Chapter 10
Naruto sat behind his desk, arms crossed, staring at nothing in particular. He had been waiting—not that he would ever admit it—for Nagato to return.
The door finally opened, and Nagato stepped inside. His expression was unreadable as always, his presence calm yet commanding.
"It’s done," Nagato said simply.
Naruto nodded, acting uninterested. "Hn. And?"
Nagato walked forward, placing a report on the desk. "The mission was successful. No major complications."
Naruto flicked his eyes to the report but didn’t touch it. "And the recruits?"
Nagato studied him for a moment before answering. "Most of them did well enough. A few were useless and won’t be continuing. As for those who passed…" He paused. "Sasuke Uchiha performed exceptionally."
Naruto clenched his jaw but kept his expression neutral. "Tch. Of course he did."
Nagato raised an eyebrow. "You say that like you knew he would."
Naruto waved a hand dismissively. "He’s Itachi’s brother. It’s expected."
Nagato didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he watched Naruto carefully, as if trying to read him.
"You’re awfully uninterested for someone who looked straight into his eyes yesterday and acted like he was nothing."
Naruto stiffened for half a second. "I don’t have time to care about recruits, Nagato."
Nagato hummed, unconvinced. "He watched you the entire meeting. Even after you dismissed them. He knows something is off."
Naruto clicked his tongue in irritation. "Then let him be confused."
A pause.
Nagato folded his arms. "You’re playing a dangerous game, Naruto."
Naruto finally looked up, eyes sharp. "I know what I’m doing."
Nagato didn’t look convinced. "Do you?"
Naruto glared. "I said drop it."
Nagato exhaled through his nose but didn’t push further. He had always trusted Naruto’s decisions, but this… this was different.
"Sasuke is strong. He’s determined," Nagato finally said. "And he isn’t stupid."
Naruto smirked, though there was no amusement in it. "Neither am I."
Nagato held his gaze for a few seconds longer before nodding. "Very well. I’ll keep an eye on him."
As he turned to leave, Naruto spoke again.
"…Don’t go easy on him."
Nagato glanced over his shoulder. "I wasn’t planning to."
The door closed behind him, leaving Naruto alone in his office.
Naruto leaned back in his chair and ran a hand down his face.
Damn it.
Sasuke wasn’t going to let this go.
And the worst part?
Neither was he.
___
The air was thick with tension. The recruits stood in formation, their postures stiff as Kyubi himself walked onto the training grounds.
Naruto—no, Kyubi—moved with his usual confidence, his long coat swaying as he scanned the recruits with an unreadable expression. The boss never personally oversaw training. His presence alone sent an unspoken message: this was important.
Kakashi and Nagato stood at his sides. Nagato was the one speaking, explaining the importance of skill and discipline in their organization. Naruto wasn’t really listening—his eyes swept over the new recruits until they landed on a familiar figure.
Sasuke.
Naruto’s gaze flickered, but he quickly schooled his expression into something cold, indifferent. They had already met. Sasuke had already been confused. Now, Naruto needed to maintain his distance.
But Sasuke?
He had other plans.
"Since Kyubi is here," Sasuke spoke suddenly, his voice cutting through the quiet, "why not give us a demonstration?"
Heads turned toward him in shock.
Kyubi never fought recruits.
Naruto exhaled slowly through his nose, tilting his head slightly. His golden eyes locked onto Sasuke’s challengingly.
"A demonstration?" he repeated.
Sasuke smirked, stepping forward. "Yeah. You’re the boss, right? Shouldn’t the recruits see what they’re working for?"
Nagato’s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing the underlying tension. Kakashi, on the other hand, let out a dramatic sigh. "Sasuke, picking a fight with the boss isn’t exactly the smartest move."
"I can handle myself," Sasuke replied, never breaking eye contact with Naruto.
Naruto could feel the eyes of the gang on him, waiting for his response. He could shut this down immediately. He could simply refuse. He didn’t have to engage.
But something about Sasuke’s smirk, his knowing gaze, made Naruto’s blood simmer.
He wanted this fight.
Naruto rolled his shoulders, expression unreadable. "Fine." He slid off his coat and handed it to Kakashi. "Don’t disappoint me."
The crowd backed up, forming a circle. The match was on.
---
The Fight Begins
Sasuke struck first.
He shot forward, closing the distance in an instant, fist aiming straight for Naruto’s jaw.
Naruto dodged effortlessly. He tilted his head slightly, the punch missing him by mere inches. Sasuke followed up with a kick aimed at his ribs, but Naruto twisted, avoiding it again.
He wasn’t even trying.
Sasuke clicked his tongue and kept attacking, but Naruto kept dodging with ease, his expression annoyingly calm. The watching recruits were stunned. Sasuke was fast, but Kyubi was on a different level.
The training ground was completely silent, except for the rhythmic sounds of footsteps clashing against the dirt.
Sasuke and Naruto—no, Kyubi—moved like lightning, their fight escalating faster than anyone had expected. The recruits watched, stunned. Even the senior members were intrigued.
Kyubi never fought recruits.
Yet here he was, dodging Sasuke’s attacks with the effortless grace of a true leader.
Sasuke, however, refused to let up. He wanted to push Naruto. Wanted to see where the act ended and where the real idiot began.
"You’re still holding back, dobe," Sasuke taunted, his breath coming faster.
Naruto’s golden eyes narrowed.
That did it.
Naruto struck forward with more force, no longer just dodging, but fighting back. Their movements became sharper, rougher, more personal.
Sasuke went for a low sweep—Naruto leaped over it.
Naruto sent a kick toward Sasuke’s ribs—Sasuke twisted, narrowly avoiding it.
The recruits were holding their breath.
"You talk too much," Naruto muttered, sending a sharp punch. Sasuke ducked, countering immediately—
Too fast.
Too close.
They both moved at the same time—
A misstep.
A shift in balance.
And then—
CRASH.
In an instant, they were on the ground.
Naruto landed on top of Sasuke—their faces inches apart.
No—closer than inches.
Their lips accidentally pressed together.
Dead silence.
The world seemed to pause.
Sasuke’s eyes widened in pure shock.
Naruto’s brain completely shut down.
For a solid three seconds, nobody moved.
Then—
"OH—WHAT THE ACTUAL F—" Sasuke shoved Naruto off him so hard that Naruto nearly fell over again.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Naruto coughed, scrambling to his feet, his face turning red.
The entire gang was staring.
Then it happened.
Hidan burst out laughing.
"OH, HOLY SHIT!" he cackled, clutching his stomach. "DID YOU JUST—DID THE BOSS JUST—"
Suigetsu was already on the ground wheezing. "I—I CAN’T—"
Even Kakuzu, normally indifferent, was smirking.
Sasuke was fuming. His face was burning, his hands clenched into fists. "DON’T YOU DARE—"
"Did we just witness a romantic reunion?" Konan mused, completely deadpan.
Nagato pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don’t get paid enough for this."
Naruto snapped his head toward the group, glare sharp enough to kill. "SAY ONE MORE WORD AND I’LL PERSONALLY BURY YOU ALL."
Hidan grinned. "Oh, we’re saying way more than one word, boss."
Naruto dragged a hand down his face, completely done with life. Sasuke, still burning with embarrassment, grabbed his sword and stormed off, pretending it never happened.
Naruto was even more confused.
Because for just a moment, when their lips touched—
It didn’t feel bad at all .