Chapter 33: Bonds & Promises
"That was just a clone. The real me was already behind you when you attacked it," Naruto replied with a slight smile, slowly lowering his kunai.
"Well done, Naruto. Your application of the shadow clone has reached a level where even I can be caught off-guard if I'm not fully focused," the Third said, his single eye gleaming with immense satisfaction. Suddenly, a soft poof sounded, and the Hokage's form before him dissolved into a cloud of white smoke.
An old, pleased voice came from the corner of the training ground. "Naruto, to defeat even my thirty-percent strength clone… it seems I have still been underestimating you."
Naruto clicked his tongue in mock annoyance. "Tch. You old geezer, you sent a clone to fight me?"
"Heh. Even as a clone, your current strength has clearly surpassed that of an ordinary Jōnin. You are only lacking experience compared to elite Jōnin now," the Third chuckled, stepping forward to pat Naruto firmly on the shoulder.
Naruto smiled slightly. In truth, he still held several cards close to his chest—like the unstable, corrupted Sage power laced with the Curse Mark's poison. It was not something he could control well yet, so he would never use it in a simple spar. Had it been the Sandaime's true body, he might have been forced to consider it. But it hadn't been necessary.
After the spar, the two left the training ground. Instead of returning to his office, the Third took a casual stroll through Konoha with Naruto. As they walked, he analyzed the finer points of their battle, pointing out subtle flaws in Naruto's form and timing.
Naruto listened with an open mind, reflecting seriously on each critique. The exchange was deeply instructive. They talked and walked with an easy rhythm. Stripped of his Hokage formality, Sarutobi was just a kind, knowledgeable old man, and Naruto found himself relaxing completely. Unconsciously, the bond between them deepened.
"Alright, it's about time I should head back, Naruto," the Third said after a while.
"Right. I should get back to training, too," Naruto nodded.
"You really are diligent. Now I finally understand the source of your strength," the Third said, his voice full of paternal pride.
Before turning to leave, the Hokage paused and looked back. "Naruto… Konoha is a good village, isn't it?"
Naruto was slightly taken aback. "Well… yes. It is. Why?"
"Nothing. I just want you to promise me one thing."
"What is it?" Naruto asked, sensing the shift in the old man's tone.
"If there ever comes a day when this old man no longer has the strength to protect Konoha… will you protect it for me?" The Sandaime's voice was solemn, carrying the full weight of his office.
So that's it. Naruto smiled gently but with unwavering conviction. "Of course. As long as I'm alive, I won't let anyone harm this village."
"With your word, I am at peace." A look of profound relief washed over the Third's face. He offered one last, grateful smile, then turned and walked away.
Naruto shook his head with a soft laugh and headed for the waterfall. His feelings for the village were complex, but he had come to see it as his home, his territory. He would not let it be destroyed. True, many in the village still scorned or feared him, but they were ignorant of the truth. He had no time to dwell on their disdain. His goals were clear: to become the strongest, and… to find a way back.
Leaves return to their roots. As a traveler in this world, he had no intention of fading away to dust in a foreign land.
In the days that followed, Naruto threw himself back into relentless, solitary training. The routine was grueling and monotonous, but it was consistently brightened each evening by Hinata's timely arrival. They would eat, walk, and talk, and Naruto found he greatly enjoyed the simple pleasure of her company—and the occasional, affectionate teasing that made her blush so charmingly.
Elsewhere in Konoha, near a rocky cliff face, two figures stood before a boulder taller than a man. One was a masked ninja with a lazy-looking eye; the other, a dark-haired girl.
Kakashi and Sasuke.
"Kakashi, are you finally going to teach me that jutsu?" Sasuke asked, her gaze intense.
Kakashi's expression was serious. "Your chakra natures are Lightning and Fire, and with your Sharingan, you are suited to learn my Chidori. But you must agree to one condition."
"What condition?"
"After you learn this technique, you must never use it against a comrade."
Sasuke frowned, her face a mask of internal conflict. After a long pause, she asked, "Not even in sparring?"
Kakashi shook his head with a knowing, weary smile. "I know you want to use it to defeat Naruto, right?"
Sasuke gave a stiff nod.
"Give up on that," Kakashi said flatly. "Naruto is not an opponent you can defeat with Chidori."
"Why?!" Sasuke flared up like a singed cat, her pride stung. "I have to defeat him!"
"Is defeating him truly so important to your goal, Sasuke?" Kakashi countered. "What does it have to do with your real purpose?"
"I…" Sasuke faltered, but a fierce, burning emotion churned inside her. She had always been the top of her generation. Naruto's sudden, overwhelming strength had overturned that certainty. She couldn't accept it! If she couldn't even surpass Naruto, what hope did she have of ever defeating that man? She needed to surpass everything, to kill him, to restore the Uchiha!
"Alright, Sasuke, set those thoughts aside for now. Naruto is training relentlessly as we speak. Your first task is simply to train harder than he does. Put the rivalry away," Kakashi advised.
Sasuke could only nod in sullen silence, but deep inside, the embers of resentment and rivalry burned hotter than ever.
Chapter 34: On the Road
Time passed swiftly. Before he knew it, a month had gone by. On this particular morning, Naruto rose for his usual training, but the moment he stepped outside, a familiar voice called to him.
"Naruto! Over here! Kakashi-sensei wants us to gather at Training Ground Seven!" It was Sakura.
"Got it, Sakura. I'm on my way," Naruto called back, shutting his door and breaking into a light run to catch up.
Compared to her often-anxious self from weeks before, Sakura seemed to be in exceptionally high spirits, a constant, genuine smile on her face.
"You seem happy. Good news?" Naruto asked as he fell into step beside her.
"You noticed! I applied to join the Medical Corps yesterday… and I was accepted!" Sakura announced, her grin widening.
"Congratulations! That definitely calls for a celebration dinner, doesn't it?" Naruto teased with a smile.
"Well… I suppose so. We could invite Sasuke, too. Oh! But we have to hurry! Kakashi-sensei said not to be late!" Sakura exclaimed, suddenly remembering their urgency, and picked up her pace.
Naruto followed. Shortly, they arrived at their destination.
Two familiar figures were already waiting—one tall and languid, the other short and poised.
Kakashi and Sasuke.
Naruto hadn't seen Sasuke properly in nearly a month. Seeing her standing there, quiet and focused, he stepped forward with a friendly grin. "Hey, Sasuke. Long time no see. How's the training with Kakashi-sensei been?"