"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Whoosh!"
A clear, youthful shout rang out as an enormous orange fireball erupted, scorching the air itself. Had anyone possessed a god's-eye view, they would have seen the magnificent fiery tail trailing behind the fireball, leading back to a small figure standing in an empty alleyway.
The expression on the boy's face was visibly darkening with frustration and resentment.
"He still hasn't come... I've used the Great Fireball Technique so many times, but there's not a sign of him... That Naruto bastard must have thought this was too much trouble and tricked me into wasting my time here while he sneaked back to train alone! He said I could run ahead for ten minutes—how many ten-minute intervals have passed already? He's clearly playing me!"
Sasuke's frustration grew with each passing moment. Even his repeated signals had failed to draw Naruto out.
As he struggled to suppress the tears welling up in his eyes, he slowly clenched his fists, curling his fingers one by one. Gritting his teeth, he muttered fiercely under his breath, as if talking to himself.
"Making me wait here all this time... Naruto Uzumaki! You—you idiot, fool, big-headed jerk! If you're so tough, don't let me catch you. Otherwise, you'll be my living target for testing the power of my new Fire Release ninjutsu! This time, even if you give me a mountain of tomatoes, I won't forgive you. Never!"
The Little Fan, blinded by rage, showed no signs of weakening despite the massive Chakra drain from repeatedly casting the Great Fireball Technique.
Instead, a palpable, visible aura of fury enveloped him, layer upon layer. Veins, trembling like crosses, pulsed on his smooth forehead, transforming the once docile, harmless Little Fan into a silent, menacing presence radiating a suppressed danger—a clear warning: "Approach at your own risk."
His entire demeanor twisted into something increasingly ferocious and terrifying.
At that very moment—whether by misfortune or sheer luck—just as Sasuke was on the verge of losing control and erupting in a rampage, a voice dripping with contemptuous mockery pierced his ears.
"Oh my, look who we've found! A fool who rushed ahead to play hero, abandoning his teammates and now stranded alone, isolated and helpless..."
The reason it's hard to tell whether this situation is fortunate or unfortunate is that the subsequent developments soon far exceeded Sasuke's expectations once again.
Yet, in a way, this turn of events was perfectly logical...
In a first encounter between strangers, if each party were to assess the situation from their own perspective, they would likely arrive at conclusions diametrically opposed to the other's true intentions.
"Enemies? When?!"
Hearing the mocking, unfamiliar voice behind him, Little Fan snapped out of his rage and resentment.
He secretly heightened his vigilance, preparing to activate Plan B-G-J-L, while simultaneously unleashing his suppressed sensory abilities to their full extent, instinctively scanning the area for the source of the voice.
Mistaking the speaker's undetected approach for evidence of formidable strength, he braced himself for a formidable enemy.
Contrary to Sasuke's expectations, the sensory feedback revealed that three unfamiliar presences had inexplicably appeared behind him. Yet, after confirming that these individuals—including the one who had provoked him earlier—were merely slightly taller and more muscular than their peers, Sasuke froze in disbelief.
"No way..."
His face twisted in disbelief, Sasuke paused mid-stride, retracting his right foot that had been poised to flee.
He focused his sensory abilities, meticulously scanning the trio repeatedly.
When the feedback remained consistent, his lips twitched slightly as he muttered to himself, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably at this sudden reversal of fortune.
"Tch, I thought Orochimaru had come for revenge, just like Naruto—ugh, spit, spit, spit—like that idiot warned me. So it was just a false alarm after all?"
Upon realizing that the combined strength of his opponents paled in comparison to his own, Sasuke couldn't help but secretly sigh in relief.
As his right foot firmly planted back on the ground, Little Fan, now relaxed, even found the composure to forcibly suppress the name that had instinctively slipped from his lips, driven by the lingering resentment and anger.
Meanwhile, the three uninvited guests, who had dared to provoke Sasuke from behind—thus proving their utter ignorance of true power—misinterpreted Little Fan's intentions once again.
They watched intently as Sasuke raised his foot, seemingly preparing to flee, only to struggle for a moment before ultimately returning his foot to its original position.
"Hahaha! Look, look! The guy's so scared he can't even run!"
"Ah, well, it's only natural to be afraid when facing the three of us."
"Heh heh, exactly... Tsk tsk tsk, how pathetic. Look at that little body trembling—he's probably about to piss his pants from fear!"
"Hmph, hey kid! Since we're in a good mood right now, hand over your soldier pills obediently. Maybe we'll consider going easy on you later."
"Go easy on me...? Tch, these guys talk big, but their skills don't match their arrogance... Still, they showed up at just the right time. I was just worrying about finding a suitable punching bag."
As the anger and resentment on his face gradually faded, Sasuke unconsciously began mimicking Naruto's mannerisms, a habit he'd picked up from spending nearly every day with him for over a year.
Slowly raising his head and turning around, he subtly manipulated his facial muscles, curving his eyes and lips into a warm, harmless smile—exactly like the one Naruto often used.
"They came looking for a beating themselves... Even if I get a little carried away and knock them all down, Naruto... that idiot, moron, blockhead can't blame me for starting a fight, right?"