Chapter 81 – A Family
"So you want to go to the training ground with Sasuke to train, is that right?"
"Yes!" Naruto nodded vigorously, speaking with his mouth full. "I want to defeat that guy!"
"That's wonderful, Naruto. You've got yourself a goal."
Mikoto smiled warmly.
Naruto grinned sheepishly, then suddenly put down his chopsticks and began gesturing excitedly.
"Auntie, this is the first time I realized Sasuke is so amazing!"
"Oh? Really?" Mikoto asked in surprise. "And what's so amazing about Sasuke?"
Naruto puffed out his chest and waved his arms dramatically, his loud voice echoing even into the bathroom.
"That, that—Sasuke can turn into a log!"
Mikoto chuckled softly. "Ah, that's the Substitution Technique."
"Right!" Naruto slapped his forehead. "Substitution Technique… and what were the other two again? Iruka-sensei told us about them just the other day, but I can't remember."
He scratched his head, big blue eyes blinking in confusion.
"Substitution, Clone, and Transformation," Mikoto explained gently. "Together, they're known as the Three Basic Techniques."
"That's it!" Naruto exclaimed. "Thanks, Auntie."
At the bathroom door, Sasuke had just finished his shower. He paused with his hand on the knob, listening silently. Hearing Naruto praise him made him secretly happy. But when the conversation turned to Itachi, Sasuke flung open the door and dashed out.
"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted. "When Itachi-aniki comes back, he's teaching me—no one else!"
Naruto blinked, stunned, then quickly nodded. "But… if he teaches both of us, that's even better!"
Mikoto raised a brow at Sasuke's jealousy. "Sasuke, what's wrong now?"
"Big brother can only teach me!" Sasuke muttered stubbornly.
Mikoto sighed inwardly. This child… Itachi has spoiled him too much.
But she and Fugaku had already made this decision. It wouldn't change just because of Sasuke's tantrum.
"Sasuke," Mikoto said firmly, "your father and I have already discussed this. If you disagree, take it up with him."
Sasuke instinctively glanced at Fugaku's stern face in the corner of the room. His courage faltered immediately.
Mikoto pressed her point. "Your brother won't be leaving for missions anymore. He'll be teaching both you and Naruto here at home. That means you'll get to see him every day. Isn't that a good thing?"
Sasuke's expression wavered. "…But—"
Mikoto cut him off. "It's just one more student. And Naruto is family now, isn't he?"
"…But—"
She delivered the finishing blow. "You saw what happened today. Naruto lost. Do you want to see him keep losing like that?"
The image of Naruto lying defeated before Inuzuka Kiba flashed in Sasuke's mind. His shoulders slumped. "…Fine. I understand. I won't object."
Mikoto smiled, gently ruffling his hair. "That's my good boy. Family should always help each other. Now, what did you two practice at the training ground?"
Sasuke looked away awkwardly. "…Nothing much. Just the usual."
Naruto, however, was eager to share. "Sasuke told me to practice chakra control! He also said beating Kiba is super easy. If I keep training with Sasuke, I'll definitely defeat him next time!"
"Is that so?" Mikoto laughed softly. "Our Sasuke really is like a big brother already."
Sasuke's ears turned red. "Urusai… you talk too much."
Naruto tilted his head. "Eh? Why? I'm just telling the truth."
Sasuke didn't answer. Instead, he remembered what that female ninja had told Naruto earlier in the day. At the training ground, he'd noticed Naruto didn't suffer from chakra dissipation the way some beginners did. Curious, he asked:
"Kaa-san, for beginners like Naruto, does chakra sometimes leak away on its own?"
Mikoto nodded. "Yes, that's common at first."
"Oh," Sasuke said, relieved. That meant Naruto's situation was normal. More training would solve it.
"Speaking of which…" Mikoto tilted her head. "Who was that kunoichi who showed concern for Naruto?"
Girls kind to Naruto weren't common in the village.
Sasuke answered flatly. "Last night, Naruto wouldn't stop whining for dango. That kunoichi bought him some."
Naruto's face lit up instantly. "Auntie, Auntie! Shizune-neechan is amazing! She's so kind and pretty! This morning I met her again while buying steamed buns, and I invited her to watch our training match—she actually came!"
Naruto's words tumbled out in an endless stream, but Mikoto listened patiently, smiling.
"So her name is Shizune-neechan?" Mikoto said at last. "That's wonderful, Naruto. You've met someone very kind."
"Mhm, mhm!" Naruto nodded enthusiastically, then turned to Sasuke. "Right, Sasuke? You think Shizune-neechan is a good person too, don't you?"
"Well… she's alright, I guess," Sasuke muttered, rubbing his nose.
Mikoto's eyes softened. Shizune… why did that name sound so familiar?
She couldn't quite recall.
"Naruto," she said kindly, "next time you see Shizune-neechan, invite her over for dinner. Since she treated you, we should return the favor properly."
Naruto nodded at first, but then his face fell.
"What's wrong, Naruto?" Mikoto asked gently.
Naruto sighed. "…Shizune-neechan said she was leaving today. She's probably already left Konoha by now."
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