"Naruto!"
Sasuke was angry, Naruto was aggrieved, and Sakura and Kakashi stood by in silence.
Since returning from the Land of Waves, Sasuke could clearly sense that Naruto often got distracted during missions.
He either pulled out medicinal herbs, mistaking them for weeds, while weeding, or was so inattentive while walking the dogs that he was dragged into a minefield and blown up, ending up covered in injuries. The most outrageous part was that he accidentally tripped while picking up trash in the river and almost got swept down the waterfall.
Sasuke couldn't understand Naruto's constant distractions. In his past life, Naruto had poor skills and was so eager to compete with him that it was forgivable for him to make mistakes due to distraction. But why was he still the same in this life?
Was Naruto just Naruto, and history couldn't change him?
"Wu wu wu... Sasuke..."
Naruto covered his swollen, beaten face and groaned to voice his dissatisfaction. Wasn't it just a moment of distraction during the mission? Did Sasuke have to be so harsh and beat him until his head was covered in bumps!
Sasuke shot him a sharp glance, and Naruto shifted his gaze to Kakashi and Sakura.
But these two didn't even bother to look at him and instead averted their gazes in unison. Naruto sat there and silently sighed. Were they really his companions? He couldn't help but question the meaning of the word "companion" in his mind.
"I used to think I was quite good. But when I went out, I realized I was overestimating myself. Both Haku and Zabuza were truly formidable rivals. Any carelessness in battle could bring danger to myself and my companions. So sometimes I can't help but feel that the world is really huge!"
"Naruto..."
Sasuke and the other two were very gratified. They never expected that Naruto, who always acted on impulse without a second thought, would have such thoughts.
"Since you think so, let's add another set of training after the mission!"
"Huh! Wait a minute. Weren't we just reflecting on how vast the world is? Why are we back to talking about training?"
No way. The previous training had already been extremely tough on him. If they added more, he was really afraid he'd die young.
"Wasn't it you who were bemoaning the vast world, numerous rivals, and your own meager strength? So I'm taking time to give you special training. Be grateful to me for this!"
"No... nooo-----------"
Naruto's miserable scream echoed through the entire forest.
..................
"Sasuke is such a training fanatic. He won't feel right unless he subjects others to crazy training every day! I wonder when he finds the time to train. His strength seems much greater than mine even though I've been training my heart out!"
"Don't say that. Sasuke is doing this for your own good. Although the training is tough, your strength has been improving really rapidly, Naruto!"
Sakura kept comforting him on the side.
Naruto still couldn't take it. After the mission, he made an excuse and bolted. It wasn't that he didn't like training, but shouldn't there be a balance between work and rest? Thinking this way, as he walked through the alleys of Konoha, he saw three strange stones.
?_?
"Konohamaru, your disguise is so fake! When did stones grow legs?"
Konohamaru removed his disguise and burst out laughing.
"Truly worthy of the man I've taken a fancy to. He's really something!"
Suddenly, Konohamaru shifted his gaze and saw Sakura standing beside him. He grinned lewdly.
"She's Naruto's [girlfriend], right?"
As Konohamaru spoke, he even held up his little finger, making Naruto feel extremely nervous.
"What nonsense are you talking about, Konohamaru!"
"Right, Konohamaru. I'm Naruto's classmate and partner, not his girlfriend!"
"Ha~ I knew it~ Otherwise, with Naruto's taste, how could he take a fancy to such an ugly hag!"
ヾ(??Д??)?\"
?(▼д▼)?
Seeing the sudden burst of anger from Sakura, Naruto punched hard above Konohamaru's head, shattering the wooden board on his head.
"Konohamaru, run!"
"A~ How scary, that ugly hag~"
Konohamaru staggered away, crying as he ran. Sakura, looking like a fierce demon with her hair flailing in the air like a nest of snakes, closely chased after him.
The faster Konohamaru ran, the less attentive he became and accidentally bumped into someone.
"Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going."
In pain, he rubbed his head and quickly apologized. He didn't even see who he had bumped into before the person grabbed his collar and lifted him up high.
The choking feeling from the collar made it almost impossible for him to breathe.
"Nar... Naruto, save me. It hurts so much!"
"Hey! Kid, do you think you can just say sorry after bumping into me and making me hurt?"
"Sorry. It's all my fault for chasing him from behind, so Konohamaru bumped into you."
"That won't do. I hate kids the most. I have to teach this kid a good lesson!"
"Konohamaru, stop right now. We're not here to cause trouble!"
"I'm just giving this kid who made me angry a little lesson."
As he spoke, he tightened his grip even more. Just as Konohamaru was about to lose consciousness, a flying [kunai] interrupted Kanpō's action.
The [kunai] nailed into the treetop beside his hand. The stinging pain made him let go of Konohamaru. Looking at the cut on his hand, his anger flared even more.
"Whoever did this, show yourself!"
"It's me, Naruto Uzumaki!"
"You guy with that strange paint on your face. You're so full of fire right from the start. I'll cool you down!"
"You bastard!"
Kanpō took off the luggage on his back. Just as the bandages on it were about to come off, a cold shout stopped him.
"Stop, Kanpō!"
Hearing the voice from behind, Naruto was startled. He hadn't even sensed the enemy's presence. He followed the voice and saw a [ninja] hanging upside down on the treetop, carrying a huge gourd on his back.
Not only was Naruto shocked, but Kanpō also showed a look of cautious flattery.
"Gaara, I'll put the [puppet] away right away."
The figure on the treetop began to turn [intangible] and turned into a handful of sand that fell to the ground. The sand then gathered back together.
He thought to himself that Naruto's skills were quite impressive if he could hurt Konohamaru.
"Excuse me. We just arrived on the first day and don't know the rules."
As he said this, he was about to leave the place with Kanpō and Temari when he was interrupted by Naruto's voice.
"Who are you?"
"Me... You're asking me?"
Temari turned around in surprise, her face still a bit flushed as she looked at Naruto happily. Just like any other girl, she would feel shy when someone asked for her name in the street.
......
"Not you. It's the guy with the gourd on his back beside you!"
"Gaara!"
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