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The next day, at Uchiha Compound, in a dimly lit room, Sasuke stared at the small crowd gathered before him with a mix of confusion and exasperation.
"Is all this really necessary just to take a picture?" he asked, crossing his arms.
Naruto adjusted the camera in his hands and grinned. "You don't get it, Sasuke. I'm the photographer, Sakura's handling the lighting, and Ino's on makeup duty. Every role is essential."
Sakura waved a makeshift lighting rig, a wooden stick wrapped in wires with a bulb fastened to the end. "Exactly! Don't be shy, Sasuke. It's just us here."
Ino giggled, her tone teasing. "Yeah, yeah~ Hehehe~"
Sasuke exhaled sharply, resigning himself to the ordeal. After what felt like an eternity of posing and adjustments, the photoshoot finally ended. Without a word, he retreated into the bathroom, his expression numb. The sound of running water soon followed.
Meanwhile, Sakura and Ino huddled together, already plotting their sales strategy for the newly acquired "merchandise."
When Sasuke emerged later, freshly showered and dressed, his patience had worn thin. "Uzumaki Naruto," he said firmly, "let's get started."
Naruto nodded. "Alright. Attack me with everything you've got. I need to gauge your current level."
Sasuke's eyes lit up with anticipation. Finally.Â
After all the humiliation and effort, he was getting one-on-one training from Naruto. He couldn't wait to see what his rival had in store for him.
The two left the compound and headed to a nearby riverbank. The moment they stopped, Sasuke activated his Sharingan, its crimson hue gleaming. "Just so you know," he warned, "my Sharingan can copy your movements, replicate your jutsu, and enhance my reflexes. Don't hold back."
Without hesitation, he lunged at Naruto, fists flying.
Naruto, however, remained calm. He closed his eyes, relying purely on instinct and experience to counter Sasuke's strikes. Every punch, every kick, Sasuke's attacks were effortlessly deflected with one-handed precision.
After a flurry of exchanges, Naruto seized the initiative. In one fluid motion, he twisted Sasuke's arm and flipped him onto the ground. A gentle push sent Sasuke tumbling into the river with a splash.
Drenched and sputtering, Sasuke surfaced, his mind racing. The gap between them was staggering, like a child fighting an adult. He dragged himself onto the shore, shoulders slumped.
"I lost," he admitted, frustration lacing his voice.
Naruto pulled him up and gave his assessment. "Your taijutsu is solid, top-tier among your peers."
'Top-tier?' Sasuke blinked. He hadn't realized he was that good. Then again, before Naruto's sudden rise, he had dominated their class in sparring. Only Inuzuka Kiba had ever given him a real challenge.
"But raw strength isn't your issue," Naruto continued. "You're physically capable. What you lack is technique and real combat experience."
Sasuke frowned. "So what now?"
"I'll design a training plan for you," Naruto said. "Tuesdays and Thursdays, you'll keep challenging me. Learn from your losses. On Mondays, I'll teach you a new technique until you master it. And once you're ready, we'll take on missions, real ones, where you'll see blood."
Sasuke's pulse quickened, but not from fear. This was exactly what he wanted.
"Today's lesson," Naruto said, changing the subject, "starts with a question: Why did you fall into the water just now?"
Sasuke stared blankly. "Because... gravity exists?"
Naruto didn't answer. Instead, he stepped onto the river's surface and stood there, perfectly balanced.
Sasuke's jaw dropped. "How?!"
"Chakra control," Naruto explained. "You concentrate it beneath your feet, allowing you to adhere to any surface. Walking on water might be too advanced for now, so start with tree climbing. You do know how to climb trees, right?"
Sasuke's excitement returned. "Of course!" He rushed to the nearest tree, pressed his foot against the bark, and focused his chakra. A faint adhesive sensation confirmed it was working.
'This changes everything', he thought. With this technique, terrain would never limit him again.
As Sasuke threw himself into training, Naruto turned to leave. The afternoon sun hung high, and he had his own plans.
After a quick stop at Ichiraku Ramen to refuel and a short rest at home, Naruto made his way to Konoha's front gates. Even in peacetime, the village maintained strict security.
Gatekeeper Izumo Kamizuki spotted him first. "Uzumaki Naruto?" He hesitated. "You leaving the village? Do you have a mission scroll from the Hokage?"
Naruto's frown deepened. The restrictions chafed. "I'm not the Jinchūriki anymore. Why would I need permission?"
Izumo faltered. The entire village knew the Nine-Tails had escaped, yet Naruto remained. That alone shattered the old stigma.
"Right," Izumo conceded. "But you still need to register. Standard procedure."
Naruto scribbled his name and departure time on the logbook, then strode past the gates. He veered off the main path, disappearing into the dense foliage beyond Konoha's borders.
.....
T/N: Thanks for the support from: Lam Sha, Black Widow, Hamza Masfar, Lord Of the Mysteries, Andrew, Jiri Stehule, trey hill, Agustin Monti.