Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

The atmosphere inside the Forest of Death was… strange.

Dark. Claustrophobic. Oppressive.

Snakes slithered through the underbrush, insects buzzed incessantly, and rats and ants crawled beneath the leaves. Even the sunlight filtering through the thick canopy above seemed dimmer here, casting warped shadows across the forest floor.

Crows cawed loudly from the towering branches, their cries echoing with an eerie and ominous tone. The whole place felt like it was watching, breathing, waiting for something terrible to happen.

Then came Sasuke's voice—sharp, proud, cutting through the unnatural stillness.

"Naruto, living comfortably in the village... you have no idea what I've endured just to surpass you."

"I've trained day and night, like a madman—pushing myself to the brink just to get faster, stronger."

"I've walked with heavy boulders strapped to me. I've let Kakashi electrocute me. I've practiced under freezing waterfalls. I've suffered… just to prepare the jutsu I need to take you down."

"I'm not the same as before. I'm powerful now."

He raised his hand, revealing arms covered in scars—his fair skin now marred by the evidence of relentless training. These weren't injuries. They were proof.

In Sasuke's mind, Naruto had spent the past weeks eating, sleeping, and slacking off in the village while he—the last Uchiha—suffered for power. There was no way Naruto could have improved.

That's why Sasuke believed… this time, he would win.

"Naruto." Sasuke clenched his fists and pointed to his scarlet, three-tomoe Sharingan with pride. "You'd better go all out from the start. Otherwise, you'll lose. Badly."

Sakura stood to the side, her face filled with concern. She wanted to stop them, to step between her teammates and keep them from hurting each other—but she knew it was pointless.

Neither of them would listen.

So she stood quietly, resigned to watch and wait. The best she could do now was be ready to use her new medical ninjutsu to treat their wounds after it was over.

Please don't get hurt too badly, Naruto.

"Let's do this, Naruto!" Sasuke called, forming hand seals. He planned to go all-in from the start—to land a decisive blow before Naruto could react.

Naruto, stretching his neck and shoulders lazily, studied Sasuke with mild surprise. He really thinks he can win?

He had always dominated Sasuke in previous battles, but this time… Sasuke looked genuinely confident. That could only mean one thing: he had actually improved.

Naruto had chosen to fight Sasuke first because he wanted to get it over with. He had bigger concerns—namely, Orochimaru. He needed to keep moving before the Snake Sannin appeared.

But now…

This might take more effort than I thought.

Taking a long breath, Naruto released the Nine-Tails chakra cloak, letting its fiery aura wrap around him like armor.

He launched forward with explosive speed, enhanced by the demon fox's power, his own teleportation technique, and the physical conditioning he'd gained since the Land of Waves. He wasn't the same Naruto anymore.

Not by a long shot.

He wasn't just respecting Sasuke by going all out—he was ensuring his own survival.

"So fast!"

Sasuke's eyes widened. Naruto vanished from sight in an instant, reappearing just a blink later—right in front of him.

Sasuke barely had time to form the hand seals.

"Chidori!"

Electricity cracked violently around his hand, screeching like a thousand birds.

But before he could strike, a sharp blue light flashed behind him—

Rasengan.

Naruto's attack slammed directly into Sasuke's back.

Everything went black.

When Sasuke opened his eyes again, he was lying on the forest floor, his head pounding and his spine screaming in pain. He turned his head and saw Sakura kneeling beside him, hands glowing green as she used medical ninjutsu.

"Sakura... where's Naruto?"

"He said he was going to find the others. Told me to stay and heal you. He'll come back later," she said, smiling faintly, her tone calm.

She had been worried at first. Sasuke had been so confident. But Naruto had ended the fight in an instant. She didn't even understand how it happened.

All that bluster for nothing.

She glanced at Sasuke. I can't believe I used to like this guy. What a loudmouth.

"Sasuke," she said gently, "don't keep picking fights with Naruto. You can't beat him. You're just hurting team morale."

Sasuke said nothing. He just stared up at the branches above, his mind racing with doubt and frustration.

He replayed the fight in his head. His Sharingan had tracked Naruto's movement—but his body couldn't keep up. His reaction speed, strength… none of it was enough.

"Why…? How could this happen again?"

He had trained for this. Suffered for this. And still, Naruto had taken him out with one blow.

Just like the last two times.

He gritted his teeth, fists trembling. All his effort… and Naruto didn't even need a second attack.

It was like carrying a mountain on his back. A mountain called Uzumaki Naruto.

"Damn it!" Sasuke slammed the ground with his fists.

Is Naruto just that powerful... or am I just that weak?

If I'm this weak… how am I supposed to kill Itachi? How will I ever avenge my clan?

Sakura watched him silently, not sure what to say. This wasn't the first time Sasuke had lost to Naruto, but he was taking it far harder than she expected.

He was acting like a child.

Sasuke… were you always like this?

She shook her head. Whatever. Naruto had told her to heal Sasuke, then hide—to stay far away from him.

She interpreted it differently.

He's so overprotective… He doesn't want me near other guys. So cool~!

She hummed cheerfully, thinking of ways to calm Sasuke down before he had a meltdown.

"Sasuke… have you ever actually talked to Asuma-sensei?"

Sasuke frowned. "I've seen him around. Not close or anything."

"Then why are there so many rumors about you two?" she asked, completely serious.

Southwest Sector – Forest of Death

Naruto was already far from them, roaming through the woods and looking for the next challenger.

"Man, you guys are really good at hiding," he muttered. "Where the hell did you go?"

He guessed that Anko's brutal announcement about killing being permitted in the exam had probably scared some of them into hiding. But Gaara? There was no way that monster was hiding.

He was probably out looking for Naruto too.

Naruto yawned, bored. With Sasuke defeated, he still had three challengers left. He wanted to finish quickly, take a break, and stay out of Orochimaru's reach.

Speaking of which… when is he gonna show up?

If Orochimaru was training Sasuke instead of Kakashi, Sasuke wouldn't be this pathetic.

Naruto sighed. He had been ready for a serious fight, but that performance was disappointing.

So boring.

Suddenly—thunk! thunk!

Two shuriken slammed into the trunk of a tree in front of him.

A female ninja appeared, wearing the Sand Village forehead protector. She drew a kunai from her pouch, twirling it lazily between her fingers.

"Well, well… little boy," she said with a smirk, "hand over your scroll, or I'll kill you."

Naruto blinked, tilting his head as he looked her over.

Bold fishnet outfit. Curvy figure. Smooth, pale legs confidently exposed.

He didn't recognize her face at all, but her appearance and outfit looked oddly familiar. The style reminded him of someone specific… someone unhinged.

But if it really was her—why was she here? Why was she coming after him?

Naruto narrowed his eyes.

What the hell is this crazy woman thinking now?