Another page turns, and another year passes.
Konoha Year 59.
...
Inside the Uchiha household.
Sasuke clung tightly to Itachi's sleeve, his expression stubborn.
"Nii-san, you promised you'd train with me when you had time!"
"Sasuke..."
Itachi sighed helplessly.
He glanced apologetically at Izumi, who had been waiting patiently at the side.
Izumi met his gaze and gave him a reassuring look, as if to say,
"It's fine."
She crouched slightly and smiled at Sasuke.
"Sasuke, how about taking a break today and going out for a picnic with your big brother and me? Wouldn't that be fun?"
Sasuke shook his head vigorously like a drum, his resolve unwavering.
"No way! I want Nii-san to train with me!"
This kid really doesn't seem to like me, Izumi thought to herself.
She recalled when Sasuke was still an infant.
The moment he saw her, he would burst into tears...
Am I really that scary? Come on!
At some point, Itachi had already slipped free from Sasuke's grip. His figure suddenly appeared beside Izumi.
"That's enough, Sasuke. You'll have to train on your own today."
Sasuke threw down the stick he had been holding, his cheeks puffing up in frustration.
"Nii-san, you used a substitution jutsu! Hmph! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Izumi chuckled quietly to herself. Sasuke can be pretty cute sometimes.
Itachi smiled indulgently, raising two fingers and gently pressing them against Sasuke's forehead.
"Sorry, Sasuke. This will be the last time."
As if a switch had been flipped, Sasuke immediately calmed down, leaving Izumi watching in amazement.
Itachi ruffled Sasuke's hair and turned to Izumi.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Izumi. Let's go."
Izumi tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled.
"It's no trouble at all. Let's go then, Sasuke."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure your brother comes back on time tonight."
Under Sasuke's sulky gaze, the two of them walked away together.
Izumi naturally slipped her arm around Itachi's, whispering and laughing as they strolled.
...
Itachi paused briefly but quickly resumed his steps.
"Hmph! Annoying Izumi!"
Sasuke huffed in frustration and slammed the door shut.
"Father and Mother aren't home, and now Nii-san's gone too..."
He suddenly felt like an abandoned orphan.
"Guess I'll have to eat out for lunch."
...
At Ichiraku Ramen.
Sasuke happened to run into Naruto, who had also come for a meal. He immediately started venting his frustrations.
...
After listening to Sasuke's complaints, Naruto didn't comfort him at all. Instead, he burst into uncontrollable laughter, nearly face-planting into his ramen bowl.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
I must've lost my mind telling this idiot anything, Sasuke thought as he slapped some money onto the counter and stood up to leave.
"Oi, Sasuke, wait up!"
Naruto hurriedly stuffed the rest of his ramen into his mouth and chased after him.
Catching up to Sasuke, he grinned. "Since I've got nothing to do this afternoon, how about I train with you?"
Sasuke crossed his arms, tilted his head, and gave Naruto a disdainful look from head to toe before scoffing.
"Tch, why would I want a total idiot training me?"
"Damn it, Sasuke!"
Naruto clenched his fists, waving them dramatically. "I'm your senior! Show me some respect!"
Sasuke sneered, his expression full of arrogance.
"Stop fooling yourself, Naruto. I've never considered you my senior."
His face practically screamed: What are you gonna do about it? You mad? Go ahead, try me!
"Sasuke!"
"Naruto!"
A vein popped on Naruto's forehead as frustration boiled inside him.
Just wait till you graduate—I'm gonna request to be your team leader. Let's see how you handle that, dattebayo!
Naruto wasn't just bragging.
In Konoha, he did hold some weight.
His father was the Fourth Hokage, and his two senpais were the Fifth and Sixth.
Forget walking—he could probably crawl through the streets and no one would dare say a thing.
The two of them headed toward the training grounds, walking side by side.
...
"By the way, Naruto."
Sasuke glanced at him and suddenly said,
"There's a girl in our class who seems to... really admire you."
Naruto, who had been single since birth, nearly jumped with excitement.
But then it hit him—Wait a second, dattebayo!
Sasuke's in his class, which means the girl must be... what, eleven?!
His excitement instantly evaporated, replaced by dread. But he was still curious.
"Who is it?"
Sasuke absentmindedly twirled a kunai in his hand.
"Hyūga Hinata. She doesn't talk much—kind of a boring girl."
Hyūga clan... a little girl...
Naruto's eyes suddenly widened as if he had realized something.
"No way—?!"
Sasuke stopped twirling his kunai and looked at Naruto.
But then Naruto scratched his head and laughed.
"Hahaha! Never mind, I have no idea who that is, dattebayo!"
Sasuke: "...Naruto, you idiot!"
...
At Obito's mansion.
Three men and three women sat around the table, chatting and enjoying their meal together.
Rin blinked her large eyes, sighing. "Ever since we graduated, it's been ages since we all gathered like this."
Obito put down his cup and immediately agreed. "Exactly! You guys are always so busy—getting you all in one place is impossible!"
Kakashi rolled his eyes. "That's your fault. Do you have any idea how exhausting being Hokage is?"
Obito shrugged. "Of course I do. That's exactly why I made you do it."
Kakashi: "..."
Damn it, that actually makes sense. I have no comeback!
Shikayu casually placed some food onto Ryoko's plate and smirked.
"Kakashi's way more reliable than you. At least he doesn't dump all the paperwork on me to handle."
Obito, thick-skinned as ever, remained unfazed.
Hoping to smooth things over, Shinzu laughed.
"With mentors like yours, you must all make them very proud."
The group exchanged knowing smiles.
Obito chuckled. "No doubt about it. Just the other day, I ran into sensei. He still brags about us to anyone who will listen."
And why wouldn't he?
Two Hokage and a Hokage's advisor—how many mentors could boast about that?
They laughed, enjoying the peaceful evening.
Outside, the children ran in, exhausted from playing, each finding their mother for food.
Looking at the silver-haired girl in Shinzu's arms, Obito, slightly tipsy, joked,
"Kakashi, our kids are about the same age and get along well. How about we arrange a marriage?"
Shikayu laughed. "You'd have to get in line. My son likes her too."
Laughter filled the house, carried far into the gentle evening breeze...
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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