Sasuke is Still the Same Sasuke
Sensing Naruto's gaze, Orochimaru turned around and looked over.
Upon seeing Naruto, Shisui, and the others who were disguising their identities, Orochimaru subconsciously frowned. He then averted his gaze and walked toward the hotel alongside his Oto-nin subordinates.
He wasn't particularly surprised that Uzushiogakure had sent people to participate in the Chunin Exams.
However, seeing Shisui Uchiha as their Jonin leader raised questions about Uzushio's true intentions. This development could interfere with his plans.
Seemingly noticing Orochimaru's change in demeanor, Kimimaro, who stood beside him, asked in a low voice, "Lord Orochimaru, those ninjas are watching you. Do you need me to eliminate them?"
Orochimaru glanced at his "adopted son" and shook his head. "Remember their faces, but do not provoke the shinobi of Uzushiogakure. Even I cannot afford to underestimate them."
Kimimaro's eyes widened slightly. What kind of monsters were these shinobi, if even Lord Orochimaru—who had assassinated the Fourth Kazekage not long ago—chose to avoid them?
Orochimaru, uninterested in explaining further, shifted his gaze toward the Hokage Building.
After all these years, even that fool Jiraiya had become Hokage. As his former comrade, wouldn't it be a shame if he didn't prepare a grand gift for Konoha?
Yet, the presence of Uzumaki shinobi had introduced an unexpected variable in his plans.
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Revisiting familiar streets, Naruto led Shisui into Ichiraku Ramen, ordering four bowls.
The same old recipe. The same nostalgic flavor. But time had moved forward—Teuchi, once a youthful chef, had aged, and Ayame had blossomed into a refined young woman.
As they ate, reminiscing about the past, Teuchi suddenly leaned forward, studying them with curiosity. "Your voice sounds familiar. Have we met before?"
Naruto replied casually, "No, this is my first time in Konoha for the Chunin Exams."
Teuchi scratched his head. "Maybe I'm mistaken. But you sure know how to order, like someone who's lived here before. And that team leader over there… he looks familiar too."
Shisui remained silent, but Naruto chuckled. "Perhaps we lived in Konoha in a past life. Fate works in mysterious ways."
Teuchi laughed. "Maybe so." He withdrew into the kitchen.
After finishing their meal, Karin leaned in and whispered, "Lord Mienma, you seem really familiar with this place. Did you live in Uzushiogakure your whole life?"
Naruto smiled. "You already guessed my identity, didn't you? But yes, I have ties to Konoha. This is where I grew up, and where my past lies buried."
Karin stuck out her tongue playfully and didn't press further. She understood—Naruto had fought to leave Konoha behind, whereas she had been saved from her own fate by him.
Shisui, as usual, remained quiet. He had long since deduced Naruto's origins but had chosen to ignore them. In the shinobi world, knowing too much was often dangerous.
Upon leaving the ramen shop, Shisui's gaze lingered toward the Uchiha district, nostalgia flickering in his eyes.
Noticing this, Naruto took the lead and walked toward the clan grounds. The Uchiha compound was near Konoha's outskirts. Perhaps they'd run into Sasuke—or someone equally intriguing.
However, as they turned a corner, they stumbled upon a group of rookie Genin gathered in a back alley, weapons drawn.
The situation was simple. Some shinobi from Kirigakure had unintentionally provoked the Sunagakure team—Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari. Now, conflict was about to erupt.
"It's Kirigakure shinobi," Haku muttered, prepared to intervene. After all, Mist Village was nominally allied with Uzushiogakure, and they had fostered close ties over the years.
But Naruto stopped him. "Let's watch first."
Tension built as Temari and Kankuro exchanged glances, worried that Gaara might resort to violence. Just as Gaara was about to attack, a kunai sliced through the air, interrupting his sand technique.
Sasuke stood atop a tree, arms crossed. His Sharingan gleamed as he said coolly, "Fighting in Konoha… do you plan to ignore the Uchiha?"
His arrogance immediately attracted attention. Gaara didn't hesitate—he attacked.
Sasuke dodged nimbly, evading his sand effortlessly. After a few exchanges, Gaara narrowed his eyes. "Not bad. I hope we face each other in the Chunin Exams."
Sasuke landed on the ground, smirking. "You'll regret wanting to fight me. I don't bother remembering the names of weaklings."
Gaara, who had been about to leave, halted in his tracks. He turned back toward Sasuke.
And just like that, the suspended battle resumed. Gaara unleashed a surge of sand, and Sasuke responded by drawing his tanto, his Sharingan spinning.
Naruto sighed. "Is it just me, or were Uchihas always this arrogant when they were young?" He glanced at Shisui with a smirk. "Didn't they ever get beaten up by their teammates?"
Shisui rubbed his forehead. "Not all Uchihas are like this. Sasuke is… an exception."
Naruto merely chuckled. He knew Sasuke well—he had beaten the arrogance out of him before. Without those experiences, Sasuke wouldn't be standing here now, strong enough to face Gaara.
But defeating a Jinchuriki? That was still beyond Sasuke's reach. After all, even Kakashi, Sasuke's mentor, wasn't strong enough to take down a fully unleashed Jinchuriki alone.
As the fight escalated, the once-quiet alley was soon riddled with craters. More and more Konoha shinobi arrived—Team 7, Team 8, and Team 10—all drawn by the commotion.
Seeing this, Temari and Kankuro grew uneasy. Gaara was a feared demon of Suna, but Konoha's Genin weren't pushovers either.
If the situation spiraled further, it could jeopardize the upcoming Chunin Exams. Worse, it could expose their battle techniques before the real competition.
Naruto, sensing the growing tensions, gave an order. "Karin, Haku—stop them. Let them see the strength of Uzushiogakure."
Before he even finished speaking, the two had already vanished.
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