The Passing of Time

Don't be fooled by the appearance of the Third Hokage, who seems to represent the moderate faction, and the two advisors who seem to be pulling the strings. In reality, these three high-ranking individuals played roles in the Uchiha clan's annihilation event that were no better than the ruthless hardliners. They were all unsavory characters who couldn't stand the light of day.

Moreover, it was clear that the events of the clan's annihilation differed from the original story in some way. While it couldn't be confirmed one hundred percent, Naruto believed that in all likelihood, there were some clues exposed by Uchiha Itachi before he took action. These clues might have been discovered by the hardliner Uchiha clan members who were already planning to rebel, leading to a partial uprising among the Uchiha clan. Otherwise, there was no way to explain the massive disturbance that occurred last night.

And it must have been a partial uprising, quickly suppressed.

Otherwise...

The subsequent developments wouldn't make sense either.

After all, the Leaf Village's high-ranking officials had openly announced the annihilation of the Uchiha clan, leaving only the rogue ninja Uchiha Itachi and the surviving Uchiha Sasuke. This information was believable. In other words, the result of the Uchiha clan's annihilation was the same as in the original story. From this, one could easily deduce the conclusions mentioned above.

After all, the Uchiha clan was the largest clan in the ninja world.

If it had been a full clan rebellion, not just a partial one...

Regardless of whether it could be fully suppressed or not, even if it could, it wouldn't have been so easy. Who knew how many high-level Uchiha shinobi there were in the Uchiha clan? How many were at the chunin level? Plus, with the power of the Sharingan, often referred to as the best eye technique in the ninja world, even if the Leaf Village could kill all Uchiha ninjas as in the original story, the process would have been much more difficult, and the resulting uprising wouldn't have appeared as chaotic as last night; it would have been more subdued.

Of course, these thoughts were just Naruto's personal speculations, turning in his mind a couple of times.

Naruto wouldn't pay too much attention to them.

He didn't have the time or the energy to focus on such matters.

Or should he say...

At the moment, Naruto didn't have the capital or the qualifications to focus on them.

As always, living his life to the fullest was the most important.

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Even though such an event happened last night, life at the ninja academy continued as usual.

However, when Naruto arrived at the school,

He wasn't surprised to find that Uchiha Sasuke's presence was missing. He could even guess that for some time to come, this Uchiha survivor wouldn't show up at the ninja academy. It wasn't just because of the impact of the clan's annihilation last night. If Naruto remembered correctly, last night Uchiha Itachi had used Tsukuyomi on Sasuke for the first time. It could be considered a genjutsu ceiling that existed in the original story for a long time. Even if Uchiha Itachi controlled its power to some extent, given the circumstances where Sasuke had witnessed his entire clan being killed, his dearest brother committing the murders right in front of him, and then subjected to Tsukuyomi,

When these two traumas were combined,

This level of psychological trauma couldn't be healed in a short period. Even with the special care of the Third Hokage and access to the best medical conditions, such psychological wounds couldn't be healed by treatment alone; they required time to recover.

And it wasn't beyond Naruto's expectations.

Starting from the night of the clan's annihilation,

A whole month had passed.

Only after this entire month had elapsed did Naruto see Sasuke's figure once again in the classroom.

And this time, Sasuke, who had returned to the ninja academy, was enveloped in an icy aura from head to toe. It wasn't the usual facade of coldness, but a genuine sense of darkness and coldness, as if he had fallen into darkness.

And it was at that moment, upon seeing Sasuke,

Something inside Naruto also twitched slightly.

Because Naruto understood that the Uchiha Sasuke before him was no longer the same as the one who had seemed somewhat cool but was actually a bratty kid.

He had transformed into an avenger with eyes filled only with the color of blood.

On that day,

The group of girls who had been hanging around Sasuke earlier

Had become unusually quiet.

After all, although they were infatuated, they weren't stupid.

In the wake of the Uchiha clan's recent annihilation,

It would have been foolish to approach him.

"Poor guy..."

Looking at Sasuke, who had no expression on his face and still seemed somewhat numb in his eyes,

Naruto shook his head quietly.

In a sense,

Sasuke and Naruto shared many similarities.

"Perhaps this guy can become an important asset in the future,"

Naruto thought as he looked at Sasuke's profile.

He couldn't help but recall the scene in the original story where Sasuke would eventually defect from Konoha after learning the truth about Itachi and the Uchiha clan's annihilation.

To be honest,

In this world,

There was probably no family more gullible than the Uchiha clan.

This gullibility seemed to be a tradition that had existed since ancient times.

Starting from the earliest known period, the elder son of the Sage of the Six Paths, Indra, to notable individuals like Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha in later generations.

Even in more recent history, figures like Itachi and Shisui could be considered gullible.

Even the seemingly rational and opinionated Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui had a certain level of foolishness in Naruto's eyes.

Of course, this was a very subjective and personal opinion.

But when Naruto looked at these Uchiha individuals,

He couldn't help but feel that they were easy to deceive.

Especially Sasuke.

Throughout the entire Naruto story,

Sasuke never really had his own convictions or opinions.

He was easily swayed by his beloved brother, Itachi, and later by Tobi.

In the end, he was still deceived, wasn't he?

So, all in all...

Sasuke was gullible!

And not to mention...

Naruto held a huge trump card in his hands—the truth behind the Uchiha clan's annihilation!

He couldn't say it was a hundred percent certain,

But Naruto was fairly confident that he could use this knowledge to persuade Sasuke to become an asset in the future.

Naruto thought to himself in secret.

Of course, at this stage, it was still just a temporary plan.

When to say it, how to say it, how to make Sasuke believe him, and other pros and cons,

Naruto would have to consider all of them carefully.

A plan for the future.

It was gradually taking shape in Naruto's heart.

In this world, Naruto would undoubtedly carve out a different and brilliant path for himself.

"The future..."

Looking at the bustling scenery outside the window,

A faint golden glow shimmered in Naruto's blue eyes.

What he needed to do at this moment was to continue strengthening himself.

In this way,

His future self would have the qualification to influence the chessboard of the ninja world.

And it was in such a situation that

Five years passed by rapidly.

(End of this chapter)

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