Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

Uchiha Izumi's eyes turned cold.

She had tested the limits of her Mangekyō Sharingan: once used, she couldn't activate it again for several hours. It took a full six hours before she could use it a second time.

Even so, Naruto found her ability incredibly broken.

If both eyes could sustain a battle for just ten seconds—and if Izumi learned strong enough ninjutsu, combined with Susanoo—then a wild, desperate assault during those ten seconds would be nearly unstoppable.

How many people could survive it?

That alone qualified her to be ranked among the Kage-level elite.

After sparring with her personally, Naruto could only sigh—the Uchiha clan really was a monstrous family.

Without the Mangekyō, Izumi was only average—a regular Chunin-level kunoichi.

If she fought Sasuke using only her three-tomoe Sharingan, Sasuke could take on a hundred of her alone.

But once she awakened the Mangekyō? In a head-on clash, she could kill Sasuke within five seconds.

Even if Sasuke somehow survived her invincibility duration from Uga no Mi, he still wouldn't be able to beat Susanoo.

Their training session stretched into the evening.

The winter sun sank into the western horizon, and snow began to fall more heavily. The treetops were blanketed in thick white layers.

Sasuke was completely absorbed in training the Fire Release technique Naruto had given him. He couldn't stop.

Nearby, Naruto was coaching Uchiha Izumi step by step.

"Tiger → Rat → Seal.

Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning!"

Following the sequence, Sasuke formed the hand seals precisely. His chakra gathered into ash-like gunpowder, which he expelled around him in a cloud—then he released a spark of flame, igniting the field in an instant.

The explosion was intense.

Even Naruto and Uchiha Izumi had to pause and glance over.

Not bad.

Sasuke looked over eagerly, wanting to see their reaction. When he caught them watching, he lifted his head proudly.

Then Naruto demonstrated the same technique.

Except… his version covered three times the area. The ignition erupted with a boom that shook the entire Training Ground No. 28.

As the smoke cleared, Naruto gave Sasuke a playful wink. Izumi chuckled beside him.

Sasuke: "…"

Just keep practicing. I can't show off like him…

Grumbling, Sasuke opened the Fire Release Encyclopedia again and looked up the next jutsu. Honestly, the book Naruto had given him was kind of a masterpiece.

It didn't just contain an enormous variety of fire-based ninjutsu.

It explained chakra control, usage scenarios, and optimal matchups with precise detail. Sasuke was amazed.

At first, he had been annoyed that Naruto was only teaching Izumi directly—but now, thanks to the Fire Release Ceremony and this manual, all was forgiven. In fact, he was grateful.

Izumi hadn't even mastered a new move yet, and he had already learned a B-rank ninjutsu in half a day.

"That guy Naruto's actually pretty good to me," Sasuke muttered to himself.

He dove back into training with enthusiasm, determined to memorize every single page, to raise his chances of someday killing Uchiha Itachi.

On the other side of the field, Naruto admired Sasuke's progress. Truthfully, Naruto had practiced Ash Pile Burning longer than Sasuke had—and Sasuke had already caught up.

Truly worthy of being called a top-tier ninja in the world.

Very few matched Sasuke in talent or effort.

His only shortcoming?

His Mangekyō Sharingan still hadn't awakened.

Just look at the others:

Izumi opened hers after learning Itachi killed her.

Itachi awakened his after witnessing Shisui's death.

Obito awakened his after watching Rin die.

And then there was Sasuke...

He didn't awaken it on the night of the Uchiha massacre.

Didn't awaken it after getting beaten half to death multiple times.

Didn't awaken it despite facing endless rumors, isolation, and even fighting Itachi again.

By all logic, he had experienced more trauma than any of them.

But still, no Mangekyō.

Naruto chuckled.

Maybe he's actually more optimistic than the Sasuke from the original timeline.

"What a great attitude," Naruto thought, watching Sasuke smile with pride after nailing another jutsu.

Not far away, Izumi—wearing her white stockings and school uniform—was still practicing Great Fire Annihilation Arrow. She was diligent, but her progress was slower than Sasuke's. Her talent wasn't on the same level.

While she ran through her chakra cycles, Izumi kept stealing glances at Naruto, worried about what he thought of her. She clearly cared deeply about his evaluation.

Naruto smiled reassuringly.

Sasuke is a genius. You can't compare everyone to him.

Izumi's awakening of the Mangekyō had already exceeded all expectations.

At first, Naruto just wanted a puppet that could control a giant humanoid Susanoo—like a personal Gundam.

He hadn't expected to get someone this beautiful and this powerful, and on the first day too.

What more could he ask for?

About an hour later, the sky darkened.

Training Ground No. 28 was dotted with black scorch marks where snow had been burned away.

Naruto called for a break.

"Alright, that's enough for today."

Sasuke shook his head. "You two go ahead. I'll stay and practice a bit longer."

He was working on a new jutsu—Fire Bomb—and was finally making some progress. He didn't want to stop.

"Oh? Want me to stay and practice with you?" Naruto narrowed his eyes and grinned, his hand casually reaching toward his waistband.

Sasuke almost agreed—until he turned and saw that look on Naruto's face.

Every time Naruto smiled like that, something terrible was about to happen.

Forget it.

I'll give him a break today… for the sake of that Fire Release manual.

"Where are we going?"

"To your place."

Soon, Naruto and Izumi followed Sasuke to his house.

Sasuke's residence wasn't overly luxurious.

Though technically from a clan of patriarchs, the Uchiha were a few rungs below the Third Hokage's family in prestige. Still, compared to Naruto's tiny apartment, this was a palace.

Inside the sitting room, Sasuke politely poured hot tea for both Naruto and Izumi.

"So, what's the matter? Why come all the way out to my place to talk?"

He was the only Uchiha still living in the clan compound, now essentially a ghost town on the edge of Konoha. It really was remote.

Naruto didn't answer right away. Instead, he lifted a teacup to Izumi's lips.

Sasuke frowned. "I poured that for Sister Izumi," he said, pointing at her untouched cup. "You don't need to share yours with her."

Naruto just smirked.

Izumi tucked her hair behind her ear, leaned forward, and gently blew on the hot tea in Naruto's cup.

"Hoo~ hoo~"

Naruto, pleased, took the tea back and drank.

Then he glanced at Sasuke mockingly.

How's that, single guy? That's tea blown by your sister-in-law.

Sasuke's forehead twitched.

"Sister Izumi, you don't need to coddle Naruto like this. He's completely shameless."

Izumi smiled. "It's fine."

It's fine?!

Sasuke didn't know why Izumi was so familiar with Naruto—but he hadn't forgotten that she used to be the one most likely to become part of his own family.

Seeing her so intimate with Naruto made him uncomfortable.

"Naruto's a total flirt," Sasuke muttered. "He even told me himself that he wants to seduce all the beautiful women in the ninja world."

Naruto nodded casually. "Yeah, I said that. What about it?"

Sasuke clapped his hands. "See, Sister Izumi? I wasn't lying!"

But Izumi just shrugged. "Well, Sasuke-kun didn't lie. But I don't mind."

Sasuke: "…"

Naruto burst out laughing at Sasuke's speechless reaction.

Trying to sow discord? With Izumi?

Even if Sasuke exposed every scandal under the sun, Izumi would never betray Naruto.

Naruto composed himself and sat cross-legged, his tone serious.

"Alright. Now, I want to talk to you about something important."

He focused his chakra, summoning the character "一" (One) on his arm and pressing it.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

Every time he had contacted Naruto before, his symbol had been "贰" (Two).

Now Naruto was "One."

Naruto really was the top of the hierarchy.

Sasuke scowled.

One day, I'll be strong enough to take that position from him.

At that moment, a voice emerged from the character.

"Sir, do you have any instructions today?" It was Haku.

"Is Orochimaru with you?" Naruto asked.

"No, but I can find him—"

"No need," Naruto interrupted. "I'll contact him directly. Stay connected."

Then the character "三" (Three) appeared on Naruto's other hand.

A raspy voice answered.

"Sir, what are your orders?"

"I do have something to say. Since everyone's listening, I'll announce it now."

Naruto cleared his throat to show he was serious.

He didn't notice the way Sasuke was staring at him.

The symbols "One" and "Three" appeared on Naruto's arms. And Naruto had just called the "Three" symbol Orochimaru.

Sasuke's mind raced.

Orochimaru?!

The man who killed the Third Hokage?

The one who cursed him?

Everything suddenly clicked.

Naruto wasn't just stronger than him—he was in charge.

Sasuke had nearly agreed to follow those Sound Four ninjas—Orochimaru's pawns.

Which meant…

He had almost become a subordinate to Naruto's subordinate.

Sasuke was stunned.

His mind went blank.

"This whole time… What was I even competing with Naruto for?"

"He's not even trying to compete with me."

Meanwhile, Naruto raised his voice so everyone could hear clearly:

"From today onward, I'm going to form an organization."