Double Comparison: Two Sasukes, One Shinobi World

[abyssalmandate]

Orochimaru: "So this is what happened when the Uchiha clan was exterminated? Interesting."

Uzumaki Kushina: "That child, Itachi, killed you, Mikoto, and the entire clan? How could that possibly happen?!"

Kushina was utterly shocked.

When she had still been alive, she had been close friends with Uchiha Mikoto and had known Itachi quite well. That child had never seemed like someone capable of committing such a massacre.

Uchiha Mikoto: "It really happened. The circumstances behind it are extremely complicated, though. I can't explain everything myself."

Senju Tobirama: "This Uchiha Sasuke appears to be on the verge of awakening his Sharingan. His brother slaughtered the entire clan. I wonder how far his eyes will develop."

Senju Hashirama: "Wouldn't he awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan directly? After all, what could be more stimulating than this?"

Uchiha Madara: "Impossible, Hashirama. Do you think the Mangekyō Sharingan grows like cabbages? He's only seven years old. How could a child his age possess enough chakra to support it?"

Senju Tobirama: "Still, with such intense emotional trauma, awakening at least a single tomoe would be expected. Two tomoe wouldn't be impossible either."

In the Pure Land, Uchiha Fugaku stared at the silver-framed screen with equal anticipation. He, too, wanted to see how talented his youngest son would prove to be.

At the Akatsuki's hideout, Uchiha Itachi remained silent.

He already knew the answer.

[Uchiha Sasuke's breathing became increasingly rapid, and his eyes gradually turned red.]

[Suddenly, both of Sasuke's eyes changed from black to scarlet, and a single black tomoe appeared in each eye.]

[However, the Sharingan disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared. Sasuke gasped for breath, seemingly exhausted by the awakening.]

Uchiha Fugaku: "..."

Orochimaru: "..."

Uchiha Madara: "..."

Hatake Kakashi: "..."

The chat room fell silent.

Everyone had been eagerly guessing how many tomoe Uchiha Sasuke would awaken.

In the end, he had only awakened one.

His entire clan had been massacred, yet such overwhelming emotional trauma had produced only a fleeting, one-tomoe Sharingan. If they hadn't been watching closely, they might not even have noticed it.

In the real world, Sasuke's face flushed red. Having his childhood displayed before the entire shinobi world was embarrassing enough without everyone openly judging his talent.

Senju Tobirama: "The entire clan was massacred, yet he only awakened a one-tomoe Sharingan. His talent is rather average. What's so special about him that this broadcast room chose to display his life?"

Senju Hashirama: "He's still only seven years old. It's perfectly normal for him to lack enough chakra to maintain a more advanced Sharingan."

Orochimaru: "Sasuke grew up during a relatively peaceful period. He experienced little danger in his childhood and received limited guidance. His current performance isn't particularly surprising."

Orochimaru had already tested Sasuke's abilities during the second phase of the Chūnin Exams. He was confident that, with proper instruction, the boy's talent would eventually allow him to reach a level comparable to a Kage.

The broadcast continued.

[After Sasuke finished awakening his Sharingan, the door to the hospital room opened, and the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, walked inside.]

Hiruzen's expression was gentle, and his voice carried the warmth of someone trying to comfort a frightened child.

["Sasuke... I know there are many things you don't understand right now. You don't need to force yourself to understand them all at once."]

The young Sasuke silently looked up at him.

["What Itachi did was beyond comprehension. He betrayed his clan, betrayed Konoha, and most of all, he betrayed you."]

["I have already declared Uchiha Itachi an S-rank missing-nin of Konoha. The village will do everything in its power to capture him and bring him back."]

Hiruzen paused before continuing in a softer voice.

["But Sasuke, none of this is your fault. You survived because you were his younger brother. You are not responsible for the choices he made."]

Sasuke's fingers tightened around the blanket.

Hiruzen noticed but didn't press him.

["For now, you should not return to the Uchiha compound. I know that place was your home, but after what happened there, it will only remind you of the people you've lost."]

["Your parents, your clan... and Itachi."]

At the mention of his brother's name, Sasuke's eyes trembled.

Hiruzen continued carefully.

["You're still too young to carry all of this by yourself. That's why I've arranged a new residence for you in the central area of the village. You can stay there until you're ready to move forward."]

["You'll be surrounded by the villagers, and you'll be able to return to the Academy and continue your training like any other child."]

["And whenever you need someone, you can come to me. You've lost your parents, your clan, and your brother, but Konoha has not abandoned you."]

["As Hokage, I will protect you."]

To a seven-year-old orphan, those words were exactly what Sasuke needed to hear.

Yet beneath Hiruzen's compassion was another effect: he was quietly determining where Sasuke would live, whom he would depend on, and what name would remain at the center of the boy's hatred.

Itachi.

[The young Sasuke gradually calmed down.]

["Thank you, Hokage-sama."]

The gratitude in his voice was genuine. At that moment, Hiruzen was perhaps the only adult in the village whom Sasuke believed truly cared about him.

In truth, Sasuke had no desire to return to the Uchiha compound anyway. The entire district had become a silent wasteland of blood and corpses, and his parents had been murdered inside their own home.

[After being discharged, Sasuke moved directly into his new residence.]

[After recovering, he returned to the Ninja Academy. From that day onward, he trained harder than ever.]

[A single goal gradually took root in his heart: become stronger, and one day kill Uchiha Itachi.]

Senju Tobirama: "The monkey handled the situation well. Regardless of what caused the Uchiha's internal conflict, taking care of a seven-year-old orphan like this is commendable."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "I don't deserve such praise from you, Teacher. This is simply what I should do as Hokage."

Hiruzen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, his image had been preserved by the broadcast.

The other shinobi, however, were not nearly as willing to let the matter go.

Ōnoki: "A thirteen-year-old Uchiha Itachi suddenly went berserk and slaughtered his entire clan? Do you honestly expect us to believe that?"

Fourth Raikage: "I don't believe it either!"

Terumi Mei: "And furthermore, the Third Hokage only learned about something this serious afterward?"

At the Root headquarters, Danzō naturally seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire.

Danzō: "Regardless of how you look at it, Sarutobi was Hokage. If something like this happened during his administration, then he bears responsibility for it."

Hiruzen's expression darkened.

It was one thing for other villages to criticize him, but Danzō had some nerve saying it.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Danzō! What nonsense are you talking about?! I am the Hokage of Konoha! You are a shinobi of this village, yet you join outsiders in slandering your own village's Hokage. What exactly are you trying to accomplish?"

Bang!

Danzō slammed his hand against the table.

There it was again—that same argument about the Hokage. After all these years, he had heard it countless times, yet there was nothing he could say to refute it.

Because he wasn't the Hokage.

"Hiruzen... one day, you will regret this."

Danzō's eyes darkened.

The silver-framed screen gradually faded, and the image disappeared.

Then the golden-framed screen began to light up.

Orochimaru: "So this is Uchiha Sasuke from the parallel world? I wonder what surprises this version will bring."

Sasuke himself stared intently at the screen.

Another world.

Another version of himself.

What kind of life had he lived?

[Konoha Hospital.]

[Uchiha Sasuke, also seven years old, sat quietly on the hospital bed, his brows slightly furrowed as he thought about something.]

At first glance, everything seemed almost identical. He had lost his family, his clan had been massacred, and his older brother was responsible.

But there was one striking difference.

[This Sasuke's eyes were completely calm. There was no fear, grief, or hatred, and not the slightest sign that his Sharingan was about to awaken.]

The chat room gradually fell silent.

Everyone had expected to see another version of the same tragedy, yet this Sasuke appeared almost untouched by it.

Even the original Sasuke stared at the screen in disbelief.

Why was he so calm?

He had experienced the same massacre, the same loss, and the same betrayal. So why didn't he look broken?

Then the parallel-world Sasuke suddenly stopped thinking and raised his head.

For the first time, his expression changed.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

It was so subtle that most people might have dismissed it as their imagination.

But those closest to the screen noticed immediately.

The parallel Sasuke quietly spoke.

["So... it has finally started."]

The entire shinobi world fell silent.

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.

Madara's expression changed.

Even Sasuke himself froze.

What did he mean?

Had this Sasuke known about the comparison broadcast all along?

And if he had...

What else did he know?

Author's Note

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Thanks for reading!

 

[abyssalmandate]

Chapter 1 — A Comparison Broadcast: Two Sasukes
[Ding! The comparison live broadcast room has been opened!]

[The broadcast will display the life of Uchiha Sasuke, a descendant of the Uchiha clan, in this world and in a parallel world.]

[The silver-framed screen on the left displays Uchiha Sasuke from this world. The gold-framed screen on the right displays Uchiha Sasuke from the parallel world.]

[All aggressive behavior is prohibited during the viewing period!]

[A prize-based question-and-answer session will be held during the broadcast. Please participate actively. Rewards include ninjutsu, secret techniques, Kekkei Genkai, and more.]

[The chat room has been opened. Relevant individuals are being connected... Connection complete. Everyone may now speak freely in the chat room!]

It was the 60th year of Konoha.

The Chūnin Exams were underway.

At the examination venue, Orochimaru was momentarily stunned.

Only a moment ago, he had dramatically announced the beginning of the Konoha Crush.

After removing the disguise covering his face, he had intended to take his former teacher hostage and find a suitable place for their final confrontation—a battle that would determine both victory and defeat, as well as life and death.

Yet now...

He couldn't move.

Two enormous screens had suddenly appeared in the sky.

One had a silver frame.

The other had a golden frame.

At the same time, a mysterious voice rang throughout the entire shinobi world.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was sitting nearby, was shocked and furious. He turned his gaze toward his former student.

"Orochimaru! You disguised yourself as the Kazekage?! Is this some forbidden technique of yours?!"

Hiruzen could feel an invisible force restraining his body. He was completely unable to move from his seat.

Otherwise, he would have already summoned his Adamantine Staff and beaten this traitor into the ground.

Orochimaru merely sneered.

"Lord Sarutobi, have you become confused in your old age?"

He glanced toward the strange screens floating in the sky.

"Two screens suddenly appeared, and a mysterious voice echoed throughout the entire world. Do you really think this is something I could have done?"

Although Orochimaru had no idea what was happening, he wasn't particularly anxious.

He didn't possess the ability to accomplish something on this scale.

And judging from Hiruzen's reaction, the Third Hokage clearly didn't either.

Since neither of them understood the situation, there was no point panicking.

It would be better to remain calm and figure out what was happening.

Senju Hashirama: "A comparison live broadcast room? What is this? Even someone like me, who's already dead, can receive it?"

Senju Tobirama: "A descendant of the Uchiha? Does that mean only one person remains from the Uchiha clan? They've actually been reduced to this state... completely exterminated."

Senju Hashirama: "Tobirama! How many times have I told you not to be hostile toward the Uchiha?!"

Senju Tobirama: "Hmph!"

Uchiha Madara: "The moment they refused to leave Konoha with me, their fate was already decided. It isn't surprising that the Senju would eventually exterminate them."

Senju Hashirama: "Madara! You're here too! It's been a long time!"

Senju Tobirama: "How could I have deliberately targeted the Uchiha? Their own nature brought this upon them. What does that have to do with me?"

Uchiha Madara: "You're actually trying to pretend you didn't deliberately target them?"

Senju Hashirama: "Madara, Tobirama, you two stop arguing..."

In the Pure Land, Senju Hashirama frowned.

He had never expected that even after death, he would still have to mediate between Madara and Tobirama.

Ōnoki: "This live broadcast can even bring in shinobi who are already in the Pure Land? Amazing!"

Fourth Raikage: "At first, I thought this was some kind of conspiracy by Konoha."

Terumi Mei: "Kirigakure can also see the silver and gold screens. Everyone here has suddenly become unable to move. Whatever this is, it's certainly not something an ordinary ninja could accomplish."

Rasa: "Orochimaru! That bastard actually attacked me! All Sunagakure shinobi, abort the plan! Do not trust Orochimaru!"

The Sunagakure shinobi in the real world were stunned.

Only then did they realize that their Kazekage was already dead.

The "Kazekage" they had seen today...

Was actually Orochimaru in disguise!

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "What plan?! Kazekage, what are you doing with Orochimaru?!"

Orochimaru: "What else? Of course we're here to destroy Konoha."

Senju Tobirama: "Destroy Konoha? Orochimaru, was it? I remember now. You summoned my elder brother and me through Impure World Reincarnation, didn't you? Another evil brat!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Teacher, Orochimaru was my student. He defected from Konoha because of his human experiments and has held a grudge against the village ever since. I suppose I failed to teach him properly."

Senju Tobirama: "Speaking of which, Monkey, how many years has it been in your world? Are you still the Hokage?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Teacher, it is currently Konoha's 60th year here, and the Chūnin Exams are being held. The Uchiha Sasuke mentioned in the comparison broadcast is one of the participants."

Senju Hashirama: "Oh! Sixty years already? It seems Konoha has developed quite well!"

Uchiha Mikoto: "Sasuke... can you hear me, Sasuke? It's been five years. I don't know how you're doing now..."

Uzumaki Kushina: "What do you mean? Mikoto, you're dead too?"

Uchiha Mikoto: "Yes. Only Itachi and Sasuke are left in the Uchiha clan..."

Uzumaki Kushina: "That's so sad... I wonder how my little Naruto is doing now."

Uchiha Sasuke: "Mom..."

Sasuke's eyes began to turn red.

Five years.

He had never imagined that he would hear his mother's voice again.

Uzumaki Naruto: "Naruto? Auntie, your son's name is Naruto too? What a coincidence!"

Uzumaki Kushina: "Naruto?!"

Kushina was just about to ask about her son when the mysterious broadcast suddenly began another announcement.

[The viewing will begin in 10 seconds. Please watch carefully.]

[10...]

[9...]

[8...]

[The viewing begins now!]

The silver screen on the left suddenly lit up, revealing an image.

[Konoha Hospital.]

[Seven-year-old Uchiha Sasuke has just experienced the destruction of his clan.]

[The young Sasuke's eyes are vacant, and his body trembles slightly, as though he is still afraid of something.]

[The events of the previous night remain deeply engraved in his mind. His older brother's personality had changed drastically, and the sight of him murdering their parents and the other members of the clan was still vividly imprinted in Sasuke's memory.]

[Whenever he thought about it, Sasuke felt his mind tremble.]

[His eyes were slightly swollen, as though something within them was about to change.]

 

[Thiccc Shaedy]

Hey. Just letting you know that you posted chapter two first.

 

[abyssalmandate]

Uzumaki Naruto: "Sasuke in this world seems even worse. His eyes aren't reacting at all!"

Uchiha Sasuke: "Idiot, Naruto. Shut up!"

Senju Hashirama: "I don't really see much difference between them. Is there actually anything different between the two worlds?"

Senju Tobirama: "As things stand, the Sasuke from the parallel world appears to be much more emotionally stable. That isn't normal... this doesn't seem like the Uchiha Sasuke we know."

Tobirama's observation immediately caught everyone's attention.

The Sasuke on the silver screen had been overwhelmed by fear, grief, anger, and hatred.

The parallel Sasuke showed little of that.

Instead, he was thinking.

Orochimaru: "Interesting. This Uchiha Sasuke really is different. I wonder what he's thinking about."

Uzumaki Kushina: "Wouldn't a child that age be completely broken after something like this?"

Uchiha Mikoto: "I would think so..."

The golden screen soon revealed what was occupying Sasuke's mind.

[At this moment, Uchiha Sasuke was remembering something that had happened the previous day.]

[That afternoon, just before classes ended, Iruka-sensei suddenly announced that everyone would be staying for extra lessons.]

[The lessons continued for several hours, and the students weren't dismissed until it was already dark.]

[Afterward, Sasuke hurried home... and found the Uchiha compound filled with corpses.]

[The image remained fresh in his mind, but another detail kept bothering him.]

[Why had the Academy suddenly kept them there that night?]

[They had never held so many extra lessons before.]

[And this had happened on the very day his clan was massacred.]

[Sasuke couldn't explain why, but the timing felt strange.]

[Could it really have been a coincidence?]

The chat room erupted.

Nobody had expected the parallel Sasuke to notice something so small while dealing with the aftermath of the massacre.

He wasn't claiming to know the answer.

He simply couldn't understand why the Academy had kept everyone there until nightfall—and why it had happened on that particular day.

Uzumaki Naruto: "There really were extra classes that day? Why don't I remember that?"

Haruno Sakura: "I think I remember something like that. We suddenly had extra lessons one day."

Yamanaka Ino: "Me too."

Nara Shikamaru: "I remember it clearly. After those extra classes, Sasuke didn't come to school the next day. That's strange."

Iruka: "I remember now. We were suddenly told that several important lessons had to be finished that day."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression tightened.

He hadn't expected a seven-year-old to remember something that seemingly insignificant.

Ōnoki: "The old man's suspicion was right. There really was something strange going on!"

Terumi Mei: "Interesting. He noticed the timing even after what happened to his family."

Orochimaru: "Sensei Sarutobi, how do you explain this?"

Hiruzen quickly composed himself.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Don't twist the facts."

"I did discover that something was happening within the village that night. I took people with me to investigate, but by the time we arrived, it was already too late."

"The reason the students were kept at the Academy was to prevent them from getting caught up in the incident."

His explanation was reasonable enough.

Senju Tobirama: "It's plausible. But you still failed to respond in time to an incident of this scale, Monkey. That is negligence."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Your criticism is fair, Teacher. The incident happened suddenly, and I failed to respond quickly enough."

For the moment, Hiruzen had managed to avoid further scrutiny.

But the golden screen continued.

Golden-Framed Screen

[Sarutobi Hiruzen entered the hospital ward and gave Sasuke much the same explanation as in the other world.]

["I've already arranged a residence for you in the center of the village. I can send someone to retrieve your belongings from the Uchiha compound, so you don't need to return to such a painful place."]

Hiruzen spoke gently.

This time, however, Sasuke didn't immediately agree.

[Sasuke looked down for a moment before raising his head.]

["Hokage-sama... I want to go back and get some of my parents' things."]

Hiruzen paused.

["I know it's scary, but if I don't go back, I'll keep thinking about it."]

["I want to see what happened for myself."]

He hesitated, then added:

["I've already decided."]

Hiruzen looked at him for a moment before nodding.

["All right."]

["I'm glad you're willing to face what happened, Sasuke. But don't force yourself. If it becomes too much, you can stop."]

["And if you have any difficulties, come to me. As Hokage, I will do everything I can to protect you."]

[Sasuke nodded.]

["I will. Thank you, Hokage-sama."]

Hatake Kakashi: "Impressive. This Sasuke isn't merely calmer. He's quite mature for his age."

Kakashi couldn't help comparing him to himself.

He had also experienced a devastating loss at seven.

That morning, he had awakened to find his father lying in a pool of blood, the White Fang's famous blade buried in his abdomen.

After that, Kakashi remembered very little. His mind had simply shut down.

Unlike Sasuke, however, Kakashi had already been a Chūnin for a year.

He also had the memories of the villagers criticizing his father before his death.

Even so, Sasuke's ability to notice a strange detail and insist on seeing the situation for himself was impressive.

[Afterward, Sasuke returned to the Uchiha compound under the guidance of an ANBU shinobi.]

[The blood covering the streets had not yet been cleaned away.]

[Several ANBU wearing animal masks were moving through the compound, carrying away the bodies from the houses.]

Sasuke slowed when he saw the scene.

[His eyes began to ache, and the Sharingan slowly emerged.]

[A single black tomoe appeared in each eye.]

He swallowed and continued forward.

He wasn't trying to solve everything.

He didn't even know what he was looking for.

He just wanted to understand what had happened to his family.

And that strange thought from yesterday still wouldn't go away.

Why had the Academy kept them there for so long?

Sasuke couldn't say whether it meant anything.

But when he reached the entrance to his home, he found himself staring at the door for a long moment.

Then he reached for the handle.

[The door slowly opened.]

And whatever Sasuke found inside would decide whether that strange feeling in his heart was nothing more than a child's suspicion—or the first clue to a much larger secret.
Author's Note

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Thanks for reading!

 

[abyssalmandate]

Senju Tobirama: "At least this one can properly awaken his Sharingan. Compared to the Sasuke from the original world, that's already a considerable improvement."

Senju Hashirama: "I think awakening the Sharingan at seven is already remarkable. Madara, wasn't it around the time we first separated that you awakened yours? How old were you back then...?"

Uchiha Madara: "Hashirama, shut up!"

Why did the conversation suddenly turn to him?!

Terumi Mei: "The legendary Ninja Shura awakened his Sharingan after separating from the First Hokage? That's rather touching."

Jiraiya: "That's what you call the special bond of Konoha. Apparently, it goes all the way back to the First Hokage's generation."

Senju Tobirama: "I've always thought the relationship between my brother and Uchiha Madara was a little too close."

Uzumaki Mito: "I agree."

Senju Hashirama: "Tobirama! Mito! Don't start imagining strange things!"

Hatake Kakashi: "Ahem. Weren't we talking about Sasuke's Sharingan?"

Orochimaru: "I have a feeling one tomoe isn't going to be the limit for this Sasuke."

Uchiha Sasuke was just as curious.

They were supposed to be the same person.

So why was the difference between them already this large?

Golden-Framed Screen

[Sasuke returned to his home.]

[His parents' bodies were no longer there. They had most likely already been taken away. Only two dark pools of dried blood remained where they had fallen.]

[Just last night, his parents had been killed here.]

[Killed by Uchiha Itachi.]

The memory came rushing back.

The pain of losing his parents, the anger toward Itachi, and the hatred he had been trying to keep buried all surged through Sasuke at once.

[The single tomoe in his Sharingan began to rotate.]

[It spun faster and faster, the black mark leaving behind a faint afterimage within his scarlet iris.]

[Then the pattern changed.]

[A second tomoe slowly emerged.]

[Both of Sasuke's eyes now possessed a two-tomoe Sharingan.]

"Two tomoe?!"

In the real world, Sasuke nearly felt his blood boil.

This was too unfair!

He had awakened a single tomoe on the night of the massacre, but it had vanished almost immediately. It wasn't until his battle in the Land of Waves that his Sharingan properly developed, and even then, only one eye had reached the two-tomoe stage.

His parallel self had managed to reach two tomoe in both eyes on the very next day.

What kind of ridiculous difference was this?

Hatake Kakashi: "The Sasuke in the parallel world really does have superior talent."

Kakashi glanced between the two screens.

The difference was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

It wasn't merely the boy's emotional stability. His ability to endure the trauma, think clearly, and now develop his Sharingan all seemed noticeably better.

Orochimaru: "Look. It's not over yet."

The golden screen continued.

[Even after the Sharingan evolved to two tomoe, the changes did not stop.]

[The tomoe in Sasuke's scarlet eyes continued to rotate.]

[His emotions intensified, and the ocular power within both eyes became increasingly active.]

[The two tomoe spun faster and faster, as though they were on the verge of transforming again.]

Orochimaru: "Interesting..."

Then an ANBU suddenly approached.

[The ANBU placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder.]

["Calm down. Control your emotions. If you can't bear it any longer, I'll take you away immediately."]

Sasuke's emotions abruptly stalled.

The intense surge of hatred receded, and the tomoe gradually stopped spinning.

The scarlet color faded from his eyes until his pupils returned to their normal black.

["No," Sasuke said. "I can handle it."]

Orochimaru: "..."

For several seconds, Orochimaru simply stared at the screen.

Then his expression darkened.

Orochimaru: "Why did you interfere?!"

He had been waiting to see whether this Sasuke could reach the three-tomoe Sharingan immediately.

Instead, an ANBU had appeared at precisely the wrong moment and interrupted the entire process.

The emotional stimulation was gone.

So naturally, the evolution had stopped with it.

Senju Hashirama: "There's no need to be so impatient. If a seven-year-old's Sharingan evolves too quickly, it could place a serious strain on his body. Strength isn't everything."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "The First Hokage is right. The ANBU made the proper decision. Sasuke's health should come before the development of his Sharingan."

Hiruzen's words sounded reasonable.

But inwardly, he was far less relaxed.

Just now, a seven-year-old Sasuke had nearly pushed his Sharingan to another stage simply by confronting the massacre again.

And this parallel Sasuke had already shown that he was suspicious of the circumstances surrounding the genocide.

If that child continued developing at this rate, what would happen when he grew older?

Hatake Kakashi: "The Sharingan really does place a heavy burden on the body."

Orochimaru: "That's mainly a problem for someone without Uchiha blood."

Jiraiya: "There's no need to rush. A person's strength can always be built gradually. Starting slower doesn't mean they'll remain behind forever."

Orochimaru: "Heh."

Orochimaru clearly disagreed.

From his perspective, talent was something that should be cultivated to its fullest.

If the Sharingan placed too much strain on the body, there were solutions.

Hashirama's cells were one obvious answer.

Danzo had already proven that.

And if this parallel-world Sasuke truly possessed such extraordinary ocular talent, allowing him to waste that potential would be a crime.

If the ANBU hadn't interrupted him just now, Orochimaru couldn't help wondering how far Sasuke might have gone.

Perhaps three tomoe.

And perhaps...

Something even higher.

His gaze lingered on the golden screen.

Orochimaru: "Such talent shouldn't be wasted."

Uchiha Fugaku: "The Sasuke from the other world appears to have even greater Sharingan talent than Itachi."

Uchiha Mikoto: "As long as he can protect himself, that's enough."

Golden-Framed Screen

[Sasuke wandered through the empty Uchiha compound and gathered the belongings his parents had left behind.]

[The family's daily necessities...]

[Photographs of the family together...]

[Ninjutsu scrolls kept in the house...]

[A few miscellaneous books...]

He carefully sorted through everything that remained.

Most of it was ordinary.

Clothes.

Household items.

Family photographs.

A few things belonging to his parents that he couldn't bring himself to leave behind.

Then he noticed a shelf he had rarely paid attention to before.

It contained several old books.

Sasuke pulled one free.

The cover read:

"History of Konoha"

It had been published by the Uchiha clan.

He tilted his head.

Why would his family publish a history book of Konoha?

Curious, he opened it.

At first, nothing seemed strange.

The founding of the village.

The Senju.

The Uchiha.

The establishment of the first generation of shinobi.

Sasuke recognized all of it.

Then he reached a passage about the founding of Konoha.

He stopped.

The wording was different.

Not completely different.

Just enough to make him pause.

He read it again.

The book described the Uchiha and Senju alliance from the Uchiha's perspective, and some of the details didn't match what he had been taught at the Academy.

Sasuke frowned.

Maybe it was simply because this was a book written by the Uchiha.

He continued.

A few pages later, another detail caught his attention.

Then another.

The differences were small, but there were too many of them to dismiss.

The Academy had taught one version.

This book gave another.

Sasuke flipped backward and checked the publication date.

It was old.

Very old.

His parents had probably owned it for years.

That made him hesitate.

If the book had simply been written recently, perhaps it could have been dismissed as someone else's opinion.

But his own family had kept it.

So which version was right?

He continued reading.

The section on the Uchiha clan's history was longer than he expected.

Then he reached the chapter on Madara.

His eyes narrowed.

The Academy had always presented Uchiha Madara as a man who had abandoned Konoha and eventually became its enemy.

But the Uchiha account was more complicated.

It described disagreements that had never been mentioned in class.

Arguments over the village.

Arguments over the Uchiha.

Arguments over who should lead.

Sasuke's fingers slowly turned another page.

Something about this didn't feel like a simple difference of opinion anymore.

He went back to the beginning of the chapter and read it again, this time more carefully.

One sentence caught his attention.

He read it twice.

Then a third time.

The book claimed that several important events surrounding Madara had never been publicly recorded.

Sasuke's little face became serious.

That was strange.

Why would something important be left out?

He turned the page.

Nothing.

The next page.

Still nothing.

Then he noticed that one page had a faint crease near the bottom corner.

Sasuke touched it.

There was something tucked behind it.

A thin piece of paper.

His heart gave a small jump.

He carefully pulled it free.

The handwriting was old and uneven.

It wasn't part of the printed book.

Someone had written this separately.

Sasuke looked toward the door before unfolding it.

There were only a few lines.

["If you found this, then you must be one of ours."]

Sasuke stared at the words.

He read the next line.

["Do not believe everything Konoha teaches you about the Uchiha."]

His fingers tightened around the paper.

Then he reached the final line.

["The massacre was not the beginning of our tragedy."]

Sasuke froze.

For several seconds, he didn't move.

He looked back at the history book.

Then at the note.

The strange extra classes.

The timing of the massacre.

The history his clan had recorded.

And now this hidden message.

He still didn't know what any of it meant.

But someone had hidden these words inside an old Uchiha history book.

Someone had expected that, one day, a member of the clan might need to find them.

Sasuke slowly turned the paper over.

There was one final sentence written on the back.

["And the person you were told to hate is not the only one who knows the truth."]

Sasuke's eyes widened.

The room suddenly felt very quiet.

For the first time, he wasn't simply asking whether Itachi had acted alone.

He was wondering whether the entire story he'd been given had been carefully shaped for him.

And if that was true...

Who had decided what Sasuke was supposed to believe?

**Author's Note**

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Want to read ahead? Join my **Patreon: AbyssalMandate** for early access to upcoming chapters.

Thanks for reading!

 

[abyssalmandate]

Uchiha Fugaku: "That's... the history book published by the Uchiha clan."

Fugaku's expression changed.

He knew exactly what Sasuke had found.

The village had once allowed the major clans to publish their own accounts of history. The Uchiha had recorded events from their own perspective, preserving details that were absent from the official version.

Later, those books had been banned.

Fugaku himself had secretly kept a copy.

He never expected that, in another world, his youngest son would stumble across one by chance.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression also changed.

He was well aware of those books.

After becoming Hokage, he had ordered the Ninja Academy to stop using historical texts published independently by the major clans. From then on, students were taught history from textbooks compiled and approved by Konoha.

The Uchiha compound had also been searched after the massacre. Important materials, especially forbidden jutsu scrolls, had already been secured.

Apparently, this book had escaped notice.

That wasn't surprising. To an ANBU searching for weapons, dangerous documents, or evidence related to the massacre, an old history book would hardly seem important.

Hiruzen quietly reassured himself.

"It's only a book. Whatever Sasuke learns from it can't change much."

Hatake Kakashi: "Sasuke seems unusually interested in that book."

Uzumaki Naruto: "It's just a history book. What's so interesting about it?"

Orochimaru: "Heh. Keep watching."

Golden-Framed Screen

[In the quiet of his new home, Sasuke sat with the book in front of him.]

[He thought back over everything that had happened.]

["What do I actually know?"]

The first thing that came to mind was Itachi.

["Nii-san was always kind to me."]

["But he killed Mom, Dad, and everyone else."]

["How can the same person be like that?"]

Sasuke couldn't understand it.

The older brother he remembered and the person who had carried out the massacre seemed like two completely different people.

That uncertainty led to another thought.

["If I was wrong about Nii-san..."]

["...then maybe I shouldn't believe everything just because someone tells me."]

It was a simple conclusion.

Sasuke wasn't accusing anyone of lying. He was simply no longer confident enough to accept everything at face value.

And one detail still bothered him.

The extra classes at the Academy.

Why had everyone suddenly been kept there until nightfall on the very day the massacre happened?

Maybe it was nothing.

Maybe it was important.

He didn't know.

["I want to find out."]

For now, that was enough.

He couldn't investigate an entire village by himself. He couldn't force adults to explain things they didn't want to explain.

But there were things he could do.

He could pay attention.

He could read.

And he could remember.

Namikaze Minato: "That's remarkable. He's not pretending to have all the answers. He simply knows that he needs to learn more."

Uchiha Mikoto: "He's still so young..."

Uchiha Fugaku: "But he has already learned not to depend entirely on what others tell him."

Sasuke in the real world watched silently.

Until now, he had thought almost exclusively about training and defeating Itachi.

His other self had stopped to ask a different question:

What if there was something he didn't know?

That thought lingered in Sasuke's mind.

"Maybe I should have thought about that sooner."

The golden screen continued.

[Sasuke reached a simple conclusion.]

[From now on, he would pay closer attention to the people around him.]

[He would read whatever books he could find and learn about things he didn't understand.]

[And, above all, he would continue training.]

He couldn't afford to remain powerless, regardless of what the truth turned out to be.

If Itachi really had acted for his own reasons, Sasuke would eventually confront him.

And if there was more to the massacre...

Then he wanted the strength to face that truth as well.

[Sasuke quietly clenched his fist.]

["I'll find out for myself."]

["And I'll become strong enough that no one can decide my fate for me."]

Fourth Raikage: "He's seven years old, and he already wants to uncover the truth behind the massacre?"

Ōnoki: "Bold. Whether he can actually manage it is another question."

Orochimaru: "That's precisely why I'm interested."

Senju Hashirama: "A child willing to think for himself is a good thing."

Senju Tobirama: "Agreed. Though intelligence alone won't be enough."

Sasuke's expression darkened.

His other self was already earning the attention of legends while he was still trying to process the same tragedy.

Golden-Framed Screen

[Sasuke picked up the book again.]

[The title was clearly written on its cover.]

"History of Konoha"

[If he wanted answers, history was as good a place to begin as any.]

He turned the page.

The founding of Konoha.

The Senju.

The Uchiha.

Hashirama.

Madara.

Sasuke had heard these names countless times at the Academy.

But this was the history written by his own clan.

As he read, he began to notice small differences between this account and the version he had been taught.

Not enough to give him an answer.

Just enough to make him pause.

Sasuke turned another page.

Then another.

The differences continued.

His expression gradually became more serious.

[He didn't understand all of it yet.]

[But he understood one thing.]

[There were parts of Konoha's history that he had never been told.]

The golden screen began to fade.

The seven-year-old Sasuke sat alone with the old book in his hands, unaware of how much it might change his future.

He had wanted to know why the massacre had happened.

He had expected the answer to begin with Itachi.

Instead, the first clue had led him somewhere much further back—

to the history of the Uchiha clan itself.

**Author's Note**

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Want to read ahead? Join my **Patreon: AbyssalMandate** for early access to upcoming chapters.

Thanks for reading!

 

[abyssalmandate]

[Sasuke stayed up until well past midnight, carefully reading through the history of Konoha.]

By the time he finished, he had a rough understanding of the major events that had shaped the village over the past several decades.

["The Senju and Uchiha founded Konoha together, but the Senju produced two Hokage while the Uchiha never produced one. The Third Hokage was a disciple of the Second..."]

He continued.

["During the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha's White Fang made great contributions and even surpassed the Sannin in reputation. Later, however, he abandoned a mission to save his comrades and became the target of the village's criticism before taking his own life..."]

["During the Third Shinobi World War, the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato, became famous throughout the Five Great Shinobi Villages and eventually became the Fourth Hokage. He died soon afterward during the Nine-Tails' attack..."]

["After the Nine-Tails' attack, the Uchiha clan came under suspicion and was forced to relocate. The Third Hokage returned to office, and Konoha still had no Fifth Hokage. In the village's fiftieth year, Orochimaru, who had once been considered a candidate for Hokage, defected..."]

[Sasuke slowly closed the book.]

There was a great deal of information, although some events seemed to begin halfway through the story and end without much explanation. Even so, the major events were recorded well enough for him to form a rough picture of Konoha's recent history.

The White Fang had gone from celebrated hero to disgraced shinobi. Minato had become Hokage and died soon afterward. The Uchiha had come under suspicion after the Nine-Tails attack, and the Third Hokage had remained in power for decades.

One detail stood out to Sasuke.

["The Third Hokage has been Hokage for a very long time..."]

According to the book, Hiruzen had first taken the position during the First Shinobi World War, after Tobirama chose him as his successor. More than thirty years had passed since then.

Sasuke considered that for a while.

["If he's been Hokage for so long, wouldn't he know a lot about what happens in the village?"]

That seemed obvious to him.

Then he remembered the massacre.

["So... did he know about the Uchiha?"]

Sasuke couldn't answer that yet. Hiruzen might genuinely have been unaware of what was about to happen, or perhaps he'd simply arrived too late. There were too many possibilities for him to choose between.

For now, he left the question alone.

The chat room took a very different approach.

Ōnoki: "A clan as important as the Uchiha is wiped out inside Konoha, and the Hokage supposedly knows nothing until afterward? That's a difficult story to accept."

Fourth Raikage: "Exactly. The Uchiha aren't some insignificant family living outside the village."

Terumi Mei: "And we're supposed to accept that a thirteen-year-old carried out the entire massacre without the higher-ups knowing what was happening?"

Then Tobirama joined in.

Senju Tobirama: "Monkey, what did you know before the massacre, and what did you learn afterward?"

Hiruzen answered carefully.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Teacher, being Hokage does not mean possessing perfect knowledge of every event within the village."

Senju Tobirama: "Of course not. But if an event of this scale occurs under your administration, ignorance does not remove your responsibility."

That was difficult to argue with.

Orochimaru: "An uncomfortable position, Sensei. If you knew nothing, that raises questions about your leadership. If you knew something, it raises questions about what you told Sasuke."

Hiruzen shot him an irritated glance.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "And what would you know about governing a village?"

Orochimaru smiled.

Orochimaru: "Enough to know that unexplained events become troublesome when too many people start asking about them."

Ōnoki seized on the point.

Ōnoki: "Then there's another issue. According to Sasuke, the history he found contains plenty of gaps."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "A textbook cannot record every event that has occurred over several decades."

Ōnoki: "That's true. But why are some events condensed while the Third Hokage's achievements receive so much attention?"

Hiruzen immediately turned the question around.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "You should understand the difficulty of governing a village better than anyone. You've ruled Iwagakure for decades. Does that mean you know everything that happens there?"

Ōnoki: "Don't change the subject."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Your former disciple Deidara defected from the village. Your Four-Tails jinchūriki, Rōshi, spent years wandering the shinobi world. Were you able to prevent either?"

Ōnoki had little choice but to concede the general point.

Ōnoki: "A Kage can't personally monitor every person in a village."

Senju Tobirama: "Which establishes that a Kage may not know everything. It does not establish that Monkey knew nothing."

That distinction cut the argument cleanly in two.

Fourth Raikage: "Then we'll have to see what the broadcast reveals."

No one had a convincing answer after that.

The Next Morning — Ninja Academy

[The following morning, Sasuke returned to the Ninja Academy.]

The classroom was already noisy when he arrived.

Chairs scraped across the wooden floor as students took their seats. A few were still talking about the Uchiha massacre until Sasuke entered, at which point their voices dropped.

Naruto was leaning over his desk, drawing in the corner of his notebook.

Haruno Sakura: "Naruto, put that away."

Uzumaki Naruto: "I'm listening!"

Sakura pointed at his untouched history textbook.

Haruno Sakura: "You haven't even opened it."

Naruto looked down.

Uzumaki Naruto: "...Oh."

A few students laughed.

Sasuke took his usual seat by the window and ignored the commotion.

Iruka entered carrying a stack of textbooks.

Iruka: "All right, everyone. Settle down."

The room quieted.

Iruka looked around the class.

Iruka: "And before anyone starts whispering about yesterday, Sasuke is here to attend class. Leave him alone and focus on your studies."

The students became noticeably more restrained.

Iruka picked up a textbook.

Iruka: "Today we're continuing with the founding of Konoha. Open to page forty-two."

Pages turned throughout the room.

Sasuke opened his Academy textbook as well, but beneath his desk was the old history book he'd brought from the Uchiha compound.

He already knew most of today's material.

What he wanted was to compare the two accounts.

At first, the differences seemed easy to explain. The Academy textbook was shorter, which made sense for a schoolbook.

Still, Sasuke quietly checked the corresponding section in the Uchiha version.

The broad events matched, but the details didn't always.

Iruka continued explaining the founding of Konoha while Sasuke compared the pages whenever the teacher turned toward the board.

The room carried on around him.

Choji quietly ate from a snack bag.

Shikamaru rested his cheek against one hand.

Ino whispered something to Sakura and earned an annoyed look from Iruka.

Naruto was once again drawing instead of taking notes.

It was an ordinary school morning.

Sasuke found that oddly comforting.

Then he reached the section on the White Fang.

The Academy textbook gave him only a few lines.

The Uchiha version devoted considerably more space to Sakumo's accomplishments and the controversy surrounding his downfall.

Sasuke looked back at the Academy book.

There was no explanation for the missing information.

He kept reading.

Orochimaru's career was described in detail, especially his achievements as one of the Sannin, but his eventual defection from Konoha received little attention.

Sasuke frowned.

["Why is this part so short?"]

He couldn't say.

Maybe the textbook simply didn't have room.

So he moved on.

Then he reached the section about the Third Hokage.

This one was much longer.

Hiruzen's leadership was praised, his accomplishments were listed, his students were highlighted, and his contributions to Konoha were emphasized throughout the section.

Near the end was a prominent statement:

["The Third Hokage is the strongest Hokage in Konoha's history."]

Sasuke read it again.

He glanced at the Uchiha history.

That description wasn't there.

It didn't prove anything.

Hiruzen might genuinely have been the strongest Hokage. The school textbook might simply have been written to honor his leadership.

But now Sasuke was beginning to notice something else.

The omissions weren't random.

Some of Konoha's difficult history was shortened, while Hiruzen's achievements were given considerable space.

He didn't know why.

That was enough reason to remember it.

At the front of the classroom, Iruka suddenly called his name.

Iruka: "Sasuke."

Sasuke looked up.

Sasuke: "Yes, Iruka-sensei?"

Iruka: "Since you've already finished this section, tell the class why the Senju and Uchiha eventually agreed to found Konoha."

Sasuke answered without hesitation.

Sasuke: "So their children wouldn't have to keep dying in battles between the clans."

Iruka nodded.

Iruka: "Correct."

Naruto leaned toward Sakura.

Uzumaki Naruto: "See? Sasuke really does know everything."

Haruno Sakura: "You could know things too if you studied."

Uzumaki Naruto: "I do study!"

Shikamaru glanced over.

Nara Shikamaru: "Not when you're drawing."

Naruto quickly covered his notebook, prompting another round of laughter.

Even Sasuke briefly looked over.

Iruka resumed the lesson, and the classroom returned to its ordinary rhythm.

Sasuke lowered his eyes to the books.

For everyone else, history was another subject.

For him, it had become something else entirely.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the golden screen without saying anything.

Orochimaru: "He's being careful."

Jiraiya: "And he's not jumping to conclusions."

Orochimaru: "Which means he'll keep looking."

Hiruzen gave no response.

That was the part he found most troublesome.

Sasuke wasn't making accusations that could easily be dismissed as childish anger. He was simply storing away every inconsistency he found.

Golden-Framed Screen

[Sasuke continued comparing the two books until the lesson ended.]

When the bell rang, the classroom immediately came alive again.

Chairs scraped against the floor, students packed their bags, and Naruto was nearly out the door before Iruka called him back for his forgotten notebook.

Sasuke waited until the crowd had mostly dispersed before closing both books.

He still didn't know which version of history was correct.

The Academy textbook could be incomplete. The Uchiha version could contain its own bias. He didn't have enough information to judge either one.

So he made no judgment.

["I'll find more books."]

That was all.

Sasuke put the Academy textbook away and slipped the Uchiha history book into his bag.

He had started with a strange memory about the Academy's extra classes.

Then he had found a second version of Konoha's history.

Now he knew that the two accounts did not tell the same story.

He had no idea where the differences would lead.

But he had learned one useful lesson.

When two stories disagree, the safest thing to do is keep reading until you understand why.

**Author's Note**

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Want to read ahead? Join my **Patreon: AbyssalMandate** for early access to upcoming chapters.

Thanks for reading!

 

[abyssalmandate]

Uchiha Madara: "The strongest Hokage? Hashirama, what do you think?"

Senju Hashirama: "...Ahem. I'm not actually all that strong."

Across the shinobi world, more than a few people stared at the screen in disbelief.

The First Hokage was apparently still trying to be modest.

Senju Tobirama: "Monkey, are you seriously allowing a textbook to place you above my elder brother?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Of course not!"

Hiruzen answered so quickly that even he realized how suspicious it sounded.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "That was simply careless wording by the author. I'll have it corrected immediately."

Uchiha Madara: "At least he knows when not to make a foolish claim."

Senju Hashirama: "Madara, that's enough."

Uchiha Madara: "I'm complimenting him."

Hashirama sighed.

Ōnoki: "Forget the ranking for a moment. You actually approved a textbook that presents your administration like a heroic biography."

Fourth Raikage: "I'd like to know who wrote it. They certainly knew how to flatter their Hokage."

Orochimaru: "Whoever it was, they were thorough. My achievements stayed, but my defection practically vanished."

Hiruzen gave Orochimaru a cold look.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "A school textbook isn't meant to record every unpleasant detail."

Hatake Kakashi: "Then I suppose my father's achievements weren't considered important either."

The remark was quiet, but it drew attention.

Sakumo Hatake had once been one of Konoha's most famous shinobi, yet the Academy's history barely preserved his accomplishments.

Kakashi had known that for years.

Seeing exactly what had been omitted still left him uncomfortable.

Senju Tobirama: "Leaving embarrassing incidents out of a village history isn't unusual."

Tobirama looked toward Hiruzen's entry on the screen.

Senju Tobirama: "But Monkey, the timeline makes your reign rather unusual."

Hiruzen's expression tightened.

The textbook listed Hiruzen as the Third Hokage, who first took office late in the First Shinobi World War after Tobirama chose him as his successor.

After Hiruzen's initial term came the Second Hokage's era's end and the years of war that followed. During the Second Shinobi World War, the Sannin and Konoha's White Fang rose to prominence. Much later, during the Third Shinobi World War, Minato became famous as the Yellow Flash and was eventually chosen as the Fourth Hokage.

Then Minato died during the Nine-Tails' attack.

Afterward, Hiruzen returned as the Third Hokage and remained in office until the present day.

From Sasuke's perspective, that meant the man who had first become Hokage more than thirty years earlier was still running the village.

Senju Tobirama: "You have been Hokage for a very long time. Perhaps it's time to let someone younger take over."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Yes, Teacher. I'm already considering suitable candidates."

Ōnoki: "So the title of the chapter isn't entirely unfair. You're certainly the longest-serving Hokage we've seen."

Uchiha Madara: "Longevity isn't the same thing as strength."

Senju Hashirama: "Madara..."

Uchiha Madara: "What? The book started the argument."

Hiruzen decided not to respond.

Ninja Academy

[The next morning, Sasuke sat in class, still thinking about everything he had read.]

The deaths of the White Fang and the Fourth Hokage, the Nine-Tails' attack, the Uchiha clan's relocation, Orochimaru's defection, and finally the massacre of his own clan all seemed to belong to the same tangled history.

Sasuke could sense that there was a connection between them, but he couldn't identify it.

["There has to be something..."]

He simply didn't have enough information yet.

Clap!

Orochimaru suddenly applauded.

Orochimaru: "Excellent. This Sasuke has already noticed that these events may not be unrelated."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Orochimaru, stop encouraging him to invent conspiracies."

Orochimaru: "I'm encouraging him to think."

Ōnoki: "Those aren't necessarily the same thing."

Fourth Raikage: "Either way, I want to see where the boy ends up."

Hiruzen sighed.

The broadcast audience was clearly enjoying this far more than he was.

Golden-Framed Screen

[Sasuke spent the rest of the morning reading, but the connection between the events remained out of reach.]

He became so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't notice how quickly the morning passed.

By lunchtime, his stomach finally reminded him that reading wasn't the only thing he needed to do.

Sasuke reached for his lunch box and found nothing.

He paused before remembering.

His mother had always prepared his meals.

After everything that had happened, something as ordinary as lunch had simply slipped his mind.

Before he could decide what to do, Yamanaka Ino approached with her bento.

["Sasuke-kun, you didn't bring lunch? You can eat with me."]

Sasuke looked at her in surprise.

Before he could answer, Sakura hurried over.

["Sasuke-kun, you can have mine! I brought plenty, and I even made some things you like."]

Ino immediately glanced at Sakura.

Sakura's confident smile faltered.

She had spent quite some time remembering Sasuke's preferences and preparing things she thought he'd enjoy.

Apparently, all that effort had finally paid off.

Uzumaki Naruto: "Wait! Sakura made Sasuke's favorite food?!"

Haruno Sakura: "Naruto, lower your voice!"

Uzumaki Naruto: "Then why have I never gotten any?!"

Yamanaka Ino: "Hold on. You actually remembered what Sasuke likes?"

Haruno Sakura: "What's wrong with that?"

Yamanaka Ino: "Nothing. I'm just impressed."

Nara Shikamaru: "It's a lot of planning for one lunch."

Akimichi Choji: "Depends on what's in it."

Naruto: "Choji, you're missing the important part!"

Choji: "I'm not."

Jiraiya burst out laughing.

Jiraiya: "Young romance. Truly the most dangerous battlefield."

Tsunade: "They're seven."

Jiraiya: "Exactly."

Tsunade: "That doesn't make your statement more sensible."

Kakashi watched the scene with quiet amusement.

Hatake Kakashi: "This broadcast has taken an unexpected turn."

Even Sasuke seemed caught off guard.

He had expected comparisons about his training, his Sharingan, or the massacre.

Instead, the entire shinobi world was watching him decide what to do about lunch.

[Ding!]

[The prize question is now available!]

The chatter stopped as a new question appeared across the broadcast.

[Question: How will Uchiha Sasuke respond to the invitations from Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino?]

The four choices appeared one after another.

[A: "Women will only slow down my kunai throwing." Ignore them completely.]

[B: "I'm a lonely avenger." Respond coldly and drive them away.]

[C: Accept their invitation and sincerely thank them.]

[D: Accept their invitation, build a good relationship with them, and work together to restore the Uchiha clan.]

Uzumaki Naruto: "Obviously C! Why would anyone reject free food?!"

Yamanaka Ino: "You're only choosing C because there's food involved."

Naruto: "Food is a perfectly good reason!"

Haruno Sakura: "C sounds like the most normal answer."

Yamanaka Ino: "You're just hoping he chooses yours."

Sakura: "And you aren't?"

Ino: "...That's not the point."

Jiraiya: "Option D seems rather ambitious for a seven-year-old."

Senju Hashirama: "I like D. Rebuilding the Uchiha clan would certainly be a worthy goal."

Senju Tobirama: "You would choose the optimistic answer."

Hashirama: "What's wrong with optimism?"

Uchiha Madara: "Enough. I want to see what the boy actually chooses."

Even Hiruzen found himself watching the golden screen.

The question was trivial compared with the secrets exposed earlier, yet everyone wanted the answer.

Would this parallel Sasuke behave like the cold, distant boy they knew?

Or had the different path of his life changed even something as simple as how he treated Sakura and Ino?

On the golden screen, Sasuke looked from one bento to the other.

For perhaps the first time that day, he genuinely didn't know what to do.

And the entire shinobi world waited for his answer.

What kind of Sasuke had this parallel world created?

**Author's Note**

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Want to read ahead? Join my **Patreon: AbyssalMandate** for early access to upcoming chapters.

Thanks for reading!

 

[abyssalmandate]

Jiraiya: "Is this 'harmonious relationship' the kind I'm thinking of?"

Hatake Kakashi: "I assume it means rebuilding the Uchiha clan. How else would D accomplish that?"

Ebisu: "It's obvious. He'll need to marry, have several wives, and produce plenty of children!"

Terumi Mei: "Hehe. Men really do think alike."

Uchiha Sasuke: "What are you talking about?!"

Sasuke's face immediately turned red.

Marriage? Several wives?

He had never even considered such a thing.

Ever since the massacre, his attention had been fixed on training, becoming stronger, and eventually killing Uchiha Itachi. As for girls, he couldn't see what they had to do with any of that.

Could they improve his kunai accuracy?

Increase the power of his ninjutsu?

No?

Then why was everyone making such a big deal about it?

Ōnoki: "He's still too young to worry about rebuilding a clan."

Fourth Raikage: "Perhaps, but he's also the last Uchiha in Konoha. Eventually, the survival of the bloodline will matter."

Uchiha Fugaku: "I agree. I choose D."

Sasuke stared at the message.

His father had chosen D?

Even if his other self lived in a completely different world, Sasuke couldn't imagine him immediately thinking about marriage after the massacre. His mind was already occupied with survival, training, and revenge.

He decisively selected an answer.

Uchiha Sasuke: "I choose A."

It seemed the most natural choice to him.

Hatake Kakashi: "I'll choose C."

At Root headquarters, Danzō watched the answers being submitted.

The broadcast had already proven that its rewards were real.

That alone was enough reason to participate.

Shimura Danzō: "I choose B."

Hiruzen glanced toward him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Danzō?"

What had made Danzō suddenly interested in a question like this?

Danzō ignored him.

If the rewards were genuinely valuable, even one could prove useful.

Golden-Framed Screen

The broadcast continued.

[Sasuke looked at Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino, who were both offering him their lunches.]

His school days were already filled with training and study, while his nights had recently become occupied with books and questions he couldn't answer.

Preparing lunch himself every morning would take time.

Since the two girls were willing to help, there didn't seem to be any reason to refuse.

After a brief hesitation, Sasuke gave them a small, sincere smile.

["Then I'll trouble you, Sakura and Ino."]

Both girls froze.

For nearly a year, Sakura and Ino had competed for Sasuke's attention. They were accustomed to his distant expression and short responses.

Neither had expected him to smile at them.

And certainly not like that.

[The two quickly recovered, and the three shared their lunches.]

To Sasuke, it was simply a convenient meal.

To Sakura and Ino, it was considerably more memorable.

After lunch, Sasuke thanked them, then hesitated before speaking again.

["Sakura, Ino... could I trouble you for lunch again tomorrow?"]

He lowered his eyes slightly.

["You've probably heard what happened to my family. I don't have anyone at home to prepare it anymore."]

Sakura immediately nodded.

["Of course! It's no trouble at all, Sasuke-kun!"]

Ino joined in as well.

["Same here. But I do have one small condition."]

Sasuke looked at her.

["I'd like you to have lunch with me every day."]

Sasuke blinked.

He couldn't understand why both girls looked so pleased.

After all, he was the one asking them for a favor.

Still, there was no reason to refuse.

["All right."]

That settled it.

For Sasuke, it was simply a practical arrangement.

For Sakura and Ino, it was something much more exciting.

Terumi Mei: "Pfft. He really has no idea what he's doing."

Uchiha Mikoto: "That's my Sasuke."

Uzumaki Naruto: "This is so unfair! What's so special about Sasuke?!"

Rock Lee: "To have someone prepare lunch for you every day... what a fortunate young man!"

Inuzuka Kiba: "He's just relying on his face! What's so impressive about that? I'm not bad-looking either!"

Aburame Shino: "Kiba, self-awareness is important."

The chat room erupted into laughter.

Sakura and Ino could only stare at their parallel selves with mixed embarrassment and envy.

Their counterparts had somehow turned a single lunch into a daily arrangement with Sasuke.

Hatake Kakashi: "Well, that makes the answer fairly obvious."

He had chosen correctly.

[Ding!]

[The correct answer is C.]

[Congratulations to Hatake Kakashi for receiving the reward: Uchiha Bloodline!]

The announcement had barely finished when a strange warmth spread through Kakashi's body.

He instinctively touched the forehead protector covering his left eye.

Something was different.

His chakra was flowing more freely.

For years, maintaining the Sharingan had been a constant drain on his reserves. Even when he wasn't using it, the eye remained active and demanded chakra simply because it had never truly belonged to his body.

Kakashi had adapted to that burden long ago.

He had learned how long he could fight before exhaustion became dangerous. He had learned to keep the eye covered whenever possible and to ration every use of its power.

He had gotten so used to it that the burden had become part of his normal life.

Until now.

Kakashi slowly lifted his forehead protector.

The Sharingan looked back at him from his left eye.

He concentrated.

The crimson iris faded.

His normal eye returned.

Kakashi stopped.

He tried again.

The Sharingan appeared.

Then vanished.

Again.

Red.

Normal.

Red.

Normal.

His breathing gradually slowed.

He could control it.

Not suppress it through a cover.

Not endure it through sheer stamina.

Control it.

A strange feeling spread through him.

For years, Kakashi had thought of the Sharingan as both a gift and a burden. It had given him abilities he could never have possessed otherwise, but it had always come with a price.

Now that price was gone.

His chakra no longer felt as though it were constantly being pulled toward his left eye.

The exhaustion he'd long considered normal was gone.

Even his body felt strangely light.

Kakashi lowered the forehead protector and looked at his hand.

He had spent years adapting himself to the Sharingan.

Now, for the first time, the Sharingan had adapted to him.

He remembered the countless missions where he'd had to keep track of how much chakra remained.

The fights he'd ended earlier than he wanted because his reserves were running low.

The moments after battle when his body felt far more exhausted than it should have.

He had never been able to remove that weakness.

Until a few seconds ago.

Kakashi gave a quiet laugh.

Kakashi: "So this is what it feels like..."

His voice carried none of his usual joking tone.

Kakashi: "To use the Sharingan without paying for it every second."

The realization reached beyond a simple increase in strength.

He could finally decide when to use his eye instead of allowing the eye to decide how much chakra he had left.

For Kakashi, that freedom was worth more than almost any conventional power-up.

The chat room fell quieter.

Even those who hadn't considered the reward particularly valuable now understood what it meant.

Uchiha Sasuke: "So that's what the Uchiha bloodline changes..."

Sasuke looked at Kakashi with renewed curiosity.

He had always regarded the Sharingan as part of his clan's natural power.

He had never considered what it meant for someone who possessed the eye without possessing Uchiha blood.

Kakashi's reward had made the distinction painfully clear.

Orochimaru: "A fascinating reward."

His eyes gleamed.

This wasn't merely about Kakashi.

The implication was obvious.

If Uchiha blood could make an implanted Sharingan far easier to control, then anything with the right combination of bloodline and ocular power could potentially become much more dangerous.

And there was one person who understood that possibility better than almost anyone.

At Root headquarters, Danzō's attention shifted toward his own arm.

The Sharingan implanted there.

Then to the memories of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.

He had never regarded his implants as a perfect solution.

They consumed enormous amounts of chakra.

They required Hashirama's cells to stabilize them.

And despite all his preparations, there was always an element of incompatibility.

But if Kakashi's reward had removed that problem...

Danzō's eyes narrowed.

Shimura Danzō: "Uchiha blood..."

For once, he wasn't thinking about the answer he had chosen.

He was thinking about the reward he had just witnessed.

The comparison broadcast wasn't merely revealing different futures.

It was handing out abilities capable of changing the balance of power between entire factions.

Danzō's gaze grew colder.

"If these rewards continue..."

Then even someone who already possessed stolen Sharingan could become something far more dangerous.

Across the room, Hiruzen noticed Danzō's expression.

He didn't like it.

Not one bit.




**Author's Note**

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[abyssalmandate]

Kakashi had never felt this comfortable since receiving Obito's Sharingan.

The constant drain was gone.

His chakra felt fuller, his body no longer carried that familiar heaviness, and even the Sharingan itself felt completely different now that he could control it.

For perhaps the first time, Kakashi could use the eye without feeling as though he were borrowing something his body was never meant to possess.

Might Guy: "Yo, Kakashi! Once the viewing is over, how about a friendly spar?"

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask.

Hatake Kakashi: "Sure. I won't turn down a challenge."

That answer made Guy's eyes light up.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru was far more interested in the reward itself.

Orochimaru: "So the rewards really are genuine... and they can even grant bloodlines."

His eyes gleamed.

This comparison broadcast was becoming more interesting by the minute.

At this rate, ignoring the prize questions would be foolish.

Across the shinobi world, many others were reaching the same conclusion.

The broadcast wasn't merely revealing strange scenes from another world.

It was handing out power.

And there was no telling what the next reward might be.

Jiraiya: "By the way, Kakashi, how did you figure out that C was the right answer?"

Iruka: "I was wondering that too. Judging from the Sasuke we know, I thought A or B would have been more likely."

Kakashi considered the question before answering.

Hatake Kakashi: "Because the two Sasukes have already shown important differences."

He glanced toward the golden screen.

Hatake Kakashi: "Our Sasuke became much more extreme after the massacre. He's more withdrawn, more hostile, and more obsessed with revenge. If the question had been about him, then A or B would have made sense."

Hatake Kakashi: "But the Sasuke from the parallel world is different. He's more emotionally stable and far more willing to interact with the people around him. He doesn't spend every waking moment looking like he wants to bite someone."

Uchiha Sasuke's forehead twitched.

Uchiha Sasuke: "Kakashi..."

Kakashi ignored the warning.

Senju Tobirama: "Then why didn't you choose D? If he intends to restore the Uchiha clan, wouldn't establishing a family be the logical approach?"

That made Kakashi pause.

Hatake Kakashi: "Ahem. That's based on another observation."

He seemed slightly reluctant to explain it.

Hatake Kakashi: "The Uchiha men I've known aren't exactly... womanizers."

Silence.

Several people reread the message as though perhaps they had misunderstood it.

Uchiha Madara: "What exactly do you mean by that, Hatake Kakashi?"

Uchiha Fugaku: "Are you implying that the Uchiha clan survived for generations through sheer luck?"

Kakashi raised his hands defensively.

Hatake Kakashi: "That's not what I meant."

A few people were already struggling not to laugh.

Hatake Kakashi: "I'm saying that the Uchiha I've known tend to place enormous importance on bonds with the people closest to them. Family, friends, rivals..."

He thought of the people he had spent years watching.

Hatake Kakashi: "Look at our own generation. Naruto and Sasuke fight constantly, but that doesn't stop them from becoming important to each other. Sakura is important too, but not in the same way."

The point became clearer.

Hatake Kakashi: "So when the parallel Sasuke treats Sakura and Ino kindly, I don't think he's necessarily thinking about romance."

Hatake Kakashi: "He may simply see them as people he trusts, people who are helping him during a difficult time."

Tobirama considered that.

Senju Tobirama: "That interpretation does make sense."

Hashirama immediately looked uneasy.

Senju Hashirama: "Tobirama, please don't start analyzing the romantic habits of the Uchiha."

Senju Tobirama: "I'm analyzing Kakashi's reasoning."

Hashirama: "That's somehow worse."

A few people laughed.

Then a familiar voice suddenly appeared in the chat.

Uchiha Obito: "Kakashi, what exactly are you talking about?"

Kakashi froze.

He stared at the message.

Hatake Kakashi: "Obito?"

At the Akatsuki hideout, Uchiha Obito was thoroughly enjoying himself.

Beside him, Black Zetsu glanced over.

Black Zetsu: "Obito, don't expose yourself."

Obito dismissed the concern.

Uchiha Obito: "Relax. From Kakashi's perspective, I'm supposed to be dead. Why would he suspect anything?"

Black Zetsu considered it.

Unfortunately, the logic was sound.

Obito leaned back, enjoying the moment.

Kakashi had spent all these years believing he was dead.

Now he could sit behind a mask and casually talk to him as though nothing had happened.

The thought alone amused Obito.

Uchiha Obito: "Kakashi, do you really think your position in my heart was comparable to Rin's?"

Kakashi's expression became complicated.

Hatake Kakashi: "So that's how you interpreted what I said?"

Uchiha Obito: "You brought up Uchiha men. I'm asking for clarification."

Kakashi sighed.

Hatake Kakashi: "Fine. My point is that Uchiha men tend to be extremely focused on the people who matter to them."

He paused.

Hatake Kakashi: "And Obito... you're not exactly a normal example."

There was a brief silence.

Uchiha Obito: "..."

Black Zetsu nearly laughed.

The golden-framed screen finally stopped.

The silver-framed screen lit up once again.

Silver-Framed Screen

[After returning to the Ninja Academy, Sasuke's personality had changed significantly.]

[He had always possessed the natural pride of the Uchiha, but after the massacre, he became noticeably more distant.]

[An invisible barrier seemed to separate him from the other students.]

The only real exception was Uzumaki Naruto.

The two still argued regularly, but Naruto was one of the few people Sasuke could tolerate being around for long.

Perhaps it was because Naruto also understood what it meant to be alone.

Hatake Kakashi: "See? That's what I was talking about."

Uchiha Sasuke: "Kakashi, enough."

Uzumaki Naruto: "So I really am important to Sasuke?"

Sasuke immediately turned toward him.

Uchiha Sasuke: "Don't get carried away."

Naruto: "You heard him! He didn't say no!"

Sasuke: "Shut up!"

A few people in the chat room laughed.

Sasuke's patience was rapidly disappearing.

[Sasuke trained harder than ever.]

Among the ninjutsu scrolls left behind by his parents, he found several Fire Style techniques and gradually mastered a number of C-rank jutsu.

His results soon showed the effect.

During the Academy's practical examinations, Sasuke easily claimed first place.

His classmates weren't surprised.

Sasuke had always been one of the strongest students in his year.

What surprised Sasuke himself was what came afterward.

[Despite his excellent results, Sasuke found himself sitting alone and wondering what he should practice next.]

He had become stronger.

He had learned several ninjutsu.

His Sharingan had awakened.

Yet there was still so much he didn't know.

He couldn't simply keep repeating the same exercises.

The memory of the history books also returned to him.

If he wanted to understand what had happened to his clan, strength alone wouldn't be enough.

He needed to learn.

But where should he begin?

[Sasuke stared at the training field through the classroom window.]

For the first time, becoming stronger no longer felt like a simple matter of training harder.

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**Author's Note**

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[abyssalmandate]

Orochimaru: "That's only natural. Without a proper teacher, this is what happens."

Uchiha Fugaku: "If only we were still alive..."

Hatake Kakashi: "Sasuke's talent was never the problem. The problem is that most of his time at the Academy was wasted."

Kakashi knew that better than anyone.

When Sasuke had first graduated from the Academy in his world, he hadn't even been taught something as basic as Tree Climbing.

His Sharingan had barely developed either.

Yet by the present, things were completely different.

The two-tomoe Sharingan had become stable, and Sasuke had even learned Chidori. With the proper use of Lightning Release chakra to stimulate his body, his speed and explosive power had increased considerably.

The difference was enormous.

Meanwhile, the parallel Sasuke had spent years practicing almost entirely on his own.

He had learned everything the Academy could teach him, then spent whatever time remained repeating techniques he already knew.

Namikaze Minato: "The years before graduation really do matter. I was fortunate enough to receive guidance from Jiraiya-sama while I was still in the Academy."

Minato had been noticed by Jiraiya while he was still a student, and the Sannin would occasionally take time to train him personally.

Because of that guidance, Minato's growth had been dramatically faster than that of an ordinary Academy student. By the time he graduated, he had already developed combat ability far beyond what most young shinobi possessed.

At one point, when Kushina had been kidnapped by Kumogakure shinobi, Minato had even been capable of rescuing her on his own.

Compared with that, the Sasuke in the other world was certainly talented.

But talent without guidance had its limits.

Orochimaru: "Sasuke, if you want to improve faster, come and learn from me. I'm confident I can teach you better than Jiraiya."

Hatake Kakashi: "Don't listen to him."

Kakashi didn't even need to think about it.

Hatake Kakashi: "Orochimaru doesn't offer anything without wanting something in return."

Orochimaru smiled.

Orochimaru: "What an unpleasant way to describe a teacher."

The real-world Sasuke remained silent.

He had no intention of accepting Orochimaru's offer.

Not when the comparison broadcast had already opened another path.

If participating in the questions could earn rewards like Kakashi's Uchiha bloodline, then perhaps he didn't need to rely on dangerous people for his growth.

Golden-Framed Screen

[The parallel Sasuke worked harder than ever.]

[He spent as much of his day as possible training and tried to avoid wasting time on unnecessary matters.]

There was one exception.

Lunch.

Since Sakura and Ino had volunteered to prepare it for him, Sasuke was more than happy to let them handle it.

It saved him time, and they clearly enjoyed doing it.

Even his Academy assignments had become easier to manage.

Whenever he needed help with something, he only had to look toward Sakura.

["Thanks, Sakura."]

That was usually enough.

Sakura would happily finish explaining the assignment, while Ino would inevitably complain that she was doing too much for him.

For Sasuke, it was a practical arrangement.

For the two girls, it was a reason to compete.

[The next five years passed quietly.]

Sasuke continued training on his own while steadily mastering everything the Academy had to offer. As his classmates struggled to keep up with the curriculum, most of what they were learning had long since become familiar to him.

By the time he reached twelve, Sasuke had spent years at the top of his class.

His grades were excellent, his practical performance was unmatched, and his two-tomoe Sharingan gave him an advantage none of his classmates could overcome.

Yet the longer he stayed at the Academy, the less useful its lessons became.

He had reached the point where he no longer needed to wonder whether he was the strongest student.

He was.

The real question was what came next.

Academy Practical Examination

["Next match: Uchiha Sasuke versus Uzumaki Naruto!"]

Iruka announced the next pairing.

Sasuke stepped into the training area and looked toward Naruto.

Naruto's expression immediately became serious.

Sasuke glanced at the other students watching from the sidelines.

Then he spoke.

["Kiba, Shikamaru, Chōji... and you too, Aburame."]

Shino looked up.

["Come fight me together."]

Naruto's eyes widened.

["What?! You're looking down on us!"]

Kiba immediately snapped as well.

["You're asking all five of us to fight you at once?"]

Shikamaru sighed.

["What a pain..."]

Shino adjusted his glasses.

["My name is Aburame Shino."]

Sasuke shrugged.

["Let's finish this quickly. I'd rather go eat."]

That answer only made Naruto and Kiba more annoyed.

From the sidelines, several girls began cheering.

"Go, Sasuke!"

"Sasuke-kun, you're the best!"

The boys, meanwhile, were far less enthusiastic.

Uzumaki Naruto: "Just wait! We'll wipe that smug look off his face!"

Inuzuka Kiba: "Let's see how confident he is after we beat him!"

Shikamaru looked at the five of them.

He had a bad feeling about this.

[The battle began.]

Naruto and Kiba attacked from opposite sides.

But to Sasuke's two-tomoe Sharingan, their movements were easy to follow.

He shifted aside at the last moment and redirected Naruto's attack.

Naruto stumbled straight into Kiba, sending the two crashing together.

Shikamaru immediately followed with a Shadow Imitation Technique.

Sasuke jumped over the spreading shadow and avoided it completely.

At the same time, Chōji curled himself into a ball and charged forward.

The moment he entered Sasuke's field of vision, the Sharingan caught him.

Sasuke reacted instinctively.

Chōji's trajectory shifted.

He suddenly charged straight toward Shino instead.

["Chōji, you fell under a genjutsu! Sasuke isn't there!"]

Shikamaru shouted.

Chōji tried to correct himself, but his confusion only caused him to crash into Kiba and Akamaru.

Naruto wasn't much better.

After falling under Sasuke's genjutsu, he ended up harassing Shino instead, leaving the Aburame shinobi struggling to figure out what was happening.

Iruka: "The difference is too great."

Hatake Kakashi: "A two-tomoe Sharingan at the Academy level is simply overwhelming."

Orochimaru: "The others have neither the experience nor the abilities necessary to close that gap."

Nara Shikamaru: "Even with better tactics, I don't think we'd have much of a chance."

Aburame Shino: "Our coordination is also inadequate."

Uzumaki Naruto: "Damn it! That Sasuke is even more annoying than ours!"

Uchiha Sasuke: "..."

Sasuke stared at the screen.

He wasn't sure whether to be offended or impressed.

[The fight ended quickly.]

[Sasuke defeated all five opponents with little difficulty and took first place in the practical examination without question.]

Cheers erupted from the girls in the audience.

Naruto and Kiba were left staring at the ground in frustration.

Everyone expected Sasuke to look pleased.

He didn't.

Instead, his attention drifted toward the Academy grounds around him.

He had spent the past five years here.

Five years of lessons.

Five years of drills.

Five years of fighting the same classmates.

And after all that time, the final examination had felt almost exactly like every other one.

["I've learned everything they can teach me."]

That was what bothered him.

He didn't dislike winning.

He simply couldn't see how winning another Academy match would bring him any closer to the things that mattered: becoming strong enough to face Itachi and finding the truth behind the massacre.

The Academy had given him a foundation.

But he had already gone beyond it.

Inuzuka Kiba: "Why does he look unhappy after winning?!"

Uzumaki Naruto: "He's pretending he wasn't impressed!"

Kiba nodded.

Inuzuka Kiba: "That's exactly what he's doing!"

Sasuke ignored them.

They could think whatever they wanted.

He wasn't disappointed with the result.

He was thinking about what came after it.

Orochimaru: "Interesting."

Orochimaru had expected the parallel Sasuke's talent to become a greater advantage.

Instead, it had created a different problem.

The boy had outgrown the Academy without ever finding a teacher capable of showing him the next step.

Orochimaru: "His greatest obstacle isn't a lack of talent."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Orochimaru: "It's that no one has taught him where to take it."

The golden screen slowly faded.

The twelve-year-old Sasuke remained on the training ground, surrounded by the cheers of his classmates.

He had achieved exactly what the Academy expected from him.

First place.

The strongest student in his year.

Yet instead of satisfaction, he was left with a question.

The Academy could no longer make him stronger.

So where would he go next?

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Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

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Thanks for reading, and see you in the next chapter!

 

[abyssalmandate]

[After taking first place in the Academy, Sasuke wanted to know what he should practice next, so he went directly to Iruka for advice.]

Iruka was somewhat surprised, but after considering Sasuke's current level, he agreed that ordinary Academy training was no longer enough. The boy's ability was already far beyond that of his classmates, so Iruka recommended a pair of exercises designed to improve Chakra control: tree climbing and water walking.

Uchiha Sasuke: "He's actually asking Iruka for advice?"

Hatake Kakashi: "Our Sasuke wouldn't have done that after the clan massacre. He closed himself off and stopped relying on other people."

Jiraiya: "That's one of the biggest differences between them. This Sasuke is willing to admit when he doesn't know something and ask for guidance."

Sasuke watched the golden-framed screen with a complicated expression.

They were the same age, yet his counterpart had already started training in areas that he himself had only reached much later.

Five years ahead.

That was difficult to accept.

Golden-Framed Screen

[Following Iruka's suggestion, Sasuke began practicing tree climbing and water walking.]

At first, the exercises were much harder than they looked.

Tree climbing required precise control over the Chakra in his feet. Too much disrupted his footing, while too little caused him to slide down the trunk. Water walking was even more demanding because he had to constantly adjust his Chakra to compensate for the unstable surface.

Sasuke struggled during the first few days, but he quickly learned to treat every mistake as useful information. He adjusted his Chakra little by little, observed the result, and tried again.

[The first several days were spent learning the basics. Over the following weeks, Sasuke gradually became more consistent.]

He went from managing only a few steps to reaching the top of the tree without falling. Water walking followed the same pattern, with each practice session extending the amount of time he could remain on the surface.

After several weeks, both exercises had become reliable skills.

More importantly, Sasuke could feel the improvement in his Chakra control.

That naturally led him to wonder whether he could make the rest of his training more efficient.

Then he remembered something from the scroll his father had left behind.

[Shadow Clone Technique.]

[One evening, after dismissing a Shadow Clone, Sasuke suddenly remembered that the clone's memories and experiences returned to the original.]

Sasuke stared at the scroll.

["If the experience comes back to me..."]

He thought about it for a while.

["Could I use a Shadow Clone to help with training?"]

The idea seemed promising, but he didn't immediately assume it would work. The next day, Sasuke tested it with a single clone. One practiced tree climbing while the other worked on water walking.

When the clone disappeared, its experiences returned to him.

The memories weren't merely useful information. Sasuke could recall the sensations, the failed attempts, and the corrections as though he had personally gone through them.

His head felt heavy afterward.

Still, the experiment had succeeded.

From then on, Sasuke began using Shadow Clones carefully to supplement his normal training. He started with only one clone and short sessions, gradually learning how much additional experience he could handle without overwhelming himself.

He soon found another useful application.

At the Academy, a Shadow Clone could remain in the classroom while the original trained elsewhere. Afterward, Sasuke could receive the clone's memories of the lessons, giving him more time to study and think without sacrificing his training schedule.

It wasn't an effortless shortcut, and it couldn't replace physical development.

But it allowed Sasuke to make much better use of his limited time.

Might Guy: "So that's how he's increasing his training efficiency."

Rock Lee: "Then I should start experimenting with it too!"

Hatake Kakashi: "Just don't overdo it. More clones also means more memories to deal with afterward."

Namikaze Minato: "The principle is quite useful. Experience gained from repeated practice can accumulate much faster this way."

Jiraiya: "But the body still has to develop normally. No amount of clones will make your muscles grow for you."

Naruto's eyes immediately lit up.

Uzumaki Naruto: "Then I'll use Shadow Clones to train every day!"

Sasuke looked at him.

Uchiha Sasuke: "And you think I'll let you keep that advantage to yourself?"

Naruto's confident expression disappeared.

Kakashi, meanwhile, was already thinking about the implications.

Most shinobi couldn't abuse the technique this way because of their Chakra limits. Naruto, with his extraordinary Chakra reserves, was an obvious exception.

That made the discovery particularly interesting.

[Sasuke continued refining his training method over the following months.]

He used Shadow Clones to increase the amount of practice he could complete while still leaving enough time to recover and process the returned memories. The gains were gradual rather than miraculous, but the difference accumulated over time.

As his Chakra control improved, his ninjutsu became more efficient as well.

[By the time Sasuke had fully mastered tree climbing and water walking, his control over Chakra had improved considerably.]

Techniques that once required excessive Chakra now demanded much less, giving Sasuke greater freedom to experiment with stronger ninjutsu.

That became his next goal.

[Over the following months, Sasuke began studying more advanced Fire Release techniques from the scrolls at home.]

Even with his talent and improved training method, B-rank ninjutsu still required serious practice. Sasuke had to understand the technique, perform the necessary hand seals correctly, control his Chakra nature, and repeat the process until he could use the jutsu reliably.

He progressed much faster than an ordinary Academy student, but the techniques still took time to master.

[After months of practice, Sasuke successfully mastered Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.]

[He continued studying and eventually mastered Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique as well.]

Ōnoki stroked his beard.

Ōnoki: "That's a frightening rate of improvement for an Academy student."

The Fourth Raikage folded his arms.

Fourth Raikage: "And he's still got years before graduation."

Fugaku looked at the golden screen with unmistakable pride.

Uchiha Fugaku: "His real advantage is that every improvement helps the next one."

Sasuke immediately objected.

Uchiha Sasuke: "You're praising another me again."

Fugaku cleared his throat.

Uchiha Fugaku: "I'm simply acknowledging his progress."

[As the years passed, the results of Sasuke's training became increasingly obvious at the Academy.]

At first, he had needed his Sharingan to defeat Naruto and several classmates working together. Eventually, he could achieve the same result with a Shadow Clone. Later, he became confident enough to defeat them without activating his Sharingan at all.

The change was gradual, building on years of accumulated training rather than a single breakthrough.

While Sasuke continued learning new techniques, refining his existing skills, and making better use of his time, his classmates progressed at the ordinary Academy pace.

The gap steadily widened.

Kiba was one of the first to openly complain.

Inuzuka Kiba: "When did fighting Sasuke become this annoying?"

Nara Shikamaru: "Probably around the time he stopped needing his Sharingan to beat us."

Shino adjusted his glasses.

Aburame Shino: "His growth has been consistently abnormal."

At least the three of them had stopped pretending the problem was temporary.

[As Sasuke grew stronger, he kept returning to Iruka whenever he needed advice on what to learn next.]

At first, Iruka had been happy to help. Watching a student with that much motivation improve was rewarding.

Eventually, however, the questions became harder.

Sasuke had learned nearly everything the Academy curriculum required. His Uchiha shurikenjutsu, enhanced by the Sharingan, had advanced beyond what Iruka could offer in practical instruction. His Chakra control had gone far beyond the exercises Iruka had initially recommended, and his growing knowledge of ninjutsu and genjutsu was beginning to exceed the level of an ordinary Chūnin instructor.

Iruka could still teach him theory and tactics, but when Sasuke asked for new practical training, the answer was becoming increasingly difficult.

Iruka: "I never thought I'd have trouble figuring out what else I could teach one of my students."

Jiraiya smiled.

Jiraiya: "Then you've taken him as far as you can."

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed.

Orochimaru: "Which means he now needs someone capable of taking him further."

Kakashi immediately glanced at him.

Hatake Kakashi: "Don't even think about it."

Orochimaru smiled innocently.

Orochimaru: "You are remarkably suspicious."

The golden-framed screen remained focused on Sasuke.

It had taken years of steady work to reach this point. The Shadow Clone Technique had not magically transformed him overnight; it had simply allowed him to make better use of the time he already had. Combined with his talent, his Sharingan, improved Chakra control, and access to his family's scrolls, that efficiency had gradually pushed him far beyond the normal Academy standard.

Now, at twelve years old, Sasuke had finally reached a limit that could not be overcome simply by training harder.

[The Academy had taught Sasuke almost everything it could.]

[The next stage would require a stronger teacher, more advanced techniques, and experience beyond the classroom.]

For the first time, Sasuke's question was no longer whether he could become stronger.

It was where he would go next.

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[abyssalmandate]

Iruka: "…"

Iruka stared at the golden-framed screen, wishing he could disappear.

Somewhere in another world, his counterpart was struggling with an unusual problem: one of his students had become too advanced for him to teach.

Hatake Kakashi: "With the strength Sasuke has displayed, he could probably pass the Chūnin Exams already. His Chakra reserves are still limited by his age, but his Sharingan, ninjutsu, and genjutsu would make him a formidable opponent."

Rock Lee: "Sasuke is only seven years old! Does that mean I could take the Chūnin Exams now, too?"

Might Guy: "Lee! Kakashi became a Chūnin at six!"

Rock Lee: "So that's what a genius looks like!"

Guy placed a reassuring hand on his student's shoulder.

Might Guy: "But remember, Lee! Hard work can help you catch up with geniuses!"

Lee's determination immediately returned.

On the golden-framed screen, however, Sasuke was facing a different problem. Despite everything he had learned, he still needed guidance to continue advancing.

Golden-Framed Screen

[Iruka stood before Sasuke, sweating as he tried to decide what to teach him next.]

The boy had already mastered the Chakra control exercises Iruka had recommended, learned several Fire Release techniques from his family's scrolls, and found a way to supplement his training with Shadow Clones. The Academy's usual curriculum could no longer keep pace with his progress.

Iruka rubbed his forehead.

["As a Chūnin instructor, I shouldn't have nothing left to teach an Academy student. This is embarrassing!"]

After thinking for a while, he finally remembered a technique that might help.

["Sasuke, the next technique I want to teach you is the Body Flicker Technique!"]

["It allows a ninja to move at tremendous speed over a short distance. By gathering Chakra and releasing it in a controlled burst, you can move so quickly that it appears almost like teleportation."]

["Precise Chakra control is essential, especially when coordinating the release with your movements. You need to direct the Chakra properly and control the burst rather than simply forcing out as much as possible."]

Sasuke listened attentively, memorizing the explanation. After thanking Iruka, he went straight to the training ground to put it into practice.

Shiranui Genma: "The Body Flicker Technique isn't something an ordinary Academy student can master easily."

Ebisu: "Iruka can explain the fundamentals, at least. Whether he can demonstrate the technique himself is another matter."

Iruka: "Ahem! Whatever happens on that screen has nothing to do with me!"

His hasty denial only attracted more attention.

The truth was that he hadn't mastered the Body Flicker Technique himself. He understood its basic principles, but he lacked the practical experience required to teach it properly.

And now everyone was about to watch his other self attempt to teach it to a seven-year-old.

Ōnoki: "Interesting. If a student learns a technique from an instructor who hasn't mastered it, does the instructor get to learn from the student afterward?"

Fourth Raikage: "Let's see whether the brat can actually do it first. Understanding a technique and performing it are two different things."

Orochimaru: "I expect we'll have our answer soon enough."

[Sasuke began practicing the Body Flicker Technique.]

Unlike his previous training, this time he struggled to make progress. He understood Iruka's instructions, but his attempts consistently fell short. Sometimes the burst of Chakra failed to produce enough speed; at other times, the timing was wrong, leaving him unable to control his movement properly.

He knew what the technique was supposed to accomplish, yet he couldn't identify exactly what he was doing wrong.

[Several days passed without meaningful improvement.]

Sasuke returned to Iruka for advice, hoping his teacher could identify the problem. Unfortunately, Iruka merely repeated his earlier explanation and encouraged him to keep practicing.

Sasuke noticed that his instructor seemed uncomfortable whenever he asked for more specific guidance, but he couldn't understand the reason. Rather than waste time dwelling on it, he went home and continued his training.

If he couldn't obtain a better answer, he would have to find one himself.

[Sasuke began examining each attempt, looking for the source of his mistakes.]

He paid closer attention to the timing of his Chakra release and how it affected his movement. Instead of repeating the same action and hoping for a different result, he adjusted one aspect at a time, observed the outcome, and tested new possibilities.

Gradually, the failed attempts became useful lessons. Although progress was slow, he began to understand how the separate elements of the technique fitted together.

[After a month of practice, Sasuke finally succeeded.]

[Sasuke demonstrated the Body Flicker Technique in front of Iruka.]

He gathered his Chakra and released it in a controlled burst. His figure blurred, and a moment later, he appeared several meters away.

Iruka froze.

Uzumaki Naruto: "Hahahaha! Look at Iruka-sensei's face! He looks as though he can't believe what he's seeing!"

Uchiha Sasuke: "Naruto, do you have nothing better to do than laugh at him?"

Naruto: "Not when something this funny is happening!"

Nearby, Neji continued staring at the screen.

Hyūga Neji: "He actually mastered it…"

The technique had taken Sasuke a month to learn, but the circumstances made the achievement remarkable. His instructor had been unable to provide a detailed explanation of how to correct his mistakes, yet Sasuke had eventually worked through the problem himself.

The real Iruka covered his face.

Iruka: "I can't believe this. My other self taught him a technique he hadn't even mastered, and Sasuke actually learned it!"

Orochimaru: "You're focusing on the wrong person, Iruka."

Iruka lowered his hands and looked at him suspiciously.

Orochimaru: "The more interesting question is how Sasuke managed it. He identified the shortcomings in the explanation, tested different approaches, and reached the correct result through his own observations. That ability is considerably more valuable than memorizing a technique."

Namikaze Minato: "Indeed. It is the foundation of developing ninjutsu."

The Fourth Hokage studied the screen thoughtfully.

Minato: "He still has much to learn, but the way he approaches unfamiliar problems is promising. If he continues to develop that ability, he may eventually be able to modify existing techniques or create new ones."

The remark caused a stir among the assembled shinobi.

Creating ninjutsu was a difficult undertaking, requiring more than talent or extensive Chakra reserves. Few shinobi ever developed techniques of their own, and fewer still created ones that became widely used.

Fourth Raikage: "You're saying he might become a ninjutsu developer?"

Minato: "He has shown the right approach. Whether he can turn that ability into a successful technique will depend on what he learns next."

Orochimaru's smile deepened, while several other shinobi returned their attention to the screen with renewed interest.

Iruka, meanwhile, was still struggling with his own embarrassment.

[After recovering from his shock, Iruka finally decided to tell Sasuke the truth.]

He looked at the boy, who was already preparing to ask about his next training goal, and sighed.

["Sasuke, there's something I need to tell you. I haven't actually mastered the Body Flicker Technique myself."]

Sasuke looked at him in surprise.

Iruka scratched his cheek awkwardly before explaining that he understood the basic principles but lacked the practical experience needed to teach the technique in detail. That was why he hadn't been able to answer Sasuke's questions during the previous month.

["I'm sorry I couldn't give you better guidance."]

Sasuke remained quiet for a moment before shaking his head.

["You taught me what you knew, Iruka-sensei. Thank you."]

His straightforward response left Iruka feeling even more conflicted. He had expected disappointment, perhaps even frustration, but Sasuke had accepted the explanation without complaint.

Unfortunately, there was still something else he needed to say.

["There's another problem. I don't think I have much left to teach you."]

Iruka explained that the Academy's instructors were Chūnin whose lessons were designed to prepare ordinary students for graduation. Sasuke had already progressed beyond most of the practical training they could provide.

He could still benefit from theoretical lessons and tactical instruction, but mastering increasingly advanced techniques would require someone with greater experience.

A Jōnin instructor would be the natural next step. However, Konoha had prohibited early graduation during this peaceful period, meaning Sasuke would have to wait until he reached the appropriate age before receiving one.

Iruka: "I really have reached the limit of what I can teach him…"

The real Iruka sighed as he watched his counterpart struggle to explain the situation.

It was a peculiar feeling. He wanted his students to become strong, but he had never imagined that one might progress so far that the Academy's instructors could no longer offer meaningful practical guidance.

Still, he could at least point Sasuke in the right direction.

["Experienced Jōnin generally learn to use several Chakra nature transformations. Studying them would open up more possibilities for your ninjutsu."]

["Unfortunately, I can't teach you how to train them properly. I know the general principles, but I don't have enough practical experience to guide you through the process."]

This time, Iruka spoke without trying to hide his limitations.

Sasuke listened carefully and thanked him for his advice. Although he hadn't received a complete training plan, he now knew what to investigate next.

For the moment, he would have to continue learning independently, using the knowledge available to him until he found someone capable of teaching him more.

[The Academy had taught Sasuke almost everything it could.]

[To advance further, he would need a stronger instructor and access to knowledge beyond the Academy's curriculum.]

On the golden-framed screen, Sasuke returned to his training, already considering how he might begin studying Chakra nature transformation.

Around the shinobi world, the reactions varied. Some remained astonished by what they had witnessed, while others were already wondering how far Sasuke could go with proper instruction.

Iruka, however, could only sigh at the sight of a student who had forced him to confront the limits of his own abilities.
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[abyssalmandate]

The revelation that Sasuke had reached the limits of the Academy's instruction left the shinobi watching the golden-framed screen with plenty to discuss.

Might Guy: "If the Academy has nothing left to teach him, he could always focus on physical training. Taijutsu would be a sensible next step. Even if he can't learn new ninjutsu, he can still strengthen his body!"

Hatake Kakashi: "That's certainly an option. Physical training is useful for any shinobi, and it would help compensate for the limitations of his age. But it won't solve the problem he's facing. He needs someone to teach him techniques beyond the Academy's curriculum."

Fugaku nodded, his attention fixed on the screen.

Uchiha Fugaku: "There's nothing wrong with strengthening his body, but limiting himself to that would be a waste of his abilities. He needs a way to continue developing his ninjutsu."

Namikaze Minato: "Unfortunately, Chakra Nature Transformation isn't easy to learn through books alone. Having someone experienced enough to correct your mistakes makes a considerable difference."

Kakashi gave a small nod.

Hatake Kakashi: "I became a Chūnin at six, but that didn't mean I immediately knew how to develop advanced techniques. It took years of experience before I created the Chidori. Even then, I had to deal with the problem of combining Lightning Release with the Rasengan."

His thoughts briefly returned to the years he had spent training under Minato, long before he became the shinobi everyone knew.

Being a genius had allowed him to advance quickly, but it hadn't eliminated the need for experience or proper instruction.

Sasuke, standing among the spectators, glanced at Kakashi before turning his attention back to the screen. He understood the point well enough. His counterpart had managed to learn a great deal on his own, but there was a difference between mastering techniques that already existed and discovering something new.

Orochimaru: "Unless he finds a solution, he may remain at his current level for quite some time. His talent is one thing, but there is a limit to what he can accomplish with the resources available to him."

Namikaze Minato: "He might meet someone willing to take him as a student. I was fortunate enough to receive guidance from Jiraiya-sensei when I needed it."

Kakashi glanced at the Sannin.

Hatake Kakashi: "As I recall, Jiraiya-sama was rarely in the village around that time."

Jiraiya: "Ahem! I had important business to attend to. Research requires dedication, you know."

Tsunade: "Your definition of research is certainly unique."

Jiraiya ignored her remark and watched the screen with renewed interest.

The discussion soon died down as the golden-framed screen continued to play.

Golden-Framed Screen

[In the following months, Sasuke spent much of his free time reading.]

Since Iruka could no longer provide the practical instruction he needed, Sasuke turned to the Academy library in search of another way forward.

His physical training became more structured. He worked on his strength, endurance, flexibility, and speed, making sure that his body could keep up with the demands of his increasingly intensive training. He also continued practicing the techniques he had already learned, refining his execution whenever he had the opportunity.

Sakura and Ino helped by making sure he ate properly. Between their concern for him and his own increasingly disciplined routine, Sasuke found it easier to maintain his training without neglecting his physical development.

The problem was that physical conditioning could only take him so far.

Whenever Sasuke turned to the books in the Academy library, he found plenty of information about basic ninjutsu, Chakra control, and the techniques taught to ordinary students. But the explanations grew increasingly vague when he searched for more advanced training methods.

Some books described the results a shinobi was expected to achieve without explaining how to achieve them. Others assumed the reader already possessed the practical experience needed to understand the instructions.

Sasuke read anyway.

[Day after day, he searched for information that might help him advance.]

He filled notebooks with observations, compared the explanations provided by different authors, and tried to identify areas he could investigate on his own.

His knowledge continued to grow, but his practical progress was frustratingly slow.

Reading about a technique and understanding how it worked were not the same as learning to perform it.

And without an experienced instructor to correct his mistakes, he couldn't always tell whether a failed attempt came from poor execution, an incomplete understanding of the theory, or a fundamental limitation in his training method.

Still, he refused to abandon the search.

[Half a year passed.]

[Sasuke turned eight years old.]

During those months, his body grew rapidly. His physical training and improved diet helped him become taller and stronger, and he was beginning to stand out even among children who had already grown beyond their earliest Academy years.

His progress in ninjutsu, however, remained limited.

He had become more knowledgeable, but knowledge without practical guidance could only take him so far.

Sasuke refused to accept that this was the end of his progress.

He returned to the library day after day, hoping to find something he had overlooked.

Then, one afternoon, he discovered an unfamiliar book on a shelf tucked away from the more frequently used training manuals.

Unlike the other books around it, this one had no visible author's name.

["A Summary of Ninjutsu Principles…"]

Sasuke examined the cover, then noticed something unusual beneath the title.

The space where the author's name should have been had been deliberately blacked out.

He raised an eyebrow.

Someone had gone to the trouble of concealing the identity of the person who wrote it. That alone was enough to make him curious, though he had no idea whether the contents would be useful.

He opened the book and began reading.

At first, it seemed like an ordinary theoretical text. The opening chapters discussed how ninjutsu relied on the proper molding and manipulation of Chakra, as well as the relationship between the amount of Chakra available to a shinobi, its properties, and the precision with which it could be controlled.

Then Sasuke reached a passage that made him stop.

["In theory, the possibilities of ninjutsu are limited less by the techniques a shinobi has learned than by the properties of their Chakra and their ability to manipulate it."]

["The nature of Chakra determines its elemental properties, while its shape and movement determine how those properties are expressed through a technique."]

Sasuke leaned closer to the page.

The distinction was familiar, but the way the author approached it was different from the explanations he had encountered in the Academy's textbooks.

Rather than simply describing the two principles, the book examined how they could be manipulated independently and how improvements in one area might expand the possibilities of the other.

He continued reading.

["Chakra control can be examined at a much more precise level than the ordinary exercises taught to Academy students."]

["If a shinobi can accurately regulate the flow of Chakra through the body, then its direction, speed, and quantity can theoretically be adjusted with great precision."]

["The limitations lie in the shinobi's understanding of the Chakra network and their ability to maintain that degree of control under actual conditions."]

Sasuke's eyes gradually brightened.

This was the kind of explanation he had been looking for.

His previous training had taught him how to improve his Chakra control through practice, but the book encouraged him to think about the subject from another angle. Instead of treating Chakra control as a general ability that improved through repetition, it presented it as something that could be broken down into smaller, more precise operations.

He began to understand why the author had devoted so much attention to the underlying principles.

If Chakra control could be refined to that degree, perhaps there were ways to perform certain techniques more efficiently than the conventional methods allowed.

Then he reached the passage that caught his attention most.

["Hand seals serve as a means of helping the user mold and control Chakra when performing many ninjutsu."]

["A shinobi who can perform the necessary Chakra manipulation with sufficient precision may be able to dispense with some or all of those seals, provided the technique itself permits it."]

["In principle, this opens the possibility of hand-seal-free ninjutsu."]

Sasuke stopped reading.

For several moments, he simply stared at the page, allowing the implications to settle in his mind.

Ninjutsu without hand seals.

Most techniques required a specific sequence of seals to assist in molding and releasing Chakra. The sequences varied from one technique to another, and their purpose was more than merely allowing the user to remember the correct movements. They helped guide the process of forming and controlling the Chakra required to execute the technique.

Yet the book proposed a different possibility.

What if a shinobi could perform those manipulations directly, without relying on the conventional sequence of hand seals?

The more Sasuke considered it, the more interesting the idea became.

He had already improved his Chakra control considerably through tree climbing and water walking. His Shadow Clone training method had also given him far more opportunities to practice than he otherwise would have had.

Perhaps those foundations could be applied to something beyond learning existing techniques.

Perhaps he could develop a new method of using them.

[Sasuke looked down at the book again, his expression growing serious.]

There was an obvious problem, of course.

A theory wasn't proof that it could be put into practice. Even if the principle was sound, he would need to determine which techniques could be performed this way, how much control they required, and what difficulties he might encounter when attempting to reproduce them.

The book itself offered no simple training method.

But for the first time in months, Sasuke had found something that gave him a concrete direction to explore.

He turned the page and continued reading.

Orochimaru: "Oh? I remember this book."

Several people turned toward him.

Orochimaru looked unusually pleased with himself as he watched Sasuke examine the text.

Orochimaru: "I wrote it while I was still in Konoha. I suppose some copies must have survived in the Academy library."

His smile widened slightly.

Orochimaru: "It seems they even took the trouble to remove my name."

The revelation prompted a few uneasy glances. Whatever the village thought of Orochimaru, no one could deny that his knowledge of ninjutsu was extensive.

Jiraiya: "You wrote that thing? I remember you filling notebooks with all sorts of theories, but I don't recall you discovering a way to perform every technique without hand seals."

Orochimaru: "I never claimed to have accomplished that. The book discusses a theoretical possibility, not a finished technique."

Jiraiya: "Then why are you so pleased with yourself?"

Orochimaru: "Because Sasuke found it interesting enough to read carefully."

Jiraiya folded his arms.

Jiraiya: "Reading a book is one thing. Turning its theories into actual techniques is another. You can't master Chakra Nature Transformation simply by reading a few pages, either. If that boy manages it, I'll find your book and eat it!"

Orochimaru's smile became positively serpentine.

Orochimaru: "Remember that promise, Jiraiya."

The Toad Sage's expression faltered.

He looked back at the screen, suddenly less certain of himself.

Kakashi had been a prodigy since childhood, but even he had needed years of experience before creating the Chidori. Sasuke's current progress was impressive, yet the idea of an eight-year-old learning advanced Chakra manipulation from a book seemed difficult to believe.

Still, the boy had surprised them before.

Jiraiya decided he would reserve judgment until he saw actual results.

Golden-Framed Screen

[After spending more than half a day reading, Sasuke finally finished the book.]

He closed it carefully and sat in silence, organizing the information in his mind.

The first part of his plan was clear enough: he needed to improve his Chakra control further, particularly his ability to manipulate Chakra with precision rather than simply maintaining a steady flow.

The second was more complicated.

The author had explained the relationship between Chakra's elemental properties and its shape, but Sasuke still needed a reliable way to investigate those principles through practice. He couldn't assume that improving his control alone would automatically allow him to perform every technique without hand seals.

He would need to experiment.

Perhaps he could begin with a technique he already understood well, one whose Chakra requirements were familiar enough that he could recognize when something went wrong. Rather than attempting to remove every hand seal at once, he could investigate whether a smaller change was possible.

It was only a preliminary idea, but it gave him somewhere to start.

["So the next stage of my training is to improve my Chakra control and investigate Nature Transformation more systematically…"]

Sasuke glanced at the book again.

["And if the theory about hand-seal-free ninjutsu is correct, I might eventually be able to develop a new way of performing techniques."]

A faint smile appeared on his face.

He had spent months searching for a teacher or a training method that could take him further. Instead, he had found something that offered a different possibility: a problem that he could investigate and perhaps solve on his own.

It wouldn't be easy, and he had no guarantee of success.

That was precisely what made it interesting.

[For Sasuke, the book was not the answer. It was the beginning of a new line of research.]

On the golden-framed screen, the eight-year-old boy reopened the book and began taking notes.

Around him, the Academy continued its ordinary routine. Students attended classes, instructors prepared lessons, and the village went about its daily business, unaware that a young Uchiha had just found an entirely different direction for his training.

And somewhere in Konoha's library, a forgotten book written by Orochimaru had found a reader who might finally put its theories to the test.

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[abyssalmandate]

The discovery that Sasuke intended to develop hand-seal-free ninjutsu had left the shinobi world buzzing with speculation. Now that the golden-framed screen had revealed his next steps, the discussion only grew louder.

Ōnoki: "Surely I haven't misunderstood him. He's actually trying to develop ninjutsu without hand seals?"

Fourth Raikage: "That's not even the most ridiculous part. The boy is only eight years old!"

Eight years old.

At that age, most Academy students were still struggling to master the fundamentals. Being able to perform a few basic ninjutsu techniques would already have been considered respectable progress.

Yet the eight-year-old Sasuke from the parallel world was attempting something that even experienced shinobi would find difficult.

Terumi Mei: "You're all making it sound as though he can accomplish anything simply because he decides to try. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to perform ninjutsu without hand seals?"

Hatake Kakashi: "I'd be satisfied if he managed to reduce the number of seals required. Eliminating them altogether is another matter."

Senju Tobirama: "Reducing the number of seals is certainly possible with sufficient control over Chakra. Take the Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, for example. A less experienced shinobi might need dozens of hand seals, whereas I can perform it with only four."

Mei raised an eyebrow.

Terumi Mei: "I can reduce it to six."

Momochi Zabuza: "…"

He suddenly found himself regretting his decision to remain quiet.

He had needed forty-four hand seals to perform the same technique.

Forty-four!

At this rate, he was beginning to suspect that the entire Senju family had been created specifically to make the rest of the shinobi world feel inadequate.

Senju Hashirama: "I've never really understood why everyone makes such a fuss about hand seals. They're just movements you make with your hands, aren't they?"

Senju Tobirama: "Brother, please shut up."

Hashirama: "What's wrong? I was only asking!"

Tobirama: "Just because you can do something doesn't mean everyone else can!"

Hashirama looked genuinely puzzled, while Tobirama sighed as though he had been forced to explain the same thing for the thousandth time.

The exchange earned a few amused glances from the other Kage.

However, beneath the humor lay a serious question. If Sasuke could gradually eliminate the need for hand seals, he might be able to cast certain techniques more quickly and make his movements harder for opponents to read.

Whether he could actually accomplish that remained to be seen.

The golden-framed screen resumed playing.

Golden-Framed Screen

[Having settled on the direction of his next stage of training, Sasuke began organizing his daily routine.]

His body had developed considerably over the past six months, and his growing Chakra reserves now allowed him to maintain three Shadow Clones without exhausting himself immediately.

Rather than having all three clones practice the same technique, Sasuke decided to divide their responsibilities.

The original would concentrate on physical conditioning and Chakra refinement, ensuring that his body and reserves continued developing together. One Shadow Clone would spend its time studying books and gathering information, while another focused on improving Chakra control.

The third would concentrate on Chakra Nature Transformation.

It was a practical arrangement. Each clone could work on a separate task, and when they dispersed, Sasuke would receive their accumulated experiences and observations.

Naturally, he still needed time to process those memories, and he couldn't neglect sleep, meals, or recovery. But compared with his previous routine, the arrangement allowed him to make considerably better use of his day.

[After examining his Chakra, Sasuke confirmed that he possessed affinities for both Fire Release and Lightning Release.]

The results surprised him slightly. Although he had already learned several Fire Release techniques from his family's scrolls, his affinity for Lightning Release appeared to be marginally stronger.

After considering his options, he decided to prioritize Lightning Release Nature Transformation for the time being.

Fire Release was already one of his strengths. Developing a second elemental nature would give him more options in the future, even if it took considerably longer to master.

The greater challenge, however, was the experiment he had become increasingly interested in since discovering Orochimaru's book.

Hand-seal-free ninjutsu.

Sasuke chose the technique he knew best: the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.

It was a familiar C-rank technique that he had already practiced extensively. Because he understood its usual execution, he could focus on changing the process without first having to learn an unfamiliar jutsu.

According to the theory outlined in A Summary of Ninjutsu Principles, he needed to improve his ability to manipulate Chakra directly, gradually replacing the assistance provided by the hand seals.

Rather than attempting to eliminate every seal at once, he began by investigating how much of the sequence he could remove while still producing a stable result.

Some attempts failed before the Chakra had been properly molded. Others produced flames, but the release was too weak or unstable to create a proper fireball.

He kept adjusting the process, using each failure to determine which parts of the technique he could control directly and which still depended on the conventional sequence.

The work continued for weeks.

Then, one day, he finally succeeded.

["Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"]

Sasuke drew a breath and released a powerful fireball from his mouth.

The familiar sphere of flames surged forward, illuminating the training ground with its orange glow.

But there was something different about this attempt.

Sasuke hadn't formed a single hand seal.

The fireball struck its target and dispersed in a wave of heat, leaving Sasuke standing where he was, staring at the result.

For several moments, he didn't say anything.

Then he lowered his head and examined his hands.

["...That was it?"]

He had expected the final breakthrough to be much more difficult.

After weeks of experimenting, he had managed to perform the Great Fireball Technique without hand seals.

His first attempt at hand-seal-free ninjutsu had succeeded.

And now that the initial surprise had passed, he found himself wondering whether the result was as extraordinary as it seemed.

["I suppose the theory really was correct."]

Sasuke looked toward the scorched target, then back at his hands.

["It wasn't nearly as difficult as I expected."]

For once, the shinobi watching the screen had nothing to say.

The silence lasted several seconds.

Jiraiya: "Wait a minute. Did they skip something?"

He leaned forward, staring at the golden-framed screen as though expecting it to reveal another scene.

Jiraiya: "We watched him struggle to learn a technique from a book, and now, all of a sudden, he's performing ninjutsu without hand seals? Where's the part where he fails a hundred times and nearly gives up?"

Hatake Kakashi: "Apparently, he didn't need that many attempts."

Kakashi's expression was difficult to read.

He had copied countless techniques with his Sharingan. That experience had given him an unusually broad understanding of ninjutsu, including the hand seals used to perform different techniques.

Yet even he couldn't casually remove the seals from every jutsu he knew.

The Rasengan was a notable exception because it didn't require hand seals in the first place. Sasuke, however, had just demonstrated something different: he had taken an existing technique and changed the way he performed it.

Hatake Kakashi: "Is hand-seal-free ninjutsu really that easy for him?"

Orochimaru: "Apparently, it is easier than I expected."

For once, the Sannin sounded genuinely impressed rather than merely amused.

He had written A Summary of Ninjutsu Principles as a theoretical exploration of Chakra manipulation. Although the book discussed the possibility of eliminating hand seals, he hadn't expected an eight-year-old to put the idea into practice so quickly.

Orochimaru: "It seems I underestimated the usefulness of my own research."

Senju Tobirama: "That brat is abnormal."

Senju Hashirama: "You say that as though you're surprised."

Senju Tobirama: "And you're exactly as abnormal as he is, Brother!"

Hashirama scratched his cheek, unable to decide whether that had been a compliment.

Nearby, Minato remained thoughtful.

Namikaze Minato: "The important question is whether he can reproduce the result consistently. One successful attempt establishes that the method works for this technique, but he'll still need to determine its limitations."

Minato understood how much experimentation could lie behind a seemingly simple breakthrough. A technique that worked once wasn't necessarily reliable in combat, and eliminating hand seals from one jutsu didn't automatically provide a universal method for eliminating them from every other jutsu.

Still, Sasuke had crossed an important threshold.

He was no longer merely learning existing techniques. He had begun modifying the methods used to perform them.

Fourth Raikage: "If he can apply this to more techniques, fighting him will become a serious problem. An opponent who doesn't need to form hand seals gives you far less time to react."

Terumi Mei: "Provided the technique is something he can actually use without them. We shouldn't assume that every jutsu can be modified so easily."

Orochimaru: "A sensible distinction. But even a limited application would be valuable."

The discussion gradually subsided as the screen continued.

Golden-Framed Screen

[After successfully performing the Great Fireball Technique without hand seals, Sasuke began experimenting with other ninjutsu.]

His first success gave him a better understanding of what to look for. Instead of treating each technique as an entirely separate problem, he began comparing their Chakra requirements and examining which parts of their execution depended on hand seals.

Some experiments produced encouraging results; others proved far more difficult than expected.

He didn't try to force the same method onto every technique. Whenever the underlying requirements differed, he returned to the principles in Orochimaru's book and adjusted his approach.

Meanwhile, the Shadow Clone assigned to Chakra control continued working on precision, giving Sasuke more experience to draw upon.

His progress in Lightning Release was slower.

Although he could feel his understanding improving, controlling the elemental properties of Chakra was a different challenge from adjusting its flow. He could follow the exercises in his reference books, but mastering the transformation itself required practice and patience.

For now, Sasuke accepted the difference in pace.

Hand-seal-free ninjutsu had given him a promising new direction, but it wasn't a replacement for the rest of his training.

He continued working on both.

[Time passed as Sasuke gradually expanded his experiments.]

Then, one afternoon, he visited the Academy library to look for additional reading material.

He had nearly finished examining the books he considered useful, so he wandered through another section of the shelves, searching for anything that might offer a different perspective.

That was when an orange cover caught his eye.

The title was printed in large letters.

Make-Out Paradise.

Sasuke stopped.

["...Make-Out Paradise?"]

He tilted his head, wondering what sort of book it was.

The cover featured a man and a woman in an intimate pose, but the illustration alone didn't tell him much about the contents.

Curiosity won.

He picked it up, opened the first page, and began reading.

A moment later—

Snap!

Sasuke closed the book so quickly that the sound echoed through the otherwise quiet library.

His ears had turned red.

["I can't read this! This is one of the legendary forbidden books of the shinobi world!"]

He glanced around to make sure nobody had seen him.

The library was quiet. No one appeared to be paying attention.

Sasuke slowly looked down at the orange cover again.

He knew he should put it back.

He really did.

After all, he had been spending the past several months trying to advance his ninjutsu, and he had only come to the library to look for useful research material.

Reading a romance novel written for adults certainly hadn't been part of his plan.

["...I'll just read a little more. Satisfying my curiosity doesn't mean I'll become addicted to it."]

He opened the book again.

The next moment, his attention was completely absorbed.

Page after page passed beneath his fingers.

His expression shifted between curiosity, surprise, and a level of concentration that would have been impressive had he been studying a technical manual.

Unfortunately, the subject matter was rather different.

[Half a day passed.]

Jiraiya: "…"

The Sannin sat frozen.

Then he slowly raised his head, his eyes shining with disbelief and unmistakable pride.

Hatake Kakashi: "Congratulations, Sasuke. You've opened the door to an entirely new world."

Uchiha Mikoto: "Why is a book like that in the Academy library?!"

Uzumaki Kushina: "Jiraiya-sama, I hope you aren't planning to start distributing your novels to children."

Jiraiya: "Hold on! I didn't put the book in that library! And it's a perfectly respectable work of fiction!"

Tsunade: "You look far too pleased with yourself for someone who supposedly has nothing to do with this."

Jiraiya coughed into his fist and attempted to recover his dignity.

Unfortunately, his grin gave him away.

The Sasuke standing in the comparison room had a rather different reaction.

He stared at the screen with a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment.

Uchiha Sasuke: "Is that book really so interesting?"

He had seen Kakashi reading similar novels on countless occasions, but he had never been particularly interested in them himself.

Now, however, the golden-framed screen had shown his counterpart spending half a day buried in one.

Sasuke glanced at Kakashi.

Then he looked away.

Perhaps he should buy a copy and find out what the fuss was about.

The thought lasted barely a second before he violently shook his head.

What am I thinking? I still have my revenge to pursue!

He had no intention of letting a ridiculous book distract him from his goal.

Kakashi, meanwhile, quietly tucked his own copy away.

There was no reason to make the situation worse by drawing attention to it.

Golden-Framed Screen

["Sasuke, have you seen a copy of—"]

Iruka's voice came from behind him.

["Oh. Sasuke?"]

Sasuke's eyes widened.

He had been so absorbed in reading that he hadn't noticed his teacher approach.

For one brief moment, his mind went completely blank.

Then his instincts kicked in.

He straightened in his seat, closed the book, and looked up at Iruka with an expression of perfect composure.

["Iruka-sensei. Is this your book? I couldn't find a name written on it, so I wasn't sure who it belonged to."]

As he spoke, Sasuke calmly held the book out to his teacher.

His face was completely serious.

It was as though he had simply found an unfamiliar textbook and decided to return it to its owner.

Iruka stared at the book.

Then he stared at Sasuke.

A long silence followed.

For some reason, the sight of his young student sitting in the library with Make-Out Paradise in his hands was far more difficult to process than anything else that had happened that day.

And Sasuke, who had managed to remain composed through countless hours of difficult training, continued looking at him with the innocent expression of someone who had absolutely nothing to hide.

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[abyssalmandate]

The golden-framed screen had barely finished showing Sasuke's encounter with Iruka when Naruto burst out laughing.

Uzumaki Naruto: "I never expected Iruka-sensei to read that kind of book!"

Jiraiya: "Hahaha! It seems my novels have attracted another devoted reader!"

Iruka: "I told you, that wasn't me!"

Nara Shikamaru: "You don't have to explain, Iruka-sensei. Your counterpart is practically identical to you, so it isn't surprising that you share the same interests."

Iruka: "That's not how that works!"

Kakashi, who had been listening quietly, finally looked up from his own book.

Hatake Kakashi: "What's the problem? It's just a romance novel. There's nothing wrong with an adult reading one."

Several Konoha shinobi gave him a familiar, exasperated look.

Coming from the man who could read Make-Out Paradise in almost any situation, the defense was hardly surprising.

Uchiha Mikoto: "I'm more concerned about Sasuke. What if he starts imitating the things he reads?"

Fugaku considered this for a moment.

Uchiha Fugaku: "As long as he eventually starts a family, I suppose it wouldn't be entirely bad for the clan."

Uchiha Mikoto: "Fugaku!"

He wisely decided not to elaborate.

The real Sasuke had a bad feeling about where this conversation was heading.

Golden-Framed Screen

[Iruka quickly snatched Make-Out Paradise from Sasuke's hands.]

He stared at the book, then at his student.

["Sasuke, you haven't read this, have you?"]

Sasuke met his gaze without the slightest hesitation.

["Of course not. I was only checking whose book it was when you arrived, Iruka-sensei."]

Then, as though the matter genuinely interested him, he added:

["What is it about, anyway? Is there anything useful I could learn from it?"]

Iruka froze.

["It's just a book! There's nothing you need to learn from it. Concentrate on your studies instead!"]

["I see. Thank you for explaining, sensei."]

Sasuke nodded obediently.

His expression was so innocent that Iruka couldn't find a reason to question him. Uncomfortable with the entire situation, the instructor hurriedly put the book away and left.

Sasuke watched him go before quietly returning to his own business.

Senju Hashirama: "Hahaha! That boy can keep a straight face!"

Uzumaki Naruto: "Iruka-sensei actually believed him!"

Iruka: "His expression was completely normal! How was I supposed to know he was lying?"

Nara Shikamaru: "You probably shouldn't underestimate him."

Iruka had no good response to that.

Meanwhile, Sasuke stared at his counterpart on the screen.

He had a sinking feeling that this was only the beginning.

[After school, Sasuke passed a bookstore on his way home.]

As he walked by, his attention drifted toward the books displayed in the window.

More specifically, toward a familiar orange cover.

Should I buy a copy?

Sasuke immediately shook his head.

["No! I'm an avenger. I need to uncover the truth about my clan and become stronger. I don't have time for this!"]

He continued walking.

A few steps later, he stopped, turned around, and looked back at the bookstore.

["...Why do my feet keep taking me back?"]

After a brief internal struggle, Sasuke entered the shop.

The owner glanced at him and immediately waved him away.

Shopkeeper: "Hey, kid! This isn't a place for you. Go home!"

Sasuke's expression darkened.

He had finally worked up the nerve to come inside, only to be thrown out before he could even reach the shelves.

After checking that nobody was watching, he stepped into a nearby alley and used his newly developed hand-seal-free Transformation Technique to assume the appearance of an adult.

The transformation complete, he returned to the bookstore.

This time, the shopkeeper barely paid him any attention.

Sasuke found the book, paid for it, and left without further trouble.

The entire operation took only a few minutes.

Not a single hand seal was required.

Uchiha Sasuke: "…"

He had genuinely expected his counterpart to do something ridiculous, but using hand-seal-free ninjutsu to purchase a romance novel was beyond what he had imagined.

Hatake Kakashi: "Efficient. He's already found a practical application for his new technique."

Terumi Mei: "You sound rather pleased with him."

Kakashi: "A technique is only useful when you know how to apply it."

Jiraiya: "Exactly! At least someone appreciates the practical value of my work!"

Tsunade: "Don't encourage him."

The real Sasuke ignored them, silently wondering why his counterpart couldn't have used his abilities for something more respectable.

Unfortunately, the golden-framed screen had more to reveal.

Golden-Framed Screen

[That evening, Sasuke began reading Make-Out Paradise.]

He intended to satisfy his curiosity and put the book away before returning to his training.

That plan lasted considerably less time than expected.

The novel drew him in, and he soon found himself turning page after page, eager to see what happened next. After spending years concentrating almost exclusively on training and getting stronger, he had rarely given himself the opportunity to enjoy something without looking for a practical benefit.

Now, he had discovered something that held his attention for its own sake.

[Half a day passed before Sasuke finally finished reading.]

He closed the book and sat quietly for a moment.

So this is what I've been missing.

Then he glanced toward his training equipment.

Wait. I just wasted half a day!

A second thought immediately followed.

But reading helps relieve stress. If I relax properly, I'll be able to train more efficiently afterward.

Sasuke frowned.

He was clearly making excuses, and he knew it.

Then another consideration occurred to him: the future of the Uchiha clan.

The clan needs to be rebuilt. Eventually, I'll need to start a family and ensure that our name survives.

That much was undeniable.

And understanding romance could be useful for that.

He paused.

...Does that mean reading this book counts as training?

His expression grew serious as he considered the matter.

After all, strengthening the clan wasn't only about becoming a powerful shinobi. Someone would eventually have to continue the family line, and that required more than mastering ninjutsu.

The reasoning was questionable, but Sasuke found it surprisingly difficult to dismiss.

Finally, he picked up the book again.

["For the future of the Uchiha clan, this much is acceptable."]

He nodded firmly, as if he had just made an important decision concerning the survival of his family.

["If I must make sacrifices for the clan, then so be it."]

The sacrifice, apparently, was another evening of reading.

The Comparison Room

Sakura and Ino exchanged glances, both looking far more enthusiastic than the situation warranted.

Haruno Sakura: "If Sasuke wants to rebuild his clan, I wouldn't mind helping him!"

Yamanaka Ino: "Neither would I!"

The two girls looked at each other, momentarily forgetting their rivalry.

The real Sasuke turned bright red.

Uchiha Sasuke: "Can we please stop discussing this?"

Terumi Mei: "I never expected the cold and distant Uchiha heir to justify reading romance novels by claiming it would help restore his clan."

Yūhi Kurenai: "He is still a child. I doubt he has thought much further ahead than that."

Uzuki Yūgao: "Even so, it's an impressively elaborate excuse."

Tsunade: "Jiraiya, your books are having an unusual influence on the next generation."

Jiraiya: "I prefer to think of it as broadening their horizons!"

Kushina laughed.

Uzumaki Kushina: "I don't see the problem. Naruto could use a little more ambition himself!"

Uchiha Mikoto: "Kushina, please don't encourage them."

Fugaku, meanwhile, seemed to be considering Sasuke's argument far more seriously than anyone else.

Uchiha Fugaku: "At least he's thinking about the future of the clan."

Mikoto turned toward him.

Uchiha Mikoto: "Not you, too."

Fugaku fell silent.

Golden-Framed Screen

[The following morning, Sasuke's attitude toward his female classmates had changed slightly.]

After finishing Make-Out Paradise, Sasuke had spent some time thinking about its contents. He had originally intended to forget the book and return to his training, but his argument about restoring the Uchiha clan had proved surprisingly difficult to dismiss.

If he wanted to rebuild his clan someday, he would eventually need to understand how to interact with girls.

At least, that was the conclusion he had reached.

The problem was that he had absolutely no idea where to begin.

When he arrived at the Academy, he spotted Sakura chatting with her friends near the classroom entrance. Ino stood nearby, laughing at something another girl had said.

Sasuke studied them for a moment.

All right. First, I need to establish normal communication.

He nodded to himself, treating the task with the same seriousness he would give a new training exercise.

Step One: Initiate a conversation.

He paused.

What am I supposed to say?

For the first time in a long while, Sasuke found himself facing a problem for which neither the Sharingan nor his family's scrolls could provide an obvious answer.

Then Sakura noticed him.

Haruno Sakura: "Good morning, Sasuke!"

Ino immediately turned around.

Yamanaka Ino: "Sasuke! Good morning!"

Sasuke seized the opportunity.

Sasuke: "Good morning."

Both girls froze.

It was only two words. Nothing remarkable had happened. He hadn't complimented either of them, offered them a gift, or done anything beyond returning a greeting.

Yet Sakura's face turned pink, while Ino looked ready to challenge an entire platoon of shinobi for the privilege of hearing him say it again.

Sasuke walked away, completely unaware of the commotion behind him.

Excellent. The initial exchange was successful.

He took out a small notebook.

Preliminary observation: Greeting female classmates produces a disproportionately positive response.

He considered the sentence, then added another line.

Possible explanation: They appreciate polite behavior.

Sasuke nodded thoughtfully.

So that's the secret.

Had Kakashi seen the notebook, he would probably have laughed until he couldn't breathe. Unfortunately for Sasuke, nobody was there to correct his conclusion.

He tucked the notebook away and proceeded to his seat, already thinking about the next stage of his plan.

Now I need to learn how to hold a conversation.

His expression became grave.

This may be more difficult than Lightning Release.

Across the comparison room, the real Sasuke stared at the screen in absolute disbelief.

Uchiha Sasuke: "Why am I treating talking to girls like classified intelligence research?!"

Hatake Kakashi: "Because, apparently, you've finally discovered an enemy you can't defeat by throwing more training at it."

Naruto burst out laughing.

Uzumaki Naruto: "Sasuke! Do you need a training partner? I can help you practice saying hello!"

Uchiha Sasuke: "I'll kill you."

Naruto: "See? That's the problem! You need to work on your communication skills!"

Even Sakura and Ino were struggling to contain their laughter, though neither seemed particularly bothered by the idea of helping Sasuke with his research.

On the golden-framed screen, the eight-year-old Uchiha had already opened his notebook again.

[Objective: Restore the Uchiha clan.]

[Current obstacle: Insufficient knowledge of girls.]

[Proposed solution: Further research required.]

Sasuke stared at the final line, then solemnly underlined it twice.

After all, the future of the Uchiha clan was at stake.

He couldn't afford to take this lightly.

Uchiha Sasuke: "I swear, if that idiot actually writes a training manual for picking up girls, I'm disowning him."

Uchiha Fugaku: "You can't disown yourself."

Sasuke: "Then I'll make an exception."

And so, at the age of eight, Sasuke Uchiha began what he considered the most important research project of his life.

He had yet to master Lightning Release, had only begun exploring hand-seal-free ninjutsu, and still had a long way to go before reaching the peak of the shinobi world.

But none of those challenges worried him quite as much as the next question he'd written in his notebook:

[Research Question: How do you make a girl like you?]

For the first time in his life, Sasuke had found a problem he couldn't solve by training harder.

And somehow, he suspected it was going to be a long-term project.


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[abyssalmandate]

Golden-Framed Screen

["Sakura, that hairband looks really nice on you today."]

Sakura froze.

For a moment, she wondered whether she had heard correctly. Sasuke had always been handsome, talented, and frustratingly difficult to approach, but he had rarely gone out of his way to compliment anyone.

Yet here he was, standing in front of her with a faint smile.

Haruno Sakura: "S-Sasuke-kun!"

Her face turned bright red, and her mind went completely blank.

Before she could recover, Sasuke turned toward Ino.

["Ino, you smell nice. Is that the scent of cosmos flowers?"]

Yamanaka Ino: "I-It's a perfume made from cosmos flowers! If you like it, I can bring you some tomorrow!"

["Really? Then would you mind sitting beside me tomorrow? I'd like to enjoy that fragrance a little longer."]

Sasuke smiled gently.

Ino's face turned crimson.

For all her usual confidence, she had never imagined that the boy she had admired for years would suddenly become so attentive. Sakura wasn't faring any better, and the two girls exchanged a brief glance, each wondering whether the other was experiencing the same dream.

Sasuke, meanwhile, was quietly satisfied.

The book really does contain useful information.

He had spent the previous evening studying the principles of conversation, and now he was testing them in practice. The results were considerably better than he had expected.

Unfortunately, he had yet to realize that being handsome, talented, and unusually attentive gave him a considerable advantage before he even opened his mouth.

The Comparison Room

Sarutobi Asuma: "How did he improve that much overnight?!"

Asuma looked genuinely troubled.

He had spent years trying to get closer to Kurenai, yet his progress had been painfully slow. Meanwhile, Sasuke had apparently decided to change his approach one evening and started receiving results the very next morning.

Nara Shikamaru: "You're overlooking something obvious. He's Sasuke."

Inuzuka Kiba: "That's exactly the problem! He's handsome, strong, and now he's taking the initiative, too. What chance do the rest of us have?"

Rock Lee: "I want to learn how to do that!"

Might Guy: "Lee, your youthful spirit is admirable, but perhaps you should master the basics of conversation first!"

Lee nodded solemnly, as if Guy had just given him an important lesson.

Yūhi Kurenai: "A handsome and talented boy who takes the time to compliment someone sincerely is bound to attract attention. Sasuke's counterpart is simply learning how to make better use of what he already has."

Uchiha Sasuke: "Why does everyone keep talking about my face?!"

Naruto grinned at him.

Uzumaki Naruto: "Because you can't argue with the evidence, teme!"

Sasuke glared at him, and Naruto immediately burst out laughing.

Meanwhile, several of Konoha's unmarried shinobi had reached a rather different conclusion.

Moonlight Hayate: "Does reading Make-Out Paradise really improve your ability to talk to girls?"

Sarutobi Asuma: "I was wondering the same thing."

Ebisu: "If there's even a small chance, I wouldn't mind giving it a try."

Shiranui Genma: "Count me in."

Jiraiya threw back his head and laughed.

Jiraiya: "Hahaha! At last, people are beginning to appreciate the true value of my novels!"

Orochimaru: "Don't flatter yourself. Sasuke's success comes from his ability to observe, analyze, and adapt. Your books merely gave him something to experiment with."

Jiraiya: "You could at least let me enjoy the moment!"

Orochimaru smiled.

Orochimaru: "Besides, considering your own romantic history, I'm not sure you're the best person to ask for advice."

Jiraiya's smile vanished.

Jiraiya: "Orochimaru, shut up!"

The laughter spread through the comparison room.

Kakashi, who had remained quiet throughout the discussion, lowered his copy of Make-Out Paradise.

For some reason, he felt that the conversation had become a personal attack.

Golden-Framed Screen

[With his confidence around girls improving, Sasuke's daily life became considerably more enjoyable.]

He still trained every day, studied ninjutsu, and used his Shadow Clones to make the most of his time. However, he had also discovered that there was more to life than training.

Sakura and Ino often brought him food, offered to help him with small errands, or found excuses to sit beside him. Sasuke accepted their kindness without making a fuss, occasionally returning it with a compliment or a thoughtful gesture.

The results were remarkably consistent.

Naturally, Sasuke began to believe that he had discovered another useful principle.

People respond better when you treat them well. It's hardly complicated.

He wrote that observation in his notebook, then paused.

I should probably read the next volume.

After a moment's consideration, he added another note.

For research purposes.

Fortunately, his training had not suffered. If anything, his improved mood made it easier for him to maintain his routine, and his experiments with Lightning Release continued to advance.

The progress was slow, but it was steady.

Until one day, he finally reached the breakthrough he had been working toward.

[Somewhere in the wilderness outside Konoha, Sasuke stood before a large boulder.]

He took a breath and gathered Chakra within his body.

This time, he didn't need to consult his notes or stop to reconsider the flow of his Chakra. Over the previous months, he had gradually learned how to convert his Chakra into electricity, maintain its properties, and direct it with increasing precision.

Now, he was ready to test the result.

["Lightning Release: False Darkness!"]

A spear of lightning burst forward with a sharp crack.

It struck the boulder and pierced straight through it. A moment later, cracks spread across the stone, and the massive rock broke apart with a heavy crash.

Dust drifted through the clearing.

Sasuke watched the remains for a moment before letting out a satisfied breath.

["Finally. I've completed Lightning Release nature transformation."]

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, unable to hide his excitement.

The technique itself wasn't the important part. What mattered was that he could now reliably convert his Chakra into lightning and maintain the desired properties without relying on someone else's instructions.

He had reached this point through books, repeated experiments, and countless failed attempts.

And he had done it without a Jōnin instructor.

Sasuke glanced at the ruined boulder, then at the notes tucked into his bag.

I should review today's results later. There may still be room for improvement.

He paused, remembering that Sakura and Ino had invited him to spend time with them.

A small smile appeared on his face.

["That can wait until tomorrow. Today, I'm celebrating with Sakura and Ino."]

He packed his things and headed back toward the village, entirely satisfied with his progress.

The Comparison Room

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Kakashi finally broke the silence.

Hatake Kakashi: "He actually completed Lightning Release nature transformation on his own."

Kakashi remembered his own training under Minato. Although he had possessed extraordinary talent from childhood, mastering Lightning Release had still required guidance, experimentation, and considerable effort.

Yet the Sasuke on the golden screen had reached that milestone before turning nine, with no experienced instructor to correct his mistakes.

Shiranui Genma: "I'm in my twenties, and I've only mastered one nature transformation. That boy isn't even nine yet."

Ebisu: "Please stop reminding me. I'm already questioning my entire career."

Fourth Raikage: "Hmph! At least he's putting that talent to good use. If he continues developing at this pace, he'll become a formidable shinobi."

Ōnoki: "Talent alone doesn't explain everything. He found a method, tested it, and kept refining his understanding until he could produce the desired result. That's what makes this troublesome."

Minato nodded.

Namikaze Minato: "Exactly. He didn't simply memorize a technique from a book. He understood the underlying principle and learned to apply it. That kind of independent thinking will serve him well."

On the golden screen, Sasuke had already begun walking back toward Konoha.

The real Sasuke stared after his counterpart with a complicated expression.

He had always considered himself a genius. Seeing another version of himself reach such a level at eight years old was difficult enough.

Knowing that the other Sasuke had accomplished it while apparently conducting romantic research on the side made it considerably worse.

Uchiha Sasuke: "How does he have time for all of this?!"

Nara Shikamaru: "Shadow Clones, probably. And apparently, he doesn't waste much time worrying about what other people think of him."

Uzumaki Naruto: "You should try learning from him, teme!"

Uchiha Sasuke: "You first, dobe!"

Their argument was interrupted by a familiar voice.

Orochimaru: "Jiraiya, there's something you seem to have forgotten."

Jiraiya stiffened.

He already knew what was coming.

Orochimaru: "Didn't you promise to eat one of my books if Sasuke managed to learn advanced Chakra training through reading alone?"

Jiraiya looked away.

Jiraiya: "I believe the exact wording of that promise is open to interpretation."

Orochimaru: "How unfortunate. I remember it quite clearly."

Jiraiya: "Besides, Sasuke didn't learn everything from the book! He still had to practice!"

Namikaze Minato: "That is true. Reading alone wouldn't have been enough. He still had to understand the theory and verify it through practical experience."

Jiraiya immediately seized on the opening.

Jiraiya: "See?! Minato understands!"

Orochimaru's smile widened.

Orochimaru: "Then perhaps you should eat the book on the principles of ninjutsu instead. That was the one that started all this."

Jiraiya's expression froze.

The comparison room erupted in laughter.

Tsunade: "You brought this on yourself, pervert."

Jiraiya: "Why am I surrounded by people who enjoy watching me suffer?!"

Orochimaru: "Because you make it so entertaining."

Even Kakashi couldn't resist chuckling.

Jiraiya glared at him.

Jiraiya: "And you! Stop laughing! You're one of my most devoted readers!"

Kakashi calmly raised his book to cover the lower half of his face.

Hatake Kakashi: "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."

Jiraiya: "You little—!"

The room descended into another round of laughter.

Meanwhile, the golden-framed screen continued to display Sasuke's retreating figure.

He had completed Lightning Release nature transformation, made significant progress with hand-seal-free ninjutsu, and discovered a new interest outside training.

For Sasuke, it had been a productive day.

For Jiraiya, it had been a disastrous one.

And for Orochimaru, it was an excellent opportunity to remind an old friend that some promises were better left unmade.


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Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts. Power Stones are always appreciated, too!

Want to read ahead? My Patreon offers 5, 10, or 15 advanced chapters for each included story, plus an extra chapter for free members!

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next chapter!

 

[abyssalmandate]

Hashirama leaned forward, watching Sasuke's progress with growing amazement.

"At this rate, that kid might be as strong as a jōnin by the time he graduates!"

Tobirama folded his arms. "Might be? Have you been watching the same thing I have? If he keeps progressing like this, I'd be more surprised if he didn't reach that level."

Hashirama chuckled. "You really don't leave much room for doubt, do you?"

"I'm being realistic, brother. He's already teaching himself things most students wouldn't even attempt. And he's only getting started."

Sasuke had managed to perform a technique without hand seals through his own experiments. His control over chakra was improving, and he was steadily advancing in nature transformation. With his Uchiha heritage, Fire Release was a natural direction for him to pursue.

Kakashi, however, wasn't nearly as pleased by the prospect.

"I have a bad feeling about this…"

If the parallel world followed the same arrangements as theirs, he might end up assigned to Sasuke's team after graduation. The thought of teaching a student whose abilities were already approaching jōnin level made him feel as though his future self had been handed an impossible assignment.

What was he supposed to teach someone who could learn half the curriculum from a book and figure out the rest through experimentation?

Zabuza, sitting nearby, gave Kakashi a sympathetic look. He had reached much the same conclusion.

If the Kakashi in the parallel world really became Sasuke's instructor, he might find himself facing a student capable of challenging him before they had even spent a proper day training together.

Damn it! Would I get killed by my own student in that world?

Zabuza silently thanked whatever gods were responsible for keeping him in this one.

Time continued to pass, and Sasuke's training progressed steadily.

His control over chakra improved day by day. He was becoming increasingly capable of directing its flow through individual meridians, adjusting the amount released and maintaining precise control over its movement. At the same time, his experiments with Fire Release nature transformation were yielding consistent results.

He also continued reading whenever he had free time. Rather than limiting himself to ninjutsu manuals, he studied history, the structure of the shinobi world, and the various events that had shaped Konoha.

The more he learned, the more convinced he became that something was hidden beneath the village's familiar history. Certain events did not fit together as neatly as the official explanations suggested, and the more information he gathered, the more questions arose.

He still lacked enough evidence to reach a conclusion, but he could feel himself drawing closer to the truth.

For now, he would continue collecting information and improving his abilities. There was no point rushing toward an answer before he understood the question.

One afternoon, after finishing his training, Sasuke took the usual route home.

Then he heard a girl's frightened voice.

It was followed by several boys laughing and hurling insults.

"You're that annoying Neji's cousin, aren't you?"

"Those white eyes are disgusting! You look just like him!"

"Hey, Hyūga! Aren't you supposed to have those special eyes? Show us!"

"Look at her! She's already crying!"

"What a useless crybaby!"

"Monster! You're a monster with those eyes!"

Sasuke stopped.

His expression cooled as he turned toward the voices.

A short distance away, three boys had surrounded a little girl with pale eyes and dark blue hair. She was shrinking away from them, her hands clenched nervously in front of her chest as tears gathered in her eyes.

Sasuke recognized her after a moment.

Hyūga Hinata.

She was usually so quiet at the Academy that it was easy to overlook her. Even when the other students were talking excitedly, she tended to keep to herself, speaking only when necessary and rarely drawing attention.

Apparently, some people had mistaken her quiet nature for permission to bully her.

Sasuke walked over.

"Hey! The three of you are picking on one girl together?" he called out. "Are you looking for a beating?"

The boys turned around.

The moment they saw who had spoken, their expressions changed.

"U-Uchiha Sasuke?!"

"Damn it, why does he have to show up now?"

"Forget it! Let's go!"

They were not in Sasuke's class, but his reputation had spread throughout the Academy. Everyone had heard about his abilities, and none of them particularly wanted to find out whether the rumors were exaggerated.

Even with three people on their side, they had no confidence in their chances.

They turned to leave.

"Stop."

Sasuke's voice was calm, but the three boys froze as if someone had grabbed them by the collars.

"Did I say you could leave? Apologize to her."

"B-But—"

Sasuke stepped forward and seized the nearest boy by the front of his shirt. With one smooth movement, he lifted him off his feet and slammed him onto the ground.

The boy let out a startled yelp.

Sasuke looked at the other two.

"Do I need to explain it again?"

"No!"

"Sorry!"

"We were wrong! Please forgive us!"

They hurriedly apologized to Hinata, their faces pale. When Sasuke finally waved them away, they fled without looking back.

Only then did Sasuke turn toward the girl they had been tormenting.

He crouched in front of her and gently patted her head.

"Your abilities shouldn't be bad, should they? So why didn't you fight back?"

His expression softened into a warm smile.

After spending so much time practicing how to talk to girls, Sasuke had become surprisingly comfortable with it. He had learned that speaking gently, paying attention to what someone said, and offering a reassuring smile could accomplish far more than he had expected.

He had no idea just how effective his efforts would prove to be.

Hinata stared at him, her face turning bright red.

His hand was warm against her head, and his smile made it difficult for her to look away. For a moment, the unpleasant things the boys had said seemed much farther away.

"I-I didn't dare…" she murmured.

Sasuke withdrew his hand and sat down in front of her so they could speak at eye level.

"Why not? Are you worried about something?" he asked. "You can tell me if you want. I'll do my best to help."

His gentle tone seemed to loosen something that Hinata had been holding inside for a long time.

She hesitated at first, struggling to put her thoughts into words. Gradually, however, she began to explain.

Her father was the head of the Hyūga clan, and he expected a great deal from her. As the eldest daughter, Hinata was supposed to live up to the family's standards, but she had always struggled to meet those expectations.

Things had become even more difficult as her younger sister, Hanabi, grew older. Their father had begun to focus more and more on Hanabi's talent, and Hinata could feel his disappointment whenever she fell short.

Their daily sparring sessions had become another source of pressure.

Hinata could not bring herself to strike Hanabi as hard as she could. Even when she had an opening, she hesitated, unwilling to hurt her younger sister. As a result, she often lost their sparring matches, which only deepened her father's dissatisfaction.

That day had been no different. After another reprimand, Hinata had run away from home in tears. The three boys had found her afterward, and things had only gotten worse.

Sasuke listened without interrupting. Every so often, he nodded or offered a few quiet words to show that he understood what she was trying to say.

When she finally finished, he considered her situation before answering.

"I think what you're feeling is perfectly normal," Sasuke said. "If I had a little sister, I doubt I'd want to hurt her either."

Hinata looked up at him, surprised. She had expected him to tell her to stop crying or try harder, just as her father did. Instead, Sasuke had acknowledged her feelings without treating them as a weakness.

For once, she didn't feel as though she had to defend herself.

"But if I had a little sister, I think I'd work even harder to become stronger," Sasuke continued.

Hinata blinked. "Why?"

"Because I wouldn't want anyone to bully her." Sasuke glanced toward the road where the three boys had disappeared. "If you were my little sister and I saw those boys picking on you, I would've done exactly what I did today."

"Pfft…"

Hinata let out a small laugh before quickly covering her mouth. Sasuke smiled, apparently pleased that she was feeling a little better.

"Think about it. If someone treated Hanabi the way those boys treated you, what would you do?"

"I would…" Hinata hesitated, but the answer came to her almost immediately. "I'd protect her."

"Even if they were stronger than you?"

Hinata's fingers tightened around the fabric of her skirt. She was frightened of many things: her father's disappointment, the possibility of failing again, and the feeling that no matter how hard she tried, she would never be good enough. But imagining Hanabi standing helplessly in front of someone who wanted to hurt her made those fears seem different.

"I would still try," she answered quietly.

Sasuke nodded. "Then you already understand part of what I'm saying. You want to protect your sister, but you can't always do that by wishing nobody will hurt her. Sometimes, you have to become strong enough to stand between her and whoever might."

Hinata lowered her gaze.

She wanted to protect Hanabi. That much had never been in doubt. Yet whenever they sparred, she held back because she was afraid of hurting her younger sister. When she lost, she felt ashamed. When her father criticized her, she began to wonder whether she was simply too weak to become the person her family expected her to be.

She had been so focused on avoiding the things that frightened her that she had never considered what she might be able to accomplish if she kept trying despite them.

"But she's my little sister," Hinata whispered. "I don't want to hurt her."

"I know." Sasuke didn't dismiss her concern. "And you don't have to want to hurt her. Sparring isn't the same as fighting someone you hate. You're both training, aren't you? If you hold back every time, you won't learn what either of you is capable of. And if you keep losing because you're afraid to try, you'll have a harder time protecting her when it really matters."

Hinata fell silent.

The thought made her uncomfortable because it was difficult to argue against. She had always believed that being gentle with Hanabi meant holding back, but perhaps she had confused gentleness with fear. She could take their sparring seriously without wanting her sister to suffer. She could try her hardest and still care about how Hanabi felt.

She wasn't sure she could change overnight. The next time they faced each other, she would probably hesitate again. And even if she tried her best, she might still lose.

But perhaps that didn't have to mean she was hopeless.

"What if I try harder and still can't win?" she asked.

"Then you'll know you need more practice," Sasuke replied matter-of-factly. "You can figure out what went wrong and work on it. Losing doesn't mean you should give up. It just means you haven't found a way to win yet."

Hinata stared at him.

It sounded so simple when he said it. She knew it wouldn't be simple for her, not with her father's expectations weighing on her and her own doubts following her everywhere. Still, Sasuke wasn't asking her to become a different person in a single day. He was telling her that she could take the next step even if she was still afraid.

She drew a slow breath and wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks.

"I want to protect Hanabi," she said, more firmly this time. "So… I'll try to do better in our next sparring match. I won't hold back just because I'm afraid of hurting her."

Sasuke smiled. "That's a good place to start."

Hinata's cheeks warmed again, but she managed to meet his eyes instead of looking away immediately.

"Thank you, Sasuke. I was still upset when you came over, but… talking to you helped."

"I'm glad." He stood and offered her a hand. "Come on. It's getting late. You should head home."

Hinata accepted his hand and rose to her feet. The problems waiting for her at home hadn't disappeared. Her father might still criticize her, and her next sparring match with Hanabi might end in another defeat. She was still the same shy girl who had run away crying that afternoon.

But as she walked home, she kept returning to one thought.

She didn't need to stop being kind to become stronger. She needed to become stronger so that her kindness wouldn't leave her helpless when someone she loved needed her.

It wasn't a complete answer, and she knew she would struggle to follow through. For the first time in a while, however, she had something she wanted to work toward that wasn't simply avoiding her father's disappointment.

And she would remember who had helped her see it.

Uchiha Sasuke.


Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

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Want to read ahead? My Patreon offers 5, 10, or 15 advanced chapters for each included story, plus an extra chapter for free members!

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next chapter!

 

[abyssalmandate]

The golden-framed screen had barely finished showing Sasuke helping Hinata when the comparison room erupted with reactions.

Hyūga Hanabi stared at the screen, her eyes widening.

"Wait… Sister was holding back against me?"

Hinata lowered her head slightly. "Not every time…"

"Then you really were going easy on me!" Hanabi exclaimed. Her surprise quickly gave way to determination. "Fine! I'll train even harder from now on. One day, I'll become strong enough to protect you, Nee-san!"

Hinata blinked.

"Hanabi, that's not what I—"

She stopped herself, puffed out her cheeks, and looked away.

I'm your older sister. I'm supposed to protect you!

Still, she couldn't bring herself to be angry. Hanabi's determination was genuine, and a small part of Hinata was happy that her younger sister cared so much about her.

Nearby, Hiashi remained silent.

As the head of the Hyūga clan and an elite jōnin, he had known for a long time that Hinata wasn't giving her all during their sparring sessions. He could see her hesitation whenever she faced Hanabi, the way she held back even when she had a clear opportunity to strike.

That was precisely why he had reprimanded her so harshly. As the clan's heir, Hinata needed to develop the strength and resolve expected of her position. He had hoped that pressure would force her to confront her weaknesses.

Instead, she had only grown more timid.

And now, an outsider had accomplished what he, her own father, had failed to do.

Sasuke hadn't scolded Hinata or demanded that she change overnight. He had listened to her worries, understood her hesitation, and helped her find a reason to improve that mattered to her personally.

Hiashi let out a quiet sigh.

Perhaps he had been so focused on making Hinata meet his expectations that he had forgotten to understand what she was struggling with in the first place.

As her father, that realization was difficult to accept.

Hinata's attention returned to the golden-framed screen. Sasuke's gentle smile remained in her mind, along with the words he had spoken to her.

Become stronger to protect the people you care about…

She repeated the thought silently.

She still had a long way to go. Her father's expectations wouldn't disappear, and her next sparring match with Hanabi might end in another defeat. But now she had a reason to keep trying that felt like her own, rather than something imposed on her.

Hinata quietly thanked Sasuke.

She would remember his advice.

And, perhaps, she would remember his smile for a little longer than she intended.

Terumi Mei leaned back in her seat, looking thoroughly impressed.

"That boy really knows how to talk to a girl. If I were in Hinata's position, I might have fallen for him, too."

Samui nodded thoughtfully. "He didn't just comfort her. He listened and helped her work through her problem without making her feel foolish for being afraid."

Mabui smiled. "That's probably why his words had such an effect. He gave her something she could actually do, instead of simply telling her to become stronger."

Kushina crossed her arms and clicked her tongue playfully.

"Looks like that little Hinata has a crush on him already! Honestly, Sasuke's getting pretty good at this."

Mikoto beamed with pride. "That's my Sasuke!"

Kurenai glanced at Kushina, then back at the screen.

She had to admit that Sasuke had handled the situation well. But one thought kept nagging at her.

Isn't Hinata supposed to grow up and fall for Naruto?

She looked at Kushina again.

If she knew that the girl who might one day become her daughter-in-law was developing feelings for Sasuke in another world, I wonder what she'd say.

Kurenai decided that some observations were better kept to herself.

After that encounter, Hinata found herself paying even more attention to Sasuke.

She wanted to talk to him, but the thought of approaching him in front of their classmates was enough to make her nervous. Whenever she saw him surrounded by other students, she would hesitate, unsure how to join the conversation without making a fool of herself.

Fortunately, Sasuke didn't seem to mind taking the initiative.

Whenever he noticed her sitting alone, he would walk over and strike up a conversation. Sometimes he asked how her training was going. Other times, he simply talked about something he had read or an interesting technique he had been studying.

Their conversations were rarely long, but they gave Hinata more opportunities to grow comfortable around him.

The other students gradually began noticing her, too.

Sakura and Ino occasionally invited her to join them, and with Sasuke encouraging everyone to get along, Hinata slowly found herself included in conversations she would once have avoided.

She still blushed easily and sometimes struggled to speak when too many people were looking at her, but she began to open up little by little.

For Hinata, these changes were small but meaningful. She was becoming more comfortable around her classmates, and she was learning that making friends didn't always require her to take the first step alone.

Naturally, her gratitude toward Sasuke continued to grow.

At first, she had simply been thankful that he had helped her when she was upset. Then she began looking forward to their conversations. She would catch herself wondering whether he would come over that day, or remember something he had said and smile to herself.

Eventually, even Hinata began to suspect that her feelings were changing into something she didn't quite know how to handle.

If… if I could spend more time with Sasuke-kun…

The thought alone was enough to turn her cheeks pink.

She quickly buried her face in her hands, hoping nobody had noticed.

Meanwhile, Sasuke continued to devote himself to what he considered the three most important pursuits in his life.

Flirting with girls.

Reading books.

Training.

As far as he was concerned, all three deserved his attention, and he had no intention of neglecting any of them.

Time passed.

Before long, Sasuke had turned nine.

One afternoon, he was sitting in the Academy library, reading a book titled The Art of War and Military Command. He had been studying the strategies used in past shinobi conflicts when a particular passage caught his attention.

When information is incomplete and the situation remains unclear, consider who stands to benefit. The one who benefits from an event may also have played a role in bringing it about.

Sasuke stopped turning the page.

He read the passage again.

Then he leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as several memories surfaced at once.

Sakumo Hatake's death.

Minato Namikaze's rise to the position of Fourth Hokage.

The Nine-Tails' attack.

Orochimaru's defection.

The massacre of the Uchiha clan.

Different events, separated by years and involving different people, yet one figure had remained near the center of Konoha's leadership through much of that time.

Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The Third Hokage had led the village for decades. Even when Minato became the Fourth Hokage, Hiruzen's influence hadn't simply disappeared. After Minato's death, he had returned to the position and continued ruling Konoha.

Sasuke tapped the page with one finger.

What role did the Third Hokage really play in all these events?

He didn't immediately accept the conclusion.

The book offered a way to investigate suspicious events, not proof that everyone who benefited from them had orchestrated them. A person could gain from a tragedy without having caused it, and a single event could benefit several people for entirely different reasons.

Still, the possibility deserved consideration.

Hiruzen had been in a position to influence many of these incidents. If Sasuke wanted to understand what had happened to the Uchiha clan, he couldn't afford to ignore the man who had led the village before, during, and after its downfall.

The Third Hokage has been in power for more than thirty years. I shouldn't underestimate him.

Sasuke closed the book halfway, lost in thought.

The problem was evidence. Suspicion alone wouldn't tell him what had happened, and he had no intention of making accusations without something solid to support them.

He needed a place to start.

Then he remembered something.

The Uchiha clan grounds.

After the massacre, he had returned to the compound only once, shortly afterward. At the time, he had been too overwhelmed by what he had lost to pay attention to anything beyond the empty streets and the bloodstained buildings.

Two years had passed since then.

What had become of the Uchiha district?

Who was living there now? Who had taken possession of the houses, shops, and other properties that had once belonged to his clan?

If he went back and examined the area carefully, perhaps he would find something worth investigating.

Sasuke closed the book.

He had found his next lead.

In the comparison room, Orochimaru broke into a delighted laugh.

"Hahahaha! I knew that boy was clever. He's finally asking the right questions!"

Hiruzen's expression darkened.

"Orochimaru, stop talking nonsense."

Ōnoki stroked his beard, watching the Third Hokage with open curiosity.

"Well, Sarutobi? Anything you'd like to tell us?"

"There's nothing to tell," Hiruzen replied sharply. "He's making assumptions based on a passage in a book. That hardly proves anything."

The Fourth Raikage grinned.

"Then there shouldn't be anything to worry about if he investigates, right?"

Hiruzen's expression stiffened.

"That's not the point. You're all taking an incomplete picture and using it to cast suspicion on Konoha."

"Perhaps," Orochimaru said, his smile widening. "But the boy hasn't accused you of anything yet. He's simply decided to look into the matter. Why are you so upset?"

"Shut up, Orochimaru!"

"Now, now. There's no need to get angry. It makes you look suspicious."

Hiruzen glared at his former student.

Danzō stepped in before the exchange could escalate.

"Everyone, don't be misled by these insinuations. The people in this room include rival village leaders and a missing-nin who has every reason to malign Konoha. This broadcast may be attempting to sow discord between our villages."

"For once, I agree with Danzō," Hiruzen said. "We shouldn't treat speculation as fact."

The two men rarely missed an opportunity to disagree over Konoha's leadership, but this wasn't the time for their usual power struggle. If Hiruzen's reputation collapsed, Danzō's own position would suffer as well.

Their explanations, however, did little to settle the room.

The Konoha shinobi exchanged uneasy glances. They had spent years believing in the village's leadership and the principles it claimed to uphold. The possibility that the Third Hokage might have been involved in some of Konoha's darkest incidents was difficult to accept.

Yet the screen hadn't made a direct accusation. It had shown Sasuke reading a book, considering a theory, and deciding to investigate.

That was what made the situation uncomfortable.

If Sasuke found nothing, the suspicion might fade.

But what if he found something?

The comparison room fell into an uneasy silence as everyone's attention returned to the golden-framed screen.

Sasuke didn't waste any time.

He left the Academy and made his way toward the former Uchiha compound.

It had been two years since his last visit.

As he approached the district, he remembered the place as it had been after the massacre: silent streets, abandoned homes, and the terrible traces of what had happened to his family.

Those memories remained painfully clear, even if he rarely allowed himself to dwell on them.

But the place he found now was nothing like the one he remembered.

The streets had been cleared. The bloodstains and signs of the massacre had long since disappeared. Shops had opened in buildings that had once belonged to Uchiha families, while other houses had been repaired, renovated, or repurposed.

People moved through the district as though it had always been an ordinary part of the village.

Sasuke walked among them without changing his expression.

He examined the buildings, the shopfronts, and the emblems displayed above their entrances. At first, he found nothing that immediately caught his attention.

Then he noticed a familiar crest.

It appeared above one shop.

Then another.

And another.

Sasuke stopped in front of a storefront and studied the emblem more carefully.

He had seen it before, in a book about Konoha's prominent clans.

The crest belonged to the Sarutobi clan.

For a moment, he simply stood there, staring at it.

He continued walking, paying closer attention to the surrounding properties. The more he looked, the more often he spotted the same emblem.

Buildings that had once belonged to the Uchiha now carried the crest of the Third Hokage's clan.

Sasuke's expression remained blank, but his thoughts began racing.

Why are so many of these properties under the Sarutobi clan's name?

There could be explanations. Property could be transferred, purchased, or reassigned after a clan's destruction. The emblem alone didn't tell him how any of it had happened.

But if the Sarutobi clan had acquired so much of the Uchiha district, he needed to know when and under what circumstances.

Had the properties been sold? Had the village redistributed them? Had someone claimed them through official channels?

Or had the Uchiha's destruction created an opportunity for others to take what they wanted?

Sasuke looked around again.

The people passing through the streets were going about their lives, shopping and chatting beneath signs bearing the Sarutobi crest. To them, this was simply another part of Konoha.

To Sasuke, every building was a reminder of what had been taken from him.

His family had lived here. His clan had built these homes and businesses. He remembered the streets from before the massacre, when the district had been filled with familiar faces and the sound of people going about their daily lives.

Now those faces were gone, and their homes belonged to someone else.

He clenched his fists.

For a brief moment, anger threatened to overwhelm him. He wanted to tear down the signs and demand to know who had given these properties away. He wanted someone to explain how an entire clan could be wiped out, only for its land to be occupied as though nothing had happened.

But anger wouldn't give him answers.

He forced himself to relax his hands and continued walking.

I need records. Ownership documents. The dates these properties changed hands. Something that tells me how this happened.

The crest was suspicious, but it wasn't proof of a conspiracy. If he wanted the truth, he would have to uncover the details that lay behind it.

Still, one thing was becoming painfully clear: the Uchiha clan had lost far more than its members.

Even its home had been absorbed into the village, and the people living there seemed to have moved on without a second thought.

Sasuke continued through the district until he eventually reached the banks of the Naka River.

This was where he had once practiced the Great Fireball Technique, determined to prove that he was a worthy Uchiha. He could still remember standing by the water, struggling to produce a proper fireball and refusing to give up until he succeeded.

The memory felt distant now.

Sasuke sat down by the river and watched the water flow past.

For a while, he said nothing.

Then his Sharingan emerged, the tomoe turning clearly in his eyes.

Three tomoe.

His gaze remained fixed on the water, but his mind was back among the buildings of the Uchiha district, where the Sarutobi crest had appeared again and again.

He had come looking for a lead.

He had found one.

It wasn't enough to condemn Hiruzen, and Sasuke knew better than to mistake suspicion for certainty. But it was enough to make him question everything he had been told about the aftermath of the massacre.

He would investigate the property records. He would find out who had authorized the transfers and when they had taken place. If there was an innocent explanation, he would uncover it. If there wasn't, he would find that out, too.

His fingers curled against his knees.

"Sarutobi…"

The name left his mouth quietly, carrying none of the warmth or respect usually associated with the Third Hokage.

Then Sasuke's lips curved into a cold, humorless smile.

"Let's see what you're hiding."


Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts. Power Stones are always appreciated, too!

Want to read ahead? My Patreon offers 5, 10, or 15 advanced chapters for each included story, plus an extra chapter for free members!

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next chapter!

 

[abyssalmandate]

Fourth Raikage: "The truth is finally coming to light! Let's see how Sarutobi talks his way out of this one."

Ōnoki: "Hahaha! Sarutobi, go on. I'm eager to hear your explanation this time!"

Terumi Mei: "Our Mist Village may have its share of darkness, but Konoha's shadows seem to run even deeper."

Uchiha Madara: "Heh. Senju Tobirama, you certainly have an interesting student."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Slander! This is nothing but slander!"

Hiruzen was practically trembling with anger.

He hadn't expected Sasuke from the parallel world to investigate the former Uchiha district so soon. Worse, the boy had discovered that a considerable number of buildings now bore the Sarutobi clan crest.

There was no easy way to explain that away.

The Uchiha clan had been exterminated, but that didn't mean their properties could simply be claimed by one clan. The village might have needed to reassign certain buildings, and individual properties might have changed hands through legitimate transactions. However, if the Sarutobi clan had acquired such a large portion of the district, questions were inevitable.

And those questions were now being asked in front of the entire shinobi world.

Before Hiruzen could think of a convincing response, a familiar voice interrupted him.

Senju Tobirama: "Monkey, explain yourself."

The Second Hokage's tone was calm, but that only made the question more intimidating.

Hiruzen's heart sank.

He swallowed, forcing himself to think quickly. He couldn't afford to let this matter spiral out of control, especially with Tobirama watching.

I mustn't let him connect this to anything else.

After a brief pause, Hiruzen lowered his head slightly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Teacher, I admit that I may have been too lenient in managing my clan. If some of my relatives took advantage of the situation, then I bear responsibility for failing to keep them in check."

He took a breath and continued.

"After the Nine-Tails' attack, the village suffered enormous losses. Many experienced shinobi died, our defenses were weakened, and we had to prepare for the possibility of further attacks from neighboring villages. I spent nearly every day dealing with intelligence reports, coordinating defenses, and managing the village's recovery."

His expression became weary, as though he were recalling a particularly difficult period.

"There was simply too much to handle. I couldn't personally oversee every matter involving my clan, and I may not have been aware of everything they did. If I had known that they were acting improperly, I would have put a stop to it."

Hiruzen paused before adding, "I'll investigate the matter and ensure that any wrongdoing is dealt with appropriately."

It was a carefully constructed answer.

He hadn't denied that the Sarutobi clan had acquired property in the former Uchiha district. Instead, he had framed the situation as a failure of oversight during a national crisis. He had also promised an investigation, giving himself room to respond later without admitting to anything more serious.

Danzō immediately stepped forward to support him.

Shimura Danzō: "I can confirm that the village was under tremendous pressure after the Nine-Tails' attack. The Cloud, Stone, and Mist all had reasons to test our defenses. We couldn't afford to divert our attention from the village's survival."

He glanced toward the other Kage.

"Given those circumstances, it isn't surprising that some matters within the village received less attention than they should have. That doesn't prove that the Third Hokage deliberately allowed his clan to seize the Uchiha properties."

Danzō's support wasn't born from any particular affection for Hiruzen.

If the Third Hokage's reputation collapsed, the people would begin questioning the decisions made by his administration. And once that happened, Root and its leader would inevitably come under scrutiny as well.

He couldn't afford to let that happen.

The two old comrades might disagree on plenty of things, but when their positions were threatened, they understood the value of standing together.

In Iwagakure, Ōnoki's expression twisted with disgust.

"Unbelievable. The old monkey really can turn anything into a respectable excuse."

He had expected Hiruzen to deny the allegations outright, but the Third Hokage had done something more effective. He had transformed the accusation into a minor administrative failure caused by the burden of protecting the village.

A man who might have abused his position had suddenly become an overworked leader who had failed to supervise his relatives.

Ōnoki snorted.

"If I didn't know him better, I might actually believe that performance."

The reactions within the chatroom were more divided.

Some Konoha shinobi were still reluctant to believe that their Hokage could have done anything wrong.

Iruka: "I trust the Third Hokage. The Sarutobi clan may have taken advantage of the situation, but that doesn't mean Lord Third was involved in anything sinister."

Ebisu: "Exactly. We've seen how much Lord Hokage has done for the village. We shouldn't condemn him based on a few suspicious emblems on buildings."

Might Guy: "The truth should be established before anyone is judged! We must not let suspicion replace evidence!"

Their words brought Hiruzen a small measure of relief.

His reputation had been built over decades. To many Konoha shinobi, he was still the kindly, dependable Hokage who had guided the village through countless crises. They weren't prepared to abandon that image simply because a parallel-world Sasuke had discovered something troubling.

Hiruzen drew a quiet breath.

At least they still trust me.

But the relief didn't last long.

The Pure Land.

Senju Tobirama narrowed his eyes.

He had listened to his disciple's explanation without interrupting, but he wasn't convinced.

Hiruzen's account was plausible in parts. The Nine-Tails' attack had indeed devastated Konoha, and the village had faced serious security concerns in its aftermath. No Hokage could personally oversee every transaction or investigate every minor dispute.

However, that wasn't the issue.

The Sarutobi clan's crest had appeared repeatedly across the former Uchiha district. Even if the properties had been acquired legally, the scale of the acquisitions demanded scrutiny. A Hokage had a responsibility to ensure that his clan didn't exploit the authority and influence that came with his position.

And if Hiruzen truly hadn't known what his relatives were doing, that raised another uncomfortable question: how much of the village had he failed to supervise?

Tobirama had never been particularly fond of the Uchiha. His distrust of the clan had shaped many of his policies, and he had spent years worrying about the danger posed by their emotional intensity and Sharingan.

But he had never believed that the destruction of a clan gave everyone else the right to take whatever they wanted.

His gaze remained fixed on Hiruzen.

Monkey, I hope you haven't disappointed me as badly as this looks.

He wasn't ready to condemn his former student based on the broadcast alone. The truth still needed to be established.

But his doubts had begun to grow.

And he intended to watch carefully as the comparison continued.

After the commotion subsided, the golden-framed screen resumed playing.

[Sasuke collected his thoughts and returned home as though nothing had happened.]

[He understood that his current strength was nowhere near enough.]

[Even if he had discovered something suspicious about the Sarutobi clan, what could he accomplish with his present abilities? Against the entire village, he was little more than an ant.]

[If he acted carelessly, he might attract unwanted attention and lose the chance to uncover the truth altogether.]

[For now, he could only remain patient and continue building his strength.]

[However, something had changed.]

[The Sarutobi clan and the village leadership no longer appeared as trustworthy to him as they once had.]

[Konoha presented itself as a peaceful, harmonious home for its people, but Sasuke had begun to question what lay beneath that image.]

[There were old grievances, concealed conflicts, and tragedies whose full circumstances had never been explained to him.]

[How much of the village's history had been forgotten? And how much had someone deliberately buried?]

[Sasuke glanced at his hands.]

["I'll keep getting stronger."]

[He had no intention of rushing into a confrontation he couldn't win. He would train, gather information, and wait until he had enough evidence to understand what had really happened to his clan.]

[One day, he would uncover the truth behind the Uchiha massacre.]

[Until then, he would make certain that no one could easily silence him.]

[After that day, Sasuke's outward behavior barely changed.]

[He continued training diligently, refining his chakra control and steadily increasing his chakra reserves. He practiced nature transformation, strengthened his body, and worked to improve his physical conditioning.]

[He also continued studying whenever he had the opportunity, searching for knowledge that might prove useful in the future.]

[And, of course, he didn't abandon his other important undertaking.]

[He continued spending time with the girls at the Academy. His relationship with Hinata, Sakura, and Ino grew closer, though each developed in a different way.]

[To his classmates, Sasuke still appeared to be the talented, confident boy who could learn almost anything he set his mind to. Few of them knew how carefully he had begun observing the village around him.]

[The days passed, and the time for graduation gradually approached.]

[Sasuke was growing stronger, his knowledge was expanding, and the questions surrounding his clan remained unanswered.]

[For now, he would wait.]

[But he would not forget.]

The golden-framed screen faded.

For the time being, the parallel world's account of Sasuke's childhood had reached its conclusion.

Senju Tobirama: "The differences are unmistakable."

Tobirama spoke with the measured certainty of someone who had spent his life evaluating shinobi.

"Both versions of Sasuke possess considerable talent, but the boy from the golden-framed world has developed far more evenly. His chakra control, physical conditioning, and understanding of ninjutsu are all progressing together. More importantly, he doesn't rely solely on talent. He studies, experiments, and considers the reasons behind what he learns."

He paused, looking toward the now-dark golden screen.

"By the time he graduates, I wouldn't be surprised if he possessed the strength of a jōnin. His greatest advantage, however, might not be his combat ability. It's his capacity for independent thought."

Hashirama nodded enthusiastically.

"That's what impressed me, too! He's not satisfied with learning a technique and moving on. He wants to understand how it works, then find out what else he can do with that knowledge. And he's already asking questions about the village that most adults would rather avoid."

Tobirama gave a small nod.

"Precisely. His talent is exceptional, but his judgment is what makes him dangerous."

On the other side of the room, the original Sasuke had gone completely still.

His eyes remained fixed on the golden-framed screen, even after the image had faded away. His reflection stared back at him from the dark surface, but all he could think about was the other boy.

The other Sasuke had mastered techniques that Academy students weren't supposed to learn until much later. He had taught himself things even experienced shinobi struggled to understand. He had begun investigating the Uchiha massacre instead of blindly accepting whatever scraps of information were handed to him.

And somehow, he had managed to do all of that while living a life that seemed almost impossibly ordinary.

He had friends.

He laughed and talked with girls.

He studied whatever interested him, trained because he wanted to become stronger, and approached problems with a calmness that made him seem far older than his actual age.

The original Sasuke's fists tightened.

What's so special about him?

The question came with an immediate surge of anger.

He's me!

They had the same bloodline, the same Sharingan, and the same potential. The Uchiha massacre had happened to both of them. They had both lost their families, and both carried the burden of being the last survivors of their clan.

So why had the other one advanced so far ahead?

Why could that Sasuke learn techniques, make friends, and think clearly about the future, while he himself had spent so long chasing power that he could barely remember what it felt like to think about anything else?

"Damn it!"

The words escaped before he could stop them.

Several people nearby turned toward him.

Sasuke ignored them.

He could tolerate being compared to talented shinobi. He could accept that someone might be stronger than him, provided he had the opportunity to surpass that person.

But this was different.

Every time the golden screen showed the other Sasuke accomplishing something, it felt as though the entire shinobi world was being shown what he himself could have become.

And the worst part was that no one had to say it aloud.

The comparison did it for them.

Senju Tobirama: "The original Sasuke possesses talent, but the gap between the two is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore."

Sasuke's expression darkened.

Senju Tobirama: "The boy from the golden-framed world doesn't merely learn quickly. He understands the value of preparation, observation, and independent thought. He has begun examining the circumstances surrounding his clan's destruction instead of allowing hatred to dictate every decision."

Tobirama paused briefly.

"Talent can take a shinobi far, but without sound judgment, that talent can be wasted."

Sasuke's jaw tightened.

He knew the Second Hokage wasn't speaking directly to him. That almost made it worse.

He wanted to argue. He wanted to point out that the other Sasuke had advantages he didn't, that the circumstances of their lives weren't necessarily identical, and that there was no guarantee he could have followed the same path.

But every excuse that came to mind sounded weak.

The other Sasuke had also lost his family.

The other Sasuke had also been left alone.

And he was still moving forward.

Uchiha Madara: "Hah! What an interesting spectacle. One Uchiha spends his life chasing strength, while the other learns to use his head. Perhaps the clan's greatest weakness wasn't a lack of talent after all."

Sasuke whipped his head toward Madara.

"Shut up!"

His voice rang out across the room.

"Don't talk as if you know anything about me!"

Madara raised an eyebrow, apparently amused by the outburst.

"Oh? Did I touch a nerve?"

Sasuke's Sharingan flickered into existence.

"You think I don't know how to train? You think I haven't worked hard enough? I've done everything I can to become stronger!"

"Then why are you so angry?" Madara asked.

Sasuke froze.

Madara's smile widened slightly.

"If you truly believed you were doing everything necessary, why would another version of yourself bother you so much?"

Sasuke had no answer.

He hated the question because he already knew the answer.

It wasn't simply that the other Sasuke was stronger or more knowledgeable. It was that the boy on the golden screen had demonstrated that there were other ways to live, other ways to grow, and other ways to pursue the truth.

Ways Sasuke himself had never seriously considered.

He turned away, his expression hardening as he tried to bury the thought.

It doesn't matter.

He would become stronger. He would kill Itachi. He would avenge his clan.

Those goals hadn't changed.

They couldn't change.

Yet the certainty that had once accompanied those thoughts felt a little less solid than before.

Because now he had seen another version of himself who was already walking toward the truth he wanted to uncover—and doing so without surrendering every other part of his life.

Sasuke clenched his fists again.

Fine.

Enjoy your lead while you can.

His eyes returned to the golden-framed screen.

I'll catch up. I'll surpass you. And when the time comes, I'll prove that I'm the stronger one.

He clung to that promise with all the stubbornness he possessed.

But beneath the anger and wounded pride, a quieter question remained, one he wasn't ready to face.

If we really are the same person… then what did he do differently?

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[abyssalmandate]

"Haah… haah…"

The original Sasuke stood with his chest heaving, his eyes fixed on the golden-framed screen.

The two tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly. Under the pressure of envy, frustration, and the determination to catch up with his other self, a third tomoe slowly emerged.

His Sharingan had evolved!

Three tomoe!

A wave of astonishment swept through the comparison room.

Before Sasuke could lose himself in his emotions, a hand landed firmly on his shoulder.

"Sasuke, calm down. Control your emotions."

Hatake Kakashi's voice was low and serious.

"I understand how you feel. Seeing another version of yourself accomplish things you haven't managed yet can't be easy. But if you really want to catch up with him, you need to keep your head clear. Otherwise, you'll only let your emotions control you, and you'll end up making mistakes."

Sasuke clenched his teeth, then slowly drew a deep breath.

"I understand, Kakashi."

He closed his eyes for a moment, forcing himself to regain control. When he opened them again, his Sharingan had settled into its new form.

The frustration hadn't disappeared, but the initial surge of emotion had subsided.

I'm behind him right now. So what?

We're both Uchiha. We have the same potential. If he can accomplish those things, then there's no reason I can't do the same.

He had taken a different path, and perhaps he had wasted time along the way. But he refused to believe that the gap between them was impossible to overcome.

He would train harder. He would learn faster.

And one day, he would stand on equal footing with the Sasuke from the parallel world.

Nearby, Orochimaru watched with an interested smile, his tongue briefly passing over his lips.

"Heh. Very good. Even after seeing such a disparity, he hasn't given up. He's turning that frustration into motivation."

His golden eyes gleamed.

"This is exactly why I took an interest in him."

Hiruzen, however, wasn't nearly as pleased.

His gaze lingered on Sasuke's newly awakened three-tomoe Sharingan, and his brows drew together.

Another three-tomoe Sharingan…

Sasuke's growth was undoubtedly a good thing for Konoha. But with Orochimaru taking an interest in the boy and the comparison broadcast exposing more of the village's secrets, the situation was becoming increasingly complicated.

He could only hope that Sasuke wouldn't be led astray.

The silver-framed screen on the left lit up.

The original world's story continued.

[Konoha, Year 60.]

[At the age of twelve, Uchiha Sasuke graduated from the Ninja Academy with the highest marks in his class.]

[Although he was puzzled by how Uzumaki Naruto had managed to graduate despite failing the Clone Technique examination, Sasuke didn't dwell on it.]

[He had little interest in Naruto's affairs, and there was no reason to waste time investigating something that didn't concern him.]

[Following graduation, Sasuke was assigned to Team Seven alongside Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura. Their jōnin instructor was Hatake Kakashi, a veteran shinobi known throughout Konoha.]

[The three students waited until Kakashi finally arrived, after which they headed to the rooftop for introductions.]

[Naruto enthusiastically introduced himself and talked about his dream of becoming Hokage. Sakura spoke about the person she liked, while Sasuke remained as aloof as ever.]

[When his turn came, he looked out over the village and spoke without hesitation.]

Sasuke: "My name is Uchiha Sasuke. There are plenty of things I dislike, but not much that I particularly like."

[His expression hardened.]

Sasuke: "I don't have a dream. I have an ambition. To restore my clan… and to kill a certain man."

[The rooftop fell silent for a moment.]

[Kakashi studied his new students, then casually announced the schedule for their first training session.]

Kakashi: "We'll meet at the training ground tomorrow at five in the morning. And don't eat breakfast."

[Naruto blinked.]

Naruto: "Huh? Why not?"

Kakashi: "Because you'll throw it up."

[The following morning, Team Seven gathered at the training ground as instructed.]

[Five o'clock came and went. Then six, seven, eight…]

[Kakashi finally appeared at eleven, offering a thoroughly unconvincing excuse for his lateness.]

Kakashi: "Sorry, I got lost on the road of life."

[Naruto exploded with anger, Sakura scolded him, and Sasuke looked thoroughly unimpressed.]

[Their instructor then presented them with a simple task: take two bells from him before noon. Anyone who failed would be sent back to the Academy.]

[The three Genin exchanged glances. They had only two bells between them, meaning at least one of them would fail even if they all worked together.]

[Kakashi's expression was relaxed, but his warning was clear.]

Kakashi: "You can use any method you like. Just remember that I'm not going to make it easy for you."

[The test began.]

[Sasuke immediately took the initiative, using his speed and shuriken to pressure Kakashi from a distance. His performance was far beyond that of an ordinary Academy graduate, and his tactical instincts were better than those of most students his age.]

[Nevertheless, the difference between a newly graduated Genin and an experienced jōnin was enormous.]

[Kakashi read his movements, evaded his attacks, and countered with little apparent effort. Even when Sasuke managed to create an opening, Kakashi found a way to turn the situation around.]

[Eventually, Sasuke was caught by Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique. He was dragged underground until only his head remained above the surface.]

[Naruto and Sakura fared no better. One by one, the three students were defeated.]

[By the end of the test, all three had failed to obtain a bell.]

[Kakashi gathered them together and explained the real purpose of the exercise. The bells had never been the point. The test was designed to teach them teamwork, and their obsession with individual success had prevented them from working together.]

[There was one final condition. Any student who attempted to eat lunch would be disqualified, even if they were starving.]

[Kakashi left the three Genin tied to posts and went away to eat.]

[Sasuke watched Naruto struggle against his restraints and complain about his hunger. For a while, he said nothing.]

[Then, despite Kakashi's explicit order, Sasuke took his own bento and offered it to Naruto.]

Sasuke: "Eat."

[Naruto stared at him in surprise.]

Naruto: "What? But Kakashi-sensei said—"

Sasuke: "If you don't eat, you'll be useless. Do you think you can fight properly on an empty stomach?"

[Naruto hesitated before accepting the food.]

[Kakashi appeared almost immediately.]

Kakashi: "I told you not to feed him."

[Sasuke met his gaze without backing down.]

Sasuke: "So? Are you going to send us back to the Academy for helping a teammate?"

[Kakashi watched them in silence for a moment. Then he removed their restraints and announced that all three had passed.]

[The test was over. Team Seven had officially become a team.]

The silver-framed screen went dark.

Might Guy burst out laughing.

"Kakashi! I never thought I'd see the day when you'd use the Thousand Years of Death on your own student!"

The scene of Naruto being launched into the air had left a vivid impression on everyone watching. Several shinobi instinctively shifted in their seats, their expressions betraying an uncomfortable awareness of exactly where Kakashi's fingers had landed.

Uzumaki Kushina, on the other hand, looked delighted.

"Hehehe! Nicely done, Kakashi! That was for every time Naruto has annoyed me in the future!"

Kakashi stared at her.

Sensei's wife, is that a threat?

Judging by her expression, it absolutely was.

Minato coughed into his hand, trying to hide his amusement.

"Ahem. Kakashi's methods may be a little unconventional, but the test did accomplish its purpose. Team Seven learned that they couldn't succeed by treating their teammates as competitors."

Orochimaru gave a dismissive laugh.

"How touching. Konoha still relies on the same old bell test to teach its Genin the meaning of teamwork. One would think the village might have developed something more sophisticated by now."

Jiraiya immediately turned toward him.

"Must you criticize everything Konoha does, Orochimaru?"

"Only the things that deserve it."

Before Jiraiya could retort, Madara spoke.

"The original Sasuke is a talented child, but at twelve years old, his strength is still limited. Against a properly trained jōnin, he has a long way to go."

Hashirama shook his head.

"That's a little harsh, Madara. He's only just graduated, and he was still the best student in his class. More importantly, he chose to share his lunch with Naruto even though it meant risking failure. That's not a bad foundation for a shinobi."

Madara glanced at him.

"I'm not saying he's worthless. I'm saying that talent alone doesn't make someone powerful."

He folded his arms.

"Still, I wonder what the other Sasuke has accomplished by the same age. We've seen what he could do at nine. Three more years of training should make a considerable difference."

Hashirama nodded.

"I'm curious about that, too."

In Sunagakure, Kankurō and Temari exchanged a glance.

Kankurō scratched his cheek.

"Considering everything Sasuke has been through, I think he's doing pretty well. He hasn't turned into someone who hates the entire world, at least."

Temari nodded slowly.

"That's true. He still has goals beyond hurting other people."

Neither sibling needed to say Gaara's name.

Their younger brother's childhood had been even more brutal in certain respects. Rather than seeking connection or finding something to live for, Gaara had come to believe that killing others was the only way to prove his own existence.

Compared with that, Sasuke's willingness to help a teammate was a meaningful sign that some part of him remained open to others.

In another part of the room, Fugaku watched the blank silver screen with a complicated expression.

"His strength isn't bad," he admitted. "For a twelve-year-old Genin, he's certainly talented. But after watching the golden-framed Sasuke, it's difficult not to notice the difference."

Mikoto gave him a gentle look.

"I'm just glad Sasuke is still capable of caring about other people. He's had a difficult life, but he hasn't lost that part of himself."

Her words made the original Sasuke shift uncomfortably.

He had been hoping to see his other self's accomplishments so that he could measure the gap between them. Instead, the discussion had turned back toward his own shortcomings.

He drew a slow breath.

Control yourself. You took the wrong path. That doesn't mean you can't catch up.

He repeated the thought in his mind, determined to hold on to it.

But his eyes kept returning to the golden-framed screen.

Ōnoki stroked his beard.

"Now I'm curious. How strong will the golden-framed Sasuke be at twelve? The other boy was already learning techniques beyond the Academy curriculum at nine."

The Fourth Raikage crossed his arms.

"By the time he graduates, I wouldn't be surprised if he surpassed many ordinary jōnin. Hatake Kakashi became a jōnin at twelve, after all. If the parallel Sasuke has continued progressing at the same rate, he could be an exceptional shinobi by that age."

Terumi Mei smiled.

"It would be interesting if the parallel world's Team Seven were also assigned to Kakashi. Imagine having to teach a student who might already understand half the techniques you intend to introduce."

Minato looked toward his former student.

"Kakashi, how about you? It's been years since we last saw your abilities properly. I'd like to know how much you've improved."

Kakashi's visible eye twitched.

Sensei, please don't put me on the spot like this.

He tugged his mask a little higher.

"I've continued training, of course."

Minato waited.

Kakashi looked away.

"…Although I suppose I haven't made as much progress as I'd hoped."

The awkward silence that followed was answer enough.

Guy clapped Kakashi on the back with enough enthusiasm to make him stagger.

"Don't worry, Kakashi! Youth is about continuing to improve! Whatever your parallel self can do, I'm sure you can find a way to surpass him!"

Kakashi sighed.

Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better.

At that moment, the golden-framed screen began to glow.

The room quieted.

Everyone turned toward it, eager to see what the parallel Sasuke had become by the age of twelve.

The next comparison was about to begin.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

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[abyssalmandate]

【Ninja Academy Classroom】

【Today, the assignments for the newly graduated Genin will be announced.】

【Sasuke sat in his seat, quietly flipping through a book while the classroom buzzed with anticipation.】

"Sasuke-kun! I really hope we end up on the same team!"

Ino hurried over and leaned against him, practically draping herself across his shoulder as she pressed her cheek against his.

Sasuke turned toward her with his familiar, apologetic smile.

"I'd love to be on the same team as you, Ino. Unfortunately, I don't think that's possible. What a shame."

The Ino–Shika–Chō formation was practically set in stone. As the daughter of the Yamanaka clan, Ino was destined to work alongside Shikamaru and Chōji.

Hearing Sasuke's answer, Ino let out a dramatic groan.

"Why do I have to be stuck with Shikamaru and Chōji? Why can't I choose my own teammates for once?"

A row behind them, Chōji continued munching on his snacks as though he hadn't heard a thing. Shikamaru glanced at Ino, rolled his eyes, and shifted into a more comfortable position before returning to his nap.

Just then, Sakura entered the classroom. The moment she spotted Ino clinging to Sasuke, her expression darkened, and she hurried over to pull her friend away.

"Ino! Get off Sasuke-kun! This is a classroom, for goodness' sake!"

"No!" Ino clung to Sasuke even more stubbornly. Then she turned toward Sakura with a miserable expression. "Oh, Sakura, I'm so jealous of you! At least you have a chance of ending up on the same team as Sasuke-kun!"

"I only have a chance," Sakura protested. "It's not like I know for certain that we'll be on the same team!"

"That's still better than me! My chances are practically zero!"

Ino buried her face against Sasuke's shoulder and lamented her cruel fate.

"Fine, fine. Enough complaining," Sakura muttered, clearly exasperated.

【Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino had once been close friends. However, after both girls began pursuing Sasuke, their friendship gradually deteriorated into rivalry.】

【That is, until Sasuke decided to take matters into his own hands.】

【By deliberately acting as the mediator between them, he had somehow managed to repair their relationship. The two girls were now on good terms again, despite both being interested in the same boy.】

【It was an outcome that would have seemed impossible a few years earlier.】

Across the aisle from Sasuke sat Hinata.

At the moment, she was nervously pressing her index fingers together, occasionally sneaking glances at him. Every time their eyes nearly met, she hurriedly looked away, her cheeks growing a little redder.

Sasuke noticed her behavior and turned toward her.

"Hinata, do you want us to end up on the same team?"

"!"

Hinata jolted in her seat. Her face turned crimson, and she struggled to find the courage to answer. After a moment, she managed a tiny nod.

"I… I do."

Sasuke smiled warmly.

"I hope we end up together, too."

He reached over and gently patted her head.

Hinata immediately lowered her gaze, her face burning so brightly that she seemed ready to disappear into her collar.

【Sasuke had done this countless times over the past few years.】

【Hinata was still shy, but she had gradually grown accustomed to his casual displays of affection. She no longer fainted whenever he touched her, as she had when they first became close.】

【Sasuke considered that progress. After all, if he wanted to restore the Uchiha clan, he needed to learn how to interact with women.】

【And judging by the results, his research had been remarkably successful.】

Over the past several years, Sasuke had flirted with plenty of girls at the Academy. However, only three had remained close to him over the long term: Hinata, Sakura, and Ino.

His goal of restoring the Uchiha clan was serious, and he had developed his own standards for potential partners.

Appearance mattered. Talent mattered, too.

Hinata and Ino were both heirs to powerful shinobi clans, with considerable resources and promising futures ahead of them. Sakura, meanwhile, came from an ordinary civilian family, but she possessed excellent chakra control and consistently performed well in her studies.

As for the other girls he had flirted with?

Once Sasuke had satisfied his curiosity, most of those relationships had gone no further.

【The comparison room fell silent for a moment.】

Terumi Mei: "That boy has completely turned into a scumbag!"

Tsunade: "Jiraiya, I hope you're reflecting on your life choices right now."

Jiraiya: "Why is this my fault?! I merely introduced him to the world of adult literature! I never told him to take it this far!"

Kurenai Yuhi: "Sasuke's romantic life is already more outrageous than Kakashi's ever was."

Shizune: "That's true. Plenty of girls liked Kakashi when he was younger, but he barely paid attention to any of them. He was much more interested in spending time with Obito and Guy."

Hatake Kakashi: "…"

Might Guy: "Naturally! Kakashi and I are eternal rivals and lifelong friends!"

Uchiha Obito: "Who are you calling Kakashi's friend?!"

Uzuki Yuugao: "With all due respect, Senior Kakashi, you're falling far behind. Sasuke has somehow managed to keep three talented girls on good terms with one another, while you're still single."

Kakashi pulled his book up to cover his face.

He had been insulted before, but being compared unfavorably to an Academy student's romantic ambitions was a new experience.

Ebisu: "Three beautiful girls surrounding you at once… I never even dared to dream of something like that!"

Inuzuka Kiba: "Damn it, I'm jealous!"

Uzumaki Naruto: "I'm jealous, too!"

Rock Lee: "I don't need three! I'd be perfectly happy if Sakura liked me!"

Yamanaka Inoichi: "I need to hit someone."

Hyuga Hiashi: "So do I."

Inoichi: "This is all Jiraiya's fault!"

Hiashi: "Exactly! Jiraiya is responsible!"

The two clan heads exchanged a look, finding rare common ground in their shared outrage.

If Jiraiya hadn't written his infamous books, Sasuke might never have opened the door to this strange new world. And if Sasuke hadn't opened that door, their daughters might not have ended up caught in his elaborate plans to restore the Uchiha clan.

A daughter from a parallel world was still a daughter!

Jiraiya stared at the accusations in disbelief.

"What's wrong with you people? Millions of people have read my books, and how many of them turned into a shameless little womanizer like Sasuke? You can't blame the author every time someone takes a book too seriously!"

Unfortunately, no one seemed particularly interested in hearing his defense.

【Just then, the classroom door flew open.】

Naruto came charging into the room with the enthusiasm of someone who had just conquered the entire shinobi world.

He made a beeline for Sasuke, pointing at him triumphantly.

"Oi, Sasuke! I graduated, too! Just you wait! I'll surpass you before you know it!"

Sasuke raised his head from his book and gave him a pleasant smile.

"Congratulations, Naruto. I'm glad you graduated. If you want to surpass me, you'll have to keep working hard."

Naruto froze.

"…"

That was it?

No irritation? No argument? No declaration that Sasuke was better than him?

Sasuke had accepted his challenge so calmly that Naruto almost felt as though he hadn't challenged him at all.

How infuriating!

"Sasuke, fight me!" Naruto shouted, refusing to give up. "I've learned an incredibly powerful new ninjutsu! This time, I'm definitely going to beat you!"

He thrust a finger toward Sasuke, brimming with confidence.

Before Sasuke could respond, Sakura stepped forward.

"Naruto! We're in the classroom. Stop disturbing Sasuke-kun while he's reading!"

Naruto's enthusiasm immediately faltered.

"B-But I just wanted to—"

"It's fine, Sakura."

Sasuke closed his book and looked at Naruto with an understanding smile.

"Naruto's excited because he's learned a new technique. That's perfectly normal. He's our classmate, so there's no need to be so harsh on him."

Sakura's expression softened at once.

"You're right, Sasuke-kun. I understand."

She cleared her throat and turned toward Naruto, making a visible effort to sound more welcoming.

"Congratulations on graduating, Naruto. That's a good achievement. But please, let Sasuke-kun finish his book before you challenge him, all right?"

Naruto stared at her.

"…"

【Naruto's face twisted with despair.】

【Why was Sakura congratulating him so politely, yet somehow making him feel even worse?】

He had just graduated! He had learned a new ninjutsu! He had come here intending to challenge Sasuke and announce that he would become the strongest!

Instead, Sasuke had calmly accepted his congratulations, Sakura had scolded him and then praised him because Sasuke told her to be nice, and everyone seemed perfectly content to carry on with their day.

Naruto clenched his fists.

One day, I'll make you all take me seriously!

Sasuke, meanwhile, reopened his book.

He had a team assignment to look forward to, a clan to restore, and plenty of research left to do.

There was no reason to rush.

After all, he had spent years figuring out how to become the perfect Uchiha heir.

And, as far as he was concerned, his research was paying off rather well.


Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

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Want to read ahead? My Patreon offers 5, 10, or 15 advanced chapters for each included story, plus an extra chapter for free members!

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next chapter!

 

[abyssalmandate]

Nara Shikamaru: "Naruto's having a rough time. The girl he likes congratulates him on graduating, but somehow it feels as though she's only doing it because Sasuke told her to."

Rock Lee: "Damn it, I'm still a little jealous of Naruto!"

Might Guy: "Lee, you don't need to be jealous of everything!"

Ebisu: "The person you admire treats someone else like they're the center of the world. Is there anything more tragic?"

Shiranui Genma: "Obito might know something about that."

Uchiha Obito: "What?!"

What the hell, Genma?!

Obito nearly jumped out of his seat.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, you bastard! Are you tired of living? Keep this up, and I'll come to your house and plan another Nine-Tails incident just to spite you!"

Black Zetsu hurriedly intervened.

"Obito, calm down! Calm down! And, more importantly, don't reveal your identity!"

What a headache!

If Obito kept losing his temper over every little remark, Black Zetsu feared his plans would fall apart long before they reached their final stage.

Uzumaki Kushina: "Damn it! How did my Naruto end up like this?! Mikoto, you need to do something about your Sasuke! Can't he share a little of his emotional intelligence with my Naruto?"

Uchiha Mikoto: "Kushina, that's Sasuke from another world…"

Uzumaki Kushina: "I know, but I'm still angry! Neither version of Naruto seems to have inherited Minato's composure!"

Minato Namikaze: "Kushina, I can hear you."

Kushina: "Then help me complain!"

Minato could only smile helplessly.

【Ninja Academy Classroom】

Iruka stood at the front of the classroom, ready to announce the teams for the newly graduated Genin.

"Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura. You'll be assigned to Team Seven."

"Wonderful!"

Sakura could barely contain her excitement. She clasped her hands together, practically glowing at the prospect of working alongside Sasuke.

Hinata, sitting nearby, lowered her head.

She had hoped to end up on the same team as Sasuke, but that hope had now been dashed. Over the past few years, she had gradually grown more comfortable around him, and she had even begun to look forward to spending more time together. Being assigned to another team was therefore more disappointing than she wanted to admit.

Sasuke noticed her expression.

He couldn't change the assignments, and he had no intention of interfering with the established team structure. Still, he made a mental note to visit Hinata's team when their schedules allowed it.

After all, being on different teams didn't mean they had to stop spending time together.

【Once the assignments were announced, the newly formed teams waited for their jōnin instructors to arrive.】

It wasn't long before Asuma Sarutobi appeared to collect the Ino–Shika–Chō team.

Ino reluctantly said goodbye to Sasuke before leaving with Shikamaru and Chōji. Shikamaru looked as though he would rather be anywhere else, while Chōji was already thinking about what he would eat for lunch.

Not long afterward, a woman with long, wavy red hair and striking red eyes entered the classroom.

"I'm Kurenai Yuhi, the jōnin instructor for Team Eight. Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino, come with me."

Sasuke finally set his book aside.

Before Hinata could leave, he reached over and took her hand, turning toward Kurenai with a polite smile.

"Please look after Hinata, Kurenai-sensei. She's still rather timid, so I'd appreciate it if you could help her grow more confident."

Kurenai paused.

For a brief moment, she felt as though something had flashed before her eyes.

What a handsome boy!

She had seen plenty of talented young shinobi during her time in Konoha, but Sasuke possessed a composure and charm that made him stand out. He reminded her a little of Kakashi in his younger days, though Sasuke was much more expressive when interacting with people he liked.

Then she glanced at Hinata.

The girl was standing behind Sasuke with her head lowered and her cheeks flushed, her hand still in his.

A teasing smile spread across Kurenai's face.

"Oh? Is Hinata your little girlfriend?"

"Ah!"

Hinata's head nearly erupted in a cloud of steam.

L-Little girlfriend?!

Her knees felt weak, and for a moment she struggled to remain standing.

Sasuke sighed helplessly.

"Hinata is still sensitive about things like that. She'll get used to it eventually, though. You just have to give her time."

Kurenai raised an eyebrow, amused by how casually he discussed the girl's embarrassment.

This boy really is something else.

"Don't worry, handsome. I'll take good care of your Hinata."

Hinata looked as though she might faint on the spot.

Kurenai finally led her team out of the classroom, still wearing an amused smile.

【Sasuke's straightforward request had left Kurenai with a favorable first impression of him. More importantly, it had given her another reason to pay attention to Hinata's development.】

【For Hinata, however, the part she would remember most was Kurenai calling her Sasuke's little girlfriend.】

The thought followed her all the way out of the Academy.

She could hardly concentrate on what Kurenai was saying.

Back in the classroom, Sasuke returned to his book.

【Before long, only Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura remained.】

They waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Naruto began pacing around the classroom, clutching his head in frustration.

"What's taking our jōnin so long?! Did he get lost on his way here? Did he accidentally leave the village? How long are we supposed to sit around?!"

He had been eager to challenge Sasuke ever since arriving that morning, but Sakura wouldn't let him disturb Sasuke while he was reading.

He couldn't take his frustration out on Sakura, either, because Sasuke would undoubtedly step in to defend her.

That left Naruto with no outlet for his restless energy.

Eventually, his boredom reached the point where he decided to set a simple trap by placing a blackboard eraser above the classroom door.

At last, someone appeared.

"Hello. I'm your jōnin instructor, Hatake Kakashi."

The man stepped into the classroom, only to have the eraser fall directly onto his head.

Kakashi casually removed it and brushed himself off as though nothing had happened.

"Come along. Let's head to the rooftop and introduce ourselves properly."

He led the three Genin out of the classroom.

Sasuke closed his book and followed, studying his new instructor with considerable interest.

【Hatake Kakashi was a famous shinobi of Konoha, a name that appeared even in history textbooks.】

【He had graduated from the Academy at five, become a chūnin at six, and reached jōnin rank at twelve.】

【He was a former student of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and had participated in the Battle of Kannabi Bridge during the Third Shinobi World War.】

【During that battle, his teammate Obito Uchiha had given him a Sharingan.】

【His accomplishments had earned him several nicknames, including Copy Ninja Kakashi and Kakashi of the Sharingan.】

【He had also developed a powerful Lightning Release technique, Chidori, by applying lightning nature transformation to his chakra.】

Sasuke knew most of this already.

He had read about Kakashi's accomplishments in books and reports, so he understood that his instructor was far more than an ordinary jōnin.

In the comparison room, Orochimaru gave an amused chuckle.

"Even at this stage, the parallel Sasuke already knows considerably more about Kakashi than the Sasuke from our world did. All this information is available in books, yet our Sasuke barely knew anything about the man who was supposed to train him."

Uchiha Sasuke: "…"

Damn it!

He had been so focused on getting stronger that he hadn't even thought to investigate his own instructor.

If he had known Kakashi's background, abilities, and fighting style beforehand, he could have prepared himself much better for their first meeting.

Instead, he had walked into the training ground knowing almost nothing about the person standing in front of him.

And the problem wasn't simply that he had missed a few facts. He had missed an opportunity to prepare.

【On the rooftop, Kakashi asked his three students to introduce themselves, beginning with their names, likes, dislikes, and dreams for the future.】

Sasuke stepped forward first.

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I enjoy reading and training. My dream is to kill the person who destroyed the Uchiha clan and restore my family."

He spoke plainly, without hesitation.

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly at the mention of the Uchiha massacre, but he didn't interrupt.

Next came Sakura.

"I'm Haruno Sakura. I like Sasuke-kun, and my dream is to help him achieve his goals and restore the Uchiha clan!"

She clasped her hands together, looking utterly sincere.

Kakashi's eye twitched.

Help him restore the Uchiha clan?

Does she mean she'll help him rebuild the clan by having children?

He looked at Sakura, then at Sasuke, and quietly wondered what the Academy had been teaching the younger generation.

Kids these days are certainly growing up fast.

Naruto's introduction was considerably more straightforward. He declared his intention to become Hokage with his usual enthusiasm, determined to make sure everyone understood his ambition.

After listening to all three of them, Kakashi explained the next day's exercise.

"Tomorrow, meet me at Training Ground Three at five in the morning. And don't eat breakfast beforehand."

He paused briefly before adding, "You'll throw up if you do."

With that, he left, apparently satisfied with the instructions he had given them.

Sasuke frowned slightly.

He thought about Kakashi's words as he considered what sort of exercise might await them.

A physical test? A sparring match? Some kind of endurance exercise?

The warning about breakfast suggested that Kakashi expected them to do something strenuous. But it also raised another question: was avoiding breakfast genuinely necessary, or was the instruction itself part of the test?

Sasuke couldn't know for certain yet.

However, he did know that going into a demanding exercise without enough energy was a poor decision. If Kakashi intended to test their endurance, teamwork, or judgment, they would need to be in suitable condition.

He turned toward his teammates.

"Sakura, Naruto, go to bed early tonight. And make sure you eat breakfast tomorrow before coming to the training ground."

Naruto scratched his head.

"Huh? Didn't Kakashi-sensei specifically tell us not to eat?"

"Think about it," Sasuke replied. "Whatever we're doing tomorrow, we'll need energy. Going into a training exercise on an empty stomach isn't a good idea. And if we really do throw up, it's hardly the end of the world."

Sakura considered his reasoning.

"But what if he gets angry because we ignored his instructions?"

"Then we'll deal with that when it happens. Right now, we don't even know what the test involves. I'm not going to make myself weaker before it starts just because of a warning that might be intended to make us nervous."

Naruto stared at him.

"So we're just going to ignore what our teacher said?"

"I'm not ignoring it," Sasuke explained patiently. "I'm considering why he said it and deciding whether following that instruction is actually beneficial."

Sakura nodded slowly. She hadn't thought of it that way.

Naruto, meanwhile, looked between them, still uncertain.

"Man, why does everything with you have to be so complicated? I'll just eat breakfast and see what happens!"

Sasuke smiled faintly.

"That works, too. Just don't eat so much that you feel sick."

【The three of them parted ways, each carrying a slightly different impression of their new instructor.】

【Naruto was still eager to fight Sasuke. Sakura was excited about being on the same team as him. Sasuke, meanwhile, had already begun thinking about how to prepare for the next day's test.】

But Sasuke wasn't finished.

Rather than returning home immediately, he went back to the Academy to look for Iruka.

He wanted to learn more about Kakashi.

His instructor's reputation was impressive, but a reputation alone didn't tell him everything he needed to know. Sasuke wanted to understand Kakashi's preferred techniques, his approach to training, and anything else that might help him prepare.

Iruka had worked at the Academy for years and knew a great deal about Konoha's shinobi. He was an excellent place to start.

If Iruka didn't know the answers, Sasuke could look for books or ask someone else. Either way, there was no reason to sit around waiting for tomorrow when he could spend the evening gathering information.

【For Sasuke, preparation did not begin when a test was announced. It began the moment he realized there was something he didn't know.】

In the comparison room, Naruto blinked.

Uzumaki Naruto: "Wait… he's still doing this?! He actually went back to ask Iruka-sensei about Kakashi-sensei?"

Uchiha Sasuke: "You can ask your Academy teacher about your jōnin instructor before the training starts? Damn it! Why didn't I think of that?"

If he had investigated Kakashi's abilities beforehand, he could have prepared more intelligently instead of walking into the test without a plan.

Haruno Sakura: "And he remembered to think about breakfast, too. I probably would have just followed Kakashi-sensei's instructions without questioning them."

Nara Shikamaru: "Kakashi-sensei probably wanted you to learn something from the experience. The warning about food might have been meant to make you remember the test. Sasuke from the parallel world seems to have considered that possibility instead of taking the instruction at face value."

Hatake Kakashi: "Sasuke, your parallel self isn't just stronger. He actually thinks about things before acting. You should learn from him."

Uchiha Sasuke: "…"

He had no comeback.

The difference between him and the other Sasuke wasn't limited to how hard they trained or how much chakra they possessed. It showed in how they approached unfamiliar situations, how they gathered information, and how carefully they considered their decisions.

The parallel Sasuke didn't automatically assume that an instruction was meaningless, nor did he blindly follow it without thinking. He considered the possible reasons behind it, weighed the risks, and made his own judgment.

Even his decision to eat breakfast reflected that habit. He wasn't certain Kakashi's warning was a trick, and he wasn't certain eating would cause problems. He simply refused to sacrifice his preparation based on an assumption.

The same reasoning had led him to investigate Kakashi through Iruka rather than waiting for the test to begin.

One Sasuke waited for events to unfold before reacting.

The other tried to understand what was coming and prepare for it in advance.

And the more the comparison continued, the more obvious that difference became.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts. Power Stones are always appreciated, too!

Want to read ahead? My Patreon offers 5, 10, or 15 advanced chapters for each included story, plus an extra chapter for free members!

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next chapter!

 

[abyssalmandate]

The next morning, Team Seven arrived at Training Ground Three before sunrise.

Naruto yawned so widely that his jaw nearly cracked. "Five in the morning? Seriously? Does Kakashi-sensei even sleep?"

"Probably," Sakura replied. "He just doesn't seem to care whether the rest of us do."

Sasuke paid little attention to their complaints. He had spent the journey reviewing what he knew about their new instructor, and the information had given him a clearer idea of the challenge ahead. Hatake Kakashi wasn't merely an experienced jōnin. He was the son of Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of Konoha, and had earned a fearsome reputation as the Copy Ninja after receiving a Sharingan from his former teammate.

More importantly, Kakashi had a habit of turning his opponents' strengths against them.

That was the part Sasuke intended to remember.

"Kakashi-sensei has a Sharingan in his left eye," he explained. "It enhances his visual perception, allowing him to read movements and copy many techniques. He can also use it for genjutsu. According to what I've read, he's copied over a thousand ninjutsu."

Naruto stared at him. "Wait. What's a Sharingan? And what's ninjutsu? Is that different from normal jutsu?"

Sasuke turned toward him.

For several seconds, he seemed to be deciding whether Naruto was joking.

"You graduated from the Academy without knowing what the Sharingan is?"

"I know what the Sharingan is! It's the red eye thing the Uchiha have!"

"Then why did you ask?"

"Because you started explaining it like I was supposed to know everything about Kakashi-sensei!"

Sakura pressed her fingers against her forehead. "Naruto, you could have just listened instead of interrupting."

"I am listening!"

"Then let him finish!"

Sasuke sighed and continued before their argument could grow any longer. He explained the basics of chakra nature transformation, the difference between ninjutsu and ordinary physical techniques, and the significance of Kakashi's reputation. Naruto listened with varying degrees of attention, asking questions whenever a term confused him. Some were surprisingly reasonable, while others made Sasuke wonder how he had managed to pass the graduation examination at all.

In the comparison room, Kiba burst out laughing.

"Unbelievable! Naruto doesn't even know the basics!"

"It's hardly surprising," Shino observed. "His academic performance was poor, and he rarely paid attention in class. The real question is how much of what Sasuke explains he'll actually remember."

"Hey! I'm standing right here!" Naruto protested.

"On the silver screen, you're standing over there," Kiba pointed out. "And you still don't know what ninjutsu is!"

Naruto opened his mouth, thought better of it, and settled for glaring at him.

Sakura's face reddened. She knew Naruto had neglected his studies, but hearing it discussed so casually in front of everyone was still embarrassing. She also couldn't help comparing him to the Sasuke on the golden screen, who had apparently spent considerable time researching their instructor before the test had even begun.

On the silver screen, the original Sasuke frowned.

He remembered knowing that Kakashi possessed a Sharingan, but little else. Back then, he had been too focused on his own strength and revenge to investigate his future instructor properly. The difference seemed small when described in isolation, yet the parallel Sasuke had arrived at the training ground with information his younger self had never bothered to collect.

Kakashi scratched his cheek. "It's not unusual for newly graduated Genin to lack detailed knowledge about their instructor. Although I have to admit, the parallel Sasuke's preparation is impressive."

"Impressive?" Jiraiya laughed. "Most Genin don't even know where to begin researching a jōnin. That boy has been studying long before he received his headband."

Minato looked toward Naruto on the silver screen, his expression thoughtful. "Naruto's problem isn't that he can't learn. He simply hasn't built a strong foundation."

Kushina immediately folded her arms. "Then someone should have helped him build one! A child can't learn what nobody takes the time to explain."

Minato gave her a helpless smile. He couldn't disagree, though he suspected Naruto's habit of running away from anything resembling a lesson had also contributed to the problem.

Back at the training ground, Sasuke had finished explaining the most important points. He also mentioned Kakashi's father, Sakumo Hatake, whose swordsmanship had earned him a reputation feared even by enemy shinobi. If Kakashi had inherited even part of that skill, rushing into close combat without a plan would be foolish.

Naruto scratched his head. "So he's strong, knows a thousand jutsu, can read our movements, and might be good with a sword. Great. Anything else? Does he breathe fire too?"

"Not that I've read," Sasuke replied. "But if you keep talking, we might discover that he can make you disappear."

Sakura covered her mouth to hide a laugh.

"Hey!"

Sasuke ignored him and walked toward the riverbank. He sat beneath a tree, took a book from his bag, and opened it to the page he had marked the previous evening.

Advanced Practice of Yin–Yang Release.

Naruto stared at the cover. "You're reading now?"

"We're waiting."

"So?"

"So I might as well use the time."

"Couldn't you do something normal? Like sleep?"

"Couldn't you do something useful? Like be quiet?"

Sakura turned away, her shoulders shaking with barely suppressed laughter. Naruto muttered something about arrogant Uchiha, then wandered off to inspect the training ground.

None of them noticed the figure watching from the branches overhead.

Kakashi had arrived early enough to observe his new students without being seen. He had expected Sasuke to be confident, Naruto to be noisy, and Sakura to be nervous. So far, the three had met those expectations.

What interested him was how Sasuke had positioned himself.

The boy was reading, but he had chosen a place from which he could see much of the training ground. More curiously, he occasionally glanced toward the river. Kakashi followed his gaze and noticed that the water reflected the branches above.

His visible eye narrowed.

Had the boy spotted him?

In the comparison room, Madara leaned forward slightly.

"Look at Sasuke's eyes."

Tobirama glanced toward the screen. "His Sharingan isn't active."

"Exactly," Madara replied. "He doesn't need it to notice that something might be wrong."

Kakashi, still concealed in the tree, shifted his position almost imperceptibly. Sasuke turned a page without looking up. The reflection in the river changed, but the boy's attention remained on his book.

Kakashi wasn't certain whether Sasuke had actually detected him or was merely checking his surroundings out of habit. Either possibility was worth remembering.

The morning passed slowly. Naruto grew increasingly restless, while Sakura tried to keep him from disturbing Sasuke. Sasuke continued reading, occasionally looking up to check the time and the position of the sun. He had no intention of spending the entire morning staring into the trees just because Kakashi was late.

At eleven o'clock, Kakashi finally appeared in the clearing.

"Sorry I'm late," he said cheerfully. "A black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way around."

Naruto's eye twitched. "You've got to be kidding me!"

Kakashi ignored the complaint and glanced at the three students. His gaze paused briefly on their breakfast wrappers.

"Good. It seems you managed to learn that lesson without me having to explain it. Let's get started."

Sasuke closed his book.

So the warning about breakfast had been deliberate. Kakashi had wanted to see whether they would follow an instruction without considering its purpose. Sasuke had decided that three young Genin would need energy for a physical test, and nothing in the warning had convinced him otherwise. He had eaten, but he had also kept in mind that Kakashi might be testing their judgment.

It was a reasonable conclusion, though not necessarily the complete answer. Kakashi could have been testing obedience, common sense, or simply their willingness to question an instruction. Sasuke had no way to know for certain yet.

At least he hadn't sacrificed his breakfast to find out.

Kakashi held up two small bells.

"Your task is simple. Take one of these bells from me before noon. Whoever fails to obtain a bell will return to the Academy."

Naruto blinked. "But there are three of us and only two bells!"

"That's right."

"So one of us is guaranteed to fail?"

"Perhaps."

Kakashi's eye curved with amusement. "You have until noon. Come at me with the intention to kill, or you won't stand a chance."

He tied the bells to his belt and stepped back.

Sasuke immediately began assessing the situation. Two bells for three students meant that the obvious objective was probably not the true one. Kakashi had also told them to attack with murderous intent, an instruction that sounded absurd for a test conducted by their own village. The jōnin was clearly measuring something beyond their ability to land a hit.

Teamwork was the likely answer, but teamwork alone would not help if the three of them charged at Kakashi without knowing how he fought.

Sasuke moved closer to Naruto and Sakura, lowering his voice.

"Don't attack him immediately. We need to learn how he fights before we commit to anything. Naruto, your clones can force him to deal with several attackers at once. I want to see how he moves when he's surrounded and whether he prioritizes evasion or counterattacks."

Naruto looked mildly interested, but Sasuke continued before he could interrupt.

"Sakura, I want you to stay out of his immediate line of sight and watch his movements. Pay attention to his feet, shoulders, and hands. Don't just look at the attacks themselves. Look for what he does before them."

Sakura blinked, surprised that he had addressed her so directly. "You want me to figure out his movements?"

"You're the least likely to draw his attention if you stay back. That gives you a better view than either Naruto or me will have once we're fighting him."

It wasn't a compliment exactly, but it was the first time Sasuke had explained how she could contribute rather than simply telling her to stay out of the way. Sakura straightened a little, her initial nervousness giving way to concentration.

"What am I looking for?"

"Anything consistent. Does he shift his weight before moving? Does he favor one side? Does he look at the person he's about to attack, or somewhere else? If you notice something useful, tell us. If there's a genuine opening, take it—but don't rush in just because you think you've found one."

Sakura nodded and turned her attention to Kakashi. He stood with his hands in his pockets, his posture so relaxed that it was difficult to tell whether he was paying attention to them at all.

Naruto, however, was growing increasingly irritated.

"Wait a minute. Why do you get to decide everything?"

"Because someone needs to think before we charge in."

"Hey! I can think!" Naruto protested. "And I don't need to hide in a bush while you do all the fighting!"

"That's not what I said. I want you to use your clones when we have a better idea of what we're dealing with."

Naruto glanced at Kakashi, who was standing several paces away, looking as relaxed as if he'd come to watch a street performance.

"So we're supposed to stand around until he decides to attack us?"

"No. We're supposed to make our first move count."

Naruto's expression tightened. He had spent years being treated as the dead-last student, and now that he had finally graduated, Sasuke was already talking as though he had to be kept out of the way. Even if Sasuke was right about Kakashi's strength, Naruto had no intention of spending his first real test as a shinobi waiting for someone else to decide when he was allowed to fight.

"Forget it! I didn't graduate just to stand around while you tell me what to do." He jabbed a thumb toward Kakashi. "I've got a new jutsu, and I'm going to show him what I can do!"

Sasuke frowned. "Naruto, he's a jōnin. If you rush him without a plan, he'll take you out before you learn anything."

"Then I'll learn by fighting him!" Naruto shot back. "You can make all the plans you want, Sasuke, but I'm not going to sit around waiting for you to give me permission to do something!"

Sasuke opened his mouth to answer, then stopped. Naruto was too worked up to listen, and another argument would only waste the time they had.

"Fine. Do what you want. But if you get caught, don't expect Kakashi-sensei to give you another chance."

Naruto grinned, though the irritation hadn't left his face. "Just watch. I'll get one of those bells before you do!"

He turned and charged toward Kakashi.

Sasuke watched him go, then turned to Sakura. "Don't abandon your position just because Naruto gets into trouble. Watch Kakashi. If you see an opening, use it, but don't risk getting caught for nothing."

Sakura nodded and slipped into the trees, choosing a position that gave her a clear view of the clearing without leaving her exposed. She forced herself to ignore Naruto's shouting and concentrate on their instructor.

Naruto rushed forward.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A cloud of smoke filled the clearing as dozens of Narutos charged Kakashi from several directions. Kakashi moved almost lazily at first, ducking one punch and redirecting a clone into the others. But Sakura noticed something the others might have missed: whenever Kakashi changed direction, his left shoulder turned a fraction before his feet followed.

It was subtle, hardly enough to call a weakness, but it gave her a small warning of where he intended to move next.

She watched him exploit the gaps between Naruto's clones, separating them before they could surround him. He didn't waste movement or strength on unnecessary attacks. Instead, he guided the clones into one another and struck the real Naruto as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

Within moments, Naruto had been caught and left hanging upside down from a tree.

"Your enthusiasm is admirable," Kakashi said. "Your approach needs work."

Sakura's stomach sank. Naruto had been defeated almost immediately, and the little she had learned wasn't enough to stop Kakashi. Still, she held onto the detail about his shoulder. It might become useful if Sasuke could force Kakashi to move under greater pressure.

In the comparison room, Shikamaru sighed. "He rushed in without learning anything first. Troublesome."

"That's not fair!" Naruto protested. "I learned that Kakashi-sensei is a cheater!"

"That's not what you learned," Sakura said, turning toward him. "You learned that he can beat you without even trying."

"That's even worse!"

Kiba laughed. "At least the parallel Sasuke knew what was coming. The original you probably would've charged in even faster."

Naruto pointed at him. "I would've caught him by surprise!"

"By telling him you were coming from the front?"

Several people laughed, and Naruto slumped in his seat, muttering that nobody appreciated a good surprise attack.

Fugaku watched the golden screen without joining in. The parallel Sasuke had attempted to plan ahead, but his teammates' lack of coordination had already undermined the strategy. Whether he could adapt remained to be seen.

Back at the training ground, Sasuke studied Kakashi as the last of the clones disappeared. He had expected Naruto's first attack to fail; what he had wanted was a chance to observe Kakashi's response. The exchange had revealed that Kakashi could handle a swarm of Academy-level clones without difficulty, but Sakura's observation had given them something more useful.

Sasuke emerged from the trees.

"Kakashi-sensei. Take me seriously."

Kakashi turned toward him. "You seem confident. But being talented at the Academy isn't the same as understanding the difference between a Genin and a jōnin."

"Then I'll find out where that difference lies."

Sasuke drew several shuriken and threw them in a tight sequence. The first pair seemed to miss Kakashi by a wide margin, but Sasuke had aimed them to pass on either side of him. As the weapons crossed, their attached wires pulled taut, altering their trajectories and sending the remaining shuriken toward Kakashi from unexpected angles.

Kakashi twisted aside and raised a kunai, but the wires continued to close around his position. Rather than waste time escaping the trap, he channeled Wind Release chakra along the blade and cut through the steel threads.

That was the response Sasuke had anticipated.

The moment the wires parted, he formed no hand seals at all.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Flames surged across the clearing.

For the first time that morning, Kakashi's visible eye widened. The fireball arrived just as he finished severing the wires, leaving him little time to choose his next move. He leapt clear of the flames, and the blast scorched the ground where he had stood moments earlier.

Sakura had been waiting for precisely this kind of movement. She had seen how Kakashi shifted his shoulder before changing direction, and Sasuke's attack had finally forced him to move quickly enough for that observation to matter.

"Now!"

She threw two shuriken toward the branch Kakashi was about to use to change direction. She didn't expect either weapon to hit him; their purpose was to make the branch a less convenient landing point. At the same time, she darted from her hiding place and moved to cut off his easiest route back into the clearing.

For an instant, Kakashi's attention had to account for more than Sasuke.

Sakura's shuriken missed, and Kakashi avoided her interception with a short leap. But the extra pressure forced him to change his landing, briefly placing him between the two Genin rather than safely beyond their reach.

Sasuke saw the change and moved to close the distance. He didn't aim for Kakashi's head or chest. His attention was fixed on the bells at the jōnin's waist.

Kakashi pivoted away before Sasuke could reach them. He caught Sasuke's wrist, redirected his momentum, and sent him stumbling past. The exchange lasted only a moment, but Sasuke had come close enough to make Kakashi protect the bells rather than simply evade an attack.

Sakura retreated before Kakashi could seize her, breathing hard. She hadn't landed a hit, but she had helped create the opening Sasuke needed. More importantly, she had confirmed that Kakashi's attention could be divided if the team coordinated its movements.

Sasuke steadied himself and took a few steps back, refusing to mistake a near miss for success. He had forced Kakashi to defend against a planned combination, but he hadn't come close to winning the test on his own.

Smoke drifted between the trees. Kakashi landed on a branch and looked down at the scorched clearing, his visible eye moving from Sasuke to Sakura.

"Well," he said, "that was more interesting."

In the comparison room, Jiraiya leaned forward, his earlier amusement replaced by genuine interest.

"Sasuke created the opening, but Sakura made it harder for Kakashi to escape cleanly. That's the first real sign of teamwork we've seen from them."

Tobirama nodded. "And she didn't mistake observation for passivity. She watched, formed a conclusion, and acted when the opportunity appeared. Her attack wasn't meant to defeat Kakashi. It was meant to restrict his options."

"Still, the boy's technique is the real surprise," Orochimaru remarked, his eyes fixed on the golden screen. "A Great Fireball without hand seals, timed to exploit the moment his opponent is occupied. That's a considerable degree of chakra control for a newly graduated Genin."

Jiraiya glanced at him. "You're not going to start asking for his reading list, are you?"

"I already know the title of one of his books."

"That's what worries me."

A few people laughed, though Kakashi himself remained thoughtful. The parallel Sasuke had researched him, prepared a trap, and timed a follow-up technique for the moment he committed to a response. Sakura had observed the exchange and intervened without needing Sasuke to explain every movement to her. Their coordination was still rough, and Naruto had rushed in without waiting for either of them, but the team had begun to show what it might accomplish if its members learned to trust one another.

Back at the training ground, Kakashi glanced toward Sakura, who was trying to steady her breathing, then toward Naruto, still hanging upside down from the tree.

"One of you can plan, one of you can observe, and one of you can make enough noise to wake the entire village," he remarked. "Now we just need to see whether you can learn to work together."

"I'm not that noisy!" Naruto shouted from above.

Kakashi tilted his head. "I heard you clearly from the other side of the training ground."

"That's because you have a good sense of hearing!"

"Of course."

Sakura sighed, though a small smile had crept onto her face. Sasuke looked up at Naruto for a moment, then returned his attention to Kakashi and the bells.

He had learned something important. Preparation could create an opening, and observation could make that opening easier to exploit, but neither was enough if the team couldn't work together. Sakura had done her part. Naruto, on the other hand, was still determined to prove himself on his own terms.

And Kakashi had not given them a single bell.


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[abyssalmandate]

The Great Fireball Jutsu roared through the clearing, its scorching flames forcing Kakashi to abandon his position. He vanished in a Body Flicker, escaping the inferno just as Sasuke's steel wire tightened across the space he had occupied.

Kakashi reappeared above the flames, already preparing to land somewhere safe. But before his feet could touch the ground, several shuriken came spinning toward him.

His visible eye narrowed.

He predicted where I'd appear?

Kakashi twisted in midair and formed a series of hand seals. The earth rose beneath him, shaping itself into a thick defensive wall. The shuriken struck the surface with a succession of sharp clangs, embedding themselves in the packed soil.

Kakashi landed behind the wall and glanced toward Sasuke.

The boy was already watching him.

In the comparison room, Might Guy folded his arms, his expression bright with excitement. "Kakashi is taking this seriously now! Sasuke's timing is excellent, and he isn't giving Kakashi any opportunity to settle into a comfortable rhythm."

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head. "It's a little embarrassing hearing someone praise my performance while I'm being chased around by a newly graduated Genin."

"You should be proud!" Guy declared. "What could be more youthful than a student forcing his teacher to give everything he has?"

"That's not quite how I wanted to spend my morning."

Minato watched the golden screen thoughtfully. "Sasuke isn't simply throwing techniques at Kakashi. He's predicting how Kakashi will respond and preparing his next move accordingly."

"He has studied Kakashi's abilities beforehand," Orochimaru added. "But knowing what an opponent can do and forcing them into a position where they must do it are two different things. Sasuke is demonstrating that he understands the distinction."

Jiraiya tilted his head. "Though I wonder whether he's considered using lightning to guide his shuriken. If he can alter their trajectories, Kakashi's usual defenses might not be enough."

The Fourth Raikage gave a dismissive snort. "There's no point inventing a dozen possibilities for him. Even a genius can overlook an option in the middle of a fight. What matters is whether he can recognize the opening when it appears."

On the golden screen, Kakashi stepped out from behind the earthen wall. His relaxed posture had disappeared. He had initially intended to assess his new students while keeping his own abilities largely concealed, but Sasuke's attacks had already forced him to reconsider.

This won't work if I keep treating him like an ordinary Genin.

Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing the Sharingan beneath it.

Sasuke's expression remained composed. He had expected Kakashi to stop holding back eventually.

Then his own Sharingan turned toward his instructor.

Three tomoe revolved around each pupil.

Kakashi's visible eye widened.

"Three tomoe already?"

For a brief moment, he forgot about the test altogether. Awakening the Sharingan was one thing, but reaching its three-tomoe stage at such a young age was another. Sasuke had not merely inherited the Uchiha clan's talent. He had developed it at a frightening pace.

In the comparison room, Fugaku sat straighter, his eyes fixed on the golden screen. Mikoto's expression softened with pride, though the surprise on her face was unmistakable.

"That is our son's Sharingan," she murmured.

Fugaku nodded slowly. "And he has brought it to this level himself."

The original Sasuke stared at the screen, his hands tightening at his sides. Seeing another version of himself wield the three-tomoe Sharingan so naturally was still difficult to accept. He wanted to dismiss the difference as the result of an unusual opportunity or some advantage he had never possessed, but each new exchange made that explanation harder to believe.

On the golden screen, Sasuke moved first.

He formed the hand seals for the Great Fireball Jutsu, releasing a torrent of flames toward Kakashi. The jonin answered with the Water Wall technique, drawing water into a rotating barrier that swallowed the fire.

Steam exploded across the clearing.

Within seconds, a dense mist spread between the trees, obscuring both fighters from view.

Kakashi used the cover to disappear beneath the ground.

Let's see how he handles this.

He emerged from the earth behind Sasuke, one hand reaching to seize the boy and drag him underground with the Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique.

But Sasuke's reaction was immediate.

Lightning chakra flashed around his body. He moved just as Kakashi's hand reached him, slipping out of the attack's path before the jonin could secure his grip.

Kakashi's fingers closed on empty air.

Sasuke turned to face him, lightning still crackling around his limbs.

"You were going to use that on me, weren't you?"

Kakashi paused.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. "I was planning to do the same thing."

In the comparison room, Naruto pointed at the screen. "Wait! He knew what Kakashi-sensei was doing before he even finished the technique?"

"Not exactly," Shikamaru replied. "He probably understood the purpose of Kakashi's movement and prepared a response. He didn't need to know every detail to avoid being caught."

Naruto looked unconvinced. "That still sounds like a lot of thinking for a fight!"

"Which is why you're usually the one getting caught."

"Hey!"

Sasuke didn't spare the exchange in the comparison room a glance. On the golden screen, he was already moving again.

He scattered a volley of shuriken through the mist, concealing explosive tags among them. Kakashi evaded the first few projectiles, but the arrangement forced him to keep moving instead of choosing a stable position.

Then flames burst from Sasuke's mouth.

The Phoenix Sage Fire Technique sent several small fireballs through the mist, each following a slightly different path. Kakashi dodged the first and deflected another, only to find the remaining attacks cutting off his easiest routes of escape.

He retreated behind another earthen wall.

The fireballs struck the defense in rapid succession, erupting against its surface. The wall held, but Kakashi had barely finished defending himself when Sasuke's next attack arrived.

Lightning gathered in Sasuke's hand.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

A concentrated bolt shot forward with a sharp crack. It smashed through the damaged earthen wall, tearing open a jagged gap and continuing toward Kakashi.

Kakashi's expression changed.

He formed the necessary seals and thrust his hand forward. Lightning surged around his fingers, gathering into the concentrated blade of the Lightning Cutter.

The two techniques collided.

Electricity flooded the clearing, illuminating the mist in brilliant flashes. Kakashi planted his feet and brought his other hand forward to reinforce his technique. The force of the clash drove him backward by inches, and he had to devote his full attention to preventing Sasuke's attack from breaking through.

Sasuke watched him carefully.

There it is.

Kakashi was no longer free to dodge, change position, or prepare another technique. His hands were occupied, his stance committed, and his attention fixed on the lightning rushing toward him.

Sasuke moved.

He slipped around the edge of the clash, using the noise and flashes of lightning to conceal his approach. His steps carried him behind Kakashi before the jonin could spare even a glance in his direction.

Kakashi sensed the movement a fraction too late.

He couldn't turn without weakening the Lightning Cutter, and he couldn't release the technique without allowing False Darkness to overwhelm him. For the briefest moment, every option available to him carried a cost.

Sasuke had created that moment deliberately.

He twisted his body in midair and drove his heel squarely into Kakashi's back.

BAM!

The kick landed between Kakashi's shoulder blades with enough force to break his stance completely. His upper body lurched forward, and his Lightning Cutter shattered into scattered sparks. At the same instant, Sasuke's False Darkness surged past him and tore through the ground where he had been standing.

Kakashi had no time to recover his balance.

The kick sent him flying across the clearing. He struck the earth hard, rolled over his shoulder, and skidded through the dirt before coming to a stop near the base of a tree.

Dust billowed around him.

For a moment, the clearing went quiet.

Sasuke landed steadily and immediately turned to face his instructor. His Sharingan remained active, his posture guarded. He didn't rush forward to claim victory or assume that Kakashi was finished. He had landed the blow he wanted, but he knew better than to treat an experienced jonin as harmless simply because he had fallen.

Kakashi, meanwhile, remained down for a few seconds.

The impact had driven the air from his lungs and left his back aching. Worse, the sudden interruption had broken his control over the lightning clash at the precise moment he was committed to maintaining it. He was still capable of fighting, but he needed time to recover—and Sasuke had forced him to pay for every second.

In the comparison room, Naruto shot to his feet.

"HE SENT KAKASHI-SENSEI FLYING!"

Kiba stared at the golden screen in disbelief. "A Genin just kicked Kakashi into the dirt!"

Shikamaru leaned forward, his earlier laziness forgotten. "That wasn't a lucky hit. Sasuke forced Kakashi to commit to defending against False Darkness, then attacked from the blind spot while both his hands were occupied. There was no easy way for Kakashi to respond."

Sakura watched Sasuke carefully. What impressed her most wasn't simply the strength of the kick. Sasuke had immediately returned to a defensive stance instead of charging at Kakashi while he was down. He had won the exchange, but he was still prepared for the possibility that his instructor would counterattack.

Minato nodded. "He used each attack to narrow Kakashi's options until the final opening appeared. The kick was the conclusion of the entire sequence, not an isolated move."

Orochimaru's smile widened. "And he chose to end the exchange at the moment when Kakashi was least able to defend himself. He wasn't interested in proving that his individual techniques were stronger. He wanted to see whether he could overcome Kakashi's experience."

Guy slapped his knee, looking delighted. "What a magnificent display of youthful determination! Kakashi, your student has given you quite the lesson!"

Kakashi looked at him flatly. "You're enjoying this far too much."

"Of course! When else do I get to see you knocked off your feet by a twelve-year-old?"

"I'd prefer it if you stopped emphasizing his age."

On the golden screen, Kakashi finally planted a hand against the ground and pushed himself upright. He winced as he straightened, then brushed the dirt from his clothes. His visible eye settled on Sasuke, who was still waiting in a guarded stance.

For once, Kakashi wasn't smiling behind his usual air of laziness.

I underestimated him.

He had expected to evaluate three inexperienced Genin and teach them the importance of teamwork. Instead, Sasuke had forced him to reveal his Sharingan, challenged him with several elemental techniques, and exploited a narrow opening to put him on the ground.

The bells still hung at Kakashi's waist. Sasuke hadn't won the entire test, and the other two students had yet to demonstrate everything they could do. But the outcome of their exchange was undeniable.

Kakashi had been forced to take his student seriously.

"All right, Sasuke," he said, rolling one shoulder as he recovered his balance. "You've earned my full attention."

Sasuke lowered his hand slightly, though he kept his eyes on Kakashi.

"Good. That's what I wanted."

He hadn't forgotten the bells. He hadn't abandoned the test, either. He had simply wanted to discover how much of his training would hold up against a real opponent—and Kakashi had given him the answer.

There were still limits to his strength, techniques he hadn't mastered, and openings he had yet to learn how to exploit. But now he had a clearer idea of where he stood.

Kakashi looked at the boy again, this time without a trace of casual amusement.

His new student wasn't merely talented. He was learning how to turn that talent into something dangerous.

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[abyssalmandate]

"Wait, Kakashi-sensei was sent flying?!"

Naruto stared at the golden screen, his mouth hanging open. He had seen Kakashi dodge attacks and effortlessly overpower his opponents, but watching Sasuke knock the jonin across the training ground was something else entirely.

The original Sasuke wasn't convinced.

"Don't underestimate a jonin. That might have been a clone, or he could have used the Substitution Technique."

Shikamaru shook his head. "At that speed? I doubt he'd have the time."

Sakura looked anxiously at the screen. "Then was it a clone?"

With Kakashi, it was always worth asking. The man had a talent for making an apparently decisive victory turn into an embarrassing misunderstanding.

But the kick had landed cleanly, and Kakashi had been sent skidding across the clearing.

Hatake Kakashi stared at the screen.

That was probably my real body.

Before he could dwell on the humiliation, Obito burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha! Kakashi, you bastard! Beaten by a Genin who just graduated!"

Shiranui Genma grinned. "The Copy Ninja's reputation is taking a beating today."

"I always wanted to see someone wipe that smug look off your face," Aoba added. "Didn't think it'd be a twelve-year-old."

"Someone tell Sasuke to aim for the mask next time!"

Kakashi's visible eye twitched.

Was I really that unpopular?

Minato cleared his throat, trying to bring the conversation back to the fight. "Kakashi didn't know Sasuke could use nature transformation so freely. That was a significant disadvantage."

"Still, that lightning attack was impressive," Jiraiya remarked. "The boy isn't just talented with the Sharingan. He's developed his ninjutsu, too."

Fugaku watched his son with quiet pride. "He's worked hard to reach that level."

Tobirama glanced at him. "Particularly with Lightning Release. It's not the element most people would associate with the Uchiha."

Kushina folded her arms. "You're all making excuses for Kakashi. He got kicked because he got kicked!"

Kakashi slowly turned toward her.

He suspected she was still holding a grudge over the Thousand Years of Death incident.

He decided not to ask.

---

On the golden screen, Kakashi rose from the ground and rolled his shoulders, working through the ache in his back. His usual relaxed manner had vanished. When he looked at Sasuke again, his expression was serious.

"It seems I underestimated you," he admitted. "You've developed strength that would put many experienced shinobi to shame. I'll stop holding back now, so you'd better be ready."

Sasuke answered without hesitation.

"I can't ask for anything better."

Kakashi's Sharingan rotated as he studied his opponent.

Both possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, making it difficult to gain an advantage through ordinary genjutsu. Sasuke could also perform ninjutsu without hand seals, though Kakashi didn't know whether the boy could do that with every technique.

A direct contest of ninjutsu would be risky. Instead, Kakashi decided to exploit his superior physical experience.

Close the distance and keep him from using that freedom.

Might Guy grinned. "Now he's getting serious!"

Asuma gave a low whistle. "He'd better. That Genin has already knocked him down once."

Iruka looked increasingly uncomfortable. "But isn't this supposed to be a bell test?"

Silence fell over the room.

Everyone looked at the golden screen.

Somehow, a test meant to teach three fresh graduates about teamwork had turned into a serious duel between a jonin and one of his students.

Obito's grin returned.

"What's wrong, Kakashi? Need another bell to motivate you?"

"I'm beginning to regret ever meeting you," Kakashi muttered.

"You say that every week!"

---

Clang!

Kakashi surged forward.

His kunai collided with Sasuke's, blue sparks dancing along both blades. Each had coated his weapon with Lightning Release chakra, strengthening the metal and threatening to shock the other on contact.

Sasuke's eyes widened slightly.

What speed! And that strength...

He had expected Kakashi to be physically superior. An experienced jonin had spent years fighting real enemies, while Sasuke was still limited by his twelve-year-old body.

Even so, he didn't panic.

I can't match him directly, but I can keep up.

The two clashed again.

Kunai rang against kunai as they flashed across the clearing, their movements blurring between the trees. Kakashi attacked from one angle after another, but Sasuke kept reading his movements and adjusting his defense.

Kakashi grew increasingly unsettled.

At twelve, I wasn't this strong.

He had been considered a prodigy himself, becoming a jonin at that age. Yet Sasuke was forcing him to fight seriously, and the boy was still adapting as the battle progressed.

In the comparison room, Lee watched with shining eyes.

"He's keeping up with an experienced jonin!"

Neji remained more reserved. "For now. Kakashi has greater physical strength, and the longer this continues, the harder it will become for Sasuke."

Naruto pointed at the screen. "Then Sasuke just has to finish it before that happens!"

Shikamaru sighed. "For once, that's not a terrible idea."

Kakashi abruptly sprang backward, putting some distance between them.

He had reached a conclusion. If he continued at this pace, Sasuke might adapt to his movements. Worse, the boy's hand-seal-free ninjutsu made it dangerous to give him even a moment to prepare.

Kakashi needed a decisive advantage.

"Looks like I'll have to use this."

Lightning Release chakra surged through his body.

Pale blue arcs spread across his limbs, crackling against his clothes as he stimulated his muscles with lightning chakra. Then he disappeared.

Sasuke's eyes widened.

His speed increased again!

Might Guy leaned forward. "Kakashi's using Lightning Release to enhance his body!"

The Fourth Raikage nodded. "A useful technique, provided you can control the chakra properly."

Rock Lee stared at the screen, already imagining the possibilities.

"That's amazing!"

"Don't get any ideas," Guy warned him. "You can't simply copy every technique you see."

Lee's shoulders slumped.

"Even if I train very hard?"

"Especially if you train very hard without understanding it first!"

---

Kakashi attacked with overwhelming speed, forcing Sasuke to defend himself from one angle after another. His kunai flashed toward Sasuke's shoulder, ribs, and legs. Every time Sasuke blocked or evaded an attack, Kakashi was already preparing the next.

Only moments earlier, Sasuke had found opportunities to counterattack. Now he could barely maintain his defense.

At this rate, I'll lose control of the fight.

He couldn't keep matching Kakashi blow for blow. His physical abilities were inferior, and every second spent defending brought Kakashi closer to finding a decisive opening.

He needed to change the conditions of the fight.

Sasuke abruptly withdrew, using the brief distance between them to launch a technique.

Without forming hand seals, he released several fireballs.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Technique!"

The flames spread across Kakashi's path, forcing him to adjust his approach. Sasuke used the opportunity to retreat farther, restoring enough distance to bring his other advantages into play.

Kakashi stopped just beyond the flames.

For the first time since activating his Lightning Release enhancement, he wasn't immediately pressing forward.

He bent slightly, breathing harder than before.

"Damn it..."

His chakra reserves were running dangerously low.

For a moment, the comparison room was quiet.

Then Kiba frowned. "Already? He's barely been fighting!"

Shino adjusted his glasses. "The lightning enhancement is consuming chakra continuously. Maintaining that speed comes at a cost."

Asuma nodded. "And Sasuke has forced him to use it longer than he intended."

Kakashi stared at the screen, looking personally offended by his own chakra reserves.

Seriously?

He knew the technique was expensive, but he hadn't expected to approach his limit so quickly. Sasuke had forced him to spend chakra defending against one dangerous attack after another, leaving him little opportunity to recover or control the pace.

Obito leaned back, delighted.

"So you got kicked into the dirt, turned on your lightning trick, and now you're exhausted?"

Kakashi gave him a flat stare.

"Would you like to take my place?"

"Absolutely not. I'm enjoying this far too much."

Minato smiled faintly. "Kakashi, you may need to reconsider how much chakra you're spending."

"Thank you, sensei. Your advice is always invaluable."

"I'm glad you think so."

On the golden screen, Sasuke remained at a cautious distance, studying Kakashi's breathing and posture. He didn't rush forward merely because his opponent appeared tired. He knew better than to assume that a jonin had run out of tricks.

Fugaku noticed his restraint but said nothing. His son had learned not to confuse an opening with a guaranteed victory.

Kakashi straightened and took another breath.

I need to finish this before my chakra runs out.

Then another thought occurred to him.

Wait... how much chakra does this kid have left?

Sasuke had used several powerful techniques, maintained his Sharingan, and fought him at close range. Yet he was still standing there, calm and alert, as if the fight had barely inconvenienced him.

Kakashi's eye twitched.

Don't tell me I'm the only one running out of chakra in this entire ninja world.

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[Lillie Jones]

Absolute Cinema
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[abyssalmandate]

Inside the mysterious comparison space, the atmosphere had become increasingly strange.

The golden screen showed Kakashi Hatake standing opposite the parallel Sasuke. The battle had already lasted longer than many people expected, and the most surprising part was not that Sasuke had managed to keep up with a jonin.

It was that Kakashi looked increasingly exhausted.

Terumi Mei watched the silver-haired ninja carefully, then glanced at the other people gathered around her.

"Is it just me, or does Kakashi seem to be running out of chakra rather quickly?"

Darui nodded lazily. "You're not the only one who noticed. He's been using several techniques in succession, but I wouldn't have expected his reserves to run dry this soon."

Huang Tu folded his arms. "He is a jonin with considerable combat experience. If he can't maintain this pace against a Genin, something is wrong."

A few people turned toward Kakashi, who stood among the spectators.

His visible eye narrowed.

"Would you all mind discussing someone else for a change?"

"Why?" Obito immediately asked. "Are you embarrassed?"

"I'm beginning to understand why people find you annoying."

"Good. I was worried I was losing my touch."

Several people laughed, while Kakashi silently regretted that his former teammate had been brought into this strange place at all.

On the screen, the battle continued.

The parallel Sasuke had demonstrated impressive control over his chakra, combining Fire Release and Lightning Release without wasting unnecessary movements. His hand-seal-free techniques made his attacks particularly difficult to predict, while his Sharingan allowed him to follow Kakashi's movements with frightening accuracy.

Yet Kakashi was still an experienced jonin. Even with his chakra reserves dwindling, his combat instincts and knowledge of countless techniques made him dangerous.

The question was how long he could keep fighting at that level.

Orochimaru seemed to find the situation amusing.

"There's an important detail everyone appears to be overlooking. Kakashi possesses the Sharingan, but he isn't an Uchiha. Using it places a considerable burden on his chakra reserves."

Fugaku nodded.

"The Sharingan is naturally suited to our clan. For someone who doesn't possess the same bloodline, maintaining it can be far more demanding. Kakashi's reserves are already being consumed simply by keeping the eye active, even before accounting for the techniques he's using."

Minato looked thoughtful.

"That explains part of it, but not everything. Kakashi has always had limitations when it comes to chakra. He's an exceptionally skilled shinobi, but his reserves aren't particularly remarkable for someone of his rank."

"Then why keep the Sharingan uncovered?" Naruto asked. "Wouldn't it be better to hide it when he isn't using it?"

"It's not quite that simple," Minato explained. "The Sharingan has become part of Kakashi's fighting style. He relies on its ability to read movements, copy techniques, and recognize threats. Hiding it would help conserve chakra, but he would lose some of those advantages whenever he needed them."

Kakashi gave a small nod.

"That's more or less the problem."

Then Naruto suddenly raised his head.

"Wait a minute! I remember something!"

Everyone turned toward him.

"What now?" Sasuke asked.

"When we fought Zabuza, Kakashi-sensei used up so much chakra that he collapsed afterward!" Naruto pointed toward the screen. "Sasuke and I had to carry him back! Well, mostly Sasuke did the carrying, but I helped!"

Sasuke glanced at him. "You complained about how heavy he was the entire way."

"Because he was heavy!"

"That's enough," Kakashi interrupted. "I would appreciate it if you didn't recount every embarrassing detail of my life."

Kushina covered her mouth, laughing.

"So the great Copy Ninja can defeat countless enemies, but one extended battle leaves him needing to be carried home by children?"

"I wasn't defeated," Kakashi replied.

"You were unconscious."

"Those are different things."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Perhaps you should spend less time reading those questionable books and more time improving your stamina."

Kakashi turned toward him.

"You're hardly qualified to offer that advice."

"I'm an excellent teacher!"

"Your students might disagree."

The exchange drew another round of laughter.

On the golden screen, however, Kakashi was beginning to look genuinely concerned.

His opponent wasn't merely keeping up with him. Sasuke had enough chakra left to continue fighting, and his expression suggested that he had no intention of stopping.

Kakashi found himself wondering how the boy had developed such reserves at his age.

He had expected an Uchiha prodigy to possess exceptional talent. He hadn't expected one to have already developed such efficient chakra control, nor had he anticipated the sheer variety of techniques Sasuke could use without relying on hand seals.

The boy was full of unpleasant surprises.

And Kakashi was running out of ways to deal with them.

---

On the golden screen, Kakashi took a step back and studied Sasuke.

His breathing had grown heavier, though he tried to conceal it beneath his usual relaxed posture.

"Sasuke, how much chakra do you have left?"

Sasuke considered the question.

"Enough to continue."

Kakashi stared at him for a moment.

Enough to continue?

He had already used more chakra than he had intended, and his Sharingan was only making the situation worse. Yet Sasuke stood in front of him with a calm expression, as though the fight had barely begun.

Kakashi couldn't help wondering whether the boy understood just how unusual that was.

In truth, Sasuke had been training his chakra reserves since the age of seven.

His method was straightforward. He practiced chakra control, increased the amount he could safely use, and repeated the process until his limits gradually expanded. Shadow Clones allowed him to maintain a far more demanding training schedule than an ordinary child could manage. Whenever a clone finished a task, its experiences returned to him, letting him refine his methods without personally repeating every routine exercise.

Over the years, the results had accumulated.

His reserves were not limitless, but they were considerably greater than Kakashi had expected.

More importantly, Sasuke had learned to avoid wasting chakra on unnecessary movements. Every technique had a purpose, and he was accustomed to considering how much energy he would need for whatever came next.

Kakashi, meanwhile, was fighting a battle he had never expected to become so demanding.

This kid really is troublesome.

He raised his head.

"Let's try something different."

Sasuke's Sharingan turned toward him.

Kakashi formed a series of hand seals, and the atmosphere around them changed.

A genjutsu.

The illusion spread toward Sasuke, attempting to interfere with his senses and distort his perception of the battlefield.

For a moment, the forest seemed to shift.

Then Sasuke's Three-Tomoe Sharingan rotated.

The illusion shattered almost immediately.

Kakashi's eye widened.

Sasuke hadn't needed to struggle against it. He had recognized the genjutsu, identified its interference, and broken free with minimal effort.

"You're using genjutsu now?" Sasuke asked. "Is your chakra really that low?"

Kakashi's expression froze.

In the comparison space, Obito burst out laughing.

"HAHAHA! He said it! The kid actually said it!"

"Kakashi," Minato said with a sympathetic smile, "perhaps you should stop giving him reasons to question your stamina."

"I would be grateful if you stopped enjoying this so much, sensei."

"I'm not enjoying it."

"You're smiling."

"That's unrelated."

"Of course it is."

Orochimaru chuckled. "The interesting part is that Sasuke didn't merely resist the genjutsu. He dismissed it almost immediately. His control over the Sharingan is already quite impressive."

Fugaku watched his parallel son with a thoughtful expression.

"He has been using the Sharingan in actual combat for some time. The eye itself is powerful, but the ability to use it without allowing it to dictate every movement is just as important."

Sasuke listened without comment.

He wasn't particularly interested in hearing everyone praise a version of himself from another world. Still, he couldn't deny that the parallel Sasuke's training methods had produced impressive results.

He wondered how much of that development had come from his own counterpart's knowledge of the future.

---

Kakashi finally lowered his hands.

"That's enough."

Sasuke watched him warily, unwilling to assume that the fight was over simply because his opponent had stopped attacking.

Kakashi sighed.

"You pass."

For a moment, Sasuke said nothing.

Then he glanced at the two bells hanging from Kakashi's waist.

"So the test is over?"

"Yes. You demonstrated sufficient combat ability, tactical judgment, and control over your chakra. There's no point in dragging this out any further."

Kakashi tried to make the announcement sound casual, but privately, he was relieved.

If the battle had continued much longer, he wasn't entirely confident that he could have maintained the advantage. Sasuke's combination of powerful techniques, precise control, and tactical thinking had forced him to spend far more chakra than he had anticipated.

The boy was certainly not an ordinary Genin.

However, Kakashi wasn't finished evaluating him.

"There is still one final matter to settle."

He removed the two bells from his waist and held them up.

"Two bells. Three students. Sasuke has passed the test, so I'll leave the final decision to him."

Naruto's expression changed.

Sakura went still.

Kakashi continued in his usual easygoing tone.

"Choose which teammate gets to stay on the team. The other will return to the Ninja Academy for further training."

"WHAT?!"

Naruto's shout echoed through the clearing.

Sakura stared at Kakashi in disbelief. "But Sasuke passed! Why does he get to decide who stays?"

"Because that's part of the test."

Naruto clenched his fists.

"That's ridiculous! We were all assigned to the same team! Why should Sasuke get to decide whether we can stay?"

"Life as a shinobi isn't fair," Kakashi replied. "You'll need to learn that eventually."

Sakura looked toward Sasuke, her expression tense. Naruto did the same, although he tried to hide his concern behind an angry scowl.

Neither wanted to be sent back to the Academy.

And neither knew what Sasuke would choose.

---

In the comparison space, Jiraiya's expression grew serious.

"There's the real test. The fight was only part of it. Now Kakashi wants to see what Sasuke will do when his own success comes at the expense of his teammates."

Minato nodded.

"He wants to know whether Sasuke sees them as companions or merely as people who happen to be assigned to the same team."

Orochimaru smiled faintly.

"And what if Sasuke decides that neither of them is useful enough to keep?"

"Then Kakashi has failed to teach them anything," Hashirama replied. "A leader shouldn't create a problem simply to see whether his subordinates will accept it."

Orochimaru tilted his head. "How idealistic."

"Someone has to be."

On the screen, Sasuke studied the two bells before looking at Naruto and Sakura.

He understood what Kakashi was attempting to accomplish.

The original test had been built around a simple contradiction: three students were competing for two bells. The intention was to make them realize that cooperation mattered more than individual success. Now that Sasuke had passed, Kakashi was presenting him with another choice, one that supposedly measured his attitude toward his teammates.

It was a convenient way to evaluate his priorities.

Unfortunately for Kakashi, Sasuke had never agreed that an instructor's rules were beyond question.

"Before I decide," Sasuke said, "I have a question."

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly.

"Go ahead."

"What's the point of sending one of them back?"

"To teach you responsibility. A team needs people who can contribute. If one member can't meet the requirements, the others shouldn't have to carry them."

Sasuke glanced at Naruto and Sakura.

"Then why did you assign three of us to a test with only two bells?"

Kakashi paused.

"Because the test isn't simply about collecting bells."

"Exactly."

Sasuke returned his gaze to the jonin.

"You want us to cooperate, but you've arranged the test to encourage us to compete. Then, when I pass, you want me to decide which teammate should be punished for failing."

Sakura blinked in surprise.

Naruto's anger faltered.

Kakashi's smile remained, though it had become a little more strained.

"That's one way of looking at it."

"Is there another?"

For a moment, Kakashi said nothing.

Sasuke continued.

"If teamwork is what you're testing, then Naruto and Sakura should be judged on how they work with the team, not simply on whether they managed to take a bell from you. Naruto's first attack failed, but he forced you to respond. Sakura watched your movements and tried to restrict your escape routes when I attacked. Neither of them won a bell, but that doesn't mean they contributed nothing."

Sakura stared at him.

She hadn't expected Sasuke to mention her contribution so directly. During the fight, she had spent much of her time watching for an opening, wondering whether her efforts had made any real difference. Hearing him acknowledge her observations caught her off guard.

Naruto looked equally surprised.

"And what about you?" Kakashi asked. "You passed. Doesn't that mean you deserve to choose?"

"No. It means I did what you asked me to do. It doesn't make me qualified to decide whether my teammates deserve to be shinobi."

Sasuke folded his arms.

"If you want to send them back, that's your decision as the instructor. Don't pretend you're giving me a privilege when you're actually asking me to take responsibility for a decision you don't want to make yourself."

The clearing fell quiet.

In the comparison space, even Obito stopped laughing.

Minato's expression softened.

"He's not simply refusing to choose. He's challenging the premise of the decision."

"More importantly," Fugaku added, "he recognizes that passing an individual test doesn't give him authority over the futures of his teammates."

Orochimaru's smile returned.

"He has no difficulty challenging an authority figure when he believes the reasoning is flawed. That could become troublesome."

"Or useful," Tobirama replied. "A shinobi who follows every order without considering its purpose is easy to manipulate."

---

On the golden screen, Kakashi studied Sasuke for a long moment.

"Then what would you do if I insisted that one of them had to go back?"

Sasuke looked at him as though the answer should have been obvious.

"Then I'd suggest you go back to the Ninja Academy yourself and practice teaching for a few more years."

Naruto's mouth fell open.

Sakura made a strangled sound, uncertain whether she should laugh or panic.

Kakashi stared at Sasuke.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Your test is supposed to evaluate our teamwork, but you're trying to make us turn against each other. If you can't explain why that's necessary, perhaps you're not ready to be a team instructor."

For the first time that morning, Kakashi had absolutely nothing to say.

Then Naruto burst out laughing.

"HAHAHA! Sasuke told you to go back to school!"

"Shut up, Naruto," Sasuke replied without looking at him.

"Why? You're the one who said it!"

Sakura pressed a hand over her mouth, but the smile on her face was unmistakable.

Kakashi sighed and lowered the bells.

"Fine. I suppose I deserved that."

He studied the three children in front of him. Naruto was still grinning, Sakura looked considerably less frightened, and Sasuke stood with his usual composed expression.

They were far from a polished team, but they had already begun responding to one another in ways that hadn't been there at the start of the test.

Sasuke had recognized Naruto's willingness to draw Kakashi's attention. He had noticed Sakura's attempt to limit Kakashi's movement. And when asked to choose between them, he had refused to treat either contribution as worthless simply because it hadn't earned a bell.

That was the answer Kakashi had been looking for, even if Sasuke had reached it in a way he hadn't anticipated.

"The purpose of this test was never to see which of you could collect a bell by yourselves," Kakashi explained. "I wanted to see whether you would put the mission—and each other—ahead of your own pride. A shinobi who abandons his teammates to succeed alone can become a danger to the entire squad."

He let the words settle before continuing.

"However, Sasuke has a point. The way I presented the final choice was deliberately unfair. I wanted to see whether he'd accept it without question."

Sasuke's expression cooled.

"Then you could have asked me a direct question instead of pretending someone's future depended on my answer."

"Perhaps I could have."

"Perhaps?"

Kakashi's eye curved.

"Don't push your luck."

Naruto raised his hand.

"So does that mean we passed?"

Kakashi looked at him, then at Sakura.

"Yes. All three of you passed."

Naruto threw both arms into the air.

"YES! I'M NOT GOING BACK TO THE ACADEMY!"

Sakura let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She was relieved to have passed, but more than that, she was pleased that her efforts hadn't gone unnoticed.

Sasuke glanced at her.

"Your observation about Kakashi's shoulder movements was useful. Next time, don't wait so long to act on it."

Sakura blinked, then nodded firmly.

"I won't."

Naruto pointed at himself.

"And what about me? I distracted him, didn't I?"

"You did," Sasuke replied. "You also rushed in without waiting for the rest of the plan."

"Hey! You can't praise me and criticize me in the same breath!"

"I just did."

Kakashi watched their exchange, a faint smile appearing beneath his mask.

They still had plenty to learn. Naruto needed to think before charging in, Sakura needed confidence in her own judgment, and Sasuke needed to learn that being right didn't always make it easy to work with other people.

But they were already talking about how to improve together.

For a first test, that was a promising result.

---

In the comparison space, Hashirama laughed heartily.

"That's more like it! A team should grow stronger together, not compete over who deserves to stay!"

Jiraiya nodded.

"And Sasuke managed to challenge Kakashi without dismissing his teammates' contributions. That's a good sign."

Obito leaned toward Kakashi with a wicked grin.

"So, how does it feel to be told to repeat the Academy by a kid you were supposed to teach?"

Kakashi sighed.

"Obito, I'm begging you to find another hobby."

"Not a chance."

Minato smiled at his former student.

"At least your counterpart has found a way to keep Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura together."

Kakashi looked back at the golden screen.

"Yes," he admitted. "And he may have learned something from the test himself."

On the screen, Sasuke had already begun discussing their next training session with Naruto and Sakura. He wasn't suddenly treating them like his closest friends, nor had a single conversation erased their differences. But he had acknowledged their efforts, and both were listening to his suggestions.

The test had ended without Sasuke choosing a teammate to discard.

Instead, he had challenged the person who had tried to make him choose.

And Kakashi, for all his embarrassment, had accepted the lesson.


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[Lillie Jones]

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