The Rival

Uchiha Sasuke was someone proud. He was genius among his peers and was the number one student in his current year.

He passed his classes flawlessly and during the spars, even his classmates would not last even a minute or two. Yet even after all that, he still couldn't compare to his elder brother.

He hated it.

At his age, Itachi had already graduated and joined the anbu. Doing high ranking missions that not even fresh genin did. In a way he directly skipped being a genin altogether, as only chunin and jonin were allowed to join the anbu.

Because of that, the knowledge that he was still under his brother's shadow, Sasuke pushed himself everyday. Taking advantage of all the hours of the day for training, taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu as well as kunai and shuriken practice.

During the past two years or so, his progress was exceptional and he improved by leaps and bounds. If before his peers couldn't last even a minute, now they can barely last a few seconds.

Yet despite all that he lost!

Not to mention, it was none other than the previous deadlast! Uzumaki Naruto!

He was shocked. He was humiliated!

Although he won the battle, he lost the war!

Yet why did his blood boil with excitement? This feeling of competitiveness that gave him a burning feeling as if he was on a sugar rush. Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he decided, he'll use the red head as his tool to sharpen his abilities.

Yes, that's it!

Also, now that he thought about it harder, he didn't lose!

He was just caught off guard- yeah, that's it. He knew Naruto was good since he took out Kiba, but he didn't think he was on the same level as him. That's it.

Next time, Sasuke thought.

Now that he gauged Uzumaki Naruto's combat abilities, he would no longer get caught surprised. Next time, he'll win! He wouldn't rashly look down on his opponent.

Yes!

Sasuke nodded as he made up his mind. With this new competitiveness he was feeling, he began to quicken the pace of the kata's he was learning. He smiled crazily as he thought of the next battle. With the red head as a tool to sharpen his abilities, he would reach Itachi quicker!

With that in mind Sasuke trained harder, not knowing that next time, Naruto would just give him the win.

...

...

...

"Uchiha-sama, would you like fresh clothes? Just for you, a discount!"

"Uchiha-sama, we have a fresh batch of tomatoes. Just get them quickly, they sell fast!"

"Uchiha-sama my daughter's your classmate, why don't you get to know her?!"

As Sasuke walked through the marketplace he was bombarded with various offers from the stand vendors, one of his many pet peeves when he went shopping.

He was already done shopping so he ignored them and made his way home to his apartment.

Though as he was heading back he learned something very interesting. One that lit up his eyes.

He was passing by when he heard two men talking. They seemed to be parents of some civilian classmates he had in the academy.

"Did you hear, that bastard kid is now living with lord third hokage!"

"Bastard kid? Which one?"

"You know, the dem- the red haired one!! The cursed bastard!"

"Ah, him huh..."

"What?! That's all?"

"What do you mean?"

"The bastard is now under lord third's protection, aren't you mad like I am?"

"Why? At least now he has something to offer, with lord third looking after him he could be quite useful, or at least he'll be useful if he measures to even a percent of the sannin."

"Pfft, I doubt it. I've heard from my kid. He's the dead last of the class. Hahahah!"

'He's going to be living with the hokage?' Sasuke thought as his eyes looked like they lit up. He showed a calculative expression before he smirked.

'This is a good opportunity, chances are he'll likely receive some training from the hokage...' Sasuke thought before he froze.

'Wait! What if... he surpasses me?!'

"No, impossible!" he yelled aloud as some pedestrians turned to look at him.

Knowing he said it aloud, he didn't grow embarrassed. He just snorted and walked away. His mind still thinking about Naruto. He gritted his teeth.

'No, from what I can gauge. He's still a few levels below me in terms of capability' Sasuke thought. Naruto at most would be stronger than his other peers. Whereas Sasuke himself already was confident that he could take on some of the newbie genins.

Though he was still frowning.

After all the more he thought about it, the more he realized. So what if he was stronger? In the future, Naruto would inevitably surpass him as he had someone guiding him whereas Sasuke didn't. In the long run, he was the one losing.

His frown continued before he found himself in front of his apartment.

He sighed as he entered. Taking all the things he had bought out to prepare his dinner. All the while his mind was pre occupied.

He thought of all the things that he knew he had against Naruto. Taijutsu wise, Sasuke was in the lead but Naruto was getting there.

As for Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, Sasuke knew for a fact that he definitely one upped the red head. He has known how to use the fireball jutsu for a few years now. Something his peers couldn't do yet, nature transformation!

He could even use his chakra to strengthen his body, making his punches and kicks more destructive.

As he thought of this Sasuke was suddenly enlightened.

"Wait..." he said as he thought of something.

"If I keep beating Naruto and prove myself superior, then the hokage would definitely notice! Then I could ask him to teach me too!" Sasuke suddenly realized.

Yes, that's it!

That's what he'll do!

A smile crept in his face as he finished preparing his meal. All the while he pictured himself getting trained by the hokage then getting enough strength to kill Itachi.

He could already picture it, Itachi dead at his feet as he offered the corpse to his parents graves! His vengeance complete and the Uchiha name once again rising from finally getting rid of the thing that stained it.

"Just you wait, Itachi!" Sasuke said as his eyes emitted a fierce light of determination.

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Chapter End

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a/n: sorry for the late update. Honestly was just too lazy to write, in fact I forced myself to write this chapter. As for whether it was good or bad... idk

Also heads up, a new semester started so updates will probably be slow.