Naruto's shouting echoed in Sasuke's ears. Malice churned inside Sasuke's heart, though on the surface, he still wore a face of pity and sorrow.
"Naruto, if you become a shinobi, there's a real chance you'll die out there!"
"In all the years you spent at the Academy, you couldn't even memorize the most basic shinobi rules. Year after year, you were dead last. You couldn't even pass the graduation exam. I don't know what strings you pulled to get your forehead protector, or how you suddenly managed to learn an advanced Shadow Clone technique. But frankly, you haven't even met the minimum standards to call yourself a shinobi."
"You, of all people, could easily die on a mission in the future. I can't just stand by and watch you march to your death. You becoming a shinobi... it's far too soon. Don't get me wrong—I'm not targeting you out of malice. I'm saying all this for your own good!"
"Even if it means going back to the Academy with you... even if you end up hating me, it doesn't matter. I'll do whatever it takes to stop you from becoming a shinobi! It's not just about protecting your life—it's about protecting my own as well. Naruto, can't you understand how much I care about you?"
Naruto's mind was spinning. His patience snapped.
"I'm going to be Hokage!" he shouted. "Giving my life for that dream doesn't mean anything to me—I accepted that a long time ago! What right do you have to stop me?!"
A cold smile flashed in Sasuke's eyes. In his mental space, black mist coiled and twisted so violently it was impossible to look directly at it. The words he had just spoken were, in fact, nothing more than an inversion of what Naruto had once said to Sasuke during their battle at the Valley of the End.
Everyone had different dreams and purposes, and the actions they took to achieve them were just as different. Sasuke had always been very clear about his goal: grow stronger → kill Itachi → destroy Konoha. He had ample reason to do these things, and he was fully prepared to pay the price for them.
When they were in Orochimaru's lair, Sasuke had once asked Naruto,
"Isn't your dream to become Hokage? Why are you so obsessed with me?"
And Naruto had answered, "Someone who can't even save his comrades has no right to be Hokage!"
Touching, right?
Heh.
Inside, Sasuke felt nothing but bitterness and resentment. He and Naruto had different ideals, different dreams, and both were prepared to give their lives for them. So why did Naruto get to criticize Sasuke's choices? Why did Sasuke have to abandon his quest for revenge, go back to Konoha, and wag his tail happily for everyone else's approval?
If this was what it took to make everyone satisfied—if Sasuke had to abandon his clan's grudge and obediently serve Konoha—then what a disgusting moral hostage game it was.
Moral blackmail was revolting. But when you were the one doing the blackmailing? That was a different story.
Right now, Sasuke was feeling genuinely thrilled. Doing whatever he pleased under the banner of "I'm doing this for your own good" was a delight beyond words!
Without sparing Naruto another glance, Sasuke turned to Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei, I really think you should consider my viewpoint. I truly am thinking about Naruto's well-being. In his current condition, he shouldn't have graduated in the first place."
Kakashi lowered his head in thought for a moment.
"I'll report the situation to Hokage-sama and let him make the final decision."
His words were deliberately vague. After all, Naruto's status was anything but ordinary. Sending him back to the Academy was out of the question. But Kakashi also didn't want to confront Sasuke head-on, so he decided to toss the problem up the chain to Hiruzen.
"Well then, that's it for today. Dismissed!" Kakashi said, and with a poof, he dispelled his Shadow Clone and disappeared.
Seeing that, Sasuke also canceled his Shadow Clone, not even bothering to hide it anymore. He left Sakura and Naruto standing there, staring at each other blankly. Was it just the two of them who were actually trying to attend class properly in Team 7?
...
Receiving the memories from his clone, the real Sasuke's lips curled into a sly smile.
"I really am petty and malicious."
"That's a good thing!" the black shadow voice praised him. "True happiness comes from standing atop someone else's suffering. Keep it up!"
"Tch. To be honest, I'm a little jealous of Naruto," Sasuke said in a detached tone. It was as if even Itachi no longer stirred any real emotion in him.
"He surpassed me, defeated me, even won Itachi's approval. No matter how I look at it, it's frustrating. So every time I see him... I just can't help myself."
"There's no need to get hung up on it, little Sasuke," the black figure said soothingly.
"When Naruto chose to graduate by... less-than-regular methods, he should've been prepared for the consequences. If you sneak your way into becoming a shinobi, you'd better be ready for people to call you out on it."
As he spoke, the black shadow started chuckling. He remembered something from a certain entertainment-based world he had once experienced—those so-called "top celebrities" constantly getting exposed for scandals, while their fans desperately tried to cover it up. Speaking the truth was branded as 'slander.'
The more he thought about it, the funnier it became.
Human nature was neither rational nor objective. Just like fans' bias toward their idols: on the surface, it seemed like logical analysis, but deep down, it was pure subjectivity. If someone loved Naruto, then whatever he did was right. But for a hater like Sasuke... even the way Naruto breathed was offensive.
"Kakashi's already a traitor, right?" Sasuke suddenly changed the subject.
The black shadow nodded. "Ninja are thoroughly domesticated. Their instincts for submission run deep. The Daimyō summoned Kakashi personally, and he didn't even hesitate—he just switched sides."
"No, no," Sasuke said, shaking his head, "it's not just submission. Have you considered the possibility that Kakashi was already deeply dissatisfied with Konoha?"
"Maybe," the black figure replied indifferently. He didn't really care about Kakashi's inner thoughts. After all, he had made sure there was only ever one path forward for Kakashi.
...
In the Hokage's office, Kakashi was making his report to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Team 7 isn't exactly harmonious?"
"That's right, Hokage-sama. There's a communication gap between Naruto and the other two members."
"I see. Thank you for your hard work, Kakashi."
"Hokage-sama."
"Hm? Is there more?" Hiruzen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yesterday, Sasuke said something that I think makes a lot of sense. Naruto's personality... it really doesn't suit a shinobi. Given his special status, would it be so bad to make him wait a little longer? We're not short on time."
Kakashi struggled to come up with a convincing excuse. His real intention was to protect Naruto. With the turbulence Konoha was about to face, Naruto would be better off lying low and keeping a low profile. It would make it easier for him to survive and eventually fit into whatever new system emerged.
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, exhaling a thick plume of smoke.
"A new storm is already brewing, Kakashi. The ninja world is in chaos—not because of war, but for reasons we can't fully comprehend yet. In every village, the new generation is stepping onto the stage."
"In times like these, even falling a single step behind can cost you everything. Kumogakure's Eight-Tails has already become a perfect Jinchūriki, and their Two-Tails isn't far behind. For the Will of Fire... and to face the crisis looming ahead... Naruto needs to grow up, now."
Kakashi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent. Without another word, he turned and left the Hokage's office.
A new storm...
Heh.
This wasn't just some ordinary crisis.
It was a catastrophe.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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