While Sasuke endured the double torment of body and spirit, his good friend Naruto Uzumaki was all smiles, indulging in a hearty meal.
"Alright, here I go!"
*Slurp, slurp!*
Naruto ate his large bowl of miso ramen with a look of pure bliss. Food prepared by someone else always tasted so much better than usual.
"Mmm, this is so delicious. Ichiraku Ramen is truly the best ramen in the ninja world!"
"Hahaha, Naruto, you've got a good eye. Let me add more for you!"
"Mmm! Thanks, Uncle Teuchi!"
Teuchi wiped his hands on his apron and squinted at the ravenous Naruto. He hadn't realized that in the blink of an eye, Naruto had already graduated and become a ninja. Time really flew by.
Everyone else was growing, but his ramen shop seemed to be shrinking. It wasn't that his ramen wasn't good, but his body couldn't handle too many customers.
Teuchi had considered taking on an apprentice, but he was still hesitant and hadn't made up his mind.
"Yo! You're all here."
Kakashi looked at the white-haired man who lifted the curtain and walked in. He politely asked, "Lord Jiraiya, are you here for ramen too?"
"You could say that. Someone asked me to check on a certain little guy."
Sakura, however, was a bit disappointed. She had almost seen what was under Kakashi-sensei's mask!
Naruto slurped his ramen and looked back at Jiraiya, uncertainly asking, "Uncle, have we met somewhere before?"
Jiraiya immediately recalled the scene years ago in an alley where Naruto, with a snotty nose, claimed he was his father. He awkwardly coughed, "Ahem, I used to visit your house often, perhaps..."
"Oh! I remember now. The other day, I passed by the men's bathhouse and saw you peeking!"
"What nonsense are you spouting! That couldn't have been me. I am the Toad Sage, renowned throughout the ninja world! I would never do such a thing!"
Naruto moved several seats away from Jiraiya, holding his ramen bowl, and pouted, "I think you're the Pervy Sage!"
"You brat, why are you so deserving of a beating!" Jiraiya rolled up his sleeves, ready to punch Naruto a few times. Hadn't Minato taught this kid to show some respect to elders in public!
Kakashi on the side shook his head helplessly. He had heard of Jiraiya's exploits, but it was precisely because of them that Jiraiya could write such masterpieces!
Truly a role model for our generation!
The men present didn't see anything wrong with it, but Sakura couldn't agree.
Peeking into the men's bathhouse?
Sakura stared intently at Jiraiya, confirming he was a male adult, and was utterly flabbergasted!
What was happening in this ninja world! Why were all the people she met so "unusual"!
While Sakura was stunned, Kakashi lowered his head and slurped.
*Clang!*
A clean, empty bowl spun on the table in front of Kakashi.
"I'm full. You guys continue."
Sakura snapped back to reality, her face numb. What kind of team had she joined, filled with monsters!
Compared to Sakura, Teuchi was even more terrified. Seeing the speed at which Kakashi ate his ramen, Teuchi's wrist wasn't just trembling; the nerve center in his brain was frantically sending signals to his wrist: Dislocate! Dislocate! Or it's all over!
Teuchi tremblingly turned around and patted his chest with trepidation.
"Thankfully, he ate little. If it were like that Hyuga girl... then I really couldn't stay in Konoha!" Teuchi once again had the thought of moving out of Konoha.
"Yo! You're all here. Saves me the trouble of looking for you."
Seeing the person arrive, Teuchi's eyelids twitched violently. His eyes were fixed on the red-haired youth's back. He swore that if a Hyuga girl followed behind, he would close shop early today!
But fortunately, only Lin Yu came alone today. Teuchi breathed a sigh of relief as if he had narrowly escaped death.
"Lin Yu-sensei (kid)!"
Lin Yu nodded gently at everyone and then sat down between Kakashi and Jiraiya.
"One large bowl of Chashu Pork Rib Ramen!"
"Coming right up!"
Naruto's eyes lit up when he heard the ramen Lin Yu ordered. "Um, um, big brother, do you also like Chashu Pork Rib Ramen?"
"Big brother?"
*Pfft!* Kakashi couldn't help but laugh, then coughed to signal he hadn't heard anything.
Lin Yu vigorously ruffled Kakashi's white hair, then smiled at Naruto, "Yes, do you like it too?"
"Of course! Large bowl of Chashu Pork Rib Ramen is my favorite!"
Naruto smacked his lips, then looked at Lin Yu and stammered, "Um, um... big brother, we've met many times. How should I address you?"
"Hmm, let me think... Just call me Lin Yu-sensei, like Kakashi. After all, I'm a proud teacher at the Ninja Academy!"
*Pfft!*
This time, not only Kakashi, but Jiraiya also burst into laughter.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. We just thought of something funny, nothing else!" Facing Lin Yu's threatening gaze, Kakashi and Jiraiya covered their mouths and tried to dodge.
These two scoundrels will pay for this sooner or later!
"Lin Yu-sensei? But I feel like you're much younger than Kakashi-sensei."
"Mhm, mhm." Sakura nodded in agreement. Although Lin Yu wasn't the cool, handsome type she liked, he looked very young and spoke very gently.
"Hahaha, Kakashi here just looks old for his age. I'm much older than him!"
Lin Yu happily patted Kakashi's back. This batch of students certainly had good taste!
Kakashi endured the pain, lowering his head. Lin Yu-sensei must have done it on purpose, hitting so hard!
And this brat Naruto, just you wait!
"Alright, enough idle chat. I'm here this time to obtain... ahem, to inquire about everyone's training progress."
He had gotten too carried away with the conversation and almost slipped up. Yes, Lin Yu was here to gather intelligence. After all, while Otsutsuki Toneri had awakened the Tenseigan, it didn't mean he was guaranteed to win. The chakra required to enter the Tenseigan Chakra Mode was far beyond what Toneri could sustain currently.
Even if he could enter it, he might only be able to maintain it for a few dozen seconds, let alone unleash the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion and Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, which would drain him dry.
However, the Tenseigan had indeed greatly boosted Toneri's power, and Lin Yu had arranged several teachers to train him.
He didn't need to worry about other contestants, but the protagonists, Naruto and Sasuke, had to be guarded against. The potential for unexpected events was simply too high!
"Training progress? So-so."
Kakashi glanced at Sakura and Naruto, feeling an unspeakable bitterness. For the past half a month, he had tried his best, but Naruto and Sakura hadn't learned much. On the other hand, Sasuke had managed to grasp a bit of his Chidori.
"Kakashi-sensei, I've been trying very hard to learn. Maybe you're just too weak!"
Naruto pouted. Then, as if he had an idea, he ran to Lin Yu and said, "Um, um, Lin Yu... sensei, can you guide my ninjutsu training?"
"Me?"
"Mhm! My dad said Lin Yu-sensei is a very strong ninja."
"Minato spoke the truth. However, Minato seems to have already hired a teacher for you."
Lin Yu looked at Jiraiya, who had a sour face, and smiled at Naruto.
"He's already found one for me? How come I don't know?" Naruto scratched his head in confusion. Then, feeling a burning gaze from behind him, he quickly clutched his rear and fearfully hid behind Lin Yu, despairing,
"No, it can't be this Pervy Sage!"
Jiraiya glared fiercely at Naruto and then revealed a sinister smile, "Congratulations, you guessed correctly! I will guide you well for the next month and a half!"
Naruto cried out, "This isn't true! I want to find Sasuke!"
...
At this moment, at training ground No. 123, a blue-white electric arc flashed through the woods, accompanied by a crimson blur.
"Chidori!"
*Chirp!* It sounded like a thousand birds chirping, a very piercing sound.
*Snap!*
A blood-red skeletal frame grabbed Sasuke's wrist. The electric arc surging in his palm instantly dissipated. Sasuke's single tomoe Sharingan was filled with disbelief.
"Such a weak jutsu, who taught you?"
Itachi gripped Sasuke's neck, his scarlet Sharingan looking down at the disheveled Sasuke and coldly saying, "A single tomoe, a double tomoe, and you dare attack me with this strength?"
"Truly pathetic!"
*Thump!*
Sasuke was thrown to the ground, his body covered in injuries that proved he wasn't thrown out for the first time.
"Cough, cough, do you still stand by what you promised me?"
Facing Itachi's mockery, Sasuke didn't retort or argue.
Itachi said calmly, "Of course. As long as you can break one strand of my hair, I will abandon this mission."
"Fine, you remember what you said!"
Itachi glanced at Sasuke with a plain expression, turned around, and said, "That's all for today. I'll come looking for you again tomorrow night."
Watching Itachi's figure disappear into the woods, Sasuke could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground.
"So strong, damn it!"
"If that idiot Naruto gets caught..."
"No! This must not happen, I must..."
Protect Naruto!
His vision began to blur, his heavy eyelids could no longer stay open. In the last moment before he lost consciousness, a black dot quietly appeared in his right eye, which was previously a single tomoe, and then he completely lost consciousness...