Under the warm glow of the sunset, Sasuke walked home alone. His shadow stretched behind him, and his back carried a faint melancholy.
Life in ANBU was far more difficult than he had imagined.
Before joining, he was full of confidence, feeling ready to face any challenge. When he entered, his comrades recognized his talent and strength, further reinforcing that confidence.
However, the reality of ANBU was different.
In two assassination missions, he had charged forward bravely, believing himself invincible, but he had narrowly escaped death. If it weren't for the intervention of his comrades, he likely wouldn't have returned alive.
ANBU missions were much darker and more dangerous than anything he had faced as a regular ninja or even as part of the Military Police.
It was then he realized that the recognition from his comrades didn't mean he was at their level.
He had only reached the lowest rank in ANBU, and perhaps not even that.
Maybe his position was granted as a concession to his age and his Uchiha name. Perhaps his comrades trusted that he would quickly reach the required level.
Thinking about this filled him with frustration.
Since he was young, he had idolized his brother Itachi, following him with unwavering admiration. He chased after him everywhere, trying to reach his shadow.
Because Itachi was kind. Because Itachi was dazzling.
Yet, the older he grew, the more evident the gap between them became.
Itachi graduated from the Ninja Academy at 7, awakened his Sharingan at 8, and became a Chūnin at 10. He was the first ninja in Konoha's history to pass the Chūnin Exams individually. At 11, he was already part of ANBU, working under Captain Kakashi's command.
His achievements were more than impressive, earning admiration and trust from everyone around him.
And he, Sasuke…
Although others considered him a genius, and despite his hard work earning his father's recognition, he was still "the younger brother."
Even so, Sasuke didn't feel jealousy or resentment toward Itachi. On the contrary, he accepted it as natural.
"Because that's my brother. Itachi Uchiha."
But…
When he was a child, Itachi taught him values: to love his comrades, to protect his clan, to defend his village.
How could that same Itachi be the man who betrayed everything he preached?
He killed his comrades. Betrayed his family, his clan, his village.
That contrast filled Sasuke with rage.
It wasn't just the pain of being deceived. It wasn't just the resentment of betrayal.
It was because the image he had built of Itachi had crumbled.
The person he admired, the one he chased after, was supposed to be his brother: kind, dazzling, a role model. Not a wanted criminal, despised by everyone.
That's why he resolved to surpass Itachi. In his mind, by doing so, he would deny the admiration he once felt for him.
But…
Thinking about their life paths filled him with helplessness. Their journeys were similar, but he was always one step behind.
Always lagging. Always compared.
Sasuke clenched his fists tightly, trying to suppress the frustration consuming him.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in the distance.
"Sasuke-kun!"
Huh?
Curious, he looked up.
Across the river, he saw a figure waving at him energetically. It was a girl with pink hair that reached her waist, dressed in red, with a vaguely familiar face.
Who is…?
Though he couldn't recall her name, he couldn't forget the two boys standing next to her.
One was Kuro, the student he had fiercely competed against at the Academy, who always outshone him. The other was Naruto, the troublemaker who had always irritated him with his antics and lack of respect.
What are they doing together?
Sasuke watched them with curiosity, and upon noticing the trash-filled baskets on their backs, he understood immediately.
I see.
They graduated from the Academy and are now part of a Genin team.
The corners of his lips curled into a smile as a feeling of superiority washed over him.
He remembered those days at the Academy, where Kuro always took the top spot, relegating him to second place.
Especially during the evaluation for early graduation.
He had trained for months under his father's guidance, convinced he would reclaim his position as the best.
However, he was humiliated, defeated by one of Kuro's shadow clones.
That memory remained fresh in his mind, a mark of frustration and shame.
Naruto, on the other hand, was the opposite of Kuro. A total disaster in classes, always causing trouble, yet acting as if he were the center of the world.
As for the pink-haired girl...
Sakura
After thinking for a moment, he remembered her name.
She had tied with Kuro for the top spot in theory, but in practical classes, she was simply average. Like the other girls in the class, she had been one of his many admirers.
If they spent that time training instead of playing around, maybe they'd improve.
He scoffed internally, though he acknowledged that, by common standards, they were quite good.
But now…
They were still newly graduated Genin, while he was already a Chūnin and an ANBU member, working directly under the Hokage.
With a proud smile, he approached them. "Oh, aren't you Kuro, Naruto, and Sakura?"
"Sasuke-kun! It's been so long since I've seen you!"
Internally, Sakura was roaring with joy. *Sasuke-kun remembers me! He smiled at me!*
"It's been a while, Sasuke."
"It's been a while, bastard Sasuke."
Kuro and Naruto also greeted him, though with differing tones.
Naruto's words made Sasuke's mouth twitch momentarily, but he took a deep breath and held back.
This guy is as annoying as ever. But I'm a Chūnin now. I must be mature and not stoop to arguing with a Genin.
With a calm smile, he asked, "Are you on a mission? Judging by the timing, you must have graduated from the Academy by now."
"Yes, yes!" Naruto responded proudly. "We've been Genin for a month, but Yamato-sensei only gives us boring missions."
Sasuke nodded, condescendingly. "Well, Genin can only take on basic missions. Don't worry; once you become a Chūnin, you'll handle more exciting ones, like me."
"Like you!?" Naruto blinked in surprise. "You're already a Chūnin!?"
Naruto's astonished expression fueled Sasuke's pride, though he maintained a composed attitude.
"That's right. I've also joined a special organization under the Hokage's direct command. Although… the details are confidential."
Confidential? Seriously?
The uniform gave it away completely.
After graduating a few years earlier, has the story changed so much?
A heavy bead of sweat began to form on Kuro.
"Ah…" Naruto murmured enviously. "You're so lucky! If Iruka-sensei had let me graduate earlier, I'd already be a Chūnin like you."
Naruto's words nearly made Sasuke choke, but he quickly recovered.
"Well… If you train hard as a Genin, you'll become a Chūnin sooner or later. Even if it takes longer, it's not so bad. After all, we Uchiha are an elite clan. Becoming a Chūnin so quickly is only natural for someone with my talent."
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