BlackStar_BH:
More Power Stones and comments, guys!
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The Art Store did not immediately regain its calm after the explosion of laughter.
Even as readers flipped through the following pages, giggles still bounced between the corners, as if the kiss scene had left an indelible mark on everyone's minds.
Some readers were still laughing under their breath, while others wiped tears from their eyes, and quite a few sat there, shaking their heads with trembling smiles.
But the manga… had no intention of staying in the realm of comedy for long.
On the very next pages, the rhythm shifted, as Instructor Iruka stepped onto the stage, beginning to guide yesterday's students—today's ninja.
…
[— "From this day forward, you are no longer mere students of ninjutsu, but full-fledged shinobi." Iruka paused for a moment before continuing,
"But among the ranks of shinobi, you are nothing more than novices—the lowest of the low. Your greatest challenges all lie ahead."
"The next step is the assignment of official duties on behalf of our village."
"We will now divide you into three-man teams, each of which will be mentored by a Jonin—a senior ninja—who will guide and train you as you grow accustomed to your various missions."
Upon hearing this, Sasuke thought coldly, 'Three-man teams? Sounds like two too many…'
Sakura clenched her small fist in excitement, 'Perfect! I know they'll put me on the same team as Sasuke!'
As for Naruto, there was only one thing on his mind. 'As long as I'm teamed up with Sakura… I'll take anyone else—except Sasuke!!'
Iruka pulled out the list and began calling out the teams. "I made the selections so that each team's abilities would be balanced."
"Next—Team Seven. Haruno Sakura… Uzumaki Naruto…" Naruto cheered, while Sakura sank into despair.
"And Uchiha Sasuke!" Sakura cheered. Naruto despaired.—]
…
The academy's former and newly graduated students felt a deep sense of familiarity as they followed the events of this chapter—especially the formation of the three-member teams. Everyone had gone through it… or soon would.
Jiraiya watched the academy scenes with curiosity and smiled. A sense of nostalgia flowed through him.
His memory drifted back to years ago—to the day they officially graduated as shinobi. Back then, he had been just like Naruto, treating Tsunade the same way Naruto treated Sakura… while Tsunade had given him the cold shoulder—just like always.
He felt sympathy for Naruto. They had walked similar paths.
Jiraiya's gaze rested on Sasuke.
"He's even colder than Orochimaru was back then…"
He could feel the arrogance radiating off the Uchiha child, the confidence born from a bloodline that believed itself superior.
"Is this really the second protagonist of the story?" Jiraiya felt some irritation toward Sasuke. That feeling only grew stronger when he turned the page.
"Pffft—HAHAHA! He really fell for it! This Naruto is sneaky—he's reminding me more and more of myself…"
Seeing the romantic interaction between Sakura and what she thought was Sasuke—when in reality it was Naruto using the Transformation Jutsu—Jiraiya felt a twinge of pain for the boy chasing a girl whose heart belonged to someone else.
But in the very next moment, Jiraiya burst out laughing when Naruto clutched his stomach in agony just as he was about to kiss Sakura.
"HAHAHA! What terrible luck! Looks like that milk you drank this morning really was spoiled!"
Wiping the tears from his eyes, formed by hysterical laughter, Jiraiya moved on to the next page.
…
Elsewhere, Tsunade stared at the manga page with lifeless eyes.
"Tsk… men really are the worst. Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Naruto?"
"Big sis… he likes her, but she doesn't return his feelings. I really feel bad for Naruto," Nawaki said with a helpless smile.
He disapproved of Naruto's trick—disguising himself as Sasuke to get closer to Sakura—but deep down, he felt even worse about the pink-haired girl with the wide forehead (by her own admission).
Not only because of her childish personality and low self-esteem, but also because of how cruel her behavior toward Naruto was.
…
Kushina's eyes trembled as she skimmed through the previous pages. She quickly flipped through them at lightning speed.
"What a chaotic Team Seven…" Minato sighed as he watched Naruto's interactions with his teammates.
The trio's relationship didn't seem friendly in the slightest.
But what disturbed him the most was Sakura's words—when the real Sasuke appeared, she complained that Naruto was annoying because he was an orphan with no parents.
"When did being selfish ever come from having no parents?"
"So, children without families always grow up selfish?"
Being scolded by your folks doesn't even compare!
Minato and Kushina stared in shock at Sasuke's sharp retort.
You make me sick!
The disgust in Sasuke's eyes left them even more stunned.
"Harsh… but she deserved it," Minato said with a faint smile.
"Even though she's just a kid, she's really unpleasant to watch," Kushina added irritably. Talking about orphans like that was morally reprehensible.
How could someone who had never known loneliness understand the feeling of coming home to no one… eating alone… sleeping without warm arms to hold you during difficult times?
"She's really just a kid…" Kushina shook her head.
She had countless things she wanted to say in response to Sakura's cruel words—but unfortunately, Sakura was nothing more than a fictional character drawn on paper.
Yet that fictional character had clearly struck a nerve with her deeply.
…
Elsewhere, Danzo's eyes gleamed with concealed admiration as he observed Sasuke's cold expression while he stared down Sakura and said:
You make me sick.
'A talented Uchiha… I wonder if he'll awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan someday?'
Danzo smiled inwardly as plans for the future began to form.
Using the entire Uchiha clan as his personal resource field—wasn't that mad idea actually feasible?
'Hehehe… exploit their pride and arrogance, turn them into cattle under my control. That day will come soon enough.'
'This Sasuke is the perfect example… remarkable talent for driving away allies and making enemies. Isn't that exactly what I need?'
As Danzo calmly flipped through the manga pages, another thought surfaced.
"…Now I just need to figure out how to obtain that magnificent building as my secret base."
As for Sakura, she didn't even register in his thoughts. To him, she was nothing more than an annoying teenager.
…
Meanwhile, Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha stared at Sasuke with strange expressions.
They admired his cold attitude toward the irritating girl who was so blatantly infatuated with his looks.
Yet something inside told them that his coldness wasn't only directed at her—it was aimed at the entire world.
If Minato and Kushina had felt an immediate sense of connection with Naruto upon seeing him…
The same phenomenon was happening with Fugaku and Mikoto.
For Fugaku, it felt natural—after all, Sasuke carried the Uchiha name. Feeling close to him made sense.
But for Mikoto, it went far deeper.
Her heart ached every time she saw Sasuke. An inexplicable maternal tenderness welled up within her as she gazed sadly into the child's eyes—eyes devoid of warmth or color.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 33: The Appearance of Hatake Kakashi!
Chapter 34: That Doesn't Concern Me.
Chapter 35: The Bell Test.
Chapter 36: Naruto Fights Alone.
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BlackStar_BH:
The chapters currently available on Patreon are up to Chapter 48.
There are 16 advanced chapters available now:
5 chapters in the Silver tier ($5 subscription), 5 more chapters in the Gold tier ($10 subscription), and 5 more chapters in the Platinum tier ($15 subscription).
On Patreon and Ko-fi, too.
In the coming days, chapters will be made available for all tiers, reaching up to 50 advanced chapters… Enjoy!