Chapter 5 Academy.

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.

After spending the entire day together, Naruto and Sasuke (disguised as Sabuto) finally had to say goodbye and go their separate ways.

"You know, I've come to realize you're actually a good guy, Naruto. Stay focused on your dreams. Let's meet again sometime, although I might be hard to reach," Sasuke conveyed his intentions.

Though Naruto felt a little sad, he brightened up at the thought of meeting again. "Yeah, bye Sabuto! Let's definitely meet again. Haha, but don't keep me waiting too long—I might already be the Hokage."

"Haha, we'll see about that. Alright, bye. See you later," Sasuke said as he used the Shunshin technique to disappear.

And so, they parted ways with the promise of meeting again in the future.

In a dazzling display of Uchiha prowess, a fierce battle unfolded between two powerful individuals - the prodigious Uchiha Sasuke and his father, the seasoned Uchiha Fugaku. The air crackled with tension as they clashed, each vying for Uchiha supremacy.

As the force of their taijutsu clashed, Sasuke swiftly weaved five hand signs, his movements fluid and precise. With a thunderous roar, he unleashed his potent technique, "Lightning Style: Thunder Beam," sending three powerful beams of lightning hurtling towards Fugaku. However, Fugaku effortlessly evaded the onslaught, leaping gracefully into the air.

Sasuke wasn't one to back down. In an instant, he summoned six kunais, three in each hand, and launched a relentless assault on his father with deadly accuracy that rivaled the legendary Itachi himself.

But Fugaku was a seasoned shinobi, and he calmly responded with his own formidable jutsu, uttering the words, "Fire Style: Fire Ball." A raging inferno erupted, engulfing the kunais and rendering Sasuke's attack ineffective. A massive fireball now bore down on Sasuke, threatening to consume him.

Refusing to be overwhelmed, Sasuke tapped into his innate talent, the affinity for yang release, and performed a jutsu that showcased his skill and versatility - the "Shadow Clone Jutsu." Duplicates of himself materialized, allowing him to outmaneuver the impending danger of the fiery assault.

The intensity of the battle reached its peak as the fiery explosion disintegrated the clone that had been in front of Sasuke. As the smoke cleared, two mysterious figures swiftly approached Fugaku from opposite sides. He marveled at their speed, realizing that Sasuke had been holding back during their previous encounter. But despite this realization, Fugaku chose to ignore the incoming threat, a decision that would soon prove costly.

In a split second, Fugaku executed a powerful side kick, believing he had the upper hand after landing a direct hit. However, he had targeted the wrong Sasuke, striking the spot where the previous clone had been obliterated by the jutsu.

To Fugaku's surprise, two Sasukes emerged, attacking him from both the front and the back. He could sense that something was amiss, but time was not on his side. The Sasuke before him exhibited skills close to elite Jounin level, making it a formidable challenge.

Undeterred, Fugaku made a calculated move, attempting to strike the one he was certain to be the real Sasuke. Yet, once again, it turned out to be another clone, leaving Fugaku astonished. The realization dawned upon him that these tricks and illusions had outwitted him.

Fugaku found himself pushed away from his original position, reminiscent of a scene from Lookism, where Vasco was forcefully pushed back by a jab attack. Frustration mixed with surprise colored Fugaku's expression as he faced the young prodigy before him.

"I've had enough of your tricks, Sasuke," Fugaku stated, unable to believe that he had been defeated by a mere seven-year-old, even though he hadn't used half of his true strength.

Sasuke, with a hint of pride in his voice, revealed his tactics. "As you suspected, I suppressed my chakra to the level of the clone while amplifying the clone's chakra to match my own. The prolonged battle depleted much of my chakra, providing the perfect opportunity to employ this tactic. And at the critical moment, I utilized reverse psychology to gain the upper hand."

"I see. You really took the smart route, Sasuke. Losing all those battles before just to ensure an easier victory today. Well done, my son. But remember, don't follow in the footsteps of your elder brother, Itachi," Fugaku said, wiping his brow with a towel.

Sasuke replied, pleadingly, "Yes, I understand. But what's wrong with you mentioning Itachi big brother? Anyway, even without the Sharingan, I've become this strong. So, it should be fine if I hang out with others, right?"

Fugaku nodded, reassuringly, "Of course, you can. Don't worry about that. And don't pry into..."

However, their moment of happiness and understanding was abruptly interrupted when an Uchiha rushed in with grave news. Fugaku urged him to stay calm and share the information slowly.

Tensions were already high between their clan and the village due to the pressure from the elders to stage a coup d'état and take control of the village, something Fugaku opposed. He wished for a peaceful path and had no interest in power the way they did.

The news that followed struck Fugaku hard. "What happened?" Sasuke quipped, attempting to lighten the mood, "Did Uchiha Shisui get himself a civilian girlfriend?"

But the Uchiha's response was far from humorous, "No, he committed suicide." Mikoto gasped in disbelief, and Sasuke quickly apologized for his earlier joke. Shock overcame him, and his Sharingan activated with three tomoe, showing his distress.

Numb from the revelation, Sasuke asked, "Is there a suspect?" The answer was heartbreaking. "Yes, the one we suspect the most is none other than Uchiha Itachi."

Sasuke felt a deep sense of unease concerning the state of his clan and village. Despite attempts by others to downplay the issue, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

His focus on this matter began even before Shisui's tragic death a month ago. During his research, he noticed that things started to go awry around the time his older brother, Itachi, joined the ANBU.

Fueled by a desire to prove Itachi's innocence, Sasuke believed that he was just as talented as his older brother. If only he had graduated early like Itachi and joined the ANBU, he could dig up information and finally clear Itachi's name.

Filled with determination, Sasuke applied for early graduation, hoping to follow in Itachi's footsteps. However, his father Fugaku, along with Mikoto, Hiruzen, and others, gathered to discuss his request.

"Sasuke, are you sure you want to graduate early?" Fugaku asked with a hint of concern.

"Yes," Sasuke replied firmly.

Regrettably, Hiruzen explained, "I'm sorry, Sasuke, but we can't grant your request. Itachi's early graduation was necessary during wartime, but currently, there's no such urgency. It's not a question of your talent; you're just as skilled as Itachi and Shisui. But the village doesn't require your immediate service."

Frustrated, Sasuke couldn't contain his disappointment. He decided to take a walk through the streets of Konohagakure to clear his mind.

During his introspection and further investigation, he stumbled upon a troubling theory with no concrete evidence, and he struggled to come to terms with it.

"Sasuke," called Izumi in a playful manner.

Sasuke sighed internally, feeling a bit cornered. He had been caught up in his own thoughts and training since Shisui's death, and it seemed like Izumi noticed.

"I can tell you've been up to something lately, ever since you heard about Shisui's death," Izumi remarked, trying to get him to open up.

Sasuke tried to deflect her observation, "Nah, I just want to become a skilled shinobi like my big brother and honor his legacy, I suppose."

They chatted for a while, and as they walked home, Sasuke couldn't help but think about Izumi's hidden motives.

'She was definitely prying for information,' he thought, 'especially about why I've been acting differently lately.'

While he didn't reveal everything, he did mention his desire to clear Itachi's name. However, Sasuke couldn't shake off the suspicion of who might have ordered Izumi to spy on him.

There was someone pulling the strings, plus the little rat that was spying on them and he felt closer to uncovering the truth.

Upon arriving home, Sasuke greeted his mother Mikoto, trying to hide his unease.

"Welcome back. Have you been making new friends besides Naruto?" asked Mikoto with a warm smile.

Sasuke hesitated slightly, "Not really, but don't worry, I'll make plenty of friends at the academy. By the way, tomorrow is my entrance ceremony, and you promised to make my favorite dish."

Mikoto chuckled, "Yes, I remember. Tomato salad and fried rice in tomato flavor, right? I made it, so eat up and grow big."

"Thanks, Mom," Sasuke replied with gratitude, finishing his dinner before retiring for the night.

Sasuke couldn't help but feel apprehensive as he listened to the long and tedious speech. He wondered how others managed to endure it, while he struggled to stay engaged. Nonetheless, he held onto the hope that the classroom activities might be more interesting.

After the lecture, Sasuke felt frustrated, thinking, 'What was that? It felt like they were teaching ABCD to a high schooler, at least for me. I should have expected this from the entrance test. But I can't lose hope. Let's see if the last period is any better.'

As the last period began, Iruka announced they would practice shuriken and kunai throwing, along with taijutsu. He assured the students that this wouldn't impact their grades and was merely to assess their proficiency.

Sasuke stood ready, hoping this session would live up to his expectations. However, before he could demonstrate his skills, a cheerful, yellow-haired kid exclaimed, "Yosh! Now I'll show you my cool shuriken techniques, believe it!"

Although he appeared lively on the outside, Sasuke sensed a hidden sadness in the boy. The class, as usual, started making some unnecessary comments, except for a few. Sasuke decided to tease the boy a bit and said, "Hey chibi! Remember, actions speak louder than words..."

Expecting the boy, Naruto, to respond loudly and spiritedly, Sasuke was taken aback when Naruto hesitated. It seemed the boy misunderstood the hint. The entire class burst into laughter, and in the background, someone muttered, "So troublesome."

Naruto, feeling nervous, finally noticed something and began to speak, "You?..." Sasuke hummed questioningly, prompting Naruto to continue, "You are Sab—"

Before Naruto could finish his sentence, Iruka interrupted, raising his voice, "YOU TWO, HURRY UP. OTHERS ARE WAITING." The momentary tension dissipated as they resumed their training, leaving Sasuke wondering about the unfinished revelation.

As the class continued, half of the population, consisting of girls, couldn't help but react to Iruka's previous statement, thinking, We aren't...'

As the practice session progressed, only clan members and a few citizens demonstrated decent skills. Eventually, only Naruto and Sasuke remained.

"Uzumaki Naruto, step forward," Iruka called out, omitting the customary "please" this time.

Sasuke's mind raced with thoughts about Naruto, realizing the hints the boy had unintentionally provided for his investigation. As Naruto took his turn, Sasuke observed his stance, acknowledging that it wasn't as bad as he had anticipated. Naruto exuded an aura of experience, surprising those who could sense it.

With determination, Naruto threw the kunai, hitting the target with incredible accuracy. All six kunais landed near the center, showcasing the results of relentless hard work and training.

The onlookers, both experienced and inexperienced, were astonished, especially the rookie 9, who had expected Naruto to be the "dead last." He had outperformed most of them.

Sasuke couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness for Naruto, realizing that his skill was comparable to his own at 40% capacity.

However, his thoughts shifted to the mystery of who aided Naruto in his training, a question he set aside for the moment.

When it was Sasuke's turn, he stepped forward confidently, pinpointing the target areas he had to attack with precision.

In a swift motion, he adjusted the kunai in his hands, closed his eyes, and leaped into the air.

As he threw the kunais, he aimed them towards the ground while he was upside down. The kunais didn't travel directly toward the target, but upon collision with each other, their direction and trajectory altered, resulting in an astounding 96% accuracy in hitting the target.

The girls in the class erupted in excitement, clapping and cheering as they were amazed by Sasuke's incredible display.

What impressed them even more was his ability to hit the target perfectly with his eyes closed. The resounding applause echoed through the training ground, acknowledging Sasuke's remarkable skills.

Iruka announced the final phase of the test, the taijutsu evaluation. Each student would engage in a fight with an instructor, using only their physical combat skills.

Iruka said that the instructors wouldn't be going all out, but it was still a chance for everyone to showcase their abilities.

Sasuke couldn't help but feel bored, thinking, 'Tch. This is going to be dull. But at least I'll get to see what others can do.'

As the matches unfolded, Sasuke couldn't help but feel unimpressed. None of his classmates seemed to possess impressive taijutsu skills. He mentally evaluated their abilities, recalling his own talents as a four-year-old before he awakened the Sharingan.

He acknowledged a few with decent techniques and skills, including Hinata Hyuga, whose confidence was lacking but showed potential, and Kiba Inuzuka, who displayed good speed.

Naruto's name was called, and Sasuke decided to closely observe his fighting style, hoping to identify the person behind the mask.

In Naruto's duel with a random chunin instructor, Naruto moved swiftly, landing a jab that the chunin easily dodged. Naruto's speed was superior, and he managed to back-kick the chunin, showcasing above-average power.

However, the chunin wasn't easily impressed as he blocked it and eventually defeated Naruto, humiliating him in the process. Only a few individuals knew that Naruto had scored the best in the taijutsu evaluation, although it was short-lived.

Seeing how the chunin instructor treated Naruto, Sasuke felt a desire to teach the man a lesson and gain valuable information. Unlike the other fights, the instructor didn't provide any advice to help Naruto improve.

Sasuke knew Naruto was stronger than the others, excluding himself, at this point, but without guidance, he feared Naruto might fall behind during academy training.

In the practice arena, a random chunin stepped forward to face Sasuke in a friendly duel. As the match began, Sasuke displayed incredible skill, effortlessly dodging the chunin's attacks with minimal movements. The spectators were astounded by his precise and lightning-fast evasions, leaving the chunin feeling humiliated.

With a swift jump, Sasuke executed a perfect 180-degree turn, executing a powerful back kick akin to Cap's move from the Winter Soldier. The force of the kick nearly sent the chunin flying out of the ring.

'Damn it! I'll get my chance!' the chunin thought as he gathered himself.

But before he could react, Sasuke vanished from his sight and reappeared right above him, launching a barrage of attacks known as the Lion's Barrage. The chunin stood no chance against the onslaught, and the devastating blows left him in dire need of medical attention.

Iruka, who was watching with bewilderment, quickly scolded Sasuke, "Sasuke, what were you thinking? Dodging was one thing, but you didn't have to injure him like that! Do you understand the concept of holding back?"

Sasuke responded calmly, "I know, Iruka sensei. I barely used half of my power. Besides, this guy humiliated Naruto, who was just a kid. I felt he deserved a taste of his own medicine."

His words left the onlookers silent, and some began to question their prejudice against Naruto. However, Sasuke's focus was on the approaching holiday, where he intended to have a heart-to-heart talk with Naruto or gather some valuable information.

"So you were Sabuto all along, huh? Why didn't you tell me? And how did you become so strong? Even with all my training, I don't think I could beat you!" exclaimed Naruto.

Sasuke smiled at Naruto's enthusiasm, thinking, 'Seriously, that speech never gets old with him.' Nonetheless, he continued to chat casually with Naruto, keeping the real reason for his strength a secret. But as the conversation flowed, Sasuke couldn't resist sharing the truth – that his incredible abilities were honed by none other than the renowned Body Flicker specialist, Uchiha Shisui.

Naruto was astonished, asking, "You know Shisui, big bro? Where has he been? He suddenly stopped visiting me. And I noticed you both wear the same logo."

Feeling a pang of sadness, Sasuke decided to open up and revealed everything about his connection to Shisui, causing Naruto to shed tears of empathy. In turn, Sasuke asked Naruto about his own life.

Normally, Naruto would be hesitant to share such personal details, but the fact that Sasuke knew Shisui and witnessed how he handled the chunin made him feel a certain trust in the Uchiha. So, he confided in Sasuke and told him about his experiences.

Sasuke thought, "Bingo," as he gathered valuable information from Naruto. He then mentioned, "Well, do you happen to be friends with them? I'm trying to make some friends too. My mom would be sad if I don't."

Just as they were deep in conversation, a voice from behind interrupted, saying, "Wait, so even someone like you doesn't have any friends except Naruto?"

In a secluded location, an ANBU donning a mask with a distinctive red pattern stepped forward. It was none other than Uchiha Itachi. He addressed an old man who held a significant position – the Hokage.

"He is indeed planning the coup d'etat, Lord Hokage," Itachi reported calmly.

After a crucial conversation, Itachi was dismissed, and the night settled in.

"Itachi, you're here at last. Your punctuality is commendable, unlike the White Fang's son, who seems to lack it during these critical times," the old man remarked.

"As you're aware, the coup d'etat seems inevitable. Despite Hiruzen's efforts as Hokage, it will take place, and inevitably, your younger brother, who is still oblivious to it all, will be drawn into the turmoil. Even Hiruzen won't be able to protect him, despite his loyalty to the village and his endeavors to clear your name," Danzo stated with a sense of certainty.

Itachi questioned, "Is that a threat? And what do you mean by that?"

"No, it's merely a suggestion for you to consider the best course of action. As for your second question, I'm offering you the chance to use your Sharingan on him. He is a new recruit who just joined our ranks. The condition is that you won't look into anything else. I have a few Yamanakas here," Danzo explained as they arrived.

Cautiously, Itachi utilized his Sharingan and was stunned to discover that the old man's words were indeed true. Sasuke was secretly working to clear his name in the Uchiha clan.

"Furthermore, your brother appears to be genuinely loyal to the village, as evidenced by his interactions with the Uchiha girl. So, as it's my duty, I advise you to choose wisely, Itachi," Danzo concluded, leaving Itachi to ponder his next move carefully.

(AN first of all I apologize for the late update as I had been working on another one plus I have my studies to take care of. Also at this chapter Sasuke finds some valuable information and now Danzo is definitely on his suspicion list. As he found some valuable information through Naruto. Which is very easy to guess. But still that info is not enough to avoid the upcoming tragedy.)