The void itself seemed to shatter under Naruto's fist. No sound accompanied the destruction. Everyone watching simply felt reality distort for a single disorienting moment. Then they witnessed Temari's massive storm technique get completely annihilated by that single punch.
The tornado simply ceased to exist.
Temari's chest heaved violently, shock written across every line of her face. All three stars had been opened on her fan. That represented her absolute full power, the strongest technique in her arsenal. Yet it had proven utterly vulnerable before Naruto's fist, erased as easily as chalk from a board.
The scene was genuinely shocking to witness.
Everyone present knew Temari's ultimate technique could blow away entire sections of forest in a single devastating sweep. Its destructive power was formidable, capable of leveling buildings and uprooting ancient trees. But such overwhelming force had been annihilated by Naruto's single punch as if it were nothing more than a gentle breeze.
Only residual wind currents remained in the air, swirling aimlessly without purpose.
There's wind behind me!
Temari suddenly felt chilling cold spread across her back. Her pupils contracted sharply. The Naruto standing in front of her was fading away bit by bit, dissolving like morning mist. Meanwhile, behind her actual position, a clear and pleasant voice spoke casually.
"Your strength isn't bad at all, Temari."
Naruto had witnessed the confrontation between Temari and Tenten during the preliminaries. Both kunoichi had fought with genuine intensity and skill. In the end, Temari had emerged slightly superior, defeating Tenten with her Cutting Whirlwind technique.
Hearing Naruto's voice emanating from directly behind her, Temari understood immediately that she'd already lost. No room existed for lucky escape or fortunate reversal.
The match had concluded before she'd even registered his movement.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Without hesitation, Naruto began properly testing Temari's sincerity as a potential friend.
Maki remained frozen in stunned disbelief, his mind still processing that punch which had annihilated the storm technique. He hadn't fully returned to his senses. At this moment, watching his student bow beneath Naruto's methodical strikes, seeing her face slowly swell with each impact, his eye began twitching involuntarily. Reality crashed back into focus.
After regaining his senses, Maki turned his head to glance at his student Kankuro. Meeting his sensei's accusing stare, Kankuro could only scratch his head with visible embarrassment, offering no words of comfort or explanation.
While Temari demonstrated her "sincerity" as a friend through enduring Naruto's testing, the other people who'd already become Naruto's friends all wore similar expressions. Knowing smiles spread across multiple faces.
Their team was growing larger and larger with each passing week.
From this day forward, they felt they would no longer be alone in their suffering. Because they were no longer the only ones bearing pain that people their age shouldn't have to endure. Misery loved company, after all.
Sasuke continued cracking melon seeds alongside the Nine-Tails, watching Temari receive her comprehensive beating. He couldn't help touching his own face, remembering the scene of being pummeled by Naruto early this morning. His features suddenly ached with sympathetic pain.
Why did I have to provoke him? Why do I keep doing this to myself?
The Nine-Tails observed Temari's violent introduction to friendship with obvious enjoyment. He turned to Sasuke beside him with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Uchiha boy, tell me. Who do you think will be next?"
Sasuke glanced at Gaara's impassive face, then shifted his gaze to Maki's increasingly nervous expression. He spoke thoughtfully, working through the logic. "First, I'll use the process of elimination to narrow down candidates. Kankuro has already become Naruto's friend, so naturally he won't be chosen next. And Temari is currently becoming Naruto's friend, which means she also won't be selected again. That leaves only two people remaining in the arena: Gaara, that guy with the gourd on his back, and their team leader, Maki."
Sasuke's analytical mind continued processing. "Now, Maki serves as the supervising jonin. He bears Sunagakure's dignity on his shoulders as their representative. Naruto should respect Sunagakure's diplomatic standing. Instead of potentially embarrassing their village by beating up their team leader, he'll choose to befriend Gaara instead."
Sasuke concluded with a definitive nod. "After all, Gaara looks like he desperately needs a beating."
That final comment made the Nine-Tails look at Sasuke with something resembling sideways amusement. You, Sasuke, don't YOU look like you need a beating? Aren't you the poster child for asking for it?
Of course, the Nine-Tails wouldn't voice such heart-wrenching observations aloud. He needed to preserve some measure of Sasuke's dignity and pride.
However, the Nine-Tails didn't agree with Sasuke's analysis whatsoever. Based on his deep understanding of Naruto's thinking patterns and behavioral tendencies, he offered a completely different prediction.
"This old fox thinks your analysis is fundamentally wrong." The Nine-Tails' voice carried absolute certainty. "Why can't it be Maki? You're taking Maki's position far too seriously. He doesn't represent Sunagakure's dignity at all. If Maki gets beaten by someone Sunagakure can't afford to offend, even if he's pummeled to death, Sunagakure won't say a single word in protest."
The Nine-Tails' tone grew more confident. "Weak villages have no diplomatic leverage. That's an eternal truth of the shinobi world."
He continued his reasoning. "This old fox believes that after Temari finishes, the most likely next candidate is absolutely Maki. Because in Naruto's perspective, teachers and elders all deserve to become friends. You clearly don't understand that Naruto only has fists in his mind when it comes to building relationships. Age and position mean nothing to him."
The Nine-Tails concluded firmly. "Therefore, this old fox's prediction is Maki. I'm betting on the sensei."
"I'm choosing Gaara as my prediction." Sasuke met the Nine-Tails' gaze with complete confidence. "What happens if I lose this bet?"
"Let's make it dishwashing duty for one month." The Nine-Tails considered briefly, then proposed stakes. "Whoever loses has to wash all the dishes for an entire month."
"Deal." Sasuke extended his hand to shake with the Nine-Tails' paw, sealing their wager. In their household, Naruto never had to handle any chores. The remaining housework duties were divided between the Nine-Tails and Sasuke equally.
This bet would determine who suffered sole responsibility for the most tedious task.
Ten minutes later, Temari lay sprawled on the ground, her face thoroughly bruised and swollen to nearly twice its normal size.
"Naruto-kun, are we friends now?" Temari asked through swollen lips, somehow maintaining a smile despite her condition. She squinted through eyes that could barely open, trying to focus on Naruto's face.
This question absolutely needed clear confirmation. If Naruto said he hadn't properly witnessed her sincerity, then this entire beating would have been for nothing. She'd need to go through it again.
Of course Naruto had felt Temari's complete sincerity. His expression radiated genuine enthusiasm. At this moment, in his heart, he truly regarded Temari as his friend without reservation. He stepped forward, helping Temari to her feet with both hands supporting her arms. "Naturally! I absolutely recognize Temari as my friend now."
"That's good." Hearing Naruto's definitive confirmation, Temari released a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. Relief flooded through her battered body.
In this moment, Temari somewhat understood the emotional state her younger brother Kankuro must have experienced. Even when you desperately don't want to smile, you absolutely must keep smiling. And it has to appear genuine, coming from the heart.
The performance was exhausting.
"Temari-san, please rest to the side for now." Because Temari was several years older than Naruto, he added the respectful honorific naturally. "I need to continue making friends with the others."
He helped Temari over to where Kankuro stood waiting, then addressed her brother directly. "Kankuro, have you used up all the healing ointment I gave you yesterday? If you still have some remaining, please share it with Temari-san."
"Yes, of course!" Hearing this request, Kankuro immediately extracted a medicine bottle from his pocket and handed it to his sister with practiced efficiency.
With Kankuro taking care of Temari's immediate medical needs, Naruto felt naturally relieved. His attention shifted fully toward his next target.
His eyes landed on Gaara.
Gaara's expression remained frozen and emotionless. But something shifted in his pale eyes. He contemplated taking a step forward, his body language showing readiness.
Naruto's challenge didn't frighten Gaara in the slightest. He welcomed this kind of stimulation, craved the intensity. Fighting Naruto would undoubtedly prove exciting, would make him feel alive in ways that peaceful existence never could.
However, just as Gaara prepared to step forward and accept the implicit challenge, Naruto turned around completely. He walked directly toward Maki instead, his movements deliberate and purposeful.
Standing before the supervising jonin, Naruto spoke with perfect courtesy. "Maki-sensei, would you be willing to be friends with me?"
Hearing these words, Maki's expression froze instantly. Complete disbelief washed across his weathered features.
He'd genuinely believed Naruto only made friends with his peers, with other young people. Maki was Naruto's senior by decades, a fully experienced jonin. Surely Naruto wouldn't target him specifically.
That assumption had allowed Maki to relax completely, to watch his students getting beaten with detached leisure, safe in his seniority.
Now this situation had suddenly fallen directly on his head. Maki didn't know how to respond, his mind spinning uselessly.
Becoming friends with Naruto through this violent process? Maki refused from the absolute bottom of his heart. Naruto's strength was too overwhelming, too terrifying. If Maki went through the friendship process with Naruto, his fate wouldn't be any better than Temari's. Possibly worse.
But could he actually refuse this request? What would the diplomatic consequences be? What would Naruto do if directly rejected?
While Maki hesitated in visible internal conflict, the Nine-Tails' face lit up with triumphant joy. He turned his head to look at Sasuke sitting beside him, happiness radiating from every whisker. "Sasuke, this month's dishwashing duty is all yours!"
Sasuke's expression immediately showed pure annoyance and regret. He'd lost the bet completely.
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