Chapter 6 "The Next Clan Head" Was A Hint I Missed.

I don't own Cote, Naruto or Bsd. All right belongs to respectful owner. Also Bsd won't have much influence except for influencing Kiyo into becoming (very little) good.

Sasuke couldn't help but suppress a triumphant smile as he gathered invaluable information from Naruto.

Looking genuinely interested, he asked, "Do you happen to be friends with them? I've been trying to make some friends too, and I wouldn't want to disappoint my mom."

Just as their conversation grew deeper, an unexpected voice interjected from behind, "Wait, so even someone like you doesn't have any friends except Naruto?"

"If I'm not mistaken, you must be Ino, right? The Yamanaka heiress. And with you are Kiba, Hinata, Shino, Shikamaru, Chouji, and, um, what's your name? Since you seem to be a civilian," Sasuke addressed the group, not aware of Sakura's name as she was not from the ninja clans.

"Um, it's Sakura. Haruno Sakura," she replied nervously, bracing herself for potential mockery.

"I see. It's nice to meet you, Sakura, and all of you. As you know, I'm Uchiha Sasuke and currently lack friends. So, would you guys be my friends?" Sasuke asked in his usual tone, surprising Sakura, who expected him to make fun of her.

"Nice to meet you, Sasuke-kun. I'm Akimichi Choji. Let's be friends," Choji said, and one by one, everyone introduced themselves and accepted Sasuke's request to be friends.

"Sasuke, how come you're so strong at our age? We had so much difficulty against that chunin, but you defeated him easily," Ino praised.

"Yeah, the way you beat him was awesome, dude," Kiba added.

"Unlike you guys, I've been training since I was a child. And I'll always protect my friends," Sasuke replied.

"It's a relief to have you as a friend, but we're still children, you know. Can you tell us the exact age you started training? I'm curious," Shikamaru asked, intrigued by Sasuke's formidable skills.

"Since I could walk," Sasuke revealed, leaving Shino astonished. "What? No, that's probably normal since you're from the famed Uchiha clan. Not to mention your genius brother's accomplishments," Shino commented.

"Yeah," Sasuke acknowledged without hiding his lineage, which amazed all the other kids. Then Naruto chimed in, "So Sasuke is, um, from a clan like you guys, but not just any normal one—he's from a strong one?"

"Yeah, that's true. Hinata, do you want to say something? If so, I can help you with it," Sasuke gently inquired, noticing her silence and sensing that she had something on her mind.

"Um..." she hesitated, unsure whether to speak up. Unbeknownst to others, Sasuke activated his Sharingan and skillfully used a genjutsu to communicate with Naruto silently. He wanted to know if Naruto and Hinata were friends, and the answer came back affirmative.

Sasuke then asked Naruto to lend a hand in making the situation more comfortable for Hinata. 'Again. But that jutsu sure is useful in situations like this,' Naruto thought, acknowledging the utility of Sasuke's abilities.

"Hinata, if you're facing any trouble, just speak up. Don't worry, despite how he beat that jerk chunin, Sasuke is actually a good guy," Naruto assured her with confidence.

Encouraged by Naruto's support, Hinata revealed her predicament, the pressure she felt to live up to the Hyuga clan's expectations. She couldn't disclose all the details, but it was enough to express her concerns.

Seeing Hinata's vulnerability, Ino and Sakura stepped in, also pleading with Sasuke to help them train. As the passionate ones like Kiba and

Naruto chimed in, their enthusiasm was contagious, and they convinced their friends to join in too. Amidst the group, Shikamaru couldn't help but mutter his signature phrase, "Such a drag."

"Alright, I got it. But first of all today, what shall we do? Some training?" Sasuke asked, and everyone enthusiastically agreed, not wanting to be left behind when it came to training with him.

"Okay, I'm glad you guys are excited to train with me. But first, Shadow Clone Jutsu," Sasuke said.

In an instant, a solid clone of Sasuke appeared and went home to inform his parents about his late arrival. "Here goes my free time," he thought with a smile.

For the next hour, they trained diligently, doing push-ups, sit-ups, planks, and other basic exercises, along with chakra control exercises using leaves.

Naruto showcased impressive physical abilities, second only to Sasuke, while Hinata and surprisingly Sakura excelled in chakra control.

As their training session came to an end, Kiba exclaimed, "Woah! We really did it."

"Do it every day, and you guys might actually have a chance to reach my level. And by 'it,' I don't mean my strength but rather my skills," Sasuke clarified.

Intrigued, Ino asked, "Wait, what do you mean by 'it,' Sasuke?" The confusion was shared by everyone except for two individuals.

Sasuke decided to make it clearer by asking a question to Shikamaru. "Well, what I mean is, um, forget it. Let me clarify with a question for you, Shikamaru, do you think current society is equal?" he said.

Shikamaru didn't expect such a thought-provoking question. He pondered for a moment and replied, "No, it's not equal. Probably. What's your opinion?" Shikamaru was now genuinely interested in the discussion.

"I share the same views. But I believe we should at least do something to make it seem equal," Sasuke responded thoughtfully. "Well, ignoring this atmosphere, after our diligent training, we deserve some good food, don't we? So, does anyone know a good place to hang out?"

"I've got an idea. Why don't we go to Ichiraku's Ramen?" Naruto suggested, mentioning his favorite spot. Everyone agreed to the idea, and Sasuke found himself going along with the plan. As they headed to the ramen shop, Sasuke experienced a new feeling, a sense of belonging with his friends.

Later, Sasuke returned home and arranged his shoes, calling out, "I'm home." He received a sweet reply, "Welcome home, Sasuke. Are you sure you don't need to eat anything? Because your shadow clo—"

"Yeah, I already ate with my friends at Ichiraku's Ramen shop. It was delicious, Mom, especially the tomato soup," Sasuke replied cheerfully.

"I see. Then at least come with us. Your father has something important to tell you," Mikoto said as she went to the kitchen.

"So you're finally here, huh, Sasuke," Fugaku remarked. "Yes, Father. I heard you have something important to tell me," Sasuke responded respectfully.

"Yeah, but first, tell me, how was the academy?" Fugaku inquired.

"To be honest, it was a bit boring, but I think it's not that bad. I made friends with a civilian and others belonging to different clans. Surprisingly, all of them happen to be the heirs or heiresses of their respective clans," Sasuke shared about his day.

"*smirk* I see. Well, let's get to the main topic then. Sasuke, your mom and I have decided this. The next clan head of the Uchiha clan shall be you, not Itachi. So, honor our clan's name, the Uchiha clan, Sasuke. It's all up to you," Fugaku said in a serious tone, hinting at something profound and significant in Sasuke's future.

Sasuke found himself in his room, pondering over the weight of his father's words. Despite thinking about it hundreds of times, he couldn't come to a definitive conclusion.

Eventually, he decided to call it a night, but he couldn't ignore one of the main reasons behind his contemplation.

It revolved around the reputation of his older brother, Itachi Uchiha, within the clan. Itachi's standing wasn't something to be envied, primarily due to the accusations surrounding the death of Uchiha Shisui, which had been directed at him. Sasuke was well aware of Itachi's efforts to prove his innocence, but the shadow of doubt lingered.

As Sasuke drifted off to sleep, these thoughts continued to linger in his mind, creating a sense of uncertainty and a desire to uncover the truth about his brother's actions.

The weight of being considered for the position of the next clan head added even more complexity to his already conflicted feelings. Sleep brought no easy answers, leaving Sasuke to grapple with these important matters that would undoubtedly shape his future as an Uchiha.

As days passed, the Nara household's garden became the setting for an intense game of Shogi between two individuals, with others watching on with curiosity and interest.

The younger one, Sasuke, emerged victorious, but the older player was not Shikamaru; it was Nara Shukaku, his father. "It's getting harder and harder to win against you, Shikaku-san," Sasuke remarked, acknowledging his father's skill.

Shukaku chuckled and replied, "And you, kid, are always full of surprises. It's hard to believe I had more winning streaks than you, but it's even easier to believe that you've won ten times in a row now."

Sasuke had previously lost to Shukaku eleven times consecutively, but things had turned around, and he had secured ten victories in a row since then.

Unlike their past matches, where Sasuke would lose repeatedly only to emerge victorious eventually, this time there was no particular need for him to win, unlike his battle with Fugaku.

He simply gave it his best effort, trying to outwit his father in a friendly competition.

Shikamaru, Chouji, and Ino were the only ones present to witness the match. "Although I didn't understand it all, I could tell something amazing was happening," Chouji remarked.

"Yeah, me too," Ino agreed. After the match, Shukaku excused himself, instructing the young ninja to go and play outside.

The Rookie 9 gathered as planned and trained to their limits, determined to grow stronger. Despite not enjoying the rigorous training, their resolve remained unwavering.

Once the training session concluded, they all went home, except for Naruto, who stayed back.

On their way back, Sasuke initiated a heartfelt conversation with Naruto, asking about his feelings regarding life. Naruto opened up, saying, "Well, you see, I just wish I had my parents, you know. You truly realize the value of things when you don't have them."

"Wow! I didn't know you could speak so wisely, Naruto," Sasuke complimented. Naruto confidently declared, "What did you say? Of course, I am wise! As I am the one who will become the Hokage," stating it with certainty.

They both shared a friendly laugh, discussing various topics, including a new Jutsu Naruto had invented. The Sexy Jutsu.

Sasuke couldn't help but think to himself, 'There really is no cure for idiots. What a shameless technique. But maybe it can work on some idiots.'

After completing his training with the shadow clones and having dinner, Sasuke found himself deep in thought before going to sleep.

Naruto's words about treasuring those who were important to him lingered in his mind, but a part of him considered it irrelevant. He also wondered if he would ever regain his lost memories and uncover the truth about his past.

Questions about his family's history and the circumstances surrounding his clan troubled him. His father had proclaimed him as the next clan head, but he hadn't even become a Genin yet, which seemed unusual.

The Third Hokage's involvement in the clan's downfall and the connection to the tragic events of October 10 intrigued him, but he couldn't fathom the truth behind it all.

He also couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that someone was trying to frame his elder brother, Itachi, and the apparent suicide of his close friend, Shisui, was suspicious.

The burden of these unanswered questions weighed heavily on him, but for now, he decided to get some rest.

The next morning, Sasuke followed his daily routine, including going to the academy. He had planned to skip classes and train on his own using a shadow clone, but surprisingly, his parents had gotten wind of his intentions.

At the academy, Iruka gave a lecture on Chakra Nature Transformation and elemental affinity. Sasuke learned about combining chakra nature with hand seals and intentions to perform powerful elemental jutsu.

He realized that mastering this art would require patience, practice, and a deep understanding of one's specific nature type.

After the lecture, everything seemed normal, except Sasuke felt unusually sleepy. Kiba proposed going for their daily routine, but Sasuke declined, feeling exhausted.

"*Yawn* I don't know why, I am feeling sleepy. Today, please go without me," he said before succumbing to sleep.

As Ino heard Sasuke's words differently, she playfully exclaimed, "Wait, did he just say to go out with me? Ah~ I don't know what to do!"

"Shut up. He said to go without me," Sakura retorted, and the girls in the class soon joined in a playful fight over the misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Shikamaru pondered over Sasuke's sudden sleepiness.

"Heh! Women. But what I don't understand is how would that Sasuke suddenly feel sleepy?" he questioned.

Soon, Sakura transformed into her Inner Sakura persona, adding more fun to the banter. After the small conflict over who would go out with whom was resolved, they waited for Sasuke, but he didn't wake up even after three hours.

"Man, today, why is Sasuke not waking up at all? What's wrong with him?" Naruto voiced his concern, and Hinata could only respond with a shy shrug.

Shikamaru found it suspicious too, considering how both he and Sasuke were exhausted from the boring lecture. "What a drag," he thought.

Shikamaru took action, stopping Ino and garnering everyone's attention. "Ino, wait. You know how to do a Genjutsu Reversal Technique, right? Do it on Sasuke," he suggested.

Naruto chimed in, trying to grasp the situation. "Wait, so some bad guy is talking to him inside his mind or something?"

Shikamaru clarified, "Although it's a part of it, that's not what's happening. The thing happening to him is that someone put him under a high-level genjutsu."

Naruto didn't fully understand, but he acknowledged the explanation. Ino glanced at Shikamaru, who gave her a nod of encouragement. She focused and tried to release the genjutsu. "Release. Release." However, nothing happened, and Sasuke remained asleep.

"Focus, Ino, focus. This genjutsu is definitely above B rank. If that couldn't wake him, remember you are the best at it here," Shikamaru urged her on.

Ino nodded again, gathering her resolve, and tried once more. "Release." "Release." This time, Sasuke finally woke up. Instantly, he punched the bench with full force, breaking it completely, and exclaimed, "Damn it." The effects of the genjutsu had finally been broken.

Witnessing Sasuke's intense reaction, Sakura couldn't help but worry. "What happened, Sasuke?" she asked, her concern evident.

Sasuke took a deep breath before responding, "My big brother, Itachi, put me under a genjutsu. And not just any genjutsu, but an S-ranked one. Follow me, except for Sakura, Choji, Ino and Hinata. Your job is to inform your clans and ask for help. Tell them I've requested it. Now, let's go and stop Itachi."

Shikamaru, ever the strategist, sought more information. "Alright, but can you tell us about the situation?" he inquired, wanting to understand the gravity of the situation.

"I agree. We will stand by your side, no matter what. You've helped us in so many ways," Shino added, expressing his unwavering support.

Sasuke nodded, acknowledging their dedication. "Thank you. Follow me," he said, leading the group.

'So that's it, huh? The reason you told me to be the next clan head, dad. But no matter what situation you had, Itachi, I won't let you take away mom and dad from me. Even if I consider it unnecessary or irrelevant,' thought Sasuke as he swiftly leaped from one rooftop to another.

Meanwhile, in a room filled with tension, Fugaku and Mikoto confronted Itachi about his alignment with the other side. "Father, mother, I just..." Itachi struggled to find the words.

"We already know, Itachi," Mikoto interjected gently.

Itachi could only promise, "I will take care of Sasuke."

Fugaku, though torn, made a heartfelt request, "Just promise me this, Itachi, that you will take care of Sasuke."

"I will," Itachi replied, tears welling in his eyes.

Fugaku then tried to ease the atmosphere. "Don't fear it. This is the path you have chosen. Compared to yours, our pain will be over in an instant. Our philosophies may differ, but you truly are a kind child, Itachi."

With a heavy heart, Itachi carried out the terrible task before him. He sliced his parents, but before he could finish his actions with Mikoto, a kunai covered in lightning cloak came flying at astonishing speed, separating Itachi from his mother. The kunai destroyed the walls with its immense power.

"Do you really think that thing could kill me, Sasuke?" Itachi taunted.

"Well, only if it could hit you, Itachi," Sasuke replied with a burning anger in his tone. In the blink of an eye, Sasuke disappeared from view and delivered a powerful side kick toward Itachi, which the elder brother swiftly blocked and evaded.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu." Poof! Poof! Poof! Sasuke created multiple clones, determined not to let Itachi escape. "Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu," he declared, and hundreds of kunai rained down on Itachi from all sides.

In response, Itachi swiftly activated his own Shadow Clone Jutsu, creating two clones that skillfully blocked the incoming attacks with their fire nature chakra-infused chokuto blades.

The three clones worked together to protect each other's backs, as they circled cautiously, both highly aware of their opponent's abilities.

Sasuke noticed Itachi's keen observation and complimented him, "Surely, you too can use it." Itachi, remaining cautious, inquired about the location of the original. "Why a clone like you is fighting with me, where's the original?" he asked.

"As expected of you, how did you notice?" Sasuke responded, revealing his astute perception. The tension in the air intensified as they continued to circle each other, their Sharingan eyes locked in a battle of wits and skill.

"You are looking at my eyes. Earlier, even with the Sharingan, you couldn't avoid it. So it doesn't make sense for you to look at my Sharingan. But why would you do that?" Itachi questioned.

Sasuke didn't back down and delivered a biting retort, "Do you really think the original would spend time with a scum like you instead of being with our dying parents?"

Unfazed, Itachi probed further, "Then how are you gonna kill me?" Suddenly, one of Sasuke's clones released the technique, surprising Itachi. "What?" he wondered.

"That's for me to worry about. Not you," Sasuke said, his face emotionless as he jumped in front of Itachi. His Mangekyo Sharingan blazed in his eyes.

As the wind howled, Itachi found himself on high alert. He couldn't afford to die here, not when dangerous adversaries like Danzo and the masked man were still out there.

With caution in his every move, he faced his younger brother, Sasuke, who he knew little about since their last encounter. Shurikens and Kunais were thrown between them, but Itachi's experience gave him the upper hand.

However, to Itachi's surprise, Sasuke skillfully evaded a kunai using a Substitution Jutsu. Then, with elite Jounin-level strength, Sasuke attacked from the side, employing a technique that shocked Itachi - the Rasengan.

"But how? That's the Fourth Hokage's Jutsu. Who taught him? No, it must be his Mangekyo Sharingan. He's using it for the first time, and it's not in full power," Itachi processed in his mind.

Catching Sasuke's hand in a manner reminiscent of the Chidori clash in the anime, Itachi observed as the Rasengan dissipated. It seemed Sasuke was able to cancel the Jutsu at will.

But he suddenly felt danger. And dodged it. It was the Vanishing Rasengan. Both brothers reverted their Sharingan to three tomoe.

"What was that? Also, did you kill her to get it?" Itachi inquired.

"I am not obligated to answer you," Sasuke retorted, determination in his eyes. He coated his hand with chakra, followed by a layer of lightning for enhanced destructive power.

Sasuke initiated an attack with a back side kick from his left leg, but Itachi easily evaded it with a swift sidestep. Undeterred, Sasuke unleashed a lightning-covered punch, an A-rank jutsu. However, Itachi gracefully moved backward, flipping away from the incoming strike.

(AN So um this is gonna be the most important moment for Sasuke in his life plus the tragic scene unfortunately happens. As Sasuke couldn't stop it. But with his past memories maybe he could. And he is back guys.)