The Uchiha Compound.
Sasuke had everything here, yet he couldn't feel the slightest bit of happiness.
If he hadn't met Itachi so early, and hadn't seen Naruto's strength and status now,
he wouldn't be so restless and anxious.
"Naruto's too strong! I'm the only one who's still useless! I've become the dead last!"
"If Naruto becomes Hokage, could Gaara become Kazekage someday?"
"They're the same age as me! Why? Damn it! Why is the gap so huge?"
Sasuke Uchiha yearned for power—for the security it brought, and out of hatred for losing all his loved ones in a single night!
Why had the brother he admired most killed the entire clan?
Why couldn't he surpass his brother, no matter what he did?
Why had Naruto become Hokage after he'd just gone to sleep and woken up?
What in the world had happened?
Sasuke felt as if he'd had another nightmare.
Once, his only hatred had been Itachi Uchiha. Now, his only bond was Naruto Uzumaki!
"I have to get stronger. I have to cut off everything!"
"I can't let myself be bound. I'll grow weak, and lose the power to take revenge!"
Sasuke tried to convince himself over and over.
Moonlight seeped through the wooden floorboards, along with the chill of the night breeze.
Sasuke Uchiha's heart kept pounding.
How could he sever his bonds and defeat Itachi Uchiha?
Why couldn't his eyes grow any stronger, no matter what he did?
They both had the Sharingan, so why were Kakashi's and Itachi Uchiha's eyes a different form?
How was he supposed to reach that level?
"Sasuke!"
A figure stood on top of a utility pole, his back to the full moon.
Sasuke looked up, his whole body turning cold.
The same awful scene as always.
An image carved into his memory!
"Itachi!"
Lightning flashed in his hand, and the Chidori cried out, ready to strike the man down!
But when Sasuke charged forward, he realized—
The one standing there was Naruto Uzumaki, two months younger than him!
"You?"
Sasuke tilted his head and glanced at Naruto out of the corner of his eye.
Perhaps because he'd been sweating so much, his hair had fallen over his forehead and covered his eyes.
"Of course it's me."
"You don't look quite right, Sasuke."
Naruto seemed to radiate a blazing light. Sasuke wanted to draw close and bask in its warmth, but worried that he'd lose his strength if he did.
"None of your business."
Sasuke sneered and turned to go inside.
He had just reached for the door with both hands when he felt a gust of wind.
Leaves scattered across the clean floor.
Naruto was already sitting on the tatami.
"You should at least entertain your guest, right? I want ramen and sukiyaki. And plenty of beef!"
Naruto was completely at ease.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was extremely embarrassed.
"What are you doing here? I never said I'd welcome a dead last like you."
He's so strong.
Sasuke complained aloud, but inwardly thought that if Naruto had been holding a kunai just now, ten lives wouldn't have been enough to save him.
"What do you mean, dead last?"
"I'm the Hokage now! The Hokage who'll restore Konoha to its former glory and make the villagers feel safe!"
Naruto twirled a kunai in his hand. A Flying Thunder God Formula was engraved on it.
"Is that so?"
Sasuke sighed.
He shut the door, and darkness swallowed him too.
"Then Konoha must be doomed, if an unreliable idiot became Hokage."
Sasuke leaned against the door.
He felt even more useless. How could he gain greater strength?
How could he surpass everyone—surpass Itachi Uchiha?
His pain kept Sasuke from finding peace.
At last, he turned his gaze to Naruto.
Sasuke knew he'd grown weak because he now had someone he cared about, someone who cared about him, and something to look forward to in life!
If he could defeat Naruto—or even sever their bond completely—he would definitely grow stronger!
"You want to kill me?"
Naruto smiled.
It was impossible to miss such obvious killing intent.
Especially since Naruto was constantly absorbing and storing Nine-Tails Chakra. The refinement of Sage Mode Double had already enhanced his ability to sense things.
He could detect hostility even faster now.
"Kurama, at this rate, am I going to become a Perfect Jinchuriki who's in sync with you?"
Naruto couldn't resist teasing the Nine-Tails.
"In your dreams, you foolish Acting Hokage!"
The Nine-Tails turned away in a huff and went to sleep.
Yet deep down, he felt that Naruto was growing stronger and stronger, with one new trump card after another.
Could Nine-Tails Chakra Mode really become one of Naruto's abilities someday?
"Tch."
Naruto waited for Sasuke to answer.
Attack the Hokage?
That would make him a rogue ninja.
Would Sasuke really go that far for power?
Sasuke stared at Naruto in the moonlight.
"You hesitated."
Naruto tapped his fingers against the wooden floor.
"Sasuke, you're confused too, torn between power and emotion."
"The Uchiha's heightened sensitivity to emotions, and the way you gain power, prove it."
"You want to grow stronger, so why hesitate?"
"Whether you want to sever your bonds or grow stronger, you have to turn dark!"
"Simply put, you need an obsession! A strong will!"
"You can't do it?"
White light radiated from Naruto's whole body, brighter than the moon's cold, pure glow.
"Then let me teach you how to turn dark!"
What?!
Sasuke was startled by Naruto.
As Hokage, and especially as Naruto Uzumaki—a man who said he'd follow his ninja way through to the end, straightforward and true to his word—
Why would he say something like that?
"To become strong enough, that little bit of willpower you have now isn't nearly enough."
"You can challenge me if you want. Bring these three people back, and then you'll have the bare minimum qualifications to challenge me!"
"One day, you'll have the chance to reach this level too!"
Naruto tossed three intelligence reports onto the floor.
Jugo, the source of the Cursed Seal, who could absorb Natural Energy from birth.
Karin, a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, with extraordinary sensory abilities and a bloodline Sealing Technique that let her heal wounds with her own body.
Hozuki Suigetsu, who knew secret Water Release techniques and could survive in desperate situations with the Hydrification Technique.
"Challenge you?"
After committing the three people's names and appearances to memory,
Sasuke looked back at Naruto, who had removed his hat.
The Forehead Protector no longer covered his forehead.
A Yin-Yang Fish-shaped seal marked the center of his brow.
At that moment, his eyes opened.
The Mangekyō Sharingan!
"How do you have those eyes, Naruto Uzumaki?!"
Sasuke had been planning to try to find the three people and become stronger,
then challenge Naruto himself!
But after seeing Naruto's eyes, he was even more dazed.
"Do you want to know all the answers?"
"I'll tell you after you grow stronger and challenge me!"
"Get stronger, Sasuke!"
Naruto pointed at Sasuke.
"There are some truths and things you can only obtain once you have enough strength."
"Sasuke, if you're going to turn dark, now's the time!"
Naruto tossed the kunai from his hand, then vanished in an instant.
"Damn it!"
"What in the world is going on?"
"What is the village hiding? If I find those three, I can become stronger, challenge Naruto, and learn the truth?"
Sasuke's resolve strengthened once more.
He clenched both fists without realizing it.
His Sharingan, too, radiated an even more determined power.
[Ding!] [The host had unbelievably and unjustifiably caused Uchiha Sasuke to further descend into darkness! Simply unforgivable! Mission failed completely!] [The host has received a mission penalty of 3000 penalty points] [Fend for yourself! You detestable host!]