Staring up at the figure on the rooftop, Sasuke's fingers loosened, letting his longbow fall to the ground.
His fists clenched tightly, eyes glowing crimson.
A surge of grief and hatred erupted from the depths of his soul, twisting his usually delicate features into a contorted mask of pain. His fingernails dug deep into the flesh of his palms, but he didn't even notice.
"Sasuke, what's wrong?"
That gentle voice came again, filled with concern.
But instead of answering, Sasuke suddenly bent down, grabbed the longbow, and with practiced speed, pulled an arrow from the quiver on his back.
He drew the bowstring taut.
The cold arrowhead aimed directly at that familiar figure.
"Heh… don't worry. It's just a wild boar."
Awoooo~!
A long howl echoed through the air.
The figure on the roof turned and leapt forward, hurling a few kunai as he moved.
Sasuke's murderous expression faltered.
Confusion returned to his eyes.
He staggered back a few steps and fell to his knees.
Why hadn't he loosed the arrow…?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions shook him from his daze.
He turned to the wooden cabin in front of him—familiar, too familiar.
What… what is going on?
He remembered…
He was supposed to be…
BOOM!
Before he could think further, the wooden house exploded with a deafening roar.
Sasuke rolled backward instinctively, lifting his gaze as smoke and dust filled the air.
Am I dreaming?
It was all so vivid.
Too vivid.
And then—just as expected—the ground began to rumble.
Thud… Thud…
Out of the dust, a massive wild boar emerged, far larger than any normal animal.
Its tusks gleamed, and its hooves stomped the ground as it snorted and charged straight toward Sasuke.
His instincts kicked in. He reached to nock an arrow—
Too late.
The boar was already upon him.
If this is a dream…
CRASH!!
The boar collapsed in a cloud of dust, roaring echoed in Sasuke's ears.
As the dust began to clear, Sasuke's pupils contracted.
From the smoke, Itachi Uchiha emerged, calm as ever.
"Sasuke. Your training still isn't enough."
Watching his older brother approach, Sasuke's face twisted once more.
This time, it was rage—pure and violent.
"I'll kill—!"
Thunk.
Before he could finish, two fingers tapped his forehead.
Just like always.
His throat clenched.
His body froze.
"Come home, Sasuke. It's almost noon. If Mother finds out you followed me again, she'll worry."
"Mother…"
Memories—so warm, so distant—began to flood his mind.
Sasuke's expression grew dazed as he struggled.
"Is this… really a dream…?"
Sunlight broke through the clouds.
Itachi was already walking away.
Without thinking, Sasuke stepped forward to follow.
They returned to the Uchiha compound.
All along the way, clan members waved and greeted them warmly.
Sasuke's eyes grew more conflicted.
He kept telling himself it was all an illusion.
A genjutsu.
But he couldn't help but respond.
He wanted to.
Soon, they arrived home.
Sasuke had just started to remove his armor when his mother, Uchiha Mikoto, approached and gently cupped his face.
"You've grown so much, Sasuke. But you still love clinging to your big brother."
Itachi smiled softly.
"Mother, Sasuke came with me on a mission today."
"Did he now?"
A calm voice came from the doorway.
Uchiha Fugaku entered, nodding in approval.
"As expected of my son."
"He did great," Itachi said warmly. "We're done for today. Sasuke, how about some shuriken practice?"
Sasuke's eyes went wide.
Then red.
Blood-red.
He couldn't hold it in anymore.
Two trails of tears, streaked with blood, fell down his cheeks.
"Nii-san… why…?"
"Because you're my only brother in this world."
And in that moment, the entire dream froze.
CRACK!
A sharp snapping sound.
"No—!"
Sasuke reached out desperately, but the scene shattered like broken glass.
The next moment—he was airborne.
SPLASH!
He plunged into the river.
"Cough! Cough! Ugh—!"
Choking on water, Sasuke flailed his way to the riverbank.
He collapsed there, gasping for breath.
"Pathetic."
A cold voice spoke from nearby.
"You really got lost in a genjutsu that shallow? If I hadn't thrown you into the river, were you planning to stay there forever?"
Sasuke's eyes snapped open.
He looked up and locked eyes with the figure standing on the nearby rocks.
Blond hair.
Blue eyes.
"You…!"
"Of course it's me."
Naruto stood, looking down with a faint trace of surprise.
"To be honest, your performance was terrible. But the result's not bad. You finally triggered the Sharingan—something you'd already awakened a long time ago."
"I was planning to run a few more illusions to help you build up emotional tension…"
"What…?"
Sasuke looked down—and froze.
Reflected in the water were his eyes—no longer black, but a vivid crimson.
A single tomoe spun slowly in each iris.
"Heh… Sharingan…"
"I finally awakened it!!"
Sasuke's face twisted into something wild and deranged.
He collapsed onto the dirt, laughing and crying at the same time, hysterical.
From inside the seal space, Kurama scoffed.
"Tch. Look at him. The Uchiha brat's probably lost his mind."
"Getting that worked up over a one-tomoe Sharingan?"
Minato didn't comment. He'd seen the Second Hokage's research—he knew the Sharingan was awakened through intense emotional trauma.
And Sasuke's expression now… was exactly like the others.
Still trembling and laughing like a madman, Sasuke barely noticed Naruto walking over.
"You planning to stay there all day?"
Splash—!
Sasuke abruptly snapped out of it.
He rose from the water, now composed, and stared coldly at Naruto.
The Sharingan spun in his eyes.
"Do you even understand what this eye means!?"
Naruto responded with a fist.
THUD!
Sasuke crossed his arms in time to block the punch and leapt to the bank.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
But Naruto had already closed the gap again.
This time, he attacked with fists and feet, his movements far faster than before.
Sasuke's pupils widened.
His eyes struggled to keep up with Naruto's increasingly rapid attacks.
And then—
WHAM!
Naruto's fist slammed into Sasuke's left cheek, sending him airborne.
"Impossible!"
Sasuke roared, bounced up, and charged forward again.
But just as he reached Naruto—
BAM!
His vision blurred.
Another punch to the left cheek.
"Damn it… I don't believe this—!"
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