Tch." Sasuke clicked his tongue in irritation.
"You're always like this. Acting like everything's fine when it's not."
Naruto's grin faltered for the briefest moment. Just a flicker, a crack in the carefully built mask. Then it was back again.
"Oi, oi, teme, you sound like you actually care," he teased, nudging Sasuke's shoulder.
Sasuke smacked his hand away. "I do, idiot."
Naruto froze.
The teasing response he had ready died in his throat.
Sasuke's gaze was unwavering, serious. He wasn't here to play along with Naruto's act. He wasn't here to pretend.
"Tell me," Sasuke said again, quieter this time, but just as firm. "What are you carrying, Naruto?"
The weight of the question settled between them. Heavy. Unspoken.
For a moment, just a moment, Naruto considered answering.
But then, as always—he smiled.
"Let's spar, teme. If you win, maybe I'll tell you."
Sasuke clenched his fists.
Typical Naruto. Always running, always deflecting.
But fine. If that was the way he wanted to do this…
Sasuke would just have to beat it out of him.
Karin wasn't just standing by anymore—she was stepping in.
She cracked her knuckles, eyes burning with determination. "Sasuke alone can't take you down. But together… we can."
Sasuke smirked, rolling his shoulders. "You always act tough, idiot. Let's see how much you can really take."
Naruto blinked. Once. Twice.
Then, he sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his head. "Oi, oi, why does this always end with me getting beaten up?"
Karin cracked her knuckles, her crimson eyes burning with determination. "Because you never talk, Nii-san. You never really talk."
Sasuke took a step closer, his expression unreadable. But his fists were clenched, and his dark eyes held something rare—concern. "You're not getting out of this."
Naruto laughed, but it was forced. "Tch, you two are really ganging up on me, huh?"
His mask was slipping.
The others—Hinata, Sakura, Ino—they stood frozen, unsure whether to stop this or let it happen. There was something heavy in the air, something they didn't fully understand.
Naruto sighed again, but this time, it wasn't playful.
He looked at Karin. Then at Sasuke.
And for the first time in a long time…
He really looked tired.
Naruto exhaled. "Fine, fine. Let's see if you can even land a hit."
And with that, the fight began.
Both lunged at him—Sasuke aiming high, Karin striking low.
Naruto moved instinctively, raising his arm to block Sasuke's punch while lifting his leg just in time to stop Karin's kick. The impact reverberated through his body, but he stood firm, unwavering.
Their eyes met at that moment—Sasuke's sharp and determined, Karin's burning with frustration.
They weren't just attacking.
They were demanding answers.
Naruto clenched his jaw. He knew why they were doing this, why they were pushing him.
But some burdens weren't meant to be shared.
He pushed them back, creating distance.
"That all you got?" he asked, forcing a smirk.
But they weren't laughing.
And deep down, neither was he.
Sasuke and Karin exchanged a glance—no words, just instinct. They had to fight smarter, not harder.
This time, Sasuke took the lead, dashing straight at Naruto with blistering speed, feinting a left hook before shifting at the last second to aim a sharp kick at Naruto's ribs.
Naruto caught Sasuke's ankle, his grip like iron. "Come on, teme, you really think I'd fall for that?"
But before he could toss Sasuke aside, Karin was already moving. Using Naruto's own grip as a distraction, she slid low, aiming a sweep at his legs.
For a split second, Naruto had to make a choice—hold onto Sasuke and risk being taken down or let go.
He let go.
Sasuke flipped mid-air, landing on his feet just as Karin finished her sweep. Naruto had already leaped backward, avoiding the strike by mere inches.
"Better," Naruto admitted, grinning. "But still not enough."
Karin growled. "You cocky little—!"
She surged forward again, this time weaving in unpredictable movements, her fists flying in quick, relentless strikes. Naruto dodged each one with minimal effort, his body twisting and shifting just enough to avoid the blows without wasting movement.
But that was the plan.
Karin wasn't aiming to hit. She was keeping Naruto occupied.
Because Sasuke had disappeared from his vision.
At the last moment, Naruto's senses screamed at him—Sasuke was above.
Naruto tilted his head just as Sasuke's foot came crashing down, aiming for his skull. The force sent a gust of wind exploding outward, cracking the ground where Naruto had just been standing.
"Whoa, you're getting aggressive, huh?" Naruto teased, flipping back to gain some distance.
Sasuke landed smoothly beside Karin, both of them panting slightly.
"This isn't a game, dobe," Sasuke said, eyes narrowing. "You're hiding something from us. You always act like everything's fine, but we know better."
Naruto's smirk faltered for just a moment.
Karin wiped the sweat from her forehead, stepping forward. "We're not gonna stop until you tell us the truth, Naruto."
Naruto sighed dramatically, stretching his arms behind his head. "Man… I really didn't wanna go all out today."
Then, without warning—
Naruto vanished.
A blur.
Sasuke barely had time to react before a fist was already inches from his stomach. He twisted just in time, but the shockwave alone sent him skidding back.
Karin tried to counter, but Naruto was already behind her.
She gasped—he was too fast.
A light tap on her shoulder.
"Tag, you're out," Naruto whispered before flicking her forehead, sending her stumbling forward.
Sasuke gritted his teeth.
Naruto landed a few feet away, standing casually as if this entire fight was nothing but warm-up.
"You guys are strong," he admitted. "Stronger than before."
Sasuke clenched his fists. "Then why are you still holding back?"
Naruto's expression shifted.
For the first time since the fight started, his eyes darkened—not with anger, but something deeper.
"You don't wanna see me fight seriously, Sasuke," he said, voice quieter now.
Sasuke took a step forward. "Then show me."
Silence.
Then—
"Alright," Naruto exhaled, cracking his knuckles. "Don't blame me if you regret it."
And in the next second—
The real fight began.
Sasuke and Karin barely had time to process Naruto's words before he moved.
Not ran. Not lunged.
Vanished.
A gust of wind slammed into them as Naruto reappeared in front of Sasuke, fist already flying toward his gut.
Sasuke barely managed to cross his arms to block, but the sheer force of the punch sent him sliding backward, his feet digging trenches into the ground.
Karin's eyes widened—Naruto had been toying with them before.
She wasn't about to let him dominate the fight.
With a burst of chakra, she charged in from Naruto's blind spot, aiming to wrap him in a hold, but—
Too late.
Naruto twisted at the last second, catching her wrist. His grip wasn't painful, but it was unbreakable.
"Nice try," he murmured.
Karin gritted her teeth, trying to yank away, but before she could—
Naruto flung her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.
She flipped mid-air, landing on her feet, but the moment she touched the ground—
Sasuke was already moving.
His Sharingan flared to life, spinning with precision, tracking every movement.
A blur of kicks and punches flew between them—Sasuke was fast, but Naruto was faster. Every strike he threw, Naruto dodged by mere inches, his body twisting fluidly.
"You're hesitating," Naruto said, ducking under a roundhouse kick. "What, scared you might actually lose?"
"Shut up!" Sasuke growled, feinting a punch before spinning into a vicious backhand.
It connected.
For the first time in the fight, Sasuke's strike landed, slamming into Naruto's face.
But Naruto barely budged.
Sasuke's stomach twisted—that hit should've at least made him stagger.
Instead, Naruto just… turned his head back, his expression unreadable.
Then—
He grinned.
"Not bad," he admitted. "Guess I should take you seriously now."
Before Sasuke could react—
Naruto was gone.
A weight crushed into his back before he even registered what happened—Naruto had appeared behind him and kicked him straight down.
Sasuke crashed into the dirt with a loud thud, coughing as the impact rattled through his body.
Karin gasped. "Sasuke!"
She moved instantly, her hands glowing with chakra as she prepared to heal—
But Naruto was already there.
He crouched beside Sasuke, looking down at him. His usual playful expression was gone.
"You always act tough," Naruto muttered.
"But I know the truth."
Sasuke tensed.
"You think you have to be strong all the time. You think if you fall behind, if you can't keep up… you'll lose everything."
Naruto's voice softened.
"But, Sasuke… you don't have to carry this alone."
Sasuke's fists clenched against the dirt.
"Why do you always do this?" he muttered.
"Do what?"
Sasuke exhaled sharply, looking up.
"Act like you're the only one who can bear the weight of the world."
Naruto froze.
Karin walked up beside them, arms crossed.
"You idiot… you think you're the only one allowed to carry burdens?"
Naruto glanced between them, their faces filled with the same thing—stubborn, unwavering determination.
A sigh escaped his lips, but it wasn't one of frustration.
It was relief.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Fine," he murmured. "You win."
Sasuke sat up, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
Naruto exhaled.
"I'll tell you everything."