Sasuke Uchiha

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha." Having received Naruto's apology, Sasuke felt a little embarrassed instead.

After all, he really had been spying for a little while.

After introducing himself, Sasuke stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do or say.

Though he looked rather cold, he was only a curious little boy.

He had grown up under the wings of his parents and older brother. His brother was a genius who had displayed extraordinary talent from a young age.

In such an environment, Sasuke had begun all kinds of ninja-related training at a young age.

It could be said that compared to children his age, he had started far ahead of the pack.

But even so, he had been unable to withstand the Reiatsu leaking from Naruto.

He was very curious about Naruto, and even felt a little unwilling to accept it.

He had always believed that he was the most outstanding boy of his age in Konoha.

But now, he had been completely surpassed.

"How are you so strong?" After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked uncertainly. A flush appeared on his face as soon as he finished, and he awkwardly turned his head away, not daring to look at Naruto again.

Naruto had once heard Konoha Villagers discussing the Uchiha in private. They said the Uchiha were extremely arrogant and usually ignored others. The Konoha Military Police Force they belonged to was even more merciless, enforcing the law without regard for personal feelings.

It could be said that the Uchiha Clan had a poor reputation in Konoha—one bad enough to be called terrible.

Yet Sasuke did not give Naruto the impression of being difficult to approach. He seemed more like a tsundere little boy.

This Uchiha seemed very interested in strength.

"Interesting kid." Amusement flickered in Naruto's eyes.

"Because I train every day, I've become strong."

This familiar scene was remarkably like when he had first met Rock Lee.

If he could talk this Uchiha kid into training with him, it should benefit him.

He had heard that the Uchiha Clan was wealthy and possessed many ninja techniques.

Although Naruto was not very good at Chakra control, he still had hopes for ninjutsu.

After all, the Nine-Tails might stop interfering with his Chakra in the future.

"Training? I've always trained with my brother too." Sasuke frowned tightly.

He did not want to admit that his talent might be inferior to Naruto's.

Unwilling to accept it, he asked, "What was that earlier? Was it your Chakra? Why did it feel so oppressive? Was it killing intent? Have you killed someone?"

Sasuke had heard his brother say that every truly powerful ninja had been tempered by blood. They excelled at killing techniques, and through killing, they developed killing intent.

Invisible killing intent could cause ordinary people to instantly lose their ability to fight, or even break down completely.

Sasuke found it hard to imagine the pressure Naruto had brought him earlier. He had even found it difficult to move.

Naruto looked about the same age as him, yet he had developed killing intent.

No matter how he thought about it, it did not seem possible.

"No, that wasn't killing intent. You can think of it as a method of using Chakra." Naruto smiled slightly.

"A method of using Chakra?"

"That's right. Gather Chakra around your body and combine it with your own presence to create an oppressive feeling similar to killing intent." Naruto patiently explained, "Since I practice Zanjutsu, it is the force of my blade combined with Chakra that creates that pressure."

Fortunately, Reiatsu and Chakra had similar properties, so he could use Chakra as an excuse.

Sasuke looked at Naruto with envy. He wanted to ask about his training methods, but his pride kept him from speaking.

Most of the Uchiha Clan were rather arrogant, and Sasuke was naturally no exception.

No, rather than arrogance, it would be more accurate to call it tsundere.

Naruto saw Sasuke's embarrassment and took the initiative to speak.

"I'm heading back first. If you're interested, how about we train here together tomorrow at noon?"

At that, Sasuke was delighted. He nodded calmly, though the smile at the corner of his mouth could no longer be hidden. "Sure. I'll let you see the ninja techniques that our Uchiha Clan takes pride in as well."

After saying that, he proudly lifted his little head.

"Okay, I'm looking forward to it." Naruto nodded with a smile. After saying goodbye to Sasuke, he left the training ground.

Watching Naruto's departing back, Sasuke stood there in a daze.

Naruto was probably the first person his age he had ever truly spoken with.

All this time, the Uchiha Clan had simply fulfilled their duties as the Konoha Military Police Force.

But for some reason, the villagers always treated them with hostility.

Combined with the Uchiha Clan's own pride, they did not want to explain themselves, nor did they disdain to do so.

As time passed, the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha became increasingly awkward.

Other villagers avoided the Uchiha from afar as though they were a plague.

Even Uchiha children like them rarely had friends.

Sasuke had heard of Naruto Uzumaki. Apparently, he was regarded as the Nine-Tails Fox Demon and suffered even worse treatment than the Uchiha.

In a sense, they shared the same plight and the same loneliness.

But at the same time, Naruto was also the first non-Uchiha to show him such a gentle, sincere smile.

Thinking of Naruto's sunny smile, Sasuke suddenly felt healed.

"How could he keep smiling after being hurt?" he murmured.

Inside the Uchiha residence that night.

Sasuke's family sat around a large table as his mother, Mikoto Uchiha, brought out exquisite dishes.

The family was warm and harmonious.

"Itachi, how have you been lately?" Fugaku Uchiha asked.

"Everything's as usual. I've just been a little busy and haven't had time to accompany Sasuke." Itachi lovingly rubbed Sasuke's spiky hair.

"What about Sasuke?"

"Today, I met someone very..." Sasuke tilted his head as he considered an adjective, then added, "Very impressive. A genius."

"A genius?" Itachi Uchiha was immediately interested. This was the first time he had heard his younger brother praise someone else so highly.

"Yes. His name is Naruto Uzumaki, and he's about the same age as me." Sasuke nodded.

"Naruto Uzumaki? Could he be Kushina's..." Fugaku and Mikoto exchanged a glance.

Before their deaths, Fugaku and Mikoto had been close friends with Kushina's family, and the two families had often visited each other.

But after the Fourth died, Naruto had been placed under the Third's control. On top of the Uchiha Clan being targeted, they had neither the time nor even the courage to interfere in Naruto's affairs.

Naturally, they were angry over everything Naruto had suffered.

The Fourth had sealed the Nine-Tails inside Naruto at the cost of his life, hoping that Naruto could grow up as the son of a hero.

Yet Naruto had instead lived in misery all this time.

Fugaku could not intervene, but neither would he deliberately stop Sasuke from getting close to Naruto.

On the contrary, his guilt made him hope that Sasuke and Naruto would become close friends.

"If Sasuke calls him a genius, then I'm very curious." Itachi Uchiha said with a smile.

Sasuke recounted everything he had seen that day, ending with, "Tomorrow, I'm going to train with him. I want to see just how special his training methods are."

"A presence that can directly affect Sasuke?" Surprise flashed in Fugaku Uchiha's eyes.

It seemed Naruto had inherited Minato's talent. He would become a very powerful ninja.