Naruto stood on the tree trunk, staring down at Sasuke's bruised, bloodied face. For a brief moment, he felt a mix of satisfaction and sadness. Sasuke, once the top rookie, always so admired and envied, now looked just as beaten down as he felt inside.
Naruto thought back to how things used to be. Sasuke had always been praised by the teachers, admired by the girls, envied by the boys. His presence made everyone else fade into the background, including Naruto. As an orphan who had grown up alone, Naruto was used to being ignored or judged. Without the Third Hokage's help, he would've starved on the streets. Even with that help, he still had no friends, and everyone seemed to look at him like he was an outcast.
After joining the academy, Naruto fell for Sakura and tried everything to get her attention, hoping that showing off would make her like him. But her gaze always drifted to Sasuke. Jealousy, frustration, and resentment bubbled up in him, making him want to outshine Sasuke. But no matter how hard he tried, Sasuke always stayed ahead.
That is, until Rock Lee came along. In Naruto's mind, Lee was a total powerhouse—someone strong enough to knock Sasuke down a peg and show him he wasn't unbeatable. Since then, Sasuke had started to change, becoming less distant and more like part of the team. And with that shift, Naruto found himself feeling less envious and even seeing Sasuke as a friend. Maybe even a brother.
Now, seeing Sasuke bloodied and hurt while still trying to protect him and Sakura, a fierce anger ignited in Naruto. He pointed a finger at the snake-like ninja, his face determined. "Hey, you! Picking on weaker people? Not while I'm here! Uzumaki Naruto's about to teach you a lesson!"
Lee, watching from the shadows, felt both impressed and worried for Naruto. Challenging a Kage-level ninja like her was reckless. Yet Naruto's courage was undeniable.
Sasuke, however, was horrified by Naruto's outburst. He had already sensed the depth of the ninja's strength and her deadly aura. She wasn't just powerful; she was ruthless. His mind spun, searching for any way out, but only one desperate option remained.
"Wait!" Sasuke shouted, deactivating his Sharingan. He took a scroll from his bag and held it out toward the female ninja. "Take this. Just leave us alone."
Sakura's eyes widened in disbelief. Her image of Sasuke—the strong, unbeatable teammate—was shattered. This wasn't the Sasuke she knew.
"Naruto!" Sasuke snapped, his voice strained. "This is our best chance to stay alive."
"Heh," the female ninja smirked, her expression amused. "Clever move, Sasuke. Offering the scroll to save your lives."
Gritting his teeth, Sasuke threw the scroll toward her. But before it could reach her, Naruto leapt from the tree, snatching it mid-air and landing beside Sasuke.
"What are you doing, Naruto?!" Sasuke shouted angrily.
Naruto's face was a mask of fury. "You think giving her this scroll will keep us safe? Do you really believe she'll just walk away?"
Before Sasuke could respond, Naruto punched him square in the face, knocking him back and drawing blood. Sasuke looked up, stunned and furious, only to see Naruto's blazing eyes glaring back at him.
"What's your problem?!" Sasuke shouted, wiping the blood from his mouth.
Naruto's fists clenched, his body trembling with barely contained rage. "You heard me say I forgot the code. Why didn't you even try to check if I was really me? I thought you were a fake Sasuke. The Sasuke I know wouldn't give up so easily!"
"Idiot! I'm the real Sasuke!" he growled.
Naruto's glare didn't waver. "The real Sasuke wouldn't just hand over the scroll without a fight. You're the one who's scared, not me. You're the one who's lost track of what really matters!"
Naruto's words cut deep, making Sasuke freeze. Was he right? Even if they gave up the scroll, would this enemy really spare them?
"Hahaha…" The female ninja's laughter echoed through the trees, her long red tongue flicking out as she leaned forward. "Naruto, you're smarter than I thought."
Her mocking gaze locked onto Naruto, and her tongue curled out, giving her a chilling, hungry expression.
"Stay back!" Sasuke warned, taking a step in front of Naruto and Sakura.
"Oh? Didn't you just try to hand over your precious scroll?" she taunted, amusement glinting in her eyes. "And now you're trying to protect them? How noble."
Naruto stepped forward, a defiant grin on his face. "Bring it on! We're not running from you!"
Sasuke clenched his fists. He could feel the terror building again, but Naruto's boldness sparked something within him.