The Skies Cleared, the Rain Stopped, and Uchiha Sasuke Couldn't Cut It Anymore (Extra-Long Chapter)

The setting sun dyed the entire street blood-red, while the wind swept fallen leaves into spirals around the two boys' feet.

Sasuke's Sharingan had already activated unconsciously. The single crimson tomoe that had awakened in fury on Clan Massacre Night glinted coldly beneath the sunset.

Lately, Naruto seemed like an entirely different person.

The perennial dead last had become the star of the Ninja Academy. Naruto Uzumaki, whom no one had ever valued or cared about, had suddenly transformed into a prodigious young genius everyone wanted!

He had defeated Neji Hyuga in a single move, hit the bullseye with all ten kunai throws, and even the Three-Basic Techniques he had once struggled with were now executed with flawless mastery! (The original story has been slightly adjusted because of Hinata's plotline. Neji was one grade above them in the original!)

And he, Sasuke Uchiha, once the top student of their year, was now being ground into the dirt by a former dead last!

The genius halo he had been so proud of had shattered into nothing before Naruto's rapidly growing strength.

His goal was to kill that man—the man who called him his foolish little brother, yet slaughtered the entire Uchiha Clan in a single night and personally killed their parents!

An overwhelming sense of crisis gnawed at his heart like a venomous serpent. He had to win. He had to defeat Naruto with his own hands to prove that his pride remained, to prove that he still had the right to speak of revenge.

If he could not even surpass a dead last, how could he possibly fight that man, who shone so brilliantly?

That man could probably kill him with a single genjutsu, sealing his throat with one stroke and leaving him dead beyond doubt!

"Naruto, I don't know why your strength has improved so quickly, and I don't know whether you were deliberately hiding your power before. But today, I will prove that I, Sasuke Uchiha, will not lose to anyone!"

Naruto looked at Sasuke as though he were facing a mortal enemy, then suddenly chuckled. His hands remained casually tucked into the pockets of his black fitted outfit. He did not even take a stance.

"I'm just a perennial dead last, while you're the great Uchiha genius. Why are you looking for me? Is that really necessary?"

"Instead of wasting your time on this, why not drink some tea and flirt with girls? With your looks, you could find some little fangirl, go on dates, fall in love, talk about romance. Wouldn't that be better? Don't tell me you can't find one—I don't buy it. Why wear yourself out looking for me to play some duel game? Is there really any need?"

"Yes, there is! If I can't even defeat you, how can I talk about killing that man?"

Sasuke's voice was as cold as ice. His Sharingan locked onto Naruto as he said word by word, "I just can't accept it. The guy who used to rank dead last has climbed over my head and started taking a piss on me. I refuse to accept it!"

"What? Don't tell me the genius everyone talks about now is too scared?"

Naruto scoffed. "You don't need to provoke me with words. That's childish! I'm just too lazy to fight."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, the mockery in his voice practically overflowing. "The former Uchiha genius has fallen so far that he needs to beat a dead last to find some sense of existence? Didn't you used to be too lazy to even look at me? What happened to that Uchiha Clan pride?"

"By the way, where did all that swagger of yours go?"

He stepped forward, and the pressure around him instantly sank, stabbing directly into Sasuke's sorest wound. "Or are you scared? Scared that someone you never thought highly of will surpass you? Scared that you'll even lose the nerve to seek revenge on your brother?"

"After all, I heard your brother is a real monster. In front of him, you're barely even a nobody!"

"As far as I know, your brother, Itachi Uchiha, personally experienced the Third Shinobi World War at four. He graduated from the Ninja Academy at seven, awakened his Sharingan at eight after witnessing a comrade's death!"

"He became a Chunin at ten, entered the ANBU at eleven, and was promoted to ANBU squad captain at thirteen, when he also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. He was brilliant beyond compare. Then, in that same year, he suddenly became murderous and slaughtered the entire Uchiha Clan in one night."

"Am I right, great genius of the Uchiha Clan?"

Sasuke's face instantly turned livid, and veins bulged sharply at his temples.

That sentence had precisely pierced through every bit of panic and unease hidden beneath his pride.

"Bastard, cut the crap! What right do you have to mention him? I'll kill him, I definitely will! Just tell me—are you going to fight or not?!"

Naruto snorted and casually waved a hand.

"Sure. If you want to fight, that's easy enough. I'll go all the way with you. Besides, I want to see what the Uchiha Clan is made of these days."

He had already made his calculations. Sasuke was the last surviving Uchiha bloodline, a chess piece watched by Danzo, Orochimaru, and even Obito lurking in the shadows.

After all, Sasuke was one of only two known Sharingan wielders in the Ninja World. The remaining Uchiha bloodline and his powerful ocular abilities made it impossible for him to stay outside the conflict.

That unique Kekkei Genkai had doomed him to stand at the center of a vortex from the moment he was born. He was both a target coveted by others and the final hope supporting the Uchiha bloodline.

Naruto understood that if Itachi had not been secretly maneuvering in the shadows to protect him, Sasuke would probably have died hundreds of times already.

Everyone saw the brothers standing against each other, but few understood the deep affection hidden beneath that hatred.

After all, slaughtering one's entire clan—even one's own parents—to protect one's younger brother sounded utterly absurd.

Yet this act, which seemed to defy all reason, was the only path Itachi Uchiha could take beneath countless shackles.

Rather than let Orochimaru abduct Sasuke in the end and turn him into someone else's vessel, Naruto might as well pull him to his own side and forge him into the sharpest blade in his hand.

How much turmoil could a Uchiha genius pushed into a corner stir up in Konoha's stagnant waters?

Hatred was the fiercest fuel, and the Kekkei Genkai was the greatest source of confidence. Once his edge was revealed, the entire Ninja World's balance might be shaken.

After all, the Hokage of Shippuden was still the era of flashy eyes! As a transmigrator, Naruto knew that well!

Naturally, Naruto Uzumaki was happy to reap the benefits. His relationship with Sasuke had never been merely that of ordinary classmates.

As the reincarnations of Asura and Indra, they had been tightly bound by fate since birth. They were brothers linked by blood and an inseparable bond, yet also eternal rivals doomed to clash again and again.

This fate that spanned reincarnation destined them to stand on opposing sides time after time, loving and fighting each other through conflict and bonds!

Besides, Naruto did not yet have the power to resolve fate itself!

Naruto said, "Then what are we still talking about? Let's do this!"

Sasuke wasted no words. Almost the instant Naruto finished speaking, he pushed off hard with his feet and shot forward. His fist, carrying a fierce gust of wind, smashed straight toward Naruto's face!

His taijutsu had long been honed to the peak of his year, even surpassing many freshly graduated Genin. His fist split the air with a sharp whistle, while his Sharingan locked onto Naruto's every movement.

Yet Naruto merely shifted aside and lightly evaded the punch.

"Your steps are too heavy. Your center of gravity is entirely on your front foot. Anyone could hook your leg and make you fall flat on your face."

"What? Is this all the so-called Uchiha genius has?"

His tone was calm, like a teacher correcting a student's mistakes. With a casual slap, he blocked Sasuke's fierce attack.

"You put everything into every punch. Once someone dodges, you leave yourself completely open. At this level, are you really a genius?"

"How about I give you some motivation? Honestly, when your brother Itachi Uchiha was your age, he could crush ten of you with one hand!"

That offhand remark was like a wildfire, instantly igniting the most sensitive and violent nerve in Sasuke's heart.

Naruto had mentioned that name again and again, completely shattering all of Sasuke's restraint and self-control.

In an instant, Sasuke's mind shook violently. Towering rage and extreme humiliation churned in his chest, and his blood surged so fiercely that he nearly lost control.

The crimson in his eyes suddenly flared. The single-tomoe Sharingan that had awakened in madness after the clan massacre spun rapidly, and chilling killing intent exploded forth.

His earlier attacks had already been fierce, but now their force increased severalfold. His fists became a storm, every strike ruthless, every movement tearing through the air with explosive cracks as he hurled himself at Naruto with desperate madness!

Yet no matter how frenzied and violent his attacks were, Naruto saw his prized taijutsu as nothing more than children playing house.

Every one of Sasuke's movements and every opening in his defense was laid bare before Naruto. His storm-like assault was effortlessly dismantled.

Sasuke attacked madly with every ounce of his strength, yet he could not touch Naruto at all. Forget injuring him—he could not even brush the edge of Naruto's clothes.

After fighting for a long time, Sasuke's clothes were soaked through with cold sweat. His bangs clung to his cheeks, his harsh breathing came in ragged bursts, and his stamina was already nearing its limit.

Naruto, on the other hand, had stood firmly in place from beginning to end. His body had not swayed once, his breathing remained steady, and he had handled the entire fight with ease, as though this intense clash were merely a pastime.

This was clearly a guided battle. This was clearly an old man playing with a child!

"Bastard! I don't believe it! I don't believe it! I'm a genius of the Uchiha Clan! I'm the genius who will kill that man!"

Sasuke was completely enraged now. He leaped backward, instantly widening the distance, and rapidly formed hand seals!

Boar—Dog—Rooster—Monkey—Ram!

The sequence of seals flowed smoothly, a killing move he had practiced countless times.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball erupted from his mouth. Heat waves instantly swept across the street, the surrounding leaves sizzled from the heat, and even the air twisted as the blazing sphere hurtled straight at Naruto with enough force to incinerate everything!

This attack had already reached Chunin-level power.

Ordinary Chunin could not even form seals as fast as he could!

Sasuke panted heavily, his crimson Sharingan filled with ruthlessness.

He refused to believe Naruto could withstand this move.

But the next second, Naruto vanished with a bang, turning into a wooden log.

"Substitution Technique?! You've got to be kidding me! How is his Substitution Technique this perfect?!"

Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply. His Sharingan swept across the battlefield, but all he saw were three identical Narutos closing in from three different directions.

It was the most basic Clone Technique, yet Naruto used it with such mastery that even Sasuke's Sharingan could not tell which one was the real body!

"Your seals were 0.3 seconds too slow, and every seal had unnecessary movements."

Naruto's cold voice drifted from behind him into Sasuke's ears.

Sasuke spun around and saw Naruto clasp his thumb and forefinger together with one hand. There was not a single unnecessary movement as he activated the technique instantly.

"Wind Release: Storm Technique."

Sasuke's face paled. He instinctively swallowed and cried out, "You've got to be kidding me! One-handed seals?!"

His eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

One-handed seals were already incredibly difficult, yet Naruto had also countered the Great Fireball in an instant. That level of strength was simply absurd.

For a moment, Sasuke was both shocked and panicked. He stared rigidly ahead, completely unable to guess how many more abilities Naruto possessed.

Violent wind blades swept toward him in an instant, and the immense wind pressure forced Sasuke down to one knee. His knee slammed viciously against the ground, jarring his bones with pain.

"Great Uchiha genius, the outcome has been decided!"

Naruto lowered his arm, and the wind blades around him dispersed. He was perfectly clean, without even a speck of dust on him.

Sasuke stood frozen, his face alternating between green and pale. He felt both humiliated and unwilling to accept it.

His full-force assault had been easily neutralized. Even his strongest Fire Release had failed to gain the slightest advantage. He could see the gap between them clearly.

Naruto looked at Sasuke half-kneeling on the ground and said calmly, "That's it? When your brother wiped out the clan, his ninjutsu was much faster than yours."

"Your ninjutsu isn't fast enough, and it's even less ruthless! Could you block thirteen years of my practice in one move?"

"The skies cleared, the rain stopped, and our Uchiha Sasuke couldn't cut it anymore!"

That sentence became the final straw that broke the camel's back. It felt as though an invisible hand had seized his heart and crushed it tightly.

His desperate all-out assault had achieved nothing, and a massive sense of defeat swept through him, as though every bit of strength had been drained from his body.

He stared straight ahead, his voice trembling slightly as he asked in a low voice, "What exactly do you know?"

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the earth, stretching Naruto's shadow long behind him.

They were clearly the same age. Naruto had clearly once been an insignificant dead last. Yet now, Naruto was so powerful that Sasuke found him unfamiliar—even terrifying.

Sasuke's chest rose and fell violently. His heart was filled with confusion, unwillingness, and inescapable panic.

He simply could not understand how Naruto had suddenly become so strong, or how Naruto seemed to know everything about him, Itachi, and the Uchiha Clan.

At that moment, Naruto looked exactly like Itachi Uchiha had that night—standing amid the blood in the Uchiha Clan Grounds, looking down at him from above.

Just as young. Just as exceptional. Just as overwhelming that Sasuke did not even have the strength to resist.

Enormous despair instantly drowned him. He could not even defeat Naruto. How was he supposed to kill that man, when even this dead last he had once been too lazy to look at could casually grind him beneath his feet?

Sasuke clenched his teeth hard. The taste of blood spread through his mouth, and his nails dug deeply into his palms, yet he could not feel any pain. There was only overwhelming collapse.

Naruto watched him stand there in a daze and withdrew the hostility around him.

He crouched down, looked into Sasuke's crimson Sharingan, and said, "What, are you already numb? After school, go to the back mountain. Tree climbing and water walking—skills only Chunin can master. Want to learn? I'll teach you!"

Sasuke abruptly raised his head, his face full of disbelief.

He had thought Naruto would humiliate him, would crush the last of his pride beneath his feet.

But Naruto was actually going to teach him?

Naruto ignored his shock, stood up, and walked toward a large tree nearby.

Without any visible gathering of chakra, he walked up the straight trunk step by step as though it were flat ground. He reached the top, then walked back down upside down, his footsteps as steady as though they had been nailed to the tree.

Then he walked to a puddle by the roadside and gently stepped onto its surface without creating even a ripple.

This was chakra control of the utmost precision, something only Chunin could accomplish.

"Well? Is it fun?"

Sasuke stared in stunned silence, forgetting even to breathe.

Right now, he could not even climb a tree steadily, let alone climb trees and walk on water as freely as Naruto did!

"Want to learn? I'll teach you," Naruto said with a raised brow.

Sasuke suddenly stood up and clenched his fists. His Adam's apple bobbed for a long time before he finally forced out two words through gritted teeth. "...Thank you."

After saying that, he did not dare look at Naruto again. He turned and ran.

[Congratulations, Host. You have matched the path toward darkness and obtained 50 Darkness Value! Current Darkness Value: 720!]

The system's notification sounded in Naruto's mind.

A knowing smile tugged at Naruto's lips. "This guy's pretty tsundere. I thought the Uchiha Clan was all afflicted with red-eye syndrome. Since when did tsundere syndrome show up too?"

He had not wasted a single point of the Darkness Value he had accumulated during this time.

Part of it had been used to gain complete control over the Nine-Tails Chakra in One-Tail form. Now, when he activated One-Tail form, he was not affected by the Nine-Tails' malice. Even the red tail had become a dazzling, sacred gold.

Naruto's strength soared after entering One-Tail form. He did not fear ordinary Jonin in the slightest and might even suppress them—perhaps even crush them!

He had used all the rest to exchange for the A-rank sensory ninjutsu—Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

With this technique, he could clearly sense the ANBU surveillance hidden by the Third Hokage and the malicious spying of Danzo's Root organization.

He would no longer be kept in the dark and manipulated by others as he had been before.

He could forgo anything else, but this technique was the key to surviving well right now!

"Show me my skill panel," Naruto silently commanded.

The next second, a system panel gleaming with cold light unfolded across his retina:

Host: Naruto Uzumaki

Darkness Value: 720

Ninjutsu/Abilities

1. Nine-Tails Chakra One-Tail Form (Golden One-Tail Form!) 2. Rasengan (A-rank) 3. Multiple Shadow Clone Technique (A-rank) 4. Mind's Eye of the Kagura (A-rank) 5. Wind Release: Storm Technique (C-rank) 6. Basic Three-Basic Techniques

Naruto glanced over the panel and was about to dismiss it when his brow suddenly rose.

A faint smile curled onto Naruto's lips as he looked toward the distant street corner!

His Mind's Eye of the Kagura had sensed a familiar chakra signature hiding around the corner of a nearby alley. It had been there for quite a while.

Naruto thought to himself, You've been watching for so long without making a sound. Are you afraid I'll get mad?

He turned toward the alley and said calmly, "Little girl, come out. You've been hiding there for so long. Aren't you tired?"

The figure at the alley entrance stiffened, then Hinata Hyuga slowly emerged with her head lowered, clutching the hem of her clothes.

Her cheeks were bright red, and her fingertips trembled slightly from nervousness. Yet her Byakugan remained open as she looked at Naruto with concern. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, but her urgency could not be hidden. "Naruto-kun... you noticed me so easily. And you defeated Sasuke-kun... What exactly happened to you?"