A.K.A. the chapter where team-building meets trauma and the fandom gets its first taste of that SasuNaru spice.

We’re introduced to two very important characters in Naruto’s life:

• Sasuke Uchiha, a broody prodigy who basically radiates “Do Not Talk To Me” energy.
• And Sakura Haruno, a very chirpy, very pink fangirl whose one true goal in life is to maybe hold hands with Sasuke someday.

Iruka announces that all the fresh Genin will be placed into 3-man teams. Cue immediate chaos.

• Sakura prays to the Love Gods to land on the same team as her precious Sasuke-kun.
• Naruto, because he has no shame or sense of probability, wishes to be with Sakura.
• Sasuke, meanwhile, finds both of them equally annoying and just wants to be left alone to smolder in peace.

Then comes The Incident.
Naruto glares at Sasuke. Sasuke glares back. The tension is thick enough to slice with a kunai.
And then—accidental kiss!
Yes. Naruto and Sasuke’s lips collide due to an unfortunately timed shove, sending the class—and the internet, years later—into shipping overdrive.
Forget Naruto x Sakura. Forget Sasuke x Sakura. SasuNaru just dropped.

Despite Naruto’s desperate wish to avoid Sasuke, the universe (a.k.a. Kishimoto) throws them together on the same team—with Sakura. Because of course.

Later, during lunch, Naruto realizes Sasuke only lowers his guard when he’s eating. So naturally, Naruto’s brilliant plan is to tie Sasuke up with rope and impersonate him via Henge no Jutsu. Because nothing says “team bonding” like kidnapping your teammate.

As Sakura chats with “Sasuke” (read: Naruto in disguise), she gets the chance to express her thoughts about Naruto. She goes all in, calling him annoying, immature, and basically a walking third wheel.
Naruto, dressed as her crush, has to stand there listening to her roast him harder than the village bakery. That’s when the expired milk from breakfast hits, and he runs off to find a bathroom and cry (probably at the same time).

Enter: The Real Sasuke™.
He shows up asking where Naruto went. Sakura, still drooling from fake Sasuke’s warm personality earlier, starts babbling and casually insults Naruto for being an orphan—you know, just some light emotional damage.

And then, it happens.
Sasuke—cool, brooding Sasuke—drops a line so raw it belongs on a therapy billboard:

“You make fun of him… but you’ve never even experienced true loneliness.”

“You’re annoying.”

BOOM.
Sakura is emotionally KO’d.

Meanwhile, Naruto finally finds Sasuke, who is now untied.
Naruto: “How’d you get out of the ropes?”
Sasuke: “I’m a ninja, dead last.”
Translation: “Get on my level, you ramen-flavored dumbass.”