On his way home, Naruto passed by a small bridge near the Uchiha residence. A lonely figure of a boy sat there, surrounded by the scenery. His appearance stirred something in Naruto's heart.
"When I went to war, my younger brother must have waited for me like this, lonely yet stubborn," Naruto suddenly thought to himself.
The boy sitting by the river seemed to be waiting for something, perhaps unwilling to accept the truth of his parents' death, the destruction of his clan, and his brother's betrayal.
"Uchiha Sasuke, are you just going to sit here like a plant..." Naruto sighed softly, suppressing his emotions, and spoke sarcastically.
The boy didn't react at all.
"Tch, how weak. You're too weak!" Surprisingly, this remark made the boy stand up abruptly. His eyes, similar to that other boy's, stared fiercely at Naruto, with a hint of redness, although not the Sharingan. It couldn't be anger making them red, could it?
The boy rushed towards Naruto, swinging his fist in anger. But Naruto, without flinching, took the punch head-on. Before the boy could react, Naruto grabbed his fist and landed a punch of his own, causing the boy to turn his face away.
"Hmph! Pathetic. Uchiha Sasuke, if you're weak, then just become stronger than anyone else. You look pitiful like this!" Naruto spat out the blood in his mouth. The boy collapsed to the ground, his eyes still empty, filled with a haunting pain. Slowly, he got up, turned around, and sat back on the riverbank, silently gazing at the flowing water.
Naruto didn't speak further but approached the boy and quietly sat beside him.
Until the twilight painted the sky crimson, the hoarse voice of the boy finally reached Naruto's ears, and Naruto smiled faintly.
"You're right, I'll become stronger. Strong enough to kill that man!" Sasuke's eyes burned with intense hatred, emitting dazzling light against the sunset. His eyes were so radiant, reflecting the colors of the sunset, making it hard to look directly at him.
"Hmph, no matter how strong you become, you'll never surpass me!" Naruto's cheeks lifted into a confident smile, masking the bitterness in his heart. To think that he had to bear even his brother's hatred... What kind of resolute and resilient person he was!
"Tch, still so cocky." The hatred in Sasuke's eyes faded, replaced by a faint disdain. "Hmph, Uchiha Sasuke, don't think you're strong now. I'll definitely become the man who will be Hokage!" Seeing the disdainful look in Sasuke's eyes, Naruto felt a surge of frustration, pouting like a child.
"What can a loser like you do? So boring," Sasuke rolled his eyes, but a faint smile appeared on his lips. Then he waved his hand and walked away.
"Ha, you can only be cocky for now. Wait and see, the day will come when your big brother, Uzumaki Naruto, becomes Hokage!" Naruto stood proudly, defiantly asserting himself.
But Sasuke's figure slowly faded away.
A cross appeared on Naruto's forehead.
"This arrogant and intolerable guy!"
"You mean, the Uchiha clan's annoyance?"
"Yeah, the one whose entire clan was exterminated by that genius who graduated from the ninja school at the age of eight, named Itachi..."
"So, isn't Sasuke-kun pitiful?"
"My dear Sasuke-sama~!"
Various voices mixed behind him. Sasuke felt a surge of annoyance and frustration. He didn't need sympathy or anything like that! With a clenched fist, he muttered to himself.
Naruto watched the slightly awkward and concerned expression on Sasuke's face and felt a sense of admiration. However, Sasuke's demeanor remained cold, and he couldn't find the words to speak. The silent understanding and playful arguments they used to have seemed to have vanished.
Seeing Sasuke's indifferent response, Naruto smiled even more. He believed that Sasuke, like his rigid brother, was not good at communicating with others. But seeing Sasuke turn away, Naruto's smile deepened, thinking that Sasuke might be more like a stubborn child throwing a tantrum.
Naruto glanced at Sasuke, not saying anything, and returned to his seat. But there was a faint sense of disappointment in Sasuke's eyes. He released his clenched fist, bit his lip, and then clenched it again.
Naruto actually returned to his seat because he noticed the gloomy expression on Iruka-sensei's face and wanted to avoid it. Although Sasuke's cold expression had sparked his interest in making a few remarks...
But he eventually realized that he had been skipping classes and punishments for several days...
"Naruto!" Iruka's sharp voice rang out, with a hint of frustration. The whispers and giggles around him started to surround him, and he couldn't help but furrow his brow. "Instead of causing trouble everywhere, why don't you just focus on your studies!"
"Yes, sir!" Naruto felt a bit irritated inside, but he replied earnestly, pretending to be fully attentive.
"Iruka frowned slightly, his expression becoming somewhat peculiar. 'I hope you're not just saying that. Hmm, alright, let's start the class.'
So, after the nth time of being punished to stand outside, Naruto finally learned his lesson and stood there obediently, gazing up at the azure sky with a bored expression.
But his thoughts wandered—anticipating the return of surveillance. Even though his actions hadn't been observed these past few days, the fact that his movements hadn't been detected at all would surely cause panic. Well... Naruto thought, the surveillance must be coming back.
With this thought in mind, Naruto's expression turned slightly cold. Humph, really annoying. If only there was something to help conceal my actions.
The only possibility was ninjutsu, but that would be too easily detected, merely a shadow of what it could be.
He needed a greater power! Naruto's eyes flickered with complex emotions as he clenched his fist. The power to protect himself and the ones he cared about. Anyone who obstructs, dies!
However, the sky before him should be the only thing on his mind, because it really was beautiful. Naruto squinted his eyes slightly, sighing in contentment. Such perfect weather for sleeping.
Just then, Shikamaru, yawning and looking sleepy, approached him.
"Ah, so sleepy~" Shikamaru nodded drowsily at him.
Naruto chuckled mischievously. "Hehe~ Shikamaru, you got punished too, huh?"
"Ugh, it's such a hassle~" Shikamaru scratched his head, looking impatient. A slight sense of indulgence made him reach out and ruffle Naruto's blond hair.
"Hey, don't touch a man's hair!" Naruto squinted disapprovingly but didn't stop Shikamaru's actions.
"Hey! No talking outside!" Iruka listened to the conversation outside, another cross marking his forehead, a chalk hitting the glass with a dull thud.
—Ah, poor Iruka-sensei, have we finally driven you crazy!
Naruto cast a sympathetic glance at him,
—Sigh, Iruka-sensei, worrying about us brats all day, you've finally aged, huh? Look at the wrinkles spreading around your eyes and your aging, sagging skin... Poor, easily-angered teacher...
Naruto chuckled to himself, earning a sharp glare from Iruka. Then Naruto stuck out his tongue, raising his hand in a gesture of "won't do it again," accidentally catching a glimpse of the fleeting expression in the ink-black eyes of the young man.
Sasuke actually smirked slightly, flashing a smile.
Naruto still "passed by" the bridge every day. And every day, he could see the sadness in the boy's eyes by the river, reflecting an infinite sorrow under the setting sun.
And at those times, Naruto would always walk over, quietly staying by his side to watch the sunset until only a faint glow remained.
—Uchiha Sasuke, is also an incredibly sorrowful person...
Observing the boy's gracefully contoured face, despite his young age, Naruto sighed softly. The sunset bathed his face, intensifying the sadness in his eyes.
And at that moment, Naruto would always recall the man with eyes like blood, and the helplessness and emptiness within those pupils.
Uchiha, Itachi...
After the sun set, Sasuke would stand up, clench his fists, and walk away. Not even sparing a glance for Naruto behind him.
Naruto didn't mind. He thought, perhaps this boy just didn't know how to express his gratitude.
And on this day, as Naruto stood up to leave, the boy who usually just walked away paused. He turned to look at Naruto, his expression awkward, his eyes filled with embarrassment and a hint of resignation. He pursed his lips, and seeing Naruto about to leave, finally spoke,
"Hey, loser..." he said slowly, and Naruto, upon hearing the voice behind him, turned back, gesturing for him to continue.
Sasuke hesitated, biting his lip slightly, "It's nothing..."
Naruto, thoroughly impressed by the boy's awkwardness, just shrugged, turned, and walked away, still hearing the expected words from behind, "Wait."
As Naruto listened to the urgent footsteps behind him, he slowly turned around. The boy hurried over, the backlight casting a faint shadow, his black hair swaying gently, his eyes shimmering like polished obsidian.
The boy stopped in front of Naruto, a hint of annoyance and shyness in his eyes. Naruto, on the other hand, casually slipped his hands into his pockets, wearing his usual relaxed smile.
"...?" Sasuke opened his mouth, then closed it, seemingly unable to find the words.
Sasuke glanced lightly at Naruto's face, unsurprised to see the usual calm expression, a hint of irritation flickering through his mind.
"Uchiha Sasuke," Naruto said softly. "Get stronger." He flashed a shallow smile, gently adding these words.
"And I, will surpass you to become the Fifth Hokage!" Naruto's expression was firm.
Under the setting sun, Sasuke's face lit up with a faint smile.
"You'll always be a loser." Sasuke said in his usual arrogant tone, and as Naruto turned away, his smile deepened. Then he waved his hand and left.
—Huh, not letting you, cool guy, turn away first every time~
Naruto smiled mischievously as he walked away, unaware of the warm smile on the boy's face behind him, and the softening of the usually sharp contours of his face.
—That name, gentleness.
Days passed in leisurely tranquility.
And every time Naruto used transformation jutsu, he stubbornly refused to turn into Iruka's pathetic form, opting instead for the appearance of a half-naked, blond woman.
But Iruka's constant anger and annoyance were truly bothersome...
Complaining thus, Naruto suddenly remembered scenes of the neighbor's uncle being scolded by his daughter:
—"Reading inappropriate books! How can you be so irresponsible as a father!"
The girl's resentful scolding and the pitiful pleas of the father still echoed in Naruto's ears.
Naruto's lips curved into an amused smile.
Hehe. It's really interesting. It would be quite a sight to see the usually irritable Iruka-sensei blush and act shy like that. Just thinking about it is amusing. (Author: Has my son truly been corrupted... My son has indeed become mischievous. Shedding tears~)
So, during one transformation jutsu, Naruto transformed into a scantily clad, blond bombshell and flirted with Iruka~
"Ah!~" Iruka-sensei, completely unprepared, had a nosebleed explosion and ran out of the classroom.
"Hahaha~" Naruto laughed heartily, playfully winking at Shikamaru, successfully witnessing the stunned expression of the usually laid-back fellow. His smile became even more exaggerated. "This is too much fun!~"
"Naruto Uzumaki!" With a roar, Naruto had already returned to his original form, innocently looking at the furious Iruka-sensei with two streaks of blood still hanging on his face.
"You... you rascal!" Iruka was so angry that he couldn't speak coherently. But there was still a blush on his face. Heh, men with vigor like him! Can't resist such temptations... Naruto chuckled to himself, curious about what expression Itachi would make if he saw this.
"With this attitude, you'll never graduate from the academy or become a Chunin." Iruka had a face full of exasperation as he tapped Naruto's head, a flash of pain and disappointment crossing his eyes. It pricked Naruto's pride. So, he looked at Iruka seriously, focusing on his eyes and said firmly,
"I'm a man who will definitely become Hokage in the future!" Naruto's gaze was deep and solemn as he spoke.
Iruka-sensei looked deeply into Naruto's eyes, not saying a word. He nodded imperceptibly, his big hand patting Naruto's head, a faint smile appearing on his lips,
—I actually believe. Believe in you.
Then Iruka smiled, rubbing Naruto's hair again, "But you better focus on your studies."
Naruto instantly wilted.
—That class is so boring yaaaaaa...
Seeing Naruto's frustrated expression, the delinquent teacher burst into hearty laughter. Naruto rolled his eyes, flipping his hair.
—Hmph, not gonna argue with this guy.
But...
Naruto couldn't help but glance at the clear sky outside. Today was another beautiful day.