Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

Abandoned Uchiha Clan Training Grounds.

The snow fell steadily as cold wind swept through the desolate space.

Uchiha Izumi stood under a black umbrella, her gaze fixed on the two figures standing in the snow-filled field.

"Naruto-kun..." she murmured, tilting her head slightly.

She had just tried to stop the fight, but both of them refused to listen. They were determined to settle things with their fists.

"Why did Sasuke suddenly challenge him out of nowhere?" she sighed. "It doesn't make sense. He couldn't even beat me."

Naruto and Sasuke faced each other silently. The air between them crackled with tension.

Sasuke's eyes blazed with determination—not because he thought he could win, but because he had something to prove. Even if he couldn't defeat Naruto, he wanted to show he wasn't weak.

"Naruto, I know you're strong. But I'm not weak either. So don't take me lightly."

Naruto gave him a faint smile. He was amused more than anything. Was Sasuke unaware of the rumors—how Naruto had killed three Jonin recently?

"He's still too impulsive," Naruto thought. "Time to remind him of the pecking order."

Sasuke scowled at Naruto's relaxed expression. He bit his lip and clicked his tongue.

Suddenly, he began weaving hand signs. His right hand dropped, palm-down, and chakra surged violently around him.

Lightning burst forth, surrounding his body in a blinding display of raw energy.

Uchiha Izumi's eyes widened. "What kind of jutsu is this? Is that… Chidori? No—it's way more powerful."

Even Naruto looked surprised. This wasn't the Chidori he knew.

Sasuke stepped forward, his massive lightning sphere crackling with energy.

"Thanks for the Demonic Seal, Naruto," he shouted. "It gave me the chakra I needed to evolve this. I based it on your Big Ball Rasengan. I call it… Ten Thousand Birds!"

The piercing screech of birds filled the air as Sasuke lunged forward, jutsu aimed straight at Naruto.

"Whoa!" Naruto responded instantly, forming his own Rasengan. The two orbs collided with a thunderous shockwave, sending snow and chakra flying in every direction.

Izumi raised her arm to block the flurry of snow. She couldn't see what was happening and activated her Sharingan to keep track.

Suddenly, she saw multiple shadowy figures appear in the center of the chaos.

On Sasuke's side, he spat out a cloud of gunpowder-like ash as he retreated, then ignited it in a fiery explosion.

Naruto barely escaped in time.

"This kid…" Naruto thought, impressed. "He developed his own jutsu and already mastered the ash technique? He's definitely improving."

Sasuke smirked. "It's not over yet!"

Four hands emerged from the earth, grabbing Naruto's ankles and dragging him into the ground.

Sasuke's grin widened. "Got him!"

He couldn't believe it had actually worked.

"You're way off your game today, Naruto."

Feeling the hands grasping his legs, Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you learn Shadow Clone?"

"Don't act like it's some secret technique," Sasuke shouted back. "You're not the only one who can use it!"

He charged again, Chidori blazing in his hand.

Izumi's face darkened. Her Mangekyō Sharingan spun dangerously.

If Sasuke hurt Naruto, she was ready to strike him down on the spot.

She stepped forward—but then noticed something.

Wait… chakra under Sasuke?

And weren't there four shadows around him earlier?

Her eyes widened.

"He's been lured into a trap."

Just as Sasuke reached Naruto, four hands shot up from the ground and yanked him down. The Chidori exploded into the soil, kicking up debris and injuring him in the process.

Sasuke blinked in disbelief.

The Naruto he caught turned into smoke.

A Shadow Clone.

But the Naruto who trapped him? That was the real one.

From a nearby tree, Naruto grinned. "Having fun with my shadow clones, Sasuke?"

That grin. That voice. It hit Sasuke like a slap.

"You were playing with me the whole time?!"

He had charged forward with all his might, believing he had finally caught a break. But the entire time, Naruto had him dancing on strings.

The crushing reality hit him hard.

He thought of all he had lost. His family, his honor, even his dignity.

His clan had been wiped out.

His parents were gone.

Rumors about Asuma taunted him constantly.

Even Itachi—the one he hated most—had returned just to humiliate him.

And Naruto? He kept rising higher and higher.

"I got power from Naruto… but instead of catching up, I'm falling further behind."

"Before, I was beaten by Naruto himself. Now I can't even beat a clone…"

Tears welled up in his eyes.

His breath hitched as humiliation consumed him.

"Why… Why is my life such a failure?!"

Naruto landed in front of him.

"You'll never be number one," he said coldly. "You're too weak."

He lightly pressed his foot against Sasuke's head.

A ding sounded in Naruto's mind:

[Ding! Congratulations. Option 2 completed. 2% Nine-Tails control unlocked.]

Sasuke felt as if ten thousand tons crushed his skull.

"Even your brother's better than you."

"My foolish little brother… hate me more."

"You sold yourself to Asuma for power. How shameless."

Each word was a dagger. The voices of Naruto and Itachi echoed in Sasuke's mind, twisting like venom.

His entire being screamed in pain.

Suddenly, his eyes burned.

Through the pain, his vision warped—and the three tomoe of his Sharingan spun wildly, reshaping into a hexagram.

"I'll surpass you, Itachi," he whispered through gritted teeth.

"You'll die by my hands."

He looked up at Naruto.

"I'm not weak! I will defeat you!"

A purple skeletal arm burst forth from the snow, narrowly missing Naruto as he dodged backward.

Sasuke rose from the snow-covered crater like a man reborn, his new Mangekyō Sharingan glowing with power.

"I'm not weak," he repeated, standing tall.

Naruto blinked in mild surprise.

"You're not bad," he said genuinely. "You really are a genius. I always knew it."

"…Huh?" Sasuke froze.

Wasn't Naruto supposed to taunt him again? Challenge him? Mock him?

What was this sudden praise?

"Congratulations," Naruto said. "Your Mangekyō Sharingan has awakened."

The mission was complete. No need to beat Sasuke further.

After all, this was his future right-hand man. No point in mentally breaking him.

From the sidelines, Uchiha Izumi watched and smiled. She understood now.

"Sasuke is amazing," she said. "To awaken the Mangekyō at thirteen…"

Then she turned to Naruto. "But Naruto-kun is even more amazing. You actually came up with a plan to help Sasuke awaken it."

Wait, what?

Naruto blinked.

That wasn't his plan, was it?

He looked at Sasuke, who had just been confused—then suddenly looked enlightened.

Oh no.

Now they both believed it was some grand strategy.

Naruto coughed awkwardly.

"Yes... that was my intention all along."

"Sasuke, do you understand my painstaking efforts?"

"I do." Sasuke bowed deeply, eyes filled with tears.

"Thank you, Naruto…"

Inside, he cursed himself.

"You shared your Demon Seal with me… the Fire Release Ceremony too…"

"And I—like a fool—doubted you…"

"I, Uchiha Sasuke, am truly a bastard."

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