son Goten, who was only twelve years old.
Even Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin, had been trampled and brutalized under that brat's feet like a dead dog.
Why?
He trained desperately, yet he could not even touch a single finger of Itachi's.
Why did those guys get to have power like that?
Someone shoved open the rooftop's iron door.
Naruto came running up excitedly, carrying a plastic bag.
"Sasuke! I got you some special bone-broth ramen to go from Teuchi!"
Without a thought, Naruto held out the bag.
"But Boss Goten stole all the chashu, so there's only clear broth left. Make do and drink some to build your strength back up. Boss Goten said the bone broth is where all the goodness is, and drinking it makes you taller."
At the sight of Naruto's carefree smile, an inexplicable rage surged through Sasuke.
He lashed out with a heavy slap.
The plastic bag went flying, spilling scalding clear broth all over the ground.
"Stop pretending you care!" Sasuke roared through gritted teeth.
Naruto froze. Looking at the noodles on the ground, his expression darkened.
"What's wrong with you? I came to see you out of kindness!"
"Kindness?" Sasuke sneered. "Naruto, fight me. Right now!"
"Are you out of your mind? Your injuries haven't healed yet!"
"Shut up! If you're a ninja,