The group of friends was overwhelmed by Sasuke's display of strength.
"Seriously?" Kiba's eyes widened, and Akamaru whimpered on his head.
Shikamaru dropped his hand from the back of his head, Choji stopped munching on his snacks, and Hinata looked on the verge of tears.
"Sasuke-kun..." Ino murmured, staring blankly at his retreating figure.
"Alright, I was just kidding," Sasuke said, breaking the chilling silence. He sheathed his sword and patted Naruto on the shoulder. "Instead of worrying about me, you should focus on improving your grades."
With that, he turned and walked straight towards his home. This time, no one dared to stop him—not even Naruto, who simply stared at Sasuke's back as he disappeared from sight.
Bang!
The sound of the door closing snapped the group out of their stunned silence.
"How did he get so strong? Hey, Shikamaru, could you see his movements just now?" Kiba asked, taking Akamaru into his arms. The puppy was trembling, nearly having an accident in the process.
"No, I couldn't. If we were able to see it, then he wouldn't be that strong," Shikamaru said, keeping his hands in his pockets. However, his slightly trembling arms betrayed his calm demeanor.
Choji continued shoveling chips into his mouth. "This guy..."
"Tch. What's the big deal? So what if he's an Uchiha? I'll surpass him one day!" Kiba grumbled, clearly irritated. "C'mon, let's head out. Why are we still standing here? He's right—if we have time to spare, we should be training ourselves."
With that, Kiba walked off in frustration, glancing at Ino and Naruto, who were still staring at Sasuke's house. He wasn't sure why he felt so irritated—whether it was Sasuke's attitude or his own weakness.
"Ino, let's go home," Shikamaru called, nudging Choji and looking back at her.
"Sasuke-kun..." Ino snapped out of her trance, casting a reluctant glance at the door before turning to Naruto.
"Naruto, Sasuke's already gone back, and we should—"
"Sasuke! I won't give up! Sooner or later, I'll bring you back!" Naruto suddenly shouted, his voice filled with emotion. Without waiting for a response, he ran off.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata watched him go, her voice barely above a whisper.
"This guy..." Kiba muttered, clearly annoyed.
"Troublesome. They're all troublesome." Shikamaru sighed, shaking his head. He didn't know what else to say.
Crunch. Crunch. Choji continued eating his chips as if nothing had happened.
Sakura, having remained quiet the entire time, stood awkwardly among the group. Still shy, it had taken her a lot of courage just to follow them here.
"Catching up to Sasuke isn't easy..." Aburame Shino pushed up his glasses, noticing that the group was already walking away.
On the other side, Sasuke leaned against the closed door of his home, arms crossed.
"Asura..." he muttered to himself, glancing down at his hands. "Indra... these brothers are really troublesome."
The moment he had drawn his sword, Sasuke had felt like a different person. There was an unshakable anger within him, one he couldn't suppress no matter how hard he tried. It was the same with Naruto. Their relationship had always been neutral—not great, but not bad either. Yet today, Naruto had suddenly exploded, shouting as if their fates were intertwined.
Sasuke understood the source of the disturbance. It wasn't a mere coincidence but the influence of Indra and Asura, brothers who had been at odds for thousands of years. Even in death, their chakra reincarnated, latching onto future generations like himself and Naruto, entangling them in the same endless struggle.
"How annoying. I don't even know what this chakra feels like," Sasuke muttered, clenching his fists. He hated the idea of being influenced by anyone, least of all someone long dead. But he didn't yet understand how Indra's chakra worked—whether it was dormant inside him or fused with his own.
Without knowing more, he couldn't expel it or fully control it.
"Sooner or later, I'll get rid of it." Sasuke had lived two lives and still retained knowledge of the future. There was no way he would let some ancient chakra influence him. No, he would gain enough strength to break free. He had the talent, the resources, and the time. Sooner or later, he would deal with Indra's chakra once and for all.
---
The next day, Sasuke boarded a hired carriage, waiting at Konoha's gates for his escort team. To his surprise, they were familiar faces—Kakashi and members of Minato's team.
Team Minato, the former guards of the Fourth Hokage, was dispatched for his mission. The Third Hokage had spared no effort in ensuring Sasuke's safety. The team was made up of Kakashi, a renowned jounin, and two special jounins with one chunin, all capable ninja. On top of that, they had mastered the Flying Thunder Formation, a technique that could teleport Sasuke back to Konoha instantly if they encountered danger.
The lineup was impressive, a clear indication that the Third Hokage was taking Sasuke's safety seriously—especially after the Uchiha massacre and Danzo's recent stunt. The Hokage couldn't afford any more slip-ups.
After confirming the mission details with Kakashi, the group set off from Konoha. Sasuke stayed quiet, remaining in the carriage while Kakashi and the others remained vigilant.
Two days later, they arrived in the City of Fire without incident.
Stepping out of the carriage, Sasuke surveyed his surroundings. The city was bustling, almost as lively as Konoha, with shops lining the streets and people filling the roads. After finding a hotel and settling their accommodations, Sasuke, along with Kakashi and the others, headed straight to the Daimyo's mansion.
Stopped by the guards at the entrance, Sasuke presented his official documents. The guards scrutinized the documents, glancing at Sasuke and his Konoha companions before asking them to wait. One guard went inside to report.
Soon, the guard returned, informing Sasuke that the Daimyo had agreed to see him.
Sasuke nodded, straightened his attire, and took the gifts he had prepared, following the guard inside. As for Kakashi and the rest of the team, they were asked to wait in a lounge nearby. Even as Konoha ninja, they couldn't enter the Daimyo's chambers without permission.
(End of chapter).