"This..."
Staring at the scene on the black-framed large screen.
Asuma forced a wry smile.
Why do I feel like I'm being disliked?
[Outside the Sixth Training Ground.]
[Team Ten has just emerged.]
[Just happened to run into Team 7, which had also finished its assessment.]
[Not long ago.]
[Team 7.]
[As Sakura's words fell.]
[Sasuke's face turned red with frustration.]
[Finally, he gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "I... Naruto!"}
[Naruto turned his head, a trademark gentle smile on his face.]
["What's wrong?"]
["I... I..."}
["Naruto, please, I want to get stronger..."}
[Those few sentences seemed to drain all of Sasuke's strength.]
[When he finished speaking, the heavy stone in his heart lightened considerably.]
[Even if he were rejected, Sasuke accepted it.]
["Aren't we in the same team?"}
[Naruto chuckled and replied.]
[Sasuke was startled.]
[One team?]
[Do you mean before graduation... or after?]
[Never mind!}
[As long as Naruto doesn't refuse me, that's all that matters!}
[Sasuke's face lit up with joy.]
[You have to know,]
[In his view, the so‑called Naruto Gang is nothing more than Ninja role‑play among the clan's youth.}
[When he was a child, Sasuke also followed it for a while.]
[It did improve him.]
[But after the night of the clan's annihilation,]
[Sasuke no longer wanted to train in that cheerful environment.]
[Those people carried no burden; staying with them made rapid progress difficult.]
[Even though in every live‑combat drill Sasuke never managed to face Naruto as he hoped,]
[Sasuke still doesn't think his choice was wrong.]
[Unfortunately, the facts are right before his eyes.]
[Even Sakura Haruno, whom he never wanted to look at back then, unleashed a power that moved Kakashi.}
[Looking at himself… he seems to have oversimplified everything.]
[His understanding of power is too shallow.]
[He sensed Sasuke's mood.]
[Naruto shook his head.]
["Sasuke, didn't you notice it yourself?"}
["What?"}
[Originally a bit happy that Naruto hadn't rejected him, Sasuke felt his heart drop at Naruto's question.]
[But he had already decided that, even if humiliated, he'd keep his nerve and push forward!]
[Otherwise, relying only on that unreliable Jōnin Instructor, when would he ever stand out? When could he get revenge?]
["It's fine, not noticing is normal."}
["Uchiha..."}
[Looking at Sasuke, Naruto thought for a moment.]
[He still didn't directly tell him what he knew about the Uchiha.]
[He'll wait until Sasuke matures a bit more and becomes calmer.]
[There's Team Three ahead, and the future heirs of the major Ninja clans.]
[Naruto has long known that after becoming a Ninja, one will spend a long time doing the lowest‑level missions.]
[He actually agrees with that.]
[After all, fresh Ninjas are hot‑blooded youths with high spirits.]
[If they jump straight into dangerous missions, accidents are almost certain.]
[Doing low‑level tasks first hones one's temperament.]
[Everyone in the Naruto Gang needs that experience as well.]
[Even with Naruto's help, they've been dragging them around for years.]
[Their strength surpasses that of ordinary Genin, even many Chunin.]
[But when it comes to temperament, Naruto can't claim it's flawless.]
[Of course, it's not a big problem.]
[If we talk about who needs this the most in this generation, it's definitely Sasuke.]
Uchiha Sasuke: "In our world, it's Naruto."
Uzumaki Naruto: "That's exactly right."
Uchiha Sasuke: "?????"
You better argue back!
Damn… just a dead last… why does it feel so unfamiliar?
No way?!
Watching Naruto who didn't even turn his head.
Sasuke suddenly got a bad premonition.
Damn!
He clenched his fists.
Want to be like black frame world?
Surpass me?
Don't even think about it!
["Hurry, hurry~!"}]
[Choji urges Ino and Shikamaru.]
["Yes, yes, seriously, at times like this you're always the most eager," Ino quickens her steps.]
["So troublesome… Choji, how many did you prepare this time?"}]
[Shikamaru sees this and silently speeds up as well.]
["Heh heh!"}]
["I stole the good stuff my dad treasured!"}]
[Choji looks proud.]
[Ino, Shikamaru: "..."}]
["Eh?"}]
["Dear~"}]
[Suddenly Ino sees Naruto walking toward them.]
[She becomes even more enthusiastic than Choji.]
[She darts straight at him.]
["Yo~"}]
["Sasuke, long time no see."}]
[Shikamaru and Choji are already used to it.]
[But they notice Sasuke trailing behind Naruto.]
[Looks like he'll be rejoining the Naruto Gang's rhythm.]
[So, after five years, Shikamaru greets Sasuke again.]
[Sasuke instinctively wants to ignore.]
[But thinking it over, he nods at Shikamaru.]
[Shikamaru shrugs, not surprised by Sasuke's attitude.]
["Never mind you guys, I'll go prepare first!"}]
[Choji stomps his foot, a bit impatient.]
["Seriously, wait for us."}]
[Shikamaru shakes his head helplessly.]
["Then we'll go first, Naruto."}]
["Alright, I'm counting on you," Naruto smiles.]
[Shikamaru waves his hand, then glances at Ino: "Mind your image."}]
[Saying that, he turns to chase Choji.]
[Seeing this, Sasuke unconsciously swallows a mouthful of saliva.]
[After five years, he eats Naruto's cooking again this morning.]
[His appetite is reignited, unstoppable.]
[Returning empty‑handed would be a bad idea.]
[Fortunately, Sasuke still has some money.]
["I'll go buy some ingredients first."}]
[Without waiting for Naruto's answer, he follows Shikamaru and Choji.]
[Inside Training Ground Eight.]
[Kurenai wipes sweat from her forehead.]
[She smiles brightly at her future subordinates.]
[Having just become a Jonin, she hasn't adjusted yet and was assigned to Team Eight as the Jōnin Instructor.]
[It's not a lie to say she's confused.]
[Moreover, that night she talked all night with Anko and Yūgao.]
[She's seen many things clearly now.]
[Kurenai naturally feels uneasy.]
[Especially that night, Yūgao analyzed that Anko was adding oil and vinegar to the story.]
[Even Gekkō Hayate was used as an example.]
[So…]
[Asuma lost all hope.]
[He had been clinging for years; Kurenai's heart was almost slackening.]
[But now…]
["Very good, congratulations, you've passed the assessment."}]
[Kurenai says with a light laugh.]
["Hinata performed the best."}]
["If it weren't for your data, I'd even doubt you're just fresh‑graduated Genin."}]
[Kurenai is under great pressure; it's natural she's nervous with such outstanding subordinates.]
[And the abilities of Team Eight are obvious…]
[She specializes in genjutsu; there's little she can teach. Honestly, she isn't fit to be Team Eight's Jōnin Instructor.]
[The more she thinks this, the more her heart feels blocked.]
[Her dissatisfaction grows.]
[After all, her father also died protecting Konoha, and back then his strength and status weren't lacking.]
[He was still plotted against.]
[Kurenai's big change was thanks to Yūgao's effort.]
[And also Anko Mitarashi, who, unaware, has always been supporting.]
[Good best friends, of course they'll unite and stay together forever.]