Chapter 273

Because it was summer vacation, the school was closed and completely empty.

In fact, entering the school during the holidays is not permitted.

Fortunately, Kitazawa possessed certain privileges as the director of the academic affairs office.

"Kitazawa-sensei!"

Naruto Uzumaki, who was in the middle of practicing the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, immediately waved at them, "Hinata!"

"Do not lose focus!"

Kitazawa's shadow clone said with a straight face, offering a reminder.

Naruto Uzumaki hurriedly pulled his attention back and continued his practice.

"Hinata, let's begin."

Kitazawa stopped walking and said.

"Mm!"

Hinata Hyuga nodded vigorously.

She stood in place, raised her hands, and assumed the Gentle Fist stance.

Under Kitazawa's watchful gaze, she began practicing the Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

Time passed slowly.

Soon, it was noon.

"I... I can't go on..."

In the Forest of Death in the Hidden Leaf Village, Sasuke Uchiha's legs went soft, and he collapsed directly onto the ground.

He had been training all morning with Might Guy and Rock Lee, and by now, he was completely exhausted and unable to move.

"Sasuke, Itachi are a genius of the Uchiha clan; how can your youth fall here?"

Rock Lee stopped in front of him, clenched his fists, and offered encouragement.

"Sasuke, has your youth burned out?"

Might Guy wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked.

Sasuke Uchiha only felt as if his eyes were glowing green.

Two weirdos in green spandex were surrounding him, shouting about youth, giving him the illusion that he had been caught in a genjutsu.

"Sasuke, your training for today ends here!"

Seeing that Sasuke Uchiha was motionless and not answering, Might Guy did not force the issue.

He called for Rock Lee, and they continued running forward.

The surroundings suddenly became quiet.

Sasuke Uchiha felt as if he had come back to life.

After resting for a moment, he struggled to his feet and headed toward the ninja academy.

But as soon as he entered the Hidden Leaf Village, he noticed the villagers around him casting strange looks his way.

Sasuke Uchiha suddenly remembered that he was still wearing that hideous green spandex suit.

He hurriedly took it off.

"Good thing Dad and brother didn't see."

Sasuke Uchiha let out a breath and said.

He had been running around the perimeter of the Hidden Leaf Village, so there was basically no chance of running into them.

It was much the same when he was training with Might Guy earlier; he hadn't seen any acquaintances.

The reason he was worried now was because he had put on the green spandex.

Sasuke Uchiha arrived at the artificial lake of the ninja academy.

Hinata Hyuga and Naruto Uzumaki had both stopped their training.

Kitazawa was setting up the area for lunch.

He first took out a large cloth and spread it on the ground, then took out those small tatami tables and placed them on the cloth.

"Sasuke, Itachi're here. Sit wherever Itachi like."

Kitazawa sat cross-legged on the cloth and took out the prepared bento boxes.

Naruto Uzumaki followed his lead and sat cross-legged as well.

Hinata Hyuga came to Kitazawa's side and knelt on the cloth.

"Kitazawa-sensei."

Sasuke Uchiha took out two bento boxes and said, "These were made by my mother."

"Thank Itachi."

Kitazawa was slightly taken aback, then accepted one of the bento boxes.

After all, one shouldn't let someone's kindness go to waste.

"I didn't know Hinata and Naruto were coming for special training, so I only have two bentos today."

Sasuke Uchiha explained, "Tomorrow, I'll bring two more."

"Naruto, this bento is for Itachi."

Kitazawa placed the bento box in his hand in front of him and said, "I brought plenty of bentos here."

"Thank Itachi, Kitazawa-sensei."

Naruto Uzumaki opened the bento box and exclaimed, "So pretty!"

"Of course!"

Sasuke Uchiha curled the corner of his mouth and said proudly, "The bentos my mother makes are the most delicious!"

"Naruto, aren't Itachi going to thank Sasuke?"

Kitazawa reminded him.

"Thank Itachi, Sasuke!"

Naruto Uzumaki turned his head, his face full of smiles, and said, "I'll treat Itachi to Ichiraku Ramen another day!"

Sasuke Uchiha couldn't help but be stunned.

He wasn't used to others being so enthusiastic toward him.

But Naruto Uzumaki was different from Sakura Haruno; he had defeated him before.

The Uchiha clan had always held the strong in high regard.

"Wow, it really is delicious!"

Naruto Uzumaki took a bite of the fried shrimp and said excitedly, "I've never eaten such a delicious bento!"

Sasuke Uchiha knew he wasn't lying.

Because he had seen the bento Naruto Uzumaki usually brought, and it could only be described with one word: appalling.

Sasuke Uchiha recalled his previous conversation with Mikoto Uchiha.

Who were Naruto Uzumaki's parents?

Unfortunately, Mikoto Uchiha hadn't told him.

But one thing was certain: his parents had both sacrificed themselves.

Thinking of this, Sasuke Uchiha's perspective on Naruto Uzumaki changed quite a bit.

To be so optimistic despite growing up without parents—he certainly couldn't do that.

"Kitazawa-sensei."

Sasuke Uchiha came back to his senses and asked, "Do I still need to train with Uncle Guy and the others this afternoon?"

"Your body cannot withstand such high-intensity training."

Kitazawa thought for a moment and said, "In the afternoon, Itachi will practice the nature transformation of your Fire Release chakra."

"Understood."

Sasuke Uchiha let out a sigh of relief.

If he had to face Might Guy and Rock Lee again, he truly wouldn't be able to handle it.

As for the Fire Release nature transformation practice, he had done it before, so he was quite familiar with it.

After lunch, Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga continued their morning special training.

Kitazawa brought Sasuke Uchiha to the front of the artificial lake.

He reached out and placed his hand into the lake water, and after it was soaked, he pulled it out.

"Itachi already understand the nature of Fire Release chakra, so I won't explain it; Itachi can start practicing directly."

Kitazawa placed his hand in front of him, and as Fire Release chakra surged out, the water droplets on his hand vanished without a trace in an instant.

"Is there a time limit?"

After Sasuke Uchiha understood, he asked.

"The faster, the better."

Kitazawa replied, "If Itachi can complete it within one second, then Itachi've entered the door."

"One second is considered entering the door?"

Sasuke Uchiha asked with a look of surprise.

"This is just one aspect of the Fire Release chakra's properties."

Kitazawa patted his shoulder and said, "Go ahead and practice; if Itachi don't understand anything, ask my shadow clone."

Sasuke Uchiha nodded and began his practice.

But he had only grasped the surface of Fire Release nature transformation; let alone evaporating water droplets in a second, he couldn't even do it in a minute.

Kitazawa watched for a while, then turned and left.

Leaving a shadow clone here was enough to guide them.

He still had a private lesson with Kurenai Yuhi in the afternoon.

But before going home, he first went to the Forest of Death and found Might Guy.

"Guy, Ichiraku Ramen is holding a big eater competition in two days; are Itachi interested in participating?"

Kitazawa asked straight to the point.

"Sounds good."

Might Guy scratched his head and declined, "But we still have training."

"Training and eating don't conflict."

Kitazawa suggested, "Itachi can finish your morning training, then take Lee and Sasuke to the Ichiraku Ramen shop to compete."

"That's a great idea!"

Might Guy's eyes lit up, and he said, "I'll definitely go in two days!"

"Remember, Itachi must bring Sasuke."

Kitazawa instructed.

If Sasuke Uchiha didn't show up for the trap set for him, it would lose all meaning.