Konoha Village, Ninja Academy
"Sakura-chan, you're super late!"
The blond kid waves wildly at Little Sakura, who's hauling a mountain of snacks.
"Too slow! Don't make us all late!"
Sasuke stands with hands jammed in his pockets, worry flickering in his eyes as they dart over.
"Whatever, let's move!"
Right in front of Sasuke and Naruto's stunned faces, Little Sakura shoves the whole pile of food into her mouth and chucks the wrappers into a nearby trash can.
Then she slings an arm around each of their shoulders and drags them toward the classroom.
Up on the second floor, a crowd of ninjas blocks the hallway to the third.
Two ninjas have just floored Team Guy. The one disguised as Tetsuo Steel steps forward, ready to chew out the naive rookies.
But a sudden chill crawls up his spine. He whips around and locks eyes with a pair of emerald greens.
Four years ago, that pink-haired girl in ANBU gear personally dismembered a squad of elite ninjas right in front of him.
"Yo, Tets—"
"Ah! Suddenly remembered I've got stuff to do—you guys carry on!"
The disguised Tetsuo Steel scoops up an equally pale Izumo Kamizuki, and the two bolt like ghosts.
"Weirdos, those two."
Naruto adjusts his forehead protector. When he opens his eyes, a watermelon-headed kid in a green jumpsuit stares back at him.
"Oh man, here to get the great Naruto-sama's autograph?"
Naruto strikes a pose, already brainstorming the coolest signature.
But Watermelon Head brushes right past him and stops in front of Little Sakura.
"Hello! You must be Miss Sakura. I'm Rock Lee, and... p-please go out with me!"
Gathering every ounce of courage, Watermelon Head bows ninety degrees and yells it at the top of his lungs.
!!!
Naruto cycles between heartbreak and rage.
Sasuke's pupils flash crimson, his glare turning dangerous.
"Sorry, I don't date guys weaker than me!"
Little Sakura shuts Lee down clean, then shoves the two boys toward the third-floor hall.
"Wait!"
From the back of the hall, Lee chases after them.
"Quit harassing her! Sakura already said no!"
The blond barrels forward, planting himself between them and snarling at Lee.
"No, I'm here to challenge the Uchiha prodigy!"
Lee's voice is flat, but now his eyes are locked on Sasuke.
Since the Uchiha clan never got wiped out, the academy still has a ton of Uchiha freshmen.
Among this generation, Sasuke—son of the former clan head—has the highest talent and charisma, already looking like the future leader.
"You guys keep going on about 'Sasuke this, Sasuke that'—let's see what you've got!"
Naruto, already fired up, charges. His right fist rockets high.
Lee brings five fingers together, ready to tap Naruto's incoming punch.
"Heh, saw that coming miles away!"
Naruto sacrifices his right fist. The one tucked at his stomach swings upward.
"What?!"
Lee's eyes widen. Chakra leaks from his palm.
His speed explodes several times over. A crouch plus a sweeping leg kick sends Naruto flying.
Naruto spins three and a half times in midair before SLAM—face-first into the wall. Out cold.
"That guy!"
Rainbow light flickers in Sasuke's eyes—he caught the microsecond chakra burst.
"Hey Sasuke, wanna test him?"
Little Sakura sits cross-legged on the floor, fingers laced under her chin, clearly egging him on.
Her emerald eyes sparkle with mischief, like she's chanting fight, fight.
"Hmph. Even you said something, so he must have some skill."
Sasuke had been casual with hands in pockets. Now he drops into stance, face serious.
Little Sakura blinks in surprise. "Oh? Growing up, huh?"
Sasuke secretly loves that look. He activates his Sharingan and Observation Haki, then charges Lee.
"Pointless. You can't beat me. I'm the strongest genin right now!"
Lee raises a palm and makes the bold claim.
Then he clashes with Sasuke. The fight is intense.
Little Sakura leans against a pillar, eyes half-lidded.
"Senpai Kai, arrogance isn't really your style."
"Eh... I just wanted to boost the kid's confidence. Didn't expect him to go overboard."
The green jumpsuit hidden on the other side of the pillar hangs his head in shame.
"So, disciple of my eternal rival—mind helping me straighten the boy out?"
"No need. Sasuke's got this."
Little Sakura waves it off, eyes back on the fight.
Sasuke's senses are razor-sharp. He dodges every single bait Lee throws.
But mid-fight, he starts to notice:
Even when he predicts Lee's moves, several attacks still slip through.
"Still can't dodge... is it...?"
Another punch to the cheek. Sasuke skids across the wooden floor.
He coughs up spit.
"That's right—my style is pure taijutsu!"
Lee blurs into afterimages, appearing in front of Sasuke in a blink.
One kick slips past Sasuke's guard, nailing his gut and launching him skyward.
"So that's it—perception and physical reaction aren't synced. Couldn't Sakura just say that?"
Realization hits. Sasuke senses Lee already behind him, prepping Shadow of the Dancing Leaf.
"Kai-sensei, today I'll prove hard work beats natural genius!"
Lee unwinds his bandages and flings them out.
"Genius? Casually calling someone else's blood and sweat 'talent' is an insult to every drop I've spilled!"
Flashing back to countless nights of Little Sakura chasing him with fists raised, Sasuke's eyes burn.
Willpower ignites. He breaks his body's limits, forcing a midair Moon Step.
Using air as footing, he dodges the bandages. Hands form the Tiger seal. Fire chakra builds in his mouth.
Sasuke's chest puffs: "Fire Style—"
"No!"
Lee's pupils shrink, face pale.
"That's enough."
Space-time light outpaces chakra flow. Little Sakura crushes the half-spat fireball with one hand and pins Lee's bandages with the other, slamming both boys to the ground.
"Sakura, what the hell?! He was about to lose!"
Dark chakra swirls in Sasuke's eyes, clouding his mind—until Little Sakura bonks him on the head. The gloom vanishes. He's clear again.
Nearby, Kai clocks Lee once. Master and student whisper something, then hug and bawl like babies.
"Don't use the Six Powers half-baked unless you want to retire early."
Little Sakura grabs Sasuke's leg, yanks off his shoe—yep, ankle swollen and deformed from forcing Geppo.
Fingers weave seals. Palm Sage glows softly in her hand.
"Got it... I'll train my body harder..."
Watching her seriously heal him, Sasuke blushes and looks away.
After fixing Sasuke, Little Sakura strolls over, scoops up Naruto, and wakes him with medical ninjutsu.
"That damn watermelon head, I—"
The blond jolts awake, already yelling for round two.
"Naruto, the exam's starting. Quit goofing off!"
Little Sakura grabs the back of his collar. Her height lifts him clean off the ground—legs kicking uselessly in the air.
"Later, Senpai Kai."
"Oh, the spark of youth! Good luck on the exam, young ones!"
Kai flashes a thumbs-up. His teeth sparkle.