Naruto woke up a little late the next day.
When he opened his eyes, it was already ten-thirty.
The main reason was that the bed in the sealing space was simply too comfortable.
His physical body was lying on the shabby little bed at home, but his mind had been enjoying complete comfort.
Before he knew it, he had overslept.
After waking up and checking the time, Naruto didn’t panic.
He opened the system and saw two gift packs sitting there, along with more than 300 Lazing Points.
Naruto calmly washed his face and brushed his teeth.
Since he was already late, there was no point worrying about a few more minutes.
Today was a full day of classes.
He wouldn’t be dismissed until five-thirty in the afternoon.
This time, Naruto had no intention of waiting another half hour after school.
He might as well leave later in the afternoon.
“Ding!
Successful act of slacking.”
“Obtained 20 Lazing Points.”
…
“Come on, everyone.
Pay attention here.
The Third Hokage’s…”
Iruka was lecturing from the podium.
The students below were all looking sleepy.
Sasuke was distracted as well, occasionally glancing toward the classroom door.
Yesterday, he had knelt for the entire afternoon after returning home.
Yet he still hadn’t figured out how exactly he had lost.
It had simply happened too fast.
He hadn’t even had time to react before he was sent flying.
By the time he came to his senses, his face was already swollen.
And Naruto had run away.
“Could I have slipped?”
“Maybe I just didn’t notice and then forgot about it after falling?”
“That can’t be…”
The more Sasuke thought about it, the stranger and more confusing it became.
How could someone who couldn’t even throw a shuriken properly defeat him so effortlessly?
“Could it be… this guy secretly practices taijutsu?”
The moment he thought of this, Sasuke suddenly understood.
That had to be it.
To defeat him so quickly that he couldn’t even react, Naruto’s taijutsu had to be extremely powerful.
Although Sasuke was unwilling to admit it, he had to acknowledge the truth.
He had already understood his father’s words from yesterday afternoon.
The Uchiha could fail.
But they had to acknowledge their shortcomings.
Improve.
Overcome them.
Only then could they become stronger.
“This guy probably specializes in taijutsu, which is why his shuriken throwing is so terrible.”
“And I…”
Sasuke’s gaze became steadier.
He had lost.
He admitted it.
But he didn’t think he had completely lost.
His taijutsu might be inferior to Naruto’s, but his shuriken throwing was far better.
Besides, he had recently been secretly practicing the Great Fireball Technique and the Three Basic Techniques.
This guy’s taijutsu was so strong that he must have spent an enormous amount of time practicing it.
That explained why his shuriken throwing was so poor…
“He sacrificed training in other subjects and focused entirely on taijutsu…”
“No wonder.”
Sasuke felt that he had found the answer.
But he didn’t agree with Naruto’s training method.
A ninja needed to develop in every area.
Just like his older brother.
He had seen his brother train before.
His taijutsu was incredibly powerful—practically invincible.
His ninjutsu and shuriken techniques were also unbelievably strong.
That was what a perfect ninja looked like.
“I’ll double my training.
While maintaining balanced development, I’ll also increase my taijutsu training!”
“I’ve decided.
I’ll train for an extra hour today!”
Sasuke’s eyes were filled with determination.
He had found his path.
He secretly glanced toward the classroom door again.
That guy still hadn’t arrived.
He was probably…
Practicing in secret?
It had to be.
To defeat Uchiha Sasuke, his daily training must have been extremely demanding.
Practicing until late at night was perfectly normal.
That must be why he always looked so listless.
The dismissal bell rang.
It was lunchtime.
After finishing his meal, Sasuke decided to use the restroom.
But while passing the teachers’ office, he heard that guy’s voice.
“Sorry, Teacher.
I overslept.”
“You slept too long and missed the entire morning?
What were you doing last night?!”
Sasuke immediately perked up his ears and quietly approached the office door to listen.
“Last night… I was sleeping.
Sorry, Teacher.
It won’t happen again.”
Sleeping?
The corners of Sasuke’s mouth curled upward.
I knew it.
You were secretly practicing taijutsu!
Who could sleep for that long?
Heh.
What a pathetic excuse.
There was no way Teacher Iruka would believe that!
“…Fine.
Just this once.
Go back to the classroom first and borrow someone’s notes.
The morning lessons were important!”
“Okay, Teacher.
Goodbye.”
Hearing that, Sasuke quickly moved on.
Sure enough, Naruto soon walked out.
As Sasuke entered the restroom, he pretended not to care and glanced at him.
Naruto didn’t notice him at all.
He simply walked straight toward the classroom.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
He remembered their battle from yesterday afternoon.
That had been his humiliation.
But the battle between the two of them had only just begun!
Sasuke quickly finished using the restroom, washed his hands, and ran back to the classroom.
It wasn’t even one-thirty yet, but most of the students were still awake.
Naruto, however, had already returned to his seat and immediately laid his head down on the desk.
It seemed this guy really had trained until very late last night.
Sasuke took a breath.
His goal was clear.
He walked toward Naruto’s desk.
“Hey, Naruto.”
“…Huh?”
Naruto raised his head and saw Sasuke.
He was confused for a moment before unconsciously glancing at Sasuke’s right cheek.
Nothing wrong.
Had he remembered incorrectly?
Had he punched Sasuke with his left hand?
But his left cheek was fine too.
Strange…
He had definitely sent Sasuke flying yesterday.
Did he put some medicine on it?
At that moment, Sasuke took a deep breath.
His father’s teachings still echoed in his ears.
He could lose.
But he would never keep losing.
“We’ll have another fight sooner or later.”
“And next time, the result will definitely be different.”
Sasuke looked at Naruto’s sleepy face.
For some reason…
He suddenly didn’t find Naruto quite as annoying anymore.
Perhaps…
An opponent like this was the kind of opponent most worthy of respect.
Father, I understand now.
Sasuke lowered his head and smiled in relief.
Then he looked back at Naruto.
“Keep it up.”
After saying that, Sasuke returned directly to his seat, feeling rather pleased with himself.
The students around them immediately began whispering.
“Did you see that?
Sasuke challenged Naruto to another fight!”
“They fought before?
So who won?”
“Obviously Sasuke!
Naruto was terrible at throwing shuriken…”
“Sasuke was encouraging Naruto just now!”
“Wow… Sasuke is so cool.”
Naruto remained in his seat, staring blankly.
…
What was going on?