Training ground 66 was originally designated for ANBU training. There were even special fuin here once that allowed for concealing what was happening on the training ground. However, the fuin hadn't been updated in a long time, the chakra in the seals had run out, and no one had bothered to make new ones, as the Hokage had ordered this area to be left for the jinchuriki's training.
For three weeks, a couple of ANBU operatives had been permanently observing Uzumaki's torturous training and quietly cursing. The blond's progress seemed unthinkable. What they saw was shocking; an ordinary shinobi wasn't capable of such a thing. At least, that's what they believed. Against the backdrop of this monster, the operatives felt inadequate.
Today, after the jinchuriki's five-day rest upon returning from a mission, they were to observe the sparring match between this monster and... the monster's teacher. Yes. They knew what the bald guy was capable of, because on that fateful night, they had the misfortune of falling under his techniques. The overwhelming power of this Saitama stirred the imagination. And it was frightening.
The Hokage had given clear orders – to observe today's sparring match between Saitama and Naruto and to describe everything they saw in a written report.
Curiously, if the Sandaime so wanted to know the results of the sparring, why didn't he observe it himself? Or was the Hokage too busy? No, that was nonsense. Neither of them believed it, because the pair of ANBU knew about the existence of a certain orb that allowed for monitoring bathhouses and more.
But whatever the case, an order was an order. They would follow their targets and write a detailed report, as the Third required.
— How long do you think the jinchuriki will last? — asked the ANBU in the cat mask. The ninja were sitting in the bushes near a thick stump not far from training ground 66.
— You really don't believe in the kid at all, — said the shinobi in the owl mask. — Have you seen him train? The bijuu aside, his physical parameters are already on par with ours, and he's still just a child. I won't even mention his reserves. A sea of clones that train fire and wind jutsu. And that's just on this training ground. He also sends them to the library. In short, just imagine what a monster he'll grow into...
— The kid is a monster, no doubt. But, damn it, he's going up against Baldy-sama himself, who single-handedly defeated four S-rank rogue ninjas. The kid doesn't stand a chance. I'm betting on ten seconds. That's exactly how long Saitama will need to dispel all the clones and knock out the original.
— I'm betting a thousand ryo on a minute. The jinchuriki will make the bald guy sweat.
— Heh... You have too high an opinion of the brat. But fine. I won't refuse easy money...
The shinobi shook hands. Owl took out a wad of money and placed it on the stump. Cat covered the stack of ryo with his own. The training ground was less than a kilometer away, and Mitarashi Anko and Saitama had already gathered there. Uzumaki and the last of the Uchiha were also approaching the training area...
***
— Master Saitama, meet Sasuke! — Naruto introduced the dark-haired boy. — My friend and teammate. By the way, he asked a lot about you and wanted to meet you.
— Oh, okay. I'm Saitama. Nice to meet you, — the bald guy said lazily, picking at his ear. — So, what did you want? — he addressed Sasuke.
However, Uchiha froze like a statue. His mouth involuntarily opened, and his eyebrow twitched slightly.
— Sasuke? — Uzumaki looked questioningly at the boy, who was in a daze. Naruto snapped his fingers in front of his face.
— Huh? — Sasuke snapped out of his stupor. — You... you... are Master Saitama? — he asked again, as if not believing what he saw. He looked the bald guy up and down, paying particular attention to his smooth, sun-glistening bald head.
— Uh-huh, — the bald guy nodded.
— Uh... — Uchiha froze again. — Hello...
Silence hung over the training ground, broken only by the distant chirping of birds.
— He's kind of slow, — Saitama concluded. — Did he happen to fall on his head? — he asked Naruto.
— No, no, he's just shy, — Naruto defended his friend. — Although... — Uzumaki pondered, tapping his chin with his finger.
— I'm not shy at all, — Uchiha grumbled. — I just imagined yo... you differently... — Saitama didn't react to this statement in any way.
— And you don't need to look at me like that, Naruto, — Sasuke added, seeing how the blond was intently thinking about something, staring at him with a wary gaze.
— I just remembered that you had a concussion recently, — Uzumaki said worriedly. — That's why I'm worried. After all, Master Saitama is amazing. He understood it at first glance.
— Pfft... — Uchiha said.
— Brrr... — Saitama's stomach rumbled, after which the bald guy said: — Naruto, we need to eat well. Let's go on a picnic in the forest now.
— The Forest of Death? — the genin asked animatedly. However, a moment later, the boy suddenly realized something, and his liveliness disappeared somewhere, replaced by dejection. — But... what about... Master Saitama, what about the sparring?
— The sparring will happen, — Saitama began to preach, — but later. Right now, I propose we celebrate our first successfully completed missions with a picnic in nature. Anko! — he shouted to the girl dozing under a nearby tree.
Mitarashi blinked, her eyes fluttering open. Yawning widely, she stretched like a cat. Then she nimbly got to her feet and approached the group.
The bald shinobi informed the kunoichi about their plans.
— Saitama, I'm not a teacher, of course, but it seems to me this isn't very pedagogical, — the purple-haired kunoichi said quietly, trying to shake off the remnants of sleepiness. — I think we should do the job first, and then rest and celebrate something.
Apparently, the girl didn't like the idea of dragging herself somewhere at all. Especially to the Forest of Death.
— You don't understand, Anko, — the bald master raised his hand. After adopting a proud pose, he switched to mentor mode and declared: — Harsh training and sparring with the teacher will require a lot of energy from Naruto. Therefore, we will now go hunting in your Forest of Death and have a bite to eat there.
— Didn't you just eat? — Anko couldn't help but ask. — And how does so much fit in you?
— Firstly, it wasn't just now, but half an hour ago, — Saitama began confidently, bending his fingers. — Secondly, that was a light breakfast, and soon there will be a hearty afternoon snack, with fatty hare and other kinds of meat...
— Afternoon snack is usually eaten at noon, and it's only ten now, — Mitarashi stated.
— Well, we won't sit down right now either. After all, we still need to hunt. Then prepare the game. And anyway, Anko, don't interrupt the teacher, — the bald guy said sternly, pointing at himself. The kunoichi only snorted at this.
— There's also a thirdly, — Saitama continued. — Naruto should try fighting in new, unfamiliar conditions for him. That's why we'll have a sparring match with him in the forest.
— Cool, dattebayo! — Naruto exclaimed cheerfully, raising his fist in the air. — Let's go quickly, sensei!
— Don't make noise, — Saitama grumbled, cleaning his ear. — We'll go now.
— Hai, — Uzumaki immediately lowered his voice and bowed respectfully. Then he turned to his teammate: — Sasuke, are you coming with us?...
***
This was some kind of theater of the absurd. It couldn't be otherwise. He had repeatedly tried to use a special seal and quietly say "Kai," but nothing helped. With difficulty accepting what he saw as reality, Uchiha closed his eyes and slowly exhaled.
He tried not to pay attention to his permanently twitching eyelid. The familiar "worldview" had collapsed, but thanks to his willpower, Sasuke managed to pull himself together. But first things first...
The legendary teacher Saitama turned out to be nothing like Uchiha had imagined him. Instead of a powerful old man with long blond hair and a beard, Sasuke found a young bald guy who didn't give the impression of being the strongest shinobi in the village at all (as Uzumaki had told him). The stupid expression on his face also didn't add any points of respect. And he didn't even want to talk about the costume: a bright yellow something with red gloves and boots. This guy looked more like some kind of jester.
But Sasuke was forced to admit that in terms of external style – Saitama and Naruto had definitely found each other. Yellow with red and orange. These guys could be seen from a kilometer away. You couldn't hide in the forest. They were only good for throwing into the front lines or using as a powerful diversionary maneuver.
When Sasuke arrived at the training ground and saw Saitama, he stood in a stupor for a long time. He nodded a greeting to the stranger like a wooden puppet, even forgetting to introduce himself properly. However, the blond introduced him as his teammate and... friend. Strange. When had Uzumaki started considering Uchiha his friend? But it didn't really matter.
The bald guy barely reacted to the appearance of the new kid. And even said that Sasuke was slow. Uchiha silently swallowed the insult, despite his pride.
"Appearances can be deceiving," flashed through Sasuke's mind then. "If Naruto says his mentor is strong, then he is. I just need to wait and see it for myself. I should also keep myself in check. And not try to respond to the bald guy's taunts."
Saitama hadn't liked him from the first glance and the first words. Although, he hadn't liked Naruto before either. But recently, he had become relatively accustomed to the blond's company.
Well then. Uchiha needed power. For its sake, or rather, for the sake of revenge for his clan, he was even ready to shave his head bald if it would help him become the bald guy's student and gain the desired power. But first – a test. He needed to verify Master Saitama's strength.
— Sasuke, are you coming with us? — Naruto asked when it turned out that the sparring was being postponed for a while, and they were going hunting with a picnic.
Uchiha nodded silently in response...
***
The company of two genin and a couple of tokubetsu-jonin, arriving at training ground 44, also known as the Forest of Death, immediately headed somewhere east. Everyone silently followed Saitama. Moreover, characteristically, the bald guy himself moved along the ground and kept a respectful distance from those who moved along the upper paths. Uchiha's breathing began to falter slightly; after all, he had recently trained more in ninjutsu and kunai throwing. However, Naruto and Anko maintained this pace without any visible difficulty.
Various beasts, like foxes and wolves, flashed by in the periphery from time to time, but for some reason, the bald master paid no attention to them, following inexplicably where and why.
Uchiha was about to ask where exactly they were hurrying so much, but soon a dull thud and crackling sound rang out – the surrounding landscape shattered into fragments, and the group suddenly found themselves in a forest even darker than before.
Sasuke casually noted that the vegetation had also changed. The trees had become thicker, and strange patterns were observed on the foliage and trunks. He couldn't notice more while moving along the upper paths yet.
However, after a few minutes, Saitama stopped. The others jumped down, landing near him.
— Well then, Naruto, — the bald guy said with anticipation. — Let's start hunting.
— Master Saitama, I understand, — Uzumaki nodded seriously. Forming a seal, he said: — Shadow Clone Technique.
The forest filled with a crowd of orange-haired clones, which immediately scattered in different directions. Surprisingly, they moved almost silently, which greatly surprised Uchiha.
Sasuke stared in bewilderment at the purple-haired kunoichi. Of this group, she seemed the most adequate to him. The girl shrugged at the dark-haired boy, but took out a kunai just in case.
— Saitama, — she began, looking around. — What is this place? I've never been here before. I don't remember training ground 44 having such plants.
Saitama didn't answer. He only shushed, putting a finger to his lips.
— What? — Mitarashi asked warily.
— Don't make noise, — Saitama said quietly. — Or you'll scare away the prey.
Uchiha, clicking his tongue in displeasure, looked around. Strange. The kunoichi was right. He hadn't encountered such vegetation before. And they hadn't covered anything like it in botany classes at the Academy either.
Low turquoise bushes with multicolored fruits. The strange shape of the foliage on the trees and the intricate patterns on the trunks and leaves spoke for themselves. Even by these signs, it was clear that the local flora was noticeably different from the vegetation of the Land of Fire.
Uchiha's gaze caught on a suspicious rustling near one of the thickest trunks of the giant trees. Taking out a kunai, Sasuke, giving in to a fleeting curiosity, approached a little closer.
— I wouldn't advise it, — Anko muttered, adjusting her grip on her weapon.
Sasuke ignored the kunoichi's words. After all, what danger could await him here? A lizard? Snakes? A shinobi's reaction speed far exceeded that of ordinary people. Therefore, he was ready for anything. And they seemed to be hunting, so it would be great if he could catch some game as one of the first.
Approaching the giant, Sasuke peered closer and noticed that powerful roots entwined spiky vines, which lazily... moved and made a quiet hissing sound.
Sasuke swallowed, but, deciding not to risk it after all, moved away from the strange plant. Just in case. And no, it wasn't fear, but reasonable precaution. And he could catch game later, right?
The kunoichi frowned.
— Kid, keep your eyes peeled, — she said tensely.
— Woman, I'm not a kid to you, — Uchiha muttered irritably. — I...
What Sasuke wanted to say would remain a mystery, because one of the vines near that tree elongated and darted towards the dark-haired boy. The latter saw nothing, as he had his back to the tree. Anko reacted instantly – appearing next to him and pushing the dark-haired boy aside, she severed the end with a sharp, long thorn. The vine began to writhe, trying to scratch the girl, but the plant failed – Mitarashi only shortened it with each lunge.
— I can stand up for myself, — Uchiha said discontentedly, getting up from the grass. The boy watched in slow motion as the green, spiky tendril crawled back.
— Yeah, you'll have your chance, — the kunoichi chuckled, ready for new attacks. However, none followed. The moving vines froze, then began to retract somewhere down, under the tree trunk.
— Quiet down, you guys, — Saitama grumbled. — Naruto will bring back prey soon. So don't make noise. I don't want to chase rabbits all over the forest if they get scared.
Sasuke was about to say that catching rabbits wasn't a problem at all, but then a rustling sound was heard. A couple of moments later, a pair of the blond's clones flew into the clearing where they were standing.
— Master, we lured and brought three rabbits.
Saitama rubbed his hands together with satisfaction.
— Three? Not bad. Enough for a snack. Big ones?
— Not really, — one of the clones lowered his head dejectedly.
— But we also stumbled upon a mantis lair, dattebayo, — the second one declared cheerfully. — If anything, we can quickly go bring some "additions" here.
— Excellent, — Saitama nodded. — So we won't go hungry.
Sasuke was about to ask how one could get full on insects, since there was barely any meat there, but suddenly the sound of cracking branches was heard, and... this... jumped into the clearing.
— Well, yeah, kind of small, — the bald shinobi scratched his chin in bewilderment.
And Sasuke's eye twitched, because this "small" rabbit turned out to be over a meter and a half at the withers. Red eyes and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth didn't add to the creature's attractiveness. And the dark-haired boy had serious doubts about its herbivorous nature.
The rabbit sniffed the air, cast a predatory gaze over the quartet of shinobi, and for some reason lunged at Anko.
— Master, this one's mine! — the copies shouted in unison, after which they simultaneously used wind style jutsu.
But the rabbit, baring its fangs even more fiercely, jumped upwards, dodging the Fūton techniques. Deep grooves in the shape of an "X" appeared on the tree that was hit by these techniques.
Anko cursed because the beast had also evaded her shadow snakes, demonstrating acrobatic feats never seen before.
Two more rabbits appeared in the clearing. They were no smaller than their acrobatic brethren. Seeing the situation, the pair of monsters exchanged glances, hissed something, and leaped upwards, disappearing into the canopy of the trees.
The third one followed their example.
— Damn, — Saitama scratched his bald head. — Maybe I should just finish them off?
— Master, I'll try myself. If anything, cover Sasuke and Anko-sempai. — The original Naruto appeared in the clearing, surrounded by several of his copies.
Uzumaki and his clones shot upwards, disappearing into the foliage.
For a while, nothing happened, but then the sounds of dispelled clones and shouts were heard: "Katon: Great Fireball Technique!", "Fūton: Wind Scythe Jutsu!"
In the next instant, the foliage was illuminated by a flash of flames, and several severed branches fell to the ground. The smell of burnt leaves began to spread through the clearing. However, the rabbits were still nowhere to be seen.
— Naruto, — the bald guy shouted disapprovingly. — You need to hunt first, and then grill the meat!
— Hai, sensei! — came a voice from above. A couple of seconds later. — You bastard! You dared to bite, dattebayo! Well, I'll get you...
The sound of cracking branches was heard. The rustling of cut leaves. An angry hiss. The whistling of air being cut.
— That's it, you've all gone too far! — Uzumaki shouted irritably. — Rabbit, you tore my jumpsuit! Now I won't hold back. Uzumaki Serious Kick!
A fluffy body flew out of the foliage, crashing into the tree under which the vines had recently hidden.
The rabbit – or rather, the fluffy monster resembling a rabbit – lay like a rag doll, crushing the grass. Despite its injuries, the beast, wheezing and clinging to the massive roots, tried to get up. It almost succeeded, but in the next moment, several tendrils covered in sharp thorns erupted from the ground, entwining the furry creature's body and beginning to constrict. The vines dug into its flesh, and blood spurted. The rabbit screamed shrilly, but after a couple of moments, the predatory fluffball's body was dragged under the tree. Soon, the crunching of grinding bones and a disgusting squelching sound were heard.
Before Sasuke could fully comprehend what he had seen, the powerful body of another furry predator flew from above like a heavy projectile. However, this time it wasn't from Uzumaki's kick.
"Whizz"
Sasuke somehow managed to dodge the swipe of long claws. It turned out that this beast, in addition to its mouth full of impressive teeth, also had quite large blades on its paws. At the next swipe of the paw, Uchiha instinctively held up his kunai... However, he realized he was wrong, as the kunai was knocked out of his hand.
Anko tried to attack the monster from behind, but it, without looking, kicked the kunoichi with its hind leg, sending her flying.
And in the next moment, it lunged at Uchiha; the beast's toothed maw aimed for the genin's throat.
This moment stretched out for Sasuke. Time seemed to slow down. Sasuke watched as the monster floated towards him, and he simply didn't have time to defend himself. Neither physically nor with a substitution technique. Peripheral vision noted that Mitarashi also didn't have time to help him.
"Damn, is this the end?" flashed through his mind. Images of his brother and family surfaced in his thoughts. Uchiha realized his own helplessness. He wanted to avenge Itachi, but now it was impossible. Just think. He would die at the paws of some... rabbit. A disgrace for the last of the Great Clan. From somewhere deep within, anger began to rise. The monster's attack stretched out many times over. He was going to dodge, but his body felt heavy.
"I won't give up so easily..."
Just as he wanted to do something, anything, to avoid meeting death...
However, in the next moment, Sasuke was splashed with blood. Squinting from the liquid that got into his eyes, the genin felt his throat. Surprisingly, it was unharmed. There were also no sensations of pain.
Uchiha opened his eyes wide and blinked, trying to wipe the blood from his face. He stared in disbelief at the... decapitated rabbit carcass that fell at his feet. A yawning Saitama stood nearby.
— Naruto, finish up there already, — he said. Then, remembering himself, he added. — Just don't throw the rabbits at the trees, or they'll probably get hungry too...
Sasuke managed to suppress his gag reflex. After all, thanks to the visions of the Uchiha massacre shown by his older brother, a decapitated monster wasn't anything special for him. However, feeling the hot blood running down his face, he still walked with his head held high to the colorful bushes, which he hastened to water with his breakfast.
Anko shifted her tense gaze from Uchiha to the monsters' bodies. Uzumaki jumped to the ground directly with the carcass of the last rabbit, which he held by the ears. The beast had a bleeding hole in its chest.
Naruto clicked his tongue irritably, running his bloodied hand over his torn orange jumpsuit.
— Damn it... Now I'll have to sew and wash it, — he grumbled. — By the way, where's the third one, dattebayo? — the blond began to look around for another monster.
— The tree ate it, I already told you, — Saitama grumbled discontentedly. — Well, so where are your mantises? These two won't be enough...
After properly emptying his stomach, Sasuke approached the bald guy again. The latter was talking to the blond about the best course of action: cook the rabbits and eat, or lure more mantises to cook more meat at once? Naruto reminded the bald guy that he had promised a sparring match, so they needed to eat well. This meant they needed to get as much game as possible right away. "Well, yeah," Saitama said. "We need to eat now so we don't want more later..."
"Damn. Did he save me?" Uchiha asked himself. "But how? I didn't even notice anything... So fast."
— Kid, turn off your Sharingan, — Anko said with a smirk, approaching him.
Uchiha stared at the kunoichi in incomprehension. Mitarashi rolled her eyes.
— What, did you just awaken it? — the girl raised an eyebrow. After which, she took out a pocket mirror and handed it to the boy. Sasuke hesitated to answer. He himself didn't understand when the dojutsu had awakened. Apparently, when he dodged the monster's claws and then prepared to accept his death. He looked in the mirror – a blood-covered face with a burning Sharingan stared back at him. The scarlet face and the scarlet glow of his eyes made his lips curve into something resembling a smirk.
"Finally," he thought. "The Sharingan. And with two tomoe. Not bad."
— Yeah, you look quite a sight, — Anko said. — If you want to turn it off, just stop supplying chakra to your eyes. It should work like that for you guys.
Uchiha followed the kunoichi's advice, and now a bloodied boy with dark brown eyes looked back at him from the mirror.
— Admired yourself enough? — Mitarashi asked jokingly.
— Pfft, — Sasuke replied and handed the folding mirror back to the girl.
— ...Okay, I've decided, — Saitama said loudly, making Uchiha and Anko pay attention to him. — I'll quickly go to that cave myself and catch us a couple of mantises. So we don't waste time.
— As you say, Master Saitama, — Uzumaki nodded seriously. — Then I'll send a clone with you, and I'll stay with the others. And I'll prepare everything for your arrival...
***
When Anko saw the monstrous arthropods that Saitama had dragged back, her eye twitched. Uchiha wasn't far behind her – his cheek twitched. After all, mantises four meters tall with meter-and-a-half-long blade-like arms weren't what one expected to see on a training ground intended for the Chunin Exams.
While Saitama and Naruto were butchering the prey, various beasts came to the smell of blood several times. However, each time the bald guy killed the insolent creatures who dared to encroach on his food with a single blow. Thus, the pile of game grew, and the twitching faces of Anko and Sasuke became increasingly dazed (One monster corpse was secretly dragged away by that carnivorous plant with vines, but no one paid attention to it...).
After the fifth arrival, Naruto logically noted that they wouldn't eat so much meat anyway, and the game population needed to be controlled so that it wouldn't run out and could reproduce in the future. Therefore, when the sixth guest turned out to be a six-meter-long dark brown lynx with folded wings on its back, Saitama had enough, and he involuntarily released a powerful wave of killing intent into the surroundings, from which the huge monster hastily retreated with a quiet whimper. And the "small fry" didn't bother them anymore...
The meat turned out to be surprisingly delicious. Both the predator-rabbit and the killer-mantis. Saitama had thoughtfully brought salt and spices. Naruto played the role of the lighter. And the meat itself was grilled on the mantis's blade-arms. Several fires were lit. There were no dishes, but thanks to a variation of the shadow clone technique that allowed for the reproduction of objects, each of those present got a plate and chopsticks. Uzumaki was good at this too, and his skills in "household ninjutsu" were extremely useful...
When the group was finishing their meal, Anko decided to inquire:
— Saitama, where did you bring us? What is this place?
Saitama, sprawled out on the grass, burped contentedly, pushing another bowl of bones aside. Patting his stomach, he said:
— This is... what was it... The Zone... — he snapped his fingers, trying to find the answer. Then he looked demandingly at Naruto so that he would help the teacher remember what the Hokage had once said. However, Uzumaki was too busy with the juicy, fragrant rabbit meat, so he wasn't going to help his teacher formulate his thoughts anytime soon.
— Ah-ha, I remembered, — the bald guy slapped himself on the forehead. — Picnic zone. We're actually doing that right now. Eating while we have the chance.
Anko sighed heavily. This zone was definitely not suitable for a picnic. Even an elite jonin could feel unwell here, let alone genin.
— Master Saitama, — Uchiha's voice was heard.
— Hmm? — the bald guy raised one eyebrow and turned to the dark-haired boy sitting by the fire.
— Thank you.
— You're welcome, — the jonin nodded. — Want some more meat?
Sasuke hastily shook his head:
— Um... thank you for that too. But I was actually talking about something else.
— And what is that? — Saitama inquired.
— Thank you for saving... for saving me, — Uchiha slightly bowed his head.
— Ah... That's what you meant, — Saitama drawled. — Forget about it. Anyone would have done the same. And you can just call me Saitama. I'm not your teacher, — he chuckled.
— Yes, — Uchiha stammered. — Regarding that...
— Nah, forget about it, — the bald guy shook his head, interrupting the dark-haired boy. — I won't be your mentor. Too much hassle. One Naruto is enough for me...
— Did y-you j-just say, Mafter Faitama? — Uzumaki inquired with his mouth full, when he overheard that they were talking about him.
— Nah, nothing, — the guy waved his hand. — You eat, eat. Everything's so expensive at the market, and here – it's free!
— Uh-huh, — Naruto nodded and began to eat even more enthusiastically.
Sasuke lowered his gaze. His fists clenched. The muscles in his cheeks worked. But a moment later, he barely noticeably exhaled and pulled himself together.
Such metamorphoses in the dark-haired boy's behavior didn't escape Anko's attention. Taking a swig from her water flask, the kunoichi said:
— Saitama, don't be so categorical.
— Huh? What are you even talking about? — the bald guy asked.
— About mentorship. You already have a personal student, but you can still give consultations, right?
Sasuke's gloomy gaze rose to Saitama again.
The latter scratched his bald head in bewilderment, intently thinking about something.
Uchiha, seeing the shinobi's confusion, decided to overcome his pride and take the bull by the horns:
— I won't remain in debt.
— That's for sure, — Anko chuckled. — Uchiha Sasuke is the heir of the Great Clan. And a clan that's not poor...
— I accept on Wednesdays after lunch, — the bald guy hastily declared, instantly transforming. Now his gaze became sharp, and a slight anticipating smile played on his lips.
— Today is Wednesday, — Sasuke cautiously noted.
Saitama's smile became a little dimmer.
— But lunch hasn't been yet, — he said confidently.
— But there was an afternoon snack, which can be equated to lunch, — Mitarashi said and, while the bald guy rolled his eyes, subtly winked at Uchiha. The latter only raised an eyebrow in bewilderment.
— Alright, kid. You'll get a consultation, — the bald guy said resignedly. — What was your name again? Sosuke?
— Sasuke, — the dark-haired boy corrected him.
— Yeah, that's what I said, — Saitama nodded. — So listen here, Sasuke...
***
— ...Got it, kid? — the bald guy finished his instructive speech.
The dark-haired boy thoughtfully chewed his lip. Anko, on the other hand, barely restrained her laughter. Because the speech that Saitama had given almost exactly repeated the one he had given Naruto about a month ago. About how you need to train until your bones crack and you lose your pulse. Use your head for its intended purpose. Go to any lengths to defeat your opponent if you lack strength. Well, and most importantly – you need to understand your peculiarity, what distinguishes you from others and where you have an advantage.
— What I have, and what others don't, — Uchiha said thoughtfully. — This is the legacy of my clan – the Sharingan. — He closed his eyes, lost in thought.
Saitama, however, looked questioningly at Anko, shaking his head in bewilderment and spreading his hands. The bald guy had no idea what this "Sharingan" was and what to do with it; maybe it was something related to balls. Mitarashi, seeing the bald guy's reaction, only silently stretched her lips into a smirk.
Sasuke opened his eyes, and Saitama immediately put on the face of a knowing sage who reveals the secrets of the universe to a young acolyte.
— Exactly, — he said inspiringly. — The legacy of your clan. It needs to be used wisely. You must clearly understand what advantages it gives you.
Uchiha furrowed his brow. After sitting in a frozen position for a few moments, he said:
— Thank you, Master Saitama. It seems obvious, but still, I hadn't thought about it before.
— Well, now you will, — Saitama raised a finger instructively. — And... don't forget the money for the consultation. Uh-huh.
***
About half an hour had passed since the picnic. Saitama and Naruto were already standing opposite each other. Saitama was in his signature yellow jumpsuit with red gloves and boots, and Naruto was in orange pants with his torso bare, showing off his muscular body, developed beyond his years.
— I look forward to your guidance, Master Saitama, — Uzumaki said, bowing slightly. — I will show you everything I have learned over the past month.
— Just attack already, — the bald guy grumbled. The blond immediately created a dozen clones, which began running between the trees. Then a few more, with whom Naruto decided to mingle to confuse his teacher. The copies moved incredibly fast. Uchiha and Mitarashi could only stare in astonishment at the speed at which the genin and his replicas could move.
But Saitama didn't react to this in any way. He simply stood there, looking bored, waiting for the boy to take action.
The copies, characteristically, were also shirtless, so it was impossible for an outside observer to find the original Naruto.
Sasuke activated his Sharingan from the very beginning of the fight to be able to see everything. The perception of what was happening in the forest accelerated, and time slowed down. But even so, Uchiha still couldn't tell where Naruto was and where the clones were.
Naruto decided to act. Suddenly, several kunai flew out from behind the trees, and a couple of huge fūma shuriken sped towards Saitama from the other side.
The bald guy's silhouette blurred, and he appeared near the throwing stars, giving them a backhand, causing the weapons to dissipate with a dull "poof." He deflected the kunai flying at him with his hand. These metal pieces turned out to be real.
In the next moment, the blond flew at him. He threw a couple of punches, but Saitama didn't try to dodge and simply waited for the clone in front of him to dissipate, because copies have a durability threshold, and they themselves vanish from excessively strong self-inflicted blows.
"Poof" — white smoke appeared in front of the guy after the vanished clone, which was supposed to obscure his vision. Two kunai with explosive tags whistled through this smoke towards the jonin.
"Bam-bam" — the two small explosions didn't harm the bald guy or even his costume in any way. And a couple of moments later, five clones attacked Saitama at once.
The replicas were about to surround their mentor, but the bald guy's silhouette blurred again – and all the replicas were dispersed.
— Maybe you should come out yourself, Naruto? — Saitama suggested. — After all, this is a training spar. So you should try your own strength.
— Yeah, so you can knock me out right away? — came a voice from afar.
— Nah, I don't hit kids.
— So in your opinion, I'm a kid, dattebayo?! — came a voice from the other side.
— Uh... well, aren't you?
— That's it! If your clothes get ruined – it's not my fault! — Naruto shouted.
In the next moment, many popping sounds were heard. And then a chorus of voices said:
— Fūton: Air Current!
— Fūton: Wind Storm!
— Katon: Fireball Technique!
— Katon: Great Fireball Technique!...
A dozen fire and wind techniques merged together, increasing the destructive potential of the combo many times over.
— Incineration! — Naruto announced the name of the combined technique. The deadly fiery wave left a scorched clearing fifty meters long and twenty meters wide. The flames began to spread to other trees, despite the increased humidity. The air temperature around them rose significantly.
— Damn, you almost burned my costume, Naruto, — the bald guy managed to get out of the attack's trajectory in time, so despite his grumbling, his jumpsuit was unharmed.
After these words, Saitama took a deep breath and, exhaling sharply, easily extinguished the fire.
The clones dissipated from the powerful "wind jutsu." Only the original Uzumaki remained, who had managed to anchor himself to the ground with chakra and hadn't been blown away.
The blond looked battered but pleased.
— Well, is that enough? — Saitama asked.
— What are you saying, Master! I'm just warmed up, dattebayo!...
And Uzumaki rushed into close combat...
***
Sasuke slowly wandered through the Uchiha district. His path led to one of the training grounds where he usually trained.
Evening was approaching, and the first stars were lighting up in the sky. A lot had happened that day. And now, being alone, he was lost in memories...
What he had seen in the Forest of Death left ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, he became even angrier, realizing the huge gap between him and Naruto. But on the other... Saitama's words. They were банальные, but at the same time they seemed so... right?... In short, the bald guy had given the dark-haired boy food for thought.
By the way, about the sparring. The fight between Naruto and Saitama predictably ended in the latter's victory. The blond had thrown lightning-fast punches that would have minced any genin into bloody mush. It was clear that he was giving it his all. But the bald shinobi's blows apparently didn't cause him any discomfort. He didn't even try to dodge.
Naruto had gotten really angry at his own weakness then, and his eyes had even started to turn red. Foolishly, he had demanded that his teacher become more serious. Because the mentor's inaction made him feel inadequate. Well, Saitama didn't need to be told twice, because a terrifying killing intent emanated from him, covering the entire forest, and the bald guy struck.
Fortunately, he remembered in time that his student was in front of him, so the destructive power of his fist's strike went to... the trees. The giant trees of the Forest of Death were simply pulverized into dust, leaving an empty ravine that stretched at least a kilometer ahead.
Dumbfounded by his teacher's power, Naruto conceded defeat. Even his crimson eyes faded in an instant, and his pupil returned to its previous state.
While the quartet of shinobi was returning, Sasuke mentally summarized the day's trip to training ground 44 and the meeting with the bald master. The benefit of today's outing could hardly be overestimated. Firstly, if not for today's meeting, he wouldn't have awakened his Sharingan. Secondly, thanks to the conversation with Saitama and observing the sparring, Uchiha had realized a lot.
For example, that in addition to serious physical training, he needed to develop his dojutsu. The Sharingan provided incredible advantages. And only a few were capable of resisting its power.
Among the many advantages, perhaps two stood out. The first was genjutsu. The Uchiha had always been famous for their illusions, and not to fully utilize the possibilities that the legacy of his clan gave him was foolish. The second was the copying of techniques, and practically any: ninjutsu, kenjutsu, taijutsu... The only exceptions might be techniques based on the user possessing a Kekkei Genkai; in this case, such jutsu could not be copied.
These were the two main directions that would help Uchiha achieve power. Actually, he had watched today's sparring with his Sharingan activated. And the analysis of the past fight had given him a lot. No, Master Saitama had shown monstrous power, but his blows and techniques were useless to copy, because Uchiha didn't possess similar strength and speed to reproduce them. But the analysis of his teammate's fighting style was another matter.
Firstly, Uzumaki's perfectly placed blows. He had copied them, and now it only remained to practice them. Yes. Sasuke should focus on physical training and train in a "get stronger or die" style. But Naruto's secret wasn't only in his genin-level strength, but also in the fact that the blond fully utilized chakra in his blows and movements, and since his reserves were colossal, he could fight at the level of a tokubetsu-jonin for quite a long time.
Secondly, Naruto's clones. He had also copied this technique.
However, not everything was so simple. Sasuke felt that he could use this jutsu, but not in the quantities that Naruto demonstrated. After all, Uchiha didn't possess such volumes of chakra, and he didn't have a bijuu, so he needed to use Kage Bunshin carefully so as not to collapse from chakra exhaustion.
Saitama had said that he had achieved his strength through three years of hard training.
This was hard to believe. However, Uchiha had understood from his teammate's example that training to the point of near death allowed one to go beyond their limits. In a month, Naruto had become incredibly strong. True, the presence of the bijuu and shadow clones had greatly helped him in this, but Uchiha had to surpass him. And if in terms of lagging behind in physical parameters Sasuke could only resign himself, then in other aspects...
"What difference does it make how much power you have," Uchiha thought, "if you can't break free from the Sharingan's illusions?"
Yes, physical training was physical training, but he decided to focus mainly on illusions in the near future. Fortunately, his dojutsu would make their application much easier. And the Sharingan also helped to intuitively grasp this subtle art...
When the pair of genin and two tokubetsu-jonin emerged from the Forest of Death, Saitama and his student, loaded with the meat of forest monsters, headed home. But for some reason, Mitarashi Anko decided to escort Sasuke to the Uchiha district.
And what did she want from him?
Sasuke quietly snorted, but didn't openly show his displeasure about it. After all, the girl was much older than him, so she was unlikely to hit on him. Although, who knew this Anko?
— So, what do you think of Saitama, kid? — the kunoichi inquired.
— I'm not a kid, — Uchiha grumbled sullenly, shoving his hands into his pockets.
A satisfied smile crept onto Anko's face:
— You're so cute when you're angry.
— Pfft.
— He-he, — the girl couldn't help herself and pinched the dark-haired boy's cheek.
He stopped and cast an angry glance at the kunoichi:
— Don't touch me, woman.
Mitarashi narrowed her eyes slyly:
— Or what?
— ... — Sasuke turned away and trudged towards the district, ignoring the girl who had fallen into step beside him.
— And yet, Saitama's power is terrifying, isn't it?
— Hn, — Uchiha replied, showing his attitude towards such a statement. Was this kunoichi only capable of saying such obvious things?
— However, Naruto is also amazing.
Sasuke gritted his teeth. His hands in his pockets clenched into fists.
— He has an excellent teacher, — he hissed.
— Who hasn't taught him absolutely anything, — Mitarashi sneered.
Hearing this, Sasuke stopped and cast a bewildered glance at the kunoichi.
— Don't look at me like that, — Anko turned to the dark-haired boy, folding her arms across her chest. — Everything you saw today is Naruto's merit. Saitama only guided him. Prompted him to action. And that's it. Therefore, your envy and anger about Saitama choosing Naruto and not you are pointless.
Sasuke froze, like an ice sculpture from the Land of Frost.
— I'm not env...
— Don't try to deny it, — Anko smirked predatorily. A chill ran down Sasuke's spine from such a smirk.
— Naruto's progress happened only thanks to Naruto's hard work, — the kunoichi continued. — Envy and anger are not the feelings that will allow you to progress as quickly as he does. And revenge is a dish best served cold.
— That's none of your business, — Sasuke said sharply. — My revenge is my business. And how I get power... I'll figure that out myself.
— And I was already thinking of helping you, — Anko pouted, dramatically turning away.
— I don't need your help, — Uchiha threw out and hastily walked away.
— What a pity, — the kunoichi drawled. — And I could have helped you with genjutsu. And I have a familiar master of illusions. Saitama talked about the Sharingan, and you've probably thought about the path of an illusionist.
After walking ten meters, Sasuke slowed his pace.
— Naruto accepted my help. Maybe I also helped him become stronger.
He slowed his pace even more. However, after a couple of breaths, he quickened his steps again.
— Oh well, — Anko threw up her hands, — you were ready to become a student of a shinobi who does nothing but eat, scratch his bald head, and dream about a TV.
Sasuke turned around, his unblinking gaze fixed on the girl.
— Why are you doing this? — he asked. — And what do you want in return?
Anko furrowed her brow, pursing her lips into a tube:
— Well, can't I just help such a cutie?
— Pfft...
Sasuke was about to turn around, but Anko said:
— Alright. Actually, it's simpler than that. I don't want your team to fall apart because of you, kid. I don't want anger to cloud your judgment. And I don't want Naruto to suffer because of you later. After all, he considers you his friend.
The boy looked at Mitarashi from under his brows. He didn't care about Naruto. But if he was being offered help, then why not agree? Only, everything in life had a price, Sasuke knew that.
— And what will I owe you?
— I love dango. Can you treat a girl to dango?
— Apprenticeship in exchange for dango? — Sasuke snorted skeptically. — You're cheap.
— Kid, — a skeptical expression crept onto Anko's face. — I didn't say a word about apprenticeship. You know, Saitama is my student. And soon Saitama and I will be proctors for the Chunin Exams. So I won't have any time for you at all. I'm only willing to offer a couple or three lessons. And after that, I can introduce you to Kurenai. Although she has her own team. So don't count on mentorship from her either. But you don't really need it anyway. We'll give you the basics, and with the help of the Sharingan, you'll figure out the rest yourself...
— Uh... what are you talking about right now?
— What? — Anko didn't understand the question.
— You just said that you're teaching Master Saitama. Is that some kind of joke? — Sasuke inquired. After the words about Saitama, the dark-haired boy paused slightly and let Anko's subsequent speech go in one ear and out the other.
— Well, yeah, I'm teaching him, — Anko shrugged. — And no – it's not a joke. What's the big deal?
Uchiha's mouth opened slightly. At first, he thought the girl was mocking him. After all, what could this woman teach such a monster? And Master Saitama, although he looked like an idiot, first impressions were deceiving. In reality, the bald shinobi was wise beyond his years, so it was more likely that he should be teaching her.
But Mitarashi's expression was quite serious.
— He's a complete moron in theory, — she explained.
— That... Okay, — Sasuke decided not to dwell on such trifles. — And when do we start lessons?
Silence hung in the air for a couple of moments. Only the cicadas chirped tiredly in the bushes...
— Ku-ku-ku, — Anko rubbed her hands together. From her smile, which resembled a madman's grin, Uchiha took a step back. Then another... — What a model student. Already ready to learn. Where are you going, Sasuke? Come here. Don't be afraid, I don't bite, unless I'm in a bad mood. Come on, come closer to me. Closer, Sasuke, closer...
Sasuke swallowed, but obediently began to approach the girl. For the sake of gaining power and future revenge, he was ready to endure a couple of lessons with this beautiful but terrifying woman...