Nine-Tails shifted on the floor, adjusting his position with a soft grunt. "My knees are killing me," he muttered, continuing to scribble in the notebook balanced on his lap. "I'm only doing this so you'll have decent meals. If I don't finish this cookbook, you're on your own."
Warmth bloomed in Naruto's chest. He walked over, scooped up the miniature fox, and settled him onto his lap. Grabbing a tall stool, he positioned it in front of them both. "Here, Nine-Tails. Use this instead."
"I don't need your—" Nine-Tails began, but the words died in his throat as Naruto's hand came to rest on his head, fingers moving in slow, gentle strokes.
A rumbling purr escaped before Nine-Tails could stop it. His eyes half-closed, and he leaned into the touch despite himself. After a moment, he resumed writing, his posture noticeably more relaxed.
Naruto picked up Advanced Swine Husbandry with his free hand, reading while he petted Nine-Tails. The fox's tail swayed contentedly as his pen scratched across the page.
After a sufficient rest, Naruto headed outside to train.
He'd progressed to the seventy-second position of the Iron Body Technique—only nine more until his skin would be as hard as steel. More importantly, his control had reached new heights. A single thought could command his muscles and tendons to move exactly as he willed.
In close combat, using his tendons as whips to strike opponents was no longer just theory. It was real.
The Weapon Body manual detailed various methods of channeling force, and Naruto was currently learning the first: vibration force. The principle was simple but devastating—through high-frequency oscillation, even a light touch could rupture internal organs.
Naruto extended one palm, pressing his thumb against his index and pinky fingers while keeping his ring and middle fingers straight. Suddenly, like the buzz of a massive bee, his two extended fingers began to vibrate. The movement was so rapid it became invisible, producing only a high-pitched hum.
He aimed at a nearby tree. His fingers blurred forward. Tiny wood chips exploded from the trunk as his fingertips drilled through the bark, creating a hole two fingers wide.
Naruto withdrew his hand, shaking it out. His ring and middle fingers tingled with numbness from the intense vibration. He flexed them experimentally—no damage, just temporary sensation loss.
Looking between the hole in the tree and his uninjured fingers, a grin spread across his face.
Who could withstand something like that?
The thought of testing it in combat made his pulse quicken. Once he mastered this technique, who would dare refuse his friendship?
Speaking of refusal, his mind drifted to Sasuke. The Uchiha boy was genuinely impressive—his willpower, his strength, his refusal to give up. That kind of determination was exactly what Naruto valued in a potential friend.
He sighed. Sasuke would make a great friend.
After two more hours of training, Naruto headed back to the Academy for afternoon classes.
Sasuke wasn't there. During attendance, Iruka-sensei announced that Sasuke had requested three days of leave. The classroom buzzed with disappointed whispers.
Walking home without Sasuke felt strange. An odd emptiness settled in Naruto's chest, unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
That evening, he made a decision. If Sasuke would return in three days, he'd use that time to intensify his training. When they met again, he'd be even stronger.
For the next three days, Naruto practically lived on the back mountain, returning home only to sleep.
His dedication paid off. By the end of the third day, he'd advanced three more positions in the Iron Body Technique. He could feel the difference—his body was harder, more resilient, responding to his will with increasing precision.
The cattle herd had also expanded, gaining three new calves. Though strangely, whenever Naruto approached, the breeding bulls looked at him with what could only be described as resentful glares.
Naruto studied them with growing concern. Despite abundant grass and water, the bulls had grown noticeably thinner over the past few days.
"What's wrong with them?" He scratched his head, genuinely puzzled. "They have plenty to eat. They shouldn't be hungry." His eyes widened with realization. "Could they be sick? Maybe they've lost their appetite... Nine-Tails! Nine-Tails! I need you—one of the bulls is sick again!"
The bulls' ears perked up at those dreaded words. As one, they turned and bolted, thundering across the pasture until they disappeared over the hill.
Naruto's face filled with confusion. "Why did they run away like that?"
Then his expression brightened. "Well, if they can run that fast, they must be healthy after all!" He nodded to himself, satisfied. "Which means they can keep contributing to the herd's growth."
He beamed with pride at the bulls' apparently excellent physical condition.
"Why are you shouting for me? I'm at a critical part of this recipe." Nine-Tails emerged from the cabin, looking thoroughly annoyed. His gaze swept the empty pasture. "You said a bull was sick. Where is it?"
"They're not sick anymore," Naruto said, spreading his hands apologetically.
"Then stop bothering me." Nine-Tails huffed and stalked back into the cabin, tail lashing with irritation.
"Sorry, Nine-Tails!" Naruto called after him. He grabbed his pink backpack—still comically small on his frame—and headed toward the Academy. "I'm going to school now!"
Today was the day. Sasuke would be back.
Anticipation quickened his steps. I wonder if he'll want to spar again.
When Naruto reached the Academy gates, Sasuke was already there.
They stopped, eyes meeting across the courtyard. The air between them seemed to crackle with tension, like the moment before lightning strikes.
"Hmph." Sasuke broke eye contact first, turning away with a cold snort. He adjusted his backpack and walked through the gates without another glance.
Naruto didn't mind the cold shoulder. That was just how Sasuke was—distant, proud, difficult to approach. As a friend, you had to be understanding of those things.
He hurried to catch up, falling into step beside Sasuke. Then he leaned in, studying the other boy's face intently.
Sasuke shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. He turned his head away, refusing to meet Naruto's eyes. "What are you staring at?"
"Your face, obviously." Naruto's tone held genuine amazement. "Does your family have some kind of miracle medicine? Last time I saw you, your face was swollen like a balloon. Now it's completely healed. That's incredible!"
"You—" Sasuke's jaw clenched. Heat flooded his face, though whether from anger or embarrassment, even he wasn't sure. He looked up at the clear blue sky, taking a slow breath.
Perfect weather, he thought. No rain. No clouds. His mouth curved into a slight smile. Ideal conditions for beating Naruto into the dirt.
"Oh! Sasuke, you can smile!" Naruto's excited voice broke through his thoughts. "I always thought you had permanent face paralysis or something." He grinned wider. "You should smile more often. It looks good on you. Plus, doesn't holding that scowl all day make your face tired?"
Every word was like a needle jabbing into Sasuke's composure. He quickened his pace, putting distance between them.
I don't want your compliments, he thought fiercely. I don't need them.
Naruto remained where he was, watching Sasuke's retreating back with genuine confusion. "That's weird. I give him a compliment, and he gets annoyed. But if he complimented me, I'd be happy about it." He scratched his head, unable to make sense of it.
Still puzzling over this mystery, he made his way to the classroom.
Sasuke was undeniably the most popular student in class.
His three-day absence had apparently left his classmates suffering. The moment he stepped through the classroom door, students swarmed around him, forming dense rings three layers deep. They chattered excitedly, desperate to catch up on everything they'd missed without him.
A few students nearly came to blows competing for the spots closest to him.
In the end, Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka claimed the prime positions on either side of Sasuke. Like a pair of chattering birds, they launched into detailed accounts of every minor event from the past three days, talking over each other in their enthusiasm.
Sasuke sat rigid in his seat, expression carefully neutral, trying his best to ignore them both.