Under the afterglow of dusk, Sasuke walked alone on his way home. His shadow was stretched long, and his figure from behind looked somewhat lonely.
Life in the Anbu was far more difficult than imagined.
Before entering the Anbu, he was full of confidence.
Especially right after joining, when he used his strength to gain the acknowledgment of his teammates.
However, after entering the Anbu, he still became a burden.
In two assassination missions, he charged in full of confidence, only to be nearly counter-killed by the enemy.
If it weren't for his teammates' help, he would have been a goner long ago.
Anbu missions were vastly different from the Police Force's; they were darker and more dangerous.
It was then that he realized that his teammates' acknowledgment did not mean he possessed strength equal to theirs.
It only meant he had reached the Anbu's minimum standard.
Perhaps he hadn't even reached the Anbu's minimum standard; it was just that because he was young and a member of the Uchiha clan, his teammates believed he could catch up quickly.
Thinking of this, Sasuke felt a bit discouraged.
He liked his older brother Itachi very much and had always pestered him since childhood.
Especially after learning about his brother's glorious deeds, he held an extra measure of admiration for him and chased after his back.
Because his brother was so kind and so dazzling.
However, the more he chased, the more he realized the gap between himself and his brother.
Entering the Ninja Academy at 6, graduating from the academy in just one year, awakening the Sharingan at 8, becoming a Chunin at 10, and being the first ninja in Konoha's history to participate in and pass the Chunin Exams individually.
Joining the Anbu at 11.
According to his father, Itachi also worked under Captain Kakashi at the time, and his glorious deeds in the Anbu were exceptionally dazzling, winning the deep trust and praise of his comrades.
And himself...
Although compared to others he was also praised as a genius and had gained his father's acknowledgment through hard work, compared to Itachi, he was just a little brother.
However, despite being unable to catch up to his brother's footsteps, Sasuke did not harbor any abnormal emotions, but rather viewed it as a matter of course.
Because that is my brother, Uchiha Itachi!
But—
When he was young, Itachi taught him so kindly, telling him to care for his comrades and protect the clan and the village.
Yet he himself committed acts of slaughtering his comrades and betraying his clan and village.
This made Sasuke extremely resentful.
Was he resentful of Itachi for deceiving him, betraying him, and betraying the clan and village?
No.
Although Sasuke also thought this way, he knew clearly that while this factor existed, it was not the main reason.
What truly made him resentful was that the dazzling image in his heart had been shattered.
The person he chased after should have been an incredibly glorious, dazzling, and extremely kind brother, not a wanted criminal despised and loathed by others.
Therefore, he wanted to surpass Itachi, to use this point to negate his past admiration for him.
But...
Thinking of his own life trajectory, so similar to Itachi's yet lagging behind at every step, Sasuke Uchiha clenched his fists tightly.
Right at this moment, a familiar voice suddenly rang out in the distance.
"Sasuke-kun!"
Hmm?
Hearing the voice, Sasuke looked up and saw a figure waving to him in the river channel on the right.
It was a girl. Judging from her height and voice, she was about his age, with waist-length pink hair, wearing red clothes, and a somewhat cute face.
Sasuke found her somewhat familiar, but couldn't recall who she was.
However, the two boys beside the girl made Sasuke remember immediately.
One was the target he desperately chased after in school, Sakakura Jokichi, and the other was the dead-last who didn't get along with him and constantly wandered around causing trouble in front of him, Uzumaki Naruto.
Why are they together?
Sasuke was somewhat puzzled.
But when he noticed the baskets on their backs and the trash inside, he instantly understood.
I see.
They have also graduated from the Ninja Academy!
Assigned to the same team and currently doing Genin chore missions, huh!
The corners of Sasuke's mouth curled up slightly, and a sense of superiority rose in his heart.
Back then, in the academy, Jokichi dominated the number one spot year-round, while he was the eternal second.
Especially during the grade assessment for early graduation.
He had asked his father for training guidance and worked hard for several months, full of confidence, thinking he could take back the number one spot in the grade.
He didn't expect to be defeated by a shadow clone from the other party.
That unwillingness and humiliation were still fresh in Sasuke's memory.
And Naruto, clearly the eternal dead-last, lacked any self-awareness and always wandered around causing trouble in front of him, which was irritating.
As for that pink-haired girl, her name was Sakura, right!
Sasuke thought hard for a moment.
It seemed she tied for first place with Jokichi in the theory classes.
But in the practical classes, she was just ordinary, and like the other girls in the class, she was boy-crazy and always wandered blindly in front of him.
Hmph! With that free time, she might as well train herself hard; that way, she might become a bit more excellent.
Well! Compared to ordinary people, she could be considered excellent.
However, no matter what, they are now all just newly graduated rookie Genin, while he was already a Chunin and had even entered the Hokage's direct-control unit, the Anbu.
Sasuke felt a burst of secret satisfaction in his heart, and a trace of a smile appeared on his eternally cold face, "Yo, aren't these Jokichi, Naruto, and Sakura?"
"Sasuke-kun, long time no see."
Sakura showed a subtle smile to Sasuke, while her inner persona had already started roaring excitedly, "Sasuke-kun remembers me, and he smiled at me."
"Long time no see, Sasuke."
"Long time no see, bastard Sasuke."
Seeing Sasuke greet them, Jokichi and Naruto also waved back in response.
However, Naruto's "bastard Sasuke" made the corner of Sasuke's mouth twitch.
This bastard, haven't seen him in years, and he's still so annoying.
Forget it, I won't bicker with him. I am now a Chunin; I must have the magnanimity of a Chunin and cannot bicker with a common rookie Genin.
Thinking of this, Sasuke calmed his mood, and a smug smile appeared on his face, "Are you guys executing a mission? Calculating the time, it's about time you graduated from the academy."
"Yeah, yeah!" Naruto nodded, "We've been Genin for a month, but Yamato-sensei keeps taking odd-job missions. There's no motivation at all."
"Well, Genin can only do odd jobs." Sasuke consoled, "Relax, once you officially become a Chunin, you can do high-level missions, just like me."
"Like you!" Naruto froze for a moment, his eyes slightly widening, and then asked, "You are already a Chunin?"
Naruto's expression and question made Sasuke feel somewhat refreshed inside, though he appeared nonchalant on the surface.
"That's right, and I've also joined the Hokage's special agency. As for what agency... well, the organization requires it to be kept a secret."
Kept a secret, my foot!
Don't those clothes of yours tell us you've joined the Anbu?
Graduating a few years early, has your brain turned from "what's a guy" to "where to get Naruto"?
A huge drop of sweat hung on the back of Jokichi's head.
"Ahhh... I'm so jealous. I really want to do high-level missions too. Damn it, it's all Iruka-sensei's fault for refusing to let me graduate early, otherwise I'd be a Chunin by now too." Naruto said with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
Naruto's words made Sasuke choke, and he coughed for a good while before calming down.
"Well, you guys don't need to be unwilling either. By training in the Genin position for a few more years, you will become Chunin sooner or later. Although the time is a bit long, it can't be helped. After all, the Uchiha are an elite clan, which is why I could become a Chunin so quickly. The gap in talent has nothing to do with a person's willpower."