Sasuke: I'll Be Stronger Than Naruto!

The terrifying pressure from the world's strongest man made the two Chunin guards of Konoha break into a cold sweat as if they were facing the most dreadful existence in the shinobi world.

Even though Whitebeard wasn't using his Haoshoku Haki, the kingly aura that had emerged from a mountain of corpses and sea of blood was enough to make anyone's heart tremble with fear.

This was not something two Chunin could withstand.

Their hands were sweaty from nervousness. According to what they had learned in the ninja academy, they should quickly pull out a kunai and hold a shuriken in their hands.

That way, they could handle any crisis at any time.

But in this situation...

They had forgotten the theory they once memorized and could only keep retreating until their backs were pressed against the closed gates of Konoha.

No retreat left.

"T-The village of Konoha has rules..." one young Chunin, who looked no older than twenty, stammered. "Ordinary people aren't allowed to leave at night without permission..."

"Gurararara!" Whitebeard interrupted, "Rules are made to be broken!"

A pirate caring about rules? Impossible!

Under the stunned gaze of the two Chunin, Whitebeard raised Murakumogiri and slashed at the gates of Konoha.

The gates, which could withstand multiple ninjutsu attacks, suddenly seemed like they were made of tofu.

A straight cut appeared on the gates, and after shaking a few times, they collapsed with a crash!

This method of opening the gates...

It was excessively violent!

"Stupid son!" Whitebeard turned to the dumbfounded Naruto behind him and said, "What are you standing there for?"

"Oh! Coming, Dad!" For some reason, Naruto didn't dislike Whitebeard's violent method. Instead, he was...

...excited!

As the large and small figures gradually walked away from Konoha, the two Chunin guards watched in horror, unable to stop them.

"Dad, once your health is restored, we'll return to Konoha!" Naruto, leaving the village for the first time, said enthusiastically. "Dad, when do you think we'll come back?"

"Gurararara! At most, a year!" Whitebeard grinned. "In a year, you'll be starting school. I have to make sure you achieve your dreams! And don't ever say something stupid like giving up on your dreams for me again!"

Naruto worriedly asked, "But, Dad... can we find that medical ninja named Tsunade within a year?"

"Of course! We definitely can!" Whitebeard laughed confidently.

"Just make sure you're not the last in your class when you start school!" 

"Yes, Dad! I'll be the top student!"

Naruto was full of determination.

...

The next day.

At noon.

"Ugh, cough, cough!" Hiruzen, semi-conscious, coughed repeatedly. As his coughing grew more intense, his awareness gradually returned.

When he managed to open his tired eyes, he saw a white ceiling and smelled the disinfectant.

"Hokage-sama? You're awake?" a familiar voice came from beside him.

Hiruzen tried to turn his head, but the intense pain in his neck muscles made him grimace. He had no choice but to continue staring at the ceiling.

His expression was complicated. He knew where he was now, and he recognized the familiar voice.

"Kakashi, how long have I been asleep?" Hiruzen's voice was hoarse, having not had a drop of water for a long time.

"One night and one morning," Kakashi, who had been standing guard, replied. "About twelve hours."

Twelve hours...

How embarrassing!

Hiruzen chuckled at himself. If he were ten years younger, he believed he could have fought Whitebeard evenly. With Enma's help, he might have even taken him down.

But now, his reactions, chakra reserves, and physical capabilities had all declined.

Far from what they used to be!

"Where... where is Naruto?" Hiruzen suddenly thought of the key issue, his tone turning anxious.

"He's gone," Kakashi replied. "According to the two Chunin guarding the main gate, Whitebeard took Naruto and forcibly left Konoha. The main gate was cut down by him."

The Jinchuriki...

Ran away?

Gone?

Hiruzen almost spat blood. Since the First Hokage distributed the tailed beasts among the villages, leaving the Nine-Tails for Konoha, it had been Konoha's private property.

It was also an extraordinary combat force. Once Naruto could bond with the Nine-Tails and use its power skillfully...

For Konoha, it would mean an additional Kage-level powerhouse.

Even...

Stronger than an average Kage!

But now...

Naruto had left, meaning the Nine-Tails were gone, a future powerhouse was lost, and Konoha's future had taken a hit.

"Didn't anyone go after Naruto?" Hiruzen strained to turn his neck. Even lying on the hospital bed, his eyes remained sharp.

Kakashi's dead-fish eye showed no change. His reply was evasive: "Without the Hokage's orders, I feared acting on my own might cause trouble."

Hiruzen almost exploded with rage.

So, in the time he was unconscious, Kakashi did nothing and just watched Naruto leave?

"Kakashi... do you hold a grudge against me?" Hiruzen took a deep breath. "Because of what happened to Sakumo?"

"Hokage-sama, you're overthinking," Kakashi replied calmly.

"Then go after them!" Hiruzen's agitation made his entire body ache. "This is an order from the Hokage!"

"...Yes, Hokage-sama."

...

At the Uchiha compound.

"Brother, you're back!" Sasuke quickly threw down his wooden kunai, his face full of joy at Itachi's return. "Brother, why are you back so early today?"

Itachi quickly masked his complicated feelings. Too much had happened last night, and he hadn't fully processed it yet.

"I have no work today," Itachi said with a gentle smile. So I came back early."

After all, with the Hokage in the hospital, at least thirty ANBU members had to be guarding him, so Itachi wasn't needed.

"Sasuke, have you been practicing throwing techniques all day?"

Looking at the wooden kunai scattered on the ground and then at the target in the distance, Itachi noticed his younger brother was covered in sweat. 

Sasuke's small hands had numerous cuts from the wooden kunai splinters.

Itachi felt a pang of heartache.

"Yes!" Sasuke was full of determination. "As the son of the Uchiha clan leader, I can't be outdone by that Uzumaki Naruto! Next time I see him, I'll be stronger!"

Sasuke waved his wooden kunai, imagining Naruto as his target. "I'll defeat him and tell him he's the one who acts like a girl!"

Visualizing that scene, Sasuke felt confident again.

He laughed happily.

"Yes, I believe in you, Sasuke." Itachi lightly tapped Sasuke's forehead with his index and middle fingers.

At least... those radical members of the Uchiha clan wouldn't be able to cause trouble with Whitebeard.

Perhaps that's a good thing?

...