The new mission, "Peer Relations - Uchiha Sasuke," became my primary focus. It was a delicate dance, requiring more finesse than any jutsu. I couldn't just walk up to Sasuke and offer friendship; his walls were too high, his grief too raw. My approach had to be subtle, almost imperceptible.
My strategy was simple: presence and subtle support. I started lingering near him more often after classes, not speaking, just existing. If he was the last one to leave the classroom, I'd pretend to be packing up slowly as well. If he was practicing alone in a distant part of the training grounds, I'd find a secluded spot nearby and quietly run through basic taijutsu forms, making it clear I wasn't watching him, but wasn't avoiding him either.
One particularly grueling day, during a shuriken accuracy drill, Sasuke was, as always, flawless. Everyone else struggled, including me (purposefully so). As the session ended, he collected his shuriken, his face impassive. I noticed one of his shuriken had slightly bent prongs from a particularly powerful throw. Without a word, I walked past him, discreetly dropping a spare, perfectly balanced shuriken from my own pouch near his feet. It was a common, unmarked model. He paused, looking down at it, then at me. I kept my face blank, simply continuing to walk away as if I hadn't noticed. He said nothing, but I saw him pick it up.
Peer Relations - Uchiha Sasuke: Progress 1/3 (Subtle Support).
My secret training continued to yield results. The Great Fireball Technique was becoming less of a struggle. I could now consistently produce a sphere of fire about the size of a pumpkin, though still without the raw power of a true Uchiha master. The "Elemental Control" mission was ticking along.
Mission Objective: Successfully perform the Great Fireball Technique a total of 10 times. (Progress: 7/10)
The Sharingan was also slowly but surely stabilizing. The headaches were now rare, occurring only if I pushed its activation beyond my current limit. I could hold the one-tomoe for close to three minutes, using it to analyze my taijutsu forms and chakra flow during my backyard sessions. The Evolution System kept me apprised of my minute, but steady, growth.
Skill Progress: Sharingan Control (D -> D+)
My general physical conditioning was also improving. Running laps around the orphanage, practicing basic jumps and rolls, had elevated my overall capabilities.
Skill Progress: Taijutsu (E+ -> D-) Skill Progress: Stamina (D -> D+)
A new, more complex training exercise was announced at the Academy: Stealth and Reconnaissance. We were to navigate a designated section of the forest, avoiding tripwires and pressure plates, and locate a hidden flag within a time limit. It was designed to teach spatial awareness and quiet movement. I saw this as a prime opportunity to demonstrate subtle competence without revealing my Sharingan.
I was paired with Sakura. She was bright and focused, but her physical abilities were still developing. Naruto was, as usual, paired with someone else, already complaining loudly about the lack of action. Sasuke worked alone, as always, entering the forest like a ghost.
"Alright, Namekaze," Sakura whispered, her eyes scanning the tree line. "Let's be careful. I heard Mizuki-sensei set some really tricky traps."
"Right," I agreed, keeping my voice low.
As we moved, I subtly guided her, pointing out faint disturbances in the leaves or almost invisible tripwires without making it obvious I was seeing them. I'd pretend to spot a glint of light, or hear a faint rustle, guiding her around traps that would have otherwise triggered. My enhanced senses from constant, subconscious use of the Sharingan's analytical capabilities were paying off.
We reached a small clearing. In the center, a perfectly placed illusion of a flag shimmered. I knew it was a genjutsu trap – Mizuki's specialty. Sakura, however, was about to walk right into it.
"Wait," I said, putting a hand on her arm, feigning uncertainty. "Doesn't something feel... off about that?" I looked around, as if trying to pinpoint the source. "The air feels... weird around it."
Sakura paused, her brow furrowed in concentration. She was smart. "You're right! It does feel a little... stagnant. Good call, Namekaze!" She then methodically began to focus her chakra to dispel it, something she was already quite adept at. The illusion vanished, revealing an empty clearing.
Peer Relations - Uchiha Sasuke: Progress 2/3 (Indirect Team Support). (The System considered this a form of indirect support by improving the group's performance, thus easing pressure on Sasuke if he were to be observed.)
We eventually found the real flag, well within the time limit. Iruka-sensei praised our teamwork. Mizuki-sensei, however, watched me with that same unsettling smile, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He wasn't fooled by my "average" act entirely. He was observant. I needed to be even more careful.
That evening, I saw Sasuke alone on the training grounds again, practicing his Fireball Jutsu. He was pushing himself, the fireballs growing larger, more controlled. He was still frustrated, though, often clenching his fists after a less-than-perfect attempt.
This was my chance. I'd waited for it. I approached the edge of the clearing, making just enough noise to be noticed. He looked up, his eyes narrowed, expecting someone to bother him.
"You're getting better," I stated, my voice calm, almost clinical. I wasn't praising him; I was simply acknowledging fact. "Your chakra control is impressive."
He didn't respond, but he didn't tell me to leave either. He just turned back to his target.
"The breath control," I continued, adopting the detached tone of an observer. "When you mold it... if you push it from deeper in your diaphragm, not just your throat... it helps with consistency." It was a tiny piece of advice, something I'd learned from the System's flawless blueprint of the jutsu.
He paused, his back to me. For a long moment, there was silence. Then, without a word, he inhaled deeply, a visibly different breath than before. He performed the hand signs, and a noticeably larger, more stable fireball erupted, blazing brighter than his previous attempts. It wasn't perfect, but it was a clear improvement.
He didn't turn around. He didn't thank me. But I saw the subtle stiffening of his shoulders, the fractional hesitation before he retrieved his shuriken. It was a crack in his wall, a minute acknowledgment.
Peer Relations - Uchiha Sasuke: Progress 3/3 (Direct Skill Support). Mission Objective Complete: Peer Relations - Uchiha Sasuke. You have been awarded 20 EP. Current EP: 45. Relationship (Sasuke Uchiha) Updated: Neutral -> Guarded Respect.
I knew this was just the beginning. The threads of connection were fragile, easily broken. But they were there. I was no longer just a forgotten ghost; I was becoming a subtle presence, a quiet force in the life of the boy destined for darkness. My evolution continued, silently reshaping not just my own fate, but perhaps, the fate of the Uchiha, and Konoha itself.
Uchiha Namekaze has successfully completed his "Peer Relations" mission with Sasuke, establishing a subtle, "guarded respect." He's also making significant strides in his personal training.
What new missions or challenges do you anticipate for Namekaze now that he has a tentative connection with Sasuke? How will this evolving relationship impact his Academy life and his future plans?
End of chapter 10