Naruto was lying alone in bed, too excited to fall asleep.
Today had been filled with many firsts in his life.
It was the first time he had made a friend.
The first time he had been invited to a friend's house.
The first time he had tasted such delicious food.
He looked up at the lonely ceiling, smiling, but tears slowly trickled from the corners of his eyes onto the pillow. He silently wished in his heart that if this was a dream, please let it go on.
......................
"Ha~"
In the morning, Sasuke yawned as he stepped through the gates of the Ninja Academy.
Since he time - traveled, he has become rather lazy. He clearly remembered that he was more diligent when he was a child.
Back then, he had hoped to gain Itachi's approval and his father's approval. He had worked hard on his Ninjutsu training every day. Now he wondered if this version of himself was his true self.
Maybe he didn't actually like training as much as he thought. He had just pushed himself to be better desperately in order to gain a little more attention from his family. Perhaps he was actually a very lazy person at heart.
"Sasuke-----------------"
From afar, Naruto's loud voice could be heard, and he dashed towards Sasuke like a lively golden retriever. Sasuke could even imagine a small yellow tail wagging behind Naruto's butt.
If he didn't know Naruto still couldn't control the Nine - Tailed Fox, he would really think Naruto was starting to transform into the Nine - Tailed Fox form.
"You've really got a lot of energy so early in the morning!"
"Well, um..."
Naruto was a bit shy and stammering.
(▼へ▼メ)
"You look so disgusting when you're all shy. Just spit it out!"
"Are we friends? Can I come to your house to play with you in the future?"
So that was what it was about. Sasuke had thought Naruto had something important to tell him.
"Yeah, come whenever you want."
After saying that, Sasuke strode straight towards the classroom. Naruto watched his handsome back, with what seemed like stars in his eyes.
"Sasuke, wait for me!"
"Naruto, you're so noisy. From today on, I'll teach you Ninjutsu!"
"Huh~ Why? Don't you want to be the Hokage? Aren't you afraid that if you teach me, I'll become stronger than you and make you my sidekick?"
"Aren't we rivals? I'm much stronger than you right now. If you don't train hard, you'll be left behind by me!"
He stopped, turned around, and looked at the confused Naruto with a challenging look in his eyes.
"Rivals?"
"You don't want to be left behind, do you?"
"Of course not!"
Naruto looked eager to explain. He had finally made a friend and formed a bond. He didn't want to let go of this glimmer of light in his life. He wanted to hold it tightly in his hand and never let it go.
"Then from today on, you'll train with me!"
"Okay!"
In the morning sun, the chasing steps of the teenagers were truly a peaceful and prosperous scene. However, such days didn't last long. The roots in the darkness were quietly growing.
" Itachi, since you've entered the Anbu, you can't avoid this mission. "
Kakashi led Itachi to the surveillance point of the Uchiha clan with a calm look. In the narrow spiral staircase, the only sound was the clicking of their footsteps, and the air was unusually quiet.
" Are you going to tell your family about this? "
Itachi looked at the surveillance equipment and the number of people there. Obviously, the Konoha higher - ups really went to great lengths to monitor them around the clock. It seemed as if they had known in advance that the Uchiha clan would rebel.
In the previous period, he had multiple conversations with Sasuke. Through these conversations, he also thought about how to handle the relationship between the village and the Uchiha clan. Both sides were in the wrong, but obviously the village was more at fault.
In such a situation, only when one side backed down first could they possibly repair the broken relationship.
" Not all members of the Uchiha clan are stupid. They've also noticed the village's actions. "
As he answered Kakashi's question, he saw through the monitor that Sasuke was teaching Naruto ninjutsu. Naruto always failed to hit the target with one or two of his kunai. Sasuke looked at his student in disbelief.
He's really stupid! I really don't know how Jiraiya and Kakashi managed to turn this idiot into the omniscient Seventh Hokage.
" Stupid Naruto! I've told you to use the strength of your wrist and don't move your fingers. How many times do I have to tell you before you understand! "
" Almost there, almost there. I'll be able to hit all the targets soon. Just wait and see! "
?_?
Itachi's lips couldn't help but turn up slightly, and his eyes squinted with a smile.
Compared with these complicated problems, he preferred to see his younger brother's smile.
In the colorful and lively streets at night, two drunkards were pulling at each other. Seeing this, the surrounding villagers immediately reported it to the Police Department.
" What are you doing? Stop fighting right now! "
The Uchiha members of the Police Department pulled the two drunkards apart. The drunkards were very unhappy to see these pretentious guys.
" What the hell are you posing as? When the Nine - Tailed Fox attacked, you were all like turtles hiding in the back. Now you're putting on airs! "
Hearing the drunkard's baseless scolding, the Uchiha member couldn't help but push him to the ground.
" Shut your stinking mouth! Come with me right now! "
He forcefully pulled the drunkard lying on the ground and walked towards the cell.
" Tsk tsk! Their attitude is too tough. They should just mediate. "
" That's right. What that guy said isn't wrong. We don't even know what the Police Department was doing when the village was in the most danger. "
" Clan leader! "
We just can't take it anymore. Even to this day, there are still many people using the Nine - Tailed Fox incident to smear the Uchiha clan! Back then, it was clearly the Third Hokage who ordered us to guard the rear and protect the safety of the villagers. But now why should we be facing these baseless accusations!"
Fugaku looked up at the indignant young man. Recently, the relationship between the Uchiha and the village has become increasingly tense. That ice-cold relationship has made everyone on edge. As the clan leader, he can hardly hold back the anger of these young people.
Is it really a situation where only one of the Uchiha and Konoha can exist?
...................