Konoha: Naruto, Taught by Aizen

"Let's call it a day for now, Sasuke." Kakashi spoke up. "Your body can't continue training."

"Mm," Sasuke grunted sullenly, his spirits seemingly not high.

"Kakashi-sensei, do you think I can still catch up to Naruto?" Sasuke lifted his head, his eyes somewhat lost. "Even if I completely develop the Chidori, the gap between us is still huge. Every mission, he's the one taking care of me, even handing over opponents to me. Compared to him, am I really that pathetic?"

Looking at his defeated disciple, Kakashi's eyes were gentle.

Sasuke, as a genius of the Uchiha clan, was truly worthy of the name. Both his combat intuition and strength improved rapidly with each battle. If this were the Ninja World War a few years ago, he believed Sasuke would quickly stand out.

But his target was Naruto.

A guy who possessed the Nine-Tails' chakra and, at the same time, talent so outstanding it was terrifying.

Kakashi secretly shook his head, ruffling Sasuke's hair, messing up that black hedgehog head.

"You're already outstanding enough, Sasuke. You will be Konoha's future."

"Both you and Naruto are. And you are also each other's most trusted partners."

"I know, but I don't want to be his burden!" Sasuke clenched his fists and punched the ground, sending up a large spray of grass clippings, his face filled with unwillingness and self-reproach.

"Every mission, I'm dragging him down! I don't want to disappoint him! I want to tell him that I, Uchiha Sasuke, will be his rival for life!"

"I... can also become Hokage!"

Kakashi's expression became dazed. In his vision, the boy's small face under the sunlight was youthful yet filled with determination.

"Obito?" For a moment, Kakashi seemed to see his old friend earnestly saying to him, "Kakashi, I will become Hokage."

He chuckled softly, an undeniable gentleness overflowing in his eyes.

"Sasuke, Hokage isn't something to compete over."

"This isn't about competition." Sasuke looked up, his eyes complex.

Images of past moments with his companions flashed through his mind, followed by the pain of the night his clan was annihilated.

But the pain vanished in an instant; Naruto's smile and everyone's help drove the pain away.

It made Sasuke understand that he wasn't alone.

Everyone, Konoha, was protecting him.

Finally, the image settled on the young Inari.

An awkward boy who hated heroes because of his father, who fled from reality, yet deep down longed to be saved.

"Sasuke-niichan, I want to be like you, unafraid of challenges, continuously growing stronger, and protecting everyone!"

In his memory, Inari's smile was bright, but no longer childish.

Becoming stronger isn't just for the sake of becoming stronger.

There's also protecting others.

Sasuke's gaze became clear.

"I... I'm serious. I want to become Hokage, gain everyone's recognition, protect everyone, protect Konoha." Meeting Kakashi's gaze, Sasuke's usually cold face broke into an incredibly brilliant smile.

Watching his usually cold disciple transform into a little sun.

Kakashi seemed to see that foolish teammate from the past. He suddenly felt an urge to cry from being so moved.

He quickly turned his head and said sullenly, "Then you'll have to work hard. I, your teacher, will support you."

"By the way, since you trained so hard today, let's go soak in the bath together."

Under the setting sun, one big and one small figure walked side-by-side towards the Konoha bathhouse.

"Kakashi-sensei," Sasuke suddenly spoke during their walk.

"What is it?"

"Thank you for your teaching."

"Well, well, my cute disciple is actually thanking me. How touching," Kakashi said, playfully patting Sasuke's shoulder.

"I take back what I just said." Sasuke pushed Kakashi's hand away with a blank expression.

"Still so awkward, I see," Kakashi chuckled softly. Kakashi was in a very good mood.

His three students were all developing quite well.

A certain pink-haired individual whom Kakashi had tossed into the Ninja Hospital to study medical ninjutsu: ???

Inside the bathhouse, Sasuke walked into the men's bath, only to see a figure crouching in the corner, peeping into the women's bath.

That person had a thick head of white hair, wore peculiar red clothing, and wooden clogs.

From time to time, he would let out a lewd chuckle.

Peeping?! Sasuke's eyes turned cold. Lightning-style chakra gathered in his legs, suddenly erupting with explosive force. In an instant, he closed the distance to Jiraiya, his right foot kicking straight at that massive rear end.

"Bang!" Jiraiya, caught completely off guard, was kicked with immense force into the women's bath, sending up large waves.

He dazedly lifted his head from the water, only to see a group of youthful and beautiful women, their faces astonished, having even forgotten to cover their "spring scenery."

"Pfft!" A nosebleed spurted out.

"Ah!! A pervert!!" The women's bath instantly erupted into chaos.

Soon, a bruised and swollen Jiraiya was thrown out the entrance.

Sasuke, having accomplished all this, smiled faintly, deeply concealing his merit and fame.

Kakashi, who had been dawdling in the changing room for a long time, now walked into the men's bath wearing his mask, his eyes slightly puzzled. "Well now, it seemed quite noisy just now. Did something happen?"

"No, just a fly flew into the women's bath," Sasuke replied softly, closing his eyes and enjoying the warmth of the bathhouse.

"Oh my? There are flies in the bathhouse? Looks like the hygiene conditions are a concern."

Kakashi's tone was perpetually lazy.

As evening approached, Sasuke walked out of the Konoha bathhouse.

His originally exhausted body felt much relieved after the soak. Now, he just wanted to find a place and have a good, long sleep.

"Hey, Uchiha brat! You've got some nerve, huh!" An unfriendly voice suddenly sounded by his ear.

Sasuke turned his head and saw Jiraiya, one of the Sannin he had seen during the day, glaring at him, gritting his teeth.

Naruto is receiving his guidance.

Sasuke thought to himself, though his expression remained outwardly calm.

"Is there something you need?"

"Of course, there's something! You're in trouble, brat, do you know that?" Jiraiya's wooden clogs clattered loudly.

"Do you have any idea how hard those old ladies hit?! Because of you, I won't be able to gather material for the next few days!" he said, his face full of anguish.

"To think one of the esteemed Sannin is a pervert," Sasuke's face darkened.

"Wrong! I am the Toad Sage from Mount Myoboku, Jiraiya, who embodies both handsomeness and wisdom!"

"Oh, Pervy Sage," Sasuke said, his eyes dead.

"Hey, hey, hey! Uchiha kid, you're too impolite! I am the Toad Sage, not Pervy Sage!"

"Tch, Pervy Sage. Let me tell you, even if Naruto has you, one of the Sannin, guiding him, I won't fall behind! I swear on the honor of the Uchiha, I, Uchiha Sasuke, will definitely catch up to Naruto, and even surpass him!"

"Hmph!" Sasuke snorted coldly, turned his head with a swagger, and left with the air of a victor.

Thinking about Naruto's teacher being such a perverted, unreliable guy, the chances of catching up to Naruto have greatly increased.

Compared to him, Kakashi is actually pretty good.

If Jiraiya were his teacher, he'd rather just commit seppuku with Chidori.

"This kid is quite interesting," Jiraiya chuckled softly, watching Sasuke's departing figure.