Chapter 11 (Patreon)

“Hinata, why do you keep sneaking looks at me?”

Naruto sat across from her with a smile.

“You can look at me whenever you want, you know. I don’t mind.”

“U-um... I...”

Hinata lowered her head and pressed her fingertips together, unable to get another word out.

“Alright, alright. I won’t tease you.”

Naruto wasn’t sure how to help her relax. In the end, he sighed softly and got up. There were still more pressing things he needed to do.

Returning to Sasuke, he asked, “Have you thought about what I said? We’re going to be on the same team anyway. Why don’t we start training together today?”

Sasuke considered it for a moment, his expression still cold.

“Fight me again. That last one doesn’t count.”

Naruto grinned.

“Still can’t accept that I beat you, huh? Fine. We’ll use the training ground this time.”

They soon reached the Academy’s training ground. Classes were already over, so only their graduating class remained at the school, and most of those students had gone to find somewhere to eat lunch.

The training ground was deserted.

But after noticing that Sasuke had left the classroom, Sakura came looking for him. She stopped at the edge of the field and called out.

“Go, Sasuke-kun! Beat Naruto! Show that loser how strong you are!”

Naruto rolled his eyes and turned to Sasuke.

“You’ve got an audience this time. Better make it a good show.”

He formed a hand sign. Shadow clones appeared around him and rushed Sasuke in a crowd.

“The same trick again?” Sasuke snorted. “I’m ready for it this time!”

His hands flashed through a series of signs, and he drew in a deep breath.

“Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!”

A huge fireball roared toward Naruto and his clones.

“Come on, Sasuke! Give me a little credit! You’re not going to hit me with that!”

Several clones braced themselves to form a ladder, and another Naruto bounded up over their shoulders, leaping high into the air before diving toward Sasuke.

Sasuke snorted and tilted his head back, directing the flames upward.

The airborne Naruto disappeared into the fire and burst into smoke.

It had only been a shadow clone.

Meanwhile, several more clones were closing in from both sides and behind him.

“Sasuke-kun, look out!” Sakura shouted.

Naruto clicked his tongue.

‘Can’t you stay out of it?’

Sasuke had been so focused on the clone overhead that he hadn’t noticed the others approaching. Naruto’s plan would have worked if Sakura hadn’t warned him.

Poof! Poof! Poof!

Sasuke swept the flames across the clones on either side, then cut off the jutsu, spun around, and kicked the clone coming at him from behind.

“Above you, Sasuke-kun!”

Sakura’s voice rang out again.

Sasuke looked up sharply. Two more Narutos were dropping toward him, their feet aimed at his head.

He quickly jumped clear.

Frowning at the two figures that landed in front of him, he checked his surroundings to make sure no other clones were waiting to ambush him.

Naruto gave him a mocking smile.

“Even with Sakura telling you what to do, you still can’t beat me.”

Sasuke’s expression hardened. The taunt stung.

He turned toward Sakura.

“Stay out of it!”

Her expression froze. She stood at the edge of the field, unsure what to do.

“Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

Naruto formed the hand sign again, and dozens of clones charged Sasuke.

Sasuke frowned, formed his own signs, and sent another huge fireball into the approaching crowd.

“Sasuke-kun! Behind you!”

That voice again.

Sasuke was thoroughly irritated, but ignoring a warning just because it came from Sakura would be foolish.

He looked back.

There was nothing there.

And the voice hadn’t been Sakura’s.

Naruto had imitated her.

By the time Sasuke realized he’d been tricked, several clones had already thrown themselves at him and pinned his arms and legs.

The match was over.

Naruto dispelled his clones and smiled at him.

“You lost. That’s twice now, Sasuke.”

“Hmph!”

Losing twice to someone he had always dismissed as the worst student in their class was hard enough to accept. Having Sakura there to witness it made the humiliation worse.

Sasuke turned and walked away.

As he passed Sakura, he gave her a cold look. Whatever she had been about to say died in her throat. Her eyes reddened, and tears began to spill down her cheeks.

[Ding! Long-term achievement mission unlocked: Defeat Sasuke Seven Times.]

[Reward: Unknown.]

[Ding! This mission does not require a choice. Complete it to claim your reward.]

“Seven wins against Sasuke?” Naruto murmured, his brow furrowing. “Does it want me to keep beating him until he finally agrees to work with me?”

Then his attention returned to the reward.

“A mystery reward, huh? Now you’ve got me interested!”

Feeling thoroughly pleased with himself, Naruto headed off the training ground.

On his way out, he passed Sakura, who was still crying. The sight softened his anger a little, and he stopped to offer a few words of comfort.

“Sakura, I—”

“I hate you, you idiot!”

She shouted at him, her voice hoarse with tears.

“Why did you copy my voice to trick Sasuke-kun? Now he must hate me! You only won because you cheated! You’re still a loser!”

Then she turned and hurried away, apparently going after Sasuke.

“What’s wrong with you?!” Naruto shouted after her. “All you ever do is chase after him!”

He stormed away from the training ground, breathing hard with anger.

Beating Sasuke and receiving a new achievement mission had put him in a wonderful mood.

Now Sakura had ruined it.

…

After lunch, the students returned to the classroom.

Naruto hurried in, breathing heavily, and dropped into his seat. He had spent the time running laps around the training ground to improve his stamina.

Although his [Uzumaki Sage Body] had reached Level 3, it only increased his cellular vitality and chakra reserves. It hadn’t improved his physical strength or endurance.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to Sasuke.

“So, have you thought it over? Let’s train together and get stronger. When the time comes, I’ll help you get your revenge.”

Sasuke remained silent, his expression cold.

If he agreed now, it would look as though he had given in because Naruto had beaten him.

He couldn’t accept that.

Naruto rolled his eyes and sighed.

“Fine. Keep thinking about it. Maybe you’ll agree after I beat you again.”

Sasuke snorted, his expression growing even more sour.

Before long, the jonin instructors began arriving, each calling for their team and leaving with three students in tow.

When Kurenai Yuhi arrived and called her team’s names, Hinata got up to follow her.

As she passed Naruto, she spoke so softly that her voice was barely more than a whisper.

“Naruto-kun... do your best.”

“Hinata, you’ve got to speak a little louder!”

Naruto looked up with a smile and caught her hand.

“But I heard you! You work hard, too, alright? You’ll have to if you’re going to keep up with me!”

“Y-yes...”

The moment she felt his hand around hers, Hinata nearly fainted. Somehow, she managed to slip free and hurry out of the classroom, blushing furiously.

Kurenai watched with an amused smile. It reminded her of the awkward moments she and Asuma had shared when they were younger.

“Hinata ranked third in our class, right behind Sasuke-kun and me,” Sakura said from behind Naruto, making no effort to hide her contempt. “What exactly is she supposed to catch up to? You being last?”

Naruto turned toward her.

“Has anyone ever told you how annoying you are, Billboard Brow?”

He had chosen the nickname for the feature Sakura was most sensitive about...