The Sharingan That Caught Their Eye

Hot Spring Inn.

Warm steam hung in the air.

After settling his subordinates in, Kakashi Hatake left. His thick dog-head wallet had shriveled considerably, so he would probably have to get down to business tonight.

Once Team Seven's jonin instructor had left, the figure of a burly man emerged beneath a large tree outside the inn. "We can begin our plan. Sharingan Kakashi has already left the inn. Only three brats remain inside."

"Captain Bukai!"

A young man leaped down from the tree, his expression somewhat doubtful. "Do we really need to target this Konoha team? It isn't easy to get to Yugakure. Reducing unnecessary conflicts whenever possible is a shinobi's code, isn't it?"

"Hmph, how young..."

The burly man lowered his head, concealing his expression in the darkness. "Did you see the fan crest on that black-haired brat's back?"

"That brat must be Konoha's last remaining Uchiha, and the easiest way to obtain that bloodline eye technique—the Sharingan!"

"Huh?"

The young Hidden Cloud shinobi was taken aback.

Ever since the Third Great Ninja War, the shinobi world had entered a long period of peace. After the Uchiha Clan massacre, everyone had thought the Sharingan would fade into obscurity.

Who could have expected its power to become even more revered?

For example, Konoha's Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake.

Or the rumored Itachi of the Clan Massacre.

Since the Sharingan was not a strategic-level bloodline limit, the various nations were not especially desperate for it. But many shinobi who pursued power coveted it in secret.

The young Hidden Cloud shinobi gritted his teeth and continued, "Would taking that brat's Sharingan not provoke a war between Konoha and our village?"

"Hahahaha..."

The burly man could not help laughing. He reached out and slapped his subordinate's shoulder hard, ignoring the pained look on the young man's face as he said in a deep voice, "You're too young. You don't need to worry about this. I alone will bear the responsibility!"

Young people truly knew nothing about their predecessors' history!

Back then, envoys from Hidden Cloud Village had failed to steal the Byakugan of the Hyuga Main Branch and were instead killed by the head of the Hyuga Clan. What had been the final result?

The Fourth Raikage had directly threatened Konoha, demanding that the Konoha Elders hand over the head of the Hyuga Clan, or else he would tear up the peace treaty between Konoha and Hidden Cloud.

To preserve the peace agreement they had just signed with Hidden Cloud Village, Konoha had chosen to agree. In the end, it was only because the Hyuga Clan played a word game that they prevented the Byakugan bloodline from falling into Hidden Cloud Village's hands.

The Hyuga were Konoha's largest ninja clan and the clan with the most jonin. Even when faced with the demands of Konoha and Hidden Cloud, they could only swallow their anger.

Just one Uchiha orphan...

How could he possibly start a war between Konoha and Hidden Cloud!

"Enough. Go carry out our plan!"

The burly man turned to leave, quietly instructing, "Be careful when luring him out. This is still peaceful Yugakure. I'm going to find those two idiots now."

"Yes, Captain!"

The young Hidden Cloud shinobi nodded seriously, sheathed his ninja blade, and only stepped into the hot spring inn where Team Seven was staying after observing the surroundings for a while.

Hot spring bath.

Because the entire village had been drawn to the plaza to watch the festivities, only the two boys from Team Seven were in the men's bath, leisurely chatting away.

Since leaving Konoha, they had never relaxed as much as they did now. They also wanted to take this opportunity to have a frank conversation.

Sasuke Uchiha picked up a towel and laid it over his head, narrowing his eyes slightly as he looked at his teammate. "Have you thought of developing any new ninjutsu lately? It feels like you've already pushed the ninjutsu that suit you to the limit!"

"You're not bad yourself!"

Naruto Uzumaki smiled, casually intending to praise his teammate. "Didn't Sensei Kakashi praise you yesterday for mastering some... some kind of Fire Release?"

He might as well have said nothing.

He was clearly praising his teammate, yet he had not even remembered the name of the ninjutsu his teammate was so proud of.

Naruto Uzumaki rubbed his head and pointed at his temple. "Sorry, Sasuke. I don't have my notebook with me right now, so I can't remember a lot of things."

"Phoenix Sage Fire Claw."

Sasuke Uchiha frowned and explained quietly, "It's a B-rank Fire Release Ninjutsu developed by Brother Shisui. It's a derivative of the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique. In truth, it only increases the speed at which the flames fly toward the enemy..."

"That's still amazing!"

Naruto Uzumaki nodded. "Attaching flames to shuriken... only the Uchiha Clan, who excel at shuriken throwing, could probably bring that to its full potential, right?"

"Brother Shisui truly was highly skilled at shuriken throwing. Even Father personally praised him for it..."

Sasuke pulled off his towel and looked up at the stars filling the night sky. His sorrow lay dormant for only a moment before he pulled himself together again.

Because he carried hatred on his back.

And the responsibility of reviving the Uchiha Clan.

Sasuke stretched a hand out of the hot spring, curling and unclenching his fingers as he said softly, "I can't keep indulging in this shinobi game. Once I return, I'll go to Granny Cat and ask around for information about Brother Shisui..."

"Even if she doesn't have Brother Shisui's Body Flicker Technique training method, I still need to ask about the Solar Eclipse Dance and Sword Leap Flame that Sensei Kakashi mentioned. They're forms of Uchiha Style Taijutsu. Granny Cat should have some scrolls recording their training methods."

"In a few days, I should also ask Sensei Kakashi about the Lightning Release Ninjutsu he excels at. After all, not many members of our clan have experience training in Lightning Release Ninjutsu..."

His teammate's strength was visibly growing, while he himself had begun falling behind step by step after officially becoming a shinobi.

Though Sasuke refused to say it aloud to preserve his pride.

The truth was right before him: Naruto had already surpassed him in strength.

After they were ambushed, Naruto had escaped danger with them through his own strength. When they encountered the Hidden Mist Hunter-nin Squad, there had been that shockwave that pierced through a Hidden Mist jonin.

All of it constantly shook Sasuke to his core. He did not want to waste a single opportunity to grow stronger.

Kakashi Hatake had once been that man's captain, and Brother Shisui had been that man's guide. He had to absorb what made them strong.

Every moment was precious.

Sasuke Uchiha rose and walked out of the hot spring, picking up a robe beside the pool and draping it over himself. "That's enough. We've rested long enough."

"Sasuke..."

Naruto Uzumaki watched him and chuckled, then stepped out of the hot spring as well. He sighed softly, "Compared to our days at the Ninja Academy, you really are working much harder now!"

"Don't say that here."

Sasuke Uchiha paused and said quietly, "Whenever you're practicing or researching ninjutsu, you're even more desperate than I am!"

"That can't be helped!"

Naruto Uzumaki shook his head with a bitter smile. Right now, he was merely restoring his body's muscle memory, and the restless feeling that occasionally surged through his mind was also urging him to become stronger.

When the two finished bathing and returned to the changing room, they found that their lockers had been pried open, with their clothes scattered messily across the floor.

A young man was flipping through Naruto Uzumaki's notebook. When he heard the two from Team Seven return, he sprang outside!

First Update

Sasuke Uchiha: Naruto, your Rasengan is already perfect, right?

Naruto Uzumaki: No, it's not enough!

Sasuke Uchiha: Then how long are you going to keep researching it? I think you've completely mastered it!

Naruto Uzumaki: No, it's not enough!

Sasuke Uchiha: Your standards are pretty high...

Naruto Uzumaki: Not really. Just let me use the Rasengan to scrub your back...

Sasuke Uchiha: Are you serious?

Naruto Uzumaki: I'm serious. If it doesn't scrub you to death, then I won't need to research it anymore...

Sasuke Uchiha: What if it does scrub me to death?

Naruto Uzumaki: I'll find you a good spot at the Memorial Stone in the village...