SMACK!
Sasuke crashed to the ground again.
He had lost count of how many times he'd been knocked down.
His left cheek was swollen beyond recognition.
He tried to get up—
But he had no strength left.
His vision blurred, and his consciousness began to fade.
Tap… Tap…
He heard footsteps.
Then Naruto's feet came into view.
Sasuke felt himself being lifted.
"Why… Why is the gap still so wide…?"
That thought flickered through his mind before darkness swallowed him whole.
Fwoosh!
Naruto carried Sasuke back to the training ground within the forest.
As soon as he laid him down, Naruto sensed the Third Hokage and Iruka entering the Hokage Office.
Not long after, Shikamaru and his father joined them inside.
"Looks like they're discussing what to do about the graduation application my shadow clone submitted to Iruka today."
Earlier that morning, Naruto had sent a clone to class.
During Iruka's final lesson, the clone had quietly placed a graduation request letter on the podium.
This was a test—to see if the Third would give him a chance.
If the Hokage refused, well…
Naruto figured Mizuki would eventually try to manipulate him—just like in the original timeline—leading to an opportunity to access the Scroll of Seals.
But if the Hokage agreed, even better.
He could graduate early and officially become a genin.
Though he wondered how the Third would handle a jinchūriki like him.
Would he assign me to a jōnin sensei like in the original story? Send me on missions outside the village?
The thought reminded him of an arc from his past life watching the anime:
After Sasuke's defection, Naruto had once left the village on a mission to the Land of Silence with Shikamaru, Chōji, and Ino.
All while being secretly monitored and protected by Yamato, who wielded Wood Release—under orders from Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage.
Naruto pulled out two blank scrolls and placed them on the stone platform.
He had bought them earlier that day while transformed using the Transformation Jutsu.
Glancing once at the unconscious Sasuke, he picked up a brush and began to write.
Hokage's Office
The atmosphere was heavy.
The Third Hokage sat in silence, face grim, as he stared at the Nara father and son across from him.
Iruka stood nearby, opening his mouth a few times as if to speak, but holding himself back.
Finally, Nara Shikaku broke the silence, frowning as he glanced down at the reports in his hand.
"Lord Hokage… According to everything we've seen, Naruto hasn't shown any suspicious behavior lately."
Hiruzen nodded solemnly.
He'd had a private talk with Naruto recently.
And Iruka had reported that while Naruto's behavior in class hadn't changed much, his academic performance had drastically improved.
No longer slacking off—he was now among the top students.
The Third had assumed Naruto was finally maturing.
But this morning, while overseeing the post-disaster reconstruction of the village, Iruka had come rushing in with news:
Naruto had submitted an official request for early graduation.
Hiruzen was taken aback.
After all, Naruto was only seven.
That number alone reminded him of Uchiha Itachi, the man who had shouldered a cursed fate from a young age.
Itachi had also graduated from the Academy at age seven.
And that thought led to a headache.
Especially now, with Naruto being a jinchūriki, and the village still reeling from both the Uchiha massacre and the recent explosion.
The effects of both incidents were still rippling throughout the village.
Hiruzen instinctively reached for the drawer to grab his crystal ball—
Only to stop mid-motion.
Right.
This office had been newly rebuilt by Yamato.
The crystal ball was gone.
He sighed and lit his pipe.
"Shikamaru, have you noticed anything unusual about Naruto lately?"
Shikamaru gave Iruka a glance, then cautiously replied:
"No. Nothing out of the ordinary."
"To be honest, a lot of us already know everything the Academy teaches. Maybe Naruto just finds class boring?"
"Shikamaru!"
Shikaku's tone sharpened as he scolded his son.
Iruka looked momentarily stunned, then gave an awkward shake of his head and said nothing.
Back in the Forest
"Ugh… where… am I…?"
Sasuke stirred, leaning groggily against a tree trunk.
He looked around, confused.
He remembered a dream—or was it a genjutsu?
Then his Sharingan had awakened.
Then… that guy beat the crap out of him.
Wait, not a dream.
"He said it himself. It was a genjutsu."
"Tch… my face…"
Sasuke winced as he stood, pain flaring from his cheek.
"You're awake."
A familiar voice echoed behind him.
Sasuke tensed immediately and turned—
Naruto was sitting on a stone platform not far away.
"What do you want?"
Sasuke demanded, walking over with a serious expression.
His swollen left cheek made him look oddly comical.
Naruto's tone was calm.
"You seem a lot more composed than before. Hurts, doesn't it?"
A flicker of anger passed over Sasuke's face.
But whatever he remembered… he didn't reply.
Naruto nodded.
"Good. Pain means there's still hope."
Sasuke frowned, recalling every detail of their recent interactions.
"Why are you helping me?"
Naruto raised a brow—surprised.
So the beating did raise his IQ a bit.
"Honestly?"
Naruto said.
"The reason I'm helping you… is a bit ironic."
"What do you mean?"
Sasuke asked, confused.
"You'll understand eventually. But right now, your strength is too weak. Even if I told you, you wouldn't get it."
"But I can tell you something you do have the right to know."
Sasuke wanted to protest at being called "too weak," but remembering how easily he was defeated earlier, he held back.
"What is it?"
Naruto's expression didn't change.
"It's about the Uchiha Massacre."
Sasuke's Sharingan flared instantly.
"What did you say?!"
Naruto met his gaze without flinching.
"Do you really believe Uchiha Itachi did it all by himself?"
Sasuke's face paled.
"What do you mean?!"
Naruto pointed at Sasuke's eyes.
"Remember the genjutsu from earlier?"
"You're a shinobi now. And in this world, even what you see with your own eyes might not be the truth."
Sasuke's face twisted in fury.
"Tell me! What do you know?!"
Naruto smiled faintly.
"What—do you think everyone in Konoha is blind?"
"Think, Sasuke. The entire Uchiha Clan—slaughtered in silence, inside the village, by just one man?"
"Only a fool would believe that."
Sasuke froze.
Images of the massacre flashed through his mind—
Scene after scene replayed.
He collapsed to his knees, stunned, overwhelmed.
For some reason…
He was scared.
Scared of learning a truth that might shatter everything he thought he knew.
Meanwhile, at Mount Myōboku
Within one of the Three Great Sage Regions…
The Great Toad Sage, long seated on his stone throne in slumber, suddenly opened his eyes.
"Summon Fukasaku."
"Have him call for Jiraiya—immediately."
(End of Chapter)
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