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"You have to take it slow, otherwise, you may end up missing the opportunity!"
"Let's go!"
Sasuke activated his Byakugan to survey the Hyuga clan's guards, then, relying on his formidable abilities, he swiftly spirited Hinata away from the compound.
Such skill was rare even in the entire ninja world.
Hinata, still incredulous, asked, "We're leaving just like that? Sasuke, how did you managed to do that?"
Sasuke had used both the Byakugan and Sharingan to disguise his actions with illusions. He intended to keep his true abilities under wraps for now, especially the fact that he, an Uchiha descendant, possessed knowledge of the Hyuga clan's Byakugan.
If Konoha Village's authorities or other ninja villages caught wind of this, it could spell trouble, delaying Sasuke's plans to build his harem in this anime world.
'For me.' He thought, 'love is more enjoyable than fighting or killing.' While thinking this he subconsciously pinched Hinata's a*s.
"Sasuke—"
"Ahem!" He coughed, "Sorry, I was distracted earlier, mistaking you for Sakura or Ino."
"Sasuke-kun, please behave."
"Let's find Naruto."
Nearly losing focus made Sasuke realize if Hinata grew wary, he'd have to resort to using Sharingan illusions to win her over. Sasuke disliked how low he'd stoop.
He hoped Hinata would genuinely fall for him.
Hinata's heart raced—dangerously. This was the naivety of a girl. Sasuke wouldn't act otherwise. Now wasn't the time for Hinata to distance herself.
"See? I found hi " said Sasuke abruptly.
Hinata gave him an inquisitive look.
Sasuke, in a gentlemanly fashion, assured her, "Earlier, I almost mistook you for Sakura or Ino and flirted with you. I understand your distrust."
"I'll walk ahead; you follow quietly."
Hinata's skepticism aside, she needed answers. If Sasuke betrayed her, it'd mean never trusting him again.
Sasuke led; Hinata followed. They finally saw—Teacher Iruka.
"Sensei Iruka?" Hinata gasped.
"Hush!" Sasuke gestured for quiet.
"We follow Iruka to find Naruto."
"Is that so?" Hinata's trust in Sasuke was wavering.
"Trust me," Sasuke implored. He shared a look with Hinata, "Stay close!" Sasuke ascended a tall tree to monitor activity below.
"So high..." Hinata felt awkward but pressed on. Her slip wasn't fatal.
Sasuke steadied her, hushed her.
"I didn't mean to..."
"You lack strength. To prevent your discovery, I must carry you." He said and took her in his arms.
Hinata, blushing, admired Sasuke's scent. Boys, she mused, could smell amazing. Despite liking Naruto, she appreciated Sasuke's appeal.
'No wonder Sakura and Ino are so smitten.' Hinata relented.
"I understand; I won't mention this." Endearingly cute, she handled Sasuke well. Unlike with Naruto, when she'd faint in his presence.
Now, she was calm in Sasuke's arms.
Iruka, anxious, sought something vital in Konoha Village.
Sasuke trailed, cradling Hinata. His strength had eluded Iruka. Then, Sasuke whispered, "Iruka is searching for Naruto!"
This was dire news!
"It's clear; Iruka's on the mark." Sasuke, holding Hinata, raced ahead.
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Naruto, in contrast, fared poorly. Failing the genin exam, Mizuki had misled him to steal the Forbidden Scroll. Containing forbidden techniques, this scroll was taboo.
Undeterred, Naruto, intent on learning, perused the scrolls.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu He began.
His skills faltered.
This jutsu had flunked him in the exam.
It plagued him.
Meanwhile, Konoha Village's chunin and jonin pursued Naruto. Iruka, his teacher, sought him intently. Alas, Mizuki was first to find Naruto.
Since Mizuki and Naruto had already agreed on a meeting place, it was no surprise that Mizuki found Naruto before Iruka did.
"Just wait until Iruka gets here!" Mizuki thought as he cruelly revealed Naruto's life story.
Mizuki was heartless, breaking Naruto's spirit with malicious glee.
Seeing that Naruto had successfully stolen the Book of Seals, Mizuki decided not to leave him alive. But before killing Naruto, he wanted to twist the knife further, telling him why the whole village hated him.
"Because... there's a monster inside you. You are the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox that killed Iruka's parents!"
Mizuki laughed cruelly, taking pleasure in the devastation on Naruto's face after hearing the truth about his past.
Iruka, who had just arrived, was heartbroken to see this.
"Naruto, don't believe him!" Iruka shouted, trying to stop the emotional damage.
"Damn it!" Mizuki spat, "Iruka, how dare you ruin my plan…"
The villain's overconfidence led him to talk too much, giving Iruka just enough time to intervene.
The scene unfolding was chaotic.
Mizuki had manipulated Naruto into stealing the Book of Seals, while Naruto secretly learned the forbidden Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
Mizuki arrived and viciously told Naruto about his past, but Iruka stepped in just in time to stop him.
Meanwhile, Sasuke and Hinata, who had quietly followed, observed everything from the shadows.
Hinata, looking at Naruto, felt both concern and admiration.
"Naruto-kun..." She whispered softly.
"Shh!" Sasuke signaled for her to be quiet, "Don't worry. Naruto will be fine as long as I'm here." Sasuke whispered, moving closer to Hinata on purpose.
Hinata's concern for Naruto overpowered any other thoughts, but Sasuke couldn't help but feel jealous.
As Mizuki prepared to strike at Naruto with a giant shuriken, Hinata looked to Sasuke.
"Sasuke, please, you have to save Naruto!" She begged.
Sasuke, looking at the girl he cared for, felt a pang of jealousy at how much she was worried for Naruto. Though it was natural for Hinata to care about Naruto, as they were destined to be together in the original story, Sasuke still couldn't suppress his envy.
Jealousy flickered in Sasuke's eyes, but he made no attempt to hide his feelings for Hinata anymore.
Without warning, he pulled her close and stole a kiss.
Hinata was frozen in shock, her heart racing, completely forgetting to resist. Only after Sasuke pulled back did she realize what had happened.
"S-Sasuke—" She stammered, too stunned to slap him, too conflicted to push him away.
Her reaction wasn't as severe as Sasuke had expected.
"Yes, Hinata, I like you." Sasuke confessed, "Seeing how much you care about Naruto makes me jealous."
He looked her straight in the eyes, gauging her response.
"But don't worry." He continued, "I'll save Naruto. And I'll work just as hard to win your heart."
With that, Sasuke leapt into action, leaving Hinata alone in the trees.
"Uzumaki Naruto, you're the demon fox everyone hates! Prepare to die!" Mizuki sneered as he closed in on Naruto.
But before he could strike Sasuke appeared, rushing in at incredible speed, his eyes blazing with the Sharingan.
"Damn it! The Sharingan?!" Mizuki cursed, realizing too late how outmatched he was.
Before Mizuki could react, Sasuke moved in for the kill, striking him down with deadly precision.
That's right.
In the original story, Naruto had beaten Mizuki to a pulp using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. But in this altered version, Sasuke found Mizuki revolting and ended his life without hesitation.
Sasuke's intervention changed everything. Naruto didn't have the chance to unleash his rage, and Iruka didn't get gravely injured protecting him.
In the original story, Iruka's heartfelt words had moved Naruto deeply, but here, those touching moments weren't necessary.
Instead, under the bright moonlight, Sasuke stood tall, his presence commanding attention.
Naruto, still in shock from all that had happened, was at a loss for words.
Sasuke stepped forward and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, "Naruto, I've always known about the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed inside you."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"But so what? It's cool." Sasuke continued, "The Nine-Tailed Fox may have once attacked the village, but now it's inside you, Naruto. That makes you a hero, not a monster. Since the day you were born, you've been a great hero of Konoha."
Sasuke's words hit Naruto like a tidal wave, pulling him out of his despair. Tears filled his eyes as gratitude overwhelmed him.
"Sasuke..." Naruto's voice cracked as he hugged his friend, the one who had saved him in more ways than one.
[Ding!]
A system prompt echoed in Sasuke's mind.
[Congratulations! You've successfully signed in and acquired the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique that Naruto just learned.]
Sasuke smiled inwardly at his good fortune. He'd gained the powerful technique without lifting a finger.
"Alright, enough crying." Sasuke said, gently pushing Naruto back, "Give the Book of Seals to Iruka and talk things through with him."
Sasuke knew Iruka had a lot to say to Naruto at that moment.
In the original story, Iruka was the true savior of Naruto's soul. But Sasuke had his own priorities now.
Hina.
After Sasuke killed Mizuki and saved both Naruto and Iruka, he became a hero in their eyes.
Iruka was shocked, not only by Sasuke's timely arrival but by how effortlessly he had killed Mizuki.
How did Sasuke found them so quickly?
And more importantly, how was Sasuke already this strong?
"Sasuke, thank you. I owe you." Iruka said, his voice full of gratitude.
Iruka had no doubts now—Sasuke had more than earned the right to graduate early from the Academy.
"Take care of Naruto, Iruka. He was manipulated by Mizuki, but he'll be fine no." Sasuke said, casting a glance at Naruto and the Book of Seals.
Sasuke had already touched the Book of Seals to see if the system would grant him access to the forbidden techniques inside, but it hadn't. He'd have to let that go for now.
He had plenty of power already: the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Jonin-level chakra reserves, Nine-Tails chakra, Byakugan, and now the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
He was more than satisfied for the moment.
"I'm leaving." Sasuke said, walking away without a second glan-.
With Mizuki dead and Naruto safe, Sasuke left the scene, knowing full well that Iruka would handle the aftermath.
But his mind was already elsewhere.
Hinata.